Monthly Archives: March 2020

Mar 23 2020
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Podcasting: Giving Students A Voice

Edutopia continues to be one of my favorite educational outputs. I had discovered them through my Webtools class and fell in love with their positivity and fresh ideas. This week I stumbled upon an interesting article by second-grade teacher Paula Díaz, who is currently giving her students a voice through podcasting.

I love a good podcast, but I never thought about the potential of using this form of broadcasting as a teaching tool. Podcasting allows students to express their ideas and make connections with the world around them through interviews, explanations, and teaching. It essentially puts students in the teacher seat, allowing them to educate others while researching topics themselves. It creates an authentic learning environment where students understand the importance of what they are studying because it connects and resonates with them. I am very passionate about this form of learning because I believe when students can see why they should learn something, it creates a desire to continue their educational journey independently. To learn more about the importance of authentic learning, check out my blog post, Authentic Learning in the Classroom.

Díaz knew that there were potential road bumps with trying podcasting with students so young, but she went for it because she saw the potential learning opportunities this technology could open for her students – and they loved it!

Podcasting might seem like a task for older students, but we tried it anyway, and we proved that everyone has something to say.

Paula Díaz

Díaz introduced her students to podcasting for about a week. During this time they listened, analyzed, and discussed. What would make a good podcast? Students began to prepare their episodes using the podcasting app Anchor. Although new technology is daunting, Díaz and her students did not let the fear of something new stop them. They worked together, watched YouTube videos, and asked for help when needed. Even though she may not have intended for this to be an educational step, I believe this stage of working together to try something new introduces her 7 and 8-year-old students to problem-solving strategies. This was a great demonstration of learning my example for her students. Teachers are always teaching, whether they know it or not.

The student-run podcast began with an interview with the school’s new principal. The students brainstormed questions to ask and what they wanted to know about the principal. The class voted together to narrow the questions down to five and chose five interviewers. Students practiced by recording themselves talking as well as learning about interpersonal skills such as eye contact, shaking hands, and how to greet someone.

The interview took place using nothing more than a microphone built into an iPad they already had. A misconception I had about podcasting is I previously believed you would need expensive equipment that is specifically for podcasting. However, it seems we may have all the tools we need in our classrooms.

In a single day, the podcast was ready. The Anchor app is very user friendly and it did not take long for the class to piece everything together. Even in the editing stage the project was very student-run, with the class voting on music and working together to remove unwanted sounds. Then it was published, put on Twitter and sent to the community. Giving the students the ability to learn something in a fun way that allows them to lead their learning is something they will not forget.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!

Follow me on Twitter for more education related discussion: @EckhardtMalisa

Mar 16 2020
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Apps Guiding Online Learning During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Throughout the past semester, I have been actively engaging in educational opportunities via my online Web Tools class. The class had me not only build this blog, but also a Twitter, Google Classroom, Ed Puzzle account, and introduced me to various other incredible online learning platforms. I have had the opportunity to build a PLN and connect with the world around me. My classmates have such astonishing ideas that I look forward to using in the future. The class has been an overall great experience.

Our entire world is currently dealing with a pressing problem. In my twenty-three years of life, I can say I have seen nothing quite like it: the COVID-19 outbreak, otherwise known as the Corona Virus. The virus has put a halt on normal life. Companies as monstrous as Disney have shut their doors. However, education can not simply stop. We still owe students a free, public education. While schools have been locking their physical doors, they are opening a virtual gateway into online instruction to assure learning can still happen. The apps mentioned before are important now more than ever for our students so that they can keep learning while the world faces the uncertainty of a global pandemic.

Google Classroom

Google Classroom is an online communication tool between teacher and student. In this app, educators can post assignments, answer student questions, post materials, organize folders, and grade assessments. Students work in real-time in the comfort of their home computer. Google Classroom has been a necessity for teachers during the emergence of COVID-19, with various teachers using the website as their main instruction tool. Google classroom also connects to features such as Docs and Drive, allowing students to submit written work as well. Teachers can leave meaningful feedback so that students have a full understanding of their grade performance.

