Wonderful Weekend Websites 1/20/15

image source:http://edutechdebate.org/wp-content/uploads/edutech-green1.jpg

Alan November, an international leader in education technology expresses in an article on his website that “the questions we ask to evaluate implementation and define innovation are critical.” Administrators in other districts  are using these 6 questions during their walk-throughs.

CK12 contains 70 million+ learning experiences delivered and counting… 5000+ concepts learned through 15,000+ resources including text, video, audio, image, quiz, and interactives. Here’s a short overview video.

There’s no right way to solve it, but there’s only one right answer. Have students practice their searching skills with a Google a day

Tuesday Tech Tip 1/27/15

How to create multimedia projectby layering using Google Slides, Thinglink & Snagit. Even though this video uses Snagit you or your students could use any other recording software such as ScreencastoMatic.

Here are some ideas to allow student choice in the way they represent their learning.
  An Interactive Toolbox made with a Thinglink
Web tools to use in class by teachers and students

 

Wonderful Weekend Websites 1/16/15

Professional Development Tip

What is an Edcamp?

An edcamp is a professional learning experience for educators that is completely participant driven. You pick what you learn about, have a chance to talk with educators who want to learn the same thing and leave with ideas you can immediately apply in your classroom!

Click here for more information or to register for this FREE professional development opportunity. I hope to see you there.

Classroom Tips

The Question Game: A playful way to teach Critical Thinking?

In A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas, Warren Berger suggests that there are three main questions which help in problem solving: Why questions, What If questions, and How questions. The 

Question Game focuses on thinking strategy and creativity, and aims to solidify the critical thinking thought pattern from an early age onwards.

100 Engineering projects for kids

These engineering projects encourage students to think creatively and solve problems. Many of these activities require minimal supplies

Google Tip

Use Flippity to create flashcards and quizzes using Google Spreadsheets. Here are some step to step guides. 

How to create flashcards.  

How to create a quiz. 

Wonderful Weekend Websites 12/12/14

Here are 3 tools for creating multimedia year-in-review collages. Check out this link with embedded how-to videos.

The best way for students to avoid copyright infringement when creating multimedia projects is to create their own audio. Soundtrap is a website that will allow students to collaboratively create music or vocal recordings on almost any device. Students should sign up with their school Google accounts.

This new Google feature that will make it easier to share in Google Drive.

Google Classroom allows you to view, grade and return an assignment, here’s how.

Everyone uses Google Search, here are 11 tricks that will change the way you search. Pass them on to students. Custom search engines can narrow down your searches, this one is the education search engine.

Wonderful Weekend Websites

Image Source:http://sherriejohnson.blogspot.com/2012/01/daily-ceativity.html

HSTRY is a multimedia timeline creation tool that will work on your laptop, Chromebook, iPad, or tablet. With a HSTRY account you can build timelines in a vertical scroll format similar to that of a Facebook feed.

Last month Storyboard That offered a tool for creating Thanksgiving cards. This month they're offering a tool for creating holiday cards (Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year, Kwanza, and generic "season's greetings"). To create one of these cards simply select "make a folding" card after creating and saving a storyboard. A video of the process can be found here.

Creating holiday cards on Storyboard That could be a good way for students to practice writing short stories.

Continuing from Tuesday’s Tech Tip and Eric Sheninger’s TED talk about creating schools that work better for kids, here are 7 ways to become a digital leader with the help of Google Apps

Tuesday Tech Tips

#EdCampAwesome coming to Royse City, TX on February 21st, 2015. EdCamps are UNconference events organized by groups of educators, specifically designed to create a participant-driven, fun-filled day of professional development. Educators can connect with like-minded individuals, collaborate ideas, brainstorm solutions to common education problems, have group discussions, and receive information that can immediately be applied in the classroom. Click here to register.

Image source:http://www.shakeuplearning.com/blog/a-quest-to-hackpd-and-redefine-professional-development

Are all teachers extroverts? Read the Confessions of an Introvert Teacher. Where teachers fall on the introvert-extrovert spectrum is something that should be considered when we plan staff development.

Image source:

Eric Sheninger, author of the book Digital Leadership recently gave a TED talk about Schools that work for kids. It is definitely worth listening too. Like what you hear -- then check out his Blog.

Image source:http://ericsheninger.com/esheninger/home

According to Carl Hooker, " Part of being a teacher in the 21st century is being creative in integrating academics and learning into students' digital lives." He lists 21 things every 21st Century Teacher should do this year. 

Let me help you accomplish one of these things.

   

Wonderful Weekend Websites 11-21-14

Technology Tools

Image source: http://nonprofitanswerguide.org/ask/integrate-technology-into-nonprofit-and-tools-available/

1. Here are a couple of web tools to create story maps. These are stories that use maps to support the story. Students could create stories about historical events or current events that involve multiple locations. Here is an example.

• Odyssey - a simple way for journalists, designers, and creators to weave interactive stories.
• Story Maps - use story maps to inform and inspire your audience

2. The Power of We - 3-D collaboration - Discussions, Debates and Decisions Around any Topic. Instant and Effective.

image source: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/

1. This link will help you create a collaborative spreadsheet to use with your students to allow students to easily participate in class discussions. Never used Google Sheets -- don't worry, this site will explain it and if you need more information, contact me. 

2. Looking for ideas on how to use Google Drive in your classroom, here are 38 of them. 

Teaching Tip

image source:http://www.really-learn-english.com/activities-for-teaching-vocabulary.html

Click here for ideas on how to avoid the trap of Q & A Teaching.