Last TWICE session of the day, not quite so packed but still a great group. Presenters are Linda McConville, 4th grade teacher, and Diane Nye, media specialist, at E. P. Clarke Elementary, in St. Joseph, MI.

Videoconferences their school has done are the ASK programs, the Macomb ISD LAPs programs, the Voices project, collaborations with the UK and Alberta, connections with the Columbus Zoo, LEARNnco, the Cleveland Institute of Music, ASK Stellaluna, a connection with Pakistan, Read Around the Planet to name a few.

Handouts for this session included those from the Buffalo Zoo for the Animal Behavior, the Search Help page and Region 12′s content provider review page.

Rebecca gave us a quick overview of what they do, and then gave us a feel of the Animal Behavior program.

We saw a blue tongued skink and identified behaviors it might do. In the rainforest exhibit (via a live camera), we looked for some animals that use behaviors and adaptations to attract mates. We saw many different kinds of visuals …. including a tiny hummingbird egg. “Imagine a bird hatching out of a tic-tac!”

After the program demo, then we saw some of the live exhibit cameras, including a gorrilla who was picking bird seed out of hay.

Teachers got to ask questions, and learned more about how they offer programs, cost, logistics, etc.

Thanks to the Buffalo Zoo for giving us a great overview of their programs and to all the teachers who attended so late in the afternoon!

If you want to learn more about videoconferencing, come to the sessions tomorrow in W2-66!

Another jam packed TWICE room (W2-66), this time with Danielle Letter, from Atkins Elementary in Saginaw, MI. We videoconferenced with 6th graders back in Atkins Elementary.

Here’s Danielle’s handout.

Danielle is giving us an experience with the type of videoconference called Math Maniacs. The kids read some math problems to us. We divided into groups and solved the problems while the students worked on solving some other math problems. Then we read some problems to the students… Some of the problem titles were:

• Toothpick Problem
• The Million Mystery

Danielle: Are you ready?

Kids: No, we’re not! This is HARD! They’re teachers!!

Both sides muted the microphone and worked on their math problems.

Danielle: All you need to do this is two classes, and some math problems. You can do it over videoconferencing, or Skype, or with an overhead projector with the class next door in your class. A document camera (Elmo, AverMedia, etc.) is helpful to share the math problem with the other site.

95% of what we learn is when we’re teaching someone else. So the students are teaching other students how they are solving their math problems.

Why do we use problem solving?

• Because of the collaboration
• Can be open ended
• Can be not one right answer
• Appeals to many learning styles
• Encourages multiple strategies to solve the problem
• Promotes stamina

Then we tried to solve our problems. Lots of quality work time, brainstorming and problem solving at both sites. See how one of the groups solved the toothpick problem.

After that, the 6th graders explained to us how they solved their problems, and we explained how we solved our problems. We learned about strategies guess and check, drawing a chart, acting it out…

Some student quotes on why they like problem solving:

• It’s really good because you don’t just come up with the answer with a calculator. You use your mind by yourself and you feel really good. I like it because of the accomplishment.
• I like it because it’s challenging. You have to do it over and over again until you get it. But you keep trying and get it and you realize that it’s worth finding the solution to it.

Nothing like hearing in the words of a kid!

At the end, our teachers didn’t want to share their answers, and the 6th graders said that we were camera shy. Everyone laughed!

Thanks Danielle, for showing us the cool ways to engage kids in teaching others and solving problems.

It’s the first session after Alan November, and the TWICE room (W2-66) is jam packed with participants anxious to learn virtual field trips. Greg Marten, Lenawee ISD is presenting How Do I Find A Virtual Field Trip? Look TWICE!

After an introduction to videoconferencing, we connected to Lynsey Russell‘s class at Woodlands Elementary in Cwmbran, Wales to hear their Read Around the Planet presentation that they did with Ohio a couple weeks ago. The class started with a little introduction of geography of the UK. Then they sang us a song. The kids were so cute in their red, white and black uniforms. Huge round of applause from the teachers in the audience. We heard a Welsh song, and then a poem about a dragon in English. The poem was about the dragon who ate the school. Complete with actions and wonderful expression! Wonderful performance poetry.

One of the participants on the front row sang all the songs with the students and did the actions. She had Welsh background so that was a nice connection!

We had a chance to ask them questions:

• What is the weather like?
• What kinds of things do you do on the playground? (football, cricket, and basketball)
• Do they learn Welsh in school?

After going to Wales, we got online for a while. People with laptops went to the TWICE website. The Projects section is where you can learn about connections like we did with Wales. The rest of the session focused on videoconference programs or field trips and how to search the Berrien RESA Videoconference Program Database. Participants learned about the TWICE discounts and other features.

Next, we headed over to the Michigan State University Museum to hear about their programs.

They gave us a tour of their studio – a little closet when you look offline. They have a green screen, which is of course very neat and makes it easy to see the visuals and the presenter at the same time. We got a nice overview of their programs: evolution, adaptations, and termites. We also heard crickets, saw pictures and video clips of various creatures. MSU Museum is one of the more affordable providers, with a cost of $50 per session.

If you haven’t seen a videoconference yet, plan to stop by the TWICE room (W2-66) for one of the upcoming sessions!