Tool #11

1. My favorite tools are Animoto, Stupeflix, and Glogster. Animoto and Stupeflix are so user friendly. Students are able to create movies so quickly. Glogster is an awesome tool to use to replace any projects students would normally do using posterboard & markers.

2. Learning is so different now compared to when I was in school. Students need to be engaged in their learning using a various forms of media. Having all of these devices available to students makes me stretch my own thinking & imagination to see how I can effectively use these in my classroom to fit the curriculum. The technology available is meant to enhance & enrich the curriculum....not just add on to it. It is supposed to make it easier and products students make are supposed to replace projects that are normally done using pen and paper.

3. There were parts of this training that needed more explaination and steps. I think the Voki needed more steps for embedding since some Voki's were not on the sidebar. I was only surprised by some of the brief postings. It was hard for me to comment on some blogs since there was such a short post.

Tool #10

3 Things I want to teach my students about Digital Citizenship:

1. Netiquette - I think this is so important since they will be collaborating & commenting with others and their work. I need to stress the golden rule: Treat others people the way you would like to be treating.

2. Digital Footprint - Teaching them to think before they post because once it is out there others can see it. Also keeping details about their private lives private and not sharing username and passwords. Edmodo and Glogster allows user to select a profile picture. I allow students to choose from the available images or they may post a picture of their favorite animal or sports team.

3. Cyberbullying- Students need to understand that we don't bully at school or online.

I will use BrainPop as well as CyberSmart Kids when we discuss digital citizenship. I am hoping to spend the first few weeks of school on digital citizenship. Time is so precious during the day, however I feel it is important students know the expectations when using the devices.

I especially want to spend a great deal of time on Netiquette--watching the BrainPop videos and using CyberSmart Kids, then having the students go to Edmodo to discuss (and apply) what they have learned will let me know what I need to spend more time on. I don't know what much about the iSafe program & what they have available for teachers to use. Their website had a ton of info but you need to be a subscriber.

Tool #9

1. The purpose of having computers and devices in our rooms is to integrate technology into the curriculum. It should not be something we are just simply adding, but using it to replace something that we have normally done with pen and paper. For example, in the science curriculum students were to choose a project to demonstrate their knowledge of the three states of matter. Some of the project choices were to make a poster, write a story,etc. I tweaked these choices to integrate technology. Students could create a poster on Glogster, make an Animoto, or write a story using Google Docs. Students need to see the value of these devices as aiding in their learning....not just something to use when they finish work early or if they are good.
2. Holding students accountable for work completed during centers/stations lets them know that they are expected to stay on-task. Yes, going to a website or using an app is fun, but you must be recording information on work completed during this time. I have never had a problem with students not recording information during math stations whenever they use the Activboard, iTouch, or Netbook. They know the consequence is will be not using the devices during station time & they will do book work. I also check their station work weekly.
3. TESiBoard is great to use as an Activboard station. When I use my Activboard as a station, they know to come with their math journals.Students take turns coming up to their board. Dual pens allows 2 students to come at once. I like the function machine game. Students would record numbers going in and out and describe the function in their journals.
4. Thinkfinity is another awesome website. Everything is tied to standards and provides you the objective and learning plan. The "Exploring the Value of a Whole" lesson plan and interactive website is the same activity I used this year when teaching fractions. I can print the activity sheet for students to complete as they use the pattern blocks program on the iPad or Netbooks.
5. Math Bingo is very popular with my students. iLiveMath Oceans is a word problem app. Students write the word problem, solve it, and write their answer statement.
6. The iPod Touch or iPad can be used to watch a BrainPop together, listen to a podcast, or watch a Discovery Education clip that would normally be watched whole class.

Tool #7

Next year a fourth grade teacher from Frostwood and I will have our students collaborate during our study of weathering, erosion, and deposition.

This unit of study takes place during the second nine weeks. My students will be using Edmodo to discuss concepts being taught in class, reflect on Discovery Education & BrainPop videos.

Students will also share a Google Site and will add information to their Google site about information they have found on weathering, erosion, and deposition. Students will be posting examples of different types of weathering and erosion from Flickr and/or Picasa. Students will upload these photos to their Google Site. Student will also be given a choice to create a Stupeflix or Animoto or podcase on weathering, erosion, or deposition. Whichever project they choose will be uploaded to their Google site. Students will work in groups and parts of the project will be divided between our two classes. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Tool #8

1. I learned that the iPad and iTouch are very similar in design & use. Knowing how to set-up the wireless network was new information for me since that has been a problem the iTouches. I have GEEK'ed in the past, but now I know how to solve the problem myself. I am hoping to set-up some Skype sessions this year, so the webcam on the Netbook is nice & convenient.
2. I will number the devices and each child will be assigned that device to use. I have 2-3 technology managers to help pass out the devices or put them away. This is helpful so all the students aren't crowding around the cart trying to plug everything in.

Tool #6

I have used Wallwisher in past, but I thought I would try it again as a way to see how much background knowledge students had on electricity. I think of it as the "know" on a KWL chart. You could even have another wall for the "what do you want to learn." You could use Edmodo to promote discussion while learning about topic. Wallwisher was very easy to set-up. I just had to put a link on my class webpage. When we began our physical science unit students were showing what they knew about gravity and I just gave everyone a sticky....well this is the virtual sticky.




I have used Edmodo in reading groups this year. When a members of a reading group are done with their assigned reading they go online to discuss the book. You need to show them or model good examples of commenting & posting. If I am not meeting with a group or between groups I go online and see what is being posted. I through out an open-ended question to deeper their discussion if needed or deleted posts that are off-topic. When I first introduced the idea of Edmodo by students could not wait to get started reading. It was VERY motivating...they were taking their books home to read. The layout reminds me of Facebook which is probably one of the reasons they like it, but I love how it is in a safe environment and it is not open to the public. I know I have not taken advantage of Edmodo full capabilities. They sharing links and images...which they figured out how to do without me showing them. Our students are like sponges with technology. They are not afraid to try things out and if it fails that's okay...we know what not to do next time.

Tool #5

Last year and at the beginning of this year Animoto students had trouble using it due to loading issues. Students were waiting 10-15 minutes for 4 pictures to load. I took a webinar on Stupeflix (a Google app) and it was just as easy to use as Animoto. The end product is very nice. There are many pros and cons to using Animoto vs. Stupeflix. One of the biggest differences is that the music lounge that Stupeflix offers. All the music choices are instrumental. Animoto offers classical music selections as well as music with actual lyrics. Applying for an Animoto educator is easy & their turn around time is about 24 hours. Once you have the educator account you are allowed to make videos longer than 30 sec. I have posted examples of both. Students were able to create their videos within 30 min.

Below are two examples of Glogsters my students made this year. I've had some loading issues with Glogster as well, but I really like the end product and the kids love using it. When I give projects/assignments I try to give students options. Although, the first time I introduce a web 2.0 tool everyone uses the same tool.

Caroline

Spencer