Genius Hour Complete

The Genius Hour blog is finally complete and I have learned so much, not just about my research question about how to incorporate movement in the classroom, but also how to use the many resources my tech teacher provided us with along the way. I got the idea to use Virtual Field Trips in the classroom, learned how to use Google Docs for quizzes, learned how to embed files, learned about a useful jeopardy site, learned how to more effectively use Google calendar, learned how to use PowToon, learned how to make a video with iMovie, learned about copyright laws online, learned about AMAZING resources to use online for teaching. Ex. ClassDojo, Planboard.chalk, learned more about PowToon like how to add effects, learned how to make use of Backroom chats for group work, learned how to make a successful Tedtalk, and learned how to add music/voice overs in Powtoon. This technology course gave me so many resources that I will definitely use in my future and taught me how to properly use these resources for a more efficient and effective classroom setting!

Movement Across the Curriculum

The more research I did online the more I realized you can really use movement in any subject, not just dance, drama, or gym. It can be really cross-curricular! Simple Google and Pinterest searches of movement and ________, will show you many resources you can use. When I Pinterested movement and math, here were many resources that showed students walking around classrooms and getting up and problem solving on the board in front of and with the rest of the class. Gallery walks can be accomplished in many subjects, even history, so that you can really explore other students' opinions based on any type of event or historical figure. When I went to the Movement workshop, they facilitator showed us how to use dance to teach students about different cycles for science class. Students can group up and choose different movements for each stages of a cycle, such as the water cycle, and then present their dance for the rest of the class to guess what cycle it is. Then the dancers, the masters of that cycle, will describe the cycle to the rest of the class. Many resources are available to incorporating movement into the classroom and it really helps with getting students engaged and excited about learning.

Decided

So I finally decided what to do for my Genius Hour project. There are a lot of students with attention disorders in my placement and they are always struggling to sit still because they just have so much energy. Not only this but all students are sitting for 8 hours a day in their classrooms and then they go home and spend hours in front of the TV watching shows or playing video games! When we as teachers have them for 8 hours a day and we decide what we teach and what goes on in that classroom why wouldn't we want to get them up and moving when we can. It is healthier for the students, and gets them engaged and interested in learning what you're teaching them. Students also remember things that interest them and when they are up and moving they are likely having more fun than when they are sitting at their desks. Thus, I've decided to research different ways I can incorporate movement into the classroom!

Genius Hour Confusion

This week after discussing with other students in the class, I discovered that my Genius Hour Question did not actually fit the requirements. I misunderstood the question and assume it was an activity for just your students to complete. This is an example that collaboration, exchange of knowledge, and group work is successful, because otherwise I would have not done well on the assignment because it was misunderstood!
Anyway, now I have to start from scratch, but I have no idea what I want to research that I could also bring to use in the classroom. Maybe I could investigate how to incorporate dance and movement into other subjects to help children remain engaged, focused, and alert. Or maybe I could just research if using movement to teach lessons or break up learning subjects will foster more engagement. This could be researched online by reviewing other people's research on the topic. This could also be researched through actual experience, documenting whether students seem more engaged after or during the movement exercise.
However, I recently attended the Art Matters workshop that was held at the Hamilton Brock University Campus and one section of the workshop was Dance and Movement. The woman taught us group movement games that involved team building and fostered inclusion. When children feel included in their environment, they are more likely to be motivated to learn. The lady also showed us that when students are moving throughout the day, it wakes them up and re-engages their brains. She also showed us ways we can connect movement to many other curriculum subjects to aid in learning!
Obviously, because I had to think of a new idea, much more research is required!

Digizen Badge: Copyright

1Bradshaw, R. Nial. (June 11, 2014). “Boy on Laptops in a Classroom” (Photograph). Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/zionfiction/14229163349/in/photolist-nFobwz-q3K1zE-62Y6XP-9ayqsd-Curwec-8vBVVr-8vEXcj-ehBnRE-pRr7ZD-4JX9-5jXnpB-a91qfY-e3Zz1-5j

2Seyfang, Mike. (November 11, 2008). Copyright Symbols (Image). Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeblogs/3020966582

What I learned about Copyright laws, especially with regards to posting things on the internet:

- That copyright notices are not required. The act of creating the work enables the copyright, assuring that only the author of the original work has the right to use the work. Others must obtain permission. This means that the copying, distributing, performing, displaying, or adapting of digital media found online is prohibited. However, there are ways around it. You may use and share media if it has a creative commons license that allows for distribution. But we must be aware of our restrictions, which are dependent on the type of creative commons license attached to the media. There are four types of Creative Commons licenses and each has a certain set of rules and allowances you must follow to use the author’s material. To find images that are available for use, Google advanced image search may be used to find only the pictures with the proper licensing.

Most important thing to teach kids about Copyright:

- Encourage students to investigate and use some of the sources listed on the Copyright Friendly Wiki or the Creative Commons Chaos page from the Clever Sheep Blog, teach students how to properly use an image created by someone else, and how to locate creators who provide Creative Commons licenses on their products, and most importantly teach students how to cite properly. 

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