The Technofication of a Lesson

According to the Montana Common Core State Standards, the Pythagorean theorem is a critical area for eighth grade students.  It is also a concept that is used in many real life contexts.  For example, a 22-inch TV has a diagonal length of 22 inches, which is the hypotenuse of a right triangle.  Also, painters and construction workers need to know the size ladder to use to get to the top of a wall.  Geologists use the Pythagorean theorem to find the center of an earthquake.  Surveyors use the theorem to calculate the height of a mountain.  Triangulation is a more complex version of the Pythagorean theorem that helps pinpoint locations on earth.

There is no doubt that it is an important concept for success in adult life.  However, the traditional method of teaching it would most likely involve direct instruction.  A teacher would demonstrate the skill; students would practice and then there would be a quiz.  See original lesson plan. 

Substituting technology still keeps the lesson direct instruction but it is more engaging and interesting for students.  See substitution lesson plan.  Augmentation cleans up the substitution plan but still only enhances the original direct instruction plan.  See augmentation lesson plan.

Student Work - Google Earth

To transform the lesson, one has to think outside the box.  Flipping the classroom is one such idea.  In a flipped classroom, the direct instruction is done outside of the classroom as homework.  Students watch videos that introduce concepts.  In class, students work on activities or investigations that apply those concepts.  For a significant redesign from the original lesson see modification lesson plan.

Student Work - Wheel of Theodorus

A Menu is not a new pedagogy.  It has its roots in the elementary classroom’s stations.  However, redefining a menu takes the best of the old pedagogy and makes it rich with technology.  A menu is a way to organize the classroom for instruction that includes problems, activities, games and investigations.  It allows students to have choice that helps them work within their own strengths as well as challenges them to step outside their comfort zone.  An internet-based menu uses their world to help students have success.  The menu in my lesson is located on a Google web page so that students have access to it anywhere.  It consists of an appetizer, a main dish and a dessert.  The appetizer introduces the Pythagorean theorem.  The main dish consists of activities and investigations that use and apply the Pythagorean theorem.  The desserts allow students to be creative with triangles.  For a more in-depth description see redefinition lesson plan.

Most students are highly motivated as they work their way through the menu.  They begin by watching several YouTube videos that reinforce their fragile understanding gained from watching the stop-motion movie that I created to introduce the topic. (The Pythagorean Theorem Movie).  The students are required to choose two main dishes.  A favorite activity is the Pythagorean Triples and Google Earth Activity.  When students get to the desserts, the have a good grasp of the Pythagorean theorem and are ready to have some fun.  Since I have used and revised this menu, I have never had a student fail the culminating quiz. 

The Pythagorean Theorem Movie

This assignment from my Education Technology class was to create a video.  I choose stop-motion animation.  It was more difficult than I anticipated but I learned lots!

This file contains the movie, the lesson for creating a stop-motion animation and a rubric for grading the movie.

                                         

Best Water Bottle Ever - Digital Imaging

 Assignment 1:  Take 20 pictures of a handheld object using various angles, backgrounds, perspectives and settings.

 What I have learned or relearned about taking pictures - 

I own a Panasonic DMZ TZ4 that I purchased several years ago.  I stopped using it because I was unhappy with the pictures that I was getting from it.  What I learned is that it wasn't the camera, it was the operator.  The first thing I did was re-read the manual.  My camera has a multitude of options that I still don't understand.  The three most important settings are Intelligent auto, normal picture, and scene mode.  The intelligent auto does all the work for me.  It reads the scene and makes all the optimum settings automatically.  The normal picture setting allows me to take pictures with my own settings.  There are all kinds of things I can change.  For scene settings, the exposure, coloring, light, etc are set for certain scene types.  I don't know what I was doing before but with all these options I know I can get some great photos again.

Here are some composition tips that I have picked up:

1.  In general, don't center the picture.  Use the rule of thirds.  Your primary points of interest should sit along third lines.

2.  Pay attention to the background!  Plain backgrounds are best.

3.  Pay attention to the light.  Where is it coming from?  Sometimes shadows add interest and sometimes they are distracting.

4.  Only use flash if you have to.

5.  Shooting with the sun directly behind you makes for a flat photo.  Have the sun come from the side or better yet shoot in the shade.

6.  Limit the palette to one or two colors that are predominately featured.

7.  Try interesting angles.

8.  Frame the subject with something in the foreground to show depth.

9.  Move in close to fill the frame.

The most important tip I found was to STOP chimping (checking the photo on the back of the screen) and take lots and lots of photos!

Assignment 2:  Editing

For this assignment I had to take 5 pictures and change them from their original.  I made an album but couldn't figure out how to post them as a slide show so I have posted each original photo and how I changed it.  I used Picasa for the editing and although they have a lot of fun features for manipulating photos, I kept losing what I had done.  Clearly, I have a lot more to learn.

 

 

 

 

Assignment 3:  Turn 2 photos into Art

Original photo for  Art photo

For larger version:  Water Bottle Art

To see art version of original photo:   Water Bottle Art 2

The Legends of Archimedes

The first podcast assignment was to research a person that was famous for something; create a script and then a podcast with at least 3 sound effects (I hope that you can hear the crackling fire).   I had fun with this assignment and I hope you will enjoy hearing these stories that I discovered about Archimedes.


                          

I think I will try podcasting again...