Final Presentation
The professional development tutorial we created was aim to share the many amazing applications that Google has to offer; so what better way than to use Google Presentation to deliver it. As a web-based technology tool, Google Presentation is easy to use and navigate. If you have used PowerPoint before then you will not have any problems creating presentations using this free technology. The best part of it all, since the presentation is on the Google Cloud, any group member had access and editing rights anytime, anywhere. The video was created using the screen recording feature of QuickTime Player on a Mac computer.
Developing the final product was fun and a new experience for me. The collaboration part of this project was probably the hardest part to accomplish. We had a student from Jakarta, Indonesia; another one from Tokyo, Japan; and two from California. It was a struggle to find the right time to meet because of the time difference, but once we did everything moved smoothly. This was also the first time I had to create a script and storyboard for a project. At first our group was a little lost in trying to decide how to create the storyboard, but then we decided on using the outline form of our presentation. I was in charge of the narration portion, so I had to find and learn how to use a screen capturing tool. I was happy to realize that I did not have to go to far to find this feature already available on my Mac computer; this made my job a lot easier. The narration part was also new to me because of the length of the presentation. In other courses, I had to do one or two minute narration projects, but having to talk for ten minutes was nerve-wrecking. I must admit, there were a few takes before I accomplished something I was happy with. Now that I know my computer has this built-in screen capture feature, I will definitely be taking advantage of it more often.
Overall, I truly believe we created something to be proud of. It was a lot of work, but we were determined to accomplish something that can be useful. I think the primary reason why we used Google Presentation to develop the tutorial, was to show the greatness of Google; but in my opinion, in the future I would like to use something that can include more sound and color such as Prezi. Prezi can help you create a more interactive presentation. Another way to make the production different can be to create a video or digital slideshow using iMovie on a Mac or MovieMaker on a PC.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Mobile Learning Lab
Classroom 2.0
There is no doubt that if integrated properly, mobile technology can definitely have a positive affect on student's learning. It was great to read some of the conversations in Classroom 2.0 and see the success that many teachers are having with using cell phones, iPods, iPads, and other devices in their classrooms. I would love to do the same in mine, but unfortunately there are few road blocks that prevents us from making this possible at my present school. For example, my administration has a zero tolerance for cell phones and there are many teachers who support this idea and are obsessed with keeping students from using them in the classroom. I feel that some people fail to realize that cell phones are becoming integral to a student's life, so why not let them use it to help them in their education. If we are suppose to prepare students for a more technological future, then we should not prevent them from using all types of technology in the classroom.
Poll Everywhere
It was a great experience creating and using Poll Everywhere. I created a poll with three questions and asked my students to answer them during class. They were very surprised when I asked them to take out their cell phones. They thought it a was trick and they were afraid I was going to confiscate them. After a little explanation, they began to participate. However, there were a few problems along the way. First, I assumed everyone had a phone. Those who did not felt left out. Second, many students who had a phone were not getting reception and were unable to send a text. Overall, it seemed that most students welcomed the new experience and were having fun participating. I will definitely integrate this technology again in the future. It is a wonderful tool to find out prior knowledge on a subject and can help you adjust your lesson planning accordingly.
Exploration
I have noticed that many students own an iPod, so I am interested in finding applications and tools that can help and motivate students to learn science. I visited the Wiki site "iPods & iPads in the classroom" and I was glad to see that many applications already exist which can make science more fun and exciting. For example, the application "The Chemical Touch light" provides information about Elements from The Periodic Table. "Convert Unit for Free" is another useful application; it keeps it conversions simple and fun. One of my favorites is "Science Glossary". It provides a large range of information for scientific terms and also short biographies of many important scientists. This could be handy when learning new vocabulary in science.
