I had fun using Google Forms to complete this assignment – but I also had a lot of fun getting to create an assignment around a short film starring Charlie Chaplin very early in his film career. I liked the SHEG method of teaching and the idea of challenging our views of what qualifies as a primary source. I believe this is a lesson that would be accessible to most 8th – 12th grade social studies classes.
I found Google Forms to be fairly intuitive to navigate. I saw the option to use a ranking system for questions two and four, and after a brief moment of confusion I was able to figure out how to build the “linear scale” as I wanted it to appear.
I was disappointed that it is not easier to view an embedded video from Youtube in the form. I would almost rather include a screenshot from the film accompanied by a link to the video, but I also like having the entire lesson right there on the form for students – so I’m torn.
In thinking about the classroom I am currently student teaching in, this is a type of technology I could incorporate. It is a fresh take on the typical worksheet that students are used to. I think it is also a great tool to use if you need to incorporate media into an activity either in the classroom or at home (as long as students have access in either location).
In case anyone was wondering what Sir Charles Chaplin actually looked like…
(Without the mustache)
I really liked your lesson, Molly. Your use of video to teach students about context was effective, particularly since you included that context only after students view the film. I hadn’t realized while watching the film this was a real event which, if I had known ahead of time, would have vastly altered my perspective. It is important for students to understand just how valuable context is in history and in all of the social sciences.
I’m glad Google Forms was intuitive for you. I did not share that sentiment, unfortunately.
I enjoyed the content and approach of this lesson. Sorry about the embedded video not working correctly. I just went back into your Google form and made the video larger (I grabbed a corner and just pulled). I think it’s easier to watch now.
BTW Google docs do not allow you to embed a video. So form, slides and Google sites are your only option for that.
I thought that this was a great way to emphasize the impact of knowing context. Like others have said I would have viewed the video from the start much differently if I had known it wasn’t staged. I still think though that I might change the question about culture because despite the misgivings in class I still think that those who go to those car races are not fully representative of all of the culture. Yay Charlie Chaplin!
I really enjoyed your activity Molly. I felt it was creative, and well put together. I am definitely going to use how you structured your mini-lesson, on the assignments that I create in the future. Especially how you use the film as the introduction, and then you give more information later through the lesson that change my initial perspective of the film.