Technology Tuesday - December 13th

Resources and Articles that caught my attention this week.

Mathtrain.tv  - http://mathtrain.tv/
Math videos created by students.

YouTube for Education -  http://www.youtube.com/education_channels?level=primary_secondary_education 

Lists the different Youtube Channels focused mostly on the K12 classrooms. Channels including Biography Channel (lots of celebrities but also historical characters), Encyclopedia Britannica, Smithsonian Channel, etc. Worth checking out!

BYOT: 10 Schools Encouraging Smartphones in the Classroom: http://edudemic.com/2011/12/smartphones-in-classrooms/
This article covers 10 schools and what they are doing with smartphones and what the results have been. Great data to use when considering using BYOT in the classroom.

QuadBlogging - http://quadblogging.net/
Join 4 other schools to share blogs. This guarantees your blog site will get heavy traffic for at least a week from students in another part of the world. Signup on the website. This is a great way to improve student's writing abilities and create those personal learning networks that are required in the Technology TEKS. You can still sign up for the next round happening in January 2012.

Digiteen Project: Gloabl Citizenship Collaboration and Education  - http://www.digiteen.org/timeline.html
Part of the flatclassroom series. Apply now to join in with other 6-9 graders in exploring digital citizenship. This project includes research and a on-campus project to implement what they have learned from the research. Project runs February through May. Applications are due Feburary 1.

Skype in the Classroom  - http://education.skype.com/
Join other classrooms in projects that include collaborating together online. Join a project already proposed or submit your own proposal for others to join in. Proposals are divided into age groups, language and categories. Worth taking a look!

Technology Tuesday - November 29th

This year I was trying to share resources that I found on twitter each Tuesday.  I found this to be a little exclusive and was wanting to allow resources i found from some of my favorite blogs as well.  So I am expanding from Twitter Tuesday to Technology Tuesday.   Flexibility is always nice to have.

 

Technology Websites to Check out:

Flipsnack - http://www.flipsnack.com - Think about the online ad papers that you can flip through. This sites creates those kinds of interactive files. Save your files as a pdf file or scan papers into one pdf file and then load it online to create a virtual flipbook. Various styles to choose from. The free account does has limits, but a nice option to make a virtual book of directions or from the kids work. Books are embeddable and can be shared by URL. Check out my sample at: http://snack.to/5PpNF6

7 Web 2.0 Animation Tools: http://www.markbrumley.com/2011/06/20/7-web-2-0-animation-tools/ - This blog posts reviews 7 different ways to create animations. Great site to check out the options!

Human Anatomy - http://www.biodigitalhuman.com/ - offers 3d Models of the human body. Different body systems can be turned on to show up at a time and the body can be freely rotated to see the different angles.

Documentary Tube: http://www.documentarytube.com - a collection of documentaries available online. Search by subject such as science, history, biography, disasters, or travel for instance. I saw a cool one created by BBC on how the memory works and another one about Hitler's children. The quality of the video is low when expanded full screen, and the site links you to amazon to purchase the documentary on DVD. Reminder: As always preview the video, check to see who produced the documentary and what agenda it had before showing anything to students.

Cool Apps:

Sock Puppets: http://itunes.apple.com/ve/app/sock-puppets/id394504903?mt=8  (Apple only) Create 30 second sock puppet shows for free and the recordings can then be uploaded into Youtube. You can purchase more recording time, backgrounds and puppets inside the app. Read a review of the app here: http://www.tammyworcester.com/TipOfWeek/TammyWTechTipOfWeek/Entries/2011/11/15_Tip_107_-_Sock_Puppets_App.html

Twitter Tuesday - October 25th

These are from one of my favorite tech podcasts : Tech Chicks

• Pre-Made Powerpoints for Any occasion:  http://www.pppst.com/


• Great List of Web 2.0 tools - http://www.hccweb2.org/web2/

QR Codes in the library
RT @nathan_stevens: QR Poster for Genre books: http://instagr.am/p/RcIbD/ #edtech #library
Students can find a book in the library by scanning the QR code and getting a recommendation by genre

