Graduate Credit - Flipped Learning

There has been an interest expressed in receiving graduate credit for a technology course for participation in our Flipped Learning project.  The course has been approved and is available for registration.
If you would like to receive three hours of graduate credit that is technology based, please print and complete the FORM.  Mail the completed form to:
          Robin Leibert, Finance Administrator
          June Harless Center - JH 237
          One John Marshall Drive
          Huntington, WV 25755

The tuition is only $225.  Checks should be made to June Harless Center.  The deadline for registration is February 23.

If you would like, you may bring your form and check with you to our session in Drinko Library on February 21.

Graduate credit registration form.

Lawrence County Kentucky's Take on Blended Delivery

YouTube Playlist Tips

Although YouTube is blocked in West Virginia schools for students, the ability to create playlists for students is valuable in the flipped classroom. Alice Keeler offers a few hints for building, ordering, and editing videos for a playlist.

http://www.alicekeeler.com/teachertech/2014/06/22/youtube-playlist-tips/

She mentions in the beginning of the blog post about trying to keep videos to 30 seconds, but not longer than three minutes. It seems that she wants to segment her lessons into short, rapid-fire videos. This is an interesting idea for maintaining student engagement.

Alice publishes a plethora (really) of information on using Google Apps. Blog how is located at:
http://www.alicekeeler.com/teachertech/

Flipped Videos from CI 415 Course

Many of the students in the CI 415 course in Marshall's College of Education developed and submitted flipped videos for one of the course requirements.  These lessons are linked below:

• Whitney Chandler - Longitudinal and transverse waves
• Emily Chittenden - Identify oxidation numbers to determine electron movement
• Kristy Dillon – Introduction to Cells
• Kelli Dove - Composition of atoms
• Michael Harshbarger – Systems by graphing
• Austin Hoffman - Mitosis
• Tiffany Parker – Balancing chemical equations
• David Watson – Characterization in literature

These lessons were produced using a variety of free apps that may be of assistance to you in developing your flipped unit.

Office Mix

This can be a game changer for many of us.

At our October 4 Flipped Learning session, Nikki Buchman demonstrated Office Mix.  I know I speak for our entire group when I say that we were blown away.  This suite of tools is available to users of Office 2013 and gives the capability to include many aspects of flipped learning to PowerPoint presentations and to export videos.  Since all educators in West Virginia are licensed to install five copies of Office 365 (including PowerPoint 2013) this is a great fit for us. 

Office Mix installs a plug-in on PowerPoint 2013 that allows educators to include screen clips, videos, quizzes, voice over and a plethora of tools specifically for inclusion in PowerPoint Mixes.  Once students have a k12 email address, you can tap some great statistics on student access.  Even now, students can take advantage of the Mix lessons although you will not get the analytics unless the students log in.

Many thanks to Nikki for bringing this to our attention and demonstrating it to us.  We can add this to our toolbox that already includes Screencast-o-matic and Explain Everything.  I would encourage you to try making a small flipped lesson with Office Mix.

2014-15 Professional Development Schedule

The training schedule for the Marshall University Flipped Learning Group is below:

Flipped Classroom Project

2014-15 Schedule

Session 1 – September 6, 2014  

·         Location: Drinko Library Room 349

·         Time: 10 am - 3 pm

·         Topics:

o   What is flipping? How to gauge flipping - mastery, resource, etc.

o   Show examples of quality flipped units

o   Expectations of participants

o   Logging into the project blog and blogging requirements

o   Brief demonstration of Explain Everything, Touchcast, iMovie and ShowMe apps

o   Introduction to One Note

o   Google Calendar & Google Hangouts

o   Installing Office 365 on computers and devices

·         Mentor alignment

·         Assignment – purchase Explain Everything  & iMovie, sign up for free Vimeo and ShowMe accounts, collect school and district assessment data and content priorities

Session 2 – October 4, 2014  

·         Location: Drinko Library Room 349

·         Time: 10 am - 3 pm

·         Topics:

o   Evaluate school and district data to determine relative strength and weakness in each content area

o   Review Next Generation and WVCSOs to set topics for first flipped lessons

o   Locating existing online resources for target skills

o   Developing video and web resources targeting weak content areas

o   Demonstration of Screencast-O-Matic

o   Setting up Lync and connecting to Lync meetings

o   Assessment with Socrative, PollEv, Testmoz and others

·         Assignment – record, edit and upload some sample material, review example flipped lessons on project blog

