What's Happening at Episcopal?

Ms. Blair's ninth grade English classes are using an innovative piece of online software to make the research process more effective and efficient.  Each ninth grade student was given a one-year subscription to Noodle Tools.  Noodle Tools gives students "integrated tools for note-taking, outlining, citation, document archiving/annotation, and collaborative research and writing.” The program also offers excellent resources and support for educators.

Edmodo, the learning management system mentioned in previous Tech Talks, has made some significant improvements in how teachers can grade student work turned in via the portal more efficiently.  The new annotation feature allows teachers to add comments, highlight text, and underline portions of student work without having to download the document.  This allows teachers to grade work more effectively, as well as allowing students access to more immediate feedback.  The teachers received an introduction to this new feature, how use of the LMS could benefit them, as well as how to start the process of becoming a "paperless" classroom during Wednesday's division meeting. A more in depth tutorial will be offered during a tech session Wednesday, December 5th.  

Before Thanksgiving Break, I featured the Dans La Cuisine project that Ms. Luer's French II classes had been working on. Please take a moment to view some of these amazing projects.  

Josie: Les Moelleux au Chocolat 

Adrianne: Macrons 

Kiva and Anna: Les Desserts  

Katie Robinson 

What's Happening at Episcopal?

How Can Student Video Production Facilitate Learning?  

From Animoto, to iMovie, to Windows MovieMaker, there are a wealth of tools that allow students to create stunning video projects.  Video projects can be a wonderful opportunity for students to not only demonstrate their learning, but use their creativity as well.  These projects can span across all content areas as seen by two projects here at Episcopal Collegiate.  

During their study of The Outsiders, seventh grade students wrote and produced a book trailer using Animoto. Much like a movie trailer, a book trailer is a short video clip that highlights important plot points, and themes in the hopes of increasing interest in purchasing and reading the novel.  Students were tasked with creating a 30-second book trailer for the novel.  They had to bring together a combination of images, text, and music to highlight what they felt were important themes. Click on the links below to view several examples:  

Book Trailer 1 

Book Trailer 2 

Book Trailer 3

The French II class is currently working on the Dans La Cuisine project. The students are tasked with creating a 3-minute cooking show in which they prepare a French meal. The project serves two purposes: 

1. Use their study of the French language to further their vocabulary in terms of food, food preparation and kitchen equipment. 

2  Learn more about French culture and cuisine. 

To produce and edit their work the students are using video production software, Windows MovieMaker and iMovie.  

For more information on the benefits of video production in the classroom please view Richard Byrne's blog Free Technology for Teachers.  

Katie Robinson 

What's Happening at Episcopal?

This week our teachers had the opportunity to present the innovative ways in which they are using technology in the classroom during the Parent's Auxiliary meeting.  Bobbie Waters, our 8th grade Physical Science teacher, presented the simple machines project that her students have been working on for several weeks, and Joy Schultz, our Upper School Art teacher, presented the masterpiece remix project her students have started.  Thank you to both teachers for your hard work and dedication to your students.

The 8th grade Physical Science students had a great time presenting their simple machine projects to their classmates this week.  Below you will find two of the many amazing presentations.

THE DUNKINATOR

YOU CAN RECYCLE, TOO

Katie Robinson 

Tech Talk: What's Happening at Episcopal?

How Can Technology Bring Students Together?  

One of the many benefits of integrating technology in the classroom is its ability to allow collaboration and communication with other students across the United States and even the world. The ability to share perspectives and ideas with others allows the student to learn about differing viewpoints and see what life is like in various places.  Therefore, the learning becomes more global in scope.  Several teachers here at Episcopal are using technology to bring this type of learning to their students. 

In Joy Schultz’s painting class she is using an online tool, Voicethread, to connect her students with an art class at Oconomowoc High School in Wisconsin.  Each class of students documented their artistic process through pictures and uploaded them into a Voicethread presentation.  They then made comments via text, video, or audio recording to walk their viewer through an explanation of the artistic decisions they made.  When the project is complete, Episcopal students will have the opportunity to view and offer critiques as well as receive feedback on their work with students at Oconomowoc.  

In Angeline Karigan-Winters AP Spanish classes, Episcopal students are connecting with students in Spain via email.  Ms. Karigan-Winter was able to make contact with a teacher in Spain via Edmodo, and begin the communication.  Our students will not only receive practice in written communication in Spanish, but will be able to teach students in Spain about American culture and learn about Spanish culture as well.  

What's Happening in Episcopal's Middle School Science Classes? 

The eighth grade Physical Science classes completed their work on their simple machines project.  The week was spent building and testing their prototype as well as documenting their process via picture using the iPad.  Students then planned and put together a presentation using the Pinnacle Studio App.  Next week, they will present their prototype to the class.  

Hard at work. 

Is it working?  

Documenting our progress.

The sixth grade Life Science classes continued their study of cells by playing TIC TAC TOE.  This project, put together by Dr. Wilmoth, allowed students to choose how to demonstrate their knowledge of cells by completing a TIC TAC TOE board of options.  One such option was the making of a podcast.  Students came down to the TLC and learned how to create podcasts using Garage Band.  

Have you always wondered what the difference between a prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell is, or what exactly is cell theory?  Listen to the podcasts below to find out! 

Tech Talk: What are the Basics?

For Episcopal Collegiate students to perform well with technology it is important for them to receive basic training.  Identifying the basics can be challenging as tablet touch-technology has begun to replace older interfaces like a mouse and keyboard.  Regardless of physical changes in technology there are fundamental soft skills like, Internet literacy, word formatting, digital presentation and keyboarding which are essential for our students to be proficient in the classroom and the world.  In the Lower School these skills are taught every day. Kindergarten is exploring Internet web 2.0 applications as they work with Starfall and the TeachMe iPad app. In the 1st grade students are currently learning how to use a cursor, work with fonts, and paragraph alignment as they start an owl and bats paper.  The second grade is revisiting these same skills as they finish writing their descriptive paragraphs.  Students are designing avatars as they continue to write, and interact with Edmodo in the third grade.  Fourth graders are putting together a Story Elements interactive PowerPoint presentation.  Fifth Graders are beginning to build keyboarding skills using TypingMaster where they can practice both at school and at home.  We are all working hard to ensure our students are prepared for the basic skills they will need to succeed.