Posted by David Wetzel
How many times have you prepared an updated or new dynamic math or science PowerPoint or Keynote presentation for class and it would not open in school?
Also, how many times has it happened to your students when it’s time to give a class presentation? Now you need to postpone their presentation to another day, disrupting even the best planning.
You or your students do everything right – use compatible software, save it on a jump or flash drive, and it still would not open!
You think, well I will just open an older version of the presentation using Google Docs! You prepare to give your lesson – Bam! Google Docs is acting up or someone made a mistake and now your school is blocking Google Docs today!
When it rains it pours!
Solution: SlideShare
Now there is an alternative to the problems experienced above. How to overcome these problems is by using SlideShare – which is free!
This Web 2.0 tool allows you to upload presentations from PowerPoint, Keynote, OpenOffice, and Google Docs Presentation.
You can also embed these presentations in a class blog or wiki. This offers the ability to open your presentation on the class wiki or blog and give your lesson.
A good feature is the ability to embed appropriate YouTube or Teacher Tube videos within a presentation. This feature is a way of circumventing your school’s website blocking software.
You can even add audio to your presentations, to spice up a presentation and help hold your students’ interest.
You can even upload documents for creating slide presentations. SlideShare accepts documents from MS Word, iWork, Google Docs, PDF, and OpenOffice.
SlideShare also offers a new video feature which allows you to upload and share videos. They strictly enforce video copyright laws.
This Web 2.0 tool is also useful for professional development classes and workshops. You can share your presentations and student work without worrying about software compatibility issues.
Implementation: Strategies for Use in Science or Math Classes
Besides supporting teachers, SlideShare offers the ability for an individual or group of students to open their own account.
After creating a presentation for class, they can upload it to their own blog or class wiki. If these two options are not available, they can e-mail the link to their presentation to themselves or write down the link.
When students are absent, they can view a your presentations on the class blog or wiki. You also have the option to e-mail the link to absent student(s).
In classrooms using the one-to-one computer programs, students can access the SlideShare presentation on their computers and teachers free to roam the classroom ensuring students and following the presentation slides.
Students can use the presentations embedded on blogs or wikis as study guides when preparing for tests.
Uploading: Transferring Files
Several options are offered for uploading presentation or documents files. Examples include:
Firefox Universal FireUploader – offers a free Firefox plug-in for uploading files from your computer using a simple drag & drop interface. You can also edit the file details, set privacy, etc.
SlideShare Ribbon for Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 – is a free plugin for PowerPoint 2007. It lets you use most features of SlideShare from within PowerPoint. You can download and upload files.
This Web 2.0 tool offers the ability to overcome common problems both teachers and students have when giving presentations in class. This tool also provides the ability to eliminate the often used phrase - fear of using technology in the classroom. After spending time preparing a dynamic presentation providing a another level for overcoming technical difficulties are worth the effort.
Also, students are giving another way to prepare their class presentations. Eliminating often heard excuses of forgetting their jump drive at home, they lost their jump drive, or the dog ate it.
Additional Resources
PowerPoint Presentations Beyond Note Taking
Why Use Web 2.0 Tools When Teaching Science and Math?
Posted by David Wetzel
Google Docs offer an advanced set of collaboration and communication tools to help your students acquire the skills necessary to help them soar, in their education and out in the world. There is no hardware to maintain or software to install.
Unique features include:
- accessible from any computer anywhere with the Internet.
- multiple students or teachers can edit a document, spreadsheet, or presentation at the same time.
- the ability to embed videos from Vimeo and Animoto, along with images from Flickr or other sources.
- the ability to embed podcasts in presentations.
Science and Math Activities
The following are tips and ideas for using Google Docs in science and math classrooms.
Science Experiments - Students:
- write a collaborative lab report using Google Documents (word processing) and embed in a class website or Wiki.
- students collect scientific data (i.e., plant growth data) over a period of time using a Google Spreadsheet.
- prepare a group collaborative Google Presentation to present their findings and conclusions.
- they share their lab report, presentation, data, pictures, and spreadsheet with other students within their class, different classes in the school, and other schools in the district or across the country.
Math Investigations - Students:
- create a survey in Google Spreadsheets to ask other students to determine the number of times they send and receive text messages during a day.
- then they have two options - insert the data in another a Google Spreadsheet or allow the data to automatically update a spreadsheet as survey responses are received (teachers choice).
- prepare a group collaborative Google Presentation to present their findings and conclusions.
- they share their survey findings, presentation, and spreadsheet with other students within their class, different classes in the school, and other schools in the district or across the country.
The data collected from the survey has additional purposes such as determining mean, median, and mode.
Self Assessment Survey - Students complete an end of grading period or group project self-assessment survey using Google Spreadsheets created by their teacher. Their answers are automatically recorded in a spreadsheet which is only viewable by their teacher. Sample survey questions include:
- Thoughtfully completes work: Always, Mostly, Sometimes, or Never.