It is clear that mobile devices and its applications can provide students with a more positive learning experience, but I see myself fighting some challenges that can prevent a smooth integration. First, students do not have access to the school's wi-fi and many of them have limited data plans. On top of that, it is hard to get a strong phone reception as seen during the Poll Everywhere activity. Second, and probably the toughest challenge to overcome, will be to convince the administration to change their policies regarding mobile devices. I am confident that sooner or later, everyone will realize how important mobile learning can be.
There is no doubt that if integrated properly, mobile technology can definitely have a positive affect on student's learning. It was great to read some of the conversations in Classroom 2.0 and see the success that many teachers are having with using cell phones, iPods, iPads, and other devices in their classrooms. I would love to do the same in mine, but unfortunately there are few road blocks that prevents us from making this possible at my present school. For example, my administration has a zero tolerance for cell phones and there are many teachers who support this idea and are obsessed with keeping students from using them in the classroom. I feel that some people fail to realize that cell phones are becoming integral to a student's life, so why not let them use it to help them in their education. If we are suppose to prepare students for a more technological future, then we should not prevent them from using all types of technology in the classroom.
Poll Everywhere
It was a great experience creating and using Poll Everywhere. I created a poll with three questions and asked my students to answer them during class. They were very surprised when I asked them to take out their cell phones. They thought it a was trick and they were afraid I was going to confiscate them. After a little explanation, they began to participate. However, there were a few problems along the way. First, I assumed everyone had a phone. Those who did not felt left out. Second, many students who had a phone were not getting reception and were unable to send a text. Overall, it seemed that most students welcomed the new experience and were having fun participating. I will definitely integrate this technology again in the future. It is a wonderful tool to find out prior knowledge on a subject and can help you adjust your lesson planning accordingly.
Exploration
I have noticed that many students own an iPod, so I am interested in finding applications and tools that can help and motivate students to learn science. I visited the Wiki site "iPods & iPads in the classroom" and I was glad to see that many applications already exist which can make science more fun and exciting. For example, the application "The Chemical Touch light" provides information about Elements from The Periodic Table. "Convert Unit for Free" is another useful application; it keeps it conversions simple and fun. One of my favorites is "Science Glossary". It provides a large range of information for scientific terms and also short biographies of many important scientists. This could be handy when learning new vocabulary in science.
It is clear that mobile devices and its applications can provide students with a more positive learning experience, but I see myself fighting some challenges that can prevent a smooth integration. First, students do not have access to the school's wi-fi and many of them have limited data plans. On top of that, it is hard to get a strong phone reception as seen during the Poll Everywhere activity. Second, and probably the toughest challenge to overcome, will be to convince the administration to change their policies regarding mobile devices. I am confident that sooner or later, everyone will realize how important mobile learning can be.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Group Leadership Project: Part B - Storyboard and Script
Link to Storyboard/Outline
Link to Script
Creating the Storyboard/Outline for our presentation "Google's Greatness for the Classroom", was a fun but yet overwhelming experience. At first we were not exactly sure how to create a storyboard. Initially, Katie came up with the idea that we should use an outline form of our Google Presentation. After revising that idea, we finally agreed that our outline (storyboard) would consist of detailed information about how each slide would look like but staying away from providing actual snapshots of them. Once we were on the right path, we were each responsible for providing the information for our own slides. We included the text, visual, sound, and transition of each, hopefully providing a sense of surprise.
There will be a total of 22 slides in our final Google Presentation. Jean will be responsible for providing information of Google Translator and also the introduction. Ramiro will dedicate his slides to Google Sites and also provide a conclusion. Katie will focus on Google Drive and making sure our presentation is well designed. Finally, I will share about Google Blogger and will narrate the final presentation using CamStudio. It should be a fun way to end such an intricate assignment and will hopefully be a helpful tool for others to use.
Link to Script
Creating the Storyboard/Outline for our presentation "Google's Greatness for the Classroom", was a fun but yet overwhelming experience. At first we were not exactly sure how to create a storyboard. Initially, Katie came up with the idea that we should use an outline form of our Google Presentation. After revising that idea, we finally agreed that our outline (storyboard) would consist of detailed information about how each slide would look like but staying away from providing actual snapshots of them. Once we were on the right path, we were each responsible for providing the information for our own slides. We included the text, visual, sound, and transition of each, hopefully providing a sense of surprise.
