Cheers,
Lesley
As some of us at CAT prepare for a PD session on the flipped classroom, I'm reminded of the many things we already know how to do. Whether you use Moodle or another virtual classroom, those LMS's (Learning Management Systems) often contain the most powerful pieces for learning--discussion forms, quizzes where students can receive immediate feedback, and the ability to add links to videos (either made by you or by others) or other resources to enrich the class. A flipped classroom may sound daunting, but I bet you are already using some of the necessary elements, so the hope is that the jump to flipping won't be so scary. Plus, if you have participated in a MOOC or another distance learning course, you have experienced the flipped classroom. Anant Agarwal, the CEO of EdX, explained the basics of a MOOC in his TED talk from June of 2013, and his ideas are still very relevant, especially when we consider what changes we have made to today's classroom (i.e., not much). I hope this talk has inspired you and prepared you to think about ways you could flip your classroom. To be frank, I haven't flipped my classroom, but I have flipped parts. For example, most quizzes and tests for my class are done on Moodle so that my students receive immediate feedback. I also have instructional videos for various subjects (i.e., explaining how to create a Weebly blog and using the library's resources) and I have given students links to audiobooks of assigned reading, but that is basically the extent of the flipped part of my classroom. I have found discussion forums to work occasionally, but my students tire of them if I use them too often, so in-class discussions still reign. So you could say I'm not 100% of the way to a flipped class, but I'm far from 0% and that is an accomplishment. Each year I create new resources that give students the opportunity to review what we did in class and learn the material at their own pace and I think that is the crux of the flipped classroom. Perhaps if you take a "baby steps" approach like me, you will get farther in the flipped process than you had ever imagined you would.
Cheers, Lesley
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It’s that time of year again… I’ve assigned the semester project to my 9th graders (they’ve actually been working on it for a few weeks now). I’m using the same semester project I did last year, hoping it work better than last year. If you’re unfamiliar with my semester project, I asked my students to choose a book (a book that I have deemed appropriate for their ability level) and they are blogging about what they have read. Last year I made my students make a Weebly website but this year I let them choose. Most did choose Weebly, though, so we’re getting a good feel for the latest version of the Weebly app. As I’m sure you know, I’m a big fan of Weebly—it’s the site I use to maintain this website. I had tried to use the app in the past, but it wasn’t the most user-friendly so I stuck with the computer version. However, Weebly has made some drastic changes to their app and now I’ve been using it with my students on a weekly basis. The app makes editing one’s Weebly site significantly easier than editing via the website on an iPad, so if your only device is an iPad, you NEED the Weebly app. I, however, have had a different issue since I started all of my Weebly websites with the computer version. Since I did that, I am unable to edit all parts of those websites through the app. I’m not sure what the issue is, but I’ve had to stick with the computer version for the Weebly sites I have had for years now; therefore, I haven’t really been able to assess the efficacy of the app except through working with my students. So what is the final verdict? Well, the Weebly app is great if that is where you started your website. For those of us who have used the computer version for many years, well, we’ll have to wait until a few more bugs are fixed and stick with the computer version for now. Either way, Weebly is a wonderful resource for any classroom and my students have enjoyed creating something that the wider world can see and use. Cheers, Lesley Last week I had my students begin their semester project blogs. (I'm working on refining the same project I did last year with reading a book of their choice and blogging about it as they read.) I'm encouraging them to use Weebly since they will be using Weebly for their math class. Although I love Weebly and I think it's easy to use, last year was so hectic when students were creating their Weebly sites and their blog pages! I swear it was one of the longest teaching days of my life... I repeated myself over and over and kept having to go back to show students what they had to do. After such a terrible class, I ended up making a video over the weekend for students to use in their homes. That meant that this year instead of repeating myself and getting as exhausted as last year, this time I showed my students where the video was (I put the link on Moodle so it was very easy to find) and I asked them to watch it and follow along, pausing as they needed to.
To be frank, not everyone was a fan. I, however, found it much easier to walk around, monitor student progress, and assist as needed. It was such a pleasant class for me! I felt like I was able to meet with each student and truly gauge their comfort level with Weebly. Plus I enjoyed the fact that students who missed class had the opportunity to watch and video and feel like they hadn't missed a beat. I don't think I will be using YouTube every day or even every week, but there are times when it is helpful. Therefore, I will leave you with my anecdote and this infographic from e-Learning Industry. Maybe there's a place for YouTube in your classroom, too. Cheers, Lesley |
About the AuthorLesley is an English teacher who is passionate about using connectivism in the classroom and preparing students and teachers for using the tools that are available to them on a regular basis. This blog will focus on iPad apps and Web 2.0 tools that can enhance and diversify learning. Leave a comment and let me know what you think or what you'd like to learn about! Archives
January 2016
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