Summer School Blog Post PM 5

Here is what students said about class today: 

In class today I learned about the American Revolution. My favorite part was creating the podcast because It was really cool how i gathered up all my information and the just talk about everything I learned.

Today I learned about the Haitian revolution, today in class I created a podcast on the Haitian revolution and was given a quote to base my research off of. I also learned about Americas Bill of Rights and was asked to annotate with snap chats , this most definitely helps me value the rights I have as an American citizen, I also learned about rights I didn't even know I had.

Today I learned about the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence by studying a quote from the Declaration of Independence. Studying the quote was probably my favorite part because the outlines made it easy.

Today I learned more about the Declaration of Independence and I learned it through a primary source on Newsela. I also learned about this quote from the Haitian Revolution,“All men, regardless of color, are eligible to all employment.”said by Toussaint L'Ouverture and made a voice memo which will be added into a huge podcast with other students who also talked about a various other quotes as well. My favorite part of class today was recording the voice memo because it was calming and relaxing for some weird reason. 

Here are some of the annotations they made using #booksnaps: 

Today my students created some questions they'd like our blog readers to answer: 

1. It's cool that you have come to check out this amazing blog but, what made you want to take a look at this blog?
2. Do you like history? Why? 
3. How will this class help us in life?
4. What's there favorite part about reading our blog?
5. How has the American Revolution influenced democracy and liberty in other countries?

My students would love to hear your thoughts in the comments! 

Summer School AM Blog Post 5

Here is what class was like for 3 students today: 

Today we continued with the enlightened ideals that inspired revolts across the world. We learned it through researching about an assigned revolution and how the enlightenment impacted the revolution and later creating a podcast. My favorite part of today was being able to look at documents that were created during the revolution and the enlightenment ideals that are presented in the document.

Today, we learned a new method for annotating articles. I learned about women's suffrage by annotating with my phone, using emojis and adding in stuff.That was my favorite part of the day because we got to use social media to complete a school assignment.

Today in class I learned about the French Revolution and the Mexican Revolution. We had to complete book snaps, which is a new way of annotating.I read an article about the Mexican revolution and annotated it using snapchat. The second part of class consisted of preparing for a podcast. I was assigned a quote about the French Revolution and i researched it. My favorite part of class was creating the book snaps since its so much better than regular annotating.

Students use #Booksnaps to annotate primary sources! 

Today I asked my students what questions they had for your readers. They'd like to hear from YOU:

1. How did learning or reading about the enlightenment help influence your perspective?
2. Will history help you with your future career?
3. What revolution do you think is the most important?
4. What do you think of the new way students are learning nowadays? How do you think this will effect the children in the future?
5. What makes you excited to read this blog?

We'd love for you to answer one or two of the questions in the comments below! 

Summer School PM Blog Post 4

For the blog today, I'd like you to imagine you are explaining this class to a stranger who knows nothing about me, the content, or the purpose of the class. In 5-8 sentences what would you say to explain them this class, it's purpose, what you learn about, what the teacher is like etc.
  
"This class is so much more than World History! Mrs. Byars makes the class inclusive and fun for everyone. You use a lot of technology. However, do not be intimidated because she will teach you how to use it. Along with technology, we learn the importance of it, and how this skill can be valued by jobs. We learn many things such as communication and how it is key, to ideas that formed into revolutions! Not only are her lectures fun, but the class will prepare you to be a citizen of the World!" Paul

"This class contains very fun energy. We learn about history and how to apply it to our lives in the future. Right now we are learning about different revolutions. My favorite revolution that I learned about was the Mexican Revolution. The Mexican Revolution consisted of "The Big Four". These four war lords were the most powerful people in Mexico. Eventually they all turned on each other and fought each other." Isaac 

"This class is very fun and i wish i had this class during my actual school year.You learn how technology is going to help you in your future career.We have also learned about different philosophers and their ideas.Also we have been learning about different revolutions that happened over time and why they happened.I really hope history is like this next school year." Mateo 

"The purpose of this class is to help those who didnt get the grade they wanted during school. we learn, the first day, about the computer and its tools and how they are used. then we do a little activity where you get to know your classmate after that we start getting into actual history. we started to learn about the french and american revolution. the teacher is amazing. she is very out-going. she has a lot of energy which is good for a teacher. she keeps everyone awake and she isn't boring." Laramie  


Now I'd like you to explain how grades work in this class, you can also include your opinion about grading in this class. How does it work, what do you like about it, what do you not like about it? 

