Paper Slide Video

Here’s an innovative way for students to show you what they’ve learned.  Have them create a Paper Slide Video!  It’s super simple.  All you need is paper, markers, and a flip video camera (or an iPad or a cell phone that takes video).  To make a Paper Slide Video to explain any concept, follow these steps:

1.    Write a script (1-2 minutes max)

2.    Write info and/or draw or find images to illustrate/explain the script (6-10 paper slides)

3.    Practice, Practice, Practice!

4.    Record video in quiet place in one take…no editing 

5.    Publish to SchoolTube or Vimeo (your account) or just show from the network

The video will ONLY show hands and paper illustrations…no acting required!  This activity can be done by all grade levels and all ability levels.  Perfect for a collaborative group project: writer, narrator, graphic artist, and camera man.  Show your students some of these sample videos and let their creativity flow!

  

K-1 Me on the Map

Three Little Pigs

Life Cycle of a Butterfly

5^th Grade Skeletal System

Parts of a Fraction

Canada

Jackson Pollock (artist)

Gravity

Although this is a great assessment tool for students, it can also be a fantastic teaching tool for you as the teacher.  Absent?  Create a Paper Slide Video for the sub to show…and YOU are still teaching the class.  Publish your video to SchoolTube or Vimeo (or other video host site) and your students can access your lesson as often as they need.

Introduction to Paper Slide Video (an absent teacher’s lesson)

How to Make a Paper Slide Video (for a “flipped” classroom)

Storyboard Template #1 (for paper slides)

Storyboard Template #2 (for slides and notes)

Storyboard Template #3 (for slides and notes)

Sample rubric for grading a Paper Slide Video

authorSTREAM

WHAT IS IT?

authorSTREAM is a FREE online slide sharing platform, which provides multiple options for sharing PowerPoint presentations both online and offline.  I prefer it to SlideShare because authorSTREAM retains animations, transitions, audio narration, and in-slide video viewing.  SlideShare does not.  

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

Go to the authorSTREAM web site and sign up for a FREE account. Once you have signed in you can upload your PowerPoint presentation by clicking the yellow Upload button and choose the file you plan to upload.  It’s that simple.  You can also embed your PowerPoint in a blog or web site, download as a flash presentation or a PowerPoint, or convert to an MP4 video format for up to 5 minutes for free.

You can also search for and USE any of the PowerPoints that have already been uploaded by others without signing up for an account.  Just use the search box in the upper right corner.

WHAT TO DO WITH IT?

This is an excellent resource to store your PowerPoint presentations to be accessible on any computer because they are online.  If you lose a flash drive or crash a PC, your PowerPoint is always there. Sharing is the best part.  Not only can others benefit from your ideas, but now you can access a multitude of presentations already online.

If you have presented a slide show in class and need an absent student to view it, upload it to authorSTREAM and link the PowerPoint on your web page of the district’s web site. 

Note: Slideshare is a larger PowerPoint sharing site.  You may want to search its database for ready to use slide shows for your classroom.  You can also upload and store your PowerPoint presentations there, but again Slideshare does not retain all the extras you may put into your slides.

QR Codes

WHAT IS IT?

QR Codes are those little black and white square boxes of dotted patterns that you see everywhere—on products, billboards, and advertisements.  The QR stands for Quick Response and that is what they were designed for—to give a person more information via the Internet on those items by scanning them with a smartphone.  Although created for advertising purposes, they can also have an impact on education too.  Besides, students have those phones out anyway…why not put them to good use!

Scan for IISD home page

HOW TO DO IT?

To read a QR code, all you need is a smartphone or tablet with a webcam.  Download a free QR code reader app.  Point the app at a QR code and it automatically takes a photo of the QR code and takes you directly to the web site, which you can open, share, or copy to a clipboard.  I recommend the free NeoReader for smartphones or free QR Reader for iPads.  It’s that simple. (You can also scan QR codes straight from a computer screen, such as these three examples.)