Zoom

Something Google Classroom lacks is the ability to engage in face-to-face communication. Zoom, a video conferencing app, fixes this issue. Zoom allows multiple people to enter a live video chat so that teachers can give students the auditory instruction students are used to. All participants are able to ask questions and engage with the professor. The application has recently announced it will be providing videoconferencing tools to K-12 schools for free to cope with the effects of the virus. Zoom is giving schools the resources they need to educate students so that they can keep their learning routine as normal as possible.

BrainPOP

BrainPOP is already a classroom favorite. The website uses animated segments to teach kids everything from math and science to art and music. The videos are fun, colorful, and extremely entertaining. However, full usage of the website can cost over $200 a year. Due to the mass amount of schools emptying their classrooms, BrainPOP announced that schools closed due to COVID-19 can receive free, unlimited use of all BrainPOP features during the school closure period. They also have unlocked their educational video on the topic of COVID-19 for free, public viewing along with an accompanying lesson plan. Schools can sign up for their free access here.

GoNoodle

Kids are still kids, even during a global pandemic. They need to move, run, and have fun. GoNoodle is a great way for students at home to take needed “brain breaks” when learning. The website is free to anyone with an internet connection and a screen to play on. The videos were originally created to be used in the classroom, so it does not require a large amount of space or additional tools. Movement breaks keep students engaged and motivated. Designed with K-5 students in mind, GoNoodle keeps students active and ready to learn, even when stuck at home. Look below for one of my 3rd-grade student’s favorite GoNoodle – Pop See Ko!

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!

Follow me on Twitter for more education related discussion:@EckhardtMalisa

Mar 09 2020
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Culture

The Culture of Russia’s Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh is a childhood favorite to many. For me, it brings back fond memories of storybooks and stuffed animals. As I reflected upon my love for a bear who eats way too much honey, I began to wonder if this childhood classic is the same in other places around the world. How universal is our childhood? As someone who seeks a future working with children of all different backgrounds, I was curious to see if there were cultural differences that created changes in how characters were portrayed.

Russian rendition of Winnie the Pooh.

Although I would not be watching Pooh and friends get themselves into trouble until the early 2000s, I stumbled upon a video that piqued my interest. It was a 1972 version of the playful Winnie and friends made in Russia. There were noticeable differences right away, starting with the appearance of Pooh, as well as the other characters. The United States version of Pooh is a golden bear with a big belly wearing a red shirt. However, the Russian version, seen on the left, is a circular, brown bear with a small smile and big claws. Nearly indistinguishable from the version many American’s have come to love.

There are some similarities between characters in both versions, such as Eeyore being a sad donkey down on his luck, but many of the Russian characters are different from their American counterparts. Although I love Winnie the Pooh, I believe many can agree his American transcription tends to portray a simple-minded, often lazy demeanor. In the Russian account, he is lively, smart, and tends to play the role of the leader. Owl is still intelligent and independent but is portrayed as a female. This may be out of respect, as Owl is wise and is made to teach children manners. If a child sees this, this may instill the idea of respecting adults, especially caretakers. During the time the film was made, the main caretaker in the home was typically the woman of the household. Piglet is portrayed as a young child full of excitement, much less timid than his Disney interpretation. I would say he plays the role of a kindergartener, which may make Russian children see him as easy to relate to. There is a portion where he cries for his “Mommy” and many characters cater to him like someone would to a child. Christopher Robin is not a part of the cast. The universe is strictly animals with no human interference. Pooh and friends are not stuffed animals, but rather real, living beings. Children can relate to these characters more because they are not simply the toys of a young boy, but “persons” with real feelings and issues.

