The problem with technology is there are too many choices. I have been busy exploring sites and reading other teachers' thoughts on best tools for flipping. I am overwhelmed with information so I have decided I just need to start my plan and adjust as I go. This is what I have so far:
Google Site: I am planning to use my Google site to present each unit of work. I don't have a textbook aligned with the current common core standards so I am building my unit around each standard.I will post this link once I have it organized....so much to do and so little time......
Edmodo.com will be where all communication with students will happen. I call this the doorway into everything we do. Edmodo is so easy to use and the students (at least in 6th grade) like that they can ask me or other students homework questions. If you don't know about Edmodo.com, go check it out. It is a great communication tool for students and teachers.
ASSISTment.org is where I do as much of my assessment as possible. I use this for daily formative assessment and plan to always have a few questions at the end of flipped lessons. This tool is free! It gives you instant data reports and I can create the content. I will start each day knowing who has done the flipped lesson and assess some levels of understanding to organize my collaborative class work.
Take this introduction tour to learn more at their teacher wiki.
http://edu.symbaloo.com is a great visual organizer of groups of your favorites. I am building a tab of favorites resources for my students, one for tools to build my flipped lessons, and one that is for academic resources with common core...etc.
http://www.sophia.org is a great presentation platform for students and teachers. I am going to use it to present some of my flipped lessons. It is free and teachers share their lessons too. You can create a lesson page with video (yours or someone elses), links, readings, uploads....etc... It makes for a nice flipped lesson page.
Lastly, I have decided to purchase a MacBook Air and Camtasia video software. My laptop is big and old. It has a poor mike and camera and it weights a lot to carry around. I decided this will be worth the investment in the long run as I create all my new lessons.
Let me know if you have any great ideas or your thoughts on my plan.
I found myself in much the same situation. I dabbled at flipping during the last two months of school (with my grade 9 math class).
ReplyDeleteI made my own videos of me teaching, but still didn't get a handle on how to run the classtime.
Like you, I've read about flipping til my head spun, and I kind of like Sophia (I even did the tutorial and got the free t-shirt) as the means of organizing my videos/powerpoints/handouts, although we use moodle as the "doorway" at my school.
I plan to dive in whole hawg come next year, but I know I will need to educate my students on how to actively listen to videos, and take notes (someone mentioned the Cornell method of note-taking). I also know I will have to step away from the stage in the class, a do some EBWA (educate by walking around) - something I'm not used to.
I've been reading all the Crystal Kirch stuff with WSQ's and I like the format. But the main thing I'm not confident about is how to make them responsible for their own learning. I can see that as twice the challenge at the grade six level. One thing's for sure, I know I can get the parents buy into the concept once they realize they may not have to sit down and teach their kids (or they can learn from my videos if they like), and maybe even forego the math tutor.
Just like switching to a Mac from a PC (which I actually tried unsuccessfully), the best way to go is to just discard the "old way" and just take the plunge. It's hard to think about in the middle of summer (actually summer school for me), but i know I have to plan, plan, plan.
I suppose I should have just included this whole comment in my own blog... I think I will if you don't mind (haven't made an entry for a while).
Enjoy the planning...