In EME5050 this week we were asked to create a scoring rubric for our digital storytelling presentations that our students will create. Initially, I was thinking that this task would be an easy one. After all, how hard can it be to create a rubric right? Well, I was wrong.
I admit that I have rarely used a rubric in my classroom. When I have used one, it has been created by somebody other than myself. So, I sat down at my desk to begin the creation of my rubric. I read through the module provided for our class that was all about rubrics. I took a look at some sample rubrics to get a better idea of what I could do. After looking at some samples I realized that there are a wide range of criteria that I could score my students on. I decided to look over the digital storytelling presentation that I had put together for my students. I looked over my notes from it and had the beginnings of what I could use in my rubric. I knew that I definitely wanted to score my students on their research and their use of a KWL chart. From that point I had to make a decision on how I would score their actual presentations. I took some time to think about how the quantity of slides they should use in their presentation and how many graphics I would expect them to have at the very least. Once I had made my choices on this, I knew that I needed to score them on their grammar and spelling also.
Now it was time to actually write come up with how I would score the four areas of criteria. This was the part of this activity that I struggled with the most. I knew what I wanted to grade my students on, but I had no idea what kind of wording I wanted to use in my rubric. It took a lot of thought and some advice from a fellow teacher and my husband, but I finally figured out exactly what I wanted to say in order for my rubric to be clear. After that I signed up for an account at iRubric.com and built my rubric. Once it was completed, I embedded it into my curriculum page and now believe I have a finished product. My rubric can be viewed below and also on my curriculum page.
After finishing up this assignment I think that I could use a rubric for assessment more often. By letting my students delve further into a subject that interests them and complete a hands-on project that requires more than just reading and regurgitating some answers on a multiple-choice test, will enable them to experience more meaningful and authentic learning. It will open up all kinds of learning opportunities for my students, as well as engaging them with the use of technology. The possibilities are endless.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Sample Presentation
This week for my Fundamentals of Technology class we were given the task of creating our sample digital storytelling project. This teacher-created sample can be used by our students to get a better idea of what their own projects should look like when they are done. My digital storytelling project is for 4th grade Social Studies. It is on the explorers unit that we cover in my classroom. My students are supposed to work in groups to pick an explorer and research as much information as they can about their explorer. I chose to make a sample digital storytelling project on Juan Ponce de Leon.
In previous weeks, we have been asked to make a presentation on digital storytelling using Prezi or another type of software, such as Power Point. I chose to make my sample project using Prezi since I already have some experience using this particular software. I really didn't have any trouble finding the information I wanted to use regarding my explorer. I also did not have many issues using Prezi itself. This week, I had more trouble trying to find pictures that could be used in my digital storytelling presentation. This is mostly because a lot of the graphics I would have liked to use are copyrighted. After much time and searching I was able to find pictures that were useful. Most of these were easily uploaded to Prezi. A few of the pictures were a bit more difficult because Prezi would not take the file type that they were saved under. I had to learn how to reformat the file types on a few pictures. Once I learned the useful skill of reformatting, everything else was a piece of cake. I finished making my presentation and it is now ready to be viewed. Please take a look!
In previous weeks, we have been asked to make a presentation on digital storytelling using Prezi or another type of software, such as Power Point. I chose to make my sample project using Prezi since I already have some experience using this particular software. I really didn't have any trouble finding the information I wanted to use regarding my explorer. I also did not have many issues using Prezi itself. This week, I had more trouble trying to find pictures that could be used in my digital storytelling presentation. This is mostly because a lot of the graphics I would have liked to use are copyrighted. After much time and searching I was able to find pictures that were useful. Most of these were easily uploaded to Prezi. A few of the pictures were a bit more difficult because Prezi would not take the file type that they were saved under. I had to learn how to reformat the file types on a few pictures. Once I learned the useful skill of reformatting, everything else was a piece of cake. I finished making my presentation and it is now ready to be viewed. Please take a look!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Curriculum Page
This week in my Fundamentals of Technology class we were given the task of making a teacher-created curriculum page on the Wiki page that we were asked to set up last week. A curriculum page is usually focused on a particular topic, lesson, or unit being covered in class. What I decided to base my curriculum page on was my digital storytelling dream project from my blog last week. My dream project was for my students to create a digital storytelling presentation based on research that they have conducted on an early explorer of Florida (for example – Ponce de Leon). I took this idea and decided to run with it this week. I read through the module that is provided for us each week for our class and decided to use the One-page WebQuest Template. I also viewed the curriculum pages that others in the class had completed that were provided for us by our instructor.
When I returned to the Wiki that I had set up last week I was baffled at first about how to set up my page. I felt lost. I had no idea how I was going to add content to this emptiness on the web page in front of me. So I did what comes naturally to me – I asked my husband for assistance. He walked into the room and clicked on the edit link, looked at me and told me to have at it, then left the room. So here I am looking at a blank edit screen. I made the ultimate decision to go ahead and open up Microsoft Word and write out what I wanted to post on the curriculum page. After I had written everything up that I wanted included in this curriculum page for my students I copied and pasted everything into the edit page of my Wiki.
Once the majority of my curriculum page was set up I went about editing things and adding a few additional details that I forgot originally – like the title and who created the page. I also wanted to add a picture of an old map of Florida drawn up by one of the early explorers of the New World. After searching for old Florida maps on Google I found what I was looking for. I made sure that the map was alright to post onto my page by checking the copyright information (thanks for the advice Kelvin!) and embedded the picture into my Wiki. To be on the safe side I also listed the link under the references section of my curriculum page.
Now that the page is complete I hope you will take a moment and view it. Enjoy!
References:
One-page WebQuest Template- http://webquest.sdsu.edu/templates/lesson-template1.htm
Curriculum Pages provided by Kelvin Thompson (instructor of EME5050)- http://slides.diigo.com/list/kelvin_thompson/curriculum-pages?mode=full&sid=25623
When I returned to the Wiki that I had set up last week I was baffled at first about how to set up my page. I felt lost. I had no idea how I was going to add content to this emptiness on the web page in front of me. So I did what comes naturally to me – I asked my husband for assistance. He walked into the room and clicked on the edit link, looked at me and told me to have at it, then left the room. So here I am looking at a blank edit screen. I made the ultimate decision to go ahead and open up Microsoft Word and write out what I wanted to post on the curriculum page. After I had written everything up that I wanted included in this curriculum page for my students I copied and pasted everything into the edit page of my Wiki.
Once the majority of my curriculum page was set up I went about editing things and adding a few additional details that I forgot originally – like the title and who created the page. I also wanted to add a picture of an old map of Florida drawn up by one of the early explorers of the New World. After searching for old Florida maps on Google I found what I was looking for. I made sure that the map was alright to post onto my page by checking the copyright information (thanks for the advice Kelvin!) and embedded the picture into my Wiki. To be on the safe side I also listed the link under the references section of my curriculum page.
Now that the page is complete I hope you will take a moment and view it. Enjoy!
References:
One-page WebQuest Template- http://webquest.sdsu.edu/templates/lesson-template1.htm
Curriculum Pages provided by Kelvin Thompson (instructor of EME5050)- http://slides.diigo.com/list/kelvin_thompson/curriculum-pages?mode=full&sid=25623
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