Class 34: Movie Day

Hi all, you still have time to send me your WebQuest idea by midnight today.
Today we will have our Movie day!
Please remember that today is also the due date for your iMoive project.
You will need to upload the web version of your movie to your google page and write a short description for it.
Please arrive a little bit earlier so that we can set up your movie as planned.
Before you start playing your movie, you can introduce your group members and your movie story if you think it is needed.
Have fun!
On Wednesday, April 9th, we will finish writing the first four components of your webQuest:
Introduction, Tasks, Process, and Resources.

Class 33: Introduction to WebQuest

As I said in the email sent on this Wednesday afternoon, the due date for iMovie has been postponed to Monday, April 7th.

Instead of having movie day on today, we will have our movie day on Monday, April 7th! Each person in the winner group will have a DVD containing their group video.

Today we start talking about WebQuest.
What exactly is a WebQuest? What are its main characteristics? What are your initial reactions to WebQuests in terms of teaching and learning? What advantages and disadvantages do you see in teaching with WebQuests? What standards in your content area lend themselves to WebQuests?

Viewing exemplary webquests is a good way to get started on your own. Go to the main WebQuest page and click the words "Find WebQuests" on the left navigation bar. Using the Curriculum/Grade Level Matrix (in the middle of the page), spend a few minutes viewing 2 or 3 WebQuests in your content area.

A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented online tool for learning, says workshop expert Bernie Dodge

• This means it is a classroom-based lesson in which most or all of the information that students explore and evaluate comes from the World Wide Web.
  
• Beyond that, it can be as short as a single class period or as long as a month-long unit; usually involves group work, with division of labor among students who take on specific roles or perspectives; are built around resources that are preselected by the teacher.
• Students spend their time USING information, not LOOKING for it.

Hopefully, you're beginning to formulate an idea for a "hook" for your own WebQuest. It may be related to work you have already done in our class or work you are currently completing in other courses. It could even be something completely new in your content area. After you have some ideas review the webquest rubric so that you are clear on what is expected. Before Wednesday's class, you'll want to identify your WebQuest topic. Use this website to help you in the selection process.

Generally, a good WebQuest topic should have some inherent complexity, such as controversial issues, multiple perspectives, unknowns, etc. The topic needs to have your students take information in and transform it, using their own judgement and creative problem-solving techniques -- a LoTi level 4 or higher -- the learning should be authentic. Certain topics tend to lend themselves more to the WebQuest format than others.

In Summary a WebQuest is:

1. A clear, concise introduction that provides necessary information and sets up the activity.

2. An interesting and concrete central task.

3. A collection of information resources needed.

4. A step-by-step description of the process to be used for the task.

5. Guidelines on how to organize the information acquired (questions that should be answered, etc.); this will be the backbone for the Web site students create.

6. A closing lesson that reviews what the students have learned and how it can be brought to bear on other subjects.

7. The teacher resources page includes the standards that are addressed, the appropriate grade level and directions on how the teacher can use the webquest for their classroom.


WebQuest Resources:
Some Thoughts About WebQuests
Building Blocks of a Webquest
The Webquest Design Process
Taxonomy of WebQuest Tasks
WebQuest Rubric
Process Checklist
Concept to Classroom
Searching tips
WebQuest Templates

Sample WebQuests:

Bernie Dodge's Top WebQuests
Middle School WebQuest Matrix
George Mason Univ. WebQuests
Maryland Tech Academy WebQuests
Other examples

Here are some questions to consider as you are working on your WebQuest (you do not need to turn in responses to these questions):
*Is your WebQuest topic authentic in order to engage your students?
*Is your WebQuest task challenging and doable?
*Do your learners need to think independently and critically during the WebQuest activity?
*Is collaboration between your students important for the successful completion of the WebQuest?
*What scaffolds (visual organizers, software tools, prompting questions and suggestions) are provided in your WebQuest?

Homework:

By Monday, April 7th :

• You'll want to identify your WebQuest topic. Use this websiteto help you in the selection process. It may be related to work you have already done in our class or work you are currently completing in other courses. It could even be something completely new in your content area. After you have some ideas together, please email (edit2000spring08@gmail.com) a response ( to the following questions related to your WebQuest. Make sure to include your name in the body of the email. I will provide you with feedback about your topic choice via email before class on Wednesday, April 9th.
  
