Due Sunday, April 5, 11:59pm

Student Blog
Using Blogger.com, create a blog with:

• 2 or more photos
• 2 posts about whatever happens to you this week
  (like a diary/journal entry - 2-4 sentences, keep it school appropriate!)
• 1 post about your summer plans

Post your blog address in an "April" folder on your Submissions page.

Blog 2
Sort our "Participants" page by LAST NAME (Kat should top the list). Comment on ONE (or more) of the posts on the blog of the person ABOVE you (Kat, comment on Kelsey).

Because this assignment requires the blog-host to post before anyone can comment, please try to add a post or two to your blog earlier in the week!

Google Docs
With your partner(s), provide insight about your collective views on:

1. Teaching high school versus teaching middle school
2. Teaching various types of content within your content area, for instance:

• Social Studies: US versus World History
• English: Literature versus Writing
• Spanish: Grammar versus Vocabulary (these are just examples - whatever strikes your fancy).

When your Google Doc is finished, invite me to collaborate on it (murphy.jesse@gmail.com).
Remember, this is more about the TOOL than the CONTENT - it doesn't have to be a masterpiece writing sample...

Try to do this all via the Google Doc...again, check this throughout the week instead of waiting till the weekend!

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Excel How-To

This is a great video - please watch the entire thing. He kind of loses it in the last minute or so,
but it's still worth watching. My favorite part: his nasty coughing.

Due Sunday, March 29, 11:59pm

Reflection

1. From class: Do you want more SMART Board experience?
2. Describe at least one additional way you could use the SMART Board in your future classroom.

Excel Spreadsheets

1. Create an Excel spreadsheet showing the following skills: SUM function, %, $, average, borders, fill and border colors. Use the video above and this spreadsheet to help you see what your final product should look like. You may need to also use the HELP feature on Excel or additional YouTube videos/online tutorials to learn a couple skills.
   
   
2. Your spreadsheet may be about any topic you like, but must include these skills and have at least four lines of data (My four lines are Jan, Feb, Mar, and Apr).
   
   
3. Even though I'm just about finished with my writing, you must figure this out without my help. You may use any other resource you like, as long as you create the actual spreadsheet (no one else can move the mouse/type the numbers for you). You may NOT copy and past anything from any other spreadsheet (including mine!)!
   
   
4. Post the finished spreadsheet to your Submissions page - Good luck!

Due Sunday, March 22, 11:59pm

Reflection
Please do the reflection AFTER your podcast!

Just spend a few minutes reflecting on digital storytelling and podcasting: how has it been to learn and use the new technologies?

I'm also curious what you'd like to cover for the rest of the semester:
Are there specific softwares/skills you'd like to learn? Topics you'd like to cover?

Here's how I envision the rest of our time together:

What we WILL do	What we COULD do (we'll fit in whatever we can after the project)
When/how to use digital storytelling, video, and podcasting in your classroom SMART Boards Clickers (Individual Response Systems) Big ol' Project (2+ weeks)	Excel  Video Editing  Blogs Wikis Something else? Specific skills in any of the programs we've covered?

Podcast
Create a podcast that includes:

1. A brief description of an assignment you would give students (< 30 seconds);
2. An example of what a student would submit as their response to the assignment (1 to 1.5 minutes); and
3. At least three musical/sound effect interludes (< 7 seconds each).

For the sounds, you can download sounds from SoundSnap (or some other sound website), and/or you can use a song on your computer by importing it into Audacity and editing it down to a short segment.

From Photo Story to your Submissions page

Due Sunday, March 15, 11:59pm
Post the Word document to your Submissions page.
Upload the videos to Google Video or YouTube and "Insert" them onto your Submissions page (on Wednesday, I'll post a how-to video on this).

A. Watch another Video or two
345 Photo Story Page: I recommend watching the bottom two videos. Spanish folks, be sure to check out the fish family...

B. Word Doc
This will actually be your LAST step, but I wanted to make sure you didn't miss it. Type up a brief explanation of your two videos.

For your teacher-generated video, explain:

• the purpose of the video and 
• what students would be doing before, during, and/or after watching.

For your student-generated video, explain the hypothetical assignment that required you to make the video ("The teacher asked us to...").

Also note which pictures demonstrate these skills: strategic motion (panning/zooming) and a short picture (less than 5 seconds). If you did these skills on multiple slides, you still only need to describe one instance of each skill.

C. Teacher-Generated Photo Story
Choose a NEW SOL and create a photo story for your future students. The movie can be an introduction to new material or an entrance activity, or a prompt for writing/discussion, etc. as long as it has a strong PURPOSE.

The video must be between 1:15 and 2:00 (again, if it is longer than 2 minutes, you will get ZERO CREDIT. Oh, shut up, I know I'm a big jerk).

