Class 21 - 10/31/06 (Tuesday)

Annocements:
1. If you haven't returned the evaluation form for PowerPoint Game
project, please give the form to me in the begining of class on
Tuesday.
2. Today you should have completed answering the following questions
related to your WebQuest, printing out your responses, and submitting
it to me in the beginning of class on Tuesday, October 31.
(1) Briefly describe your topic
(2) Why did you choose this topic?
(3) How will your WebQuest be tied to Georgia curriculum standards?
(4) How will web resources play an important role in your WebQuest?
(5) How will your WebQuest require students' deep understanding or
higher-level thinking instead of mere comprehension?

Web Resources
Today we will have one of the librarians, Nadine Cohen, come to our
class to introduce the web resources. She will introduce where to
locate the teaching/learning material for K-12 students and teachers,
and how to evaluate the web resources. Since you have come up
the idea for your WebQuest project, please seize this opportunity to
ask any questions regaring your WebQuest resources. I believe
Nadine's expertise will be of great help for your project.

Class 20 - 10/24/06 (Tuesday)

In today's class, we will talk about our next project - WebQuest.
If we have more time left, you can continue working on your Game.
For those who haven't sent me your critique, please do it before
tonight at 9.

What exactly is a WebQuest? What are the components of the
WebQuest? What advantages and disadvantages do you see in
teaching with WebQuests? What standards in your content area
lend themselves to WebQuests?

Viewing exemplary WebQuests is a good way to get started on
your own. Go to the main WebQuest page and click the words
"Find WebQuests" on the left navigation bar. Using the
Curriculum/Grade Level Matrix (in the middle of the page), spend
a few minutes viewing 2 or 3 WebQuests in your content area.
You can also see interviews with teachers who have used
WebQuests here.

Begin to formulate an idea for a "hook" for your own WebQuest.
It may be related to work you have already done in our class or
work you are currently completing in other courses. It could even
be something completely new in your content area. Before next
class (October, 31), you'll want to identify your WebQuest topic.
Use this website to help you in the selection process.Generally,
a good WebQuest topic should have some inherent complexity,
such as controversial issues, multiple perspectives, unknowns, etc.
The topic needs to have your students take information in and
transform it, using their own judgments and creative problem-solving
techniques -- a LoTi level 4 or higher -- the learning should be
authentic. Certain topics tend to lend themselves more to the
WebQuest format than others.

By Tuesday, October 31-- please respond the following questions
related to your WebQuest, print out your response, and submit it to
me in the beginning of class on Tuesday, October 31.
1. Briefly describe your topic
2. Why did you choose this topic?
3. How will your WebQuest be tied to Georgia curriculum standards?
4. How will web resources play an important role in your WebQuest?
5. How will your WebQuest require students' deep understanding or
higher-level thinking instead of mere comprehension?

Class 19 - 10/19/06 (Thursday)

Today we will have lots of time working independently on
your projects. Make sure you review the project description
so that you are certain that you meet all the requirements.

At 11:50 we will split up into small groups to do a short
review of your games.

After you complete the PowerPoint games, you will need to
include the description of your game and the reflection for
this project in your Googlepage. It is due by 10:00 am
Thursday, October 26. If you are submitting a game box for
additional points, this can be turned in on October 31 at the
beginning of class.

For Next Tuesday:
1. Continue working on your PowerPoint game and follow the
directions on the project description.

Class 18 - 10/17/06 (Tuesday)

As you continue working on your PowerPoint games -- it is important
to focus on the instructional value of your game -- and value is
added through good questions. What makes a good question?

Bloom's Taxonomy is an easy way to learn more about various levels
of questioning. You can also test your knowledge of Bloom's with
this online quiz (Choose Bloom's Taxonomy).

Even young children can use Bloom's Taxonomy to improve their work.
Here's a video of a class of children who use it to design literature
units.

After the presentation, work with the partner to take your questions
"up a level" on Bloom's Taxonomy. Use these improved questions as a
model for all 25 questions to be included in your game. Don't forget
that you can checkout textbooks from the Curriculum Materials Center
in rm 207 for more ideas for questions (just make sure you're not
plagiarizing!)

Continue working on your game outside of class (it is due Thursday,
October 26)-- you have a handout on scanning in gameboards if you
choose to draw yours by hand.

As you work -- review student samples and the PowerPoint Games
Project Rubric to ensure that you are meeting the expectations of the
assignment. You can earn additional "wow" points by packaging your
game. This would include a professional-looking game box with all of
the materials necessary to play the game included in the box (The
package is due Tuesday, October 31).

For Thursday:
1. All text-based slides should be completed
(i.e. story, game directions, etc.)
2. 3/4 of your question slides should be completed
3. If you are drawing a board by hand - it should
be ready to be scanned.
4. Have someone "play" your game - to double-check
your game directions.

Class 17 - 10/12/06 (Thursday)

By now you should have your first draft of the story and probably
selected the curriculum standards to address your game. Your game
should be designed to introduce content or to provide practice for
student understanding. If your game is designed around basic
factual recall -- think of another game!

After sharing your story and game ideas, we will go through the
project description and begin to download the template. Most of
the technical skills you need to create the game were acquired
when you created the seating chart. Using the drawing toolbar in
PowerPoint will allow you to customize your game template.

Action buttons are easier than they seem. Being slow and
methodical makes it easier to create action buttons.
Here are the tutorials for the action buttons:
Creating Headquarters to Access Your Questions Slides
Creating Question Slides

After demonstrating how to make action buttons, let's talk about
your game board. There are two ways to make the game board.
One is to use your hand, the other is to use computer to draw the
game board. If you choose to use your hand, you will need to scan
your game board. The instruction will give it to you next week. If
you want to draw the game board with computer, you can draw it
in PowerPoint (one letter size) or your can draw it in Firework (as
large as you want). This is your option to learn to use Firework to
draw the board.

