Blog Post #7 - Media Literacy

Since our project started we have used the ISTE Standard to model how it should look like. There are six ISTE Standards:

• Creativity and Innovation
• Communication and Collaboration
• Research and Information Fluency
• Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
• Digital CItizenship
• Technology Operations and Concepts

In our project we demonstrated ISTE Standard #1: creativity and innovation. Creative innovation is when you demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. We did these things when we thought of making an interactive iBook for the 5th graders to learn from.

Under ISTE Standard #1 there are four points:

• Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
• Create original work as a means of personal or group expression
• Use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues
• Identify trends and forecast possibilities

We demonstrated the first point by figuring out something that would stress out a student and writing about it. We used the experiences we had to create topics for our iBook and help them see what we as middle schoolers go through, and what we think about those topics.

We demonstrated the second point by coming up with the idea of a helpful iBook. Everyone in our group enjoys helping others, so we thought it would be a good idea to make an iBook for those that need help.

We demonstrated the third point by talking to the counselors and asking them about what the 5th graders should hear before they enter middle school. We used that information to help structure our iBook

We demonstrated the fourth point by sending out a survey to the 5th graders asking them questions about their thoughts of middle school. With their answers we could figure out the things they want to hear and write about them.

By demonstrating these points we have begun to create an iBook that i think will be helpful for the upcoming middle schoolers. I’m happy that we could do this project, and I think it would be nice if a high schooler would do this for me. The point of the iBook is to ensure the new 6th graders that the bad things they think about middle don’t really happen. Also it is to ensure them that we won’t hate them. Even though I enjoy working on this iBook it’s stressful trying to balance working on the iBook and studying for upcoming tests in classes like Social Studies, or practicing for my debate for Language Arts. Even though I love working on the project it’s stressful having all these other things to worry about as well. And the pressure of getting it done is on my group because our iBook is going to be used soon. Through all the grievances I still thoroughly enjoy making this iBook and the skits.

Blog Post #6 - Media Literacy

iBook For You

This week we completed our first two chapters. We edited our skits and put them in our iBook. Since starting our iBook we have completed the introduction, chapter 1: homework, and chapter 2: lockers. In chapter one we talked about their expectations of homework, and gave them the reality of how homework will be. In chapter two we made a skit about how to open your lock and some expectations and realities. It will be much easier for us to complete the rest of the chapters because we can refer to the previous chapters written. We sent all our skits to Mrs. Callaway to get an approval. She ended up saying it was good, and gave us a push to put it in our iBook.

Photo: photosforclass

Next class we will work on the next two chapters. The first chapter will be about older kids in middle school. The second chapter will be about the Discover Oman options you get once you reach 7th grade.

Photo: TAISM

I’m really enjoying this project. I can’t wait to see the result of our iBook once it is shared with the fifth graders. I also enjoyed filming all the skits ad watching the bloopers. I don’t know if we are going to be able to finish the iBook by due date because we have to perfect it so that Mrs. Callaway and Mr. Everett can use it. Even though it might not get finished in time I know that all of us enjoyed the time that we spent working on it.

Blog Post #5 - Media Literacy

Our Fun Skits

Photo By: Moyan Bren

This week we started filming our skits for the iBook. We’ve filmed skits for our topics about homework, older kids, and lockers. We are yet to film about sports and Discover Oman. We also finished chapter one, all that is left is to add the skit.

Now that we are done filming those skits, next class we have to write about the other topics; sports and Discover Oman. We have to film skits for those subjects. We will also send our skits to Mrs. Callaway to check if it’s suitable for the iBook.

                                                       

When filming the skits I realized that I really enjoy the project. I like how we get to make a lot of skits, and knowing that it’s going to benefit the 5th graders. We are trying to make the skits as funny as possible without it taking away the importance of the message. Yesterday I went down to the fifth grade with my friend to get her lunch box from her brother who is in 5th grade. When she got down everyone started hugging her because she is well known in elementary. As I was awkwardly standing at the side another 5th grader came and hugged me too. More joined and started talking about how nice we are. I hope that it was a good impression on how 8th graders are.

