Capstone

Programming - Daisy Dinosaur

Cargo-Bot is an introduction to programming. Even though it was in the last section, it fits here, too. The film is my program to move boxes.

Daisy the Dinosaur 

Daisy the Dinosaur is easy and fun.  You just drag the actions to the grey screen. Daisy will perform them in order. It took a bit of doing to get things to repeat, but I finally understood where to drag the actions.

I want my students to learn to be logical or if not, at least orderly and organized. I teach my Digital Media students to create web sites with HTML code. One mistake and it doesn't work. It teaches them to be precise or at least careful with their language.  When they make a mistake in writing a paper, I can usually figure out what they mean. When they do the same in HTML, they don't get what they expected. It is a good lesson.

When I was in library school, we learned to catalog books.  That requires precision. If you misspell something, the user may never find the resource her or she needs.

I would like to learn programming.  I have tried Objective C on my own. I got a program to run, but I need more help. Maybe these little programs will head me in the right direction.

Problem Solving - CargoBot, TinkerBox HD, and Bubble Ball

Cargo-Bot in action.

 I explored TinkerBox, Cargo-Bot, and Bubble Ball.  I had varying degrees of success. Some were fun, others frustrating.

TinkerBox asks you to put gears and levers and such in position to get a ball into a container. I got through the tutorial and quit. It was frustrating. I had trouble getting the pieces oriented and couldn't find the pattern.

Cargo-Bot was a bit of a challenge, but fun. You have to program the claw to pick up boxes, move them, and set them down.  The recursive feature took some experimenting, but I got it to work.

Bubble Ball was the easiest.  You place objects like planks and a triangular-shaped fulcrum to guide a ball to the finish line.  I found out it was created by a young man who is 14. That made it more impressive.

I would recommend Cargo-Bot. It is the most like programming.  You have to plan ahead. I ask my students to do that when they write. You can experiment. I ask my students to do that when they brainstorm to write. It looks like there is more than one way to solve the problem, too.  That gives you a better chance of doing so.

Cargo-Bot completed task.

Bubble Ball completed task.

Research and Reference - Online Bookmarking - Diigo

I used Diigo to save bookmarks for Purdue OWL (online writing lab), Librivox, and Project Gutenberg. I chose them, because they can be used in English class. My screenshots are of Project Gutenberg and Librivox, as well as my library in Diigo. Purdue OWL gives tutorial on how to write term papers. Project Gutenberg is a database of out of copyright works. Librivox has the audio version to many of the works i Project Gutenberg.

I leaned about Diigo last summer, but to honest,I haven't used it since. I do teach research writing. When I do, I have my students copy and paste the web addresses they use into a word processing document.  The idea of Diigo is that these addresses will be all in one place and available online.That would be the best use for collecting sites. However, I find it much more complicated than I want. I just need a list.  The old way suits me, but I bet my students would like this better.

1. 

   My Diigo Library

   
   

   

   Project Gutenberg

   
   

   

   Librivox

   
   
   
   

Reference - Dictionaries

Dictionary. Com

I used the word "spring" as my search term in Dictionary.com and Miriam-Webster.  I chose it because it has so many meanings.  

As a media specialist, I am partial to traditional reference materials. Miriam-Webster has been around a long time. It is vetted.  There isn't much risk in choosing it.

On the other hand, I didn't know much about the background of Dictionary. com.  I did look it up and found it is based on the Random House Dictionary. That is a dictionary I have used and like.  

They both have an audio component. That's helpful in learning new words.  They both had background information on the word.  What was different, was that Dictionary.com has a cool "Learners" tab. It puts the word in context and explains how it is used.

I am surprised to say this, but I would recommend Dictionary.com, despite the fact that it has advertising.  I don't know if the ads can be blocked, but that would be nice. 

Miriam-Webster

Easy Bib

EasyBib Emailed my citations to me.

My first search.

