Crystal+Springs

Crystal Springs Elementary

Ms. Polito- 4/5 STAR Class Ms. Polito’s students were beginning their focus of energy in Science. I introduced them to [|Nettrekker] on the first day. I shared with them that this is a site I share with all of my classes because it is one that they could use at home also. On the next day we began a [|Gizmo] about energy, which is an advanced online repository of math and science simulations. The students worked with the simulations to gain an understanding about various types of energy and things that help energy convert into other types of things such as electricity. Throughout the week we worked together through the activities and student package, which the students enjoyed. Give the Gizmo a try!

[|Energy Conversion Gizmo]

Second Round-

Ms. Polito asked me to show the students how their Mac can be used as an Educational tool and not just something that they can play educational games on. Each day held a new tool. The tools that we worked with included: [|Pages], [|Keynote], [|iMovie], and [|GarageBand]. The students responded favorably to both iMovie and Keynote, and could relate to where they might use them if they had to create a presentation for a project at school.

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Ms. Demery-2/3 STAR Class This class was a blast to work with! After speaking with Ms. Demery, she wanted me to work with the students to reinforce repeating addition and begin with multiplication. The students were like sponges to work with and took in the technology information I was giving them. Each day when I returned, the students and I reviewed what skills we learned the day before and all of their hands went up to give responses! My time with Ms. Demery's class was so exciting and filled with amazing technology engagement. I shared with the students how to use [|Nettrekker] and that they would be able to access it from home, which made them happy. The students and I then began to discuss their project in which they would be using their Mac computers.

I introduced the concept of creating a "Multiplication Rap" video using iMovie. The students would take their experience from using Nettrekker to reinforce their Multiplication skills and one of the websites we used- [|AplusMath] to help them answer simple multiplication facts with the number their group is assigned (1-5). The students were given a paper that had their rhyme/rap for their number and the multiplication "facts" (1-12) in which they had to input their answers. Their sheet would then be used for a script during their part in the video. After completing their sheet, the students then used [|Photo Booth]and their web cams on their Macs to practice looking into the camera and reading their script. They got a kick out of seeing themselves on the computer!

Our next step was to learn about using [|Flip Cams] to do the video recordings. Within the groups the students chose a job to do in the recording of their rap. The jobs were a camera person, 2 singers, and a script person. In working with their group they recorded their rap and took several takes if needed. Finally, the seperate videos were turned into one large "Multiplication Rap" video by using [|iMovie], which was done by Ms. Coppage.

On the very last day, the students got to watch their rap video and even wanted to share it with their parents.

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Second Round- She wanted me to use PowerPoint with her students but their Mac computers did not have it installed on them. The first day was spent having the students plan and write out their story about what they were going to do during their summer break. On the second day, the students were given time to finish up their stories. We then started learning the “basics” of the program Keynote on their Mac. The other tools the students were taught were how to add another slide, change their background, font and also how to add pictures that they found on Google images that related to their story.