10 Ideas for Using Cell Phones in the Classroom
SNewco: 10 Unique Lesson Ideas for BYOD and BYOT #mlearning #edchat #edtech
http://gettingsmart.com/news/2011/10/10-unique-lesson-ideas-for-byod-and-byot/

Twitter Tuesday - October 18th

Next year the new Technology Application TEKS go into effect.  In reading through them I have begun to pick out areas I think my campus needs help in getting ready for the new TEKS.   One of these strands is:

Communication and collaboration. The student collaborates and communicates both locally and globally to reinforce and promote learning. The student is expected to:

6th grade	7th Grade	8th Grade
(A) participate in personal learning networks to collaborate with peers, experts, or others using digital tools such as blogs, wikis, audio/video communication, or other emerging technologies;	(A) create personal learning networks to collaborate and publish with peers, experts, or others using digital tools such as blogs, wikis, audio/video communication, or other emerging technologies;	(A) create and manage personal learning networks to collaborate and publish with peers, experts, or others using digital tools such as blogs, wikis, audio/video communication, or other emerging technologies;

With this in mind I have put together this week's Twitter Tuesday list to include resources to remind us why these tools are important:

10 Reasons Students Should Blog:
JamiciaCroskery: RT @edutopia: Worth a read: RT @pernilleripp: Why Students Should Blog - My Top 10 #edtech
http://mrspripp.blogspot.com/2011/10/why-students-should-blog-my-top-10.html

Why Wikis Still Matter
RT @Kerry_EasyBib: Why Wikis Still Matter http://soc.li/e3AU2FT via @AudreyWatters #edchat #edtech #edducation #elearning
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/wiki-classroom-audrey-watters

Twitter in the Classroom:
TeachHub: 50 Ways to Use Twitter in the Classroom #edchat #teachertuesday
http://www.teachhub.com/50-ways-use-twitter-classroom

Math Channel on YouTube Worth Checking Out
TLC_edu: Top Math YouTube Channels For All Ages - #edchat #mathchat
http://blog.simplek12.com/education/top-math-youtube-channels-for-all-ages/

 

Twitter Tuesday - October 4th

A few tweets that caught my eye this past week:

Voicethread in ELA Classrooms

• RT @Write_To_Learn: See how you can incorporate VoiceThread into reading and writing exercises in your classroom. http://t.co/Z9Z8TTsM #edtech #edchat
  http://write-to-learn.tumblr.com/

Collaboration Tools:

Twitter:

Educational Hashtags to know about in Twitter:

• @JeffreyGoetz: RT @web20classroom: RT @tomwhitby: The A-Z Dictionary of Educational Twitter Hashtags #Edchat
  http://edudemic.com/2011/10/twitter-hashtag-dictionary/

 Professional Development through Twitter: Edchat

• CT_EventsCT_Events: RT @dmp_gctc: Teachers Teaching Teachers, on Twitter: Q&A on Edchats via @KSchulten #edchat #education #edtech
  http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/teachers-teaching-teachers-on-twitter-q-and-a-on-edchats/

Information for Teachers getting started on Twitter 

• billselakbillselak: RT @Michelle_Horst: Great resources for new teachers to Twitter...how to start your PLN - via @adaptivelearnin #ntchat #elemchat #edchat
  http://adaptivelearnin.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/why-teachers-should-join-twitter-what-i-have-learned-as-a-twitter-newbie/

Blogs in the Classroom:

An Example of how to get kids writing for real-world audiences

• analuisalozano: RT @gret: Please leave my 5th graders some comments on their blogs! #edchat #comments4kids #eltchat #edtech #elemchat
  http://kidblog.org/ourbloggingadventure/

 




 

Twitter Tuesdays - September 27th

Video Resources:

YouTube Channel for Teachers:

@pseudotechgeek: RT @mheducation: YouTube goes live with new channel for #teachers: ~by @tinabarseghian #edtech  http://www.youtube.com/teachers

Another Good Professional Development Website is Teaching Channel:http://www.teachingchannel.org - a web site dediecated to bringing you good teaching videos to help you grow professionally

 Khan Academy - instructional videos in math, science and the humanities.   Excellent videos to post on your website for reteaching opportunities or to shos in class so kids can hear and see it a different way.

