Technology Plans

In regard to my final project for the seminar, I've prepared a flipped classroom lesson.  It would be a segment in a series on Biblical cantillation aimed at an audience of grades 6+.  It is a video-lecture that was prepared by smashing the following apps:

• iMovie
• Green Screen by Do Ink
• DavkaWriter
• Explain Everything
• Garage Band
• Drawing Pad
• Tellagami
• Action Movie

After viewing the "lecture," students would be directed to an activity such as:

• Blogging observations and questions.
• Practicing skills using auditory feedback.

For this coming school year, I hope to utilize the flipped classroom approach frequently for instruction, demonstration, and modeling in a variety of subject areas.  Then, depending on the subject, the learning objective(s), and the need for accommodation and scaffolding, I have the choice of many tools for:

·      Guided Practice – helping students start practicing new skills and applying new knowledge (Google  Docs (recording/audio feedback, project based learning, webquests, Google Docs self-grading quizzes, Quizzlet, and more).

·      Independent Practice — turning them loose to work on their own and in collaboration (digital storytelling, blogging, et al.).

I also look forward to the innumerable benefits of encouraging students’ creativity and providing opportunities to publish and share their individual and collaborative work with one another and the school community.

3rd grade project at tbs

My project is a vocabulary lesson for our Hebrew in Movement class. I am teaching them the words large and small with vocabulary words they already know. They are to watch the video at home so that when they come into class they can use these words in games.

Materials: 1) The class will be emailed the link to the u tube video and told to learn the vocabulary http://youtu.be/bazixkc-UiQ

                2) 2 large balls, 2 small balls,   2 small candles, 2 large candles,  2 small horses, 2 large horses,  2 small apples 2 large apples

In class: the students will be in two teams they will be in a line at one end of room there will be two tables at the other end of the room with all the objects on it.  The first students in each line will hear the command large horse and has to run to the table take the correct object run back to the team passing the object over under till the last person inline has the object. They will run to head of line and wait to hear the name of the object to retrieve. This continues until each person inline has a turn.

They will compleat the game by each student says. " I have " the object they have correctly to the teacher. 

home work or class work depending on time: each student will create a short video with iPads of large and small lesson.

Thank you TTF

What I have gotten out of TTF is a new excitement to my third grade class. I have been teaching third grade for the past 12 years and never have there been two years the same but it. Is the basic curriculum . This workshop has given me a new concept in teaching. I am going to try flipped class room in many of my topics, homework will no longer going to be boring reding and practicing prayers they will be interactive computer games and skill building! this is going to be the busiest summer for me building a web site videos for Hebrew in movement and so many new projects for the students to use. I am so excited to start in September my brain hasn't stopped thinking about class. the old teacher has been recreated!

Hazzan Devin Goldenberg
5th and 6th Grade
B'nei Mitzvah Tutoring
Temple Beth Sholom
Framingham, MA

Big Ideas from TTF Seminars

One of the strongest ideas I’m taking away from the TTF is the potential for a collaborative dynamic that’s infused in the classroom utilization of the iPad.  Before taking the seminar, I was wary of the potential for students becoming locked in to their own “zones” with iPad.   I’m so happy and thrilled to say that I could not have been more mistaken.

What do I mean by collaborative learning?  It’s learning in which collaboration, teamwork, and the collective talents of all participants are an integral part of the learning process.

This means not just publishing ideas (iBook, iMovie, etc.), but publishing them in ways in which creators can receive feedback, reflect and revise their own output and that of others.  This feedback and revision process is not merely an add-on but at the heart of the learning process.  This blog is itself a good example of this as we post our thoughts and plans with the primary intention of promoting feedback and interaction.

And it also means working together in real-time to accomplish collectively forged and monitored goals, whether we’re smashing apps in workgroups to create an audio-visual guide to holiday observance  or communicating and working with experts outside of the classroom on a presentation using Google Drive.

I’m excited about using technology in my classes to create and enhance such a collaborative learning process.  One in which all participants are learners/teachers – one in which I can spend more class time functioning as a guide and facilitator.

As my actual group class and individual tutoring time is very limited, I’m especially intrigued by the possibilities of the flipped classroom approach.  I hope to use what I’ve learned in the TTF to more successfully engage students from home.  The knowledge and skills I’ve gained will allow me to produce entertaining presentations of curriculum content that I feel confident students will enjoy watching.  Who knows? – their parents might get involved in the learning as well.  This will hopefully save valuable class time which can be better used for hands-on work, project based learning, and differentiated instruction that will benefit both the advanced and less advanced learners.

Initial Technology Ideas

by Lauren Lichtel

Beth El Temple Center, Belmont, MA

Sunday School 2nd grade teacher
Hebrew School 3rd grade teacher
CJP TTF: Cohort 6

My second grade class studies many different subjects over the course of the year. Some of them include Israel, mitzvot, holidays/calendar, Hebrew, God, prayers, and much more. 


For this blog, I will be describing my plan for my plan for the Israel project. After my students finish learning all about Israel from the book, I want them to be able to create something. Create a video or some kind. They will be able to use one or all of the apps that we've used here in this class. 

For example, they can use the Puppet Pals and have a couple of characters take a trip through Israel as they explain what it is they see. They could use the app Garage Band and create a song about Israel. They can use Explain Everything to create a lesson for their classmates about something they've learned. Really, the possibilities are endless. 

After the students are done with these projects, which may take a couple weeks to complete, I will post them on our class website for the parents to check out! I really think this is going to be a wonderful project! I cannot wait to begin!

The Big Ideas

The Big Ideas

by Lauren Lichtel
Beth El Temple Center, Belmont, MA
Sunday School 2nd grade teacher
Hebrew School 3rd grade teacher
CJP TTF: Cohort 6

I thought I knew how to use an iPad in the classroom before I walked into the CJP Technology Fellowship. I have used my iPad in the classroom for two years. I put my agenda on it, I had by lessons on it, and I took tons of pictures. I made a video to show at the end of the year.

After being a fellow for the last couple of months, I am so excited to be able to take these apps and tips/tricks into the classroom next year. Due to the fact that I only have these kids in the classroom for a couple of hours once a week, I need to figure out a way to engage them from home as well. So many of the tools I have learned will allow me to do this in a way that they will love. The parents will be able to watch their kids' progress throughout the year. The students will be able to see the progress they have made year after year. It will be so incredible!

I have always been a creative person and I love to take that approach in the classroom. Before, it has been poems, maybe a video, etc.. With these new apps and websites, I will be able to make the material come alive for these kids!

I want to be able to use the Flipped Classroom method in order to make the most of the time in the classroom that we do have. In addition, an added benefit could possibly be the parents learning along with their children. 

The Flipped Classroom

A project by Lauren, Jess, Devin, and Geri

Our instructions were to take one of the models of the new classroom and to use one of our new apps to put together a piece about it. Our model was the flipped classroom. This is where students actually do the typical learning at home before coming into the classroom. Once in the classroom, the students collaborate on projects and dig a little deeper into the material. Enjoy our iMovie trailer!