The+Zombie+Teacher+Project


 * Midlothian ISD **
 * Learning Communities Designed for Improving Instructional Technology **

Subject Addressed: **The Zombie Teacher Project**

Volunteers for this learning community will:

· determine appropriate communication options to promote group discussion (including online and/or face-to-face opportunities) · list recommended solutions and resources for addressing the essential question · present the findings to the LMS/CTL/DTL/TT team. Meeting will be held on March 21, 4:00 – 6:00 in room 126 at Admin.

Are teachers getting the tech training they need through Zombie?
 * Essential Question: ** How can we provide appropriate technology staff development through the Zombie Teacher Project and prepare teachers to differentiate instruction for GT students?

Possible solutions:

Change Zombie to a district wide event or a longer media contest, but not offer as tech hours. Put the emphasis on the creating of the project not the gaining of tech hours.

Resources needed:

Questions to be answered:

1. Should we look at required Zombie team members to present a lesson in the classroom using video skills before they receive official "tech" credit? No, we do not expect anyone else to do this why would we ask them to do more than the other for the same credit.

No, I feel the Zombie project really TEACHES those who would not usually use video skills in their classrooms. Zombie would be more beneficial to come first, then the teachers can take back what they learned from the session. The "Tech" credit should be awarded to those who learned from the process (which should be everyone on the team).

No, I believe that the course is used to teach the teachers and make them more aware of the technology out there and techniques to make a movie. I can't really come back to my room and teach my younger kids about iMovie, besides showing them the movie like we normally do.

2. To encourage teachers to learn more about other 21st century skills, would it be fair to limit them to competiting in Zombie every other year, or two times in a three year period? OR what if we only allowed teams who ranked in the top 10 (or pick a number or percentage) to compete every year? I like the top ten idea!  If we only give them one comp day for Zombie then teachers will have to do another day of something else to earn the 2nd comp day. The big push right now is social media we could have them only communicate with us through twitter to teach them about a social media tool. We could add how to twitter on the Project Share course.

I really like the top ten idea!! That would eliminate the teams that do a "half effort" job just to earn the credit. The teams will have to start working really hard to do a great video to get in the top ten.

I don't know if I think that we should do this. Maybe we can add different things that have to be included in the movie each year to make it different or more challenging. I love to do Zombie each year and I believe that just because for what ever reason the judge(s) don't like my movie, shouldn't stop me from learning how to change and improve this and do it again/better the next year.

3. How can teams justify earning GT credit? What would they have to do to show Differentiating Instruction for GT Students? Adding Twitter would be a way to differentiate for GT

Adding requirements to the editing process or changing some of the equipment. The only drawback on the equipment would be cost.

I believe that if you are using this video to TRULY show it to the students/faculty, then that is a different way to teach than the typical/normal way to teach and I believe that it should still have GT credit.

4. Should every team receive a trophy? If not, which ones? We could have audiences vote on Teacher's Choice Awards using Polldady that night at the park. Should that team receive a trophy?

I like giving each team a trophy but I don't guess it is necessary. What about certificates for everyone else but the winners?

The winning team should receive a trophy, as well as, the Teacher's Choice. I don't think it's necessary to receive a trophy if you're not one of those top two. Even though this past year's Awards Ceremony was cut to be short, it still seemed to drag on a bit. I think we should only showcase the top ten videos, their reward would be having a chance to participate in next year's competition.

No, I believe that we could have only the top 10 or top 3 or so get a trophy and also only show the top ten or 3 videos, to make the "SHOW" night go faster. I like having the others online. Plus, most of the people don't come to the SHOW and 1 person has to walk up there by themselves to receive the trophy (maybe this could be a requirement).

5. Project Share course on Zombie Teacher Project was not required last year. Should we make it a requirement?

Yes, I think it should be a requirement. We want videos to improve and this is one way for teacher to improve on their work.

Yes, I think this is a must.

I don't know.......

-Differentiated Instruction -Projects MUST show skills learned -Showcase Top Ten only -Trophies in limbo due to costs -Full credit every year? -Video Categories - IE Digital Citizenship

__** Discussion 3/21/12 **__ Worries About Zombie: Differentiated Instruction Projects must show skills learned Showcase Top Ten Only <span style="color: #00a4ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Trophies in limbo due to costs <span style="color: #00a4ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Full Credit every year? <span style="color: #00a4ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Video Categories-i.e. Digital Citizenship or PSA <span style="color: #00a4ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #00a4ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Ideas for incorporating GT/: <span style="color: #00a4ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> Make item to include in the video something more challenging Provide choices for types of videos to award full/partial credit Making Project Share not optional could address GT or Create packages of video projects to address whether or not they get GT

So...It is decided Will require completing the course in Project Share Everyone will receive 24 hours Everyone will receive GT credit if they submit a lesson plan with differentiated instruction Create categories for videos K-2 3-5 Secondary Digital Citizenship Show all videos straight through with no pause in between by showing all straight through then...announce winners in the end.

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