Showing posts with label common core. Show all posts
Showing posts with label common core. Show all posts
Sunday, November 29, 2015
GoogleDocs for Learning on Scoop.It
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| View Google Docs for Learning on Scoop.It |
If you have ideas to share, please take a minute to complete my Google form and share.
ThingLink: Make Images Interactive
Thinglink is an interactive image tool that provides users with the ability to turn any image into a multimedia launcher. Users can create multiple "hot spots" on specific parts of an image and turn the image into a multimedia launcher. Embed video, record audio with the click of a button and a free SoundCloud account, or link to any website. Compatible with any blog or website that has a widget to support javascript, this is a great tool for those of us who use Blogger, Wikispaces or WordPress. To experience Thinglink, roll your mouse over the Apollo 11 collage I created below to see where the hot spots are, then click on any of them to enjoy the multimedia.
Directions:
To use Thinglink, simply follow these steps:
- Go to the Thinglinwebsite and sign up for a free account.
- Follow the directions on the site to install the widget on your blog or wiki.
- Upload an image to Thinglink..
- Click on the paper clip icon in the upper left corner to Edit Tags.
- Drag your mouse across an image. You should see the crosshair tool, or plus sign.
- You will be prompted to add a link to a website or video OR click the orange button to record with SoundCloud. A free SoundCloud account is required.
- Repeat as often as needed.
- Click the green Save button.
- Click on the Embed Image icon in the upper left corner.
- Copy the code.
- Paste the code into your blog or a wiki widget.
- Voila!
Uses in the classroom:
- Create a themed collage with links to multimedia resources to support all learners.
- Create a word cloud using Wordle, then turn the largest words into hot spots with links to more information.
- Use an image as a launcher with links leading to student-created projects.
- Post an historical photo and use 3rd party software, such as SoundCloud, to give students the opportunity to record their voices speaking from the person's point of view.
- Use a Thinglinked image to create a scavenger hunt or modified WebQuest.
Try Thinglink
*Go to my wiki to view my favorite copyright-friendly images sources for students and teachers.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Google Art Project: Explore World Museums
As the end of the year approaches, teachers are often looking for engaging activities to keep their energetic students on task. Perhaps you might want to consider taking your students on a virtual field trip to explore art museums from around the world.
Google Art Project is an interactive website that uses the same street view technology you've probably seen in Google Maps to allows visitors to virtually explore museums and view hundreds of pieces of art. Even better, visitors can view them at incredible zoom levels to get even closer than you could if you were actually standing in front of the original painting. Visitors can even create and share their own collection of masterpieces.
A Few Ideas for Classroom Use
I have collected some interesting suggestions for classroom use and used Kwout to publish the screenshots and attribution you see below. Clicking on the link under each excerpt will take you to the full blog articles referenced, and in most cases lead you to more ideas for integration. Have some good ideas of your own? Please consider sharing them here through a comment.
Take a Sneak Peak
Explore at googleartproject.com
Jog The Web
The websites within a Jog are live and can be explored right within the page frame, which solves problems related to students getting lost within multiple windows. Even better, Jog authors can annotate pages within the Jog and also create original pages with unique content.
This appears to be a very promising tool for education because it's user-friendly, engaging and interactive.
View Sample: A Jog for teachers, featuring several Web 2.0 tools
Using Glogster to Construct Knowledge
Friday, November 27, 2015
Zoom.It: Publish Zoomable Images
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
YouTube for Teachers
Launched this week, the folks at YouTube appear to have been listening to teachers and edtech gurus. At first glance, I'm quite impressed with the new education site for many reasons. Here are the top three:
- Teachers can now create their own YouTube channel on the education site for easy student access. They can organize and archive videos for future use, ensuring that the content is safe and educationally appropriate.
- The site offers 10 ways to use YouTube in the classroom and they have hit upon many of the things I believe we should be doing to provide digital content to help all students succeed. My favorites include suggestions for differentiation, an example demonstrating how to solve math problems online to help students and their parents at home, and of course using video to facilitate The Flipped Classroom model. They've even created an instructional section on creating screencasts to help teachers get started.
