Tara Cooper

Futureteacherofamericaoklahoma.weebly.com
EDU-225
7/19/2015

Raft Card 1:

Row 1

ROLE (student)
Frog in a pond

AUDIENCE
A group of

FORMAT
Animated cartoon

TOPIC
How does a

tadpoles in a pond

with Powtoon.com

tadpole turn into a

frog?

Objective: You will be able to describe the life cycle of a frog

ISTE Standards: 1. Creativity and innovation (b), 3. Research and information fluency (b,d),
6. Technology operations and concepts (a,d)
Student Role: Frog in a pond
Audience: Talking to a group of tadpoles.
Format: Animated presentation using Powtoon.com.
Topic: How does a tadpole turn into a frog?

Directions:
1. Go to the websites below and look at the steps the tadpole goes through to become a frog.
2. On the interactive whiteboard, write down the different steps the tadpole goes through to
become a frog using the special pen made for the interactive whiteboard
3. Make sure you write down every step, if you miss any steps, it will be wrong
4. Now get out a laptop and go to powtoon.com
5. Create an animated movie describing the steps you wrote down on the whiteboard
6. Your movie needs to be two minutes long
7. Use an IPad to practice recording what you are going to say and how you are going to say
it, remember you are frog talking to tadpoles
8. Add voice to your movie
9. When you are finished, bring me the laptop so I can check your work
Resources:
Here are websites to visit:
Life cycle
http://www.tooter4kids.com/Frogs/life_cycle_of_frogs.htm
Metamorphosis: The Life Cycle of a Frog
http://www.kidzone.ws/lw/frogs/facts3.htm

Watch a tadpole become a frog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCOaeqykzrU
Assessment: Create a two-minute presentation that describes the transformation of a tadpole into
a frog.
The assessment will be: whiteboard, all steps written down correctly, voice recording is clear,
two-minute movie and animated. They are worth 20 points each.

Raft Card 2:

Row 2

ROLE (student)
Tadpole

AUDIENCE
A fish

FORMAT
Video presentation

TOPIC
How does a

on IPad

tadpole turn into a

frog?

Format Objective: You will be able to name the body parts of a frog.
ISTE Standards: 1. Creativity and innovation (b), 3. Research and information fluency (b), 4.
Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making (b), 5. Digital citizenship (c), 6.
Technology operations and concepts (a,b,d)
Student Role: Tadpole
Audience: a fish
Format: Video presentation on IPad
Topic: How does a tadpole turn into a fish?

Directions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Go to each website below and look at the different body parts on a frog
You are going to make a short video showing and naming the parts of a frog
Ask teacher to print off pictures of the frogs body parts
Write down on a piece of paper what you are going to say in your video, naming the body
parts
Practice what you are going to say and how you are going to say it, remember you are a
tadpole talking to a fish, so change your voice a little
Now get your IPad and have a friend record you saying your name, what the video is
about, show each picture of the frogs body parts and name them as you are showing
them.
Make sure you have all the body parts and you name them correctly.
When you are done take the IPad to your teacher and show her your video

Resources:
Here are websites to visit:
Images of a frogs external body parts
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=frog+external+body+parts++for+kids
Body parts of a frog
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5344446_body-parts-frog.html
Frog activity, body parts
http://www.kidzone.ws/lw/frogs/ws6.htm

Assessment: You will make a short video showing and naming the body parts of a frog.
Your will be graded on: what you wrote down, a picture of each body part, all body parts are
named correctly and are in your video and you said your name at the beginning of your video.
Each one is worth 25 points each.

Raft Card 3:

Row 3

ROLE (student)
A father who is a
science teacher

AUDIENCE
Teachers son

FORMAT
Document camera

TOPIC
How does a

and projector

tadpole turn into a

frog?

Objective: You will be able to name the organs that make up the inside of a frog and there
functions.

ISTE Standards: 1. Creativity and innovation (a,b), 2. Communication and collaboration (a,d),
3. Research and information fluency (a,b,d), 4. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decisionmaking (b), 6. Technology operations and concepts (a,b,d)
Student Role: A father who is a science teacher
Audience: Teachers son
Format: document camera and projector
Topic: How does a tadpole turn into a frog?

Directions:
1. Use the websites below
2. You will make a three minute presentation
3. Go to the computer lab
4. Use a laptop to do your work
5. Research the organs of a frog and their functions
6. Print off pictures that show the frogs organs
7. On a piece of paper write the name of the organs and their function, be descriptive
8. Write them all, if you miss one it will be wrong
9. Come back to class
10. Get an IPad and use the video camera to practice your presentation
11. Watch your practice video and make any changes that need to be made
12. Use the document camera and projector to give your final presentation
13. Be clear when you speak, remember you are a teacher of science talking to your son
14. Show the pictures, say the organs names and their functions
Resources:
Here are websites to explore:
Frogs anatomy
http://www.frog-life-cycle.com/diagram-frog-anatomy.html
Frog body parts and functions
http://www.slideshare.net/FJHScience/frog-body-parts-and-functions-2014
All about frogs
http://animals.mom.me/anatomy-internal-organs-frog-1114.html
Visual dictionary online
http://visual.merriam-webster.com/animal-kingdom/amphibians/frog/anatomy-malefrog.php

Assessment: You will make a three-minute presentation on frogs organs and their functions.
You grade will be based on: was it three-minutes, pictures of all organs, all the names and
functions of the organs, and clear voice.

