Flipped Classroom Image
Flipped Classroom
For this module, I was tasked with developing several lessons that could be used in a flipped classroom. As an educator, I have known about the flipped concept for quite a while, but due to the fact that I couldn’t guarantee that my students would have access to devices at home, I never chose to employ it. Well, how dumb do I feel after realizing that it can be done in school as a part of a center rotation? I will say that as a fairly seasoned teacher, I didn’t find it difficult to develop the lessons/videos as I just pretended I was standing in front of my class delivering instruction. For all of the Educreation videos as well as the QuickTime video I created, I focused on actual lessons I would use with my students. Therefore, if I sound like I am having an actual conversation (although one-sided) it is because, in my head, I was talking to them. I think this was actually a very good opportunity for me to realize how easy it is to put together these lessons that could free me up to work with my students rather than deliver direct instruction.
I have had experience with QuickTime so I knew what to expect. I had never used Educreations and although it served its purpose it was limited. Then again, it is the free version and as I tell my kids, when it is free you need to be happy with what you get. So, I would absolutely consider recommending it for very basic lessons but would love to see the features that the paid version offers. None the less, it was a fun, interesting experience.
Test Video 1 – What is a Web Browser
As I aforementioned, all of the videos I created would be applicable in my actual teaching. This video although short is important. The first month practically of Kindergarten is trying to teach “the littles” how to log-in. After that, we move to an art/word processing program(at this point there is no writing going on) called KidPix. Around November/December we finally get to the idea of the internet. I’ll be honest, probably the only thing they know about a web browser is that they have to use Google Chrome and it lets them get to a website to play games (always educational). This video I developed could absolutely be used in my absence although in all honestly would have to be played several weeks in a row before it sets in. Hope you enjoy.
Test Video 2 – What is an Algorithm
So, again, this is an actual lesson I do, but I show a terrific video about making a peanut butter sandwich to show my students how an algorithm can go wrong quickly. I think if I were to do this again, possibly I would use the Educreation whiteboard space, but record in QuickTime on top of it so that I could also show the video in addition to what I showed in this video. This video isn’t my favorite by far, but I think it gets the point across. My students would need probably more explanation than is present to be able to fully put together an algorithm, but it is a good starting point for the conversation.
Test Video 3 – Creating Strong Passwords
This video reflects an important conversation I have every year with my 5th graders. Until they hit middle school or in this case the very end of 5th grade, they are given their password which is not “a strong password” at all. We usually spend a decent amount of time talking about it, I show some great video’s I have found over the years (always looking for new things as times change quickly) and in the end, they pick a new password. I can’t tell you how many of my kids try to really take the tips to heart and make their password really tricky and unfortunately by the next time I see them they have no idea what it is because they made it too hard. I think this would be a good video for them to watch either as a station or ahead of time and then I would have the opportunity to help critique their passwords as they make them.
Test Video 4 – How to Select the Right Layout
My building is a Google building and I really do my darndest to introduce the GAFE accounts in first grade. By second grade I try to have students making Google Slide presentations with multiple slides, information, and images. I have found over the years that students have a really hard time selecting layouts that work for what they are creating. I did not go into depth in this video on what each layout was good for because I felt that was too much for a second-grader, but I did make it very clear which ones would work and why. I know this video would be beneficial, especially if I wasn’t available for a class and the teacher was looking forward to using Google Slides for brief presentations in their class.
QUICKTIME SCREEN CAPTURE – INTERACTIVE POSTER – GOOGLE SLIDES
For my final video, I decided to film a video of a lesson I actually was just working on with my class. We had been working on it for a few weeks and what I realized was that some students were ready to link much earlier than others (they were using their time a little better). I needed to, therefore, introduce how to link, but I then had students that weren’t prepared (having everything really ready) to link, choosing to go ahead. Now, to be honest, you can link at almost any point in this lesson once you have the pictures and then blocked out X amount of slides. With that said though, my kids get so off track with their writing when there are other cool things that can be done instead (aka finding pictures and linking). I actually think the way I filmed the screen capture video with the opening slide of what needs to be done first was a great idea. I know it wasn’t essential to the lesson, but knowing my students, it would be essential for them to complete the project in a timely fashion. I envisioned having this video ready at the introduction of the project with the instruction that students should not access it till they had completed x,y, and z. This would allow the fast finishers to move on, while those that happened to be running behind wouldn’t forget the instruction as they could pull it up at any time. I could envision myself making this video accessible next year if I choose to do this project again.