- The folks at YouTube are clearly well aware of the opportunities that exist for extending the walls of our classrooms and opening the doors 24/7 and they've done their homework to help teachers succeed.
Check out YouTube for Teachers
GoogleDocs Presentation: New Look and Features
- Include transitions in between slides
- Use simple animations, or "flying text"
- Link images
- Include tables with improved formatting options
- Draw directly on a slide to create flowcharts, mind maps and doodles
To get a glimpse of the new tool in action, please view the Google Presentation below.
10 Minute Tech Tools
I've put together a new collection of user-friendly tech tools for busy teachers on ScoopIt. Unlike my other collections, the criteria for this list is not based on a common theme, instead these tools are included because they will take 10 minutes or less for you to start using and they are versitile enough to be used to enhance teaching across the curriculum. No login or account setup is required.
View my collection:
Scoop.it - Collect and Share Information Visually
Scoop.it is a curation service that allows users to collect information about a topic of interest and display it all on one attractive visual page. The tool integrates instantly with Twitter and Facebook, allowing you to share with the click of a button, and a newly added feature allows users to embed a preview of your Scoop.it page into any blog, wiki or website. See the Cool Tools for Drawing sample I created below..Besides for it's attractive and visual format, one of the biggest differences between Scoop.it and a traditional blog is that the creator can choose to simply collect and display content without having to write about it. Of course, users can add a post of your own too, but if you'd prefer to simply share, Scoop.it will do the trick.
Scoop.it is a user friendly tool. Simply install the handy bookmarklet in your toolbar and collect information yourself, or use the suggested resources collected for you based on the keywords you submit when you crete your page. Scoop.it will find images and descriptions of the pages you choose to display, or you can add your own with a few more clicks. The most important thing to remember when using this tool is to keep it simple and stick to one topic.
Click to view my Sample Scoop.it - Cool Tools for 21st Century Learners
Uses in the Classroom:
- Collect resources at a variety of reading levels on a particular topic or area of study.
- Collect news resources from different countries and/or perspectives to expose students to a current event or issue from a global perspective.
- Create a page of related resources using a variety of multimedia to provide students with multiple ways to access information.
- Collect and display primary source documents all in one place to help students bring it all together.
- Create a page of student-created projects for sharing on the web.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Use Google Docs to Facilitate a Digital Writer's Workshop
Sharing and commenting for immediate feedback
One of the most powerful features of Google Docs is the ability for students to receive immediate feedback in the 24/7 classroom by taking advantage of document sharing and comments. Since Docs are stored online, students can work at school and at home from any computer with an Internet connection. They are likely to revisit their work if they know someone else will be commenting on it. Comments are smart and each individual comment actually disappears after the paper has been revised by the author. Docs also provide support for collaboration in real time, so students can actually have a virtual mini-conference about the writing, if the timing is right.
To insert a comment, highlight the text, then the find the option to insert a comment under the insert menu.
Integrated reference and writing tools to support all learners
A built-in dictionary and thesaurus supports 12 languages and allows user to look up words without leaving their own document. Word Count capability provides feedback on number of words in a selection or the entire document. Built in spell check allows students to use Control + Click on an underlined word to get spelling suggestions and identify simple grammar errors as they type.
To use the dictionary and thesaurus, highlight the text, then find the option under the tools menu > define.
Autosave and revision history
Continuous autosave to the "Google Cloud" virtually eliminates saving issues. Use the revision history, found in the file menu, to review, compare, or revert to a prior version of the document at any time, or to track contributions made by collaborators. It's easy to see what individual students have contributed to a document because Google Docs assigns everyone a color to each contributor.
To use the revision history, find the option under the file menu.
