They Might Be Giants

They Might Be Giants is an alternative rock group -- I guess that's what you'd call them -- who write very interesting songs. They are probably most well known for their songs "Istanbul" and "Birdhouse In Your Soul" from their album Flood. Some of their songs are strange, some of them are funny, some of them are political, and some of them are actually very educational.

I have used They Might Be Giants songs in my science class over the years. My favorite song to use in teaching is "Why Does the Sun Shine". The lyrics begin with, "The sun is a mass of incandescent gas - a gigantic nuclear furnace - where Hydrogen is built into Helium at a temperature of millions of degrees." My 6th graders learn and perform this song every year. We have also learned "The Guitar", which uses the tune of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" to sing about a rocket ship, just for fun. Other science songs include "Mammal", "Meet the Elements", and "Science Is Real". They have an entire collection of science songs on the album Here Comes Science which is now available on iTunes and was featured in Wired magazine.

These songs and some of the music videos that go with them are great for use in the classroom. As with everything else, be sure to preview any They Might Be Giants songs you plan to use in the classroom since some of their songs, like "Science Is Real" are controversial (it mentions the Big Bang Theory) and not all of their non-science lyrics are appropriate for students, but I highly recommend taking a look at some of their music.

Their website is www.theymightbegiants.com/

Classroom 2.0 Conference - Pocasting

What is Podcasting?
Think of a podcast as a cross between a blog and a radio show

• regularly posted
• published in reverse chronological order
• focus on a particular topic or subject
• listen to on a computer, CD, ipod, mp3 player

How it works...
A podcaster (the person creating it) publishes content to a server and creates an RSS feed to that server. The listener subscribes to that RSS feed. The most popular way to do that is through iTunes.

Caution

• Don't say anything derogatory towards the community, the district, people
• Monitor content
• Listen to the full podcast before publishing
• Whatever you put out there will stay out there for a long time.

Where can you store your podcasts?

• On your school's or district's server - then ask someone who knows how to help you create the RSS feed
• iWeb has a built-in way to help you create the RSS feed.
• You could publish through iTunes U K-12
• The Internet Archive
• Anyone can post their podcasts to iTunes
• In Canyons district we are creating an easy district-wide place to publish and create your feed.
• You could also post things to YouTube and people can subscribe to you on YouTube

Producing Contenet
Audacity
GarageBand

• mp3 format will be audio only
• AAC format allows images to stay in your podcast

EC Sharing Session II

Trainer Observations
Must be scheduled by April 30th
3 Things Turned In:
Summary
Check Sheet
Planning Questions

Time Cards & Assignment Sheets
Due on or before April 30th, 5 pm
NO EXCEPTIONS
Attach Trainee Assignment sheet to the time card.

Lesson Plan
Email to Bonnie by April 30th

Tonight's Agenda
ProScope

Frosted Mini Wheat
Brown Sugar
Chair
Dried Apricot
Ring

iTunes U
Lectures from various universities recorded and posted online ("Universities")
Podcasts by or for kids ("K-12" -> "Utah Electronic High School" -> "Jordan School District")
-UCET Sessions
-Student Podcasts
-TEDTalks by Arthur Benjamin
-University of South Florida -> College of Education -> Lit to Go

Favorite Podcasts:
NPR
-Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!
National Geographic

Sharing

• boinx.com - mouseposé
• quicksilver
• microscope adapters to attach ProScope
• google docs
• Use a Wiimote as a SmartBoard - Download Wiimote Whiteboard software
• slide show of technology assignments played at parent conferences
• use uTips in conjunction with clickers
• student music videos - songs on GarageBand, then movie
• weekly student reports on GoogleDocs to share with team
• planner on the computer projected for the kids to copy & follow along with
• biographies in ComicLife - kids dress up as the person & take a photo, then add info.
• still photo movies - use cameras, use PhotoBooth, etc.
• still photo movies about heat, light, & sound concepts drawn on whiteboards

Wikis:

• embed a google calendar
• assignment list with links to documents or powerpoints
• embed surveys
• student pages
• photos
• slide shows

Blogs:

• student entries
• parent notes
• class journal
• assignments