Updated Map for end of semester

Website

Hi guys! So I know Caitlyn sent an email to me about getting the website set up so just starting a thread to be able to talk about it here!

digital storyboard

Okay so this week looks busy. We have to write two papers, write a discussion post and work on this huge project. So we need to get brainstorming about what we want ours to look like. I have been under the assumption that our bug project was having the kids use the pen pals to write back and forth and then create a biome in a bottle when they were finished. That seems rather small scale for the "big finish." So what do you guys think we need to include in our timeline and what is the "big project?" This storyboard is due by FRIDAY the 20th not the usual Sunday so we need to make sure we are staying on task and not doing it last minute. Let me know what you guys think,

Digital Movie

This week we have to create a digital movie. We have to do something different for each of us and it would be used at the beginning of a lesson for us. We each can not do the same thing like normal we just really have to choose what we each want to do our movie on.

Final Mind Map

This is what I came up with, if there is anything else to add please let me know!

Lesson plan 2

For this week we are writing another lesson plan, where each of us are to choose a topic area so no one does the same. I am choosing to focus on the aquatic freshwater region, lakes and streams specifically. I am going to have my students collect data of the plant and animal life present in or near the lake or stream. Also we are required to update our concept map this week. Caitlyn put together the last concept map, and Dr. Peterson said it was incorrect. I made adjustments and reposted the map. The directions state that the same person may not update it for this week. Im not sure if Caitlyn will be able to or not, so it might fall on Marissa, even though she just put together the podcast, sorry for the unfortunate timing.

Collaborative Podcast

For the next 2 weeks we are going to be working on a collaborative podcast. One of the first things we need to do is decide who wants to talk about what. We do have to use concepts from our textbook as well. The podcast itself has to be 3-5 minutes in length so maybe we can all plan on doing about a minute and a half each to meet that requirment. Personally I'd love to talk about PBL and why we are using it for our project but let me know what you guys think!

Just keeping everyone updated...

I am going into the hospital Tuesday night for my son to be born. This weeks assignments do not contain any group work, and hopefully I'll be back to regular work next week. But I though I would let everyone know.

Google Document Detailed Description

Here is our Detailed Description Link.

Google Map

Our students will use the Yankee Springs Recreational area as a basis for their biome projects. The class will make several trips to collect data in the park including temperature, rainfall measurements, type of vegetation and animal life. The students will then find a biome different from their own to communicate with a pen pal to compare and contrast the two different locations.

lesson plan

Hey all,
Next week we are asked to create a lesson plan that has something to do with our topic. My understanding is it does not have to do with our big project of biomes, just our subject of weather. I was interested in doing a lesson on thunderstorms, including safety, how they form and why. I think I will aim towards first or second grade, depending on where my research leads me.  Again, my understanding is that we all are to do our own lesson plans, in taskstream, but we are not allowed to do a lesson on the same topic. Hopefully I will get mine completed closer to the beginning of the week.

Side note, I have an ultrasound on tuesday where they will decide if I need to be induced and hopefully when. So bare with me the next few weeks, my baby is making his entrance soon!

Virtual Penpals and Google Maps assignment

This assignment is due Oct 4, and I don't want to have to wait until last minute to figure things out. I was thinking since our big project is biomes, we could make a project that involves another group of students from a different geographic location to help out. Originally I was thinking someplace vastly different than Michigan like a country in Africa since they are hot and dry, or someplace in Russia since its snowy and cold. But there might be language barriers there. So then I was thinking maybe we could do northern Alaska or Arizona, since they have vastly different climate and biomes than us. I think if we create a project that students collect information about their environment for say a month like average precipitation, plantlife, wildlife, temperature and such, and then we can compare their information to our information where the students we have would do the same thing. We could determine the classification of the biomes and how weather plays a role in it. Also the map could be of the location where the activities took place, so say somewhere near Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, or somewhere in michigan.

