Design Thinking - "The EXTRAORDINAIRES - and Classroom Design Challenge

Ready to apply the Design Thinking - "The EXTRAORDINAIRES" A place to learn / Buildings  (Design and Make) and Classroom Design Challenge link 


The lesson for Classroom Design link 

Learn more here

Why Design Thinking Isn't Just for Techies https://www.commonsense.org/education/blog/why-design-thinking-isnt-just-for-techies via @CommonSenseEd

Reflection Audio - Choice Board

May is a great month for projects!  After working on a presentation choice board last week a few other teachers wanted to explore a choice board for audio reflections.  I introduced Flipgrid in March during a PD session but some students didn't want their video posted and covered the webcam. This made for a boring reflection.  I then figured out I could upload a video to flipgrid of a presentation with audio and music along with a video recording for a piece of the presentation.

After seeing a few people tweet about Apple Clips, I decided to download the app to my phone and give it a try!  Clips iOS app has been out for about a year. It allows video creation that combines images, videos, you can then add special effects, filters, emojis, and stickers!  There is a great "voice to text" feature that turns on a script that rolls on your screen.  You can choose from music sound tracks that are in the app or even upload your own. You the save to your camera roll or you can share to drive or flipgrid!
Need some guidance?  I found this great
Step by Step tutorial online

I am in the planning stages with a teacher for Sophomores to write about "This I Believe essay" and she provided the following npr link  https://www.npr.org/series/4538138/this-i-believe and I researched some examples at https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/this-i-believe.  I addition I found a great blog post by Sylvia Duckworth https://sylviaduckworth.com/2018/03/01/apple-clips .

I am wondering if I make a new choice reflection board or just jump in with Clips.  If students do not have a mobile device, I may just keep it simple and post directly to flipgird.  Stay tune for examples and reflections!

Design Your Own Digital Choice Board

I will be working with several classes this week to create presentations to support persuasive essays. In previous years I would go to classes and showcase four of five web tools tools (Haiku deck, Prezi, Google Slides). Students would then design their presentation using a variety of tools. This week I will be showcasing a "Digital Choice Board" and provide students with options.

There are lots of "Design Your Own Digital Choice Board".  Here are a few blog posts, ideas, and templates to get started. There are so many great resources online using twitter , pinterest and other tools to help you get started!  Choice Boards and Genius Hour are two ways educators can make the transition from a teacher-centered classroom to a learner-centered one.

I will be designed a choice board with teachers this week!  Last month I worked with a Social Studies teacher and had students post a reflection of their project in Flipgrid with a link to a screencast of their presentation. In addition, I created a feedback rubric for the presenter.  I will be updating the post has the lesson progresses this week! So, I am going to try to combine what I learned last month and apply it to a new lesson this month!

Before we get started let's look at some techniques used for public speaking in Ted Talks.   There's no single formula for a great talk, but there is a secret ingredient that all the best ones have in common. TED curator Chris Anderson shares this secret -- along with four ways to make it work for you. Do you have what it takes to share an idea worth spreading?  Video link 

I came across this website with 7 Tips for incredibly persuasive presentations   that also links to a post and a podcast with Adam Tratt, and he knows all about great presentation design. He's the co-founder and CEO of Haiku Deck, an app for creating flawlessly beautiful presentations on iPad or the web that I have used in the past!  Here is a link to 4 Design Principles to make your Presentation slides.  Check out his blog at https://www.haikudeck.com/blog/author/adam-tratt/ 
He even offers "Bad Bingo Presentation game that you can download!  

PowerPoint Alternative #1: Haiku Deck

One downside to Haiku Deck, they have started to charge for the program.  There is an option to test out .... Perfect for trying out Haiku Deck. Limited to three presentations that are shared publicly and are searchable on the web. Does not include presentation download. We’ll ask you to upgrade after completing your third presentation. Click here to register for Basic.  Sign-in with Google!

There are lots of tools and choices you can use to give your presentation! Below is a presentation choice board for a persuasive essay - link 

Here is a link to an audio/video choice board - I will be testing out ios Audio Clips next week with students along with other options to record with a focus on mobile or web-based options.

Always so much to learn and share!

Book Creator for student projects

This month teachers have been using the new Book Creator for chrome to take advantage of creating and publishing on Chromebooks.   Two English classes (ACC/CP Freshman) created comic books on Romeo and Juliet.

Other classes are creating Poetry Project (Sophomore honors). The teacher created a library and modeled the features to be included in the book.

Be inspired, and click on the 'Read more' links on each piece if you want to delve deeper. Use the link below to access the online version of the book. Book Creator for Chrome users will find a handy link to the book in their profile menu (click on your avatar in the toolbar). Read 50 ways to use Book Creator. link to learn more.

Next up.. designing a PBL rubric with students to assess their projects!

Google Takeout for Seniors and retiring staff!

:

Reminder for seniors - Take your Google files with you using Google Takeout! Go to https://takeout.google.com

PLEASE do this before the end of May! See doc with details https://goo.gl/EsJzLq & Video Twitter #GoogleTakeout 

You may also want to consider 'Delete Day' and clean up your high school social media accounts before heading to college!