Session 3 - October 18, 2014  

·         Location: Drinko Library Room 349

·         Time: 10 am - 3 pm

·         Topics:

o   Resources for flipping already available for content standards

o   Setting up accounts on TeacherTube, YouTube, Vimeo, Kahn Academy

o   Adapting video resources of other teachers for your class

o   Reflecting on the project blog

o   Saving documents and videos to OneDrive and sharing them with students

o   Use of Explain Everything, Touchcast and iMovie in preparing teacher generated content

o   Creating and sharing content with One Note

·         Assignment – locate lessons from one of the online video resources that apply to your course and adapt the lesson to your students’ needs.  Save the lesson to your OneDrive and share it with the flip group

Session 4 - November 8, 2014

·         Location: Drinko Library Room 349

·         Time: 10 am - 3 pm

·         Topics:

o   Uploading to video sites (YouTube, Vimeo, Schooltube, TeacherTube and others)

o   Uploading and sharing Dropbox files

o   Uploading and sharing with Google Drive

o   Setting up Google Forms

o   Advanced techniques with Explain Everything and iMovie

o   Recording and editing teacher produced video resources with ShowMe and Touchcast

o   Issues/Problems/Solutions/Work Arounds encountered with flipping

o   Making a cohesive flipped lesson

·         Assignment – bring one small flipped lesson to next meeting

Session 5 – December 6, 2014  

·         Location: Drinko Library Room 349

·         Time: 10 am - 3 pm

·         Topics:

o   CIPA requirements and protecting students

o   Accessing content on the web

o   Getting to YouTube through WebTop

o   Getting a YouTube video whitelisted by WVDE

o   Disabling YouTube comments and other options

o   Setting up a YouTube channel

o   Making content available to students (blogs, Google Sites, email, USB drives, DVDs, etc) - classroom viewing at alternate times

o   Setting up and monitoring a blog for student use

o   Demonstrate flipped lessons

·         Assignment – conduct a flipped lesson with a class and prepare to discuss successes and challenges and develop a flipped unit

Session 6 - January 24, 2015

·         Location: Drinko Library Room 349

·         Time: 10 am - 3 pm

·         Showcase Celebration

o   Bring the flipped unit and discuss progress of implementation

o   Critique and suggest ways to enhance content and delivery

·         Meet with mentors

·         Assignment- Update flipped unit and begin development of a second flipped unit for second semester

§  Learning Goals

§  Standards/Common Core

§  Procedures

§  Assessment

§  Differentiation

§  Accommodations

Session 7 - February 21, 2015

·         Location: Drinko Library Room 349

·         Time: 10 am - 3 pm

·         One Note capabilities and uses

·         Using shared and online calendars with flipped classes

·         Embedding assessment in videos with Touchcast and other tools

·         Using Geddit in flipped classrooms

·         Modifying and updating video resources for second semester

o   Adapting prepared lessons for future implementations

o   Collecting data on student use of flipped resources

·         Types of flipped models

o   Blended delivery units

o   Embedded flipped lessons

o   Flipped mastery units

·         Assignment- Modify a video lesson prepared earlier to adapt to needs of a different student group

Session 8 - March 14, 2015

·         Location: Drinko Library Room 349

·         Time: 10 am - 3 pm

·         Using Nearpad in the flipped classroom

·         Putting students in charge of creating lessons

o   Teaching students to use iMovie, Explain Everything and Touchcast and Powtoon to create lessons for peers or younger students

o   Collecting data on student use of flipped resources

o   Protecting student privacy in their creations

·         Assignment- Create a flipped unit using lessons or components created by students or student groups

Session 9 - April 11, 2015

·         Location: Drinko Library Room 349

·         Time: 10 am - 3 pm

·         Bringing it all together

o   Putting teacher created video, student content, web content, assessment and other resources together into a cohesive unit

o   Making the completed unit available to any student, any place, any time

·         Assignment- Bring a complete unit to the May meeting that is ready to be uploaded to the project blog that can be accessed from any teacher or student via the web