A Works Cited Page in MLA

This app should be called Exasperating Bib. I tried and tried to get it to work, but could not. I scanned the backs of books and I put in book titles in the search box and got no results.

In frustration, I went to EasyBib online. There, I was able to put in book titles and get my citations. I don't know if I was doing it wrong or what, but I would not recommend this app.

An app I would recommend for this is Citation Machine. You have to put in the information,but it is more precise.  I couldn't find the edition of several books I tried. With Citation Machine, I just put in what I haveand it works.

My students write research papers, and they need to learn how to cite in MLA style. Citation Machine makes it easy. When I was in school, we had to use a book and look up the right format. Now it does it for you and in a variety of styles.  It is a blessing while EasyBib nearly, but not quite, got me cursing.

Mind Mapping - Popplet

Popplet was new to me. I had used a feature of PowerPoint that is something like this, but Poppet is a lot easier to use.  It just takes a few taps or clicks to get cells to fill. They take photos, which makes them more visually appealing. It is easy to put text in, too. I experimented with color. That makes distinctions between the cells.

I can see using this for a family tree in history.  I might use it as a timeline, though today I was introduced to an app called Timeline that looks promising. My freshmen are introduced to writing essays in the fall. The first steps are planning. Brainstorming is one way, but webbing is another. This app could be used that way.  

This could be used to plan web sites. When I teach Digital Media, I have my students create web sites using HTML.  They need to plan first. This app would give them a good visual representation of the sites they want to build.

My Popplet on William Shakespeare

Study Skills - Quizlet

This is the link to my Quizlet:

 https://quizlet.com/128215555/flashcards

The opening page to my Quizlet.

Quizlet is an app that has been around for some time, but one I had not used until this class.  It is an obvious choice for learning vocabulary in English or say French. It can also be used for social studies to learn dates and events.

I experimented with Scatter, Speller, Test, and Gravity. Scatter is a matching game of sorts. You drag the answer over the question. Speller uses sound. Test is like a traditional test multiple choice and all.  Gravity was the hardest. It was like an arcade game where you had to type the answer before the asteroid fell.

Gravity

Speller

A traditional test.

My flash cards as a set.

A flash card answer.

A flash card question. 

#2 Augmented Reality

Quiver Coloring 

 I went to the Quiver AR website and printed out the picture of the plane. I colored it with pencils and used the app to turn it into a 3D moving aircraft. The propeller spun around and it flew. Very cool.

Could I use this in my class?  Maybe as part of a children's story. The art teacher at school could use it, I bet.  I would like to be able to draw pictures to use this way, but I don't think it works like that.

This is TamAR. It gives a 3-D look at the Tamar Estuary in Australia.The coolest look was when I went underwater. Plants waved in the current and fish swam into view.

I tried to use the app from JPL. I printed the picture, but I couldn't get it to work. It would be a good app for science, though. One I did try for science is Anatomy 4D.  It would be great for biology or anatomy class, as it shows the systems of the body one by one and in total. 

#1 QR Codes

Willard Library Web Site

Willard Library Web Site

Google Map -Willard Library

Willard Map

Willard Library Phone Number

Willard Library Phone

QR Codes on te Internet

I haven't had much experience with QR codes. They seemed like a gimmick. to me.  However, I had fun making them. I chose QR codes related to Willard Library.  As a media specialist and English teacher, libraries have a special place in my life. I chose to make QR codes to show the map of where Willard Library is located, its web page, and its phone number.

I have seen QR codes used in the classroom.  Our theology teacher uses them to do impromptu quizzes and surveys. He has cards that students hold up and he scans them, as I understand.  I could have my students create QR codes. I found some ideas online. One is to create scavenger hunts with them. I have my students do this as a way to use organizational skills.  I like the idea of adding them to books or book reviews. They could link to author biographies.  Maps have always fascinated me. QR codes are a cool way to link to maps.  I could have students make maps and then make QR codes to link to them.

