IMPACT CBL Project Wrap Up

By: Media B Learners

Three thousand dollars. That’s the amount of money raised from the UNICEF dance. The turnout was very successful. Many students from all grades came and had a lot of fun. There was a professional DJ hosting fun games in the gym, raffle tickets to pie teachers, food in the cafeteria, and simulations. A Snapchat filter was even created for the event, showing on anybody’s Snapchat app during that time.

This CBL project has come to a close. With the dance being the final solution for the sixth graders, they have accomplished their challenge. Coppell Middle School West has made an IMPACT on UNICEF and children around the world. Media B enjoyed documenting the process. Below you can view our finished documentary.

If you were a part of this project in any way, tell us how it IMPACTED you.

Teacher Tech Tools in Under Two Minutes-Google Keep

Welcome to my new obsession, Google Keep! My list making talent has always been a joke in my family. There are so many ideas going on in my head, not to mention being a working mom of four. Writing down my "to-dos" is the only way I can rest. Do you ever have trouble sleeping because of all the things you need to remember to do the next day? Or, do you ever have some late night great idea pop into your head that you don't want to forget? When that happens to me, I now grab my phone and get it out of my head and on to a Google Keep list. I can sleep knowing the information will be easily accessible on all of my devices whenever I need it again.

Google Keep allows users to create unlimited lists, color code them, label them, move and organize, and share them with other collaborators. You can add photos, create drawings, and set reminders. You have a variety of note types you can take including, text, audio, or checklist. But, my favorite part is how it works with other applications. Searching online and find something note worthy? Just launch the Google Keep extension and take your notes. Oh but wait, you want to start a Google doc with these notes.  Just, go to "Tools", "Keep Notepad", and drag your content over.

Are you thinking about how useful this could be for students? Besides the obvious time management, to-do lists, and daily habits, they could create bookmarks with the Keep Extension, organize research for projects, create vocabulary or spelling lists, take class notes, organize reading logs, and collaborate with team members.

Below is a quick overview of Google Keep from my Teacher Tech Tools in Under Two Minutes video series.

I am looking forward to starting my learners off next year with this organizational tool, so that they too can learn to love the satisfying feeling of ticking off a task. Are you already using Keep with your learners?  I would love for you to  leave a comment below and share with others.

Video Challenge Finalist and Results

What do you do when your learners' work is too amazing to keep locked away on your classroom computers? You host a film festival, of course. This was my sixth year to host a district-wide video competition for middle school multimedia learners. It is always an exciting time for us, as we share our video challenge finalist with other schools in the district and a panel of guest and celebrity judges.

Without further ado, congratulations to our first place winners:

Music Video: North (Video 3) Marina Serdyuk's "Come Back to Me" by Tyler W.
Public Service Announcement: North (Video 1) "Teen Stress"
Silent Film West (Video 2) "Getting Closer" by Ernest L., Sameer I., and Aaron B.
Short Film West (Video 1) "A Different Corner" by Natalie A.
Stop Motion Animation West (Video 3) "Monster Under the Bed" by Carly D.

Enjoy all of the finalist videos below:

Thank you so much to everyone who participated and made this event possible. Yes, competition is fun, but we get so much more out of this event than just fun. Thanks to all of you, we get to experience

• Professional feedback
• An authentic audience
• Increased learner engagement
• Evaluation and reflection of course lesson design
• Opportunity to share our work and tell stories outside the walls of our classroom
• Recognition of our work and unique program from others outside of our own schools

To see even more great submissions that didn't make it to the finals, keep an eye out for a blog post later in the month. 

Which Challenge finalist was your favorite? Comment below.