1. QR Codes
A. I found this idea as I was looking through sites to add to my Feedly. I chose to include
Edutopia which had an interesting article about using QR Codes to enhance curriculum.
The article suggested that the QR Codes can give students easy ACCESS to information, they
can allow the teacher to CURATE specific sites that have been verified for content, they can
actively ENGAGE and motivate the learner to interact with content, and they are an excellent
way for students to SHARE and showcase their own work. This creates students who are
empowered, curious, and on-task.
B. I would like to create a cultural unit about Mexico's early history as a new country. I would
like the students to understand how tenuous their situation was and what had to happen for
them to overcome the obstacles for success. I would use QR codes to direct the learners to
specific sites that gave an overview of the problems facing this new country and some
highlights of the major political players (such as Santa Anna). I could also add some video
which would make the history come to life. I might then ask students to synthesize this
information and create a time-line of major events in Mexico's early days and make their own
QR code to share their project.
C. The QR codes are worthwhile tools because they enable the students to find appropriate
content quickly. A web quest would allow them to work at their own pace with information
that is already screened. A scavenger hunt would encourage a bit of competition which keeps
the students focused and on-task.
D. Looking at the 4 Pillars of Purpose, I would say that this tool might encourage world
citizenship by opening their eyes to the struggles of other countries. It would also lend itself
to the complexity of politics in any country.
2. Book Creator
A. When looking through the suggested projects in the TPAC Model, I saw an idea to have
students create a comic about daily routines. I knew that our school provides the students
access to the Book Creator App and thought this might be a perfect format for this project.
B. I will use it to have my Spanish 2 students create a cartoon book about 2 or 3 characters and
their daily lives. They will focus on using reflexive verbs to tell the story. They will find or
draw pictures of the characters doing various daily routines and record their voices telling the
story.
C. This project is worthwhile because it allows students to use their creative talents and to
reinforce learning of grammar and pronunciation. I find that the more voice and choice
I can give them within the Rubric, the more they enjoy the project and retain the information.
D. I think that the main Pillar of Purpose for this Book Creator story is the collaborative
relationship with peers. They need to work together to tell the story of each of their characters
and help edit each others' work while fulfilling the Rubric requirements.
3. EDPuzzle/eduCanon
A. These interactive apps were referred to in our Google Chat meetings. I knew that
eduCanon was an available tool in our district but I have not had the time to explore it.
B. I would like to use this with my students to help them break down a complicated grammar
lesson and understand it in small, "digestible" parts with practice happening several times
throughout the presentation of the concept.
C. It is a worthwhile tool because it has proven to be a great way to help students learn. It
also gives them, and the teacher, immediate feedback on how they are doing at
comprehension and use of the concept presented. This will allow for better instruction
and understanding.
D. The Pillar of Purpose this best fits is Welcoming Complexity. It will encourage the students
to engage more fully with content and evaluate for themselves what they still need to learn
or practice. This also instills the skill of Critical Thinking.
4. Action Shots
A. This is an activity where students take photos of each other acting out verbs that they are
studying. They can create a project using their choice of medium (PowerPoint, GoogleSlides,
iMovie, Blog, etc.) that shows the photos and written sentences telling what is happening.
This idea came from a Pinterest post of SraSpanglish.
B. I would like to use this with my students moving into the "Me gusta + infinitive" unit. The
beginning learners would love seeing themselves captured for the camera in mid-motion!
C. It is worthwhile because students will be having fun while actively engaged in learning the
verbs and grammar of gustar, which will increase retention.
D. The Pillar of Purpose would again be mostly centered on Collaboration with Peers which
will make the language come alive for the learners.
5. Children's Story in Spanish -"El Tesoro más Grande"
A. While I was searching for ideas on Pinterest, I found a post from Veronikha Caceras. Her
post recommended getting Spanish Children's Stories from BookBox.com. She has the
students listen to the story and then replays it while they work on completing a Cloze activity
to teach or reinforce vocabulary.
B. I would use this activity with my Spanish 1 students to build basic vocabulary or with my
Spanish 2 students to introduce the Preterite tense. It is both visual and auditory. The story
is repetitive and simple enough for them to learn the vocabulary or grammar. I would use it as
an extra enrichment activity between units for the One's and as an introduction to past tense
for the Two's.
C. It is worthwhile because it provides authentic content in an easy to grasp format. It will
widen vocabulary beyond the unit lists and show Preterite verbs in context. It will engage the
learners with real language experience.
D. The Pillar of Purpose this activity addresses is Preparing for Citizenship in the world as
students experience both the target language and the reminder of the life lesson that friends
are the best treasure of all.
I have enjoyed researching these tools and thinking about how they can enhance my facilitation
of the content of my lessons. I will continue to look for new and interesting ways to engage my
students in learning through Technology.
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