I only have 20 days left until my due date so I am trying to get ahead on some things so once my son is here I dont fall behind. Hopefully you guys can try to keep up too!

updated concept map

I updated the concept map to actually be about biomes. No one else seemed to want to take the reigns so hopefully you all approve. I really dont want to lose points because of working in a team.

Website Evaluations

Comment below with your websites you evaluated.

Assignment 3

Okay so looking at all of our concept maps we need to come up with the question we will ask the students: (it could be about anything we had on our concept maps)

I linked a video to help us get our minds turning about what we want our real world problem to be:

http://bie.org/object/video/project_based_learning_explained

I think we need to have a question by Wednesday so we can look into websites for our next assignment that is due by Sunday.

Here are some of my ideas:
How does the weather affect your daily life?
http://www.ccusd93.org/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=29708&pagecat=2564
How can we help to save our planet from global warming?
http://bie.org/project_search/results/search&channel=project_search&category=330&&331&ps_first=330&ps_second=331
How do you prepare for a natural disaster?

How is a good weather forecast made?
(write and Produce a television weather broadcast)

How does information about the weather affect my daily life and my survival?
http://www.leadingpbl.org/w/page/15692128/JBarthSteffel-Project
How do landforms in our area affect the weather?
http://wveis.k12.wv.us/teach21/public/project/Guide.cfm?upid=3289&tsele1=3&tsele2=105
Which biome do you think would be best?
http://www.mrsoshouse.com/pbl/b/biome.htm

Hopefully this helps!

Caitlyn Hella

So from the way I understood the mind map you both did most of the ideas of it! I figured since we have not figured out what the project is that we are supposed to have the kids do I would throw out some ideas using the topics you both provided! Personally I love doing the personal biomes in a bottle project but let me know what you think!

Caitlyn Concept Map

I added some ideas to what Tarra had put together.

Here is my redo... I have condensed it down to one idea and elaborated on the idea.

Tarra Concept Map

This is what I could think of for a mind map. I wont have much time for getting on here this weekend. I have my baby shower tomorrow and I have to get everything for the set up today. If you need anything shoot me an email at tfarrah10@gmail.com, which goes right to my phone, so I can get back with you. I will try to check this, but I cant guarantee it.
Thanks
Tarra

WEEK 2

Tarra and Marissa

Okay so Tarra have you emailed Marissa to get her gmail address so you could add her?

Also I am just looking over what all needs to be done this week:

• Do we all need to post the blog URL address to E-learning or just one of us?
• What Concept Map Program do we want to use? Bubbl.us seems like a good program and all you have to do is make an account. 
• Also how do we want to go about doing the concept map do we each want to make our own then have one of us put it all together? It is hard to all have us working on a concept map with those programs. The only solution would be us making a google doc then transferring what we make to a concept map? 

It will be interesting for us to communicate over this blog but I think if we check it everyday our communication will stay open. 

Best, 

Caitlyn

(comment below for this post)
 I'm not sure how to reply to a post but I can edit so this is my option. I posted the blog URL and since we are all in a group I think it should be covered. Whatever concept map program is fine with me, as long as it doesnt cost money. I cant guarantee I will be able to check this everyday. I am a mom of two, almost three, so time is valuable. I can check my gmail, because it comes to my phone, Tfarrah10@gmail.com, so maybe if its urgent email that way. We need to try to figure out what we want our overall concept to be. I posted a few suggestions on the class site, but im open to other opinions. 
Thanks 
Tarra 

New to this "blogging" thing

I am trying to get used to this blogging thing. I have used social media for years but yet never blogged. Marissa has yet to respond to the group invitation, but I have added Caitlyn to become an administrator.

Trying everything out

Okay so I just wanted to play around with the site to see how it works. I am really excited for this class and hopefully we can take some of this stuff that we will learn and use it in our classrooms. I had previously made a blog already for our group but I just deleted it and we will use this one :)