All last week I posted information about blogging and now it's time to get started on your own blog. Here are some basic steps to go through to establish your blog:
• Go to Blogger (http://www.blogger.com)
• If you already have a Google account, you can go ahead and sign in; if you don't have a Google account, click the link that says "Get Started" (you will have to enter an e-mail address, choose a password and a display name, enter your birthday [for security and identification reasons], enter a word verification [to make sure you are human and not a computer] and agree to the terms of service; once all that is done, the second step will have you name your blog and the third step will have you select your template)
• Once you are signed in, your Blogger Dashboard will appear
• To begin, click the Create a Blog link
• Enter a title for your Blog
• Enter an address for your Blog (be prepared to come up with more than one option since blog addresses are unique and you have to find one that no one else has already chosen)
• Enter the word verification and click Continue
• Next, choose a starter template (this is just to get you started - you can always change it later)
• That's it! You can click the link that says "start posting now" or the button that says "START BLOGGING" and start blogging! (You can also click "customize how your blog looks" to start making changes to your Blog's appearance)
It is very simple to enter your first blog entry . . .
• Enter a title for the entry
• In the large white box, type your thoughts (blog)
• The options across the top are pretty self-explanatory -
• The two arrows are the undo and redo buttons
• The fancy "F" button is where you can select from limited fonts
• The two Ts button is where you select the size of your font
• The B, I, and U are the normal bold, italicize and underline options
• The ABC with the line through it is the strikethrough option
• The "A" is where you can select your font colors
• The highlighter icon is where you can select to highlight a particular word or words
• The underlined "Link" is where you can insert a hyperlink (or an URL or a Web address - whatever you'd like to call it) so that your readers can access another Web page quickly from your Blog
• The picture icon is where you click to enter an image
• The movie box icon is where you click to enter a video
• The broken page icon is where you can insert a jump break in your blog
• The alignment icon is where you can select either left alignment, center alignment, right alignment or fully justified
• The numbers and "dots" are both available to make numbered or bulleted lists
• From what I can tell, the quote is used like a "tab" key
• The underlined T with the x on it is in case you decide you don't like anything you've done and want to remove the formatting altogether
• The ABC checkmark, of course, is the spelling checker feature
Of course, the default method of entering a blog entry is the "Compose" feature which is basically a WYSIWYG editor (pronounced "wizzy wig" - What You See Is What You Get). If you are into HTML coding, you can always click on the "Edit HTML" tab and complete entries that way, but most of us are comfortable with the other method. (It is kind of neat, though, to look at the HTML coding of a blog entry if you are interested to see what the actual coding is.)
Once you are done, you can click the Preview button to see a sample of how your blog will appear. (It opens in another window or on another tab, so just close it when you are done.) You will notice a Save Now/Saved button at the bottom of the screen, too. Here is where you can periodically save your work as you need (by clicking the Save Now) or see that the draft has been saved (which is done periodically anyway).
When you think you are ready to publish the blog entry, just click Publish Post. You can then share the Web address (URL) of your blog with others.
There's many more options and features and don't be afraid to check out the different tabs at the top of the posting screen (the initial blog entry screen). There are options for Comments, Settings, Design, Monetize, and Stats. Explore and see what you find that enables you to fine-tune your blog. There's also a Post Options link below each blog entry screen, so don't forget to click there and see what you can utilize.
Have fun blogging! And don't forget to e-mail me the address of your blog once you get it up and running - I'm very interested in seeing what you can do and how you are using it!
18 January 2011
I've read enough and looked at blog examples . . . I'm ready to do my own!
I'm hoping that the title for this entry is what you are saying now! If you have read my previous postings and looked at some of the sample blogs, you are definitely ready to start blogging yourself.
According to Richardson, "The true potential of blogs in schools comes when students and teachers use them as publishing tools." "Middlebury College professor Barbara Ganley, who uses Weblogs extensively in her courses, asks, 'How can a teacher erxpect her students to blog (or to use any other tool, strategy, or technique) if she doesn't use it herself, exploring the impact it has on her thinking, writing, research and creativity?" Richardson states that teachers should blog to show students that it is something of value and to model appropriate ways of doing it. Here's one more place that is suggested as a way to find award-winning blogs - http://edublogawards.com/. Look for the 2010 award winners in various categories. Some of them are quite good!
So, whenever you are ready to start your own blog, the suggestion is to start small. Create a link to something interesting on the Internet and say a little something about it. Create an entry that tells a little bit about yourself, your background in education, and what you hope to accomplish with the blog. Think about posting an assignment on your blog and then sharing that screen using your classroom computer/projector since some of your students may not have access to the Internet at home. Don't worry about collaborations or conversations at the beginning. Get used to how the blog works and what you will post and how often. Then get your students to read your entries and use your blog in the classroom. Then you can spread out to the home by letting parents/guardians know where to find your blog online.
Regardless of how you start using blogs with students, make sure that everyone is clear about your reasons for using it and the expectations you have for it. This includes making sure your administration knows what you are doing. Teach students from the very beginning how to be responsible online. Celebrate good use of blogs by your students.
The final entry this week will help you take steps to start your own blog using Blogger, although there are many other free sites that allow a blog (like Weebly). Richardson recommends Blogger because it is easy to use, is owned by Google,and you can have as many blogs through one account as you wish. Hopefuly you will take advantage of this free blogging service!
According to Richardson, "The true potential of blogs in schools comes when students and teachers use them as publishing tools." "Middlebury College professor Barbara Ganley, who uses Weblogs extensively in her courses, asks, 'How can a teacher erxpect her students to blog (or to use any other tool, strategy, or technique) if she doesn't use it herself, exploring the impact it has on her thinking, writing, research and creativity?" Richardson states that teachers should blog to show students that it is something of value and to model appropriate ways of doing it. Here's one more place that is suggested as a way to find award-winning blogs - http://edublogawards.com/. Look for the 2010 award winners in various categories. Some of them are quite good!
So, whenever you are ready to start your own blog, the suggestion is to start small. Create a link to something interesting on the Internet and say a little something about it. Create an entry that tells a little bit about yourself, your background in education, and what you hope to accomplish with the blog. Think about posting an assignment on your blog and then sharing that screen using your classroom computer/projector since some of your students may not have access to the Internet at home. Don't worry about collaborations or conversations at the beginning. Get used to how the blog works and what you will post and how often. Then get your students to read your entries and use your blog in the classroom. Then you can spread out to the home by letting parents/guardians know where to find your blog online.
Regardless of how you start using blogs with students, make sure that everyone is clear about your reasons for using it and the expectations you have for it. This includes making sure your administration knows what you are doing. Teach students from the very beginning how to be responsible online. Celebrate good use of blogs by your students.
The final entry this week will help you take steps to start your own blog using Blogger, although there are many other free sites that allow a blog (like Weebly). Richardson recommends Blogger because it is easy to use, is owned by Google,and you can have as many blogs through one account as you wish. Hopefuly you will take advantage of this free blogging service!
12 January 2011
Wonderful Science Site!
I guess I'm going to see if I can have two postings on one date. I found this terrific site through an e-mail from Thinkfinity about different winter ideas you can do with your students. I stumbled upon a link for the Exploratorium and I am so glad I checked it out! The Exploratorium is actually a museum in California, but the Web site has so much to offer.
Across the top of their home page is a menu bar. Go to "Who Are You?" and select Educators to find suggestions and links for teachers of all grade levels. If you go to "Explore" and select one of the items, you will see all sorts of things to make and to do. For example, clicking on "Human Body" brings up 23 hands-on activities, online exhibits, articles, videos, etc., all about the human body.
The other part of the site that I found most interesting was the Shop. Simply click on the "Shop" selection from the menu and all sorts of items for purchase are shown, many for ages 5 and up, so even the youngest students can find something interesting and on their age level. For example, I found a 'Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit' and a ' Make Your Own Gummies Kit', each for $12.90. I found a 'Thread Art' kit for $6.90 and a 'Silk Screen Factory' for $29.95. I also saw some Giant Microbes (cute stuffed figures) for $8.95 like the Common Cold and the Red Blood Cell. There was also a Binary Clock offered for $26.95, a Pi Ice Cube Tray for $11.95 and a Periodic Table Shower Curtain for $32.95. There are all sorts of DVDs, posters, puzzles and toys, and even magazines. Some of these are specifically made for preschool students.
This site is worth a few minutes of your time to review, even if you aren't a science teacher. If you can't find something to use with your students, you might find something to use with your own child/children. Enjoy!
Across the top of their home page is a menu bar. Go to "Who Are You?" and select Educators to find suggestions and links for teachers of all grade levels. If you go to "Explore" and select one of the items, you will see all sorts of things to make and to do. For example, clicking on "Human Body" brings up 23 hands-on activities, online exhibits, articles, videos, etc., all about the human body.
The other part of the site that I found most interesting was the Shop. Simply click on the "Shop" selection from the menu and all sorts of items for purchase are shown, many for ages 5 and up, so even the youngest students can find something interesting and on their age level. For example, I found a 'Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit' and a ' Make Your Own Gummies Kit', each for $12.90. I found a 'Thread Art' kit for $6.90 and a 'Silk Screen Factory' for $29.95. I also saw some Giant Microbes (cute stuffed figures) for $8.95 like the Common Cold and the Red Blood Cell. There was also a Binary Clock offered for $26.95, a Pi Ice Cube Tray for $11.95 and a Periodic Table Shower Curtain for $32.95. There are all sorts of DVDs, posters, puzzles and toys, and even magazines. Some of these are specifically made for preschool students.