Blog Post #4 - Media Literacy

I Promise, We Don't Hate You

This week we mostly worked on our iBook. We decided to interview a few sixth graders to get their insight on what 6th grade is like. We asked them questions like:

• Does it take you more than an hour to complete your homework?
• In the beginning of 6th grade did you get a lot of homework?
• Were you worried about the older kids in middle school?
• Did/Do you know how to open your locker on your first day?    Photo Credit: photosforclass

 http://photosforclass.com/search?text=stress

Their responses were helpful. They answered all the questions in a way that we could use for our iBook. Their responses were:

• 5/15 sixth graders said it took them more than an hour to complete homework

Most sixth graders completed it in under an hour and those that didn’t said they were taking their time.

• 15/15 sixth graders said they had little to no homework at the beginning of sixth grade

They said that none of the teachers would give them homework on their first few weeks of sixth grade. Now they still don’t get a lot of homework. 5th graders worry that the teachers will dump a load of homework on them

• 6/12 sixth graders said they were worried about the older kids in middle school

• 13/15 sixth graders said they knew how to open their lockers on their first day

Mrs. Callaway and Mr. Everett provide a transitioning opportunity for the upcoming 6th graders where they give them a lock and let them spend time practicing how to open the lock. A lot of the sixth graders used that to learn how to open their lock before they started middle school.

We noticed that the sixth graders think that the eighth graders hate them. In the iBook we want to assure the upcoming 6th graders that’s not the case.

Next we have to create funny skits for each subjects we are mentioning in the iBook. We are going to make the skits as funny as possible so it will be easier for the 5th graders to remember what we are talking about.

http://photosforclass.com/search?text=theater

Photo Credit: photosforclass

Also we are going to create an intro media that is similar to a youtube video we found. We will need to get a video of the teachers that teach classes that 5th graders haven’t experienced yet like drama, band, and health.  In the intro media we will give the 5th graders insight on how middle schoolers go through the day.

When I transitioned from elementary school to middle school I felt kind of brave because I knew I would be taller than most of them and I had a sibling there with me. I was sort of worried about what the older kids would think of me, but it didn’t make me any less excited for middle school. This project is teaching me how to make iBooks and edit videos. It is also helping me understand how the new sixth graders felt when they came to middle school, and that we as the oldest grade should help them feel welcome and at home. I am very excited about the end product of our iBook. I think it will be a fun way for the 5th graders to get a perspective on how middle school is like. I worry that we won’t finish in time though.

Blog Post #3 - Media Literacy

This week we have progressed well in our iBook. We scheduled meetings with Mrs. Callaway and Mr. Everett, and they answered valuable questions for our iBook. After sending a new and improved survey out to the 5th graders we ended up getting 39 responses that can help us tremendously with the iBook. We found out that most of them worried about homework and the older kids. A lot of them are not that worried about middle school and are excited to get here. They are excited to see the new range in sports, go on different Discover Oman options, and the new teachers they are going to have.

Photo credit: Me

Next we have to start our first chapter which will be about the homework middle schooler get compared to elementary schoolers. We also have to interview the 6th graders and ask them about what they have experienced in their first year of middle school and any advice they would give to the upcoming 6th graders.

I feel like our project is progressing really well. We have managed to get responses from 5th graders and I think that they are excited for the challenges of middle school. I feel like this project will turn out very well and will be helpful for the 5th graders.

Blog Post #2 - Media Literacy

This week we finished writing our introduction for the 5th grade guide book. We noticed that in order to start writing chapter one we would have to interview the fifth graders to get their insight on what they are most scared about in transitioning. We came up with the idea of giving them a survey that asks what they find the most scary about transitioning to middle school. We will then use that information to know what to talk about in the next chapters of our iBook.

photo credit: Me https://www.surveymonkey.com/create/?sm=7EjYPusLH6hlNMUtFCRs9k4Y2NH9EO4rTb5VDpLf81U_3D

I feel like this project is coming out really well. We have progressed since the beginning. Now I hope that we get good answers from the 5th graders so we can construct our iBook in a way that will benefit them. I can’t wait to see the results of the survey and see what they think about middle school.

Blog Post #1 - Media Literacy

Blog Post #1

As a team, Nourhan, Emilia, and I came up with the idea of making an iBook to help 5th graders transition to middle school. We plan on making small movie scenes to insert into our book, as well as a few websites and quizzes. We hope that this iBook is not only fun to read, but helpful for everyone, and can be used by many teachers. First we will interview a few sixth graders to see what they went through in their transitions, and we will act out a few of those scenes and what to do when in those situations. We will also interview Mrs. Mac and Mrs. Callaway about the things they have seen happen to transitioning students and ask them about the best way to handle those. After we have got all our information we will put them into iBook to create a fun guide for 5th graders.