Cool Tool: Zaption

Do you show videos in your class? If so, you should be using Zaption! This is an effective online site/tool that allows you to make videos interactive.

Zaption allows teachers to add text, images, and questions to videos. These videos can come from online sources (such as YouTube) or be uploaded from your device. This transforms the video from a one-way informative lecture to an interactive learning activity. It engages students, checks for understanding, and provides you with a way to check student progress. Teachers can share the lesson for students to complete on their own or show the video in class to complete together.

There are millions of videos available online to capture student interest and share information. The problem is ensuring students are actively watching the videos and gaining knowledge. Zaption gives teachers a way to have student interact with the video and lesson in real time. Students can answer questions or submit answers to discussion questions as they are discussed in the video. The video pauses to give students time to respond. Students do not need to feel rushed while answer questions on a worksheet, and teachers have more useful information to gauge student understanding and input.

It is a great way to increase student engagement! Technology standards and objects are prevalent in today’s classrooms. Videos are a positive way to bring technology into the classroom and tap into the plethora of resources available on the web. Zaption helps turn these videos into interactive lessons and check for student participation and understanding in real time rather than at the end of class or the following day.

It is imperative for students to take ownership of their learning and their future. They are not observers to learning. Zaption puts students into the video/lesson as it is happening. It ensures students are understanding the information being presented and assists teachers in remediating students as needed. It is a strong tool for implementation to any 21st century classroom.

Do you use Zaption? Share a video in the comments!

Here is my most recent Zaption video lesson: Introduction to Presidential Election 2016

I use this video to do many things:

• Introduce the presidential candidates before we begin our research and debates
• Review Theme
• Review Ethos, Pathos, Logos
• Discuss Marketing Techniques
• Discusses Sources/Truth in Information

Let me know what you think!

Disney Youth Education Series

We went back to Disney!

This was my second time taking the Disney Youth Education Series field trip. Every trip is different. There is always something to learn (and always something stressful), but I never regret going! Our group size almost doubled from last year! 

We take a whirlwind of a three day trip staying at a Disney hotel for two nights, sleeping on a charter bus for two nights, running the day away in Disney parks for three days, and enjoying two Disney YES programs.

Now that we are back - it is time to start planning next year's trip.

One of my newspaper staff students wrote an article on our recent Disney field trip:

On February the 3rd, Ms. Reeves took a group of eighth graders to Disney World to get a hands-on experience with the science that occurs at Disney. They visited Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and Magic Kingdom. The students were taught about how motion, gravity, and acceleration help the roller coasters at Disney World work in a program at Magic Kingdom. This program walked students through real life examples of Newton’s Laws of Motion. They rode Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to see the laws in action!

They also learned how the people at Disney, and all over the world, work to create areas that people and animals can both live together. Disney’s Animal Kingdom provides habitats for a variety of animals from around the world. The Disney guides also instructed students on ways they can conserve resources at home in order to help keep habitats around the world from being destroyed. This program hit close to home for GSMS students as we also have many local efforts to keep our local habitat (the beach) safe, clean, and protected for our wildlife.

Kathleen Wilson, a student that went on the trip, exclaimed, “I enjoyed going to Disney World. It was fun to learn how the roller coasters work and get to ride them with friends.” Sara Coker, another student that went on the trip, explained, “I had a lots of fun in Disney World, but my favorite part was learning how science, math, and history are involved in the making of everything there, especially the roller coasters.” All students had a wonderful time!

Classroom Tools & AUPs

Blog post for CAT 531 - University of Alabama

The list of available technology tools for the classroom is growing daily. From classroom systems (I use Moodle) to interactive games (KaHoot! is the favorite among my students), we have a multitude of ways to reach our students both inside and outside the classroom. I teach in a 1:1 county. Each of my students is provided with a MacBook Air and a Google account. While the plethora of technology can definitely enhance our classroom experience, it is also important to keep the county's Acceptable Use Policy in mind as I select and use technology with my students.

If an instructor were to use TeacherTube in a classroom, they would need to consult the school's AUP because TeacherTube opens the door for students to access videos created by other people, students to comment and share information online, and students to create and post their own videos to share globally. Many safety concerns and irresponsible netiquette issues could arise from the use of TeacherTube if students are not monitored closely and taught the proper use of the technology.

Areas of our AUP that should be referenced when considering the use of TeacherTube include netiquette, personal safety, and cyber bullying. Students must follow proper netiquette and only post and/or comment on TeacherTube in a respectful manner. They must also verify their information before spreading false information. Cyber bullying must not be tolerated. This goes hand in hand with using the Internet in a respectful manner. It is okay to disagree, but it is not okay to be hateful. The teacher should instruct students on the importance of not sharing personal information online (birthday, address, full name, ETC). Teachers should review student videos before publishing to ensure student safety. 

