Author: Braelyn Higdon

Welcome to my Edtech portfolio!

This semester I have been exploring various uses for technology in the classroom. As I approached this course, I was excited and interested, but I was also nervous and intimidated by the word ‘technology’ in the classroom. I didn’t think I could navigate websites and design lessons using technology platforms. However, my mindset has definitely changed since then.

This semester I learned that technology really is accessible to everyone, and with a little bit of time or tutorial videos, you can navigate just about any website. With the skills I learned in my Edtech methods course, I feel excited to incorporate technology lessons and spark engagement among my students. I hope to use technology as a tool in the classroom and encourage students to explore internet resources. I also want students to use technology to construct more personalized work and explore creative outlets.

I am thankful to have this knowledge and practice of incorporating technology in the classroom as the world is ever changing and we may relay on virtual teaching. Most importantly, I feel confident to approach and integrate technology teaching platforms into my curriculum.

Mountains in Washington State

Classroom Website for Ms. E and Ms. H

Final Project – Student Led Conferences

Featured Image by: Fauxels

For my final project, I have created a lesson for second grade students. In this lesson, students will construct an Adobe Spark Video to share with their parent or guardians for student led conferences.

The instructional goal for this lesson is for students to create an Adobe Spark video including personal work. Students will include reading, writing, and math samples along with their responses to two questions. Prompts include: Why did you choose this piece of work? & What did you learn while doing this work? Students may answer the questions within their Adobe Spark Video or have written responses prepared to share.

I chose to use Adobe Spark Video as the platform for this project because students can present their work in an organized and quick way. As seen from the example below Adobe Spark Video allows you to add photos, text, customize the music and more. Adobe Spark Video also offers many templates for students to start from and is easy to navigate for first time users and students.

I hope these videos are viewed by parents and seen as a celebration and reflection of their students’ work. This assignment is a culturally relevant teaching practice and enables relationship building among students, parents, and teachers.

Featured Image by: Adonyig Edits by: Braelyn Higdon

Using Book Creator I published a yearbook for my second grade students and families. Although many schools have yearbooks available for purchase, I think it is always nice to provide students with a more specialized reflection of their school year. My hope for creating this book is that students will include photos of their work and activities that occurred throughout the year. I also hope that students will be excited to work on this collaborative project that incorporates technology!

I think Book Creator was a user friendly resource that allows the for the production of almost anything. The website for this resource is well organized and has a visually pleasing array of tools. I think Book Creator would also be a fun activity for students to work on as they can access their account from school and from home.

For this assignment, I explored both Padlet, and Webjets. These online resources are a great way for students to brainstorm and organize ideas. For this lesson, students will use technology to write a recipe including the materials and ingredients needed, as well as procedures of how to make the meal. This lesson was intended for students in second grade.

Standards include: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.2 Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.

In terms of ease of use, I did feel that Padlet was an easier website to navigate as a first time user. I feel that Padlet was a more interactive website and would be easier for students to use as well. I also really liked the feature that allows you to choose a template. Padlet offers templates including timelines, maps, a stream line of content, a grid, and many more. On the other hand, I did enjoy that while using Webjets, you can customize the wall with anything you like. Adding things to a wall in Webjets is quick and easy as you can drag and drop photos, youtube videos, bookmarks, and more! However, my favorite thing about both resources is the organization and customization of projects for students to map ideas.

Both of these resources worked great for planning the recipe lesson and producing examples below:

Click this link or image below to see ‘How to make macaroni and cheese’ Webjets project

Featured Image by: Hermes Rivera @Hermez777

For this lesson, I have created a simple Edpuzzle that includes National Geographic’s “Giraffes 101” video. This lesson was created as a technology resource for 1st – 3rd grade students. Perhaps this lesson could be added to a collection of lessons about animals. Students could then access that collection during free choice time, research, or even during a lesson.

I really enjoyed using Edpuzzle to create this lesson. I like the idea of being able to take a preexisting video and tailoring it to meet the needs of the lesson or students in the classroom. Edpuzzle made a simple video interactive and engaging for students as questions are asked along the way and the narration can vary. I also liked the feature that allows you to cut out content. I think Edpuzzle definitely a useful tool for elementary teachers!

Featured Image By: HowardWilks

I choose to use screencast to create my video. I created a video including three websites for students, including Scholastic Learn at Home, PBS Learning Media, and National Geographic Kids. I created this video for students who may need an activity or enrichment during this time that we are all home due to COVID-19. This video could also be viewed by parents who need a quick introduction to these websites. Enjoy this preview and exploration video!

Video created by: Braelyn Higdon

Featured Image by: StartupStockPhotos

I used Adobe Spark Video to create a writing video lesson. Adobe Spark Video was very easy to navigate and could serve as a useful tool for many teachers. My video lesson includes each step of the writing process along with questions that students can ask themselves while writing. The video is fun and engaging, and was created for students to refer to on multiple occasions. This video lesson could be used for second to fourth grade students and is a great resource to add to a classroom website or student’s “toolbox.”

Video created by: Braelyn Higdon

By Braelyn Higdon

I am from waterfalls and hikes, to beautiful landscapes and views, 

from sunny days on the river, to sunsets at the beach. 

The Pacific Northwest has it all. 

I am from Washougal, WA., and I grew up on a small farm.

I am from a loving family, full of care and support.

Surrounded by three older siblings, and a nephew on the way. 

I am from dance every day, to competitions and performances on the weekend. 

And now from University of Portland, with a new community of wonderful people and friends. 

I think that using Adobe Spark Page was a quick and easy way to generate a very professional looking website. I think this would be a great tool to create an interactive lesson for elementary students as educators can include text, pictures, videos, and resources for students to use. Adobe Spark Page would also be a great way for students to create a presentation using a different format than Powerpoint presentations.

Authors: Braelyn Higdon and Ellie Cordova

The target grade for this classroom website is any grade. A classroom website can be beneficial for classrooms with students of all ages from primary school to college. The intent of this classroom website is to provide information for parents, guardians, caregivers, and students. Click the image below to visit Ms. E and Ms. H’s classroom website.

Featured Image by: Geralt

This lesson was created for second to third grade students who are studying the water cycle in science. Students and teachers can use this quiz as a part of a bigger unit, or as a check in. This lesson can also be used after instruction as an exit ticket, or as a formative assessment at the end of a mini unit.

Students can take this quiz using individual iPads, laptops, or desktop computers. The intent of this lesson or google form is to measure students’ progress and knowledge about the water cycle after having prior instruction and academic activities for understanding. Students should have an understanding of the water cycle and why certain phases occur. The google form will help the teacher achieve the intent of the lesson due to the collection of data that will occur based on students’ scores. The teacher can then use the data when creating following lessons to better instruct students.

Cover Photo credit: Brian Cook @briancook5

This lesson was created for upper elemenatry students to explore the mountain peaks in Washington State. Included in this tour are the four tallest peaks in Washington state along with Mount St. Helens. Each scene has an included point of interest with information about the elevation of the corresponding peak.

Students will be able to observe the mountains and surrounding terrain using online tours. Students may be asked questions posed by teacher or interact in a classroom discussion.

Featured Image: Kranich17

Authors: Chloe Mar and Braelyn Higdon

This lesson is for second grade students. This could be used as an activity with students in partners, as a warm up activity, or informal assessment to see where the students are at. The goal of this lesson is to show that the students can identify simple fractions in real life. Students will use flags to investigate the prompts on each slide.

Picture Source: Jason Leung