EEND 679 Artifact #2

I have always been resistant to trying new assessments because they have always been cumbersome to make for a PE setting and would become frustrating with how much time they would take away from class.  This past year, I experimented with Plickers in my class and my students really enjoyed using them and I really enjoyed how efficient they were.  I was excited to learn about GoFormative during module 3 of this class.  I explored its different options on their site and really liked what I saw.  I decided to create a short quiz that I use for my 4th graders but used Goformative as the platform.  I am really happy with the way it looks and am excited to try it out in this upcoming school year.  Many students in our class spoke very highly of GoFormative and I am looking forward to sharing this resource with my other colleagues.

https://goformative.com/clone/LPXDHD

EEND 679 Artifact #1

During module 4 of this class we learned about digital badge pathways and were assigned to create one for our classroom.  This whole digital badge concept is new in the PE world but I have seen a few ideas being shared around on Twitter in the PE community.  I really enjoyed this week's assignment because I was planning and creating something that I had never thought to bring in to PE before.  There are a couple natural fits in the PE curriculum and I chose three that I felt like would work; climbing wall, jumping rope, and dribbling a basketball.  This is the planning sheet that I created for those activities.  I can foresee these activities being fun and motivating for the students when they see the natural progression.  I created a digital badge for the climbing wall but I would like to create more, similar badges for the other activities because I think elementary students would really like to collect them and find them motivating!

EEND 679 Reflection

     I really enjoyed and benefited from the discussion during module 2 about the topic of formative assessments.  It was really eye opening to see all of the different ways that people in our class are assessing their students.  I have always had this mental block that assessments were difficult to administer and took forever to create.  After reading through the resources and hearing what others had to say about their favorite ways of assessing, it was refreshing to hear that it doesn’t have to be so hard and can actually be simple and efficient if you do it right.  I think my biggest takeaway was investigating the website GoFormative and hearing what everyone else had to say about it.  I really like the layout of the site and it seems very simple to use with chromebooks that our students have.  I am a big fan of Plickers as well because they are so simple to use and very efficient in a PE setting.  There is no chromebook or ipad required by a student, just a small piece of card-stock with a unique logo on it.  My students have responded very well to using Plickers but I think it might be fun to try a different way of assessing by using GoFormative. 

     My other big takeaway from this class was our time spent on rubrics.  This is one area that I have always pushed away because they always seemed too hard to make and too cumbersome for a simple task.  However, after digging through the resources of module 7, I discovered there are a TON of resources online to help with rubrics from pre-made rubrics, to rubric builders, to articles explaining why they are so important in assessing students’ learning.  I created a rubric for a fun, technology project that I do with my 5^th graders and I am convinced to making more rubrics for other assignments in my class.  In addition to the rubrics, I also learned a lot about digital portfolios in this class as well.  Many students in our class shared that they have done portfolios with their students before and that they really enjoyed them.  I really like the idea of having a PE portfolio for my students but there is one thing that is keeping me from committing to them and that is time.  I have very limited time to begin with (30 min, 2x a week) and I just don’t want to give up that time to have students on a device.  For me to incorporate a digital portfolio, the majority of the work would need to be done outside of class on their own terms.  I am not opposed to this but I feel like students have enough on their plate with their other disciplines that creating another portfolio just to show that we have one, seems like a lot of work on both ends.  

EEND 678 Artifact #2

This assignment is by far the one that I will remember most from this class.  Learning about problem based learning was really eye opening for me.  I had heard about it once or twice before this class but I never understood it.  During this module there were several resources that stood out and really clicked with me.  One was a video showing examples of teachers and students using project based learning.  When I first began to think about what a PBL unit would like in a PE setting, I had a hard time coming up with ideas.  But the more I thought, the more ideas came to mind.  I had to tell myself that a PBL unit in PE doesn't have to look like what a PBL unit looks like in the classroom.  In the end, I decided to write up a plan for 5th graders to create a new Field Day for our school.  I am really excited with the way it turned out and can't wait to try it out next year with the students.  This is one of those ideas that takes some courage to try at first but I think after trying it, it will be well worth it for the students. 

EEND 678 Artifact #1

    During this class, one of our assignments was to contribute to a class chart with 3 different tech tools that we use and explain where they would be on the SAMR model.  I enjoyed this process because it helped me reflect on the current tools that I use the most.  I also enjoyed this assignment because I was able to see a ton of different tools that other people use and read a short explanation of why they use them.  I find it extremely beneficial to talk with other teachers who are in the trenches using these tools with their students and finding new ways to enhance learning.  I can see this type of assignment being used in other disciplines as well where students are asked to find 3 things and then add to a class chart or site.  I will revisit this assignment again and again to reflect back on all of the different tech tools that were shared.