@educationweek: Blog: Learning Math the Khan Academy Way #edtech
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/DigitalEducation/2011/09/elearning_update_learning_the.html
http://www.khanacademy.org/

Good Technology Modeling for Students:

Ideas on Way to be a good Technology Role Model

RT @pschoolsystems: 20 Everyday Ways to Model Technology Use for Students http://bit.ly/n6BmKv #edchat #edtech
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/20-ways-model-technology-students-heather-wolpert-gawron

 Digital Storytelling:

 28 Digital Storytelling Tools for Educators

 RT @missnoor28: Digital #Storytelling Tools for Educators | @scoopit http://j.mp/pAUCVQ #edtech #edchat
http://www.scoop.it/t/the-best-of-storytelling/p/388615148/digital-storytelling-tools-for-educators

 

 

Twitter Tuesday - September 20th

Bloom's Taxonomy

Webtool divided out by Bloom's taxonomy - great resource to find new tools

@shannonmmiller and @mrplough07-Tools for Teaching Students at the Top of Bloom's Taxonomy: https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dhsgv8zv_4143np48dg

Digital Storytelling Tools

@cossie29: Updated- Digital Storytelling Tools on @scoopit So many fantastic tools out there to encourage a passion for writing!  http://www.scoop.it/t/digital-storytelling-tools

QR Codes in the Classroom

@SadlierSchool: Using QR Codes in the Classroom via @edutopia http://t.co/qFeULjNj #edchat #edtech @dgrice @rjacklin @dawblack :)
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/qr-codes-education-mary-beth-hertz?utm_source=housead&utm_medium=post&utm_content=blog&utm_campaign=qrcodesinclassroom

Flipped Classroom -

Firsthand accounts of teaching in a flipped classrom.

@haikulearning: 7 Stories from Educators About Teaching in the Flipped Classroom (via Emerging Ed Tech) http://t.co/9xO5dXlT #edtech  http://www.emergingedtech.com/2011/09/7-stories-from-educators-about-teaching-in-the-flipped-classroom/

A great infographic explaining what a flipped classroom is and how it developed.

subatomicdoc: The Flipped Classroom [Infographic] via @Knewton #meded #edtech  http://www.knewton.com/flipped-classroom/

Twitter Tuesdays - September 13th

Resources and Ideas:  Contains many useful websites and tips for educators using technology.  Recent posts include google docs tips, September 11^th resources, and 3-D tours of the solar system. http://www.freetech4teachers.com/

@IanBurley31  - Wow, what a great tech resource, of tech resources!! http://www.freetech4teachers.com/ #edtech #educhat #soudhs

Library of Congress –This is a list of 10 fun things you can do at their website including virtual tours, trivia games, podcasts, webcasts, photos , science mysteries,  and catch online e3xhibits.  http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-fun-learning-library-congress-online/

@sheconsulting  10 Things U Can Do 4 Fun & Learning On The Library Of Congress Online http://zite.to/p1pPnM via @Zite RT @nmhs_principal #edu #edtech

StudyJams – these contain Math and Science concepts that students can explore with video, explanation slides and check for understanding opportunities.  These are from scholastic and are well done!   Some may be too basic, but many are appropriate for middle school.  http://studyjams.scholastic.com

@MsThomas79 Fractions: Here is the video from Scholastic’s Study Jams we viewed in class today and some inte... http://bit.ly/orieuN #edchat #edtech

Storybird – students can publish their writings or create books to explain a concept with Storybird.  This blog post explores ways two teachers have incorporated this tools into their teaching.  http://teachingwithsoul.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/new-teacher-boot-camp-fall-re-bootweek-3-using-storybird-ntchat/

@gret New Teacher Boot Camp Fall Re-Boot:Week 3 Using Storybird #ntchat by @teachingwthsoul http://j.mp/o9phbS #edchat

