Exploring YouTube and TeacherTube was interesting. My search criteria was kitchen safety. On YouTube, I found multiple videos relating to kitchen safety, specifically handling a knife and fire safety. After searching and going in circles on TeacherTube, I found one kitchen safety video. I like the filter that TeacherTube has but I think that I will use YouTube more often.
The video below is about kitchen and fire safety. Every year I have students ask me what to do in the case of a grease fire. I can use this in class to start a discussion for kitchen safety and answer their question.
Here is my "How to" video. It's lots of fun!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Thing #17--Podcasts: no iPods needed!
Finding the podcasts on Google Reader was frustrating at first. The keywords that I was typing in was linking to EVERYTHING on the web. I typed in "cooking podcast" and was really excited when I saw that a professional TV chef was going to start a podcast. The problem with this was that the feed was from 2006 so it never showed up on my reader. Stinks, but eventually I found a podcast.
The podcast I found was from Free Culinary School.com. The podcast entitled FCS Episode 1| Basic Knife Skills described how to use a knife and do basic cuts. On their website, they also included photos on how to hold your knife and how to use your guide hand. This is something that the students could really use!
The uses I have seen for podcasting are students doing speeches through the podcast instead of them standing up in front of a class. This works really well for a shy student. Also we had students last year who created podcasts telling about the art they created. I could also see potential for students doing a presentation via podcast and other students evaluating their work.
Podcasting to me previously was nearly impossible. I did not have a microphone and did not feel the investment was worth the trouble, as well I didn't think my students or school would see the worth in the investment. (Now we have microphones on the computers...go figure?) But I went to a conference and found out there are podcasts that can be entered online via phone and everybody has access to a phone.
The podcast I found was from Free Culinary School.com. The podcast entitled FCS Episode 1| Basic Knife Skills described how to use a knife and do basic cuts. On their website, they also included photos on how to hold your knife and how to use your guide hand. This is something that the students could really use!
The uses I have seen for podcasting are students doing speeches through the podcast instead of them standing up in front of a class. This works really well for a shy student. Also we had students last year who created podcasts telling about the art they created. I could also see potential for students doing a presentation via podcast and other students evaluating their work.
Podcasting to me previously was nearly impossible. I did not have a microphone and did not feel the investment was worth the trouble, as well I didn't think my students or school would see the worth in the investment. (Now we have microphones on the computers...go figure?) But I went to a conference and found out there are podcasts that can be entered online via phone and everybody has access to a phone.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Thing #16--Library Thing
Library Thing is awesome! I am reading a book in class next year and was looking for a way to do a book club. Found it! The students may even look up outsider's points of view! They can look up books recommended and not recommended and explore books by topic which is one of the reasons my students say they don't read. "I can't find a book that I like!"
My favorite part is the 50 Book Challenge! This would be great to challenge students to push themselves to read, even if it's only one book. I would adapt it and include it as a page of the class wiki. I would also list recommended readings and do the book club through this.
Thing #15--Play in the Wiki Sandbox
The wiki was a lot of fun and simple to use! It was however very time consuming. If this was being used in a classroom, a lot of time would have to go into the planning and piecing together of the wiki, but once implemented, it would run smoothly!
I really like the activity of a get-to-know-you page. I have students all the time say they don't want to work with someone because they don't know them. Well, this is a great way to do a get to know you because you have to read the information to get to burning question. You could even use this for grouping students.
Check out my wiki!
I really like the activity of a get-to-know-you page. I have students all the time say they don't want to work with someone because they don't know them. Well, this is a great way to do a get to know you because you have to read the information to get to burning question. You could even use this for grouping students.
Check out my wiki!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Thing #7a--Google Reader Revisited
The article I found was really insightful! The Progressive Grocer put out an article entitled Families Need Guidance in the Kitchen: Research. The research, done in New Jersey, states that "mothers want, and need a better grasp of, kitchen basics." If the mothers had help with meal prep, kitchen organization, and effective grocery shopping, they would create more healthy meals for their families. This is really helpful to know what direction I should go in my classroom.
The thing I was the most surprised at was that the research found that using canned foods were the most effective because they are precooked and quick. I never thought to teach my students how to cook with canned goods. I always tend to teach the ideal! This was an eye-opener! I will be incorporating more recipes using canned goods next year! As well, a website called Mealtime.org was created to help these mothers. Take a look and tell me what you think!
The thing I was the most surprised at was that the research found that using canned foods were the most effective because they are precooked and quick. I never thought to teach my students how to cook with canned goods. I always tend to teach the ideal! This was an eye-opener! I will be incorporating more recipes using canned goods next year! As well, a website called Mealtime.org was created to help these mothers. Take a look and tell me what you think!
Thing #14--What in the wold is a wiki?
Before this class, I had created a wiki. This is where the story ends. My idea was for teachers to share ideas through it, but that plan fell flat. I had also created a website that I wasn't very pleased with. It turned out okay but I just couldn't make it work and make them work together. I was stuck. Looking at Cool Cat Teacher's Wiki Wiki Teaching Blog really helped me to see that I could take some basic steps. I had never thought of just doing vocabulary and having the students investigate them further. What a novel idea! I could even have them investigate some of the theorists we discuss in my classroom!
The other wikis were inspiring. They ranged from simple, the Kindergarten Counting Book, to complicated, Discovering Utopias. I liked the idea of the Kindergarten Counting Book because the students took the concept they were learning in class (counting) and found it in real life. The thing I liked about the Discovering Utopias blog was the discussion tab, particularly Utopian War Game. The students asked if they could make their project into a war game similar to the game Risk. The teacher adjusted to this idea and created rules for the students. The project was enhanced through the use of the wiki!
I also liked Dr. Reich's Chemistry Wiki. He had the notes available on the blog. I would love to go to this concept but due to the limited availability of technology--his students had their own laptops--this would be difficult to do.
On a more personal note, I fear blogging. Mainly because I don't know if I really have anything interesting to contribute personally or professionally. I wonder how Cool Cat Teacher got to where she is today.
The other wikis were inspiring. They ranged from simple, the Kindergarten Counting Book, to complicated, Discovering Utopias. I liked the idea of the Kindergarten Counting Book because the students took the concept they were learning in class (counting) and found it in real life. The thing I liked about the Discovering Utopias blog was the discussion tab, particularly Utopian War Game. The students asked if they could make their project into a war game similar to the game Risk. The teacher adjusted to this idea and created rules for the students. The project was enhanced through the use of the wiki!
I also liked Dr. Reich's Chemistry Wiki. He had the notes available on the blog. I would love to go to this concept but due to the limited availability of technology--his students had their own laptops--this would be difficult to do.
On a more personal note, I fear blogging. Mainly because I don't know if I really have anything interesting to contribute personally or professionally. I wonder how Cool Cat Teacher got to where she is today.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Thing #13--Social Bookmarking and Tagging with Del.icio.us
Delicious is a site that is very familiar to me and one that I could not live without! Up to this point however, I had not used the social side of it. This is the best part. I can see unlimited possibilities in the classroom. If a group of students are working on a project, they can tag sites anywhere and investigate them further when they get back together as a group. Teachers can tag sites and share them with one another. I can't wait to see what else I can find!
http://delicious.com/michelleweed
http://delicious.com/michelleweed
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