2020 TENURE PROJECT: A new way of teaching
Teaching during a pandemic drastically impacts one’s pedagogical toolbox. I chose to focus my 2020 Tenure project comparing how I used to teach before March of 2020 and how I teach now. Many of the tools and skills that I have learned will be ones that I will carry with me once school returns to "normal." As teachers, we have always had to constantly change with the times: curriculums change, technology changes, and students change. We have always adapted, but this year was to a new extreme. It was a challenging journey, but I would like to think that there is a positive that came out of this. I feel like I grew as a teacher, and found so many new ways to engage my students and help them succeed.
My 2020 Year in Review [January - December]
Keeping Students Organized While Remote/Hybrid
Fully Remote
Weekly Calendar
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Fully Remote
Weekly Plan
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Hybrid
Weekly Agenda
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Hybrid
Weekly Plan
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Creating Advanced Playlists While Remote/Hybrid
I have evolved to creating Advanced Playlists for my students, as shown in the screenshot below. It has been a learning curve, and I have learned so much since creating those calendars for my students in the Spring.
Click on each image to zoom in!
Breakout Rooms and Google JamBoard for Collaboration
Students are able to work together whether they are home or in person!
EdPuzzle and YouTube Channel for Review Videos
Click PLAY on the videos below to see previews of them!
Mastering Screencastify, Canvas Studio, and EdPuzzle
How to use Screencastify
A tutorial created by me
I created this video for my coworkers to help them navigate the Screencastify Application - a great tool to record video lessons that can be published to either Canvas or EdPuzzle. This application changed my life! It allowed me to make the type of videos that I always envisioned - I wanted to create a video where the students could see me, my screen, my iPad, and my graphing calculator on my desktop. Press the play button to see a preview of the video!
How to use Canvas Studio
A tutorial created by me
I created this video for my coworkers to help them navigate Canvas Studio - which is similar to EdPuzzle. It's a useful tool to upload quick videos and embed questions. While I mainly used EdPuzzle, Canvas Studio was an amazing tool to use if I quickly wanted to show my students a video without embedding questions - although it does have the option to add questions throughout the video, similar to the way EdPuzzle works. Press the play button to see a preview of the video!
How to use EdPuzzle
A tutorial created by me
I created this video for my coworkers to help them navigate EdPuzzle. EdPuzzle was an absolutely game changer for remote learning. I was able to teach the class, and the feedback that I got from students was incredible. They liked being held accountable and felt that the embedded questions kept them more focused. Press the play button to see a preview PART 1 of the video.
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Click HERE to view Part 2
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Click HERE to view Part 3
Algebra 2 Student Feedback
ON EDPUZZLE VIDEOS
Here are some quotes from students regarding EdPuzzle videos that were posted for Algebra 2 (open-ended questions were always given at the end of the video, asking them how they felt about the video and if it helped them feel more confident with the topic):
"These edpuzzle help a lot because you can show yourself and pictures while explaining."
"I think these videos are very helpful and I like the way you layout the lessons. I feel that this lesson is fun I just need to keep review all of this."
"I liked the review video and how everything that we learned so far was presented and simple to understand."
"Yes I liked this video and I liked how you used the something in real life in the video to help us understand. This video answered a few of my questions I had so thank you."
"Yes I feel way better about how to tell what the frequency is especially in cos graphs after watching the video. So overall this video was great and it helped a lot."
"Yes I understand it WAY BETTER! THANK U"
AP CSP Student Feedback
ON EDPUZZLE VIDEOS
Here are some quotes from students regarding EdPuzzle videos that were posted for APCSP (open-ended questions were always given at the end of the video, asking them how they felt about the video and if it helped them feel more confident with the topic):
"This was perfect. You explained every single part clearly and perfectly. It is easy to understand and I hope you make all of your Edpuzzle’s the same as this one. Easy and Simple!"
"Hi! After watching all the videos I feel more informed about the criteria needed for the create task. Also I found this video very helpful because I was confused on how to make a pdf of the code. Thank you so much for the resources :)"
"I loved how easy it was to follow along with!"
"This video and the past 5 videos have made me feel better about everything. Before I was kind of stressing about answering the questions but now I feel much better about it."
"Nothing confused me, it was very clear. The video was good and I like how you want a bit past this challenge just in case we wanted to get a head start or be creative. Hope you are having a good day!"
Discussing Current Events and Wellness Check-ins
Many events have occurred this past year that have negatively impacted the wellbeing of our students. Although Math and Computer Science class do not directly relate to today's current events, I find it is important to not push these things under the rug. High School students are impressionable, and these events can take a toll on their mental health. I wanted to make sure that my students knew that I was aware of the events happening, and that I was there for them if they needed or wanted to talk. In an EdPuzzle lesson, I began with talking about the events that happened following the death of George Floyd. I wanted to check in on my students, even from a distance, and make sure that they were coping alright and they had the resources they needed. Not many students took me up on my offer to have a class discussion, as that was being done in Social Studies, but they were extremely grateful that I brought up the topic and wanted to check in on their well-being. The two lessons that begin with me reaching out to them are posted below. You can also find attached my wellness check-ins and some student responses. I made sure to follow up with all students who said they were having a hard time, and made sure they had the support they needed.
Please click this link to access a PDF that I shared with my class.
Wellness check-in
Open-ended questions posted to EdPuzzle
Student Responses
“Hi Mrs.Knopf! Thank you for checking in on us, I really appreciate it. I am doing good, just missing all of my teachers and friends! But I am feeling heartbroken about everything that has happened and hope that the world can become a better place as a result of it.”
"The most stressful thing has definitely been dealing with all the work we’ve gotten for all my classes because each one gives work so all of that combined, classwork plus homework for each class and keeping track of meetings everyday is like beyond stressful. Also dealing with my family making me even more stressed. Like everyday I wake up to my mom yelling at my sister to wake up for her classes that she always misses so I can’t sleep in."
Promoting a positive mindset
Open-ended questions posted to EdPuzzle
Student Responses
"I get to see my mom a lot more now and it’s great because it feels like we’ve been closer then ever so that’s one good thing. And then the second one is probably self care I’ve been running a lot so I feel like the self care part is going well in terms of physical activity."
"Yeah i have 6 pets right now lol. I have 3 fish, a bird, a cat and a puppy I just got over quarentine, he’s a jack russell and his names Cody."
"I have 4 chickens, a pretty uncommon pet but we use them mainly for eggs but I’d want a dog mainly a German Shepard as well"
"Yea I have a cat and a husky. I love my cat because he’s so chill. But my husky is just way more beautiful."
"I think there’s been two positive effects, number 1 is that I get to see my mom a lot more now and it’s great because it feels like we’ve been closer then ever so that’s one good thing. And then the second one is probably self care I’ve been running a lot so I feel like the self care part is going well in terms of physical activity."
Implementing Student Feedback
Open-ended questions posted to EdPuzzle
Student Responses
"I prefer written or artistic expressions of learning."
"I feel like videos of teaching could be pretty fun in my opinion, same as creating kahoots or quizziz."
"Probably artistic, creating a comic sounds fun!"
"Written since I feel like that would be easiest and so I am not stressed out with all the work I have"
^ Students were given many fun choice assignments to test their knowledge and understanding.
"I understood the lesson perfectly, my only complaint is that the videos are super long but other than that it’s all good."
^ This was the feedback from MANY students. Videos were shortened after this!
Creating Engaging Lessons for Students at Home AND in School!
Choice Activities and Exams
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Teamwork and Collaboration
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Student Engagement
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