YouTube – “Last month, 16 teachers from across the country got together at Google’s Seattle office for the YouTube Teachers Studio — a sort of bootcamp to learn how to best use YouTube in the classroom.”  Contains 5 great videos that show what YouTube has to offer and why these types of videos are worth using.  http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/09/five-reasons-why-youtube-rocks-the-classroom/

@stem_high  5 reasons to use YouTube in the classroom 5 reasons to use YouTube in the classroom - http://sbne.ws/r/8Usy #edtech #edchat

Wikispaces – New tool – set up projects in your wiki – worth taking a second look at wikispaces for use with students!  http://blog.wikispaces.com/2011/08/projects-a-better-way-to-work-in-classroom-groups.html

@geraldaungst I discovered Projects in my wiki today and am psyched! http://bit.ly/pvvm01 Brilliant! Thank you @wikispaces!

Twitter Tuesday - Sept. 6th

Hashtags make twitter searchable.  They begin with the pound sign and are followed by text – ex. #tgif.   Anyone can create and add a hashtags to their tweet.  Conferences will designate a hashtag for their attendees to use so others attending the conference can keep up with the back channel conversations on twitter.    You don’t have to be a part of twitter to search for hashtags – just go to twitter.com and enter in the hashtag to search for any posts that contain that tag.  Some of my favorite hashtags to search for educational resources are #edchat and #edtech.

Here are a few articles that caught my attention on twitter this week.

 

Cell Phones –Texting Help

Remind 101:  A texting Service for Teachers

@laurieyingling: Remind101 - safely text message students and stay in touch with parents #edtech via @remind101
http://remind101.com/
Students and parents can sign up to receive text messages from the teacher.  Teachers never see the kids’ numbers and the kids never see the teacher’s numbers.  Think of this as another way to do a newsflash, especially fi you don’t use teacherweb.   And it is free!

 

Technology Websites:

VoiceThread
@mr_avery: The unveiling of my brand new blog, Tech Tutorials and the first post about how to use VoiceThread! #edchat #6thchat
http://techtutorials.edublogs.org/2011/08/31/voicethread/
This blog explains Voicethread, gives video tutorials as well as examples and ideas for classroom integration.

Educational Articles

 

Scienctific America Podcast:  Drawing Helps Students Learn

@sciam Doodles And Drawings Help Cement Concepts #EdChat #SciChat
http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=doodles-and-drawings-help-cement-co-11-08-29
60 Second podcast linking drawing to better comprehension in students

Several Ways To Help Students Become Better Listeners – an article by Larry Ferlazzo.
@tcbird1: Response: Several Ways To Help Students Become Better Listeners #edchat #elemchat http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/2011/08/response_several_ways_to_help_students_become_better_listeners.html?cmp=ENL-TU-NEWS1

45 Ideas for Class Blog Posts
@web20classroom: Over 45 Ideas For Class Blog Posts: #edtech
http://edte.ch/blog/2010/09/25/10-ideas-for-class-blog-posts/
a good list of ways to put more life into your class blog and/or website.

Twitter Tuesdays

I have been on twitter for several years now and have found it a great way to build my own Personal Learning Network (commonly refered to as a PLN).   I have found several people to follow that are also interested in educational technology.  Those connections lead me to new resources to share with you.   Each Tuesday this year I want to share some of those resources with you along with the original tweet  and who sent the tweet.  I have tried to group these resources into categories so that you can quickly go through and find ones that may be helpful to you.

Here are a collections of resources that caught my attention this past week on Twitter:

General Sites:

ConceptBoard - @addthis  Conceptboard - Realtime Teamwork & Collaboration Software http://t.co/YZ6KCl4

• Create interactive whiteboards that can be shared

Moodle -  @moodlenews: 47 Interesting Ways to Use #Moodle in the Classroom (started by @TomBarrett)  http://www.moodlenews.com/2011/42-interesting-ways-to-use-moodle-in-the-classroom-started-by-tombarrett/

•  A google presentation that lists different ways you can use moodle in the classroom.