The only roadblock to using QR codes in the classroom seems to be separating the idea of QR codes from advertising.  Parents might need a bit educating, but I really don't see that as a problem.

#2 Movie Making - Stop-Motion

I have long since been fascinated with stop-motion films. The first one I ever made was when I was in a high school art class. Then, we used a real film camera.  Today, we use digital cameras on portable devices and get instant feedback and the ability to start over as many times as is necessary.

When I taught Digital Media, I made a stop-motion film of a toy koala doing aerobics.  I posted it on YouTube to learn how to do that.  If you want to see it, here is the link:  https://youtu.be/3SOpxv1olXI.

Making stop-motion films is fun, but it is time-consuming.  It is also hard to do with an iPad unless you have a holder for it.  Trying to hold it still and move the pieces in a film makes for shaky video. It also takes a great deal of planning. Having a script is essential. Otherwise, your film can go "off the rails," so to speak.

In addition to having my students learn how to make stop-motion films in Digital Media, I have my freshmen make them in English 9.  We read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  I have my students create a stop-motion scene from the book. They import the film into iMovie and add narration. The example I show them is above and one I made.

The video below was made with Lego Movie.  The other films were made with Snap!

#1 Movie Making - Trailer

It is so easy to use PowerPoint or Keynote to make presentations. It is also boring. I have tried to use iMovie to make presentations with a twist.  A trailer or short film could be used to introduce a new unit. An example could be an introduction to the stories of Edgar A. Poe.

I have used movie trailers with my students.  When we read "The Old Man of the Temple," which is a ghost story, I have them make ghost story trailers.  I could also have them make a trailer that advertises a novel they have read.  Finally, they could make trailers to explain terms like simile and metaphor.

#3 Post Creative Expression - GarageBand

My efforts for this post were directed toward getting students to want to read Close to Shore. To that end, I reenacted a shark sighting using music, sound effects, and my recorded voice.  The link that follows is to my that recording in my Google Drive.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3jDfl8SqjTzMDNOdUhxRW91Rk0/view?usp=sharing

I use GarageBand with my students to create podcasts.  When we read Close to Shore, they create radio plays about shark attacks that are recorded in GarageBand. It used to be that we used cassette tapes and tape recorders. That works, but digital recordings are so much easier to copy and share. It is an assignment I enjoy giving and receiving.

#2 Post Creative Expresson - ChatterPix

I used ChatterPix to creative a video related to my unit on the novel Close to Shore.  I tried using a picture of a shark, but the "mouth" didn't match its real mouth and it didn't work well. I chose the water, because it doesn't have a mouth to confuse things.  My message was an introduction of sorts to the unit.  It was to get them intrigued and ready to read.

I like the idea of being able to use your own picture to animate.  It isn't as smooth as the avatars you are given in other programs, but they don't often fit what I want to say. With its faults, this is more fun. I get to control things more.

 A talking face could be used to tell a story.  With 30 seconds, there isn't much story to tell, so I wonder if I could make it a group project where several students take their 30 seconds and put them together.  A talking face could ask a question. My students could respond to it. It is more interesting than a written prompt.  I have already used a talking object, but my students could use one to discuss point of view.  Now does your car feel about your making it go on sub-zero mornings might be a way to go.

#1 Post Talking Avatar - #16 Creative Expression

This is the link to my Tellagami:  https://tellagami.com/gami/W6TU3X/


This is the first time I have used Tellagami.  It was a lot easier than PuppetPals 2. It isn't as versatile, though.  It has some interesting possibilities, because it is limited to 30 seconds.

I made a Tellagami that introduced a new unit. My students could make one when the unit is done to sum up their experience.  If you can explain something in 30 seconds, you know it well. I can have my students explain a concept from English, like similes and metaphors using Tellagami.  Finally, this might be good way to have my freshmen students introduce themselves to me in the fall.  I have the same students by and large for four years, so they wouldn't need to do it every year, but it would be nice to have a way to get to know my new students better.

Finding Apps

My evaluation of Duolingo.