There will be a total of 22 slides in our final Google Presentation. Jean will be responsible for providing information of Google Translator and also the introduction. Ramiro will dedicate his slides to Google Sites and also provide a conclusion. Katie will focus on Google Drive and making sure our presentation is well designed. Finally, I will share about Google Blogger and will narrate the final presentation using CamStudio. It should be a fun way to end such an intricate assignment and will hopefully be a helpful tool for others to use.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
WPP: Part C - Implementation
Link to Implementation Podcast
Subscribe to podcast in a reader
Student Sample of Photosynthesis Prezi
Transcript of Podcast
I learned about Prezi during CEP 810, and ever since I have been dying to try it out. I knew I had to do it sooner or later, so I took my chances with this project. The implementation of my Wicked Problem Project had a lot of surprises, unexpected bumps on the road, but also many delights. Initially I had decided to go ahead and try this out with all of my Biology classes, but at the last minute I changed my mind. I went ahead and only assigned it to one of them. It was hard to determine which class to assign it to, so I ended up choosing the one that seemed to be a bit more technology savvy. It didn’t mean that everyone would not have been capable of completing the assignment since about 80% of the students had never even heard about Prezi. I was surprised how people are more aware of web-based social media than tools that can improve their learning.
One unexpected bump on the road happened during the first day of implementation. I became frustrated because of the lack of willingness from students to learn a new tool. They were so afraid to try something new and there was so much complaining even before they had seen the demonstration I had prepared. One student even said “why do we have to learn Prezi, when we already know how to use PowerPoint”. I spent more time than I had planned on to sell them the idea that they will like working with Prezi better than PowerPoint. Finally, somehow the mood changed after my brief presentation and there were even a few oohs and aahs, and some students actually expressed excitement to start their project. This was definitely a pleasant surprise and I found my mood changing for the better. The few students who knew about Prezi were delighted to finally use their abilities with this technology.
The first day of the project included students doing some research using a search engine of their choice, classroom encyclopedias, or their Biology books. They needed to find enough sources and information about Photosynthesis to be able to understand the subject in a deeper manner and show enough comprehension through their work on their presentations. The total number of slides required were 10, including title page, various topics in Photosynthesis, a conclusion, and a work cited slide. They needed to have the information approved by me before beginning the project. I was surprised to see how quickly this was done, with the correct information of course. I felt that indeed they were surprised to see how easy and fun Prezi really is. For the first day, I had asked them to have 2 slides done in class and 1 more for homework. By the end of the second day in class, many students had exceeded my expectations, and had moved farther into the project. The final project is not due for another few days, but I am sure that every assignment turned in will be creative and unique. Although, it seems that they are enjoying the new technology, I will have to wait to measure comprehension. But if my project proves to be successful, I hope to have all misconceptions about Photosynthesis disappear. At the end I realized that giving the assignment to only one class could actually work for the better, I can use the results of the upcoming summative assessments to compare results between classes, and see if those who worked with Prezi will do better. I will keep my fingers crossed!
Monday, October 15, 2012
WPP: Part B - Application of TPACK
In simple terms Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) is the integration of technology to what we teach (content) and how we teach (pedagogy) in the 21st century. This fusion helps teachers effectively include technology into their subject matter using various strategies that will enhance knowledge and learning. (Teaching Teachers for the Future). In the diagram below you will see that TPACK lies at the heart of all three bodies of knowledge: Technology (T), Content (C), and Pedagogy (P). By using Prezi, an online presentation tool, we can effectively meet all requirements of TPACK when teaching about the subject of Photosynthesis.
