iPad Mania

I know that technology can be a little scary and you are never sure where to start. I have an iPad and every day I find new and more effective ways to incorporate it into my curriculum. To make it a little easier for those who feel timid when approaching the iPad I have composed a list of educational FREE applications that can be downloaded to your iPad and utilized in your classroom. The list below is categorized by subject.

Ag. Mechanics:
Virtual Engine-Gives you step-by-step directions on how to tear down an engine
Engine-Shows you how a multi-cylinder engine works
CI-HD-Provides you with how-to and video tutorials of anything dealing with construction

Energy & Climate Change:
Inside Energy-Discusses new energy topics and you can calculate energy efficiency
Verde-Calculate your carbon footprint
IEA Stats-Compares varies energy resources (graphs, articles and statistics)
NASA Viz-Amazing narrated slideshows discussing environmental issues (great for showing the Ozone Layer depletion)
Earth Viewer-Shows you how the land masses on Earth has changed over time and it shows you the carbon dioxide and oxygen amount

Envirothon Training:
IGFA Lite-Fish Identification
LeafsnapHD-Snap a picture of an unknown plant or tree and this app will tell you what you're looking at
Plant Pictures-Plant and Tree Identification
PocketRanger-A complete guide to state parks and forests

Science (Biology):
iCell-Provides a detailed picture and description of cell parts
BioIQ-Interactive game to test your knowledge of cells
Science VL-Awesome dictionary for all science terms
Bone Model-Gives a great representation of the skeletal system and how it moves
CardioTeach-Interactive heart; shows how it pumps and identifies the different parts

Video Media:
TED
PBS
Smithsonian

Presentation Tools:
Idea Sketch-Great Mind Mapping app
ShowMe-Create and share whiteboard-style tutorials
Skitch-Allows you to upload a photo and add shapes and words to it
ScratchWork-Allows you to have a webpage and the app open at the same time so you can create a worksheet using internet resources
PearlTrees-Is a visual and collaborative curation tool that allows you to collect, organize and share any URL
Doceri-Top-notch presentation tool, create a powerpoint and share it from your iPad
SimpleMind+-Mind Mapping app

Landscape:
iScapeFree-Create a landscape with blueprints

Food Science:
USDAFoodSafety

Plant Science:
ID Weeds
PestBook-Identifies pests

Look up the common core standards through the CommonCore app!!



I hope this list of education apps helps you utilize iPads to their fullest extent. You can purchase a cord that allows you to hook up your iPad to your projector for easy viewing.

: )

*Let's Get Cutting*

I am all about teaching and then showing. We studied the reproductive system for weeks in my veterinary science class and finally it is time to show them the real thing.

First I had the students dissect foal testicles.

The next day all the students got the chance to practice artificially inseminating a bovine. The students where really surprised at how hard it was to get the rod through the cervix's maze.

Something new I tried was once we got to actually dissecting the bovine reproduction track I cut just below the cervix and made each student feel the cervix with their finger. This gave them the opportunity to feel how complex and tight the cervix is. It shined some light on why it was so difficult for them to get the AI rod past it. 

Using both ovaries I was able to show the students what each stage of the developing follicle and degenerating corpus luteum looks like. 

It's Corntastic

Well, I tried a new lab with my Exploratory Agriculture class. We have been discussing corn biotechnology and all of the products that corn helps to make. I thought that making plastic from corn would be a good wrap-it up for the students. 

The plastic is really easy to make. All you needs is cups, spoons, water and cornstarch. Add a teaspoon at a time of water and cornstarch to the cup until the mixture is a thick glue consistency. Pour it into your hand and work it into a ball, but be careful because as soon as you let it go it turns into a liquid! 

This type of liquid is called non newtonian. 

After this lab I showed the Myth Busters video "Walking on Water." 

State Legislative Leadership Conference=PA FFA rocks : )

I am currently attending the annual SLLC. I brought six wonderful students! It is such a great time to collaborate with the amazing agriculture educators across the state.

Learning about PA Ag. Ed. Grassroats Advocacy, NAAE COP Updates and SAE Emphasis in the Three Circle Agriculture Education Model.

And of course, it is always nice to catch-up with my fellow pre-service teachers.

Neat Ideas to Keep Under Your Hat

Here is a great way for students to learn vocabulary words.

Want to incorporate more science labs into your curriculum? Visit this website to view Hands-On Experiments. Two professors from the University of Pennsylvania: Dr Ingrid Waldron and Dr. Jennifer Doherty have created a wonderful website that has at least 20 hands-on labs that can be used in a variety of courses. 

Keep checking back for more : )

***How to Get Them Motivated***

I am teaching a reproductive unit right now and we are studying how the hormones work. I had no idea how challenging this would be for me and my students. I explained the hormones in three different ways, which even included flying around the room and singing out the hormones. Even after all of those charades I didn't feel like it was clicking. I have some basketball players in my class and they had a big State Championship game the same day of the hormone exam. I made a deal with the players that if they got an A on the exam I will paint my whole face for the game. Well, their excitement trickled down to every other student in the class. The picture will let you know the outcome : )

Community Service/Fundraising Idea with Bailing Twine

I was just out in my stalls gathering up all of my old bailing twine and I was about to throw it away when I thought there has to be something I can do with this twine. I found quite a few neat ideas that can be turned into a community service project and/or fundraising opportunity.

1.) A lot of big companies are recycling twine now. Members can collect the twine and if there is enough (semi tractor trailor full) they will come pick it up and give the chapter so much for the twine.

2.) Here are a few crafts that can be created out of used bailing twine. This would be neat as an appreciation gift for community members.

3.) These hay nets would be great fundraising ideas for the department. They are very practical too. I know when I go on trail rides you can never have enough hay nets. 

4.) My personal favorite is the twine mats! Even if I can't incorporate this into my classroom, I will make one for my tack room! 

Animal Reproduction

In lieu of trying new things, I used an app on my iPad called Noteshelf and I created a pictorial of the phases of the Estrous Cycle. I screenshot each drawing, e-mailed it to myself as an attachment, used my laptop to create a PowerPoint and then uploaded it to my Google Drive. Whew!! It is not as difficult as I made that sound. Hopefully, this will spark further ideas!

My First Blog : )

This is my first official blog! My hope for this blog is to be become a reflective partitioner, learn from my mistakes and document my growth as an educator. 

Well, I just got back from an eye-opening technology conference hosted by BCTE. My interest has been peaked about how I can efficiently and effectively utilize technology in the classroom. Here are some "rules" that I picked up on when using technology.

1.) Pick the right platform
2.) Give students options, which will make them engaged in their work and stay on-task more
3.) Get a social media organizer, like Hootsuite.

Please check out these two Google Doc Presentations. They will tell you all about Google+ and how you can use it in the classroom and how to create, use and manage QR codes.

GREAT IDEAS:

How to Get Organized and Share Your Resources

Everything You Need to Know About QR Codes!