Week 5: Infographic

Assignment Title: Infographic
Uses in the Classroom: This infographic summarizes the notes students took on Macromolecules. There are multiple uses for an inforgraphic like this. Students could use their notes to design and construct an infographic like this as a summary of their notes. Students could also view this infographic and be able to classify different macromolecules as being carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, or nucleic acids. 
Issues to Consider: If students were to make an infographic such as this on their own they would have to be given a certain allotted time in class. Because making one of these would be new to the students, it would probably take them quite a bit of time (more than a class period) to design an infographic that they really liked. I wouldn't want to spend a ton of class time designing something like this and would rather have the students focus on the content than the design. This would be a GREAT cross-curricular activity that students who are in graphic design and biology could do so that they would have time to make it look nice, and still utilize their class time in biology to really understand the material. 
Copyright: This infographic was made by the owner of the blog using Piktochart.

Week 4: Instructional Video

Assignment: Instructional Video
Uses in the Classroom: After viewing the video, or while viewing the video, students could summarize the main points of R and K strategists by constructing a T-Table that shows the differences between R and K strategists. To take this understanding one step further, students could write a paper from the perspective of an R or K strategists and include the pros and cons that they (the organism) endures.
Issues to Consider: This video is shared on Youtube which could be blocked on a school computer. Another issue to consider is that I talk relatively fast on the video and students should be encouraged to pause, rewind, and review materials that they may have missed. If I wanted students to view this at home I would have to ensure that they had access to the internet at home.
Copyright:This video was made by the owner of this blog. 

Week 3: Digital Storytelling

Assignment: Digital Storytelling
Uses in the Classroom: Students could summarize what is happening to "Derma" the skin cell as she goes through the stages of Mitosis. They could watch the video and then explain to another classmate the process of mitosis. This video does not show details of the phases, it simply lists them, so students would further have to delve into their notes and pay attention to an additional explanation to further understand the topic.
Issues to Consider: This was my first Digital Storybook using iMovie. I am hoping that I get more acquainted with the software before showing students more videos. This current video, is something that I could use as an example but I would like to make a better one that explains the topic in more thorough detail. I don't think the students would get a true understanding of mitosis from this explanation.
Copyright: The drawings in the video were made by the owner of this blog and the background music was from Apple Inc.

Week 3: Screencasting Assignment

Assignment Title: Screencast

Uses in the Classroom: Students will be able to implement what they learn from this Screencast and use it as a tool to guide them through accessing the classroom website. Absent students will be able to carry out the demonstration shared to access their assignments that they missed in class. Students will also be able to utilize the website to access study guides, notes, and worksheets that they didn't bring home for homework. Parents also can access this tool and it will keep them up to date on what we are doing in class. Parents will also be able to see how they can study with their student before a test by utilizing the study guide and study guide keys posted to the website.

Issues to Consider: Not everyone has access to the internet at home so this will not be doable for them unless they have access to a public computer with internet access. I will never make this a requirement to access the Screencast and the website but it is there for those with internet connections. Adobe Flash is required to view the video so without access to this program, viewers will not be able to open the file.

Copyright: Jastrzembowski.weebly.com and all worksheets/notes were made by the owner of this blog. A special thanks to the administration at Three Rivers High School for uploading my page to the district website. Other media used in this Screencast: Microsoft Word, Safari, Jing, Screencast.com.