Scan for a written message

It is just as easy to create your own QR codes.  This is what you will want to do if using them in your classroom to direct a student to a particular web site for more information.  Use a QR code generator such as Create QR Code, and do one of two things—1) copy and paste the web address into the blank space to link to a web site, or 2) type in a message that will appear on the smartphone when scanned. Then simply click Create QR Code and your QR code appears.  Right click on the code and either save it or copy and paste to print and use now.  Add some pizzazz to your QR code by creating one that speaks.  Go to QR Voice, type in the message in the space to replace “say what?” Click the blue QR code square and your bar code appears below it.  Slide the blue circle to size your QR code.  Again, right click to save or copy the QR code.  It really is that simple….and FREE!

Scan for a voice message

NOTE:  Because of our school’s filter, linking to a YouTube video will not play in our district.  Also other videos that use Flash Player will not play on iPhones or iPads.

WHAT TO DO WITH IT?

Of course, not all students will have a smartphone or tablet, so consider working in teams with the team captain the student with the mobile device.  Elementary students could use an iPod Touch.

The possibilities for classroom use are endless, but here are a few ideas to get you thinking.  Students, as well as teachers, can use the QR code generators online.  And remember you can link to a web site, image, your own written message, or a voice message.

--Print out a QR code to give to students and parents that links directly to your page on the school web site.

--Create interactive bulletin boards.

--Jazz up the tired old poster project. Illustrate posters with some images or text and use QR codes to refer to more information, related topic, or map/graph/chart online.  Then exhibit all posters and have students answer questions based on the QR code sites

--Create digital scavenger hunts around a classroom, library, or outdoors with QR codes as clues to the next stop.

--Attach QR codes to a large desktop size calendar for assignments or daily sponge activities.

--Create a virtual museum or art gallery tour by posting images in the classroom with QR codes to the actual museum where it is located.

--Post a large map in your room and dot with QR codes at battle sites.

--Post an extra credit math problem QR code outside your door or ask an extra credit question in class and post the QR code where the answer can be found.

--Create an entire worksheet of math problems presented as QR codes.

--Use QR codes to link to tutoring or homework help sites.

--Present a question in class and have students record their answers on QR voice and email to you.

--Have students create 3D models and attach QR codes to videos for explanation.

--Use SurveyMonkey (also explained on this blog) to create short quizzes or questionnaires and link the QR code to it.  Great way to get feedback.

--Use QR codes in stations to direct students using maps, graphs, charts, diagrams, models, etc. online.

--Create a periodic table with a QR code linked to a video on each element.

--Record your oral instructions for an activity on a QR code.

--Create an interactive resume.

--Recreate the traditional tri-fold science fair exhibit, and attach a QR code for a video of the student performing the experiment.

Web Poster Wizard: Teacher Worksheets

WHAT IS IT?
Web Poster Wizard: Teacher Worksheets is a FREE online Web 2.0 tool that allows teachers to create online worksheets containing a photo, text, and links to related web sites to publish online.  No more need to print out worksheets and waste time telling students how to get to a web site.  The assignment/questions and links to answers are all on the same page…just a click away!  What a time-saver!

HOW TO DO IT

If you have already registered with Web Poster Wizard, then you are ready to being…just log in!  If you need to register, then follow Step 1 below.

Step 1: Register: Teachers must first register so they can manage classes and worksheets.  It is the same process as registering to use the Project Poster feature. Teachers only need to provide their name, email address, and create a password.

Step 2: Manage Classes: Once a teacher logs in, this section is pretty self-explanatory as it provides directions right on the page.  Teachers can set up classes in which students can sign in with a class code to complete assignments.  However, you don’t even have to give students class codes if you link your list of assignments on your page on the district web site!