This site is worth a few minutes of your time to review, even if you aren't a science teacher. If you can't find something to use with your students, you might find something to use with your own child/children. Enjoy!
How can I use blogs in my classroom?
Continuing the discussion on the use of blogs, today I want to focus on some ideas of how you can use a blog in your own classroom or in your school. I realize that after posting some information on blogs and what they shouldn't be (like a general listing of something), I'm going to break my own "rule" and just list some basic ideas from the book Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms by Will Richardson.
Teacher blogging ideas -
• reflect on your own teaching experiences (be careful not to list student names or other personally identifying information)
• describe a specific teaching unit and ask for ideas on how to teach it
• provide teaching tips for others
• write about something another teacher taught you or shared with you
• share an idea about an activity or game that another teacher could use in their classroom to teach a particular concept
• provide a "how-to" on an area of expertise, such as how to use a certain technology with students or how to conduct a science experiment
• explore current issues and trends in education
• share what you are learning in your master's degree classes or Rank 1 classes (in Kentucky) or doctoral classes
Classroom blogging ideas -
• post class-related information like calendars, events, or assignments
• post assignments on literature readings (create a literature circle) and have students respond
• post writing prompts for students to complete on their own blogs
• provide examples of student work (be careful not to use personally identifying information)
• post photos of class activities (again, be careful about captions and including too much personal information)
• post an online reading piece for students to read and react to
• give students some Web sites to begin researching, including the link and some analysis as to why the site is appropriate for study
• create on online book club
• post tasks for project-based learning
• ask students to create their own individual blogs where they can post their own ideas, reactions and written work
• build a class newsletter using the blog
• allow students to keep an online journal blog instead of a paper and pen/pencil style journal
• use the blog to post the results of surveys taken in class
• let students create entries on current events or daily news items or issues of interest
• write a short entry using the vocabulary terms/words for the week/month
• use the blog as a way to give students whose first language is not English extra practice in reading English online; help them with their English writing skills by having them respond to what they've read
• use the blog as a feedback area for your teaching - discuss activities or assignments you did in class and ask students to comment on them, good or bad (you can learn a lot about your teaching this way)
As many of you are aware, national standards in Language Arts are being put in place and if you read through them, many are connected to student reading and writing; understanding print and nonprint texts; reading literatures from many genres; applying strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate and appreciate texts; communicating effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes; applying knowledge of language structure and media techniques; researching issues and interests; using a variety of technological and information resources; participating in literacy communities; and using spoken, writtten, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes. Of course, blogs can address many of these standards!
Here are some examples of blogs from Richardon's book that you might want to review . . .
http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/
http://practicaltheory.org/serendipity/
http://www.thethinkingstick.com/
http://www.21stcenturycollaborative.com/
http://heyjude.wordpress.com/
My next posting will get you started on your own blog!
Teacher blogging ideas -
• reflect on your own teaching experiences (be careful not to list student names or other personally identifying information)
• describe a specific teaching unit and ask for ideas on how to teach it
• provide teaching tips for others
• write about something another teacher taught you or shared with you
• share an idea about an activity or game that another teacher could use in their classroom to teach a particular concept
• provide a "how-to" on an area of expertise, such as how to use a certain technology with students or how to conduct a science experiment
• explore current issues and trends in education
• share what you are learning in your master's degree classes or Rank 1 classes (in Kentucky) or doctoral classes
Classroom blogging ideas -
• post class-related information like calendars, events, or assignments
• post assignments on literature readings (create a literature circle) and have students respond
• post writing prompts for students to complete on their own blogs
• provide examples of student work (be careful not to use personally identifying information)
• post photos of class activities (again, be careful about captions and including too much personal information)
• post an online reading piece for students to read and react to
• give students some Web sites to begin researching, including the link and some analysis as to why the site is appropriate for study
• create on online book club
• post tasks for project-based learning
• ask students to create their own individual blogs where they can post their own ideas, reactions and written work
• build a class newsletter using the blog
• allow students to keep an online journal blog instead of a paper and pen/pencil style journal
• use the blog to post the results of surveys taken in class
• let students create entries on current events or daily news items or issues of interest
• write a short entry using the vocabulary terms/words for the week/month
• use the blog as a way to give students whose first language is not English extra practice in reading English online; help them with their English writing skills by having them respond to what they've read
• use the blog as a feedback area for your teaching - discuss activities or assignments you did in class and ask students to comment on them, good or bad (you can learn a lot about your teaching this way)
As many of you are aware, national standards in Language Arts are being put in place and if you read through them, many are connected to student reading and writing; understanding print and nonprint texts; reading literatures from many genres; applying strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate and appreciate texts; communicating effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes; applying knowledge of language structure and media techniques; researching issues and interests; using a variety of technological and information resources; participating in literacy communities; and using spoken, writtten, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes. Of course, blogs can address many of these standards!
Here are some examples of blogs from Richardon's book that you might want to review . . .
http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/
http://practicaltheory.org/serendipity/
http://www.thethinkingstick.com/
http://www.21stcenturycollaborative.com/
http://heyjude.wordpress.com/
My next posting will get you started on your own blog!
11 January 2011
Continuing the discussion on Weblogs (Blogs)...
I have found such wonderful information and encouragement about the use of Weblogs, or blogs, from Will Richardson's book, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. Today I want to focus on using blogs as a way of communicating internally for a school, some do's and don't's of blogging, and give you some ideas on how you can use blogs in a classroom.
Schools can utilize blogs as a way to share minutes of open meetings, have a dialogue about an issue, and share links to information. Teachers can share best practices, lesson plans, and other ideas about their classes. Principals can share information about what is happening within their school. One principal at an elementary school in Oregon has been using a blog to increase communication with parents and staff. Teachers post weekly Classroom Notes that serve as a diary of what students are doing and achieving at the school.
So how can blogs improve student learning? Why should we even consider using them in a classroom? Richardson gives us several reasons . . .
First - because the content is on the World Wide Web, it becomes a part of the wider body of knowledge; it is searchable; the potential audience is world-wide
Second - the walls of the classroom are expanded; students can connect and collaborate with others outside the classroom
Third - blogs provide for reflection and an archive of all conversations and work
Fourth - blogs support different learning styles; a blog can give a "voice" to a student who otherwise would not speak up in class; everyone can have a voice in a blog
Fifth - blogs can enhance the development of expertise in a particular subject; students can connect with experts in various fields
Sixth - blogs can teach students new technology literacies they will need for the future; it can provide a way for students to analyze and manage content, learn how to research, organize and synthesize
So what about some do's and don't's? Here's what a blog should not be:
1. Just a posting of assignments.
2. Just a personal journal - i.e. "Here's what I did today".
3. Just a list of links.
4. Just a list of links with short descriptions.
Here's what a blog should be:
1. A list of links with analysis that gets into the meaning of the content being linked.
2. A reflective writing piece - complex writing, not just simple comments.
3. Information about gaining a deeper understanding or relationship to the content being "discussed".
4. Consideration of the potential audience.
5. Extended analysis and synthesis over a long period of time that builds on previous posts, links, and/or comments.
Now . . . how should we introduce blogs to our students? We cannot expect elementary students to create entries of careful analysis and deep understanding, but we can provide them a way to find interesting and relevant pieces of information to share with each other. Richardson says we can ask them to do some basic deconstruction of Web sites and then post about what they learned and what they would like to see. Even at this early age, teachers might introduce some "experts" to interact with the students - perhaps even introducing primary sources to them. Authors, scientists, politicians, and others may be interested in communicating with the students at this stage in their education. Middle school students can become "experts" themselves at topics they care about. They can begin making constructive entries on each other's blogs and learn appropriate reader response. They can also utilize the blog to discuss whether or not Web sites are legitimate, trustworthy, and helpful. High school students can use blogs for extended study and for reflection on topics. They can use blogs as a way to share writing, such as portfolio entries, and then receive feedback from others. They could post reflections on readings in a literature class, or questions about an concept in science or math. Using blogs as a way to introduce effective and valuable writing skills is a great tool for teachers to use with their students.
Here are some examples of blog-style sites that have been used in actual classrooms:
http://apcalc07.blogspot.com/ - this is a blog from an AP Calculus class in 2007-08
http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/ - this is a blog from a biology class in the northeastern United States
http://itc.blogs.com/househighlights/ - this is an example of how a school used a blog to celebrate student success, school success, and information on events
To end today's entry, I want to share some information that Richardson gives on how to "rate" and evaluate a blog. Blogs have become sources of information, but they are just like any other source - you have to be careful of the content.
1. Try to find out as much as you can about the author of the blog. (Look for an "About" link or a "Profile" link)
2. What is the author's profession? What is their title? Where does their authority on the topic come from? Do they have college degrees or have they established themselves as an expert in another way? (Consider doing a name search in Google to see what comes up on the author)
3. Find out what kind of reputation the blogger has among peers.
4. Take a look at the "blogroll" or list of blogs that the blogger links to on their site. Are these valid and reliable as well?
5. Take the time to read through some of the older posts on the site and click the links they provide. Does the author's writing seem credible? Is there a bias? Is something being sold?
