Using Videos in the Classroom

During class, our assignment was to create a public service announcement video. We chose to speak about fish rights. We didn't really experiences that many problems with the project. We did two different scenes and it was relatively easy to make everything come together. I really enjoyed this project and would recommend continuing this in different classes. Below is the video my group made. A video assignment could be used to help make something more memorable and exciting for a student, especially in a subject area that they feel is less appealing to them. If a student has been acting up in class, the teacher could place a video camera in the classroom and show the parents the student’s behavior. Or even could video tape the student’s academic progress the student is making and report the footage to the parents.

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Popplet

I found Popplet to be very interesting. The more I explored on the website, I found different ways to collect your thoughts, share your ideas and inspirations, and classroom projects. This tool could be used very effectively in a classroom.  I found it also neat how Popplet is an app on any Apple device. The sooner we enforce techinology in the classrooms, the more advance the future generations will be.  

Kidspiration

The other day in class, we were introduced to Kidspiration. Kidspiration provides visual workspace for K-5 learners. Students are able to combine pictures, text, numbers and spoken words to develop vocabulary, word recognition, reading for comprehension, and critical thinking skills. Kidspiration allows the students think and learn and help teachers improve upon their teaching skills. As students make visual connections, they build fundamental skills in reading, writing, math, science and social studies. Kidspiration offers activities in all curriculum areas, so students use visual learning naturally and confidently. I believe Kidspiration is a very effective tool that can be used daily in a classroom that benefits the students in a positive way such as developing strong thinking skills, strengthens reading and writing skills, and build conceptual understanding in math.

bubbl.us

I recently came across a very useful tool, it's called bubbl.us. This online source helps a student organize their thoughts before writing a paper. It allows to the student to brainstorm without the additional chaos of their other papers. The student is able to color coordinate each bubble to make things more accessible and organized for them. This tool is very well thought out, it only took me a few minutes and I was already customizing the brainstorming web I constructed as an example for you guys. Go ahead and try it! The website is

Building a Park in the Sky

I believe this a very cool idea to help restore something that was once run down and possibly bring more tourists to the city.

Standardized Testing

From the beginning of every students' education, they are forced to take standardize tests. You begin taking SCA (Short Cycle Assessment Test) as soon as the student is enrolled to school, which monitors the student's education level from kindergarten until tenth grade. Starting in tenth grade, students begin their OGT (Ohio Graduation Test). The student has multiple tries in order to pass this test. If the student does not pass this test by graduation, they are unable to graduate with their class. To attend college, you need to meet a certain score in either the SAT or ACT, just to be accepted. Once you get accepted to college and wish to receive a degree in education, you are now again force to take three more standardize tests, Praxis I, Praxis II, and Praxis III.

I believe standardize testing does nothing for the students. Yes we are always testing them to see if they improved but testing them on knowledge they should already know or are currently learning does not always indicate the students' intelligent level. 

Testing is not something we should relay on to have to students prove to us that they are able to retain the knowledge or not. Most students do not excel in testing environments for many reasons, by having a child present information through an activity, presentation, or a project will better indicate what the student has learned. 

We set standards for the students to reach. If a student does not meet the base line average on the standardize testing, we believe the student has not learned anything. That is not always the case. There are many factors that go along with testing. If the test is too long, the student will lose their concentration and perform poorly. They could also lose their concentration if the student is hungry, sleepy, problems with friends or family, or just not in the "test mood". I believe we should do away with these tests and evaluate the student's knowledge in a different way.