Flipped Lesson!

Hi everyone! The blog post this week is about creating a flipped lesson. I am including a google document link with my flipped lesson outline. I am also linking to a video of me teaching a portion of this lesson.

Flipped Lesson Outline: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g3u4NuYI95hP98i7j6_zV1bFt0Qkn_FD/view?usp=sharing

Lesson Video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QE1sR5ILsdq1KdkAJaMQc5mD4sPZRq7M/view?usp=sharing

The flipped lesson is about the life cycle of a star. The students will watch a video on the life cycle of a star the night before this assignment, and there is a corresponding worksheet that is necessary to complete as well. The next day I will go over the nights homework and video, then ask a few pointed questions about the video. This is what my lesson video is concerned with. The final part of this lesson is a small group lab to be completed by the end of the day.

Thanks!
Chris

Blog 5: Edutopia is Awesome!

Searching for project based learning resources can be a tiring process. So many websites offer information on PBL, that it can be hard to nail down the core concepts of PBL. When I had to look at Edutopia for relevant PBL info, I found an easy to understand, robust group of resources compiled together.

Here was my favorite article: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/PBL-and-standardized-tests-andrew-miller

It was a well written article that covered the issues that exist between PBL and standardized tests. Incorporating formal assessments into newer teaching styles has been a sort of academic hobby of mine over this past year. Too much formal testing can stifle creativity and limit a teacher's curriculum. This article introduces the idea of looping when dealing with connecting PBL and standardized tests. Looping is using a curriculum to revisit important test concepts. PBL offers this ability in an interactive, easy to understand way.

Go Edutopia!!

Blog 4: How have I used Interactive Whiteboards in my Classroom?

Hello Readers!

Up until about 2013, or so, I worked in schools that utilized basic whiteboards and chalk boards as teacher support in the classroom. It was not until started my Masters at a local college that I saw my first smart board. It is was pretty awesome! You could do so much, and not get chalk all over you!!!!

In a middle school Spanish class me and my co-teacher played a jeopardy style group work lessons. Students would work in pairs, and each pair would have a "buzzer"to click with the right answer. The entire classes points would be totaled on the board, the co-teacher could clear old answers and easily more to the next questions! The class loved it! there are many more examples, but this was my favorite use of a smart board during a lesson.

Here are is bulky list of possible uses for an interactive whiteboard:

• Create video files to teach a software application, a lesson, or as a review to be posted to

the server or web.

• Use the built-in maps to teach continents, oceans, countries, or states and capitals.

• Presentations created by student or teacher

• Digital storytelling

• Take notes directly into PowerPoint presentations

• Reinforce internet skills by using on-line interactive web sites

• Creating an online project calendar

• Teaching students how to navigate the Internet

• Illustrate and write a book as a class.

• Teaching steps to a math problem.

• Have students share projects during Parent/Teacher/Student conferences

• Graphics and charts to better support ESL learners and special ed students.\

·       Google Earth

·       Team competition

·       Virtual tours

·       Visual editing

Se you next week readers!
Stay cool and dont melt!

Blog Post 2: Importance of classroom websites

Hello readers!

I attempted to post a canva I made on classroom websites to my blog, but unfortunately the PNG file was too big to put on one blog page. So, here is a link to my canva:

https://www.canva.com/design/DAD86-ooNOc/3t4athVfAGsKHBVM0ulb1A/view?utm_content=DAD86-ooNOc&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=sharebutton

I believe this canva describes all of the relevant information on why a website could be important in the classroom, what to put on your website, and what makes a good 8th grade website.

Thanks readers!
Cristobal

Blog Post 3: Benefits of Tech in Classroom

Hello!

After reading the article on the benefits of using technology in a classroom, a few of the points the author used really stood out. They lauded the use of videos in class as a flexible, fun teaching medium. I agree completely! Videos are a great way to introduce a topic, break up a long lecture, or give the students a fun review at the end of a unit.

The author then continues to talk about choosing the correct video provider. I think this is not really an issue anymore, as there are thousands of free multimedia websites that support lessons on any subject. Even youtube has developed a large enough library to be an effective teaching tool!

Thanks for reading!
Chris

Blog 1: Internet Ethics

Internet ethics for students. What does this mean? Why is it important? Well here are a few websites that helped me understand the importance of this issue.

For the basics of this issue I first went to: https://www.techlearning.com/news/talking-to-students-about-cyberethics. This was a great site for understanding what the main issue is. And what is that main issue? Pirating.



No not that pirating...

This pirating:



"Pirated" software whether copied from a friend, illegally downloaded from the Internet, or purchased from a vendor of illegally-made copies at an online auction site is created without the permission of the copyright owner. This is incredibly important to teach your students! Many students might not understand the importance of copyrights. Teaching this lesson also goes perfectly with any Science or English lesson about citing your sources. Always cite digital or non digital sources!

The second site I went to so that I could better understand the importance of teaching internet ethics to students was thus: https://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech055.shtml. This site had some interesting information from a middle school technology teacher, Jerry Crystal. The site gives a few examples of students getting into serious criminal trouble from cyber-crimes. Then the author gives a few examples of how to incorporate internet ethics into any classroom. Please read the article for the full list, but here are two I particularly liked!

1. Draw parallels between the real world and the electronic world.

2. Involve students in constructive activities.

Honestly, these two examples could be used in most in-class situations for most in-class issues. Is your student acting apathetic during class? BLAM!!! Involve them in activities!!!! Is your student spending too much class time messing around on the internet instead of doing the assignment? Draw Parallels to their own life and the assignment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But in all seriousness, it only took me half an hour and a few websites to really start to understand the importance of teaching online ethics to my students. There is no excuse to let your students get into trouble online. If you just spend some time, and model good behavior, they will understand. You just have to put in the time.

Until next time!
Chris