Session 10 – May 9, 2015

·         Location: Drinko Library Room 349

·         Time: 10 am - 3 pm

·         Preparation of compiled set of units for statewide distribution

·         Sharing of completed units

·         Discussion of alignment of units to WV and Next Generation Standards in each content area

·         Assignment- Share the excitement and opportunities of flipped classrooms with other teachers

Example Flipped Lesson

As we look to kick off our 2014-15 cohort of the Flipped Learning group through Marshall University, I wanted to make a flipped lesson just to get me in the right mindset.
This first lesson isn't witty or slick.  I just wanted to put something quick and easy together to get us started.  I gave myself 30 minutes to prepare and record the five minute video on the light dependent reactions of photosynthesis.  I started with the assessment portion by identifying what students should know and be able to do by the end of the lesson.  I then tapped some graphics of chloroplasts and did a video narration of the two photosystems.  There are errors and I am OK with that.  Your students will be OK with errors as well.  I used a simple, free web tool (http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/) to record and export the video.  Since I used the free version, there was no editing.  I exported to an MPEG then uploaded to Vimeo.  The entire process (aside from the time it took Vimeo to make the video available) took less than 25 minutes.
The target audience for this lesson is 10th grade biology I students.
You can view this video in either of these two places:

Vimeo

Dropbox

Flipped 2.0

This is a great article from the Spring 2014 issue of Scholastic Administrator


Flipped 2.0

Excellent collection of science content videos

In scanning YouTube for some good science content videos that can be used for flipped classes, I found Paul Anderson, a science teacher at Bozeman High School in Montana.
His YouTube channel is at - https://www.youtube.com/user/bozemanbiology?feature=watch
You can find a collection of well produced instructional videos in biology, chemistry, physics and earth/space science.


His video on balancing chemical equations is a good example of a flipped video:

Great tips for using Google Drive in Education

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/02/12-ways-to-leverage-power-of-google.html

Interesting article on flipping in higher education

Published recently in eCampusNews:

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/02/12-ways-to-leverage-power-of-google.html

Sizing up Blended Learning

Sizing up Blended Learning

This is a good article from Education Week.

Sign up for a time on February 15

As we discussed at our January 11 meeting, the February 15 session will be a Google Hangout.
To since the site will only permit a maximum of 10 connections at any time, we must limit participants for the 8 am or 10 am sessions to 10 connections.  If multiple people will be using the same connection (using one computer or tablet) you can put all the names of everyone on that connection on one line.
Please sign up for a time on the shared Google Document and I will send an invite out to those who have signed up a few minutes before 8 am and 10 am.

Small-Town Perspectives, Big-Time Motivation: Composing and Producing Place-Based Podcasts

A pal from Virginia sent a link to this ERIC abstract to me this week.

Flipped Classroom Tips (From A Teacher Who Is Mid-Flip)

Great tips for flipping newbies:

Interesting Report of a Flipped Classroom in the UK

Be certain to check the links provided in this article:

December 14 Flipped Classroom Session

The December 14 session of the June Harless Center Flipped Classroom group was very productive despite the coating of ice that coated many streets and sidewalks in the area.

We had review and enhancement sessions on iMovie, ExplainEverything and Touchcast.  We reviewed procedures for connecting to Google Hangouts from a PC and a tablet.  PJ, Summer, Nikki and Jason shared some of their instructional videos and how they used them in their classes.

Dr. Maynard made an announcement that significant donations are being made to the Harless Center to continue and expand the flipped learning project through the purchase of classroom sets of iPad tablets.  Dr. Maynard also submitted a proposal to the Higher Education Policy Commission to fund the professional development portion of the flipped learning project.

It was suggested that we take a look at Nearpod to determine if it will fill a niche in this project.  It is being used very effectively in many schools for blended delivery and reinforcing classroom instruction.  After we have a chance to download the Nearpod app and try it we should have a discussion of it in an upcoming session.

The Wayne County teachers have asked that the Harless Center follow up with Wayne County to determine when they can expect to receive their iPad tablets for the project.