"How the grading works is you get a reflection and you rate yourself on a scale of 0-4. The reflection has an objective and what you need to put is why you think you are at the grade you gave yourself. You also need to provide evidence of work that relates to the objective. It is a good grading style because instead of running off of many individual assignments for points, it uses one assignment to asses your overall knowledge. I find everything about it amazing." Ryan

"The grades in our class is very unusual (to me at least, I'm used to a percentage scale). We are objective-based so we are graded on how well we understand the topic. We go from 0-1-2-3-4 and it depends on how well we get and do the assignment." Michael 

"Grades in this class goes by how well you understood what you learned, if you can't explain what you learned you will not get a good grade in the class. I like that because it actually forces me to learn something. Something I don't like about it is that I can't rush my work since the grading system works like that."  Julian 

"Grades in this class is pretty much self evaluations and if the teacher agrees with the grade you give your self then that's the grade you get but if she doesn't she will tell you why she thinks that you deserve a different grade and that's the grade you get. She also lets you go back and revise your assignments to get a better grade."  Mateo 

Summer School AM Blog Post 4

For the blog today, I'd like you to imagine you are explaining this class to a stranger who knows nothing about me, the content, or the purpose of the class. In 5-8 sentences what would you say to explain them this class, it's purpose, what you learn about, what the teacher is like etc.  

"This class allows you to ease into school and makes it feel less off a chore and rather a beneficial experience. The purpose of the class is to provide a basic understanding of the world and the history of it. To be able to obtain this knowledge, we perform various assignments assigned to us in which we are more independent and personally learn the material. The class is heavily technological based, as we use laptops for most of our work and this is something I take a liking to. It is overall easier to type and I have a more intricate understanding of technology. In this class we learn of the 17th century to the 20th century. Mrs. Byars is very outgoing and a pleasant teacher to be around. She creates a personal connection with students if they are willing and truly does love teaching, or at least shows that she does. She has a unique style of teaching that is both fun and effective. Furthermore, she's very kind, funny, and friendly and is one of those teachers who you want to come back and visit years down the line just to see them." - Hayden

"This class is amazing it wont only teach you about history but it'll also teach about life and tech. Mrs Byars is one of the most energetic, nice, wonderful people I've ever met and a great teacher. The subjects you learn is all of the revolutions all across the world not just America that's what i am learning so far. The French, Russian, American, Indian, British, etc. all these revolutions." Joel

"This class is a tech environment that is fun and hard working. You will do everything on your computer and phone. The teacher is fun and is very helpful. She calls herself our number one cheerleader because she does not want us to fail. She will help you improve on what you are doing wrong and how to fix it. Then everyday has a new playlist which is pretty cool." Jake 

"History with Mrs.Byars isn't just history, it's also like an introduction to technology. While learning history , you are also learning so much about technology too. The whole class is technology, all the work and assignments are done on their. It's an easier way to get feed back from you peers and the teacher, this helps you improve your work. She has very modern teaching methods, one of my favorite is the note taking, this note taking is different because while she's lecturing you can't type. She gives you time to write what you remembered, I've noticed that this helps me retain information better and it challenges me to remember more information." Ana 

"This is the best History class to be in. The teacher is absolutely amazing. She teaches in a way that makes History fun. Her purpose is to be able to get you to realize that you can use History on a daily basis in your life. She wants you to be able to apply it to your life." Tyson 


Now I'd like you to explain how grades work in this class, you can also include your opinion about grading in this class. How does it work, what do you like about it, what do you not like about it? 

"Grades are graded on a 5 point scale, and we can re-submit our work if we fix it after we receive a grade. I like how we can get a second chance if we need it in order to truly understand the subject material." Sebas

"In the class, we have a five point grading scale. A four is exceeding expectation or an A. A three is meeting expectations or a B. A two is nearly meeting expectations or a C.I personally love this scale because its easy to understand." Jailene 

"The grades are based off the reflections and class work you have done during the period. If you get a bad grade on something , you have chances to make it better and improve your score and grade." Kaylee 

Tweets from Class: 

Vianney 👩🏾‍💻 summarizing a revolution on #Padlet. Really enjoying the integration of technology in @mrsbyarshistory’s class. 🏫 More updates to come...
-Sebas 🐟#byarsmeetsworld #CNUSDFUNandDONE pic.twitter.com/p3dS9xwTnA