While these areas of concern are serious and should be discussed directly with students, concerns are not a reason to avoid the use of technology in the classroom. Be aware. Prepare. It is vital in today’s society for students to understand the implications of improper use of the Internet. It is just as important for students to be taught the amazing opportunities available through technology.

Leadership & Sign Language

My Lead (Leadership) class does not have a set curriculum. We have a lot of wiggle room to do things that will prepare the students for the future and peak their interest. During the first semester, we have learning typing (I'm surprised how many students don't know how to truly type!), Genius Hour, 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, video announcements, and now sign language!

Studying American Sign Language was requested by about 80% of the students, so we are learning it as a class. I have found video lessons online (ten lessons total), and we are going through those lessons and using Life Print to learn ASL! The students have truly taken to it and are doing a wonderful job.

Our county provides Rosetta Stone accounts for each student and employee, so students have access to learn many other languages. Unfortunately, there is no Rosetta Stone program for ASL. We are taking advantage of our class time to learn ASL. I do not know ASL, but I am learning with my students. I am enjoying it more than the students! I definitely have a goal of becoming multilingual. The world can be a better place through good communication!

For the holidays, the students learning "Jingle Bell Rock" in ASL. We created a video to share with the county and even went caroling at the elementary school! Check out the video below!

Dolphin Tank

We are the Dolphins (Fear the Fin!), so we decided to hold Dolphin Tank projects this year. Similar to the hit show Shark Tank, our students create a product, project, or service and present their idea to the community during Fine Arts Night. The winning group continues on to have their project funded using a crowd funding site.

This year the theme of Dolphin Tank was service learning. Students worked in groups of 3-4 to create something beneficial for our community. Project ideas ranged from products, like sunscreen machines (we are a beach community), to services, like a giving tree (year-round go to the fire department and submit a need then community members can pick your item to buy and leave at the giving tree for you to pick up), to projects, like hygiene bags for the homeless. They were extremely creative, and we were all very proud. (All 8th grade students completed a Dolphin Tank service learning project.)

I created an interactive center to help students prepare for and work through the Dolphin Tank unit:

Students presented their Dolphin Tank project through their ELA class. The top 3 groups from the entire eighth grade were selected to present at Fine Arts Night. Fine Arts Night includes a performance by the band and theatre students as well as an Art Show. It is always a wonderful night to show off the great things happening at our school! Especially since parents aren't as involved at the middle school level as they are at the elementary level. 

Our winning presentation group can be watched by clicking here.

This group has already spoken to many community members and started a Kick Starter. They are well on their way to making their project a reality.

I plan to post a Dolphin Tank bundle to my TPT store within the next few weeks! Keep your eyes open for this wonderful project! It can be used for realistic projects (like we did) or imaginary invention type projects.

Video Announcements

While my newspaper staff publishes a monthly e-newsletter, my Lead students produce biweekly video announcements. These video announcements are put together using iMovie and shared on our school website homepage and school Facebook page. The students write the script, collect the photos, and record. I use a rubric to grade their recordings and scripts (I hope to put this in my TPT store soon!).

Check out their last video for the first semester:

We look forward to more video announcements next semester!

Lucid Press & School Newspaper

This is my third year as the Newspaper Sponsor. We have definitely grown a great deal over the years! When the staff has handed to me, they only posted short (1-3 sentence) stories with a photo to a Facebook page separate from the school's main Facebook page. Now they write 250+ word stories weekly with at least five photos and two quotes and publish an e-newsletter monthly. This is in addition to keeping the main school Facebook page, Instagram page, and website up to date. We are busy bees!

e-Newsletter VS Paper

I am constantly asked about our decision to produce an e-newsetter instead of a paper newsletter. While all schools have different needs, the e-newsletter is the perfect fit for our school! We use Lucid Press to publish our newsletter. This program allows students to hold different account, share documents, and work collaboratively. It also has a chat room and comment area. As the teacher, I can login to review work and leave comment or make changes as needed.  

Once the e-newsletter is complete, it can be published then shared via link or embedded into another site. We embed it onto the school homepage and send a link to parents and students.

Since we are a 1:1 school, students can access the e-newsletter from the MacBook Air. We are cutting down on the use of paper and trash in our school - while also reaching a larger audience. (In the middle school setting, very few flyers make it all the way home.) The use of the e-newsletter also keeps us from having any cost in newsletter production!

Check out our first e-newsletter from the 2015-2016 school year!

Do you run the newspaper staff at your school? I would love to collaborate!