The following skills must be demonstrated somewhere within the movies you make (the teacher-generated, the student-generated, or some combination):

A color block with a title/caption,
Narration (at least one whole movie's worth),
Strategic Motion (Panning/Zooming),
Background Music (imported or created), and
A "short picture" with a duration of less than 5 seconds.

D. Student-Generated Movie
Make up a hypothetical photo story assignment, then actually make a movie in response to the assignment.

Include whichever skills you didn't include in your first video.

If you can do this for one of your current classes, great. If not, that's fine, too. This is a pretty open-ended assignment - just for more practice.





Due Sunday, March 8, 11:59pm
Post the Word document and the link to your G-CSE to your Submissions page.

A. Concept Map
Using Word, create a concept map students would do/fill to practice the content you'd cover. There are lots of types of concept maps - for the homework, these two elements are critical:
    1. Completing the concept map would show that the students understand the content they're practicing.
    2. There are movable parts: text boxes, pictures, etc.

Choose from the following content (use the Curriculum Framework for details) :

•Social Studies
    –Civil War (GOVT.6A, CE.5b)
    –Political Parties (US i.9)
•English
    –Persuasive Techniques (8.3)
    –Poetry (8.5)
•Foreign Language (Of course, you Spanish folks, just ignore the Curriculum Framework)
    –Regular vs Irregular Verbs
    –Vocabulary (Meals and Foods?)

Be creative!! This is NOT a lot of homework, so come up with something substantial and strong! Just to give you a clue about length, this should be more like the Similes concept map and LESS like the dog/parakeet concept map! Both are viewable on the Resources page.



B. WebQuest
This is the easy part of the assignment. The purpose is for you to start thinking about a more "independent" WebQuest where students are kind of "teaching themselves" - a more "constructivist" form of learning. (It's not completely constructivist - for you purists - but it's getting there...)

The theory here is that students would use the Google Custom Search Engine to actually teach themselves how to successfully complete the Concept Map.

The easy part for you is that it's ok if the WebQuest is not a perfect resource. I just want you to go through the steps of finding  useful/relevant websites (at least three) and building a G-CSE to let your kids learn more independently.

Since students would be completing the Concept Map online, be sure to include a link (HYPERlink) to the G-CSE on the Concept Map.

Happy Spring Break!




Due Sunday, February 22, 11:59pm
Post everything (new PPT, link to WebQuest, new Follow-Along) to your Submissions page.

A. Adapt PowerPoint
Incorporate two or three "TEACHING" elements into your PowerPoint. One easy way to think about this is that it may actually require interaction between you and your students or between two students. If you're getting them talking to you or one another - in a way that has them talking about the CONTENT - you're probably on the right track.

These elements will be easy to add to your PPT, but may be difficult to conceptualize! Spend some time really brainstorming interesting, engaging ways to have students practice the content! Don't be afraid to ask your methods teacher or me AFTER you've done some thinking!.

[Typically, you would also edit your Follow-Along to match the new PowerPoint - but DON'T do this for this week. Instead, you'll adapt/re-create the Follow-Along for the WebQuest.]


B. WebQuest
Create a WebQuest consisting of 3 web pages: 1 Home Page with links to the two (or more) Resource pages.
On each Resource page, include:

• At least one meaningful image (may be a chart/graph, map, photo, etc.);
• An appealing, readable format (ideally with a bit of prose (paragraphs), but also bullets/lists where appropriate.
• A decent amount of content (shouldn't be overwhelming, but also shouldn't seem so short that it's silly to have separate pages).

C. WebQuest Follow-Along
Follow Good Questions Guidelines!

I prefer not to give you a number of questions/minimum/etc. for this. Writing questions for anything is great practice, so do enough to show me that you have the hang of it and to give yourself solid practice.

• Go for variety of questions/format...find the best format for each answer.
• Use a mix of simple and complex questions.
• Remember, this is an individual/seatwork assignment...but you can add collaborative work at the end if you like.
• Use AUTO NUMBERING on your WebQuest Follow-Along.
  

You can definitely use any of your questions from last week that work.

To start class next week, you'll be clicking through one of your content area classmate's new PPT, WebQuest, and Follow-Along.

[See how knowing others will see your stuff can be motivating...?]   :)







Due Sunday, February 15, 11:59pm

A. Anonymous "Reflection"
Fill out this reflection survey.

B. Non-Linear PowerPoint
Choose an SOL and create a non-linear PPT that you would give or present to your future students. The PowerPoint - whether you create it as a SOLO COMPUTER ACTIVITY or a PRESENTATION, will be used to introduce your students to the new content you've chosen from the SOLs...so, they'll know something or be able to do something new after the ppt.

Include:

• At least 5 slides: 1 "home slide" and 4 content slides
• Custom-animated "home" buttons on the appropriate slides - remember, do NOT use the boring PPT home button!
• All applicable previous rules (definitely contrast...but YOU decide whether you need big fonts, 5x5, custom animation, etc.)

