Podcast- Khan Academy
This podcast was created for teachers interested in integrating technology into their math instruction. The podcast describes Khan Academy and how teachers can implement the program with students of all ages. After giving an overview of the program, I describe how I will be using Khan Academy in my thesis research. I hope to create another podcast to share the results of my research in the 2019 fall semester.
Prior to this assignment, I had only ever created one other podcast. Overall, I enjoyed creating podcasts and felt that the process of using Audacity became easier with practice. I first felt overwhelmed with the program but when I sat down to record this podcast it seemed easy to add my audio and record. This experience gave me the confidence with creating podcasts to possibly have students create their own in the future.
PodCast Review
This is the first podcast I had ever created and was recorded for the purpose of answering Dr. Graham's questions about our favorite podcasts. I discuss two podcasts, Atlanta Monster and True Crime Garage. This recording includes descriptions of the podcasts' topics, music, sound effects and questions posed throughout.
This was my first experience using Audacity and at first the program seemed a bit difficult. With a quick Google Search I was able to add music at the beginning and end and record my podcast. I look forward to further exploration of use of this tool in the classroom.
New global stem projects
The video below describes Pen Pal's New Global STEM Projects. The video gives teachers information on how the collaborative projects can give students opportunities to connect with students around the world as they work on a project together. Teachers can choose projects that relate to all content area subjects and give students opportunities to apply the information learned in the classroom to solve real-world challenges.
This project allowed me to explore project based learning and collaborative learning experiences that can be enhanced by technology. I look forward to an opportunity where I will be able to use New Global STEM Projects with my students. The projects allow for an important opportunity to show students that the skills they learn in the classroom can be applied in the real world.
GameSTAR LESSON Video
The video below describes a lesson plan in which students create a short story in the format of a Gamestar game. During the lesson, students will describe how an avatar, stuck in space, returns home. The video shows the graphic organizer students will use to create three levels (three settings) of their narrative writing. In this lesson students create challenges within each level for the avatar to navigate in order to get back to earth.
As I was working on Gamestar’s Quest, I struggled to think of any possible way to use this program with fourth-grade students in the classroom. Further research gave me some ideas including, students recreating major scenes from reading in the form of a video game or students creating a game that contains a certain ratio of coins to enemies. Creating this video allowed me to show how Gamestar could be incorporated into teaching grade-level content standards.
Gamestar game
This Gamestar game serves as a model for students in the Gamestar writing lesson. The three level game describes the journey an avatar takes to get home after becoming stuck in outer space. The short descriptions and rules of each level tell the short story of the challenges the avatar must face along the way.
Click on "Get Abobe Flash Player" to try the game!
Prior to this assignment, I had not ever considered what is involved in being a game designer. I had not played a computer or video game of any kind (other than ones I have used with students) in years. As I began the Gamestar Quest I realized that designing a game is more complex than I would have imagined. The game designer must consider the challenge and goals presented to the player and create an experience with interactive characters that will engage the player.
GameStar lesson Plan
This lesson plan describes how students can use Gamestar to write a creative story with a 3 setting plot sequence. Students use a graphic organizer to plan the story before making a 3 level game on Gamestar. Their story is told through their game as the avatar navigates challenges in each level to return home from becoming trapped in outer space.
Gamestar Lesson Plan
Victoria Currens
4th Grade
Subject: ELA – Creative Writing
This lesson would be completed after students have had time to become familiar with Gamestar and completed the Quest
Objectives:
- Students will be able to write a creative story with a 3 setting plot sequence in which a character is trapped in outer space.
-Students will be able to create 3 levels within Gamestar in which an avatar needs to navigate through to return home.
Standards:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
- ISTE-S: Innovative Designer: Students use a variety of technologies within a design process to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful or imaginative solutions.
Do Now
- Students will play the teacher created model game and complete all three levels
-Students will notice that this game has three levels and the avatar is navigating through outer space to return home
-The directions of each level tell the story about the avatar.
Discussion
Ask students:
- What game elements did each level include?
- What did the directions tell you?