Part 1 of the Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is fascinating to watch in another language, especially Russia. The Russian language does not utilize the American alphabet, instead, they use a mixture of symbols in writing. All Winnie the Pooh cartoons are in a storybook format, usually starting each episode with the title of the “chapter.” The Russian rendition had the same beginning, just with the text in Russian. Being exposed to text at a young age helps with the ability to read down the road.

Something I found interesting is the usage of music. Music is used in the Americanized version of the show as well, but Pooh’s songs tend to be more rapid-fire and direct in the Russian version. Russian people are known for their direct nature, so this may be a reflection of their communication style. In many scenes, music is playing that is distinguishably from Russian descent. There are many moments where Pooh and friends break out into a song while retrieving gifts for Eeyore. It seems that music is a key element in Russian culture and used for storytelling.

Part 2 of the Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

There is a line that translates to “But who cares? Nobody gives a damn,” which surprised me at first because this is atypical for an American children’s show. Langauge is a hot topic in American television censorship. However, in other countries, they may not see certain words as problematic as we do. The word “damn” in the American culture is seen as inappropriate to be used around children, but in Russia, it does not seem to be an offensive gesture. This shows how different cultures interpret things in different ways. Morals, ideals, traditions, etc. all vary from one country to the next, which impacts everything from political decisions to a children’s cartoon. We can learn from and celebrate our differences while also finding what makes us similar, even if we start with a chubby bear who just really loves honey.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!

Follow me on Twitter for more education related discussion:@EckhardtMalisa

Mar 02 2020
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Technology

Twitter in the Classroom

Twitter is an excellent tool for spreading ideas, collaboration, and keeping up with current events. It allows us to connect in an informal setting with people we may have not been able to communicate with otherwise. Users are linking with their favorite musical artists, expressing their feelings to politicians, and finding friends around the globe. Recently I have been using the app to learn from classmates and professionals in the world of education. The experience has been great and has opened my mind to how I can use social media as a learning tool as opposed to just for fun in my free time.

By being able to understand the thoughts and opinions of others, we challenge how and why we think the way we do. Twitter has an endless amount of varying opinions. Some opinions may change the way you think, while others provide concrete validation into why you believe what you do. For example, the other night I stumbled upon a user discussing that they believe children should not be given free lunch at school as they did not pay for it. School lunches were not something I had put much thought into before. This tweet challenged me to think about my own opinions and I realized I think school lunches should be provided to students at free to low cost. This led to a meaningful conversation with a classmate where we discussed how free lunches are a great school resource. Twitter brought a topic of concern to my attention that I had not thought about before. I was able to have a learning experience and an impactful interaction even though I did not agree with the original post.

Twitter has also been an amazing tool for finding ideas to use in the classroom. Going into a blank room your first year of teaching can be overwhelming. How will you set things up? What will make the students comfortable? What will you do to keep students engaged in learning? Twitter allowed me to get insight from real educators with years of experience while also sharing ideas I found online with the community. These professionals have an idea of what works and I am so grateful to have these ideas for when I design my elementary classroom one day. The core of my teaching strategy is the use of kindness to build confidence. Twitter has shown me several ways on how to implement this in my classroom. Below is a list of my favorites:

  • Classwork turned into different drawers to signify how confident a student is with the material.
  • Allowing every student to talk during morning meetings so everyone feels seen and heard.
  • Implementing a Day of Caring to teach students empathy.
  • The use of check-in/check-out buddies to act as supports to show kindness.
  • How to build personal bonds with struggling students.
  • 60-Second Shout Outs done by students to highlight the accomplishments of another student.

Twitter has allowed me to interact with others, even if we do not agree, showing me we are always able to learn from each other. We can always learn something new from those around us and I believe this experience truly demonstrates this, especially in Twitter Chats. Twitter chats are free ways to increase your professional development for today’s classrooms. I appreciate the insight had by those in the field and I look forward to joining them one day. I will continue to use the app in the future as a way to connect with educators in the field to not only enhance my skills for myself but my students.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!

Follow me on Twitter for more education related discussion: @EckhardtMalisa