When you post the PPT to your submissions page, provide a brief description of the SOL/content you covered.

C. Follow-Along
8 Questions Total (or more):

5 Questions directly from the PPT
3 Complex Question that require extra thought

Asking good complex questions is sometimes difficult...consider this as you choose your SOL.

Post this Word document to your Submissions Page. If you do a Google Doc, be sure to invite me to collaborate.



Due Sunday, February 8, 11:59pm

A. Meet Henry
Watch this slideshow.

B. Words Bad, Pictures Good
Watch this slideshow - it's long, but you should be able to click through it very quickly. No need to read every word on the text-heavy slides!

You should NOT be as extreme as these slideshows! They are meant for SALES, not TEACHING.
However, adapting the theory could improve your use of pictures. Think of the pictures you use as yet another pass - another way to help your students remember the content.


C. PowerPoint (you may use Google Docs if you prefer)
Create a 7-10 slide PowerPoint designed to present content from one of your other courses. Ideally, you would use content that you actually have to present in that course, or at least content you have to learn/memorize for a future purpose.

Your PowerPoint must include appropriate use of:

• Custom Animation (remember, no slide should start BLANK)
• Fonts (size, style, spacing, contrast)
• Meaningful Images (use at least two images and CUSTOM ANIMATE at least one of them)
• 5x5 Rule

Due Sunday, February 1, 11:59 pm

A. Reflection 3
View this document. Be sure to use the tabs (bottom left corner of the Excel window) to see all three pages.

You don't have to understand every single piece of the data - but spend a few minutes figuring out the charts. After reading all the comments on Tab 3, write your reflection.

Don’t just repeat what we’ve discussed in previous conversations: What new information do you have? What patterns can you find? What details in the comments can help inform you as a teacher? What comments can help you as a student? (You don’t need to answer any/all of these questions – they’re just to get your brain flowing.)

You’ll have constant access to this kind of data from your students – you just have to know how to look at it and dedicate the time and reflection to pull something useful from it.

B. Useful Links
Find two links and post them to your Submissions page.    

One link should be something that any teacher would find useful.
One link should be something a teacher in your content area would find useful.

On your submissions page, click "Add File" and:

• Use the "Paste in URL" feature
• Add display text (like on the Participants page)
• Provide a sufficient description so your classmates will know how the link might be useful.
  

Both must be links I haven't shown/used in class - ie. no Google services!

C. SOL Resource
Create a new page on your site for your content SOLs.

Find further instructions on the SOL Sample page.

D. Google Docs/Presentation

Upload your Introductory PPT to Google Docs.

[The file you upload must be a .ppt, not a .pptx...for those of you using Office 2007:

    go to File > Save As > Save as type: "PowerPoint 97-2003 Presentation (*.ppt)"]

Click around the Google Presentation interface to familiarize yourself with the tool. Notice differences/similarities to ppt...is it a viable option for presentations? pros/cons? You don't have to write about it, just spend a couple minutes looking/clicking.

Due Sunday, January 25, 11:59 pm

What Happened?
    Complete any unfinished homework from last week.

Guidelines WebQuest
    Use the Guidelines link on the left to answer the questions in the attached Word document (attached at the bottom of this page).
    Post your completed WebQuest to your Submissions page.

Reflection Two
    Since we don't have class this week, watch one of your other professors! In your reflection, describe:

• At least one thing the instructor did that you LIKED.
• Explain how you could adapt it/use it in your classroom.
• At least one thing the instructor did that you think did NOT work.
• Explain how you - in your future classroom - would alter/replace what was done.

    Don't forget to pay attention to the content - I can't be held responsible for whatever you miss! Remember, it's a REFLECTION - don't do it during the actual class!

    Remember, the point of this is for you to actually LEARN something by observing/evaluating the professors you see. If you turn this into a useless exercise, it will become exactly that. Don't be afraid to sit and think about the reflection for a bit instead of just writing the first thing you think of.

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Due Sunday, January 18, 11:59 pm

Add Yourself
    Add your name/information to the Participants page.

Google Form: Constructive Criticism
Respond to the prompt in the email I sent you during class.

Your Google Site
    Finish your:
        Home Page
        (Be sure the email address you post to your home page is the one you want me to use!!!)
        Submissions Page (this will be a "File Cabinet" page)
        Reflections Page (this will be an "Announcement" page)

Reflection One
Create a New Post.
Write a paragraph or two about your experience in the first class, especially with regards to the Classroom Management WebQuest.

PowerPoint
    Create a 3-to-5-slide, 2-minute PowerPoint to introduce yourself next week.
        You may only use 3 words per slide (That's between 9 and 15 words total).
    Impress us!
    Post this to your Submissions page.
    If the file is too big to post, email me the PPT or PPTX.