— 🌍👨‍🎓👩‍🎓B210 Tweets👩‍🎓👨‍🎓🌎 (@tweetsfromB210) June 14, 2018

Getting right into work after the crazy fire drill. 🚒🚨Here’s Adam learning about how Enlightenment-period ideas influenced revolutions. Everyone loves learning on these great laptops! 💻 Posted by Sebas 🐟#CNUSDFUNandDONE #byarsmeetsworld pic.twitter.com/zZiD9DZJeN

— 🌍👨‍🎓👩‍🎓B210 Tweets👩‍🎓👨‍🎓🌎 (@tweetsfromB210) June 14, 2018

Summer School PM Blog Post 3

First students were asked: Do you believe ideas can change the world? Why or why not?
And then they were asked:From what we have learned in class, has there been anything that supports your opinion? If so, please explain.

"Of course, without an ideas nothing will ever be done, and if nothing is ever done there is no change. Yes, the enlightenment period, during this period many philosophers shared new ideas on government and ultimately shaped our present." Michael

"I do not believe that thoughts themselves can change the world I only believe that thoughts can change the world when and if they are turned into action. So far from what I have learned is that thoughts can change the world by changing the way people think but not necessarily physically changing the world." Mateo A.

"I believe ideas have the potential to be influential enough to change the world Take the existence of the philosophers we went over today their ideas were influential to people later on such as Aristotle influencing and teaching Alexander The Great. Teachers and instructors who have authority over big groups that are willing to listen and take in their ideas. This influence can lead to new ideas and maybe even a movement that can turn out to something big and make a change" Lauryn

"Yes, I believe ideas can change the world because, for example, Isaac newton created Calculus and although today we use it for many things, back then it had push back because it wasn't traditional mathematics. So indeed, ideas do change the world. Yes, we can see this during the French rev. when people threw out the monarchs for their greediness. The French rev., like any other action, starts off as an idea." Paul

"I do believe that ideas can change the world and sometimes it could be for good or bad but it is up to the person is wiling to commit to it. The french rev. the people were strongly angry at there king and queen and revolted against them in the end killing them." Brandon

NOTE FROM MRS. BYARS: My PM session is really shy and has requested to not have their videos shown.

Summer School AM Blog Post 3

First students were asked: Do you believe ideas can change the world? Why or why not? 
And then they were asked:From what we have learned in class, has there been anything that supports your opinion? If so, please explain.

"No, I do not believe that ideas can change the world. It requires action for there to be any reaction. Just an idea won't change the life we know, but an action that goes with it might have some effect." Vanessa 

"Yes one of them is the enlightenment because philosophers got together and brought up different ideas about certain subjects which lead to a change. I believe ideas can change the world because it can bring in other people to the discussion, which can lead to a change. Yes, there have been cases supporting my opinion such as the Enlightenment thinkers. Their ideas only had effect because they took action." Alex 

"I don't believe that ideas itself can change the word, but rather the spreading and teaching of them. Ideas are meaningless if there's no action put to them. it's one thing to think something, and another to act on it. The philosopher I studied, Louverture, had ideas about this idea of equality. H believed that every man is entitled to right. When the Slave Revolt initiated, he took it upon himself to lead the movement. He converted an idea, to an action." Vianney 

"I believe that ideas can really make an affect on the world but it really depends if those ideas become reality, become an action people take. What I learned about Voltaire I agreed with, he believed that everyone has freedom in religion and that the government shouldn't favor a religion or religious group." Darlyn 

"I think ideas do not change the world unless action is taken within the idea. I don't think we have learned enough information to support my idea, however I do have a little background knowledge. I have always been taught that if we don't take action, nothing will ever happen. For example, I want to get an A in this class, but if I don't take action towards my goal by doing my work and studying, it will never happen. " Aracely 

"Yes I believe ideas change the world because ideas spark actions and persuade false thinking, bringing justice to all the wrongs in the world. Yes, philosophers in the enlightenment introduced new ideas such as separation of powers and the freedom of religion and now we are currently living in a world with these ideas as a foundation" Hayden



The lesson today was a digital Enlightenment Salon but instead of only having enlightenment thinkers, students could pick from a range of revolutionary leaders and thinkers to help use better understand and explore the question of "Can ideas change the world?" Here are some of the videos students created today based on their research of major revolutionary thinkers. These students asked for their work to be shared on our blog.