  1. Briefly describe your topic
  2. Why did you choose this topic?
  3. How will your WebQuest be tied to Georgia or national curriculum standards?
  4. How will web resources play an important role in your WebQuest?
  5. How will your WebQuest require students' deep understanding or higher-level thinking instead of mere comprehension?

Class 29: iMovie

Note: today we are having class in room 233, Aderhold hall!

Today we will begin digital storytelling using iMovie. You will be working in small groups to create an original story about your subject area. Please turn in a sheet with the names of your group members after the class. Your group should include 3-5 members. There will be 5 groups in total.

Please read the project requirement carefully before you start your project.

Now let's look at a few examples of digital stories to gets your brains churning about your own ideas.

• The Center for Digital Storytelling

• Products from previous semesters:
• Transitions
• Eating Your Colors
• Internet Safety
• Dealing with Problems in the Classroom
• Why not do a field trip?
• Time
  

The use of video in education has been around for a long time, but it is just in recent years that it has become simple for classroom teachers and children to create and edit their own educational videos. The Apple Learning Interchange gives multiple examples of using educational video for teaching content standards.

I will be at the AERA conference in NYC from this Saturday (March 22nd) to Thursday (March 27th). (Yay~!) So no attendances will NOT be required for Monday and Wednesday of the coming week (March 24th and March 26th). However, you will still spend equal or even more time to work on your iMoive project with your group members. But I bet it will be fun!

Here is the arrangement for iMovie project:
Monday, March 24th:

• You need to get the video tapes from Ms. Gretchen Thomas. She will be waiting in our classroom at 12:20 pm (616, Aderholod).
  
• You also need to check out the reserved video camera from OIT (room 232).
• You will want to ask the OIT staffs to show you how to operate the camera. Make sure to ask them to show you how to use a plug-in microphone on the camera if you decide to record the audio on the spot.
  
• There is a check-out limit of 5 days. But since there are other classes using those cameras, please try not to keep them in your hands too long. Remember the battery needs to be charged before you can use the camera. Usually one battery needs at least 3 hours for charging, depending on the type of camera. Double check this information with the staff when you check out the camera.
  
• Meet your group members to brainstorm the topic of your iMovie project and the details. Since this is a group project, the topic of your video will not be restricted by grade levels and subject areas. Be creative with your video production! Use humor and originality to capture the essence of your topic. Of course, this video still should be for educational purpose and should not involve any inappropriate contents.
  

From Monday, March 24th to Thursday, 27th:

• You will take video footage and probably some digital pictures.
  

• You will also choose the background music if you decide to use some.

Friday, March 28th, Monday, March 31st and Wednesday, April 2nd:
You will use iMovie to edit your videos, add voice and music, and make transitions between clips (if needed). You will work in those editing suites in room 602 Aderhold (the five-member group will work on the suite in our classroom). Note: please bring both your tapes and your camera back to class.

You'll want to review the project guidelines for this project -- but keep in mind that you need NOT capture more than 5-8 minutes of raw footage. This will be edited down to 2-3 minutes of video. We will use iMovie for editing. iMovie HD is the software available in the iLife suite on Macintosh computers.

NOTE: I encourage you to reserve the Editing suites for extra editing time in case.
To reserve the Editing suites, you need to go to the OIT office with your UGA ID card.

PCs have a similar software called Movie Maker -- but it is not as easy to use in its existing version. Today you'll learn the ins and outs of the software using the practice materials I provide.

Class 28: Best Game Designer

Hello all, as you already know, today is the Game Day! After two weeks' hard work on the PowerPoint game projects, now it is time for us to enjoy the game and share with others!
Please come to the class a little bit earlier to have your game set up on the computer.

You should have already selected one person from your group before class. There will be five group game presenters in total, so each person will have 9 minutes to present.