Entry 3: Differentiating Instruction through Technology

Introduction
Every student learns at different pace and with a different learning style. Differentiating
instruction is a way for teachers to cater to students of all different levels within the same
classroom. This means that students who might not move as quickly will be able to learn at a
slower pace while fast learners can move on to the next concept. The iPad is a great tool to use

for differentiating learning because students have the freedom to make things more challenging
or easier. Ixl.com is a website that helps student to learn at their own pace because they have to
option to keep practicing or move on. Quia.com is a website in which teachers can make
activities for each individual student, which helps them to learn at their own level. There are
many different pros and cons to the technique of differentiating learning but I believe that the
pros outweigh the cons.
Technology to Differentiate Instruction
IPad: Teachers can use this for students who have fine motor difficulties, the student uses their
finger or knuckles to touch the screen and move things around. This give the student
independence from having someone else help. Teachers can use an IPad to read to students who
cannot read or have a hard time reading. Over time, some students will gain the ability to read
while others will read at a faster pace and without the IPad having to read to them. For students
who need a little more challenging work, the teacher can have them use the camera and video
camera on an IPad to make a video presentation. Students can work alone or in groups, those
that work alone will have to read, write and think on top of doing research. For the students who
are going to work in a group, they will have to brainstorm and collaborate with each other. Some
students do not know how to communicate with others, so this is a time for them to learn an
important skill that they will take with them the rest of their lives. ISTE standard, Creativity
and Innovation is to create original works as a means of personal or group expression (ISTE,
2015). IPads offer students the flexibility to create innovative media for rich personalized
communication across academic disciplines and grades (Gliksman, 2015)

Ixl.com: This website is great to use for students working below grade level and advanced
learners. A teacher will have a student that is having a difficult time learning how to count, begin
at the grade level that best matches their learning level. The teacher will have the student work
as many problems as needed until they learn the concept. Students feel like they are in control
and that when they need help, this site is there any time. For advanced learners, the teacher will
have them work on grade levels above. The teacher will assign different skill level partners to
work together to solve math problems. The advanced student is like a teacher and shows the
lower level student how to get the correct answer. ISTE standard, Digital citizenship is
advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology (ISTE,
2015). It is also important for all educators to spend time directly teaching and actively
promoting digital citizenship (Compton, 2014). Digital citizenship is important so that students
learn to use the internet correctly and safely.
Quia.com: Teachers use this to website to create their own online activities for their students.
What the teacher creates is custom made for each student. For students with a learning disability,
the teacher can make flash cards or matching game that highlights the content of what they are
learning. Therefore, over time some students will learn that content and be ready for the next
level. When it comes to advanced learners, the teacher can create word searches, battleship
games or even a challenge board, whatever the teacher needs to do to challenge their minds.
Teachers also create their own quizzes for their students, so teachers can modify the quizzes
according to that child and their learning needs. More advanced learners can have quizzes that
are harder and make them think. ISTE standard, Critical thinking, problem solving and
decision-making is the ability to plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a
project (ISTE, 2015). These different skills will prepare the student to further their education in

years to come. From solving problems in class assignments to facing real world situations,
critical thinking is a valuable skill for students to master (Morgan, 2015). Problem solving is a
skill that students will use all of their life and it is important to learn this skill when they are
young.
Pros and Cons
There are many pros when it comes to using technology to differentiate instruction. With
the No Child Left Behind, using technology, every child is learning in a way in which he/she
learns and there is less of a chance of any child being left behind all the other students. Every
child will be taught according to his/her individual needs, both their weaknesses and strengths
will be worked on in a way that makes learning easier. The basis of differentiated instruction is
to individualize instruction to each student. In theory, individualizing a lesson plan for each
learner in the classroom is an extremely positive pedagogical approach (Hamilton, S, 2011).
Now for the cons, some students will get dependent on individualization techniques in one
classroom and it can cause a problem in another where that teacher does not use those
techniques. While most students love to work individually on an assignment, some students are
afraid of the freedom of learning on their own.

Concluding Paragraph
Differentiating learning is a key element in the educational setting because all students
have a different level of learning. The iPad is great technology to use because students can learn
at all different levels while using it. Ixl.com is a website that allows children to get more
practice or move on in their own time depending on their level of understanding. Quia.com is a
tool that teachers can use to create individual activities for each student based on their level of

learning. There are several different pros and cons when looking at the idea of differential
learning but, it seems that the pros would outweigh the cons when helping children learn.

References:
Compton, H. (2014, August 28). Know the ISTE Standards for Teachers: Model digital
citizenship. Retrieved July 19, 2015, from http://www.iste.org/explore/articledetail?articleid=142
Gliksman, S. (2015, June 30). ISTE 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2015, from
https://conference.iste.org/2015/?id=94259979
Hamilton, S. (2011, February 22). Pros & Cons of Differentiated Instruction. Retrieved July 17,
2015, from http://www.ehow.com/info_7974427_pros-cons-differentiated-instruction.html
ISTE Standards for Students. (2015). Retrieved July 18, 2015, from
http://www.iste.org/standards/ISTE-standards/standards-for-students
Morgan, K. (2015). What Are the Benefits of Critical Thinking Skills? | The Classroom |
Synonym. Retrieved July 18, 2015, from http://classroom.synonym.com/benefits-criticalthinking-skills-3895.html
Tenkely, K. (2015). Using Technology to Differentiate Instruction. Retrieved July 18, 2015, from
http://teaching.monster.com/benefits/articles/8484-using-technology-to-differentiate-instruction