Spring Cleaning My Web2.0 Applications

Spring is here and it is the perfect time to get my online life organized....

The introduction of web2.0 tools such as social networking sites have allowed educators to share, collaborate, and reflect. I think these practices are important to improve our individual teaching practices and there is not always time at school to do this. The only problem I have is tending to each of my social networking groups.

Right now, I am keeping up with educational blogs via Google Reader.

I check twitter via cell and web access.

I attempt to keep up with classroom20.com, but have made very few contributions.

I post to my blog, classroom homepage, and school wide book study on various websites.

There has got to be a way to keep them all together. I know programs are being developed to mix these web2.0 application, but I haven't found one that I am super fond of. What is everyone else using to keep track of all these groups and sites?

RealeBooks: Virtual Books

In order to review the parts of speech, I had students create virtual books using free RealeWriter software. Since you must install the free software, your IT department can help you and your students to create virtual books at any age. Once the software is installed, I highly recommend having your students create a storyboard. Once complete, students can start adding text and images into RealeWriter. Their finished products can be printed, emailed, or shared virtually with others.

There are tons of examples on Realebooks website, but you can also view my favorite Parts of Speech Realebook here.

Twitter

If you haven't been introduced to the world of twittering, you are missing out! Twitter is basically a micro-blog used to create and maintain a network of friends. In less than 140 characters, you can sound off, reflect, question, complain, or get it off your chest.

I am obsessed with twitter, hear what I have to say by following me at cgasell.

Google Does it Again...Google Docs Survey!

Absolutely the best new tool from Google, google docs survey feature is awesome. Online surveys are fun to make and an easy way to gather data. Now, Google has unleashed a survey feature in Google docs. Creating questions is easy to do and Google gives you several different question formats to choose from. Once you create your survey, you can either email it or link to a unique URL. The survey results go right into your Google Doc spreadsheet for you to analyze. A great tool for teachers with endless possibilities!

Check out Google's Blog for more information.

Super Bowl Lesson Plans

The Monday morning after the Superbowl, students are always chatting about the big game, TV ads, and how late they stayed up the night before. Instead of fighting these off task conversations, I am going to use the opportunity to teach a lesson about advertisement and persuasion. Thanks to Frank Baker, I have a few tricks up my sleeve to use the Super Bowl to teach!

If you would like to use the Super Bowl to teach a lesson in your classroom, visit...

http://www.frankwbaker.com/super_bowl.htm

FETC 2008 (Friday)

The first session of the day was Using Technology with English Language Learners. The presenter discussed statistics regarding the United States and directed us to the National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition. The National Clearinghouse provides statistics, lesson plans, and web links to assist teachers with ELL students.

InternetTutorials.net (search lesson plans)

Colorincolorado.org (lots of resources for parents and teachers)

jason.org (National Geographic Society Adventure Site)

During the second session, I attended a presentation by the University of Central Florida on Digital Storytelling. The presenters discussed ideas for getting students interested in reading by creating digital booktalks. By showing book trailers, suggest-a-book quiz, and interactive booktalking activities. Their site they are working on Digital BookTalks. It is also worth your time to take a look at the UB the Director link which offers teachers and students directions on how to make their own book trailers. It is important to teach students how to critically analyze and tell a story. You could start..."Once upon a time, there was a man." Is this a story? What is missing?

After a short lunch break, I sat in on another featured speaker, Stevan Kalmon. Mr. Kalmon works for the Council on 21st Century Learning and was addressing 21st century assessment.
As he spoke, he passionately explained how we need to make students...learners. He gave many examples of assessment for learning... rubric, assessment cards, conferences, thumbs up, logs or journals, and student led progress monitoring chart.

During the last session of the day, I enjoyed another one of Hall Davidson's presentations, Revenge of the Digital Immigrants. His great sense of humor, entertaining style, and wealth of information made me want to sit back and soak up more information from this dynamic speaker. Information from his presentation can be found Discovery Education Speakers Bureau.

FETC 2008 (After Lunch)

The first session I attended after lunch was Story Mapping with Google Maps and More by Terence Cavanaugh from the University of North Florida. By addressing state standards and new literacies, Google Maps can be used to engage and enrich learning. Many of Google Books show the map of places mentioned in the book. In addition, you can read some of the classics online and they link locations to maps by using Gutenkarte.

EditGrid (www.editgrid.com) is an online spreadsheet tool that can plot longitude and latitude data onto maps.

