Good Presentation: Garage Band Demo (slideshare.net)
What I like: Simple and concise, this presentation shows you how to use the program Garage Band. There are screen captures and an easy to follow step by step guide. I could see learners using this presentation as quick resource to reference while using the program.
Poor Presentation: Social Media in Education (slideshare.net)
What I didn't like: This presentation is all text, with no graphics (with the exception of slide 2). I think a presentation should be given by a presenter not read by the audience. This would be an article, not a presentation. Also, there are SO many links inside this presentation that take you to many other places. I think it would have been more helpful to use a resource page at the end of the presentation and keep the presentation itself in one place.
Presentation Project
Audience: The audience for this project will be 16 first graders, 8 boys and 8 girls. The students range in age from 5-7. The academic levels vary greatly with 3 children reading at a beginning kindergarten level, 4 students reading below grade level, 4 students reading on grade level and 5 students reading above grade level. 7 students receive reading support, 4 students receive social service support and 1 student receives ELL support.
Possible Topics: I would like to create a presentation on Earth Day for my first grade students. This would include kid friendly ideas on how to help the Earth and tips on recycling. Children are very eager to learn about our Earth and sometimes find it difficult to realize there are things they can do, as children, to help.
Task Analysis: Students will be introduced to the terms reduce, reuse and recycle. They will gain understanding of what these terms mean and also how they can apply these in their own lives. Students will learn how garbage is processed in our community and will gain an understanding of how recycling reduces the amount of garbage that has to be thrown away. Students will understand that the amount of garbage they throw away has an effect on animals and plants.
Content Analysis: The presentation will start by asking children what they know about where garbage goes. This is an introductory unit in first grade, so many students will have little to no background knowledge on this topic. How garbage is processed will be introduced to the students along with an illustration of a transfer station and landfill. It will be explained that landfills are space used for garbage instead of a place that provides homes for plants and animals. Students will be asked to think of ways they can help with this problem and the vocabulary terms (reduce, reuse and recycle) will be introduced. Examples of how first graders will be given and students will be allowed to brainstorm additional ideas. Students will then be asked to do a recycling project that reuses materials to make something to play with, something decorative or something useful.
Five Instructional Strategies
Webquests – Although I have had experience creating a webquest, I have yet to apply it in the classroom. This would be a great way to let students take charge of their learning. Children would work cooperatively and at their own pace. This allows for much needed differentiation amongst different groups of children.
Stories as instructional tools- Although I use stories all the time in teaching, I realize stories can be used for multiple topics and purposes. As stated in the article, a student can learn geography from a map, but make better connections by reading a story about people that have traveled the world. I think I could use stories more often in different ways.
Blogging- This is a strategy I might use if I were teaching older students. I like the idea of sharing and collaborating ideas all in one place. Blogging allows students to express ideas and respond to peers to gain better understanding and insight on a topic all while practicing writing skills.
Process Art – I love the idea of implanting something creative as a way of learning. Rather than confining students to a right or wrong answer, this strategy allows students to develop a deeper understanding of a topic. Students could possibly explore with patterns, shapes, tessellation and even color using this strategy.
Jigsaw Groups – In this strategy, students are assigned a specific topic to learn about. They are then responsible for sharing and “teaching” the other students. Each student does the same until all the pieces are put together. I love the idea of students being independent learners and sharers. In first grade, it is often hard to let go of controlling the teaching and what is being done by each student. I think this would provide an opportunity for students to feel successful and empowered in their learning.
Summative Evaluation:
-Students will start with a whole class discussion about our Earth and what they know about recycling and our environment. We will create a K-W-L chart to direct the rest of the unit lessons and to assess learning at the end of the unit.
-Students will write their own story where they can list several ways they would help reduce, reuse and recycle in their own community or write a persuasive letter to another student on why recycling is important and how they can contribute.
-Students will create and implement recycling program for our classroom/school.
