Shift Happens and Sock Puppets

"Shift Happens" is a video that first came out in the mid 2000's.  It brought to light how the present world reflects a very different picture than what we may have seen growing up in the United States.  Attached below is the 2012 updated version.  Even in those past 6 years, many things have changed - a lot.

As parents and educators, it is important for us to keep in mind that our kids face change at an ever increasing rate.  While we learned that change is the only constant, the pace is absolutely quickening.  Along with the core educational needs, higher level thinking, creativity, and flexibility are more essential than ever.  Technology is a vital tool in developing these skills.   

Below is a video from students in Mrs. Beckman's class.  After reading biographies on important people in history, students worked in pairs using the Sock Puppet app on our iPads.  The puppet shows were created, written, and recorded in one class period - on an app they had never used before.  How smoothly do you think this would go the second and third times they use the app?

Of course, the product's final appearance is secondary.  What I find very exciting about this product is that kids used technology in a collaborative setting to apply and synthesize information - and they were fully engaged throughout the process.