There are two parts of your game that ensure students will want
to use it for learning: the story and the level of questions. You
want to make sure that you have an engaging story - and you also
want to make sure that your game is the right level of challenge.
Factual level questions are too easy (and boring) regardless of the
grade level you are targeting. We'll spend time in class on Thursday
working on your game design and learning how to write good
questions.

For Next Tuesday:
1. Begin customizing the game template
2. Begin creating the game board
2. Write your game directions
3. Finish the basic slides: objectives, game pieces, copyright
notice, credits, etc.
4. Write 3 questions to use in your game (on scratch paper)
and bring to class.

Class 16 - 10/10/06 (Tuesday)

PowerPoint Games Introduction
Make sure your Inspiration page is updated and published. You
should have a link to your Inspiration/Kidspiration file and a
jpg or gif image of your diagram on your webpage.

Addressing learning styles is important when designing activities
to teach content standards. Inspiration and Kidspiration software
allow an educator to do just that -- by addressing needs of visual
learners. Technology also allows educators to respond to various
learning theories - from behaviorism to constructionism. Today
we'll talk about PowerPoint games: what they are and how they
help students construct their own knowledge by building the artifacts
while learning-- constructionism.

What were your favorite games? What characteristics made them
your favorite? What experience do you have with instructional games?
Are the characteristics of your favorite games found in most
instructional games? How can PowerPoint be used to create an
instructional game for your subject area?

It's important to know a little bit of background on the PowerPoint
games project before we begin. Dr. Lloyd Rieber - a professor in my
department - wrote a paper on this very topic. Many EDIT 2000
students have created their own games and more and more K-12
classrooms are using PowerPoint games as a way to address content
standards through constructionism. I'll share some stories from these
projects in class.

You'll want to view some sample games from the
Homemade PowerPoint Games website and from student portfolios
from previous semesters and student examples from this summer.
After viewing several, you'll want to get started on your game. You'll
need to look over the project assignment and write the story for your
game - this is due at the beginning of class on Thursday.

Class 15 - 10/05/06 (Thursday)

Announcement
Midpoint Withdrawal Deadline for Fall 2006 is Monday, October 9, 2006.
Here are the reminders from Office of the Registration:
1. The deadline is your final chance to withdraw from a course in order
to receive a grade of "W" on your official transcript.
2. It is the responsibility of the instructor to decide whether to assign
a "W" or "WF" for any course you elect to withdraw from. A "WF"
grade factors into your GPA just like an "F" grade.
3. Therefore it is in your best interest to maintain appropriate
attendance for each course even if you plan to withdraw.

Before Class
1. Complete the iMovie page and publish it before class. Send me the
URL of your iMovie page to yichunhong@gmail.com with
iMovie_your name as the subject.
2. Return your evaluation form for iMovie with your name printed
3. Return the mini DV tape

Inspiration / Kidspiration Project
Here is our project description. Let's go over it very quickly. Since
you are quite familiar with using Inspiration from last class, we are
going to introduce how you can use Inspiration or Kidspiration into
your teaching. Meanwhile, we will guide you to some of the examples
provided in the INSPIRATION website. If you don't have Inspiration or
Kidspiration at home, you can also download the trial version so then
you can work on this project at home.
After you create the diagram for your chose grade level and subject
area, export your work as .jpg or .gif file. Link the file to your
googlepage and write the reflection regarding the Inspiration or
Kidspiration project. Here are some sample projects. Please make
sure that you meet the requirements in the project description.

Next Tuesday
1. Complete the Inspiration/Kidspiration project and reflection.
Publish before class next Tuesday (Oct. 9)
2. Read Homemade PowerPoint Games: A Constructionist
Alternative to WebQuests by Dr. Lloyd P. Rieber in Department of
Educational Psychology and Instructional Technology here at UGA.
This article will prepare us for the next project – PowerPoint Game.
3. In your group (iMOVIE group), bring ONE board game to the class.

Class 14 - 10/03/06 (Tuesday)

Before Class
If your group didn't finish the movie last Thursday, do the following
steps to export your movie after completion.
1) Choose File --> Share
2) Click QuickTime in the Toolbar on the top
3) You need to export twice for two different sizes of the file:
a. Choose Email from popup menu --> Use this file to link to your
google page
b. Choose CD from popup menu -->Use this file to show to the class
4) Choose Share
After you finish the exporting, you should have two files. Save them
in your USB drive. If you have any questions exporting, I will be in
Aderhold 30 minutes before the class.

Part I: Movie Time
Since you have already completed the movie in your group, we are
going to watch your work as a class. I know lots of you had great
time working with iMovie, this will be a good chance to share your
joyfulness with the others.

Part II: Explore Inspiration
Your understanding of learning theory and technology integration
is really starting to come together. In the beginning of the semester,
we learned technology tools can be used in conjunction with good
teaching strategies to address various learning styles and student
needs.Today we will be looking at visual learning software --
Inspiration and Kidspiration. Both tools allow PreK-12 students to see
a concept and its connecting themes and ideas. You'll create an
activity for your subject area/grade level. You'll need to find out
more information about Kidspiration and Inspiration software and
read more about the Kidspiration and Inspiration assignment before
getting started on your project.

View sample projects here. You can also view projects from former
EDIT 2000 students here.

Working with a partner, create a diagram in Inspiration similar to the
one shown in today's class. This will allow you to quickly learn the
basic features of Inspiration.


For Thursday:
Publish your iMovie page before class and send me the URL for
your iMovie page. (Subject for email: iMovie_your name). While you
are working on the iMovie page, details of the project is on
Class 13 blog post. Make sure you have include everything before you
send out the URL to me.