By: Garrett Derr One of my favorite parts about teaching students how to use technology is that.....well.....I don't really have to teach them much. In other words, they just "get it". And if they don't quite "get it" right away, it won't be long until they figure it out. Our students are living in a world where technology is a way of life. What once worked in classrooms years ago, might not work any longer. What works right now, might not work in the future. As educators, a part of our job is to provide and teach our students the skills they need to be successful members of society. Whether we like it or not, technology is an absolute necessity in the classroom today.
According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 77% of jobs today require some technology related skills. Imagine what that number will look in 5 years from now. 10 years from now. 20 years from now. Let's not wait any longer. Let's start now by tapping into our student's inner-creative minds today. And, for those who are looking for a good starting point, I'm going to recommend an application called Apple Clips! This app can be used to allow students to create video content across any subject area. The best part? It can also be used across any grade level! Let's explore a few creative ways to use Apple Clips in the classroom. 1. Create a timeline of a historical event Students are often asked to recall key events that have occurred during important windows of history. Rather than simply have students students recall or recite their knowledge of a historical event, allow them to create to show their knowledge. You will be surprised with what students can create from scratch! When I taught second grade, we explored the history of Lancaster city by taking a tour downtown. Upon our return, I asked my students to create a video that highlighted some of the key events that they learned about during the tour. I was blown away by the final outcome! Students learn best when they create! 2. Explain a process or cycle By fourth grade, students are asked to understand the water cycle and the significance of each stage. Using Clips for a project involving the water cycle not only allows them to create, but it helps create connections to the world around them. Have your students capture photos of precipitation when it is occurring during the school day. When the sun comes out, have them add to their Clips video what it means to evaporate. The possibilities are endless! 3. Create a book talk/review This one might be my favorite. Often times we ask our students to read literature that takes days or weeks to finish. I had students in first and second grade who couldn't put down their chapter books! We often forget the importance of checking in or monitoring for understanding. Having students create a Clips video to share key details that take place in the story is a great way to promote comprehension! If the book doesn't take days to read, have students create a book summary and rate the book based on how much they enjoyed it. Be prepared for some hilarious rationales! Check out the photos above for some inspiration! Shoutout to Mrs. Herr's second graders from Wharton Elementary! 4. Document a project or experiment Every Friday afternoon was STEM day for my students. The excitement and hype was real! Students love the chance to create and explore with hands-on projects or experiments. If I could go back in time, I would have recorded some of these amazing projects. The trial and error that took place allowed my students to understand the importance of perseverance. Why not document the process of a project or experiment? This is also a great way to showcase exceptional student work! 5. Teach a new concept or skill Last, but not least, consider using Clips to teach a new concept or skill. Chances are, you've done enough direct instruction for the week :) Rather than drill home another concept or skill, create a video that allows students to learn a different way. Do you struggle with teaching potential or kinetic energy? I would bet a video documenting examples of the two would improve student understanding. Better yet, if you have some students who need a challenge, allow them to create a Clips video and share it with their peers!
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2020 feels so futuristic. Remember when we were in school? Remember Oregon Trail? These days, our students have 24/7 access to the world at their fingertips. With so many apps, websites and resources, it's easy to become a passive consumer of technology. However, in the past few months we've witnessed so many of your students using technology to actively create and redefine learning.
From learning to code, to creating animations, to making interactive presentations, we are blown away with their creativity and are so excited about the direction we are heading together. Thank you for providing authentic, real-world learning experiences for your students. You are helping to empower creative digital learners. You are awesome. We wish you the best in 2020. We are truly blessed to work with such creative people. Thanks for ALL you do! Garrett, Wes & Jess |
Wes EmletCoordinator of Instructional Technology Gidget Dejesus Instructional Technology Coach
@MsGMDeJesus Tara Morcom Instructional Technology Coach
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