6. Look to see if anyone else has commented on the blog and what they are saying.
Students, especially younger ones, tend to stop at the first resource they find that supports their ideas, whether or not they are credible, legal, valid, or reliable. For the most part, students should be able to find out who the author is, what they do for a living, what their level of expertise is on the subject matter, and what others have said (if applicable). Going through some sample blogs with students in the early stages of teaching them about Weblogs is probably a good idea, especially before they embark on writing their own.
Want to find more blog examples to review? Technorati has a blog directory - http://technorati.com/blogs/directory/ - which not only has a "Search for a blog" section, but divides blogs into various categories.
My next post will give you some ideas of how you can utilize blogs in your classroom.
Schools can utilize blogs as a way to share minutes of open meetings, have a dialogue about an issue, and share links to information. Teachers can share best practices, lesson plans, and other ideas about their classes. Principals can share information about what is happening within their school. One principal at an elementary school in Oregon has been using a blog to increase communication with parents and staff. Teachers post weekly Classroom Notes that serve as a diary of what students are doing and achieving at the school.
So how can blogs improve student learning? Why should we even consider using them in a classroom? Richardson gives us several reasons . . .
First - because the content is on the World Wide Web, it becomes a part of the wider body of knowledge; it is searchable; the potential audience is world-wide
Second - the walls of the classroom are expanded; students can connect and collaborate with others outside the classroom
Third - blogs provide for reflection and an archive of all conversations and work
Fourth - blogs support different learning styles; a blog can give a "voice" to a student who otherwise would not speak up in class; everyone can have a voice in a blog
Fifth - blogs can enhance the development of expertise in a particular subject; students can connect with experts in various fields
Sixth - blogs can teach students new technology literacies they will need for the future; it can provide a way for students to analyze and manage content, learn how to research, organize and synthesize
So what about some do's and don't's? Here's what a blog should not be:
1. Just a posting of assignments.
2. Just a personal journal - i.e. "Here's what I did today".
3. Just a list of links.
4. Just a list of links with short descriptions.
Here's what a blog should be:
1. A list of links with analysis that gets into the meaning of the content being linked.
2. A reflective writing piece - complex writing, not just simple comments.
3. Information about gaining a deeper understanding or relationship to the content being "discussed".
4. Consideration of the potential audience.
5. Extended analysis and synthesis over a long period of time that builds on previous posts, links, and/or comments.
Now . . . how should we introduce blogs to our students? We cannot expect elementary students to create entries of careful analysis and deep understanding, but we can provide them a way to find interesting and relevant pieces of information to share with each other. Richardson says we can ask them to do some basic deconstruction of Web sites and then post about what they learned and what they would like to see. Even at this early age, teachers might introduce some "experts" to interact with the students - perhaps even introducing primary sources to them. Authors, scientists, politicians, and others may be interested in communicating with the students at this stage in their education. Middle school students can become "experts" themselves at topics they care about. They can begin making constructive entries on each other's blogs and learn appropriate reader response. They can also utilize the blog to discuss whether or not Web sites are legitimate, trustworthy, and helpful. High school students can use blogs for extended study and for reflection on topics. They can use blogs as a way to share writing, such as portfolio entries, and then receive feedback from others. They could post reflections on readings in a literature class, or questions about an concept in science or math. Using blogs as a way to introduce effective and valuable writing skills is a great tool for teachers to use with their students.
Here are some examples of blog-style sites that have been used in actual classrooms:
http://apcalc07.blogspot.com/ - this is a blog from an AP Calculus class in 2007-08
http://missbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/ - this is a blog from a biology class in the northeastern United States
http://itc.blogs.com/househighlights/ - this is an example of how a school used a blog to celebrate student success, school success, and information on events
To end today's entry, I want to share some information that Richardson gives on how to "rate" and evaluate a blog. Blogs have become sources of information, but they are just like any other source - you have to be careful of the content.
1. Try to find out as much as you can about the author of the blog. (Look for an "About" link or a "Profile" link)
2. What is the author's profession? What is their title? Where does their authority on the topic come from? Do they have college degrees or have they established themselves as an expert in another way? (Consider doing a name search in Google to see what comes up on the author)
3. Find out what kind of reputation the blogger has among peers.
4. Take a look at the "blogroll" or list of blogs that the blogger links to on their site. Are these valid and reliable as well?
5. Take the time to read through some of the older posts on the site and click the links they provide. Does the author's writing seem credible? Is there a bias? Is something being sold?
6. Look to see if anyone else has commented on the blog and what they are saying.
Students, especially younger ones, tend to stop at the first resource they find that supports their ideas, whether or not they are credible, legal, valid, or reliable. For the most part, students should be able to find out who the author is, what they do for a living, what their level of expertise is on the subject matter, and what others have said (if applicable). Going through some sample blogs with students in the early stages of teaching them about Weblogs is probably a good idea, especially before they embark on writing their own.
Want to find more blog examples to review? Technorati has a blog directory - http://technorati.com/blogs/directory/ - which not only has a "Search for a blog" section, but divides blogs into various categories.
My next post will give you some ideas of how you can utilize blogs in your classroom.
10 January 2011
Weblogs
Going back to the book, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms by Will Richardson, I want to share information from the 2nd Chapter entitled "Weblogs: Pedagogy and Practice". The author notes that back in 2001, there was only a handful of community blogs available for use by the average person. Even though most of them were undistinguished looking, Richardson states that he will never forget the first time he posted his opinion and someone responded. "There was something really powerful about easily being able to share resources and ideas with a Web audience that was willing to share back what they thought about those ideas." Richardson continues just that ability to collaborate and communicate is what he finds so powerful about Weblogs today.
So, what is a Weblog? A Weblog is an easily created, easily updateable Website that allows an author (or authors) to publish instantly to the Internet. The earliest blogs were literally "Web logs" or lists of sites that the author had visited and wanted to share. Most blogs at that time required the user to know HTML coding and particular file servers. Today, blogging doesn't require any knowledge of coding nor do you have to have a separate file server. It takes about as much skills as sending an e-mail.
One of the examples given in Chapter 2 is David Jakes' "The Strength of Weak Ties" blog (http://tinyurl.com/2blpvl). The two entries that I read this morning were on portable whiteboards and a rubric for assessing the use of Twitter. Jakes is an Instructional Technology Coordinator for a district and many of his blog entries are on new technologies and current trends, so check it out!
I believe the focus of the chapter is to encourage schools and teachers to utilize blog as a method of communication with students. Richardson states "One trend that shows no sign of stopping is the movement of curriculum to a digital, online environment." He goes on to give an example of establishing a blog for his journalism class. There he included his course curriculum, syllabus, class rules, homework assignments, rubrics, handouts and presentations. He said he was amazed at how frequently the students checked the blog and at how much time he saved not having to find copies of things that he had already given to the students. He also said it was a way for parents/guardians to keep up with their student's assignments and class information. He goes on to say that students who utilize a blog for all their work, including reflections, can eventually become a comprehensive history of their work and learning that is searchable and shareable.
One idea that Richardson used with his junior and senior students was the reading of The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. His school had adopted the book into the curriculum just nine months after its release and so he used a blog and had his students create an online reader's guide to teh book. In the process, he contacted the author and she agreed to follow the blog and respond to questions the students had about the book. Since that time, their district students have collaborated with Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, elementary school students in other states, high school students in other countries, etc., etc., etc.
In the interest of making my own blog entries short and to the point, I am going to stop here and plan to post other entries from this chapter at another time. Next, I will cover using Weblogs as a school-wide effort, some do's and don't's about blogging, and give you some ideas of how you can use blogs in your classes and with your students.
So, what is a Weblog? A Weblog is an easily created, easily updateable Website that allows an author (or authors) to publish instantly to the Internet. The earliest blogs were literally "Web logs" or lists of sites that the author had visited and wanted to share. Most blogs at that time required the user to know HTML coding and particular file servers. Today, blogging doesn't require any knowledge of coding nor do you have to have a separate file server. It takes about as much skills as sending an e-mail.
One of the examples given in Chapter 2 is David Jakes' "The Strength of Weak Ties" blog (http://tinyurl.com/2blpvl). The two entries that I read this morning were on portable whiteboards and a rubric for assessing the use of Twitter. Jakes is an Instructional Technology Coordinator for a district and many of his blog entries are on new technologies and current trends, so check it out!
I believe the focus of the chapter is to encourage schools and teachers to utilize blog as a method of communication with students. Richardson states "One trend that shows no sign of stopping is the movement of curriculum to a digital, online environment." He goes on to give an example of establishing a blog for his journalism class. There he included his course curriculum, syllabus, class rules, homework assignments, rubrics, handouts and presentations. He said he was amazed at how frequently the students checked the blog and at how much time he saved not having to find copies of things that he had already given to the students. He also said it was a way for parents/guardians to keep up with their student's assignments and class information. He goes on to say that students who utilize a blog for all their work, including reflections, can eventually become a comprehensive history of their work and learning that is searchable and shareable.
One idea that Richardson used with his junior and senior students was the reading of The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. His school had adopted the book into the curriculum just nine months after its release and so he used a blog and had his students create an online reader's guide to teh book. In the process, he contacted the author and she agreed to follow the blog and respond to questions the students had about the book. Since that time, their district students have collaborated with Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, elementary school students in other states, high school students in other countries, etc., etc., etc.