 Language Arts

 The LightingBug -   @TCEA: Lightning Bug is a writing resource website with interactive elements for tween and teen writers. http://www.lightningbug.com.au/index.htm

  Math

SumDog - @briandvorak: Classrooms can enter the Sumdog contest: Sumdog - Free math games #edtech #math sumdog.com

• Math Games – can hold class competitions and play against players in other areas.


• Teachers can register for accounts and upload students.   Basic skills are covered, but might be appropriate for intervention classes

Social Studies

iCivics.Org - @PBSLrnMedia: New Free Online Game Lets Students Run a County #edtech http://ow.ly/65BE9

This website has free online games for students to learn how to:

• run a county government


• control the budget of the federal government


• be president for four years


• run a law firm that specialized in constitutional law firm


• Be part of a supreme court decision

An account does need an email, but I was able to use the +1 trick with gmail.

Facebook and Summarization

The difference between using twitter and facebook is that Facebook statuses can be longer than 140 characters.  But keep in mind that facebook statuses should not be paragraphs of information.    Facebook posts are written to express your thoughts or opinions to you friends so a post should not read as if it is a report written for your teacher.  Most students have a facebook account or have at least seen or heard of facebook.  While using facebook is not advisable, you can take advantage of it's draw to motivate students in your classroom.  This can be done with one computer and a projector or with multiple computers.

 Here are some ideas to have students summarize with using facebook in mind:

• Write a status update from a historical perspective or from the perspective or a character in the novel or an element in science


• What would Columbus have posted after landing in the New World?


• What would Robert E Lee’s posts been during the Civil War?


• What would Peeta have posted after the first day in the Hunger Games?

 Other ideas using facebook:

• Respond to a status update – Show a sample status update on the board and have the students respond to it from different points of view:
  
  
  
  • Read King George’s status update after the Boston Tea Party – how would Samuel Adams have responded?
  
  
  
  


• RolePlay - have students/classes assume different characters and interact with each other in a facebook like environment such as edmodo - or in a forum within moodle.

Ways to play this out in the classroom:

•  
  
  
  
  • Roles assigned to each class period - As a class look at the postings on the screen and decide the best response
  
  
  • Roles assigned to different teachers  - Interact with different classrooms as a class - partner with teacher who teaches your same grade level/subject in the building or find classes outside of the building who will assume a character adn interact with your classes
  
  
  • break the class into groups and have the groups assume a character and decide together how to interact
  
  
  • Roles assigned to different students
  
  
  
  

 

Resources to make this happen:

• Create a non-interactive fake facebook wall for a character http://myfakewall.com/


•  Secure Social Networking Site for schools - http://www.edmodo.com/ - Create your own facebook like environment and have kids use the characters name as theirs to make posts.

Twitter Part 3: Taking it a Step Further

So far the talk has been about composing a summary statement.  What about having a conversation?  Twitter is a place where ideas can be thrown out to the world and others can respond.   So how can be that used in the classroom?

Ideas for twittering in the classroom:

• Role Playing Tweets: Have the class take on the role of a famous person or literary character and then compose tweets from that point of view.
  
  
  
  • What would the framer's of the constitution have tweeted while negotiating the Bill of Rights?
  
  
  • What would the states have tweeted as the Union began to fall apart leading up to the Civil War?
  
  
  • How would Scout have reported on the trial in To Kill a Mocking Bird?
  
  
  • Choose a pivotal point in a story and have the characters send out tweets  reflecting on the events and/or predicting events to come
  
  
  
  


• Class Discussions:
  
  
  
  • Summarize lab results
  
  
  • Discuss examples of a scientific theory in real life
  
  
  • Discuss math in real life
  
  
  • Class could discuss a novel, an event, or topic
  
  
  • Have people choose sides of a debate and send in tweets to promote their side
  
  
  • Students could ask questions about the unit being studied and others could post answers.
  
  
  
  

Scaffolding (easing it in)

• Have the entire class create the tweet and post it.