Activity choices in Duolingo. 

Duolingo is an app that teaches you a new language.  I have used it to learn more French. It starts off with basics and gets more complicated. It gives you a barometer of how you are doing and emails you to remind you to do your lessons.  Our French teacher at school uses it with her students. It is free and has no ads.

A task in Duolingo.

Apps Gone Free

Apps Gone Free is a service that collects apps that are on promotion.  It is a great way to get an app you may want, but are not willing to pay for.  I got The Elements this way. That app normally costs $13.99, but I got it for free.

Apps Gone Free is one of the easiest ways to find new apps. They are not always ones I would use in school or even want myself, but there are often educational apps featured.

Dropbox

Dropbox is one of my favorite apps. I use it for online storage. The great thing about Dropbox is that is saves files in the cloud and on your computer. Dropbox is free to start, but if you want to add more storage you need to pay for it.

The Elements is a paid app. It is a splashy update to the Periodic Table.  It normally costs $13.99.  If our chemistry teacher wanted her students to use it, she could get it for $6.99 each.  That's half the price.

I wanted to use Explain Everything in my classes. We did do the volume purchase.  We got it for roughly half the price.

Volume purchase for Explain Everything.

The volume purchase information for The Elements.

I am always on the lookout for new apps. I use Apps Gone Free, but I also listen to podcasts. Some are literature-related and some are technology related.  They often have a segment at the end where participants suggest new apps.  I also go to workshops like Google Camp or take online classes like this one. Finally, I just talk to other teachers.  They are a wealth of information.

Because money is tight, it is often easier to get free apps. When I find one that is paid, I better have a good reason.  That reason is often because it does what I need it to do better than the rest or there is no alternative.  As an English teacher, I have my student read books in iBooks.  I can get them free from Project Gutenberg if they are out of copyright. If I want a contemporary one, I have to have our tech director do a bulk purchase. She has done this for The The Five People You Meet in Heaven among others.  The advantage to ebooks is that students can highlight, take, and save notes. The disadvantage is it is hard to share an ebook.

Evaluating Apps

This is an evaluation of Socrative. I was not sure how to find out when it was last updated, but on its website, the copyright was this year.  Overall, I found this to be a good app for high school.  It gives a variety of assessments. They include:  regular quizzes,  quick questions, exit tickets, and a competition quiz.  I would consider using Socarative in my classroom. Since one of the teachers at my school already does, I could get help and ideas from her.

I liked this evaluation checklist because the more checks you make, the more appropriate it is for school.  I like apps that can share information and this checklist asks that question.  It also mentions advertising. I prefer school apps not to have ads.  The most important question is whether or not it is appropriate for school. Socrative is appropriate for school and the apps I use in school need to be.

#2 Student Response GoSoapBox

My poll has been created. 

Poll results in a pie chart

Poll results in a bar chart.

I chose GoSoapBox, because when I went to Infuse Learning, it said it was going down in April. I am not sure if that means forever or not, so I thought it better to use GoSoapBox.

Socrative and GoSoapBox have some of the same features. Both have quizzes and questions. The differences seem to lie in the polls and the "barometer" in GoSoapBox. It is much more attuned to the feelings of the students.  They let the teacher know if the students are "getting it" or not.  I would be nice to gauge their frustration level, too.

I would try GoSoapBox first.  I could give a poll to my students that could lead to a good discussion. The question I chose in my poll was about favorite children's books.  Once students have taken the poll, we could discuss what makes for good literature.

Student Response Systems

Socrative provides printable data on quizzes. That is much like Moodle, but it is more accessible.   I could use Socrative for pre and post unit assessments. That would measure the knowledge and/or improvement of my students.  I like the immediacy of Socrative.  I already know how to use Moodle and my students already have accounts.  The downside is that I would have to transfer tests and there does not seem to be a way to attache files for my students to use.

This is my Secretive Quiz on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

The answer to my Quick Question.

The results to my quiz.