Some hints to organize your presentation can be:
1. introduce your group members;
2. introduce your focused subject area, grade level, and the educational objectives of your game;
3. introduce the story of your game ;
4. tell us how your students will play it. Is there any incentives or rewarding strategies to engage your students? Do you think your game is fun to play? Why do you think it is fun?
5. Do you think your game is age appropriate?
6. what types of questions in this game did you write? Why do you think should these questions be written in this way? Why do you think will these questions inspire and help your student to learn?
7. In what situation do you think is the best for this game to be used? Should it be used before introducing a new concept/content or should it be used after a learning session? Or in what else situation should it be used?
8. Do you think if this game can be changed to fit into another teaching topic? If yes, then how?
9. What else features／strong points do you think does your game have?

During their presentations, the rest of the class will judge the quality of their games according to the score chart that I will distribute in the class. After all the five presentations, you need to vote for the "Best Game Creator". You all will use the evaluation sheet to help you to decide who is the best Game designer.

On Friday, we will start talking about iMovie project. We will use some pictures and video clips to practice some basic skills of using iMovie. You can also bring your own video clips and pictures.

Note: if you decide to bring your own video clips, you need to check if the file formats of your video clips are compatible with iMovie. According to the web document on Apple.com, files with the .wmv or .avi extension may require a third-party plug-in or application to be viewed or converted to another format, although .avi file can be imported to the iMovie on my MacBook.

Try also playing the footage in QuickTime Player to confirm that you have both audio and video. Remember also that MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 formatted footage is not supported in iMovie or iDVD.

For more information about the video format compatibility of iMovie, please check here.

Class 26: PowerPoint Game --- Independent working day

Ready for Spring Break?

Yay!~

Today is independent working day. Since it is the day before the Spring break, I think everyone who come to the class will get a late pass and there will be no penalty if you don't come.

On Monday we will get into groups of 4 and elect one person representing your group to participate the Game Competition. The winner will get a small price and the group which the winner belongs to will get 4 late passes!

Your PowerPoint game project will due on Wednesday, March 19th.
You will need to :

• Upload your PPT game to the webCT;
• Write your reflection page and upload your ppt game to the page

Note: I changed the absence policy on our online syllabus:
3 absences --- no penalty
4 absences --- 10 points off
5 absences or more--- WF

Class 25: PowerPoint Games

Today, we will work in teams to:

• have your team members to review your game story and game directions;
• Remember: your game story needs to be interesting and compelling so that your students will be interested in playing the game;
• creativity and effort takes 10 points for this project. Creativity can be shown in many aspects, such as your game story, game strategy (how your students will play this game), the layout and the design of your game appearance.
  
• help create and refine your 15 questions and "thinking out loud" your directions for the game you are creating. This will require that you solicit support from your classmates so that you can create some great questions and have your directions formulated;
• Remember: questions take 10 points in this project. Try to refine your questions and think of ways to involve higher critical thinking levels.
  
• select game pieces and look at possible gameboards.
• Remember: Game board is not mandatory, but to create a game board by drawing and scanning it into pictures will earn you a late pass. Previously I said that you need to draw and scan a game board to earn the late pass, but now I have a link to a tutorial on how to create a game board using ppt. I recommend the "creating your 2 fold game board template."You just modify the board to suite your needs. Change colors of squares, change shapes, etc. Another option is to look at previous student's game boards. Select edit slides and you can modify them if they are not screen shots - feel free to copy and paste.

Get into iMovie groups of 4 and reserve MiniDV for the iMovie project. (Your iMovie group needs to have at least one person in COE to check out the MiniDV).
You need to reserve it from Monday, March 24th to Wednesday, March 26th.
For Friday, we will work independently in classroom and class attendance is required.

Class 24: PPT games-- writing good questions using Blooms Taxonomy

Please turn in your Learning puzzle after the class. You should have three questions for your game ready for today's class.
Today we are going to :

• Discuss how to create questions using Blooms Taxonomy.
• Click here to view today's class notes.
• View some sample questions here:
• Sample 1
  
• Begin customizing the game template
• Write your game directions
• Finish the basic slides: objectives, game pieces, copyright notice, credits, etc.

On Wednesday turn in the first 5 questions that you will use for your PowerPoint game.