What is the TP knowledge for the solution? Prezi is an interactive tool that if used properly could enhance the process of learning. As a technology; Prezi also supports many pedagogical strategies that can be effective when teaching a subject in science. First, students become engaged in the process while also learning how to properly use technology. They need to research, study, and recall the correct information to fulfill the requirements of the presentation. Along with following instructions on how to accomplish the final product, students will discover new information that will support their learning of the subject and also clear prior misconceptions. With any project or assignments we want our students to be creative and express their individuality. If the student chooses to do the presentation on their own, they will have myriad of options to make a creative presentation; if they decide to work in a group then, Prezi will give them a chance to learn to work collaborative and together learn about Photosynthesis.
What is the TC knowledge for the solution? One of the best features of Prezi is that it can help you create visual organizers that can improve learning of the subject matter. It can also help you see something from beginning to end. In the case of learning Photosynthesis, students need to learn how the raw materials (carbon dioxide and water) come together and with the help of sunlight will produce sugar (glucose) and oxygen. With Prezi then can create a presentation that will show them this procedure from beginning to end. This method by far improves on traditional teaching of Photosynthesis, students are creating their own representations of the subject compared to simply be given the information by the teacher.
What is the PC knowledge for the solution? Learning science requires inquiry and critical thinking. Students need to resolve their understanding of what happens to many components in the process of Photosynthesis. They need to inquire how a plant uses carbon dioxide and water to make their own food. They also need to further think how the plant uses the product of Photosynthesis for their growth and development and also how oxygen as a product becomes important for other living things. Students must also conduct research to clear prior misconceptions and develop a deeper comprehension of the subject. Another pedagogical strategy to further make a subject understandable to learners is that they need to learn to evaluate information. In other words they need to find specific facts that can support their learning.
What is the TP knowledge for the solution? Prezi is an interactive tool that if used properly could enhance the process of learning. As a technology; Prezi also supports many pedagogical strategies that can be effective when teaching a subject in science. First, students become engaged in the process while also learning how to properly use technology. They need to research, study, and recall the correct information to fulfill the requirements of the presentation. Along with following instructions on how to accomplish the final product, students will discover new information that will support their learning of the subject and also clear prior misconceptions. With any project or assignments we want our students to be creative and express their individuality. If the student chooses to do the presentation on their own, they will have myriad of options to make a creative presentation; if they decide to work in a group then, Prezi will give them a chance to learn to work collaborative and together learn about Photosynthesis.
What is the TC knowledge for the solution? One of the best features of Prezi is that it can help you create visual organizers that can improve learning of the subject matter. It can also help you see something from beginning to end. In the case of learning Photosynthesis, students need to learn how the raw materials (carbon dioxide and water) come together and with the help of sunlight will produce sugar (glucose) and oxygen. With Prezi then can create a presentation that will show them this procedure from beginning to end. This method by far improves on traditional teaching of Photosynthesis, students are creating their own representations of the subject compared to simply be given the information by the teacher.
What is the PC knowledge for the solution? Learning science requires inquiry and critical thinking. Students need to resolve their understanding of what happens to many components in the process of Photosynthesis. They need to inquire how a plant uses carbon dioxide and water to make their own food. They also need to further think how the plant uses the product of Photosynthesis for their growth and development and also how oxygen as a product becomes important for other living things. Students must also conduct research to clear prior misconceptions and develop a deeper comprehension of the subject. Another pedagogical strategy to further make a subject understandable to learners is that they need to learn to evaluate information. In other words they need to find specific facts that can support their learning.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Group Leadership Project: PART A Brainstorm Session
For this project there were four people assigned to our group; Ramiro Carbajal, Jean Sullivan, Katie White, and myself. Initially we wanted to use Vyew as an online conferencing tool. We found that the only problem using Vyew was the capability of recording the session. The second option, and the one we decided to use was Google Hangout. This was by far the better option. This was actually the first time I used Hangout and I felt it was extremely easy to use, record the session and upload the conference video on to YouTube.
