Curricular Concepts
For the first learning objective (The learners, in groups, will analyze and discuss readings that correlate photo stories to student engagement in the classroom and will present findings to the entire class), I plan to integrate the reading resources that I used for the Literature Review portion of this project. The teachers, in groups of 4-5, will be assigned a peer-reviewed article that they will analyze, discuss, and share with the entire class. This assignment will incorporate collaborative learning as a strategy since the teachers are discussing their findings in the article in a small group.
For the second learning objective, (The learners, in groups, will compose ideas for four standards they could address utilizing photo stories either as presentation material or as project-based learning for the students), the teachers will be utilizing the resource www.georgiastandards.org to research their grade level standards and determine which standards might be able to incorporate photo stories to increase student engagement. This objective will also incorporate collaborative learning since the teachers will be working with their grade level peers to complete this assignment.
For the third and fourth learning objectives (3. The learner will demonstrate the elements of photography by taking at least seven photographs of the Sautee Nacoochee Community Center area utilizing at least one of each of the seven elements of photography. 4. The learner will demonstrate the principles of photography by taking at least nine photographs of the Sautee Nacoochee Community Center area utilizing at least one of each of the nine principles of photography.), the teachers will be utilizing project-based learning concept by using their own cameras to take photographs of the Sautee Nacoochee Community Center. The teachers will apply their knowledge of the elements and principles of photography when they are taking their photographs. The teachers will use these photos in the creation of their photo stories. However, they will also submit a Google Slides presentation with one photo per slide and a label on each slide with the element and principle that each photograph represents.
For the fifth learning objective (The learner will create a 3-4 minute photo story that includes music and text about the Sautee Nacoochee Community Center using the program Kizoa), the teachers will be working in collaborative grouping and will be utilizing project-based learning. The teachers will use the photographs that they took of the Community Center to create a promo photo story about the Community Center. They will utilize the program, Kizoa, to create the photo story.
For the sixth learning objective (The learners, in groups, will constructively critique at least two videos presented by other groups at the workshop by sharing, in a whole group discussion, their feedback about the video.), the teachers will be in collaborative groups providing constructive feedback about other groups’ photo stories.
For the second learning objective, (The learners, in groups, will compose ideas for four standards they could address utilizing photo stories either as presentation material or as project-based learning for the students), the teachers will be utilizing the resource www.georgiastandards.org to research their grade level standards and determine which standards might be able to incorporate photo stories to increase student engagement. This objective will also incorporate collaborative learning since the teachers will be working with their grade level peers to complete this assignment.
For the third and fourth learning objectives (3. The learner will demonstrate the elements of photography by taking at least seven photographs of the Sautee Nacoochee Community Center area utilizing at least one of each of the seven elements of photography. 4. The learner will demonstrate the principles of photography by taking at least nine photographs of the Sautee Nacoochee Community Center area utilizing at least one of each of the nine principles of photography.), the teachers will be utilizing project-based learning concept by using their own cameras to take photographs of the Sautee Nacoochee Community Center. The teachers will apply their knowledge of the elements and principles of photography when they are taking their photographs. The teachers will use these photos in the creation of their photo stories. However, they will also submit a Google Slides presentation with one photo per slide and a label on each slide with the element and principle that each photograph represents.
For the fifth learning objective (The learner will create a 3-4 minute photo story that includes music and text about the Sautee Nacoochee Community Center using the program Kizoa), the teachers will be working in collaborative grouping and will be utilizing project-based learning. The teachers will use the photographs that they took of the Community Center to create a promo photo story about the Community Center. They will utilize the program, Kizoa, to create the photo story.
For the sixth learning objective (The learners, in groups, will constructively critique at least two videos presented by other groups at the workshop by sharing, in a whole group discussion, their feedback about the video.), the teachers will be in collaborative groups providing constructive feedback about other groups’ photo stories.
Performance or Professional Standards
I will be incorporating the Georgia Performance Standards for Science into one of the collaborative learning activities. There is one collaborative activity in which the teachers will work with their grade level peers to review the science standards and decide which standards could be used to incorporate photo stories into the classroom. In this group, they will also discuss ideas of how they can use photo stories to meet these standards. For example, will the teacher create his/her own photo story to present information to the students? Or, will the teacher assign a project-based learning assignment for the students to create their own photo story? The teachers will discuss and make decisions during this group time about which standards will be covered and how they could cover these standards using photo stories.
Teachers in Georgia are assessed using the Teacher Keys Effectiveness System (TKES). Utilizing photo stories in the classroom meets at least tow of the TKES criteria, possibly more. Below are the two TKES Performance Standards that this workshop meets for teachers, assuming that they utilize what is taught at the workshop when they get back into their classrooms:
1. Performance Standard 2: Instructional Planning: The teacher uses state and local district curricula and standards, effective strategies, resources, and data to address the differentiated needs of students.
2. Performance Standard 3: Instructional Strategies: The teacher promotes student learning by using research-based instructional strategies relevant to the content to engage students in active learning and to facilitate the students’ acquisition of key knowledge and skills.
Teachers in Georgia are assessed using the Teacher Keys Effectiveness System (TKES). Utilizing photo stories in the classroom meets at least tow of the TKES criteria, possibly more. Below are the two TKES Performance Standards that this workshop meets for teachers, assuming that they utilize what is taught at the workshop when they get back into their classrooms:
1. Performance Standard 2: Instructional Planning: The teacher uses state and local district curricula and standards, effective strategies, resources, and data to address the differentiated needs of students.
2. Performance Standard 3: Instructional Strategies: The teacher promotes student learning by using research-based instructional strategies relevant to the content to engage students in active learning and to facilitate the students’ acquisition of key knowledge and skills.
Elements of the tool or resource
The main tools that the teachers will be utilizing during this workshop are Kizoa, a photo story creation program, their cameras, and their computers. The teachers will be learning the elements and principles of photography and will be shown examples of each of them by the facilitator. The teachers will use their own cameras to apply this knowledge and take pictures utilizing each of the seven elements of photography and each of the nine principles of photography. The teachers will also use their computers to download their images and to work with the application Kizoa. Teachers will use Kizoa to actually create their photo stories to present to the class. This tool will help the teachers understand the process of creating a photo story so that they can apply this knowledge in their own classrooms, possibly even as project-based learning for their students.