Becker High School
Leveraging resources to support self-directed learning to communicate, create, collaborate, and think critically.
For students in grades 9-12, the focus of learning surrounds a deep understanding of content while also supporting college and career readiness. Students begin to have more choice in the courses they take and the focus of technology takes a somewhat different direction. For students at Becker High School, technology supports such important skills as advanced research and writing, more complex mathematics and science, as well as overall work flow and information and assignments.
Another benefit that technology brings is the ability to conduct both formative and summative assessment in a way that provides teachers immediate results. Students can take a short quiz with teachers seeing immediate results instead of taking 1+ days to see how many students understand the material. Technology has provided for more time and a more efficient workflow for giving and collecting assignments.
Below are examples one may find in classrooms on a typical day at Becker High School.
Students who take Statistics with Mr. Pany have the opportunity to experience a flipped classroom environment. A flipped classroom gives students the chance to review the content at anytime and as often as is needed to gain understanding. While in the classroom, students do what is traditionally viewed as "homework."
Mr. Pany is able to provide more one-on-one support for students who require assistance while also incorporating activities that support instruction.
Student Created Math Review
The High School math department has been exploring the benefits of student created math explanations for a few years, seeing the benefit for both students and teachers to see the understanding around a math concept. Students in Mr. Eldridge's classroom have created video recordings of their own explanations with a dual purpose. First, this allows the teacher a better understanding of what the student knows and does not know. Gaps in understanding are more easily recognized. Second, students have access to video explanations of each concept (in their own words) to be used for future review. Students can listen and watch how they solved the problem earlier in the class, to be used for future understandings and assessments.
Teacher Created iBooks for Science
Many of our high school students are carrying around their science books on their iPad created by Mr. Midas, Mr. Baird, and Ms. Olson. These books not only offer great content, but also interactive features and media that a traditional textbook is not able to include. Digital books have been created using their own material as well as material from resources such as CK12 to create books that can be updated after each school year with new and valuable material. As a benefit, students do not need to carry around heavy science books from class-to-class or to and from home. You can learn more about Apple's iBooks Author at http://www.apple.com/ibooks-author/.
Physical Education - Safe Use of the Weight Room
Students in Mr. Aho's weight training class created "how to" videos for various weight training stations. The focus was to not only demonstrate their understanding of each exercise, but also to help support other users of the weight room. QR Codes which link to each video have been added to each station so any user can simple scan the code with a device and learn the safe way to use each station.
Home Tours - Spanish
IMG_0252.MOVIn the past, the Spanish Department had the students a design a "home" on paper and label the rooms to make use of directional vocabulary. The now utilizing the Roomle 3D floorplanner app on their iPad, students were able to design their virtual home and label the rooms in a 2D format.
Additionally, using this app, students are able to give a virtual tour of their home in Spanish within the classroom itself. This gives them the chance to practice their verbal skills as well.
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