LBS 850 

week 4 Blog Post

Discovering new tools...

Google has seemed to corner the market as far at online tools. Google has a teacher training site page with tutorials on how to navigate all the available uses. With Google Educators can provide instant feedback and track a student’s progress, manage curriculum assignments, and grading all in one place, work online or offline, anytime, and on any device, store and organize assignments, documents collaborate, share feedback, and work together with your students in real time on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, create forms, quizzes, and surveys and much more! However, they have some serious competition and below are some that I explored this week.

1. Animoto

One of the best ways to make sure students understand a topic is to let them explain the concept on their own.  Using a video tool such as Animoto is great for allowing some independence and creativity by having students explain something they have learned.  Maybe it is a math concept or a scientific explanation, or to test their reading comprehension by explaining a chapter or short summary of a book or even by making a book trailer.  

2 Flickr

I think of Flickr as a photo album much like my photo app on my Mac.  I use my Mac photo app to add captions, put groups of people or events in folders.  One thought for flickr is to have students in art class create a portfolio of their work.  In my middle school students have the same art teacher for the entire 3 years.  This would be a great way to show their progression from 6^th grade to 8^th grade with a visual display that they can share and “take” with them to high school.

3. SurveyMonkey

Have students create their own polling questions. Learning how to construct surveys is a valuable lesson for students.  They learn to understand how to word questions, consider their audience, etc.  They could perhaps poll their fellow classmates on what they think of school lunches or during an election it to see how students feel about candidates or issues (climate change, guns in schools, etc).

5. Glogster

This may seem obvious, but I can see Glogster being used as an alternative to traditional poster by combining linked or embedded text, video, images, and music. I am currently having students make posters showing fiction books on one side and non fiction on the other.  This is involving a lot of cutting out book covers from catalogs, glue, poster board, markers, etc.. I will try this on Glogster next time to avoid all the mess and need for supplies.  I also love the timeline template which as unlimited uses for almost any subject.  Another idea is to have students research a country and create a virtual poster.  They could design it as a travel brochure or just have facts such as country flag, statistics and facts.

7. Screencast-o-matic

I would love to use this first for myself.  I would produce tutorials for myself because after the summer break I sometimes need to remind myself how to use different tools.  I usually take tons of notes but having a shot of the screen as I remind myself how I used the app would be great.  It can also be used to explain a lesson for those who are absent.  I would post it on the Google Classroom so they could view it at any time.

8. BubblUs

Mind maps visually connect large and small ideas. This can be used in the classroom for things such as Brainstorming, studying and memorization, problem solving, and planning out ideas.  I think in the library or in an ELA/reading class you could start with a title of a book the students have read and map out where, when, why, how to communicate comprehension. 

10. Doodle

Teachers can use Doodle to schedule one-to-one meetings with their students, plan parent teacher conferences or for teachers to book time in the library. Doodle in the Classroom The Benefits of Online Scheduling is a great article to start with.

11. Timeline

Create a timeline of a specific period in history, create a biographical timeline about a selected person or even their own life.

LBS 850 WEEK 3 BLOG POST

This week in learning.....

Apps

August issue of neaToday magazine, an article called "How to Evaluate Apps You've Never Used in Less than Seven Minutes, " by Jacqui Murray had information about deciding on if and when to use certain apps in the classroom that I found helpful.

1. Qualify (2 minutes) is it free? will it work with my learning management system? Is is easy to install/set up?

2. Playtime (5 minutes) its easy to use, It supports the "4 C's" (creativity, critical thinking, communication & collaboration) it isn't distracting, offers levels, will stand test of time, has no or few ads, easily applied, doesn't collect personal information, is rated "e" for everyone and has no in-app purchases.

Murray ends with... "in a nutshell: if it's not easy to set up, I might walk. If it's not intuitive to use, I do walk.  

LiveBinders.

I also played around with LiveBinders.  I am somewhat unsure how these differ or are better than say Pinterest or Google Docs.  It seemed like the information could quickly become outdated and overwhelming to look at... Maybe I will hold off on that for now, spend too much time reading articles and playing around with it.