Google Hangout is part of the Google package, its free, easy too use, and all you need is Internet connection. As it turns out, our Group Leadership Project will be on Google and some of its applications and their important role in education. We will be using Google Presentation to teach about some of the other great tools. Ramiro will be including information on Google Sites, Jean will be sharing about Google Translator, Katie will be focusing on Google Drive, and also designing our Presentation. Each member is required to participate by adding two or more slides to the presentation. We decided to have most of the work done by October 17th, we felt this would help us with the final production of the script and storyboard. Other duties will also include; introduction of the presentation by Jean, narration by Sam, conclusion by Ramiro, and designing the presentation by Katie. To facilitate the final project, it will be a combination of Google Presentation with CamStudio voice recording.
Google Hangout worked out well for our purpose of recording the session. We knew that the session would be a lengthy one, and if we had used other recording tools, it would have created a extremely large computer file. It would have been difficult to upload this file on to a server. Hangout gives you the advantage to immediately upload your session to YouTube, without having to worry about the size of the file. Another advantage of Google Hangout is that it was easy to set up the conference. Ramiro sent us an invitation and link, we clicked on it, and there we were conferencing. The voice and video quality was also great for the most part but most importantly it was free.
There were no disadvantages with using Google Hangout as a conferencing tool. What made it difficult was setting up a meeting time that would work with everyone. I am sure it was frustrating for all members since due to our busy schedules we could not agree on a time to meet. To add to the problem, Ramiro and I live in the Los Angeles area, Katie live in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Jean lives in Tokyo Japan. The 14 and 16 hour difference added to our dilemma. When we finally agreed on a time, Katie was not able to be present, unfortunately the email with the invitation never got to her. Jean was present but in voice only. She had expressed concerns that she had been having problems with Google, and that night she tried and tried but was never able to connect to our hangout. So she did the next best thing and ended up calling Ramiro on his cell phone, he put her on speaker, and we begin conferencing. In my opinion, this was a disadvantage in itself since Jean was never able to see our faces and we had difficulties hearing each other.
Over all, I am sure it was a great experience for all of us. I will definitely be using Google Hangout again. It is a great collaboration tool that can easily work even when people are found in different parts of the world. Just as an update, Katie was sent the link to the YouTube video, she has reviewed our goals and responsibilities, and we are on our way in creating a wonderful Group Leadership Project.
Google Hangout is part of the Google package, its free, easy too use, and all you need is Internet connection. As it turns out, our Group Leadership Project will be on Google and some of its applications and their important role in education. We will be using Google Presentation to teach about some of the other great tools. Ramiro will be including information on Google Sites, Jean will be sharing about Google Translator, Katie will be focusing on Google Drive, and also designing our Presentation. Each member is required to participate by adding two or more slides to the presentation. We decided to have most of the work done by October 17th, we felt this would help us with the final production of the script and storyboard. Other duties will also include; introduction of the presentation by Jean, narration by Sam, conclusion by Ramiro, and designing the presentation by Katie. To facilitate the final project, it will be a combination of Google Presentation with CamStudio voice recording.
Google Hangout worked out well for our purpose of recording the session. We knew that the session would be a lengthy one, and if we had used other recording tools, it would have created a extremely large computer file. It would have been difficult to upload this file on to a server. Hangout gives you the advantage to immediately upload your session to YouTube, without having to worry about the size of the file. Another advantage of Google Hangout is that it was easy to set up the conference. Ramiro sent us an invitation and link, we clicked on it, and there we were conferencing. The voice and video quality was also great for the most part but most importantly it was free.
There were no disadvantages with using Google Hangout as a conferencing tool. What made it difficult was setting up a meeting time that would work with everyone. I am sure it was frustrating for all members since due to our busy schedules we could not agree on a time to meet. To add to the problem, Ramiro and I live in the Los Angeles area, Katie live in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Jean lives in Tokyo Japan. The 14 and 16 hour difference added to our dilemma. When we finally agreed on a time, Katie was not able to be present, unfortunately the email with the invitation never got to her. Jean was present but in voice only. She had expressed concerns that she had been having problems with Google, and that night she tried and tried but was never able to connect to our hangout. So she did the next best thing and ended up calling Ramiro on his cell phone, he put her on speaker, and we begin conferencing. In my opinion, this was a disadvantage in itself since Jean was never able to see our faces and we had difficulties hearing each other.
