Apptivity with LabelED

Mr. Brandon, a 5th grade teacher at WGS, shared a great app and apptivity he used with his class a few weeks ago, and I am finally getting around to highlighting it here.

from iTunes

Using Safari, students found an image of a skeleton which they saved to the camera roll of their iPads.  Next, Mr. Brandon demonstrated using LabelED to drop pins on the skeleton to label all the bones.  Students worked in groups to use the LabelEd app and their saved picture to label bones. After a quick check to verify that everyone correctly labeled the skeleton, students were able to test their knowledge in a multiple choice or location style quiz generated within the app. They get instant assessment feedback as they practice with the app and the results can also be captured and sent to the teacher. 

Besides being an engaging way to study the skeleton, there are so many exciting learning examples in this activity, including searching the Web responsibly for images, saving images, creating a digital product, multi-tasking, collaboration, self-directed learning.  I'm definitely inspired to use this app and teaching model in the library.  I especially love that he didn't create the LabelEd activity and give it to the students to take the quiz only.  They learned so much more by doing all of this themselves.  

Note:  This app reminds me of TinyTap, an app I reviewed in an earlier post, geared toward younger students.  You might want to check it out, too.  

Kids Creating Community Content Contest (CILC)

The Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) makes it easy to connect your classroom to virtual learning opportunities that go beyond the more typical sit, listen, answer question format of many virtual field trips.*  KC3, Kids Creating Community Content, requires students to research and present content about their own community.  The students choose the topic and CILC provides project/lesson planning guides to ensure they are on the right track.  The project culminates with a 20-minute interactive presentation to another group of students facilitated by CILC moderators.  Last year, CILC gave prizes (engraved plaque and $75 Amazon card) for the following categories: research gurus, interesting choice of topic, outstanding audience engagement, most creative, and outstanding delivery. The presenters from CILC that I heard at ISTE said that the range of award categories allowed them to reward students who were new to the process.   

With or without a prize, WGS students would love this opportunity.  Last year, Mrs. Willett's second grade class researched inventors and created their own inventions to present to another second grade class in our county.  They were engaged, excited, and proud of their work.  KC3 reminds me of this successful activity.

*There are other great virtual field trips out there, too. My favorite from last year was the North Carolina Museum of Natural History's Discovering Dinosaurs program.

DeforestACTION takes your students to the jungles of Borneo

How would you like to give your students an authentic role in solving a real world problem? DeforestACTION, a Microsoft Regional Innovative Education Forum inspired project, is a global movement of students and schools to get students involved in the problem of deforestation. You can begin with the teacher resources and virtual classroom to introduce students to the issues. Then, students can connect with experts in the field and other classrooms to learn and discuss issues. Students can even become Earthwatchers. They will be given their own part of the rainforests of Borneo to monitor via satellite imagery. By studying the land patterns and noting changes, they will actually be able to report disturbances and make a difference. 

I spoke with Liza Heavener and Chris Gauthier of DeforestACTION while I was at ISTE. Liza had just returned from a trip to Borneo. Chris leads Webinars and classroom connections. Their dedication and enthusiasm for the project would definitely excite our students. If there is any way that we can get WGS students involved, I know they would remember it forever. Our kindergarteners study the rainforest, but I believe our older students would be better able to grasp the magnitude of the issues.