Please enjoy the Jing of my WPP Final Project
Problem
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.
Solution
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. Prezi is highly interactive and if used properly can enhance the process of learning. When compared to other presentation tools, it further increases creativity and individuality.
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.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Personal Learning Plan
Link to my Personal Learning Plan on YouTube
Script
Hello everyone. I am Samuel Lopez and this is a visual representation of my Personal Learning Plan. I definitely have grown in many ways throughout this program and truly feel that I will become a better educator using technology.
I used to think for years that I was a master of technology. I always owned the latest software and gadgets. PowerPoint was my tool in creating engaging presentations. But for the most part, I think I was teaching in a black and white world, in the world of Web 1.0.
It was difficult to motivate students, they hated to open the book and simply read it; some found it very frustrating and many times even boring. I felt frustrated as well. I needed to find ways to clear misconceptions in science, with tools that motivated and made students think critically about the subject. For example, looking at Photosynthesis, I wanted students to learn that water and soil were not food for plants; instead they use carbon dioxide and water to produce glucose.
Earlier this year, a colleague and I, Ramiro Carbajal, decided to dive into a new adventure. Little did we know that this would become a life changing experience. My initial goal was to enhance my technology skills. At this point I feel that MSU has turned my world around and given me the tools that will be necessary in becoming a better educator. I knew very little of Web 2.0 and the amazing applications that you can bring into the classroom and help students improve their learning experiences.
For example, just last week, I used Prezi for the first time with my students. Although, there were some challenges, many welcomed the experience with open minds. It was rewarding to see that a student afterwards used Prezi for a presentation in another class.
With three remaining semesters, I anticipate learning vast amounts of new information. I cannot wait. I have many plans and goals. First, I will strive to become an expert at using mobile devices in the classroom. Another goal is to be more involved in my school’s professional development. I have already been asked to facilitate teaching new technology within my department. I would also like to keep parents more connected and informed, possibly create a Weebly site, just for them to interact. And finally, be able to mold students into successful 21st century learners.
Script
Hello everyone. I am Samuel Lopez and this is a visual representation of my Personal Learning Plan. I definitely have grown in many ways throughout this program and truly feel that I will become a better educator using technology.
I used to think for years that I was a master of technology. I always owned the latest software and gadgets. PowerPoint was my tool in creating engaging presentations. But for the most part, I think I was teaching in a black and white world, in the world of Web 1.0.
It was difficult to motivate students, they hated to open the book and simply read it; some found it very frustrating and many times even boring. I felt frustrated as well. I needed to find ways to clear misconceptions in science, with tools that motivated and made students think critically about the subject. For example, looking at Photosynthesis, I wanted students to learn that water and soil were not food for plants; instead they use carbon dioxide and water to produce glucose.
Earlier this year, a colleague and I, Ramiro Carbajal, decided to dive into a new adventure. Little did we know that this would become a life changing experience. My initial goal was to enhance my technology skills. At this point I feel that MSU has turned my world around and given me the tools that will be necessary in becoming a better educator. I knew very little of Web 2.0 and the amazing applications that you can bring into the classroom and help students improve their learning experiences.
For example, just last week, I used Prezi for the first time with my students. Although, there were some challenges, many welcomed the experience with open minds. It was rewarding to see that a student afterwards used Prezi for a presentation in another class.
With three remaining semesters, I anticipate learning vast amounts of new information. I cannot wait. I have many plans and goals. First, I will strive to become an expert at using mobile devices in the classroom. Another goal is to be more involved in my school’s professional development. I have already been asked to facilitate teaching new technology within my department. I would also like to keep parents more connected and informed, possibly create a Weebly site, just for them to interact. And finally, be able to mold students into successful 21st century learners.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
WPP: Part D - Findings and Implications
Please view the Prezi Student Samples
Student Sample 1
Student Sample 2
Modifying your curriculum or lesson plans can be extremely challenging. The most important factor is that whatever you integrate or change, must be able to reach every student in the classroom and hope that it can transform student's learning for the better. For the Wicked Problem Project, I wanted to choose a technology that could improve the learning process of Photosynthesis in my Biology class. Prezi goes far beyond PowerPoint, it is more interactive and student's can express their true creativity. A student needs to visualize the concept of Photosynthesis, they need to see what happens to the raw materials and how they give rise to a product which is important to a plant's growth and development.
It would be wishful thinking if I say that the implementation of my project went smoothly. But as teachers, we have experienced it many times, that there are always plenty of ups and downs. First, I did not start the implementation on the day I had planned. The previous unit needed a couple of more days of review and re-teaching. This made it difficult since it took days away from teaching the unit of Photosynthesis. This was the first time I was trying Prezi in my classroom, I had planned to provide students with enough days to work in class on their presentations. Unfortunately, I was forced to shorten this time. I reworked the timeline and had students spend more time at home working on their projects. Another obstacle that prevented a smooth implementation was the initial lack of motivation from students. I think they were hesitant to learn something new. Most of them felt they were more comfortable with PowerPoint and would have preferred to use that instead. On the upside, after my introduction and preview of Prezi, I felt the enthusiasm building up. After the first day of them working on their presentations, most were very motivated and were anxious to create something they would be proud of.
