Module 3 - Raz-Kids

So, this past weekend I was with my first grade cousin Anthony and he showed me this cool website his classroom uses. With permission from his parents and obviously him, I used his account to journey around the website and demonstrate to you guys what it's like.

So Raz-Kids.com is a bit like an online classroom. Teachers create a classroom and enroll each of their students in it. When you first go to the website you are asked to sign in with your teacher's name. After you've done that this screen comes up:

Every student shows up. Both teachers, parents, and students can see this and can log in under their child's name. My cousin is Anthony so if we were to click on his name this window would come up.

The students get to make their own password with two pictures and it brings them to their adorable homescreen.

The kids can choose from the assignments they have to do, read a book for fun, build their own robot, and customize their rocket.

If the students choose Assignments or On Your Own Book Room they get a page much like this. The students have to hear the story, read the story, and take a quiz on the story.

The kids get star points for every quiz and activity they do and they can use those points to customize their space ship with fun decorations or make their robot more uniquely theirs by adding features and colors. 

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This site is so great for the classroom because it gives the kids the initiative to get their work done by giving them "money" they can use to buy fun stuff for their Raz-Kid account. This may not be best for older kids but younger kids defiinitely love it and it's so beneficial! They're reading and comprehending and doing fun activities. My cousin asks if he can use the computer so he can play on Raz-kids.com. What a great way to get students to enjoy homework!

Module 2- Duolingo: Free Language Education for the World

Duolingo is a fabulous app and website for anyone interested in learning a language. Doulingo offers Spanish, English, French, German, Portuguese, and Italian. It doesn't just give you words and translations, but give scenerios and sentences in which the learners are being active in their learning.


You can create an account or log in through facebook.

After choosing a language, which level you'd like to start on is chosen. Seeing as I've never spoken French before I chose Basics.

Lessons are numbered and consist of a series of activities that engage the learner rather than lecture. In the top right hand corner there's a yellow button indicating the option to "Test Out." If you think you're good enough at it then go ahead and skip the entire section by testing out of it.

The activities look a little something like the picture on the left. This particular activity is multiple choice but other activities include recording yourself saying the words, spelling, and translating sentences. In the right hand corner there are four hearts. If you lose all your hearts then you must start the lesson over. When a level is completed you gain XP points and you're progress is charted on weekly chart.

You can change the language you're studying at anytime. You can even learn multiple at one time. 

Duolingo is perfect for foreign language classes. Teacher's can easily assign one lesson over the weekend along with a worksheet or even use it in the classroom as an activity. It's easy, it's interactive, and it's free!

Module 1 - Explore the Universe

SkyView, available on most apple products, was created by Terminal Eleven LCC to be a tool for stargazing and finding your favorite constellation. As I read through the App information posted in the App Store, I saw a lovely quote from CNET that said, "If you've ever wanted to know what you're looking at in the night sky, this app is the perfect stargazer's companion." That's a very nice review. I continued reading on and stumbled a lovely description of the app that said, "SkyView™ is a beautiful and intuitive stargazing app that uses your camera to precisely spot and identify celestial objects in sky, day or night." This app sounds great for an educational setting. 

I went ahead and bought the app and gave it a shot. The app uses the apple device's camera to detect where in the sky certain stars or constellations are CURRENTLY. Using the GPS location in your apple device the first time the app is opened, its sets which direction is which and uses that to display the constellations in their exact positions. 

The Image above shows what main screen looks like. In the top left corner is the settings.

In the settings page (on the left) you can choose what kinds of things you want to see when using SkyView under the Layers options. You can choose between whether or not you want the sun or the moon shown. You can make satellites or the International Space Station visible. Dwarf planets, stars, constellations, and planets can be made visible or invisible as well. You can change how large or how visible the objects are under Display. 








In the top right hand corner you can choose the date.

You can adjust the date and the time to whatever you please. You can do the past or the future and it will still give you the position of all the objects in the time YOU CHOSE.









In the bottom right corner is the Search Catalog you can choose which object you want the app to bring you to.

The Search Catalog (on the left) gives a list of all the possible items you can see with the SkyView app. When you pick an object a white arrow shows that guides you to the object. The list also tells you whether or not the object is above or below the horizon. Don't let the way the "below horizon" choices are grayed; they can still be chosen and the app will still guide you to them. As you can see on the bottom of the image, the Search Catalog separates your choices by planets, stars, constellations, and satellites.







Whenever you select an item the app tells you information about the item and shows you it's path in the sky. If you follow the path it tells you what ime the planet will be it that part of the path. This app is perfect when teaching students about planets. They can find the planet in the search catalog, follow the arrow to the planet and then read aloud the facts given by the app. 

I learned so much playing around with the app. I learned about satellites and when they were launched. I learned that a space shuttle launched in 2006 won't pass Pluto until 2015 because that'show far away it is. I learned that Pluto and Charon orbit each others showing each other the same face. I honestly spent more time playing with the app and learning then I did writing this blog. It's fascinating, fun, and a great tool for education. 

What better way to teach children about constellations then by pulling up SkyView on the iPad and allowing the students to move the iPad around and discover the constellations themselves!

Resources:

1. "A Space Exploration App Like No Other." Terminal Eleven. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2013.
2. "SkyView - Explore the Universe." App Store. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2013.