Transcript Name of presentation - The Mighty Weeds

BrainPOP – Expanding
Young Minds
By: Mary Lou Cruz and Heather Weed
Presented on January 28, 2013
Introduction – Effective Integration of
BrainPOP in the Classroom
• BrainPOP integrates media and multi-interdisciplinary
strategies to produce a student-centered lesson plan
with multi dimensions for interaction while facilitated by
an instructor.
• BrainPOP encourages teacher collaboration by
uploading lesson plans for the BrainPOP educator
community. Lesson plans involve note-taking, graphic
organizing, videos, student shared communication and
multi-dimensional platforms for lesson plan sharing.
• Common core standards are adapted through teacherdesigned application of essential learnings designed to
focus on student learning.
Introduction cont. – BrainPOP Quotes
• Founded in 1999, BrainPOP® creates animated, curricular
content that engages students, supports educators, and
bolsters achievement (BrainPOP, 2012).
• BrainPOP was conceived by Avraham Kadar, M.D., an
immunologist and pediatrician, as a creative way to explain
difficult concepts to his young patients. Today, we're used in
almost 20 percent of U.S. schools, and are growing
internationally (BrainPOP, 2012).
BrainPOP Use in Music Classroom
• Teachers upload lesson plans with video
Lesson Plan Summary
In this lesson plan, which is adaptable for grades 3-12,
students use BrainPOP resources to research, evaluate,
and synthesize information about the Harlem
Renaissance from a variety of resources. Students will
work in groups to demonstrate an understanding of the
Harlem Renaissance by creating an interactive
presentation that teaches their peers. They will also
create individual non-fiction comics to demonstrate an
understanding of the effects of the Harlem Renaissance
on African American culture.
BrainPOP Use in Grade 3 Classroom
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Free use first – animal classification in science class
– Visuals, audio, and text all engaging
– Game
– Activities
Subsequent uses of BrainPOP Jr. and BrainPOP
– Science – States of matter, changes in states of matter
– Math – Multiplication and Division
– English – Main Idea
– Social Studies – Voting
– Enrichment - Miranda rights, women’s suffrage, voting, and
presidential elections.
– Future plans – continuing to integrate into lessons as part of planning,
not just to add to what is already planned. Looking forward to: Body
systems, reading comprehension, test preparation, geometry, data,
graphing, bullying, and wellness
A Tool…Not a Toy
• Subscription includes teaching tools and lesson plans.
• It is easy to fall back on using it as a fun toy or supplement.
It takes work to integrate it into plans.
• When integrated, it becomes a teaching and learning tool for
differentiation for levels and for learning styles.
• Can be effectively used to introduce, review, differentiate,
apply, provide links to real life and home, and synthesize
topics.
• Students ask for it and anticipate it as part of the learning
process not just a reward. They expect to be held
accountable for participatory learning rather than just
passive watching.
Benefits of BrainPOP
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Engaging, exciting, welcoming, and fun
Consistent characters
Easy to use
Linked to Common Core Standards
Variety of subjects: science, social studies, English, math, engineering and technology, health, arts
and music
Topics and subtopics organized for ease of navigation
Extensive content
Differentiated
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Junior – (K-3)
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BrainPOP – (4-High School)
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Spanish
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ESL
Different subscription levels: homeschool, classroom, school, district, virtual school
Free games, home link, applications
Help desk, educator community for sharing and support
Movies, activities, quizzes (online and printable), printable worksheets, games
Visual, audio, text, and interactivity
Examples from BrainPOP website (BrainPOP, 2012).
Challenges of BrainPOP
• Price – ranges from $85 for Junior level for
individual use to $1,495 per year for schools.
Districts can receive from 10% to 25% off school
price depending upon number of schools
• To differentiate by level or language needs, users
must purchase multiple subscriptions
• So much content, new users can feel
overwhelmed
Helpful Hints
• Search the sight for free movies and activities
before purchasing
• Print out activities before the lessons, so students
may be held accountable for paying attention as
they watch the movies
• Set up teams to play the games with a team
leader to give final answer or have students write
answers on whiteboards
Quotes from Others
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Use of technology vis-à-vis arts education will assist “children in
learning musical elements of key, rhythm, tempo, pitch, melody
and harmony by feeling, understanding and expressing musical
expressions” (Sasaki, Watagoshi, Takano, Hirashima, & Kiyoki,
2010, p. 85).
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BrainPOP offers a format both entertaining and engaging. As an
innovative way to make some difficult subjects more entertaining,
and for encouraging continual learning at the elementary and
middle school levels, BrainPOP receives an A+ (Brisco, 2008, p.
77).
Concluding Summary
• Brain POP is an effective tool to integrate
technology into various levels and
subjects.
• It is user-friendly for both teachers and
students.
• These writers used it to introduce, review,
apply, and synthesize learning for students
in different grade levels, with differing
needs, in different subjects, all with
success.
References
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BrainPOP. (2012) [Subscription website]. New York, NY: Internet
Educational Services. Retrieved from www.brainpop.com
Brisco, S. (2008). BrainPOP. School Library Journal, 54(1), 77. Retrieved
from https://sharklearn.nova.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_t
ab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%
2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_106599_1%26url%3D
Sasaki, S., Watagoshi, K., Takano, K., Hirashima, K., & Kiyoki, Y. (2010).
Impression –oriented music courseware and its application in
elementary schools. Interactive Technology and Smart Education,
7(2), 85-101. doi:10.1108/174156551011071028