Cool Resources:
I Fake Text – http://ifaketext.com/ - create screen shots of fake text message conversations to simulate conversations that could have happened. Ideas include: 2 characters from a story, 2 historical figures, practice dialogue for a foreign language, practice using new vocabulary in sentences, and include these in your powerpoints to get student’s attention. Step by step guide and ideas can be found at: http://www.tammyworcester.com/TipOfWeek/TammyWTechTipOfWeek/Entries/2012/1/3_Tip_109_-_iFake_Text.html
Triptico: http://www.triptico.co.uk/ - This does require a download to use (which the district now approves). This resource allows you to create interactive resources such as Word Magnets, class timers, class lists with random name pickers, score boards for class games, matching squares for vocabulary or quotes, order sequence activities, spinners, question quizzes, and more. This is a great resource if you have a smart slate or just want to use your projector in ways that are more interactive for the classroom. If you want this installed on your teacher machine, fill in the tech help form to get on my list. https://sites.google.com/site/rrmstechcenter/Home/tech-help-request
Apps in Education: http://appsineducation.blogspot.com/2012/01/apps-for-teachers.html - Check out this blog entry for a list of great apps (apple) for teachers to have. The list breaks down the app, what it costs and what it does. The website also has iPad lists for certain subject areas as well. Great place to start if you are wanting to check out apps for your device.
Android Apps – http://kathyschrock.net/androidblooms/ - Not to leave Android users out – here is a list of android apps and how they rank in Bloom’s Taxonomy. This list is put together by Kathy Schrock and is a great list to work from.
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!
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
Tags: animation, apps, documentary, science
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/
Tags: cell phones, QR Codes, twitter
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/
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/
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/
Tags: blog, collaboration, hastags, twitter
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
Tags: digital storytelling, model, twitter, video, YouTube
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/
Resources and Ideas: Contains many useful websites and tips for educators using technology. Recent posts include google docs tips, September 11th 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!
Tags: Language Arts, math, publishing, science, social studies, video, wiki
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.
Tags: blogs, resources, twitter, voicethread