- Discuss games students play at home and the way that characters are usually trying to navigate through a challenge or solve a problem
Mini-lesson
Model completion of a graphic organizer with elements for each level. The graphic organizer will include the following:
- Level name:
-Level Intro Message (Tell your story) :
- Level Win Message:
- Background:
- Choose a challenge (gain points, avoid enemy, unlock goal)
Model that the level into and win messages are important because they help tell the story of the avatar navigating through this challenge.
Writing Activity
Students will work in pairs to complete the graphic organizers for each level (3). Students will have access to Gamestar while completing this writing activity so they can see the avatar choices, enemies, backgrounds etc.
Game Creation (Day 2-3)
Students will continue to work in pairs to create their game.
- Students will information in settings section
- Students will use an avatar, enemies, and blocks to create each level
- Students will test each level to ensure it tells their story of the avatar and includes a way to win.
Share
Students will publish their game and give feedback to two of their peers. They will include two elements they liked about their peer’s game and one element they could improve.
Assessment
This is the first experience students will have creating their own game, therefore, the game will not be graded but rather revised after students have shared their games with peers. The game students have created will be part of class participation.
Victoria Currens
4th Grade
Subject: ELA – Creative Writing
This lesson would be completed after students have had time to become familiar with Gamestar and completed the Quest
Objectives:
- Students will be able to write a creative story with a 3 setting plot sequence in which a character is trapped in outer space.
-Students will be able to create 3 levels within Gamestar in which an avatar needs to navigate through to return home.
Standards:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
- ISTE-S: Innovative Designer: Students use a variety of technologies within a design process to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful or imaginative solutions.
Do Now
- Students will play the teacher created model game and complete all three levels
-Students will notice that this game has three levels and the avatar is navigating through outer space to return home
-The directions of each level tell the story about the avatar.
Discussion
Ask students:
- What game elements did each level include?
- What did the directions tell you?
- Discuss games students play at home and the way that characters are usually trying to navigate through a challenge or solve a problem
Mini-lesson
Model completion of a graphic organizer with elements for each level. The graphic organizer will include the following:
- Level name:
-Level Intro Message (Tell your story) :
- Level Win Message:
- Background:
- Choose a challenge (gain points, avoid enemy, unlock goal)
Model that the level into and win messages are important because they help tell the story of the avatar navigating through this challenge.
Writing Activity
Students will work in pairs to complete the graphic organizers for each level (3). Students will have access to Gamestar while completing this writing activity so they can see the avatar choices, enemies, backgrounds etc.
Game Creation (Day 2-3)
Students will continue to work in pairs to create their game.
- Students will information in settings section
- Students will use an avatar, enemies, and blocks to create each level
- Students will test each level to ensure it tells their story of the avatar and includes a way to win.
Share
Students will publish their game and give feedback to two of their peers. They will include two elements they liked about their peer’s game and one element they could improve.
Assessment
This is the first experience students will have creating their own game, therefore, the game will not be graded but rather revised after students have shared their games with peers. The game students have created will be part of class participation.
Deciding on a topic for integrating Gamestar into content area curriculum was a bit difficult but a great challenge. This assignment allowed me to think outside the box in how game design can be incorporated into the classroom. I look forward to opportunities to try using Gamestar with students.
Pixton
The following presentation describes how Pixton, a comic and storyboard creation tool, can be used in the classroom. The presentation highlights ways teachers could integrate the tool into multiple subject areas and includes teacher reviews of the web tool. A mini-action research project in which I used Pixton for a lesson on character study is outlined including, the standards met, learning objectives, a model product and detailed step by step description of the lesson plan. Student artifacts are included as well as a conclusion reflecting upon my use of Pixton.
The creation of this presentation allowed me to explore a new tool that could be used to enhance classroom instruction. I have never used a comic or storyboard creation tool in my classroom but after this experience I can definitely see how the tool could positively impact both achievement and motivation of students.
Differentiation of Content
The infographic below describes how content can be differentiated using technology in the classroom. The artifact includes information on four technology programs, two focused on math content and two focused on reading content. The short description of each gives background information on the program so teachers can decide if they would be interested in taking time to explore the programs further.
I enjoyed this opportunity to create a infographic for the purpose of professional development. Teachers can get a quick snapshot of technology programs that could enhance their classroom instruction with differentiated instruction.