How I use my DNB's !
Hello, my name is Ashley Stefanisin. I teach 7th grade LIFE SCIENCE in Southern Illinois. We are currently incorporating and using NGSS standards in our district's curriculum map.
Our district has had an "interesting" year (20-21) with the pandemic. We were full remote first quarter and have been hybrid (teaching both remote and in-person at the same time) for the remainder of the school year. I created many student digital notebooks as a way to teach in this new hybrid education.
Our district has had an "interesting" year (20-21) with the pandemic. We were full remote first quarter and have been hybrid (teaching both remote and in-person at the same time) for the remainder of the school year. I created many student digital notebooks as a way to teach in this new hybrid education.
Due to having both digital and in-person students (where we were asked to be paperless) I needed (wanted) to create interactive material for my students. I created my digital notebooks using Google Slides (out of Google Suites). My school and district uses Google Classroom to organize and assign school work.
My DNBs were assigned to my students independently through Google Classroom. I would give my students 1.5-2 weeks to complete a digital notebook. I would assign the notebook at the very begin of our topic/lesson. Students access the DNBs through Google Classroom Assignments. They can open and edit their notebooks at any time. I can see all edits and also give private comments to their DNBs as they work if needed. When their DNB is completed they officially "TURN IN ASSIGNMENT" in Google Classroom where I can open them and grade them. I generally assigned 25 points per DNB.
I organize my DNBs by topic/lesson. Some teachers have one large DNB for the entire school year but I found it to be my personal preference to break them down by individual lessons and topics.
I also have created "TEACHER PRESENTATIONS" - this is a teacher presentation model of the DNB that I go over with the students in class. Each DNB has both a student DNB and teacher presentation per topic that I have created. I assign their DNB independently but then complete in-class activities like attention-getters, demonstrations, videos, discussions, in-class activities, lab activities, vocabulary practice, reading activities, review, quizzes and also present my TEACHER PRESENTATION to my students. I do try to give my students some time in class to be able to open their DNBs and work on them. Students do also have other assignments assigned to them during our lesson/units.
The student DNBs are generally used as independent supplement reading/interactive work for the students.
My DNBs were assigned to my students independently through Google Classroom. I would give my students 1.5-2 weeks to complete a digital notebook. I would assign the notebook at the very begin of our topic/lesson. Students access the DNBs through Google Classroom Assignments. They can open and edit their notebooks at any time. I can see all edits and also give private comments to their DNBs as they work if needed. When their DNB is completed they officially "TURN IN ASSIGNMENT" in Google Classroom where I can open them and grade them. I generally assigned 25 points per DNB.
I organize my DNBs by topic/lesson. Some teachers have one large DNB for the entire school year but I found it to be my personal preference to break them down by individual lessons and topics.
I also have created "TEACHER PRESENTATIONS" - this is a teacher presentation model of the DNB that I go over with the students in class. Each DNB has both a student DNB and teacher presentation per topic that I have created. I assign their DNB independently but then complete in-class activities like attention-getters, demonstrations, videos, discussions, in-class activities, lab activities, vocabulary practice, reading activities, review, quizzes and also present my TEACHER PRESENTATION to my students. I do try to give my students some time in class to be able to open their DNBs and work on them. Students do also have other assignments assigned to them during our lesson/units.
The student DNBs are generally used as independent supplement reading/interactive work for the students.
My school moved back to a REGULAR "Normal" school year during the 22-23 school year. I tried to balance paper and digital assignments.
I created "FILL IN" notes for my teacher presentations during class. These are outline packets of the presentations that students will fill in as a present and also respond to discussion questions. There are paired note packets for each teacher presentation and DNB. These note packets essentially work as their study guides as well.
Please let me know if you have any questions @ [email protected]
Advantages of DNBs - Students can access their DNB from any location using a device. Teachers can post these DNBs to Google Classroom and access/view them anytime to see their student's progress. Easily editable and available to update. Having the ability to add videos, sound clips, links to other interactives, vocabulary review, games, etc is a nice advantage as well.
Disadvantages of DNBs - They can be time consuming to grade. They can also be time-consuming to make. Hands-on writing and drawing/coloring in a regular interactive notebook I believe has different benefits for the students that is missed being fully digital. My goal is find a medium and balance (hybrid of the two).