About Video Sleuths
Kigluait Home
What is a Videoconference Sleuth? (See a Quicktime Movie)
What do you do? (Sample Schedule)
Who can be involved in a Sleuth? What Technology do I need?
Why would you do a Videoconference Sleuth?
When would you do a Videoconference Sleuth?
Where would you do a Videoconference Sleuth?
What is a videoconference sleuth?
A videoconference sleuth is the connecting of students from different locations to solve an environmental mystery based on a common thread amongst the sites that has application to students' real lives. (See a Quicktime Movie)
To find what other classrooms are currently participating in a sleuth, go to the classroom connect page.
During a videoconference sleuth, students and teachers are working together to solve a mystery. The teachers and head Detective (Kigluait Adventures Staff) will help to provide facts and clues, while the students are using problem solving skills to put the facts and clues togteher to solve the mystery.
This is done by providing students with visual and dynamic ways to better make sense of clues, such as science demonstrations. As well as providing students time to brainstorm possible solutions. Finally, students will be given time to experiment, research, or seek out interviews with other persons for more clues.
We also work with teachers to design their own sleuth using standards/ themes that teachers are currently working on. We help teachers to build connections with other participating sites, as well as building a common thread that connects the sites. This is done using the Quality Schools Model (Backwards Design by Wiggins and McTighe) in which we guide teachers in the production of clues, activities, and assessments based on their students needs.
Sample Schedule:
Day 2:
Materials: portable lab, plasic ball for each group (foam ball or paper ball), paper clip for each group, index card for each student, flashlight (light-bulb) for each group
Hand-outs: Clue Sheet, Chat Etiquette, Hypothesis and Evidence Sheet
Essential Question: What patterns are recognizable in the world around you?
Clue: Plants leaves open and close rhythmically on a daily basis.
Schedule:
1:15- Teachers meet on I-chat/ Teachers Prep Materials and Hand-Outs (optional! Again please, if you have any questions or concerns about the sleuth get a hold of us as soon possible through e-mail or phone (907) 733-4410)
1:30- Introduction of today's Essential Question/ Review Previous Day Clue
1:35- Introduce new clue: Plants leaves open and close rhythmically each day.
1:40- Science Demonstration: Flower opening and closing
1:50- Hands-On Exploration: Given the provided materials, show a major cycle for our Earth (See Sleep PDF for further activities and explanation of these BUT DO NOT GIVE TO STUDENT)(TELL THEM THEY DO NOT HAVE TO USE ALL OF THE MATERIALS)
2:00- Student Sharing and Question Time
2:10- Build Hypothesis Within Sites with help of clue sheet
2:15- Review Chat room Etiquette, rules and signatures. Chat with Remote Site Group
Members to review hypothesis and support their hypothesis. (Use hypothesis and evidence sheet)
Standards To Be Covered and Assessments to be Used:
TE 4.9, TE 7.5, TE 6.9, TE 7.3
SC 3.9, 3.1, 3.2
Data Assessment Page: Evaluate Clue Worksheet
Technology Assessment: Evaluate Students use of VC Equipment, Email and Chat
Hypothesis Assessment: Assess the Hypothesis and Evidence Page
Anybody and everybody. In fact the more diverse the participants, the more fun the connection and mystery! Depending on the sleuth created, any student can be involved. Specific age ranges for sleuths can be found in their descritpion in the teacher pages.
It should be noted, however, that participatign sites should have H320, H323 video conferencing capabilities, and/ or IP/ ISDN connecvtivity. For more information about this technology visit: http://csd.org or http://www.twice.cc/technical.html
Note: We are very interested in working with folks that would like to participate in a sleuth, but at a lower technology level using web cams (ex: Isight), Moodle, and interactive web sites.
The purpose for using videoconferencing as a keystone is to connect students from rural areas together for a more diverse communication and problem solving possibilities. It has always been said, two brains are better than one. Well, why not many and who knows what could happen when dynamic brains come together. This is how great ideas begin!
Why would you do a videoconference sleuth?
The purpose for doing a videoconference sleuth is for several reasons. Often it is difficult for students to communicate and convey how they have solved a problem. In addition, students often find that when they work with others, they are able to come up with more possible solutions by playing off of each others ideas. Thus, by providing students a problem and a means of connecting with others that they may not normally have access to, students become more motivated to solve a problem, especially one that is a mystery and closely related to them. In addition, they are cornered into focusing on communication by using the videoconference equipment and web ct in order to disucss their solutions or even peer-tutor.
When would you do a Videoconference Sleuth?
Check the scheduled times for the sleuths or check out the teacher pages for each sleuth. Or Contact us for choosing your own dates and times for sleuths. We are very adaptable.
Where would you do a Videoconference Sleuth?
Why, in your very own classroom! That is the best part about videoconferencing. It allows us access to the world without even having to leave our classroom. Great minds can connect to great minds in minutes, and with a lot less hassle.