Use in the classroom: Digital Writer's Workshop
The features in Google Docs can be used to facilitate a digital writer's workshop based on peer editing, and they are particularly useful when combined with cooperative grouping strategies to fine-tune students' editing skills. While students are writing their drafts, teachers can take advantage of opportunities to lead small instructional groups to help them focus on specific cooperative grouping job-related skills, then students can share their drafts with other group members who use comments to suggest revisions based on their job. The immediate feedback provided by peers will likely encourage writers to check comments and revise at home and stay on task during classroom work time. The revision history will keep student comments and revisions honest and focused on the task. Here are some examples of jobs to consider, modify and adjust as needed:
- Word Smith: Check for words that are used well, overused, incorrectly used, or could be substituted for more descriptive or interesting words.
- Punctuation Person: Check grammar and punctuation. Look for fragments and run-on sentences.
- Reality Checker: Check facts and perform a plagiarism check by popping snippets of the writing into a Google Search.
- Big Picture Person: Check to make sure the writing is complete. Focus on main ideas, paragraphs and use of transitions.
- Description Detective: Check to make sure there are enough details to support the writing and suggest eliminating the extras.
- Tense Tracker :Check to make sure the tense remains constant. It's easier to write in the past tense than it is to write in the present.
- Your own: Design and redesign roles based on the skills you are covering in your writing curriculum.
Pulse for iPad: A Gorgeous News Feed Reader
Pulse is an iPad app that collects multiple sources of your favorite news feeds and displays them in a convenient and attractive way to create a highly enjoyable reading experience.
News sources you select are arranged as a stream. Just drag the screen vertically to scan all your sources, then drag it horizontally to view particular articles within each source. Tap the screen to read an article in text view or view it as a full webpage. Pulse will even collect and display your Twitter stream. Sharing is as easy as a couple of taps.
To get a glimpse of what Pulse can do, please watch the video below and try Pulse for yourself, available from the iTunes store.
To get a glimpse of what Pulse can do, please watch the video below and try Pulse for yourself, available from the iTunes store.
Monday, November 23, 2015
The Flipped Classroom Infographic
Check out this infographic about The Flipped Classroom created by Jeremy F. Stayer of Ohio State University.
Mastery Connect - An Essential Tool for the CCSS
Without a doubt, the most useful reference tool I use when planning CCSS aligned technology powered learning experiences is Common Core, by Mastery Connect.
I have the widget installed on my websites and wikis. I have the app on my iPad and iPhone. I use MasteryConnect when designing learning experiences to provide me with quick and easy access to snippets of the information I need. With that information at hand, I can fine-tune the learning experiences I design to target skills necessary for success in school and beyond, as identified by the CCSS.
If you haven't tried CommonCore, you should. Get the Common Core Standards App in the iTunes store or visit MasteryConnect.com to learn more and get the widget.
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Saturday, November 21, 2015
VocabGrabber: Generate Vocabulary Lists from Digital Text
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VocabGrabber is a Cool Tool that makes it easy to generate vocabulary lists from digital text. Just copy and paste text into a box and watch the tool generate a word cloud in which the most frequently used words appear larger in size. Those words are sorted into categories so users can extract specific content-related words from the cloud, or generate a general vocabulary list. Clicking on a word displays a definition, examples from context and a visual word map generated through the company's Visual Thesaurus Tool.
Be sure to use the handy toolbar add-on for maximum efficiency when you try VocabGrabber for yourself.
Be sure to use the handy toolbar add-on for maximum efficiency when you try VocabGrabber for yourself.
Friday, November 20, 2015
Qwiki - A Multi-Media Search Engine
Here is an example of Oak Park, IL, qwikied
View Oak Park, Illinois and over 3,000,000 other topics on Qwiki.
Try Qwiki for yourself
The Flipped Classroom
At it's most basic level, The Flipped Classroom approach means front loading the learning and assigning the prep work as homework in order for students to come to class prepared to use it. This means the classroom becomes a place for collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and communication where the teacher serves as a facilitator who interacts with students, assesses them, and spontaneously pulls together groups for reteaching and challenge. The Flipped Classroom is a place where students are actively engaged in applying the learning and it is noisy and unpredictable. Worksheets as homework become obsolete and students no longer sit in the classroom listening to lectures. Essentially, The Flipped Classroom is a place where "the teachable moment" comes alive.