• Have each class period take on a character and post from that point of view to the other class periods.


• Tweet between classes in the same class period.  If Mr. Jones and Mrs. Smith have classes 2nd period studying the same topic, the teacher could have the chat on the projector screen and as a class you can decide what messages to send.  This could also include classrooms outside of your own campus.


• Divide students into groups and have the groups compose statements and responses to send.


• Have each student assume a character and post responses

Tools to Make it Happen:

• TodaysMeet - temporary chatroom - free no account needed: http://www.todaysmeet.com/


• Edmodo - a secure social networking side for schools - http://www.edmodo.com/


• Twiducate - a twitter network for classrooms - - http://www.twiducate.com/

Twitter and Summary - Part 2

So yesterday I shared the idea of using 140 characters or less to summarize on paper.   If you would like to continue this thought using technology here are a few ideas:

• If you want to create the look of a actual tweet check out:  http://www.classtools.net/twister/ - enter in the given info and it creates apage that looks similiar to an actual twitter page.  This could also be a great writing prompt.  have the Tweet posted on the screen and have students respond to the tweet. 


• If you have access to computers check out TodaysMeet:  http://www.todaysmeet.com/ - you can create a temporary chat room and have the students go to the url and enter their summary in the chatroom.  each response is limited to 140 characters.   This way students can see each other's messages.   You can decide if you want the chat room to last a few hours, a few days, a week all the way to a year.   No email address is required.  Chat rooms can be saved in transcript form to have a record of who said what.

Summarization and Twitter

Summary is a skill that crosses into every subject area.  As a history teacher I wanted to have kids summarize, but I needed some tools to get started with.   As an ITS I am still looking for ways to help kids learn to summarize that is relevant to them, which is what brings me to the topic of this post:

  

Twitter and Summary

 

Background on Twitter: Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging site that lets informal communication happen in small snippets…it is like e-mail, but you have followers that you can keep up-to-date with "tweets" of 140 or less characters. 

Over time twitter has been adapted to meet the needs of the user including the "@" symbol to reply to someone else's tweet or a hashtag "#" to add labels or tags to tweets to allow users to follow topics or to find tweets more easily. #summaryidea

Ask students to compose a tweet to summarize a concept they have learned or a passage they have read in 140 characters or less. Can they do it? Can you do it? I've attached a template that contains 140 squares that can be used to compose the summary statement.

   Summarize in 140 characters or less

 Think about this activity as a ticket out the door activity with a note card you turn in on the way out or a sticky not you place on the door for others to see and review.

Getting Social - in Social Studies and Language Arts

After a week at TCEA, I came home with lots of new ideas.  Here are some of them - Introducing social networking into the classroom, safely.  In this prezi i ahve a few ideas on how to integrate Twitter and facebook types of applications into the social studies and language arts classroom.



Resources:  http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.com/2009/01/teaching-with-twitter.html;   http://www.myfakewall.com/w/Ben+Franklin_1

Web Wandering Wednesdays - Videos

60 Second Recaps - http://www.60secondrecap.com/ - provides sixty second clips about various parts of classic literature.  Nice way to give an overview of what is being read, or to inspire students to create their own 60 second overview of a book they are reading.



Life in a Day - http://www.youtube.com/lifeinaday?x=explore - View videos of a "life in the day" or people from around the globe.   The day is July 24, 2010 and people were asked to video their lie and submit it to this project on Youtube.   The websitea has a nice global navigation that allows you to watch videos from all over the world.  Here is a video explaining the project far better that I can:

Web Wandering Wednesday - Jan 5

This week's web Wandering Wednesday is focusing in on a few maps that track diseases:

Google Flu Trends:  Google tracks who is searching for information about the flu and then maps that information to estimate where the flu is hitting around the world.   Click on the United States and you can see more information about each state.

Health Map - health map brings together information from various resources to try to pinpoint outbreaks of infectious diseases around the world.  You can hover your mouse over a pin on the map and see what disease is currently affecting the area and any relevant information on it including links to the sources of the information.