Over all, I am sure it was a great experience for all of us. I will definitely be using Google Hangout again. It is a great collaboration tool that can easily work even when people are found in different parts of the world. Just as an update, Katie was sent the link to the YouTube video, she has reviewed our goals and responsibilities, and we are on our way in creating a wonderful Group Leadership Project.
Web-Conferencing
As a group we decided to use Google Hangout. Some of the group members had already used this on-line tool; this was my first time using it. For the most part, it was easy to set up the conference. A person sends out the link, we all sign on to it, and recording begins. The greatest part is that you can easily upload the recorded session on YouTube. There is nothing different I would as far as the tool used. The only we would work on is to set up a more convenient time for everyone to meet. It took a while for everyone in the group to decide on a time that would work for all of us. This would definitely be a great tool to use in the classroom, it can add to collaborate work when discussion is needed on a subject. This can be done anytime of day as long as Internet connection is available.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
WPP: Part A - Description of Need or Opportunity
The basic process of Photosynthesis is a tough subject to learn and teach. Unfortunately, students come into the classroom with misconceptions about how plants work. It is hard for them to believe that plants have to make their own food internally using carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight. Most believe that plants take in their food from sources such as water and soil. In my opinion, we add to a student’s misunderstanding about Photosynthesis at an early age. For example, we can all remember hearing from our parents and teachers that soil and water is all a plant needs for growth. Another misconception, is that some students do not see the importance of plants; but we know that nearly all living things depends on them as a food and oxygen source. The educational need is to clear these misconceptions and provide students with a deep understanding of how carbon, dioxide, water, and sunlight will produce sugar and oxygen, which helps the plant grow and develop.
To try to help students clear these misconceptions, they will be creating an individual presentation using Prezi, a web-based presentation application and storytelling tool that uses a single canvas instead of traditional slides. Although Prezi will be the preferred technology, students are welcomed to use Google Docs or Zoho. The focus of the assignment will be to create something that could possibly be used to teach younger students about Photosynthesis.
Students will have to be creative but most importantly have to completely demonstrate a deep understanding of the basic process of Photosynthesis and its formula (Carbon Dioxide + Water + Sunlight Energy --> Sugar (Glucose) + Oxygen). There will be three slides describing how plant obtains the reactants and what happens to them during photosynthesis. Two more slides will used to describe the products. They will have to explain the benefits of oxygen and why does a plant need to make glucose. Project must also be colorful and include relevant pictures or videos. An instructions sheet/rubric (RubiStar) will be developed to guide students while making their presentations.
Presentations will be done in a Biology class made up of 9-12 grade students. Production will occur in the classroom and at home. If needed students may work in pairs to include collaboration to the process and improve social skills. Before starting the presentation a storyline, brainstorming sheet, and sources must be submitted for approval. This assignment will be implemented at the beginning of the unit, which starts on October 11th and ends October 18th. We will spend a couple of days in the computer lab to work on the project and one of those days will be fully devoted to teaching them the basics about Prezi.
Measuring Success
As mentioned earlier, there will be time spent in the computer lab. Before beginning their Prezi projects students will take a survey that will measure basic prior knowledge about plants and Photosynthesis. On the same day the Prezi is due, students will be asked to write a short summary about questions dealing with the process of Photosynthesis. I decided to stay away from a mutiple choice quiz because of possible guessing. The summaries will be compared to the results from the survey; if the project was successful, understanding of the subject should be clear in their summaries, primarily clearing up misconceptions. The survey and short summary will be used as formative assessments. There will also be a unit exam given at the end which should provide further proof of the project's success.