In the interest of making my own blog entries short and to the point, I am going to stop here and plan to post other entries from this chapter at another time. Next, I will cover using Weblogs as a school-wide effort, some do's and don't's about blogging, and give you some ideas of how you can use blogs in your classes and with your students.
06 January 2011
Another one to try!
Apparently I'm going to find enough to share this week so that I need to create a daily post! Today's entry is about Board800. This site is a very quick application that allows you to draw, include text, work with an image, etc. on a small whiteboard screen. You can then save the work to use later as a .png file (or a .jpg file). It's quick and easy, so try it out!
• Go to Board800
• Click Start Drawing
• Click Create new session
• Use the tools on the left to create your text, etc. on the right (on the white screen)
• When you are done, click Save Image
• Change the name to something you'll remember (if you want a .jpg file, make sure you put .jpg at the end of the name, i.e. tigers.jpg)
• Save it wherever you need to you can access and use it later
That's all there is to it!
Here is a sample of a quick image I made with a few seconds of effort:
• Go to Board800
• Click Start Drawing
• Click Create new session
• Use the tools on the left to create your text, etc. on the right (on the white screen)
• When you are done, click Save Image
• Change the name to something you'll remember (if you want a .jpg file, make sure you put .jpg at the end of the name, i.e. tigers.jpg)
• Save it wherever you need to you can access and use it later
That's all there is to it!
Here is a sample of a quick image I made with a few seconds of effort:
05 January 2011
Here I am again with another site for you!
I can't believe it - I am finding things to post every day this week. Oh, well, if something can help you in your classroom, then I don't mind posting every day!
I received an e-mail today that said Kentucky students were the highest number of participants in the recent Polar Bear Webcast. Along with the e-mail there was a link to a blog page, the DEN Blog Network, that has an entry about polar bears called Tundra Connections. On that page are seven ideas for students to learn even more about the plight of polar bears on our planet. Under the section for Tuesday, there is a short polar bear quiz that is very interesting. There are lots of other ideas to try, including using Blabberize (which I had not heard of) and EDU Glogster (which I have heard of and have been experimenting with since the Nashville Tech Conference).
If you teach about animals in any way, please take a look at this site. It will be well worth the few minutes you spend and may motivate a student to take an active role in the preservation of polar bears in the future.
I received an e-mail today that said Kentucky students were the highest number of participants in the recent Polar Bear Webcast. Along with the e-mail there was a link to a blog page, the DEN Blog Network, that has an entry about polar bears called Tundra Connections. On that page are seven ideas for students to learn even more about the plight of polar bears on our planet. Under the section for Tuesday, there is a short polar bear quiz that is very interesting. There are lots of other ideas to try, including using Blabberize (which I had not heard of) and EDU Glogster (which I have heard of and have been experimenting with since the Nashville Tech Conference).
If you teach about animals in any way, please take a look at this site. It will be well worth the few minutes you spend and may motivate a student to take an active role in the preservation of polar bears in the future.
04 January 2011
A new site I couldn't wait to share!
I have a site that I want to share with all of you that just can't wait for next week's posting! "Make-a-Flake" is a site that allows you to create your own virtual snowflake. (If you don't have Flash capabilities on your computer, the initial screen should ask you to download Flash 6 before you can utilize the program; if you do have Flash, you can click where it says "If you are sure you have the Flash 6 plugin, click here" and it will take you into the site.)
Once you open the site, you should see a blurred window with snowflakes falling. On the right are three choices - Make your own Snowflake; Visit the Gallery; or Tell a Friend. A good place to start is to visit the gallery where you can view snowflakes that have been created by others. The date the snowflake was created will show underneath each entry and you can see previous entries by using the arrows at the bottom of the screen. Clicking "Make-a-Flake" will take you back to the initial screen.
To create your own, click "Make your own Snowflake". An initial piece of paper will be folded and cut right in front of you. If you move your mouse over the triangular piece of paper, a pair of scissors will appear. If the scissors show a red dot, where you have them located will not cut - move the scissors until the dot appears gray-blue. Then you can cut! Clicking once on the mouse will mark the initial cut. Move the mouse and click in another spot and that will make the second cut. Move the mouse and click in another spot and that will make the third cut and so forth and so on. Keep making cuts however you wish until you are finished. If you make a mistake you can always click the Undo / Redo on the left of the screen. You can also click Start Over in case you want to begin from a clean sheet of paper.
Once you have your snowflake cuts completed, click on Preview Flake. You flake will show on the screen and some new choices become available - Cut some more and Save My Flake. If you aren't satisfied and want to cut some more, click that choice. If you are satisfied and want to save your snowflake to the database, click Save My Flake. Enter a name (it can be just a first name or a nickname - these names do not show later) and click Submit. Once you do that, you will be given your snowflake's # and you can either email your flake to a friend or download your flake for later viewing or use.
Some of the snowflakes created are very elaborate and some are very simple. I can see this being used with younger students just as a fun activity this winter, but it could also be used with older students, if used along with an explanation of angles and cuts (geometry) and how they make the snowflake appear.
Have fun creating your own snowflake and don't forget to share! Feel free to e-mail me your creation so I can see your work - melissa.earnest@caldwell.kyschools.us.
Once you open the site, you should see a blurred window with snowflakes falling. On the right are three choices - Make your own Snowflake; Visit the Gallery; or Tell a Friend. A good place to start is to visit the gallery where you can view snowflakes that have been created by others. The date the snowflake was created will show underneath each entry and you can see previous entries by using the arrows at the bottom of the screen. Clicking "Make-a-Flake" will take you back to the initial screen.
To create your own, click "Make your own Snowflake". An initial piece of paper will be folded and cut right in front of you. If you move your mouse over the triangular piece of paper, a pair of scissors will appear. If the scissors show a red dot, where you have them located will not cut - move the scissors until the dot appears gray-blue. Then you can cut! Clicking once on the mouse will mark the initial cut. Move the mouse and click in another spot and that will make the second cut. Move the mouse and click in another spot and that will make the third cut and so forth and so on. Keep making cuts however you wish until you are finished. If you make a mistake you can always click the Undo / Redo on the left of the screen. You can also click Start Over in case you want to begin from a clean sheet of paper.
Once you have your snowflake cuts completed, click on Preview Flake. You flake will show on the screen and some new choices become available - Cut some more and Save My Flake. If you aren't satisfied and want to cut some more, click that choice. If you are satisfied and want to save your snowflake to the database, click Save My Flake. Enter a name (it can be just a first name or a nickname - these names do not show later) and click Submit. Once you do that, you will be given your snowflake's # and you can either email your flake to a friend or download your flake for later viewing or use.
Some of the snowflakes created are very elaborate and some are very simple. I can see this being used with younger students just as a fun activity this winter, but it could also be used with older students, if used along with an explanation of angles and cuts (geometry) and how they make the snowflake appear.
Have fun creating your own snowflake and don't forget to share! Feel free to e-mail me your creation so I can see your work - melissa.earnest@caldwell.kyschools.us.
03 January 2011
Welcome Back!
I hope everyone enjoyed their time off as I did. I was fortunate to have two whole weeks to spend with my daughter and we accomplished a great deal, so I feel rejuvenated and hope all of you do, too!
I have a new book titled Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms by Will Richardson which I'd like to share information from for my next several Blog postings. The author's first edition was published 3 years ago and I will be using the second edition. According to Richardson, more and more we are seeing teachers connecting their students to global conversations and collaborations. He further states, though, that 90% of students use Web technologies in their personal lives, but only a small fraction of classrooms have begun to fully understand what these networked learning environments can mean.
Here's a little background on the "invention" of the World Wide Web - Tim Berners-Lee had a grand vision for the Internet when he began development of the World Wide Web in 1989. At that time, the Internet was not much more than a network of computers that researchers and government officials used to share text and data. But Berners-Lee wanted a "web" of linked information, built by people from around the globe. When the Mosaic Web browser began in 1993, the dream began. Suddenly, the Internet went from text and numbers to a colorful, graphical world of information for the masses. However, being able to put information on the Web required a knowledge of HTML coding and protocols so it was a slow process and not everyone could do it.
Today, most all of us are reading and writing on the Web. In 2008, one of the blog tracking services listed more than 110 million blogs online. Right now, the service is adding over 120,000 new blogs and 1.5 million Weblog posts each day. And it's not just blogs - multimedia publishing has exploded. In 2008, over 100,000 videos were being uploaded to YouTube each day and now millions of photos, thousands of audio files, and countless other creations are being added. As more people gain access, this trend will continue to grow.
So what does this mean for the way we teach and learn? Education has been slow to adapt these new tools and potentials. Richardson notes that it is a hugely challenging time to be an educator. By and large, students are using a wide variety of technologies that they are told they can't use when they come to school. Today's schools are faced with a difficult dilemma that pits a student body that has grown up immersed in technology against a teaching faculty that is less knowledgeable about the tools of the trade. Even our youngest students are using sites on the Internet to post their creations. (Take a look at http://www.flickr.com/photos/wrichard/sets/96435 which is an example from Richardson's daughter when she was eight years old.)
According to the author, the tools discussed in his book are relatively easy for anyone to use in the classroom. He also tries to give educators tools that are free. Richardson says before you attempt to bring these technologies to your students, first be selfish about their use in your own learning practice. "It wasn't until I fully understood how these technologies can facilitate global connections and conversations around my own passions, how they could help me create powerful learning networks and communities, that I was able to see what needed to change in terms of my curriculum and my teaching." Richardson says we need to make these connections in our own practice first and to ask ourselves these questions:
• What are your passions?
