1. CULTIVATING VISUAL LITERACY IN THE STEM CLASSROOM Joannah Shoushtarian @jshoushtar4stem King Springs Elementary School Cobb County School District Nadia Williams @MsWillipedia Digital Transformation Coach Cobb County School District 2015 Georgia STEM Forum

2. A LITTLE ABOUT OURSELVES  Joannah Shoushtarian  24 Years in the Classroom  STEM Teacher  King Springs ES  Cobb County School District  Nadia Williams  8 th Year Educator (7 in the Classroom)  Digital Transformation Coach  Cobb County School District

3. ORIGINS OF THIS COLLABORATION  STEM Talks competition  Joannah had a desire to add more to her teacher toolbox  Creation of the CCSD Digital and Multimedia Learning Department and its goals  Tie-in with literacy and other subjects (i.e. the Humanities)

4. THE LESSON ITSELF  Through a series of lessons, the students were first introduced to the relevance of producing a story as a video versus in writing, then they brainstormed, and eventually created their own narratives showing how STEM was preparing them for the future.  A few young ladies identified that this series of lessons made them understand writing better.

5. THE LESSON PLANNING PROCESS  Insert lesson plan here

6. LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION  The students were shown the video as a hook.  They were then asked to listen to a written version of the story read aloud.  The students discussed how each story delivery method changed how they interacted with the story.  This served to illustrate how the way a story is presented changes how we understand that story. Piggy Gets a Warm Bath (video)

7. Piggy Gets a Warm Bath (written)  The students were asked to identify what they HEARD, SAW, and could SAY about the two different stories.  They were provided with a graphic organizer that was able to be used with grades 2-5.

8. LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION (PART 2)  Graphic Organizer

9. LESSON 2: BRAINSTORMING & PLANNING STEM Talk  For the second lesson, the students brainstormed the ways in which STEM was important to them.  They were then directed to share how they see STEM helping them in the future.  ANYTHING they learned in STEM was fair game! Literacy Tie-In  Textual:  The students practiced brainstorming, sequencing ideas, transition words, and “showing” not “telling.”  Character development using TED Talk on boy with progeria. using TED Talk on boy with progeria  Visual:  The students practiced decreasing visual “noise” that could distract a viewer.

10. PLANNING GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS STEM TALK STEPS AND BRAINSTORMING

11. PLANNING GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS STUDENT CHECK OFF SHEET

12. Teaching how to use what is said to convey a message on film.

13. Students reading scripts for practice and for peer feedback.

14. LESSON 3: PLANNING & RECORDING  STEM Talk  The students finished planning their talks in writing.  Before they could begin recording, the students had to have a peer read their work and initial their check off sheet.  Literacy Tie-In  Textual:  The students practiced peer editing.  Visual:  The students practiced sequencing through a simple version of storyboarding.

15. Fifth GradeStudent Sample

17. Students learning how to use TouchCast.

18. “STEM IS MY FUTURE” BY SOPHIA

19. Students viewing taped scriptsfor editing and improvements.

20. Two boys pair up to video oneanother against the makeshiftgreen screen.

21. Q & A SESSION  We welcome your questions about our process, etc.

22. SWAY OR TOUCHAST PLAY ON IPADS  You are invited to use any one of the four iPad Minis we have to play with the TouchCast app.  Otherwise, you are welcomed to visit the Sway created to document the process of this series of lessons by visiting the QR code below.  You can also go to www.MsWillipedia.com. Select “Professional Development” and then “Georgia STEM Forum.” www.MsWillipedia.com