EEND 678Y Reflection

     As I reflect back on this class, I can think of a few things that really stuck out to me.  During the first week's module, I really enjoyed the class discussion about technology integration.  There were so many great examples of how teachers are integrating technology into their classrooms in so many different ways.  Our discussion focus was about the ISTE standards and so many people had such great responses to the questions posed.  As a non-classroom teacher, it is fun to hear how classroom teachers are using technology to be more efficient, bring life to their lessons, and make learning fun for kids when it may traditionally not be for some students.
     My biggest takeaway from this class was learning about Project Based Learning.  The resources during those two weeks were extremely interesting to me with all of the different articles and videos of teachers, schools, and districts who are implementing Project Based Learning.  I was always skeptical to the idea of it but after I read about it and watched some videos on the topic, it really does make a lot of sense.  The part I like most is how it relates so well to the real world.  Putting students in these types of situations at a young age and teach them how to problem solve with others will only benefit them in their future endeavors.  When I got to the assignment for this module, I was a little worried about what I would do for a PBL topic in my class.  The most common task for a PBL unit is to develop an individual fitness plan.  However, this would make the most sense in a high school setting and I teach at the elementary level.  I thought a lot about different topics and finally decided to focus on our field day and explore new ways to organize it.  Unfortunately I can't fit this unit in to this current school year but I am really excited to try it next year with my 5th grade students.  I love the idea of giving students a problem to solve and have them work together to come up with a solution but when I think about the potential of students revising our field day and then be able to implement their ideas at our school, I think it could really be something special for them. 
     The other big takeaway that stands out to me is during week 7 and learning about managing digital workflow.  This is a topic that I have not ever paid much attention to because as a PE teacher, we rarely use our chromebook devices.  After reading through the resources, I was blown away at how many great ideas and tips people have.  There are so many great people that are sharing their ideas through articles, Pinterest, blogs, etc.  And in addition to that, other people in our class had many great ideas of how they manage their classroom's devices.
     Overall, I really enjoyed this class and have saved a bunch of resources and tech tools that I can see myself trying out in my own classroom.     

EEND 677Y Artifact #2

     In Module 6, I read an article that was titled "Effective Communication via a Classroom Newsletter," by Janelle Cox.  It suggested that newsletters need to be eye catching, few words as possible, announce only new content, and to use graphics to share a story.  I decided to create my own newsletter for PE that I could share with parents either as a paper newsletter or send home electronically.  I have always struggled with what would be the best way to communicate with parents when I have over 600 students that I teach.  I decided to create a new newsletter that will highlight our new Tower Garden that we received as a grant that I applied for.  I think the images really capture the person's eye and hopefully inspire them to read the short paragraph explaining what it is.  I used the website, Canva, to create this newsletter and found it to be very simple to use.  I learned on the go and was able to find a large assortment of newsletter templates to get started with.  It was a lot of fun playing around with different ones trying to find which one would be best for two images side by side.  I can see using this website a lot more in the future when making posters or flyers for school events.  It was very easy to save to my computer and also to share as an attachment in an email if need be.  This particular module was interesting because it was all about telling a story and what are some strategies and tools to best share that story.  I will be sharing some of the other tools with some colleagues of mine so that they can also understand why graphic design matters when creating your own content.

EEND 677Y Artifact #1

     In module 4, our focus was on the use of video in the classroom and how book trailers can engage students.  Being that I am a PE teacher, I didn't know that book trailers were a thing and how engaging they are for students.  I have always enjoyed the use of video in my classroom but it has always been short clips that I might show of different highlights of a sport or skill that we are learning about. Recently, I started playing around with Gifs and creating my own for class.  They have become a really nice way for students to look back on during the lesson.  For this module's assignment, we were asked to create a book trailer or a video that was introducing something new coming up.  I decided to try out a new website and tech tool called Animoto.  This is a site that allows you to upload your own pictures or video and allows you to choose from a variety of different themed video trailers.  In addition to the themes, it also allows you to choose from a selection of music depending on the theme of your video.  There are multiple membership levels that offer different features but I opted for the free version for this assignment.  What I like about it was how easy and intuitive it was to use.  I have always used iMovie to create my videos for class and have always felt that it is very time consuming to try and make a video.  However, with Animoto, it was extremely simple to use and offered more themes than I thought for the free version.  For the assignment, I uploaded a bunch of pictures and video clips from last school year's Endurance Challenge.  This is an event that I do with just my 5th graders and is often described as the Amazing Race, meets Survivor, meets 5th grade.  It is a fun event for the students that pushes them beyond their comfort zone.  Each year I make a highlight video to share with the classes after the event.  I always use iMovie and it is very time consuming.  After using Animoto for this assignment, it has me re-thinking how I will create videos in the future.  I will use this Endurance Challenge teaser video to show this year's classes to get them excited for their event coming up.  I can now see myself creating short teaser videos for some future units or events that we may be doing.  Unfortunately I can't post my final video on my blog due to student privacy but I encourage you to check out the website for your next project!  www.animoto.com