Resources
Photosynthesis - A Survival Guide for Teachers: A collection of resources for teachers to use in their classroom when teaching about Photosynthesis. There are worksheet, PowerPoints, technical guides etc. This website helps with a variety of ideas on how to make such complex subject and make it easy to comprehend by students.
Using technology to teach content: This article gives you information on pros and cons using technology to teach subjects such as Photosynthesis.
Usinf technology to promote inquiry in Science: This short paper outlines the importance of using technology in teaching.
Prezi Tutorials: Step-by-steps instructions/tutorials on how to use Prezi to create presentations.
YouTube video about making presentations with Prezi
Faculty Focus: Short article which supports the idea of using Prezi rather than PowerPoint.
Example Prezi: This is an example of a presentation using Prezi and the the subject of Photosynthesis
Misconceptions of Photosynthesis: A paper which includes a variety of misconceptions which students have about Photosynthesis.
But what is Photosynthesis?: A research paper about teaching photosynthesis and clearing some of its misconceptions.
To try to help students clear these misconceptions, they will be creating an individual presentation using Prezi, a web-based presentation application and storytelling tool that uses a single canvas instead of traditional slides. Although Prezi will be the preferred technology, students are welcomed to use Google Docs or Zoho. The focus of the assignment will be to create something that could possibly be used to teach younger students about Photosynthesis.
Students will have to be creative but most importantly have to completely demonstrate a deep understanding of the basic process of Photosynthesis and its formula (Carbon Dioxide + Water + Sunlight Energy --> Sugar (Glucose) + Oxygen). There will be three slides describing how plant obtains the reactants and what happens to them during photosynthesis. Two more slides will used to describe the products. They will have to explain the benefits of oxygen and why does a plant need to make glucose. Project must also be colorful and include relevant pictures or videos. An instructions sheet/rubric (RubiStar) will be developed to guide students while making their presentations.
Presentations will be done in a Biology class made up of 9-12 grade students. Production will occur in the classroom and at home. If needed students may work in pairs to include collaboration to the process and improve social skills. Before starting the presentation a storyline, brainstorming sheet, and sources must be submitted for approval. This assignment will be implemented at the beginning of the unit, which starts on October 11th and ends October 18th. We will spend a couple of days in the computer lab to work on the project and one of those days will be fully devoted to teaching them the basics about Prezi.
Measuring Success
As mentioned earlier, there will be time spent in the computer lab. Before beginning their Prezi projects students will take a survey that will measure basic prior knowledge about plants and Photosynthesis. On the same day the Prezi is due, students will be asked to write a short summary about questions dealing with the process of Photosynthesis. I decided to stay away from a mutiple choice quiz because of possible guessing. The summaries will be compared to the results from the survey; if the project was successful, understanding of the subject should be clear in their summaries, primarily clearing up misconceptions. The survey and short summary will be used as formative assessments. There will also be a unit exam given at the end which should provide further proof of the project's success.
Resources
Photosynthesis - A Survival Guide for Teachers: A collection of resources for teachers to use in their classroom when teaching about Photosynthesis. There are worksheet, PowerPoints, technical guides etc. This website helps with a variety of ideas on how to make such complex subject and make it easy to comprehend by students.
Using technology to teach content: This article gives you information on pros and cons using technology to teach subjects such as Photosynthesis.
Usinf technology to promote inquiry in Science: This short paper outlines the importance of using technology in teaching.
Prezi Tutorials: Step-by-steps instructions/tutorials on how to use Prezi to create presentations.
YouTube video about making presentations with Prezi
Faculty Focus: Short article which supports the idea of using Prezi rather than PowerPoint.
Example Prezi: This is an example of a presentation using Prezi and the the subject of Photosynthesis
Misconceptions of Photosynthesis: A paper which includes a variety of misconceptions which students have about Photosynthesis.
But what is Photosynthesis?: A research paper about teaching photosynthesis and clearing some of its misconceptions.
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