Classroom Literature Mapping Activities:

Story Map (actual locations)
Effect Story Map (all places mentioned)
Comparison Map (visually compares location)
Virtual Map Pins (add quotes, images, facts about a location)
Area Reading Map (collection of books from a location)

Mr. Cavanaugh's website can be fount at www.drscavanaugh.org or www.unf.edu/~tcavanau.

After a tour of the exhibit hall, I am looking forward to finding out more about copyright. Featured speaker, Gary Becker, helped clear up copyright issues for educators. Below are a few sites worth exploring:

US Copyright Office

TeachAct

Becker's Website

Creative Commons Licensing

The last session of the day was titled Beyond Searching- Guerrilla Tactics to Get the Information You Want and Know What You're Getting. A complete guide is online at www.moadore.net/searching. He gave lots of valuable information to help tackle searches.

FETC 2008

Palm trees, sunshine, and humidity all welcomed me when I returned yesterday to Florida to attend the Florida Educational Technology Conference in Orlando, Florida.

During the first morning session, I attended a differentiated instruction presentation from Orange City School District in Ohio. Referencing Differentiating Instruction with Technology in K-5 Classrooms by Grace Smith and Stephanie Throne, the presenters provided a framework for differentiating instruction while using technology. They provided several interesting links to help teachers to meet the needs of all students:


www.kidsclick.com (use the advanced search feature to search readability levels)

www.easytestmaker.com (username and password needed, print only)

http://www.berghuis.co.nz/abiator/lsi/lsiframe.html (Math virtual manipulatives)

http://voicethread.com (create, comment, and share online voice)

http://classblogmeister.com/ (safe blogging for students/teachers)

http://bubbl.us/ (Free Brainstorming Online Application)

magwiki.pbwiki.com (resources from presentation)



The second session of the day was presented by featured speaker, Hall Davidson. Mr. Davidson is the Director of the Discovery Educator Network and offered a room full of eager participants magic technology tricks using html. Here are some of the best links:

http://www.google.com/language_tools (Using Google to translate text or websites)

www.blackle.com (search google in black to save energy)

Mr. Davidson spent quite a bit of time showing how to use iPods effectively in the classroom. Changing the menu, setting up quizzes, and adding directions make iPods an effective learning tool for students. All the amazing tips and tricks can be found on the DEN blog at http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/media_matters.

He also gave us tons of information about make the most of GoogleEarth. Those handouts can also be found on the DEN blog. Also, you can get a Google Earth Pro license just because you are a educator! Email GEEC@google.com and tell them you want it because you are an educator! Finally, he reminded me of GoogleLitTrips which includes GoogleEarth trips that follow famous literature.

The PowerPoint is located at http://discoveryedspeakersbureau.com.

More Animation Fun

As I continue to search for fun ways to use technology in my classroom, I ran across StickPivot. StickPivot is an easy to use animation program, but unfortunately, for Windows only. At first, I wasn't sure how to create my own stick movie or add new stick characters, but after I played around with it for a few minutes, I got the hang of it.

You have to be creative to use stickpivot. If you need ideas, go to YouTube and type in stick pivot. You will find tons of animations, some that are graphic and violent, but it will give you some ideas for how to use it.

Below is the first stick pivot I created. You will have to click on the picture to see the animation. It was just to get the feel of the program. I feel confident that my students can write their own short stories and animate them using stick pivot. Students could also create stick pivots to reenact historical events, science experiments, and create visual math problems. I will post links to more stick pivot ideas and examples from my students on my teacher website.

Tech4Learning Software

As my holiday break comes to an end, I must admit that I have had fun. Not only relaxing and enjoying the blistering winter weather, but learning some new software. I have fallen for Tech4Learning's great line of products! For less than a nice dinner for two, you can own some powerful software that is kid friendly. After speaking with the Tech4Learning rep, prices drop significantly for site licenses and bundle packages, so make sure to speak to a rep once you get your administration on board.

Although I have played with all the Tech4Learning software products, I have to admit that my favorite is Frames. Frames is an easy to use stop motion animation program. Using photographs, computer generated images, or clay, students can make their own creations. The Tech4Learning website has tons of support for teachers including examples, lesson plans, student worksheets, and curriculum standards. Below is a clamation I created in several hours with a four dollar pack of modeling clay, a digital camera, Frames, and Garageband.

Enjoy!