Exemplary Student Work: Modesitt's Simpson Book Review

Hear the attached mock KNPR book review of Brook D. Simpson's America's Civil War scripted and produced by Monica Modesitt as part of this grant module.

Class Session II Lecture Slides

Click here to access the PowerPoint slides presented during the second session of this module.

Primary Sources

Sites that allow you to access primary source materials are available on the Social_Studies Delicious site.

Seeking Financial Resources for Your Classroom?

Consider Donors Choose as an option for writing grants to accrue funds for your classroom. You could discuss your experience during this module and request several iPods and digital voice recorders for your class.

The organization matches teachers with donors. In return your must include pictures of your students using the items you received and your students must send thank you notes to the donor. Clark County teachers are encouraged to participate in the current Clark County Teachers Unite Challenge on Donors Choose.

Another option is Digital Wish.

Clark County Education Association also awards small grants (up to $500) to classroom teachers in Clark County. You do not need your principal to sign off with any of these three groups.

Using iPods in the Classroom

Below are links to several websites that offer suggestions for how you can use iPods educationally.

• Apple's iPods in the Classroom: This is the portal for Apple's information about using iPods educationally. Click on the "Learn More" links on the bottom of the page.
  
• iPod and iTunes for Teaching and Learning: This document introduces new users to the basics of iPod use. It provides a step-by-step guide to educators who are just beginning to use iPods and digital voice recorders.
• Learning in Hand/iPods: This website, developed by Tony Vincent, provides suggestions for teachers wishing to integrate iPods into their instruction.
• Springfield, Illinois' iPods in the Classroom: This site provides examples of how teachers and students use iPods educationally.
  

Session I Class Slides

Click here to access the PowerPoint slides presented during the first session of this module.

PhotoStory 3 Tutorial

The linked document provides a tutorial for teachers wishing to use PhotoStory 3 in their classrooms. It provides step-by-step instructions and screen shots to guide educators through the process. It was compiled by Craig Cuddihy of VEGAS PBS.

Audacity Overview

This two-page tutorial provides an excellent overview tools within Audacity. It was provided by Craig Cuddihy of VEGAS PBS.

Audacity Slideshow

This slideshow was developed by Craig Cuddihy of VEGAS PBS to train teachers in the use of Audacity, an audio editing program available for free on both PC and Macintosh platforms.

Audacity

Audacity, a free, open-source audio editing application, is available at http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Assignment: Digital Story

Click here for the assignment sheet for this module's digital story assignment.

Assignment: America's Civil War Book Review

Click here for the assignment sheet for this module's book review.

Course Syllabus

Click here for the course syllabus for the Civil War and Reconstruction/Digital Storytelling Module.

Introduction to the Civil War/Digital Storytelling Module

Audio Introduction to the Module

This podcast was developed as part of an elementary-level Clark County School District Teaching American History Grant. The three-year grant will fund six modules per year with each module focusing on a different era of American history and a different pedagogical theme. This podcast focuses on the the Civil War and Reconstruction and Digital Storytelling. Participants in the grant are third, fourth, and fifth grade teachers in Clark County (the greater Las Vegas area), Nevada. Teaching scholars include Drs. Michael Green and Deanna Beachley of the College of Southern Nevada and Dr. Christy Keeler of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. As part of this five week module, teachers meet on campus on two occasions and the remainder of their work is completed online. The posts appearing hare also available via the iTunes podcast: “Civil War and Digital Storytelling” (http://feeds.feedburner.com/CivilWarAndDigitalStorytelling).

During this module, teacher participants will complete three projects:

1. Teachers will use the R-A-F-T (Role-Audience-Format-Topic) strategy, video iPods, and digital voice recorders to record a book review of Brooks Simpson's America's Civil War. The review will be a simulated KNPR broadcast.
2. Teachers will develop their own R-A-F-T strategy projects relating to the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. They may work alone, collaboratively with other teachers, or they may submit work their students develop as part of a classroom unit on the Civil War era. The final project must included edited audio features such as the inclusion of music and voice modulation.
3. Teachers must review and evaluate digital stories created and posted by their colleagues. The evaluations must attend to content as well as digital storytelling elements.