The professional development session concluded by selecting Saturday, January 11 as the next meeting date.  The time will be from 10 am – 3 pm and the location of Drinko Library will be confirmed.  The agenda for the day will be supported development of flipped video.  Everyone will need to bring materials to prepare one flipped lesson.  This could be notes, a textbook, images, links or anything you think you will need to prepare a short lesson for your class.  We will breakout into small groups for the morning. Each small group will have a mentor who will assist with technical aspects of your choice of development tools (iMovie, Touchcast or Explain Everything).  After lunch, we will share our videos and help each other in making better resources for our students.  Of course, this January date is subject to weather.

The possibility of a February meeting as a Google Hangout was suggested with the focus on assessing flipped lessons.  We can split our Hangout into morning and afternoon sessions as we did in November if desired.  A sign-up sheet will be posted as before for the Hangouts if a Hangout is selected for February.

Notes from November 30 Flipped Hangout

I was really pleased that our Google Hangouts were so productive on Saturday.  In fact, since we had such quality discussions that we should consider scheduling another meeting as a Hangout this winter.  Hangouts are a great way to model some distance learning capabilities to supplement flipped units. 

We started the Hangout by exploring some of the features of Google Hangouts.

• ·         Discussions of potential educational uses for Hangouts included involving students in class discussions who are:

o   Confined to home or hospital

o   Unable to attend class due to weather

o   On an athletic or academic trip

• ·         We also considered ways to connect classes in WV with students across the country or even overseas via Google Hangouts.  Think about the ability to do a class presentation to students in another country!

We briefly discussed our thoughts on the example flipped videos that were posted to Vimeo?

• ·         What advantages/disadvantages are there to using video?
• ·         Keeping video open, available to everyone or putting behind a password

Opportunities for expansion of the flipped program

• ·         WE forum gift

o   Amount to be determined

o   Will purchase class sets of iPad Mini tablets

• ·         ITQ grant development

o   Expansion of program in Cabell, Mason, Mingo and Wayne Counties

o   Funding to include training, software, expenses to national conference

We had a discussion of a number of tools for flipping:

• ·         Cam Studio, Adobe Presenter, iMovie, Explain Everything, Touchcast, etc
• ·         Vimeo, YouTube, TeacherTube, Weebley, Moodle, Edmodo, etc

Next steps:

• ·         Steve needs to check on tablets for Wayne teachers
• ·         Jason Gibbs will post information on academic pricing for Cam Studio
• ·         Lewis will post a link to an online assessment program
• ·         For the December 14 meeting (10 am at Drinko Library) everyone needs to bring, bring a video to share.  Post the video on some video service (YouTube or Vimeo) and submit a request to get the video whitelisted.  Be prepared to discuss the video at our December meeting.
• ·         A guest from Gilmer County plans to attend our December meeting to learn how we are doing flipping and to contribute to the discussion by sharing ways that he is doing flipped units in his rural county.
• ·         Please bring your calendar to the December meeting so we can schedule sessions for January – May 2014.

As always, it is a pleasure working with such quality educators.  I am very proud to be a part of this project.  Teachers in this part of the state continue to show the innovation and leadership that characterizes our region.

Connecting to Google Hangouts

As our November 30 flipped professional Development session nears, we need to to a few things in preparation.  Please sign up for a time slot to join a chat (morning or afternoon) on November 30 using the link Jason sent a couple of weeks ago.
You may also need to configure your computer for Google Hangouts.  The Vimeo video below give a summary of how to set Google Hangouts up on your computer.



Google Hangouts also work well on iOS or Android tablets and telephones so feel free to install these apps on your iPad or other device.

I will look forward to "hanging out" with you on Saturday, November 30.

Discussion videos for November 30

In addition to viewing the TED Talk posted by Jason earlier this week, please watch the following flipped lessons by some of our 2012-13 group.
We will discuss these lessons in our November 30 Google Hangout.
Please keep in mind that the content of the lesson isn't what is important to us at this time.  We are looking at delivery methods and ways of making the material accessible to students.
Since these videos are on Vimeo, you will need to view them from a site outside of the school network where they are blocked.  If you view them from home or a public hotspot you should be fine.

Mr. Grady's lesson on calculating density

Mr. Marcum's lesson on kinematics

Ms. Conner's lesson on momentum triangle

If you go to Vimeo, you can see many videos from Ms. Connor, Mr. Grady, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Marcum using the links provided on their names.  Feel free to check any of their videos to discuss on the 30th of November as well.
I will look forward to hearing from you on November 30.