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For the IRON CUE challenge, my mystery ingredient was the Interactive White Board.
I have never taught in a classroom with a traditional Interactive White Board (i.e., Promethean or SMART board). I began teaching with an overhead transparency projector which was quickly replaced with a document camera / LCD projector.
My school site has recently upgraded and installed Flat Screen TVs in all the classroom along with an AppleTV and iPad. I wanted to explore innovative uses of these devices since that is what I have available to me. I also believe this is the direction school are going as SMART boards die, and LCD projector bulbs burn out.
In this lesson, students experience a virtual tour using a 360 image in Google maps. They create their own mission model in Minecraft and then present their own virtual tour of their mission model for their classmates using the iPad and Large Flat Screen TV.
I was initially planning to do something with Google Expeditions for this assignment. I love the idea of taking virtual field trips and bringing the outside world into the classroom. To make this lesson more student focused, I decided to have the students create their own "expedition" of the CA mission they have been studying by designing their mission in Minecraft and then using the IWB to act as tour guide for their classmates. Giving presentations is also an excellent opportunity to develop speaking and listening skills.
The technology used in this lesson allows students to more fully experience what they are studying. They can feel like they are actually at the mission, look around, and explore. Having this experience in a large scale will help them be able to accurately create mission models. Prior to having this type of display in the classroom, teachers relied on photos and perhaps a video on a small TV that only the front row of students could see. Technology has redesigned the lesson experience by allowing students the opportunity to view things in large scale and actually move around and interact with the space as opposed to looking at a still image.
Minecraft is a game that students are heavily involved in these days. I know my students will be engaged in the process of building the model and will pay careful attention to detail. Thinking about the inside of the mission will make the model more realistic than an old fashioned 3D model built from a cardboard kit. I also like the fact that they will be developing collaboration skills. Students will be working in a team to create the model and prepare their presentation.
I look forward to continuing to use the Apple TV and iPad in my classroom to enhance student learning and expose my students to the world!
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