EEND677Y Multimedia Tools in Education Reflection

     When I reflect back on this class, there are many things that stick out in a positive way.  In the beginning of the class, we spent some time talking and learning about audio in the classroom.  I have always been a huge fan of podcasts and listen to them whenever I can.  They have become very popular in the last few years and are popping up all over the place it seems and about any topic you can think of.  It was neat to read and here about other teachers who have started their own podcasts in their classrooms for students to create and share with their parents.  I think the biggest misconception is how much work they require.  I do not have experience in creating one but from what I have heard from others, it wasn't as scary as they thought.  One of the assignments early on was to do an audio recording of ourselves reading a short story.  It was very eye opening to actually critique yourself when listening to it back.  Hearing your own voice always feels weird anyway but to actually judge your tone, pace, intonation, and enthusiasm was very different but a great learning experience.  The podcast hosts make it seem so easy!
     During module 5, we focused on the importance of graphic design and typography.  I wasn't sure what to expect in this module but I found it very interesting after completing it.  I read an article titled "The Power of the Informational Graphic" by Wyzowl, and there was a quote that stuck with me.  It said "According to studies, people tend to remember about 20% of what they read, and only ten% of what they hear. In comparison, the same studies have shown that people tend to remember an impressive 80% of what they see and do."  This quote hit me hard after I reflected on it.  Being a PE teacher, I have a huge advantage in that I can incorporate movement into almost everything I teach.  The part that is missing a lot of the time is the visual piece.  It made me think about all the possibilities of ways that I could have more visuals in my classroom (or gym).  One easy fix could be to have Gifs projected on the screen of me doing a skill so that students could simply look up and see the example as often as they want.  This module also taught me about the F-shaped pattern that we use to look at websites or any graphics for that matter.  I wasn't sure at first but then I found myself doing it all the time after learning about it.  This module was great at explaining the importance of graphic design in your classroom and being the difference in keeping kids engaged in a lesson verses taking the easier way out and creating something simple and boring.
     In module 7, I created my first screencast for the assignment.  I was a little nervous before creating it only because they always look so easy when you see others do it on Youtube.  I will admit, it took me a few tries to get it right.  It was a lot harder than I thought too.  The tricky part to the screencast is that it is all one take so you have to be really well prepared with what you want to say and points you want to make because if you forget or mess up, you have to start all over!  Trust me, I learned the hard way!  In module 8, the resources were all about Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality.  I knew both were becoming very hot buzz words but I didn't know that they were making great progress into the education world.  I watched a really neat TED talk from Michael Bodekaer about how Virtual Reality can totally change the science classroom.  He demonstrated a way to do a science experiment with a headset on using his phone has the screen.  It was really neat to see how easy it was for him to maneuver around and to see why kids would be so much more engaged if learning was fun and interactive the way he was showing it.  
    I really enjoyed this class and will take many great ideas and resources away from it.  The best part is always collaborating with other teachers and hearing what they are trying and what is working for them.  So many people have so many great ideas and it's fun when everyone is willing to share what they have created or discovered.

EEND 677Y Graphic Design and Why it Matters

     We all know the feeling of when we are walking down the sidewalk of a city street, driving in our car and see a billboard, or flipping through a magazine, and see a beautiful, stunning image of an advertisement.  We remember the ones that are visually stunning and forget the ones that are boring.  The same goes for our classrooms.  As teachers, we should always keep this in mind when we are creating posters, slideshows, or just a simple screen of directions.  As humans, we like to look at appealing images and content, therefore, we should be creating such.  As we all know, students can be brutally honest and they will tell you when something is cool to look at or vice versa and will be talking to their neighbor when they shouldn’t be.  Creating quality graphic design in our classrooms is very important and I believe underestimated.  I think teachers would be surprised to see how much improvement they could see with their students if they spent a little more time with their graphic design content.  It is definitely easier said than done but there are so many resources of people on the internet now with tips and different ways to help or create things.  What would we do without the internet!?

     In the article “The Power of Visual Communication Infographic” from the Wyzowl blog, they referenced several studies that show people remember 10% of what we hear, 20% of what we read, and 80% of what we see and do.  That stat should be broadcast all over the world, but especially in the field of education.  Students need to see and DO things in order to truly learn the content of what is being taught.  That is why I love Physical Education because there is so much “doing” that is going on during class.  What I need to improve upon is adding the visual and audio to my lessons to better support all learners.  Students are drawn to video and when they can watch someone doing a skill and then try it themselves, there is a significant improvement in their focus and development. 

     With the Winter Olympics just around the corner, I am deep in the planning process of creating some exciting lesson plans to bring the Olympics into our classroom.  As I think about creating the posters and the different content that I plan on posting in the gym, I want them to be visually appealing so that the students get excited when they see it.  Having students create infographics would be another great resource for this unit because they are easy to understand and fun to look at.  I think it would be neat for a group of students to create different infographics about different trivia or tidbits about the Olympics that people might not know.