Padlet

I loved the ease and look of Padlet.  Many classmates have shared ideas on how to use this in the classroom that I intend to try out.  I like a tool that I can use immediately with very little prior experience.  I did watch two short YouTube video tutorials first but other than that it was user-friendly. The videos were this and this.  I also created my own Padlet so I could gain some experience and it can be viewed here.

LBS 850 Week 2 Blog Post

This week in learning.....

Flipgrid.com. I learned how to navigate the very user friendly Flipgrid to record myself making a video for this class.  I liked that there was a countdown showing the time limit and thought it was fun although I don't like to watch myself in videos. Some of the ways Flipgrid could work in the classroom are: 

• in place of a traditional speaking assignment
• creating an end of year (semester) reflection
• creating an appreciation/thank you card 
• debating about a topic
• Gather opinions from students about a major event (current or historical)
• Collaboration: students can work together to create something innovative than what they may have done alone.

FLIPGRID RESOURCES TO CHECK OUT: 

Flipgrid resources page: https://resources.flipgrid.com/

Connect with Flipgrid on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Flipgrid

GREAT IDEAS ON HOW TO USE FLIPGRID: 

15 Ways to use Flipgrid in your classroom:

http://ditchthattextbook.com/2017/06/02/catch-the-flipgrid-fever-15-ways-to-use-flipgrid-in-your-class/

Youtube examples of Flipgrid in the Classroom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IQKJr5nTAc

Changing the way you assess by using Flipgrid:

http://blog.edvergent.com/2017/04/27/change-the-way-you-assess-with-flipgrid/

22 Strategies for using Flipgrid in a Language Learning Classroom:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-strategies-using-flipgrid-language-learning-michael-j-shehane/

Carol Gunnels/Kimberly Isham Flyer on Flipgrid (more ideas and resources on this great tool): https://www.smore.com/mzf2q

https://www.smore.com/uvke3-using-flipgrid-in-your-classroom

Ten Things Every Teacher Should Know About Technology

1. Always practice yourself before presenting things to students. Actually, do the entire assignment as you would be presenting to them to see where the tricky parts are or what doesn't make sense that may need to be tweaked due to limits of the software. Also, over time many things get upgraded and changed so if it has been a while since you visited the website, double check to be sure things haven't changed.

2. Have a backup plan. Internet can be slow and/ or computers can crash. Have a paper back up assignment so your entire class isn't ruined due to technology glitches. Also, always try rebooting the computer before calling the IT department for assistance (that is what they will do first when they arrive!) It is also crucial that you know who to call for technical assistance.

3. It may seem basic but take the time to review computer rules (no food, no touching another person's computer, etc) this will save you headaches down the road. It is important that students are properly trained how to treat expensive devices with care and respect.

4. Take advantage of the free stuff! Many online platforms offer free content in addition to purchasing plans or upgrades. The free stuff is usually pretty good if you can't afford to upgrade.

5. Start with the basics. I wrongly assumed that all my middle school students understood how to operate a mouse, how to open a new tab, etc. Many of my students do not have access to computers outside of school and didn't know many things most of us take for granted. So that it won't be a barrier to learning and make students anxious about using the technology, take the time to explain the small stuff.

6. You don't have to know it all. Having approximately 3 or 4 good sites or apps that you find helpful and can use confidently are okay. Trying to learn too much too quickly will cause frustration and burnout. Maximize your time by learning a few good ones to start.

7. Kids love to teach the teacher! Students derive much confidence from showing off their tech skills. I had students help me navigate Instagram when I first started using it and they loved teaching me all they knew. Ask your students what they know, and you will learn a lot!

8. Teach digital citizenship. Passwords are extremely valuable and need to be carefully guarded, as well as thoughtfully generated. Explain phishing and not to click on a link they are unfamiliar with.

9. Take advantage of training sessions offered by your district. This can save you time muddling through yourself to learn something new. Most times you can also earn PD points for attending.

10. Be open to new ways of doing things. Technology can be scary for some. Give it a try and you will find a whole new way of teaching as well as keeping yourself organized. Technology can save you time and aggravation.