I provided two student samples above. Each met all the requirements in the rubric to receive a high score. If that alone indicates that they understand Photosynthesis, then it seems I have done my job. You would think they mastered this content. But unfortunately, we know that we need to find other modes of assessment. Photosynthesis is usually included in our second Benchmark. This exam has 35 questions and photosynthesis makes up about forty percent of it. After each Benchmark, the Biology Department gets together to determine which areas students were successful on. Last year, my results were less than impressive. Out of 90 students in all my classes combined, about sixty of them scored basic in this topic. In other words, most had very little comprehension of the topic. Although not perfect, this year there was a big improvement, out of 80 students only thirty of them scored basic. There were more students scoring proficient and advanced. Most students were able to remember the photosynthetic equation and answer questions based on it. To further assess their understanding, I also ended up giving a unit exam. There were 30 multiple-choice questions and 3 short answers. Again out of the 80 students about half of them scored 80% or better. I still do not want to assume that they have deeply learned Photosynthesis, but there is definitely an improvement. In the long run, I will have to wait and see the scores of the State Standards Exam.
The preparation, process, and implementation of this project using Prezi took my by surprise. I felt rushed and was not able to fully provide support to students with questions regarding the technology. I was not fully prepared to provide guidance. However, now that I had to work with many students at different levels, I feel that if I have to do it all over again, I have gained enough knowledge of this technology and can provide much more assistance. I would definitely approach it with full confidence and probably try to implement a collaboration part to the project.
There are some lessons that I would like others to learn. First, I would probably introduce Prezi with an easier topic. In my case, I feel Photosynthesis was a tough topic to use the first time out of the gate. Second, limit the number of slides. Third, make sure all the work gets done at school if this is the first time you are trying it out. I had a few students, who did not complete the home assignments because they had no support.
If I truly want to find out if this project does work, I definitely have to try it a few more times. There is not much I would change about the instructions, the rubric, or the timeline. It was my inexperience that made it a little difficult at first, but with my new gained confidence, I know I can make this a better learning experience for all students. Also, by introducing the project with student samples, I am sure students will have a clearer vision of what is required. Overall, this was a successful project and I would surely try it again.
Student Sample 1
Student Sample 2
Modifying your curriculum or lesson plans can be extremely challenging. The most important factor is that whatever you integrate or change, must be able to reach every student in the classroom and hope that it can transform student's learning for the better. For the Wicked Problem Project, I wanted to choose a technology that could improve the learning process of Photosynthesis in my Biology class. Prezi goes far beyond PowerPoint, it is more interactive and student's can express their true creativity. A student needs to visualize the concept of Photosynthesis, they need to see what happens to the raw materials and how they give rise to a product which is important to a plant's growth and development.
It would be wishful thinking if I say that the implementation of my project went smoothly. But as teachers, we have experienced it many times, that there are always plenty of ups and downs. First, I did not start the implementation on the day I had planned. The previous unit needed a couple of more days of review and re-teaching. This made it difficult since it took days away from teaching the unit of Photosynthesis. This was the first time I was trying Prezi in my classroom, I had planned to provide students with enough days to work in class on their presentations. Unfortunately, I was forced to shorten this time. I reworked the timeline and had students spend more time at home working on their projects. Another obstacle that prevented a smooth implementation was the initial lack of motivation from students. I think they were hesitant to learn something new. Most of them felt they were more comfortable with PowerPoint and would have preferred to use that instead. On the upside, after my introduction and preview of Prezi, I felt the enthusiasm building up. After the first day of them working on their presentations, most were very motivated and were anxious to create something they would be proud of.
I provided two student samples above. Each met all the requirements in the rubric to receive a high score. If that alone indicates that they understand Photosynthesis, then it seems I have done my job. You would think they mastered this content. But unfortunately, we know that we need to find other modes of assessment. Photosynthesis is usually included in our second Benchmark. This exam has 35 questions and photosynthesis makes up about forty percent of it. After each Benchmark, the Biology Department gets together to determine which areas students were successful on. Last year, my results were less than impressive. Out of 90 students in all my classes combined, about sixty of them scored basic in this topic. In other words, most had very little comprehension of the topic. Although not perfect, this year there was a big improvement, out of 80 students only thirty of them scored basic. There were more students scoring proficient and advanced. Most students were able to remember the photosynthetic equation and answer questions based on it. To further assess their understanding, I also ended up giving a unit exam. There were 30 multiple-choice questions and 3 short answers. Again out of the 80 students about half of them scored 80% or better. I still do not want to assume that they have deeply learned Photosynthesis, but there is definitely an improvement. In the long run, I will have to wait and see the scores of the State Standards Exam.
The preparation, process, and implementation of this project using Prezi took my by surprise. I felt rushed and was not able to fully provide support to students with questions regarding the technology. I was not fully prepared to provide guidance. However, now that I had to work with many students at different levels, I feel that if I have to do it all over again, I have gained enough knowledge of this technology and can provide much more assistance. I would definitely approach it with full confidence and probably try to implement a collaboration part to the project.
There are some lessons that I would like others to learn. First, I would probably introduce Prezi with an easier topic. In my case, I feel Photosynthesis was a tough topic to use the first time out of the gate. Second, limit the number of slides. Third, make sure all the work gets done at school if this is the first time you are trying it out. I had a few students, who did not complete the home assignments because they had no support.
If I truly want to find out if this project does work, I definitely have to try it a few more times. There is not much I would change about the instructions, the rubric, or the timeline. It was my inexperience that made it a little difficult at first, but with my new gained confidence, I know I can make this a better learning experience for all students. Also, by introducing the project with student samples, I am sure students will have a clearer vision of what is required. Overall, this was a successful project and I would surely try it again.
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