• Who are your teachers?
• How are you building your own learning networks?
• How are you modeling your learning for your students?
For the next several weeks, I will be sharing information on the following "tools" in Richardson's "toolbox" and hope that at least one of these will be something you'd like to try personally and then share with your students:
1. Weblogs (Blogs)
2. Wikis
3. Real Simple Syndication (RSS)
4. Aggregators
5. Social Bookmarking
6. Online Photo Galleries
7. Audio/Video-casting
Just remember, like with everything else in life, using the Internet carries with it some risks. As educators, it is most important for us to keep students safe when online. Safety is about responsibility, appropriateness, and common sense. As I share information from the book, safety will be an integral part and something we all should keep in mind as we move forward and try new things!
Next week, I will start by sharing information about Weblogs, or Blogs. Hopefully some of you already have a Blog or might be willing to start one for your class(es). Until then, start exploring "blogs" on the Web and see what you can find that's already out there.
I have a new book titled Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms by Will Richardson which I'd like to share information from for my next several Blog postings. The author's first edition was published 3 years ago and I will be using the second edition. According to Richardson, more and more we are seeing teachers connecting their students to global conversations and collaborations. He further states, though, that 90% of students use Web technologies in their personal lives, but only a small fraction of classrooms have begun to fully understand what these networked learning environments can mean.
Here's a little background on the "invention" of the World Wide Web - Tim Berners-Lee had a grand vision for the Internet when he began development of the World Wide Web in 1989. At that time, the Internet was not much more than a network of computers that researchers and government officials used to share text and data. But Berners-Lee wanted a "web" of linked information, built by people from around the globe. When the Mosaic Web browser began in 1993, the dream began. Suddenly, the Internet went from text and numbers to a colorful, graphical world of information for the masses. However, being able to put information on the Web required a knowledge of HTML coding and protocols so it was a slow process and not everyone could do it.
Today, most all of us are reading and writing on the Web. In 2008, one of the blog tracking services listed more than 110 million blogs online. Right now, the service is adding over 120,000 new blogs and 1.5 million Weblog posts each day. And it's not just blogs - multimedia publishing has exploded. In 2008, over 100,000 videos were being uploaded to YouTube each day and now millions of photos, thousands of audio files, and countless other creations are being added. As more people gain access, this trend will continue to grow.
So what does this mean for the way we teach and learn? Education has been slow to adapt these new tools and potentials. Richardson notes that it is a hugely challenging time to be an educator. By and large, students are using a wide variety of technologies that they are told they can't use when they come to school. Today's schools are faced with a difficult dilemma that pits a student body that has grown up immersed in technology against a teaching faculty that is less knowledgeable about the tools of the trade. Even our youngest students are using sites on the Internet to post their creations. (Take a look at http://www.flickr.com/photos/wrichard/sets/96435 which is an example from Richardson's daughter when she was eight years old.)
According to the author, the tools discussed in his book are relatively easy for anyone to use in the classroom. He also tries to give educators tools that are free. Richardson says before you attempt to bring these technologies to your students, first be selfish about their use in your own learning practice. "It wasn't until I fully understood how these technologies can facilitate global connections and conversations around my own passions, how they could help me create powerful learning networks and communities, that I was able to see what needed to change in terms of my curriculum and my teaching." Richardson says we need to make these connections in our own practice first and to ask ourselves these questions:
• What are your passions?
• Who are your teachers?
• How are you building your own learning networks?
• How are you modeling your learning for your students?
For the next several weeks, I will be sharing information on the following "tools" in Richardson's "toolbox" and hope that at least one of these will be something you'd like to try personally and then share with your students:
1. Weblogs (Blogs)
2. Wikis
3. Real Simple Syndication (RSS)
4. Aggregators
5. Social Bookmarking
6. Online Photo Galleries
7. Audio/Video-casting
Just remember, like with everything else in life, using the Internet carries with it some risks. As educators, it is most important for us to keep students safe when online. Safety is about responsibility, appropriateness, and common sense. As I share information from the book, safety will be an integral part and something we all should keep in mind as we move forward and try new things!
Next week, I will start by sharing information about Weblogs, or Blogs. Hopefully some of you already have a Blog or might be willing to start one for your class(es). Until then, start exploring "blogs" on the Web and see what you can find that's already out there.
14 December 2010
Are you familiar with Google Apps?
One of the sessions I attended at the recent Tennessee Educational Technology Conference in Nashville was "Open Source Mania". The presenter, Scott Nash, was excellent! He was a former instructor, so he knows what it's like not having funds for all the bells and whistles software there is for educators. He always looks for free versions of the most popular software and other free programs and such he can share with teachers.
Google Apps - I am not as familiar with Google Apps as I hope to be in the future. If you go to the homepage, it states "Google Apps for Edudcation offers a free (and ad-free) set of customizable tools that enable faculty, staff and students to work together and learn more effectively." There is a link at the top of the page for "How Schools Benefit" so you can read about ways educators can use different parts of the site, including "10 Reasons To Choose Apps".
The part I want to focus on for this week's Blog, though, is under the "Learning" menu. Go to K-12 Lesson Plans. On the bottom of the page you can find a link to the Training Center where you can get chapter-by-chapter instruction on using Apps in the classroom. On the right-hand side, there is a Getting Started Guide and other downloadable documents. There is a link, though, that says "K-12 Lesson Plans". If you go to that page, you will see some currently spotlighted lessons, plus there is a search function at the top where you can search by product, by subject, and/or by grade level. These lesson plans have been reviewed, so they should be safe for you and your students to use. You also have the ability to submit a lesson plan for possible inclusion in the database.
I believe that Google Apps was originally most used by colleges and universities, but there is so much out there now, there are lots of lesson plans and other items you can use for K-12 classrooms. Over the winter break would be a great time to spend some moments searching for lesson plans that you might be able to use in the spring semester. All you need is an Internet connection and the link to Google Apps!
I trust all of you had a productive "snow day" on Monday. I was able to work on some ideas from the Infinite Campus Interchange that I attended in November. I sent out a couple of e-mails that detailed two new Custom Tabs that I have created for the benefits of our teachers and students. It was nice to have a day like that where I could catch up slightly on items just like the Custom Tabs!
Here's hoping that the predicted ice, freezing rain, sleet, snow, etc. is not that bad for Wednesday and Thursday and we will be able to finish out the week at school. It's always difficult to have everything planned for the week before school is out for the holidays and then have to miss school due to weather conditions. So, let's hope that doesn't happen and we're able to get everything accomplished that we wish to by the end of the week. I will probably not post a new entry on the Blog until we return on Monday, January 3rd. Well, that is, . . . unless I find something exciting to share that can't wait!
Google Apps - I am not as familiar with Google Apps as I hope to be in the future. If you go to the homepage, it states "Google Apps for Edudcation offers a free (and ad-free) set of customizable tools that enable faculty, staff and students to work together and learn more effectively." There is a link at the top of the page for "How Schools Benefit" so you can read about ways educators can use different parts of the site, including "10 Reasons To Choose Apps".
The part I want to focus on for this week's Blog, though, is under the "Learning" menu. Go to K-12 Lesson Plans. On the bottom of the page you can find a link to the Training Center where you can get chapter-by-chapter instruction on using Apps in the classroom. On the right-hand side, there is a Getting Started Guide and other downloadable documents. There is a link, though, that says "K-12 Lesson Plans". If you go to that page, you will see some currently spotlighted lessons, plus there is a search function at the top where you can search by product, by subject, and/or by grade level. These lesson plans have been reviewed, so they should be safe for you and your students to use. You also have the ability to submit a lesson plan for possible inclusion in the database.
I believe that Google Apps was originally most used by colleges and universities, but there is so much out there now, there are lots of lesson plans and other items you can use for K-12 classrooms. Over the winter break would be a great time to spend some moments searching for lesson plans that you might be able to use in the spring semester. All you need is an Internet connection and the link to Google Apps!
I trust all of you had a productive "snow day" on Monday. I was able to work on some ideas from the Infinite Campus Interchange that I attended in November. I sent out a couple of e-mails that detailed two new Custom Tabs that I have created for the benefits of our teachers and students. It was nice to have a day like that where I could catch up slightly on items just like the Custom Tabs!
Here's hoping that the predicted ice, freezing rain, sleet, snow, etc. is not that bad for Wednesday and Thursday and we will be able to finish out the week at school. It's always difficult to have everything planned for the week before school is out for the holidays and then have to miss school due to weather conditions. So, let's hope that doesn't happen and we're able to get everything accomplished that we wish to by the end of the week. I will probably not post a new entry on the Blog until we return on Monday, January 3rd. Well, that is, . . . unless I find something exciting to share that can't wait!
13 December 2010
Snow Day on Monday, December 13th!
We had a snow day in Caldwell County today (Monday, December 13th), so even though I worked on the abbreviated Central Office hours, I worked on other tasks and totally forgot to update my blog! I'm so sorry! I usually do so every Monday morning sometime before noon, but this was our first snow day and since it came on a Monday, I just didn't get into my normal routine. I will try to do better and the next day we are in session for the full day, I will get the blog updated. Hope all of you who were "off" today found exciting things to do!
