How the iPad can improve a book report assignment.

From the http://ipadders.eu blog.

Upon hearing that they will have to read another book students usually roll their eyes and moan in disagreement. So to make the reading process more fun for them we let them chose their own book and their own creative assignment.



There are three parts to the book report: A, summary, B character analysis, C creative assignment. Parts A and B are the same for everyone and resemble ”traditional” book report assignments. To rev up our students enthusiasm we have collected a list of 22 creative assignments to include in their book reports for part C.

Below you can see the list of assignments. For each assignments I’ve added suggestions of apps that will help the students. The assignments don’t have to be made digitally but most of them easily can be and will make the execution of their book reports more fun.

For each of the assignments students will need to make sure that their piece of work shows that:

• They have read the book
• Thought deeply & reflected on the book
• Have understood the assignment

1. If a journey was involved, draw a map with explanatory notes of significant places. (Google Earth, Notability, Showme)

STEM 501 Wrap-Up - October 14-21

Between today and October 21 we'll be wrapping up our summer STEM 501 course. This is a time for sharing your lesson with others, reflecting on your lesson and how it was delivered, and how your STEM notebooks are or will be implemented.

Google Document Link

STEM 501 Wrap Up and Reflections - Middle School Group

This checklist is a copy of what you’ll find in Edmodo.

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Step One:  Post and Review

• Put your lesson, design brief, and handouts into ONE MS Word document or better, in HYPERLINKED Google Documents (I’ll help with this).
• Post your lesson to this thread in Edmodo.  You WILL NOT comment on teaching the lesson here … that’s the next step.
• Offer some thoughts about your colleagues’ lessons.  Consider these questions as you reflect on your colleagues’ lessons:
• How does this lesson use the engineering design process to engage the students?
• How does this lesson use the engineering design process to push students to think creatively and critically?
• How does the design challenge build relevance to the required science and math content?
• Are the standards addressed in an authentic way?  Are the connections between the science – technology – engineering – math contrived or natural?
• What suggestions do you have for improvements?
• What do you love about the lesson?
• Read your colleagues comments about YOUR lesson and respond to any questions.
• Make any changes or improvements you think needed to your lesson.

Wrap-Up week: October 14 to 21

(You may get multiple copies of this email as we work through the changes in your email system filters.)

It's time to begin wrapping up all that we did in the summer.  As the end of October approaches, here are my priorities:

1.  Fixing the recently discovered email communication challenges due to your new
    Microsoft Office 365 install (my job, not yours!); 

2.  Help you develop, refine, re-design the final draft of your lesson plans;

3.  Have you deliver your lesson plans; and

4.  Have you reflect on your lesson plans.

Beginning next week, I'll provide space for you to enter reflections.  You'll then be invited/encourage but not required to comment on others' reflections.  If you'll have difficulty finishing your lesson or delivering it by October 21, please let me know.

And as we continue through the winter, we'll

5.  Refine your STEM Education notebook templates and student participation;

6.  Refine your blog attempts;  

7.  Re-orient to using Edmodo; 

8.  Document your use of technologies;

9.  Get ideas for additional technology purchases; and

10.  Determine the best schedule for Middle School training for next summer.

Call any time!  (Particularly until we know our email is going in both directions.)  
703-599-3643

As part of this email investigation, please reply to this email with a simple, "Got it!" message (and anything else you wish to say, of course).

Jim Egenrieder
703-599-3643 (cell)   or  GoogleVoice: 571-482-8298
JimEgenrieder@gmail.com or Jim@STEMeducation.us
g+  Hangout or  Skype: jim.egenrieder