In this "3 Quick Things" post, I share how I've been integrating our green screen to increase student confidence, include a lesson idea about Google's Semantris, and discuss the amazing dystopian appeal of Scythe by Neal Shusterman.
- Using the Green Screen to Increase Student Confidence: It seems like an oxymoron, but most of my students are incredibly camera-shy. I, for one, hate the term "digital natives," as it conjures up this idea that students are always ready tackle technology, can figure out a digital tool before you can properly introduce it to them, are all latent YouTube stars, and are never worried about taking a selfie. While that might be overstating it a TAD, I do feel like that term gives teachers a bit of an excuse to not engage in certain digital educational opportunities, whether that's from believing that students don't need instruction on digital citizenship or worrying that the students will be better versed in the world of technology than they are themselves. The green screen, though, is grounds for proving that our reality is drastically different than this "digital native" fantasy. Students are legitimately SHAKING when they go back to our "studio" (read: revamped storage room) to film their videos. Whether they are filming scenes from Macbeth, providing a virtual tour of their chosen post-secondary plans, or giving a tutorial on the parts of a cell--whether they are AP, co-taught, self-contained, or somewhere in between--I always have to go over the top with getting them comfortable enough to talk in front of a camera. However, I find this space outside of their comfort zones to be a teachable moment. To set us up for success, I generally keep the audience in the studio to a minimum--it's just me and the student(s) being filmed, plus an extra if they need a friend to hold a prop or script. I also have them practice speaking, saying something silly LOUDLY and SLOWLY before they start (tongue twisters are always great to get a smile out of even the most nervous student). The small audience setting, plus the ability to start over if they mess up, makes this public speaking opportunity a bit more approachable than the standard speech at the podium. In terms of scaffolding, this is perfect if a teacher is looking to improve students' confidence level; along with Flipgrid, it's one of my favorite ways to help students of all ability levels find their voices. Plus, students are amazed when the iPad app DoInk transports them to another place, all while they're actually standing in the library--which, in a way, is its own transportation to another space :)
- Semantris: If you are looking for a way to explore the concept of machine learning to your students, Google has provided a pretty fun arcade-like experience in Semantris. I learned about this site through Google's new Talk to Books application (which is super cool in its own right!). To get a detailed explanation of how the website works, or to further understand its purpose, check out Google's post on Semantic Experiences. While I am very interested in the idea of machine learning and AI, a quick way I thought of including this site in my instruction is to help students think of alternate search terms when conducting research. You know how students will always tell you they just CAN NOT find information no matter what they do, only to find out that those same students have only searched using one term? Semantris can help them think outside the box for similar terms in a way that is much more fun than having them brainstorm on paper. This game would be perfect for a warm-up for students to complete as they get ready to delve into searching for sources, and, as I was playing to prep for this post, it also occurred to me that it could be a great typing practice tool as well!
- Scythe: Dystopia? Check. Political intrigue? Check. Slow burn romance? Check. Questioning the very reason for our being? Definite check. In Scythe, Neal Shusterman creates a world where death has been defeated, the "cloud" has turned into an all-knowing, all-seeing Thunderhead, and struggle and strife are things of the past. Sounds like paradise, right? The only fly in the ointment is that population growth must be checked, and that is carried out through the scythes, men and women who have been given parameters outside of the Thunderhead's control to "glean" those they deem worthy. But like every organization since the dawn of man, the scythedom has developed some political intrigue that could negatively affect all of mankind. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish, giving it a rare 5-star rating on Goodreads; the world-building was just so complete, and everything that happened was unexpected but completely made sense in Shusterman's world. I'm in the middle of Thunderhead right now, and I have to say that it's been a while since I enjoyed a sequel quite so much. For your thoughtful readers, as well as your adult patrons, this book is a must-read.
Wishing you full-steam ahead toward the end of your school year!
Love,
Your Library
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