Powerpoint Multiple Choice Quiz

Here's a simple screencast to demonstrate how to create a multiple-choice quiz using Microsoft Powerpoint 2007. There is nothing magical or difficult about this, but it does take some planning ahead.

The lesson is divided into two 5-minute videos. The links below will take you to screencast.com.

Video 1

Video 2

You may also watch the videos on TeacherTube at:
TeacherTube Video 1
and
TeacherTube Video 2

Clipart used in video was taken from the Microsoft Clipart Gallery.


Below are some "Lessons Learned" while creating the screencast. I used Jing to make these videos. There were a couple of issues with this.

• The screen capture size made a difference in being able to upload the video properly to Screencast.com so I could then post the URL in my blog. If I captured my entire screen, it made the file size too large. I had to adjust the window size to approx. 800x600.
• Also, if you make a mistake during recording, you have to start over. Jing does not let you edit the video.
• And there is a size limit of 5 minutes. That's why I recorded 2 videos to complete the tutorial.
• Jing only saves the file in .swf format. These cannot be uploaded to TeacherTube or YouTube.

Veggie Vitamins - A lesson plan for 6-8th grade

Veggie Vitamins

A Lesson Plan for Vegetable Nutrition using Wikis

Grades: 6th-8th grade

Subject: Nutrition/Health Science

Duration: Students should be able to complete the project in 2-3 hours. Recommend dividing class time over 3-4 days. This allows for students to do further research (if desired) at home or in the library.

Materials: Computers, internet, instruction sheet

Objectives:

• The student will be able to identify the health benefits of their assigned vegetable.
• The student will understand how to grow and/or purchase their assigned vegetable.
• The student will demonstrate their ability to properly create a wiki online.
• The student will research a vegetable using the internet, textbook or library resources.

Activities/Procedures:
Prerequisite: Prior to teaching this lesson, students should be aware of what a wiki is and how to create one.

1. Create classroom e-mail accounts for each student.
2. Divide the class into pairs. Identify and assign a vegetable to each group to research.
3. Prepare a copy of the instruction sheet for each student. Pass out and have them write down the name of their assigned vegetable and their classroom e-mail address.
4. Read over the instructions with the students and make sure they all understand the assignment.
5. Remind the students they are to work together on the assignment using the internet, their textbook, or any library resource.

Assessment: Students will be graded on the following:

• How well they worked together as a team, each contributing equally.
• The thoroughness of their research and documentation on all required aspects of the vegetable
• The wiki’s design, appearance, and flow.
• How well all instructions were followed when creating the wiki and inviting the teacher to view it.

Technology Resources:

Will need one computer with internet access for each group of students.

Recommended online resources:

• NutritionData, know what you eat - http://www.nutritiondata.com/
• Vegetarians in Paradise - http://www.vegparadise.com/
• Nutrition Explorations - http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/kids/main.asp - sponsored by the National Dairy Council
  

Name:______________________________ Group#___________

Class E-mail:__________________________

Instructions for creating a Vegetable Wiki

Create a wiki using pbwiki.com. Create an anonymous account using the classroom e-mail accounts we created.

• Do not use your real name.
• Do not make it a public wiki.

Your wiki should include the name of your vegetable on the front page with a brief description. Using additional pages (minimum of 2) provide the following information:

• Nutrition, including vitamin content
• Growing conditions
• Where to purchase the vegetable
• At least one photo or clip art of the vegetable
• A page citing all resources
• For 10 bonus points, include a fun or historical fact about the vegetable
  

Here are a few internet resources to get you started.

• NutritionData, know what you eat - http://www.nutritiondata.com/
• Vegetarians in Paradise - http://www.vegparadise.com/
• Nutrition Explorations - http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/kids/main.asp - sponsored by the National Dairy Council

Once the wiki is completed, send me an invitation to view your wiki. My e-mail address is: MsSmith@school.edu.

(Artwork from Microsoft clipart collection)

Webquest

One of our class assignments was to create a webquest. I had heard about webquest, but never completed one. This was a good exercise. It's design is much like any other class activity, however, most all of the work is accomplished through the internet.

I can see the benefit in students completing a webquest. A well designed webquest provides detailed instructions for students to follow. It is more than simply using the web for general research. Requiring the students to make an analysis or solve a problem at the end of the quest allows them to actually USE the information they gathered. Not simply right it down and hand it in!

I designed the webquest in Microsoft Word. Once I had all the text developed, I formated the page, then seperated the sections into individual pages. I made a mistake here. I created a line of hyperlinks for each section across the top of each page. I linked to the .docx files. Wrong!
I realized this when I saved each file as webpage then tested the hyperlinks. So I edited all the links, one document at a time, to link to the appropriate webpage. I also found out that it's hard to keep proper formatting of picture placement and drawn lines. Surely there is an easier way to do this!

But... this is how we learn, right? Trial...and error.

Entry 1 for CAT532

Hi. My name is Karen. I am in the CAT program and this is my second class.

Our children are growing up in a digital world. They use their cell phones as alarm clocks to get out of bed, update their status on Facebook before catching the bus, listen to MP3s while texting their friends on the way to school, then spend time at the computer loading pictures and watching videos at night. We can only hope to push some amounts of education into their day. Finding new ways through instructional technology is critical. As an educator, understanding the various forms of instructional technology will enable me to capture, engage and retain the attention of today’s student.

As adults, we too must keep up with new technology; whether for purposes of teaching in a classroom, communicating with our children, or striving to excel in the workplace.