If you want to learn more about The Flipped Classroom, please watch the video below and also check out The Flipped Classroom Network, a social network where Flipped Teachers share their experiences and learn from each other. As for me, I am excited to Flip the professional development classes I'm teaching this summer.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
CoolTools for Multimedia Projects on Scoop.It
Multimedia projects provide students with opportunities to acquire 21st century skills by requiring them to gather, integrate and synthesize information as they collaborate and communicate within a digital environment. Effective multimedia projects require students to construct knowledge and use higher-level thinking skills to remix and present content. There are many free and user-friendly tools available for creating multimedia projects and it's hard to know which tools to choose. I used Scoop.It to put together a collection of my favorites to get the school year started
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View my collection of Cool Toolsfor Multimedia Projects on ScoopIt
Common Core Connections: Halloween Writing
The Common Core Standards identify six instructional shifts necessary for effective implementation of the ELA/Literacy strand. These instructional shifts provide a framework to help us understand the big picture before diving into the specific individual standards.
CCSS Shift 5, Writing from Sources, calls for an emphasis on analyzing and synthesizing information from multiple sources to reach a conclusion or make an argument. This type of writing requires students to construct knowledge through research and present evidence that is accurate, precise and clear. Regularly engaging students in this type of writing will foster the development of essential skills to help them succeed in college and beyond.
Halloween - An Engaging Theme
It's fairly safe to say that many teachers use the Halloween theme to launch creative writing activities that focus on stories and personal narratives. Perhaps with a little twist, teachers can take advantage of Halloween writing activities that focus on gathering information from sources through research to present information about haunted places, dispel or defend myths, and present conclusions that are based in fact to support the CCSS Shift 5.
Explore a sample launcher for a CCSS aligned Halloween writing project that has been embedded here.
Explore a sample launcher for a CCSS aligned Halloween writing project that has been embedded here.
Tools to Power the Learning Experience
Use an Essential Question to Fuel the Inquiry
An essential question can be a very effective tool for guiding research and tapping into students' enthusiasm for inquiry and learning. These questions provide students with challenges that allow them to invest in the learning process as they make decisions about their own learning. Since essential questions do not have one correct answer, students can choose flexible learning paths to find success and demonstrate learning.Use a Google Custom Search Engine for Safe Searching
A topic like this could send students on searches that lead them to questionable websites. A traditional work around might be to publish a list of acceptable websites for students, but perhaps a better solution is to create a Goggle Custom Search Engine for use with this type of project.Searching involves critical thinking and it is an important skill that needs to be taught. The Goggle Custom Search Engine Tool allows teachers to easily build your own search engine that is customized with content you choose to be appropriate for your grade level or for a particular unit of study, This tool provides teachers with the ability to bring relevant and reliable sources into the classroom while also teaching students how to conduct a search and it can be embed into any blog, wiki, or site for easy access.
Use a Padlet Board for Collaboration
Padlet is the tool I used to launch this project. It is a free tool that allows you to create an online collaborative board of online sticky notes for use in the 24/7 classroom. In addition to text, the notes can include images, links and videos. One of the best features about Padlet is that students do not need an account to log in, making it an efficient and useful tool for a variety of learning tasks.
Use the Common Core App by Mastery Connect to Design a Rubric
To make sure to cover specific writing and research standards for your grade level, consider creating a rubric with the guidance of the Common Core App by Mastery Connect. Use the app for quick and easy access to standards that are presented clearly and provide snippets of relevant information without overwhelming. With the information at hand, you can fine-tune the learning experiences to target many specific standards in one project.
Use Google Docs to Create and Publish
If your school is using Google Docs, there are plenty of opportunities for students to collaborate, brainstorm, write, research and publish their work. Use the document for written papers or try the presentation to express learning in a multimedia format.
A Writing Project Toolkit
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| Explore this Interactive Image, created with ThingLink |
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