06 December 2010
Sharing information from the Tennessee conference . . .
I had a wonderful experience at the Tennessee Educational Technology Conference last week! They really know how to host a conference - great sessions, good hotel, easy to get from point A to point B, time to digest everything, delicious meals, time to check out, etc. I thought the entire experience was one of the best and I have so much to share with all of you!
I'm going to start by sharing the titles of the sessions that I attended:
Transforming Your Classroom with Web 2.0
21st Century Skills in Action
Using Google Forms and Inspire Data Surveys
Using Skype to Extend and Expand Your Classroom
Open Source Mania
Exploring World Book Web
Think Possibilities - Think Thinkfinity
E-Rate Update
Once Upon a PodCast
Television 101
Best Practices for Online Instruction
Come Fly Away with Google Earth and Google Lit Trips
The Future of Curriculum Content (Education City)
I brought back an entire tote bag full of information, demo CDs/DVDs, and lots of freebies (like a mug, some ink pens, a stress reliever, mints, a stuffed World Book dog, and lots more). Many of the sessions had handouts to go along with their session and lots of them had specific Websites to share. In the next few weeks, I will try to share several sites in each posting that might be of interest. I don't want to overwhelm you! Of course, some of the sessions I attended had costs associated with them, but for the most part, I tried to select sessions that were FREE!
The first site that I am sharing this week is the one that caught my attention from the very beginning - it was a site that a presenter had learned about in another session and felt like it was something to share at all her sessions, too! Check this out - The Week in Rap - each Friday they update the site to include a rap about the week's news. It's terrific! This would be very appropriate for middle school or high school social studies classes or even as a starter to any class at those grade levels.
Another neat site is Flocabulary or Hip-Hop in the Classroom. There is a link for "How to Rap" that gives you step-by-step instructions on how to construct a rap. There is also a link for "Free Teacher Resources" that include a free song from each of the titles in their library. Some are just available for you to listen to, but others include a video. To give you an idea, watch the video for Edgar Allen Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum". The nicest feature is that they give you the lyrics to the rap as well, so you don't have to try to keep up! Another good sample to review is under the Social Studies, Hip-Hop U. S. History section. Just click the play button under the picture of Martin Luther King, Jr. You can also check out the sample teacher resources and student resources. Of course, they want you to purchase the student books, teacher resource books, etc., but there might be enough free samples for you to use in your classroom. Don't think it's only for middle and high schoolers, though - the Vocabulary/Reading section starts with samples as low as the 2nd grade! You can sign up for a free newsletter - just click the "Get Free Updates" link.
If you are interested in exploring some resources on your own, the conference set up a Wikispaces site for presenters to download information and links that is available to anyone. Click here - TETC 2010 Wikispaces Site - and look for the session links for each day on the left. If you are not familiar with Wikis, there is a short video you can watch. The link is one of the first things you'll see on the TETC10 site.
I hope you enjoy looking at the links I've given you for this week. In subsequent weeks, I will be continuing to give you a few links at a time to different sites that I learned about while attending the sessions.
I'm going to start by sharing the titles of the sessions that I attended:
Transforming Your Classroom with Web 2.0
21st Century Skills in Action
Using Google Forms and Inspire Data Surveys
Using Skype to Extend and Expand Your Classroom
Open Source Mania
Exploring World Book Web
Think Possibilities - Think Thinkfinity
E-Rate Update
Once Upon a PodCast
Television 101
Best Practices for Online Instruction
Come Fly Away with Google Earth and Google Lit Trips
The Future of Curriculum Content (Education City)
I brought back an entire tote bag full of information, demo CDs/DVDs, and lots of freebies (like a mug, some ink pens, a stress reliever, mints, a stuffed World Book dog, and lots more). Many of the sessions had handouts to go along with their session and lots of them had specific Websites to share. In the next few weeks, I will try to share several sites in each posting that might be of interest. I don't want to overwhelm you! Of course, some of the sessions I attended had costs associated with them, but for the most part, I tried to select sessions that were FREE!
The first site that I am sharing this week is the one that caught my attention from the very beginning - it was a site that a presenter had learned about in another session and felt like it was something to share at all her sessions, too! Check this out - The Week in Rap - each Friday they update the site to include a rap about the week's news. It's terrific! This would be very appropriate for middle school or high school social studies classes or even as a starter to any class at those grade levels.
Another neat site is Flocabulary or Hip-Hop in the Classroom. There is a link for "How to Rap" that gives you step-by-step instructions on how to construct a rap. There is also a link for "Free Teacher Resources" that include a free song from each of the titles in their library. Some are just available for you to listen to, but others include a video. To give you an idea, watch the video for Edgar Allen Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum". The nicest feature is that they give you the lyrics to the rap as well, so you don't have to try to keep up! Another good sample to review is under the Social Studies, Hip-Hop U. S. History section. Just click the play button under the picture of Martin Luther King, Jr. You can also check out the sample teacher resources and student resources. Of course, they want you to purchase the student books, teacher resource books, etc., but there might be enough free samples for you to use in your classroom. Don't think it's only for middle and high schoolers, though - the Vocabulary/Reading section starts with samples as low as the 2nd grade! You can sign up for a free newsletter - just click the "Get Free Updates" link.
If you are interested in exploring some resources on your own, the conference set up a Wikispaces site for presenters to download information and links that is available to anyone. Click here - TETC 2010 Wikispaces Site - and look for the session links for each day on the left. If you are not familiar with Wikis, there is a short video you can watch. The link is one of the first things you'll see on the TETC10 site.
I hope you enjoy looking at the links I've given you for this week. In subsequent weeks, I will be continuing to give you a few links at a time to different sites that I learned about while attending the sessions.
29 November 2010
A new week has begun . . .
We are all back, rested and recovered, from a holiday break. I had a wonderful time getting a lot of things accomplished at home and spending time with my daughter who came from Alabama to visit. I hope all of you also had a restful time at home with your family and friends.
This week is an pretty active one for me. I am continuing to work on the Civil Rights Data Collection federal report for our district and can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel! I hope to have it all completed and entered online by the end of the day Tuesday. I will also be working on my December newsletter, putting the December menus on the district Website, and working with various teachers on establishing their Websites. I am happy to report that Mr. Cummins now has a live site for the high school. Again, if any of you wish to learn about SchoolLoop and get your initial page established, just let me know. It only takes an hour (or less) for me to guide you through the basic steps of setting up a page. It really is easy!
I will be gone the last three days of this week, attending the Technology Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. I hope to attend many sessions and bring back all sorts of information for our district.
I attended the regional TIS meeting in Murray on the 19th and as part of that meeting, we had a demonstration of lots of handheld electronic devices. Many of these are now finding their way into college classrooms and ultimately, they will probably find their way into our public school classrooms. This week I want to share a few sites with you so you can find out more about these handheld devices:
Entourage Edge and Pocket Edge
Dell Streak
Kindle (from Amazon)
iPod Touch
iPad
HP Palm
If you are interested in more information about these types of devices and others, check out this page for Teacher Tap - it contains a whole site of information and links that might be useful.
This week is an pretty active one for me. I am continuing to work on the Civil Rights Data Collection federal report for our district and can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel! I hope to have it all completed and entered online by the end of the day Tuesday. I will also be working on my December newsletter, putting the December menus on the district Website, and working with various teachers on establishing their Websites. I am happy to report that Mr. Cummins now has a live site for the high school. Again, if any of you wish to learn about SchoolLoop and get your initial page established, just let me know. It only takes an hour (or less) for me to guide you through the basic steps of setting up a page. It really is easy!
I will be gone the last three days of this week, attending the Technology Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. I hope to attend many sessions and bring back all sorts of information for our district.
I attended the regional TIS meeting in Murray on the 19th and as part of that meeting, we had a demonstration of lots of handheld electronic devices. Many of these are now finding their way into college classrooms and ultimately, they will probably find their way into our public school classrooms. This week I want to share a few sites with you so you can find out more about these handheld devices:
Entourage Edge and Pocket Edge
Dell Streak
Kindle (from Amazon)
iPod Touch
iPad
HP Palm
If you are interested in more information about these types of devices and others, check out this page for Teacher Tap - it contains a whole site of information and links that might be useful.
23 November 2010
Celebrate the Holidays!
I know some of these ideas might be a little late for the Thanksgiving holiday, but maybe some of you will want to bookmark them for next year. Plus, some other sites were shared with me about the upcoming holiday season and winter months, so I wanted to go ahead and share those with you as well.
Packing the Pilgrim's Trunk - This theme exploration helps students in grades K-2 explore who the Pilgrims were, learn about their trip aboard the Mayflower, think about what it was like to move to a new world and discover how they adapted and built new lives at Plymouth Colony.
National Museum of the American Indian - Many resources are provided on this site, including poster images and photos, lesson plans on the topic of Thanksgiving, sections on American Indian perspectives on Thanksgiving, and a selection of instructional ideas/links for the classroom.
Let's Talk Turkey: The Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner - According to Butterball, 90% of U.S. households eat turkey on Thanksgiving and 50% eat turkey on Christmas day. This lesson is for grades 9-12 and includes information about the consumer price index and how much a typical Thanksgiving dinner costs.
