Erin Plasch 20% Project Part II

As a continuation of my 20% project from the previous course I continued my work with screen casting.  In Part I of my project I worked to learn screen casting and created an opportunity for my students to create screen casts teaching a topic in math that was difficult for them to learn.  It was a great learning experience for all.  This course, I focused on finding screen casting resources to put on my website for students & parents to use when working on math at home.  I get a lot of feedback from parents that they would like to know "how" I am teaching a concept.  The curriculum we use does not provide a parent handbook or Student Reference Book; so I think this website will be a good resource for students to use when they need to review a topic.  Here is a link to the website of links: https://sites.google.com/a/apps.edina.k12.mn.us/gifted-education-services-at-concord/home/student-links/screencasts

The main standard I believe my project met was:

2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:

b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.

This standard speaks to how my project will allow students to have the ability to manage their own learning.  Students are assessing their own progress by determining which videos they need to watch and how many times they need to view any one specific video before moving on to their independent practice.  In addition, this was an example of me designing an authentic learning experience using contemporary tools.  In the future I hope to create some of my own screen casts of lessons I am giving in the classroom.

The other standard I think my project fits is:

3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teacher:

d. model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning

This standard is demonstrated through my searches for previously made screen casts.  I mostly used Khan Academy, but many of the topics I wanted were not in their database, so I had to search You Tube and Google to find other screen casts that were appropriate, correct and acceptable quality.

Erin Plasch's 20% project

For my 20% project I worked on screencasting.  I wanted a way for kids to access algorithms for my math classes since I do not see them 5 days a week.  It would also help me give parents support who are always telling me they want to know the "new way" of teaching various math methods.  As I investigated the different online options, I chose Jing.  It seemed to me that most people liked it.  In hindsight, I should have gone with a different program because of the 5 minute time limit.  It became a problem later in my project.  In addition, there are other options that do not require you to pay a fee to upload to You Tube.  After some consideration, I decided to have my 5th grade students do the actual "lessons" on Jing.  I think it was a good lesson for them, they chose a topic to screen cast that was difficult for them to learn.  I got positive feedback from them on the lessons.  Technically, there were issues having that many students screen cast, especially since I do not have the students all day (and the flexibility that comes with that).  Overall, the project went well, but I think I will be recreating the screen casts myself before posting.

I think my project displays how I grew in 2 areas:
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teacher:

d. model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning
5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teacher:

c. evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning.

I found this project to open my eyes to the possibilities that technology can have.  Being a part time teacher I am not able to connect with my students on a daily basis.  Technology such as screen casting & Moodle can help me have a more constant presence in their daily activities.