Step 3: Create Worksheet: Beside each class name on the far right are icons. To create a new worksheet, click on the Manage icon and then click Create Worksheet.  From this page you can also edit or delete a worksheet.  After a worksheet is created, it is assigned an ID number link.  This link alone can also be linked on your page of the district web site so students can go straight to the assignment.

Step 4: There are only 4 steps to creating a worksheet and wizard walks you through each one.  1) Header and Body Layout, 2) Page Content, 3) Links and Image, and 4) Fonts and Colors.  That’s it!  Just follow the directions on each page.  (Note: when choosing background and font colors consider the readability.)

WHAT TO DO WITH IT?

Create an assignment worksheet for a project or activity with links to use for reference. 

Create a question worksheet with links to find the answers.  Students record their answers on notebook paper.  Think of the copy paper we could save by not printing worksheets!  This will create more meaningful internet researches with specific questions to answer.  It will also foster better directed online research to reliable sites you pick…a great way to avoid random Google searches, Wikipedia, blogs, etc.

Create a scavenger hunt with the links to search.  All your worksheets are permanently saved on the web and can follow you from district to district.

Create a video and post it or find a relevant video on SchoolTube or TeacherTube (or a non-blocked online video).  Link that video on the worksheet to have students watch and answer questions or post an activity for them to do after watching or have them create a Project Poster to post. 

The high school library has created research paper worksheets for each grade level 8-12.  Scroll down to Research Paper Projects and get an idea of what a worksheet will look like.  Here are some examples of other teacher worksheets:

The Nut That’s Not - PEANUTS
Abolition
Fuel for Thought

Web Poster Wizard: Project Poster

WHAT IS IT?

Web Poster Wizard: Project Poster is a FREE online Web 2.0 tool that allows K-12 students to create online project posters containing a photo, text, and links to related web sites and immediately publish it online.  No more need to buy posters and construction paper or hassle with messy glue.  

HOW TO DO IT?

Although Web Poster Wizard has other features that allow teachers to create their own web pages and worksheets, this tutorial focuses on using the student created poster feature as an assignment tool.  It’s easy…really!

Step 1: Register: Teachers must first register so they can manage classes.  Student posters are created through teacher accounts so there is no need for students to create accounts. Teachers only need to provide their name, email address, and a password.

Step 2: Manage Classes: Once teachers login, this section is pretty self-explanatory as it provides directions right on the page.  Teachers can set up classes in which students can sign in with a class code to complete assignments. The centralized login combines students and teachers in one account.  By clicking the Help tab at the top, you will find complete directions with pictures!

Step 3: Manage Posters:  Once a teacher creates a class, Web Poster Wizard creates a Class Code.  Click on the Manage button to the right of the class.  On this new page, click on the Manage Poster tab at the top to manage student created posters. Teachers, make sure you select the archive option to keep student projects live online for more than a month. Use the Teacher Feature option to create one web page of your class' archived projects. You will be able to put your created web page link on your class page on the district’s web site.

Step 4: Student Created Posters: On the Manage Poster page, teachers can click Print Class Handout that shows the class code, teacher name, and class name exactly as it should be entered to distribute to students.  Direct students to the Home page or Students tab where they click Create a New Poster under Student Login (login area is used to return to a poster to edit.)  Directions for creating a Poster Wizard are printed right on the screen in an easy step-by-step manner. Students will upload one photo, insert text written in Word first, and post up to 16 related web links for others to explore the topic.  Students can use original digital photos or web photos which must show attribution to the source.

WHAT TO DO WITH IT?

Some uses for this simple tool: book reports (take a digital photo of the book cover), biographical posters of famous people (images from the web), posters about community members such as veterans of World War II whom students interview and photograph, author or scientists posters, fictitious character studies from novels, science posters on processes or terms with accompanying digital pictures to illustrate, animal studies (even add an audio link file for an animal!), etc. To discourage web “copy and paste” plagiarism, students could research and write from library print sources and post reliable links to more information online. The possibilities are endless. Once students know the tool, they can use it over and over.