Myth and Truth: The First Thanksgiving - This lesson is for grades 6-8 and helps students explore myths surrounding the Wampanoag, the pilgrims, and the first Thanksgiving. Students should learn the difference between myth and historical truth through the course of the lesson.
A Christmas Carol - This book was an instant success for Charles Dickens and remains one of his best-known works. One idea from this site is to have a middle school or high school class write a script for "A Christmas Carol" on a level that primary students can read and perform.
Using Snowflake Bentley as a Framing Text for Multigenre Writing - This is for grades 3-5 and is based on "Snowflake Bentley", a Caldecott Medal-winning book about Wilson Bentley. In this lesson, students examine multiple texts about snow and develop a working definition of the term multigenre.
Frosty the Snowman Meets His Demise - In this lesson, students will be asked to consider the case of when Frosty the Snowman met his demise (began to melt). The exercise they go through will help them understand how scientists use carbon dating to try to determine the age of fossils and other materials.
Holidays 2010 - This site has other activities, lesson plans, podcasts and other resources about the holiday season.
Consider this post an extra treat for this week!
Packing the Pilgrim's Trunk - This theme exploration helps students in grades K-2 explore who the Pilgrims were, learn about their trip aboard the Mayflower, think about what it was like to move to a new world and discover how they adapted and built new lives at Plymouth Colony.
National Museum of the American Indian - Many resources are provided on this site, including poster images and photos, lesson plans on the topic of Thanksgiving, sections on American Indian perspectives on Thanksgiving, and a selection of instructional ideas/links for the classroom.
Let's Talk Turkey: The Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner - According to Butterball, 90% of U.S. households eat turkey on Thanksgiving and 50% eat turkey on Christmas day. This lesson is for grades 9-12 and includes information about the consumer price index and how much a typical Thanksgiving dinner costs.
Myth and Truth: The First Thanksgiving - This lesson is for grades 6-8 and helps students explore myths surrounding the Wampanoag, the pilgrims, and the first Thanksgiving. Students should learn the difference between myth and historical truth through the course of the lesson.
A Christmas Carol - This book was an instant success for Charles Dickens and remains one of his best-known works. One idea from this site is to have a middle school or high school class write a script for "A Christmas Carol" on a level that primary students can read and perform.
Using Snowflake Bentley as a Framing Text for Multigenre Writing - This is for grades 3-5 and is based on "Snowflake Bentley", a Caldecott Medal-winning book about Wilson Bentley. In this lesson, students examine multiple texts about snow and develop a working definition of the term multigenre.
Frosty the Snowman Meets His Demise - In this lesson, students will be asked to consider the case of when Frosty the Snowman met his demise (began to melt). The exercise they go through will help them understand how scientists use carbon dating to try to determine the age of fossils and other materials.
Holidays 2010 - This site has other activities, lesson plans, podcasts and other resources about the holiday season.
Consider this post an extra treat for this week!
22 November 2010
Short week!
I wish for all of you a relaxing and refreshing time with your families and friends over the Thanksgiving holiday. I will be working on Monday and Tuesday of this week. My daughter is visiting from Alabama and she has not been home since last year's Thanksgiving, so I want to spend as much time with her as I can.
I am continuing work on the Civil Rights Data Collection for our district and want to thank all of you who have helped me gather the data to input. I hope to have the majority of it done by the time I leave work on Tuesday afternoon. That is my focus for these two days.
This week I want to share some Websites that contain lots of links and information about becoming a 21st century educator:
5 Tips to Becoming a 21st Century Educator
More Great Web 2.0 Tools
10 Cool Web 2.0 Tools for Educators
10 Cool Web 2.0 Tools for Educators, Part 2
Web 2.0 Science Tools
Creating a Facebook Page for Your School
Maybe you will find something you can use in your classroom!
I am continuing work on the Civil Rights Data Collection for our district and want to thank all of you who have helped me gather the data to input. I hope to have the majority of it done by the time I leave work on Tuesday afternoon. That is my focus for these two days.
This week I want to share some Websites that contain lots of links and information about becoming a 21st century educator:
5 Tips to Becoming a 21st Century Educator
More Great Web 2.0 Tools
10 Cool Web 2.0 Tools for Educators
10 Cool Web 2.0 Tools for Educators, Part 2
Web 2.0 Science Tools
Creating a Facebook Page for Your School
Maybe you will find something you can use in your classroom!
15 November 2010
Plans sometimes don't work out!
Last week proved to be an interesting one, to say the least. On Wednesday I was able to attend the STLP Showcase at Murray State with 17 middle school students and their sponsor, Mrs. Everette. It was a terrific day and 3 of our students won prizes! On Thursday I had plans to work with Mrs. McClung's 6th grade classes on their ILPs, but woke up that morning with fever and other such ailments, so I made a couple of quick visits to two schools where I needed to get something done and then returned home. On Friday, I was able to get into the doctor's office to see the nurse practitioner and ended up with two prescriptions. Luckily, I didn't have anything planned for the weekend, so I could stay inside and rest and let the medicine do its job. I am happy to report that I am back at work and ready for a week on the road!
Here's my schedule for this week -
Monday and Tuesday - in the office (working on CRDC report, e-rate, etc.)
Wednesday and Thursday - in Louisville at the Infinite Campus Interchange
Friday - in Murray at the Regional TIS meeting
As you can see, this week is completely full and busy! Hopefully I will learn a great deal to bring back and share with everyone from my travels to Louisville and Murray. (And, hopefully, my medicines will continue to work and I'll feel good the entire time!)
Here are some sites that I thought I would share this week:
The Road Ahead - General Motors takes you and your classroom on a tour to explore how electricity is generated and how it is poised to change how we live. There is a digital magazine available, a classroom poster that can be printed and a teacher's guide and worksheets that can be downloaded, as well as free lesson plans for Grades 3-5 and Grades 6-8.
Soundzabound - The only royalty free music library which meets all the licensing and technology requirements needed for education. Their music library offers a wide variety of music, audio themes, and sound effects that ensure copyright safety. There is a cost for this service, but a school site license can be purchased which will cover all teachers, students and administrators. (Why is this important? Here's an article about a current court case in which a woman has been ordered to pay a $1.5 million song-sharing fine.)
Google Tricks for Your Classroom - This is a site that lists 8 Google tricks, including converting units and time, exploring the sky, and finding specific documents.
Thanksgiving (affectionately known as "turkey day" to me) is right around the corner and we should all be thinking of how much we are thankful for, not only this year but for our entire lives. I'd like to say thanks to our veterans for providing us the freedoms we all enjoy in the United States. Having lived overseas, I can honestly say most of us don't appreciate what we do have as Americans. Hope you stay healthy and happy this week!
Here's my schedule for this week -
Monday and Tuesday - in the office (working on CRDC report, e-rate, etc.)
Wednesday and Thursday - in Louisville at the Infinite Campus Interchange
Friday - in Murray at the Regional TIS meeting
As you can see, this week is completely full and busy! Hopefully I will learn a great deal to bring back and share with everyone from my travels to Louisville and Murray. (And, hopefully, my medicines will continue to work and I'll feel good the entire time!)
Here are some sites that I thought I would share this week:
The Road Ahead - General Motors takes you and your classroom on a tour to explore how electricity is generated and how it is poised to change how we live. There is a digital magazine available, a classroom poster that can be printed and a teacher's guide and worksheets that can be downloaded, as well as free lesson plans for Grades 3-5 and Grades 6-8.
Soundzabound - The only royalty free music library which meets all the licensing and technology requirements needed for education. Their music library offers a wide variety of music, audio themes, and sound effects that ensure copyright safety. There is a cost for this service, but a school site license can be purchased which will cover all teachers, students and administrators. (Why is this important? Here's an article about a current court case in which a woman has been ordered to pay a $1.5 million song-sharing fine.)
Google Tricks for Your Classroom - This is a site that lists 8 Google tricks, including converting units and time, exploring the sky, and finding specific documents.
Thanksgiving (affectionately known as "turkey day" to me) is right around the corner and we should all be thinking of how much we are thankful for, not only this year but for our entire lives. I'd like to say thanks to our veterans for providing us the freedoms we all enjoy in the United States. Having lived overseas, I can honestly say most of us don't appreciate what we do have as Americans. Hope you stay healthy and happy this week!
08 November 2010
Busy, busy week ahead!
This week is filled with great opportunities to work with students at the middle school level as well as learning about all sorts of technologies and strategies to be used in the classroom. Here's my schedule for the week (as it stands now):
Monday - in the office, but working on the Civil Rights Data Collection for our district, as well as other items; judging Digital Art entries from the middle school STLP students at 1630
Tuesday - in the office, but have a webinar on Lesson Plans at 1400 and a webinar on Web 2.0 Tools at 1500; however, I will have to leave the 2nd webinar a little early to get to the TRT meeting at CCMS at 1530
Wednesday - attending the STLP Showcase at Murray State University with the middle school STLP students and their sponsor, Mrs. Everette
Thursday - at CCMS, working with 6th graders on their ILPs (Individual Learning Plans); after school, I'll be at CCPS judging the CCEA Logo Contest entries; at 1900 I have a webinar on Differentiated Instruction
Friday - in the office, but working on the CRDC plus other items; have a webinar on Podcasting at 1000
Whew! It makes me tired just typing the schedule out! Hopefully everything will go as planned and the week will be a successful one.