- Participates in class discussions: Always, Mostly, Sometimes, or Never.
- Contributes to group work and discussions: Always, Mostly, Sometimes, or Never.
- Gives best effort in class: Always, Mostly, Sometimes, or Never.
- Visits unapproved websites when using computers: Always, Mostly, Sometimes, or Never.
Additional Ideas for Using Google Docs in the Classroom
The following are ideas for classroom use.
- Group collaboration and creativity as students record their group projects together in a single document.
- Keep track of grades, attendance, or any other data you can think of using an easily accessible, always available spreadsheet.
- Create quizzes and tests using spreadsheets forms, your students’ timestamped answers will arrive neatly ordered in a spreadsheet.
- Encourage collaborative presentation skills by asking your students to work together on a shared presentation, then present it to the class.
- Collaborate on a document with colleagues to help track the status and success of students you share.
- Maintain, update and share lesson plans over time in a single document.
- Track and organize cumulative project data in a single spreadsheet.
How to Create a Survey
To create a survey form, either students or teacher, click on the “share” button on any Google Spreadsheet.
Then select the option “to fill out a form”.
Now start creating a survey form.
You can select multiple choices, text, choose from a list, paragraph text, or check boxes for options.
Answers are date and time stamped for validation.
Setting Up a Student Accounts
If your students already have email addresses, have them sign up for a Google Account using their own or school assigned e-mail account.
If your students do not have an email address, have students set up a free Gmail account (13 and older). You may want to consider signing up for the free Google Apps Education Edition (between now and July 31, 2010 to sign up students under age 13.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Google Docs Keyboard Short Cuts
Google Docs Keyboard Short Cuts for Spreadsheets
Additional Resource
Google Docs are a Free Online Educational Tool
Posted by David Wetzel
Most of today’s students either own or use iPods, iPod Touches, MP3 Players, and computers everyday. These digital tools provide a natural strategy to support student learning - Podcasts!
Integrating podcasts in science and math classes is a good way to support student learning, because it leverages the fact today’s students are digital citizens.
In a recent survey, Forbes.com found K-12 students spend more time during the week on the Internet and using digital tools (cell phones, computers, iPods, etc.) than watching TV. This is why today’s students are considered digital citizens.
Teaching: Strategies for Using Podcasts
The following are teaching strategies for podcasts in science or math.
- Audio and/or video reviews for tests - accomplished by providing a downloadable podcasts on the class web page or wiki.
- Audio recordings of science lectures in MS and HS - accomplished by teacher wearing wireless microphone during lectures. Then editing and converting the recording into a podcast for students to listen to later as a review.
- Video recording of math lectures and reviews in MS and HS - accomplished by teacher wearing wireless microphone and video taping lectures or saving interactive white board slides. Then editing and converting the video into a podcast for students to refer to later when completing homework assignments or as a review.
- Audio class newsletter - for parents to access on the class web page or wiki. This does two things - saves paper and keeps newsletters out lockers and trash cans. The newsletters have a greater chance of being read by parents.
- Audio/Video Sub Plans - entire or partial lessons are recorded for subs to use in class. This also does two things - it is just like your are there and it forces subs to follow your teaching plan. The reality is we all know when it comes to subs - “…it is like opening a box of chocolates, you never know what you will get!”
Learning: Ways Students Use Podcasts
The following are ways students use podcasts to support their learning science or math concepts.
- Student groups create a specific potion of a unit studied in class. These podcasts provide a downloadable review for students to use when studying for a unit test. The podcasts are posted on the class web page or wiki. Each podcast should be limited to 5 - 6 minutes to promote clear and concise summary of key concepts.
- Students create a podcast to supplement their research and findings during science or math project based learning activities.
- Students use a podcast to complete science or math case studies using information provided in a podcast to help them solve a problem.
- Students create a class newsletter related to concepts learned in class. Accomplishes two things - students must apply concepts to real world applications in newsletter stories and parents have better understanding of what their kids are learning science or math.
- Students create a virtual tour related to a science or math unit. For example - rainforests, landfills, geometry found on the playground, algebra applications in a skate park, etc.
- Students create mnemonic rap songs to help learn concepts. For example - ROYGBIV.
Benefits of Podcasts
So what are the benefits of podcasting (audio and/or video) in science and math classes?
- Reinforces concepts studied in class for both auditory and visual learners.
- Reinforces writing and reading skills as students prepare their own podcast scripts.
- Increasing parent communication, since parents have access to the class web page or wiki.
- Provides another teaching and learning strategy for helping students in being successful in science or math.
Why Use Podcasts?
It is time to take advantage of our students’ status as digital citizens. Students use iPods, iPod Touches, MP3 players, and computers everyday; use these digital tools to create podcasts to support teaching and learning.
Additional Resources
Tips and Tricks for Podcasting
Podcasting in Science and Math Class
