Media Cubed
Training Goals
- Determine a unit/TEK that would be enhanced by these apps and project ideas
- Familiarize yourself with the app and decide how you will have the students turn in their work
Why devote class-time to using these apps?
All three of these apps are capable of helping your kids achieve analysis, synthesis and evaluation if the lesson or product is designed in the right way. Levels of engagement will also increase because of novelty and choice. If you add a public element to their presentation the quality of work will also increase. When choosing what TEKS or standards to address you need to be sure you use these tools with standards that carry weight and have plenty of time devoted to their mastery; these projects are not ideal for a 2 day unit. Kids love these apps whether they are elementary or high school.
All three of these apps are capable of helping your kids achieve analysis, synthesis and evaluation if the lesson or product is designed in the right way. Levels of engagement will also increase because of novelty and choice. If you add a public element to their presentation the quality of work will also increase. When choosing what TEKS or standards to address you need to be sure you use these tools with standards that carry weight and have plenty of time devoted to their mastery; these projects are not ideal for a 2 day unit. Kids love these apps whether they are elementary or high school.
Purpose Product How-To Videos Math Application Science Application Social Studies Application Reading/Writing Application |
iMovie
Create movie trailers, movies, or documentaries to explain various concepts Video that is saved to the camera roll and can be posted on-line iMovie How-To created by Eric Folks Kids create their own mini-tutorial lessons on specific concepts; compile them throughout the year and use them the following year for student-made tutorials accessible for next year's students -Design your own candy store; design the layout, calculate the area, perimeter, product cost, potential profits etc. Then use iMovie Trailer to create a commercial for potential investors. Student: Document any type of experiment or project and use this to explain all aspects of either. Teacher: create iMovie Trailers to introduce a new unit and get students interested. Create a documentary. Have an end-of-year film festival and film-maker awards. - Book Trailer for a book that they read. -Create a documentary for an expository essay that they wrote. -Create an iMovie trailer as a commercial/propaganda for a persuasive essay that they wrote. |
Stop-motion
Model, demonstrate, and explain concepts through stop-motion/Claymation animation and verbal description Video that is saved to the camera roll and can be posted on-line Stop-Motion How To by Jordan Folks Students model real-world math problems using manipulatives to create a Claymation video of the problem and solution Teachers: model a real-world problem INCORRECTLY then have the students analyze what went wrong and explain how they would solve it correctly Great for modeling certain vocabulary terms Model and explain many types of scientific processes evident in the natural world. Animate and explain what happened during an experiment they performed. Using a map and props explain various concepts from the TEKS Ex: explain how industry and the mechanization of agriculture changed the way of life; this could be modeled through a stop-motion movie Animate a story that they created or create an alternate ending for a story they have read. They can also narrate their story. Crazy Idea! They could interpret their own personal narrative using play-dough, shapes, color and music to indicate mood, emotions, or experience. |
Toontastic
Tell a story using original or pre-made cartoon characters; contains a exposition, rising action, climax and resolution Video that is saved to the camera roll and can be posted on-line or on Toontastic's website Toontastic How-To by Jordan Folks -Tell a story from the point of view of "riding on a graph" -Solve a real-world math problem and explain it in story fashion Explain how something occurs, but in the form of a story. Ex: Allopatric speciation and evolution video (remember to explain to them that you can create point of view from inanimate objects like atoms etc.) History is a story all by itself so it is easy to use a story telling app to explain historical events and causality. Create a story for expository, fiction, or persuasive pieces that they have written. |
Elements of Successful Projects
By Jordan Folks
- rubrics given to the student before the project
- pre-writing; treat this like a normal writing assignment and be sure to have drafts and final copies with peer editing and review
- time; always plan for 1-2 days more than you think it will take (but don't tell the kids because they will take the extra time if you tell them they have it :)
- an example of what the app is capable of
- a way to turn in the project: Google Classroom, Edmodo, Homeroom, or Simple Transfer
- A public showcase of their projects helps to improve the quality. Ideas: end of year film festival where parents are invited, blog, display on school t.v., submit to Digital Den, or sharing through social media (only if allowed of course)
- weighting the project accordingly
By Jordan Folks