Alaska's Learning Network - AKLN

Alaska’s Learning Network

admin — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 19:23:50 +0000

Providing Alaskans with:

- Online distance courses

- Professional Development

- Digital Resources

Alaska’s Learning Network

admin — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 19:13:51 +0000

Alaska’s Learning Network

- Online courses

- Professional Development

- Digital Resources

Steve and Ryan on gavel alaska

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:33:06 +0000

Coming soon

Classroom WithOut Walls (CWOW)

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:57:51 +0000

Classroom WithOut Walls
3 core teachers at 3 different central Kenai Peninsula high schools using video conferencing to deliver instruction and have students collaborate and present projects.

PP #1 Graduate students project on our program
PP #2 An intro that we presented to our students
PP#3 Collaborative project 1st semester
Pp #4 a model of our expectations for pp #3
Pp #5 Collaborative project 2nd semester (we are presenting this Monday the 24th)

Below is a brief description and schedule of events

Download (PDF, 1.57MB)

Download (PDF, 525KB)

Download (PDF, 475KB)

Download (PDF, 621KB)

Download (PDF, 1.4MB)

Download (PDF, 693KB)

Testing Water Management

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:52:30 +0000

In my social studies class students complained about the nearby stream and how much trash was in it. We discussed who was responsible and why it was happening. We decided to do some water quality testing to see if there really is a problem and research to find out who is responsible and what can be done.

Through internet research they found the Juneau Watershed Partnership (JWP) and the CBJ Jordan Creek Management Plan. We read it over and found that Jordan Creek was an impaired watershed due to high sediment and the JWP was working to implement stream mitigation. We decided to determine how well the plan was working and report our finding to the city council.

Students were taught through science class about water quality testing and learned to use vernier labquest electronic testing software to test the water quality for temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and BOD. They used standard procedures for total solids, fecal coliform, nitrates, phosphates. They tested five sites and used GPS units to waypoint them and GIS to plot them on maps. In addition to the water quality testing, they spent five minutes at each site picking up garbage and weighed it to determine where garbage was a problem and if it should be better addressed in the management plan. Their testing results were compiled and mathematically converted to Water Quality Index scores. Then the students analyzed the information and found that the watershed was impaired in the Montana Creek area and by Thunder Mountain Rd. They contacted JWP and found the the impairment at Montana Creek is due to runoff in steep terrain, but Thunder Mountain does not have that problem, but they have lots of garbage. The students created power point presentations to share their information, which they presented to JWP, teachers, and the Juneau City Council. The artifact includes a video of the city council presentation.

Digital Animation – ROTOBALL

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:51:02 +0000

Students in my high school Digital Art class are just learning how to use Autodesk MAYA – this is a modeling, animation, visual effects, rendering, and compositing software. It is my goat to have the students be prepared for future art fields outside of high school. This is the software program that is being used by the professionals, and has been used to make movies, such as “Shrek,” and “Finding Nemo.”

While learning the MAYA software, students are also learning how to visually tell a story (storyboarding) through an international collaborative project called ROTOBALL. The following slides attached to this artifact will provide more information about ROTOBALL.

Download (PDF, 3.64MB)

What Happens is Up to You

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:48:06 +0000

What Happens Is Up To You is an interactive DVD that provides students with the opportunity to confront realistic, school-based problems that challenge their decision-making skills. The program is designed to help students learn how to make decisions that will result in positive academic, emotional and social outcomes in school settings. This program virtually brings the student into critical situations that require positive decision-making skills. The technology permits the student to be included in the situation, asks the student “what would you do?” and then allows them to experience the result of their decision immediately. After each decision is made the outcome is played out and peers comment to the student on his or her choice. The peer feedback at the end of each choice is critical to the success of this program.

In partnership with the National Forum on Dropout Prevention Strategies for Native and Tribal Communities, the Association of Alaska School Boards, Clemson University’s National Dropout Prevention Center, and the University of Alaska Southeast, Floyd Dryden students integrated writing, technology, Alaska Native culture and the performing arts to create this years DVD which promotes constructive reaction to school bullies and reducing bullying behaviors as told through an Alaska Native voice.

This Service Learning project included 112, 7th grade Language Arts students in small groups writing bullying scenarios and outcomes, with an emphasis on the Alaska Native student voice. After performing all of the scenarios, students selected 3 to be recorded. Students rehearsed, framed, filmed, and used Final Cut Pro and Adobe Director to create the interactive DVD entitled What Happens Is Up To You.

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Study Guide Group Project

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:37:33 +0000

Study Guide Group Project

Overview: This project takes the concept of commercial literature study guides (e.g. Sparknotes or Cliffnotes) and turns it around on the students. Students are required to analyze a piece of literature and then post their findings on a wiki. Any type of literature study (independent book reports, literature circles, whole class reading) or really any multi-part project could work with this lesson.

Grade Level: 11 – 12

Learner Skill Level: Students need to be familiar with the writing process and literary elements. This is an excellent lesson for scaffolding – students can do the written work throughout reading the novel.

Technical Requirements: Access to a wiki building website. There are many available for free to teachers. I used Wikispaces.

Time Frame: One week (after finishing novel reading)

Download (PDF, 119KB)

Valdez Gold Rush Documentary

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:36:23 +0000

Students in a 9-12 Journalism class produced a 90-minute documentary on the 1898 Valdez Gold Rush. Students read a variety of secondary and primary sources, interviewed historians, wrote a 25-page script, staged a variety of re-enactment, collected historical photos, and produced and edited the film. This product took took students’ critical reading and writing skills to a new level. On premiere night, more than 300 community members came out to watch the documentary. Audience members filled out surveys critiquing the film. The students took these comments and polished the final version of their documentary before burning it to DVD.

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Using Proportions to Determine the Height of a Tree

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:20:28 +0000

Students in a standards math class used math to solve a real-world Alaskan problem: How do you estimate the height of a tree. Armed with only a tree, tape measure, and a mirror, students learned how to use these three tools — including the knowledge of how to use proportions — to answer the mathematical question. To make the subject hands-on, the students produced a video demonstrating the skill. This activity proved that math really does have a heartbeat!

Click here to view on iPhone or iPad
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