In this activity, HippoCampus resources are used to supplement classroom instruction. The teacher creates a playlist of resources that can enhance the learning experience. Some students will want to review video resources several times. Others may only watch a video once. HippoCampus is a way to provide differentiated instruction.
HippoCampus is a searchable database of more than 7000 free videos and multimedia resources in the National Repository of Online Courses (NROC) library. Resources are correlated to leading textbooks and state standards. Teachers can use high-quality videos, animations, and simulations on core academic topics to supplement classroom instruction, flip their classroom, reinforce learning through simulation, or to assign as homework. Content is most appropriate for adult school students working at the middle school or high school level.
There is no student enrollment or login. Accounts are only necessary for teachers that want to customize the site for their own classroom or to create their own playlists.
Preparation
1. Decide on a topic.
2. Search HippoCampus resources and create a playlist.
3. Decide on how students are going to access your playlist. HippoCampus resources and playlists can be added to your Learning Management System such as Moodle, Canvas, Google Classroom, or Schoology. They can also be organized on a free website such as Weebly or Google Sites. You can also send students a link by way of email.
4. Decide if students will need a handout in order to access your playlist or resource.
5. Make sure that the websites are not blocked at your school.
Teacher Tips
Ensure HippoCampus resources are accessible on school devices.
Test video links prior to the lesson.
Prepare guiding questions and quizzes in advance.
Program Areas
ASE: High School Diploma
View Lesson Plan
Warm-up
Engagement
1. Think-Pair-Share Activity: Ask students, "How do you prefer to learn new information? Watching videos, reading articles, or doing hands-on activities?" 2. Class Discussion: Discuss different learning styles and introduce how technology, like HippoCampus, can support individual learning preferences.
Introduction
1. Introduce HippoCampus: Briefly explain what HippoCampus is and how it provides free educational videos and multimedia resources aligned with textbooks and state standards. 2. Objective: Inform students that they will explore a HippoCampus playlist to enhance their understanding of today’s topic. 3. Explain Relevance: Connect the use of multimedia resources to real-world learning and exam preparation.
Presentation
1. Demonstrate Navigation: Project the HippoCampus website and demonstrate how to navigate and access the playlist. 2. Vocabulary Preview: Introduce and explain any essential vocabulary related to the topic. 3. Showcase Playlist: Play a selected video from the playlist, pausing occasionally to check comprehension and encourage engagement.
Practice
Engagement
1. Interactive Group Activity: Divide students into small groups. Assign each group a different video or resource from the playlist to watch and discuss. 2. Discussion Prompts: Provide guiding questions for each group to answer, encouraging critical thinking and collaboration. 3. Sharing: Each group presents a summary of their resource and key takeaways to the class.
Evaluation
1. Quick Quiz: Distribute a brief quiz (multiple-choice or short answer) covering key concepts from the videos. 2. Reflection: Ask students to write a short reflection on how the videos helped them understand the topic better. 3. Group Feedback: Facilitate a discussion about what students liked about using the HippoCampus resources and what could be improved.
Application
1. Independent Exploration: Assign students to explore HippoCampus independently at home and choose one additional resource related to the topic to review. 2. Extension Activity: Have students prepare a brief presentation or written summary of what they learned from their chosen resource for the next class. 3. Access Review: Remind students how to access the playlist via the LMS or shared link.
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