ePortfolio Assignment 15

Popsci.com,Tourwrist, Night Sky and Old McDonald are all really cool apps that I have not noted previously.

Popsci.com is a FREE app that has current science articles that are “popular science.” This apps helps keep more up to date on recent discoveries in the scientific community.

Tourwrist is a FREE app that lets us to explore other areas of the world without actually being there. This app will also allow you to make a panoramic virtual tour of your own for others to explore.

Night Sky is an app that costs $0.99 but it is worth the cost. This app maps out the night sky, in real time, using the iPad as a reference point.  When you hold the iPad up to the sky, no matter where you are, this app tells you which stars are above you in all directions.

Old McDonald is an app that is very elementary and also costs $0.99. However, my kids love it so much I have to mention it.  This app is based on farm animals; it has puzzles, games and music that my 2 year old (who loves cows) absolutely adores.   

ePortfolio Assignment 14

An ePortfolios is an interesting way to assess learning. I like that the entries are open for all class members to view, discuss and use as a reference tool. I appreciate that it is an alternative method to printing essays every week and it is very easy to keep organized. It is enjoyable to gain a differing prospective on similar topics and share new strategies. ePortfolios are also an excellent way to present many different things to an audience without taking a lot of actual class time to on presentations.  

ePortfolio Assignment 13

I have a student who reads on a second grade level. If you remember from earlier posts I teach ninth grade physical science.  As you can imagine this reading deficiency is a challenge. This student has an IEP that excuses her from any type of public speaking, reading or even being called upon to answer questions in front of her peers. This makes it difficult to properly administer ongoing informal assessment with traditional methods, thus she definitely benefits from differentiated instruction.

As reading and writing go hand-in-hand this student finds it difficult to complete written assignments. While talking to some students I have had in previous years I was introduced to an awesome app that helps cross this literacy boundary. It is called Dragon Dictation. Dragon Dictation allows you to talk directly to the iPad. The iPad essentially types the student’s response or even an entire essay.

A second app that would help this student is Science 360. This app has a plethora of videos that explain numerous science concepts. This allows all students, especially those with reading disabilities, to acquire information while not having to struggle with the large scientific words that would easily overwhelm them. While I feel literacy should be taught in all academic areas, it is nice to allow students the opportunity to learn science without bogging them down with even more mental hurdles.

Both Dragon Dictation and Science 360 can be used during my students learning skills class so that she will not feel singled out or looked down upon by her peers.  Since both of these apps are on the iPad organization is plus; there are no papers or bulky equipment to shuffle through or keep organized.  Another bonus to both of these apps is they are both FREE.

ePortfolio Assignment 12

I am a CMHS Freshmen Academy teacher. The Academy has several events to acclimate our freshmen to the high school setting. One of these events is the “Freshmen Invasion”. This event allows students to “invade” or visit the facility before the upperclassmen arrive. They learn more about the journey in which they are embarking. 

The Prezi linked below is one of the tools in which the Academy uses to share information with new students and their parents.  Every year the presentation is updated to illustrate the years’ schedule, events and staff.  All the of the academy teachers collaborate in one way or another to compile and share this information with students and parents; whether it is cooperating to have their picture taken, helping plan information to be included, making the actual Prezi, presenting at the invasion or answering questions students and parents have after the presentation. To make the Freshmen Invasion a successful event it requires team work from all freshmen teachers.

This Prezi is effective because, as new students enter a school for the first time they have a plethora of questions. Students want to know who their teachers are, how the school functions and what is expected of them. The Prezi below is used as a tool to guide the presenters while they address many student concerns. 

Freshmen Invasion Prezi

ePortfolio Assignment 10

Here are two apps that I have found useful:

·         HP home & biz is an app that allows print jobs to be sent to any HP printer directly from the iPad. This is done wirelessly so there is no need to hook the iPad to a printer or email things to later be retrieved and finally printed from a computer. This is a huge timesaver.

 ·         Songify is an app that allows students transform lyrics into a rap. They simply select a beat and record themselves reading or rehearsing the lyrics. Songify then transforms their voice and times it with the beat. This creates a rap that is easily shared with the class and illuminates the issues that often come with live student presentation.

Below is a link to a rubric created in Google Docs. This rubric was created to help guide students as they worked on the Egg Car Project and assess that work once it was complete. The Egg Car Project is highlighted in ePortfolio Assignments 5 and 8.

Egg Car Rubric

ePortfolio Assignment 9

Below is a Wordle that I created at http://www.wordle.net/ 

I use this as a cool way to display our physics word wall. Students can refer to the Wordle helping them remember physics terms while completing writing assignments meant to increase literacy across the curriculum.