Since bullying and cyberbullying have been in the news lately and seem to be a focus of technology instruction for schools and districts all across the nation, I thought I would share some sites this week on the topic:
Bullying.org - This site's purpose is to prevent bullying in our society through education and awareness. They provide educational programs and resources to individuals, families, educational institutions and organizations. They make available online learning and educational resources in order to help people deal effectively and positively with the act of bullying and its long lasting negative consequences.
Cyberbullying.org - This site states that "Cyberbullying involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others." There are links for Examples, What Can Be Done, Facts and News, and Related Resources.
Netsmartz.org - NetSmartz is a great resource for keeping students (and adults) safe online. This particular link, http://www.netsmartz.org/Resources/reallife.htm, takes the user to real-life stories about Cyberbullying, from both the victim's viewpoint and the bully's viewpoint. Many of the videos are geared specifically toward certain age levels and some contain activity cards and related news articles as well.
Cyberbullying.us - The Cyberbullying Research Center is dedicated to providing up-to-date information about the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of cyberbullying among adolescents. You can find fact sheets, books and other publications, watch videos, read the blog that is posted, and read the latest cyberbullying headlines/articles.
Stop Cyberbullying - The initial screen for this site gives information on what cyberbullying is. Once you enter the site, there are links for what is it; how it works; why cyberbully; prevention; take action; and what's the law. There are also specific links for ages 7-10; 11-13; 14-17; parents; educators; and law enforcement. I particularly like their slogan - "Don't be part of the problem. Be part of the solution!"
Hopefully you will find something that you can use not only with your classroom but also with your family members with regard to online safety and cyberbullying.
Monday - in the office, but working on the Civil Rights Data Collection for our district, as well as other items; judging Digital Art entries from the middle school STLP students at 1630
Tuesday - in the office, but have a webinar on Lesson Plans at 1400 and a webinar on Web 2.0 Tools at 1500; however, I will have to leave the 2nd webinar a little early to get to the TRT meeting at CCMS at 1530
Wednesday - attending the STLP Showcase at Murray State University with the middle school STLP students and their sponsor, Mrs. Everette
Thursday - at CCMS, working with 6th graders on their ILPs (Individual Learning Plans); after school, I'll be at CCPS judging the CCEA Logo Contest entries; at 1900 I have a webinar on Differentiated Instruction
Friday - in the office, but working on the CRDC plus other items; have a webinar on Podcasting at 1000
Whew! It makes me tired just typing the schedule out! Hopefully everything will go as planned and the week will be a successful one.
Since bullying and cyberbullying have been in the news lately and seem to be a focus of technology instruction for schools and districts all across the nation, I thought I would share some sites this week on the topic:
Bullying.org - This site's purpose is to prevent bullying in our society through education and awareness. They provide educational programs and resources to individuals, families, educational institutions and organizations. They make available online learning and educational resources in order to help people deal effectively and positively with the act of bullying and its long lasting negative consequences.
Cyberbullying.org - This site states that "Cyberbullying involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others." There are links for Examples, What Can Be Done, Facts and News, and Related Resources.
Netsmartz.org - NetSmartz is a great resource for keeping students (and adults) safe online. This particular link, http://www.netsmartz.org/Resources/reallife.htm, takes the user to real-life stories about Cyberbullying, from both the victim's viewpoint and the bully's viewpoint. Many of the videos are geared specifically toward certain age levels and some contain activity cards and related news articles as well.
Cyberbullying.us - The Cyberbullying Research Center is dedicated to providing up-to-date information about the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of cyberbullying among adolescents. You can find fact sheets, books and other publications, watch videos, read the blog that is posted, and read the latest cyberbullying headlines/articles.
Stop Cyberbullying - The initial screen for this site gives information on what cyberbullying is. Once you enter the site, there are links for what is it; how it works; why cyberbully; prevention; take action; and what's the law. There are also specific links for ages 7-10; 11-13; 14-17; parents; educators; and law enforcement. I particularly like their slogan - "Don't be part of the problem. Be part of the solution!"
Hopefully you will find something that you can use not only with your classroom but also with your family members with regard to online safety and cyberbullying.
05 November 2010
Wordle
Have you ever considered using Wordle in your classroom? If not, you should! It's a free tool that allows you to create word clouds that show prominent words in a body of text. You can copy and paste any text, including individual words. You can also use the Advanced feature to specifically tell the program which words should show more prominently. (http://www.wordle.net/)
Here are some quick ideas on how to use Wordle in class -
• Analyze Presidential addresses - google a President's speech, then copy and paste it into Wordle; do two or more speeches to compare
• Use as a cover for a report - at a quick glance, the teacher can see what is being emphasized in the report
• Use for vocabulary or spelling words - introduce a unit, a story or the weekly spelling words in a Wordle word cloud
• Use for reading comprehension - design a Wordle with the important terms from some content area; ask students to make predictions of what they will learn as they read or ask students to review what they've read by writing sentences using the words in the Wordle
• For math or social studies, easily see results of surveys - for example, take a survey of the class as to their favorite colors or favorite foods, then use the Advanced feature of Wordle to input the results; at a quick glance, the entire class can see what the favorite color or food is (the one that was answered most)
• For language arts or social studies, use Wordle to find bias in news reporting - take a news article and copy and paste it into Wordle, then look for the prominent words
Wordle is very easy to learn and use. For more information, go to http://tedteachersnetwork.pbworks.com/w/page/30355297/Wordle. This is a Wiki page that includes 1) What is Wordle?; 2) How to make a word cloud in Wordle (video); 3) How can it be used in class? (list and video); and 4) Useful Links (at the time of this writing, there were 48 ways to use Wordle in the classroom listed).
Try using Wordle in your classroom today! It's that simple and easy to do!
Here are some quick ideas on how to use Wordle in class -
• Analyze Presidential addresses - google a President's speech, then copy and paste it into Wordle; do two or more speeches to compare
• Use as a cover for a report - at a quick glance, the teacher can see what is being emphasized in the report
• Use for vocabulary or spelling words - introduce a unit, a story or the weekly spelling words in a Wordle word cloud
• Use for reading comprehension - design a Wordle with the important terms from some content area; ask students to make predictions of what they will learn as they read or ask students to review what they've read by writing sentences using the words in the Wordle
• For math or social studies, easily see results of surveys - for example, take a survey of the class as to their favorite colors or favorite foods, then use the Advanced feature of Wordle to input the results; at a quick glance, the entire class can see what the favorite color or food is (the one that was answered most)
• For language arts or social studies, use Wordle to find bias in news reporting - take a news article and copy and paste it into Wordle, then look for the prominent words
Wordle is very easy to learn and use. For more information, go to http://tedteachersnetwork.pbworks.com/w/page/30355297/Wordle. This is a Wiki page that includes 1) What is Wordle?; 2) How to make a word cloud in Wordle (video); 3) How can it be used in class? (list and video); and 4) Useful Links (at the time of this writing, there were 48 ways to use Wordle in the classroom listed).
Try using Wordle in your classroom today! It's that simple and easy to do!
01 November 2010
November is here!
Another month has arrived and it won't be long before we'll be planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas and everything in between. This week I will be in the office for most of the time. I will not be working on Election Day, November 2nd. On Wednesday morning I will be spending some time with a teacher about SchoolLoop and on Thursday I will be at the middle school all day working with 6th graders and their ILPs (Individual Learning Plans). The rest of the time I should be in the office working on various projects and tasks.
This week I want to share some sites that I found through Simple K12. These are considered to be Web 2.0 tools, which usually means they are free and easily usable in a classroom.
Graphic Organizers #1 - This site contains PDFs of graphic organizers to help structure projects and help students learn more effectively. They are easily downloaded.
Graphic Organizers #2 - Graphic organizers are an illustration of your thoughts on paper. They can help you brainstorm, organize, and visualize your ideas. These graphic organizers have teaching notes that go with each type. They are easily downloaded in PDF form.
Geography Mapping - This site gives you a place at the top and some hints on finding the place. Your job is to find the corresponding place on the map at the bottom of the page. Interesting!
Word Clouds - Create your own word cloud. Type in or copy and paste text, then adjust the background and word colors, etc. You can save, print or put the resulting Word Cloud on items to purchase.
Exploring the Planets - This site lets you compare and explore the planets, plus lets you learn about the tools of exploration that are used.
Hopefully you'll find something usable this week! Don't forget to exercise your right to vote on Tuesday!
This week I want to share some sites that I found through Simple K12. These are considered to be Web 2.0 tools, which usually means they are free and easily usable in a classroom.
Graphic Organizers #1 - This site contains PDFs of graphic organizers to help structure projects and help students learn more effectively. They are easily downloaded.
Graphic Organizers #2 - Graphic organizers are an illustration of your thoughts on paper. They can help you brainstorm, organize, and visualize your ideas. These graphic organizers have teaching notes that go with each type. They are easily downloaded in PDF form.
Geography Mapping - This site gives you a place at the top and some hints on finding the place. Your job is to find the corresponding place on the map at the bottom of the page. Interesting!
Word Clouds - Create your own word cloud. Type in or copy and paste text, then adjust the background and word colors, etc. You can save, print or put the resulting Word Cloud on items to purchase.
Exploring the Planets - This site lets you compare and explore the planets, plus lets you learn about the tools of exploration that are used.
Hopefully you'll find something usable this week! Don't forget to exercise your right to vote on Tuesday!
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