Movenote in Chemistry

Students in Justin Baute's chemistry class recently used a great app called Movenote to narrate presentations they created explaining an element on the periodic table. Several teachers have used Movenote to record video lectures to share with students, but Mr. Baute's students show the awesome potential for having students use this tool. The Movenote video presentations can be shared with the entire class for students to refer to later, and creating them gives students an alternative way to show what they know and practice communicating clearly. A few stellar student examples are included below:

https://www.movenote.com/v/S2WZsbMSM31

https://www.movenote.com/v/MlWCiiKoycr

https://www.movenote.com/v/TZAbUHk4uhYcl

For more information on getting started with Movenote, see a tutorial video at this link.

Global Read Aloud Connects Students Around the World

Boone 2nd graders are excited about reading the book Chopsticks, learning to use chopsticks, and connecting with other classrooms around the world as part of the Global Read Aloud program.

Global Read-Aloud's purpose is to connect children through literature and "make the world a little smaller" knowing that the book they are reading is also being shared by classrooms all around the world. This class joined an author study and will be reading several books over 6 weeks by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. There are many online communities created for teachers and students to connect. 

Students learn digital citizenship concepts as their teacher shares class comments about the books on Twitter and the Global Read Aloud Facebook page. Learning how to use chopsticks was even easier after they watched it modeled on a youtube video.

This year's Global Read Aloud continues through November 13th. 
Here are other opportunities for teachers to get classes involved with world-wide interactive learning projects:
National Dot Day
Projects By Jen
Global School Net
21st Century Schools

BHS Students Get Creative with Video Tools

BHS students across the curriculum are using video tools to creatively demonstrate their learning. Teachers have students using a variety of apps and devices for recording and editing video that allow them to exercise their creativity.

WeVideo, a Chrome app, is one great tool for creating video. It lets users record, upload, and edit video projects which can then be saved directly to Google Drive or shared via a link. Students in Laura Beaver’s foods class used WeVideo to film a short video highlighting their understanding of equipment, cooking terms, and measurement. The students demonstrated each of these skills in their video, which also allowed them to practice their communication and public speaking abilities. Check out one great example below:

In Shannon Lumley’s biology class, students used iPads to record and create a music video comparing and contrasting mitosis and meiosis. Working in small groups, the students collaborated to write lyrics describing and explaining the phases of each of the cellular processes. Some students edited their videos using the iPads, some used WeVideo and their Chromebooks to do the editing, and some used their knowledge of more advanced video editing software to craft professional-looking projects (see one of them below!). A future project in Mrs. Lumley’s classroom will have students using video again to film a TED Talk-style presentation. Students are not only learning important scientific concepts, but also how to communicate these concepts to others. To see more great student examples, visit Mrs. Lumley’s YouTube page.

Another great video creation tool in use at BHS is Animoto. Students in Jim Fitzgerald’s Introduction to Agriculture class used this web-based tool as one way to showcase the meaning of the FFA creed. The project helps students to memorize the creed as they represent it symbolically, moving toward deeper levels of understanding. Students helped each other learn to use the technology, and the results were some fantastic videos demonstrating their understanding.

For more information on having your students create videos, take a look at this pdf resource from Richard Byrne's FreeTech4Teachers page on six styles of classroom video projects.

Using Google Maps for Social Studies Projects

Sixth grader, Ella L. recently used Google Maps to create a social studies project.  She used a google map to show the movement of the earliest settlers.  She placed pins on her map with information and pictures to complete this activity.  What a great use of technology.

 Google Map-Social Studies Project

Google Keep

Do you need a place to jot down your ideas or make a checklist?  Try Google Keep.   There are many great features of Google Keep.  It syncs to all your devices, you can share notes with others, you can set reminders and you can easily copy to Google Docs.

At Boone Middle School, the students are using Google Keep as an organizational tool for their homework.  They create check lists for each class and they can set reminders for themselves.  It is a way for them to know what assignments are due and what assignments are coming up in the future.

Extending Classroom Walls with Digital Field Trips

These fourth graders enhanced their learning about federal government when they got to ride along with some visitors to Washington DC and see the city for themselves. This was accomplished via Google Hangouts on their teacher's laptop computer. Students collaborated in small groups ahead of time to plan for their field trip and brainstormed questions about Washington DC. One group at a time got to stand in front of the computer, be on camera, and present their question.

Digital field trips are a great way to create meaningful learning opportunities for students. Additionally, this can overcome obstacles due to distance or budget restraints.  Even if these students are never able to visit Washington DC in person, they will always remember the day they traveled there virtually from their classroom!

Click here for a collection of digital and virtual field trip resources.
50 Ways to Use Skype in the Classroom