Snacktools
Snacktools are a great way to publish documents, photos, banners, videos and podcasts online. It is great for a visual display of work or to embed onto your class website or blog. Teach students to use snacktools as a visual representation of a paper/report/presentation. http://www.snacktools.com
For our French Immersion Folk out there!
An Advent Calendar with Christmas Carols in French http://sites.csdraveurs.qc.ca/musique/noel/calendrier/
50 Ways to Use Discovery Streaming
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Wiffiti
I found this site a few years ago and at the time Canadian cell phones could not post messages to the wall. A re-introduction to this tool at ATLE conference in Red Deer sparked some interest. Check it out and give it a try. www.wiffiti.com
PLN (Personal Learning Network)
What is a personal learning network and how does it influence my teaching?
Teacher Challenge
I find that through out my travels around the district I am asked time and time again about blogging. Blogging professionally and blogging with students. I stumbled across this gem and through I should share it. For those of you who have Technology or blogging as part of your Professional Growth plans but don't know where to start. This teacher challenge gives you a place to start. They have 30 small challenges to get you started and keep you going. As always I would love to help you with any of these steps. Check out the teacher challenge website for any of these 3 challenges:
1. 30 days to kickstart your blogging
2. 30 days to get your students blogging
3. 30 days to using the best of the webs free tools for educators
4. 30 days to building a PLN
http://teacherchallenge.edublogs.org/about/
1. 30 days to kickstart your blogging
2. 30 days to get your students blogging
3. 30 days to using the best of the webs free tools for educators
4. 30 days to building a PLN
http://teacherchallenge.edublogs.org/about/
iPads
We have a few schools in our division who are using iPads as tools for learning. I came across these presentations by Silvia Tolisano today that I thought some of you may be interested in.
iPads In Education- Part 1
View more presentations from Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano
iPads in Education- Part 2
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September 15, 2011
More on blogging:
As you are looking at starting up blogging in your classroom where do you start? Well like anything blogging is a learning curve. There are stages of use.
1. Start with purpose! What is your purpose? Is it communication with students and parents? Is it a conversation? Is it a place to offer what you know and welcome feedback that stretches your thinking? Is it a place for you to reflect on what your thinking and learning? Purpose is important in everything that we do.
2. Inform and teach your students about social commenting vs academic commenting. We want to use blogging to further our understanding or to make connections. Use your Smart Learning strategies and get students thinking about their connections and "I Wonders".
3. Choose a platform for blogging. www.education.weebly.com, www.kidblog.org, www.blogger.com There are many options. Choose one that works for you. You will be the one teaching your students to use the tool so pick one that you are comfortable with and one that has the features you desire.
4. A blog is a great place for students to showcase their learning. Don't forget to take the time to have your students reflect on their learning
5. Students do not need to blog all at the same time. Having students reflect on their learning can happen using one computer in your classroom. Be creative and flexible with your time and resources. If you are lucky enough to have wireless in your school already consider using student owned devices.
This is a great Presentation on Blogging by Silvia Tolisano the author of the blog Langwitches
As you are looking at starting up blogging in your classroom where do you start? Well like anything blogging is a learning curve. There are stages of use.
1. Start with purpose! What is your purpose? Is it communication with students and parents? Is it a conversation? Is it a place to offer what you know and welcome feedback that stretches your thinking? Is it a place for you to reflect on what your thinking and learning? Purpose is important in everything that we do.
2. Inform and teach your students about social commenting vs academic commenting. We want to use blogging to further our understanding or to make connections. Use your Smart Learning strategies and get students thinking about their connections and "I Wonders".
3. Choose a platform for blogging. www.education.weebly.com, www.kidblog.org, www.blogger.com There are many options. Choose one that works for you. You will be the one teaching your students to use the tool so pick one that you are comfortable with and one that has the features you desire.
4. A blog is a great place for students to showcase their learning. Don't forget to take the time to have your students reflect on their learning
5. Students do not need to blog all at the same time. Having students reflect on their learning can happen using one computer in your classroom. Be creative and flexible with your time and resources. If you are lucky enough to have wireless in your school already consider using student owned devices.
This is a great Presentation on Blogging by Silvia Tolisano the author of the blog Langwitches
Blogging in the Classroom
View more presentations from Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano
September 9, 2011
As many of you are starting up your year I have heard rumblings of wanting to get your students blogging. This week I came across an amazing list complied by Mark Warner using Google forms and twitter. Teachers have submitted their ideas for Class Blogs. Check out the slide share below of teachers ideas from around the world. Be sure to also view google form below and submit your ideas for Class Blogs Posts. The link to the google doc is shared for you to view the submissions of your colleagues.
Link for Blogging in WRSD
Follow this link to read the responses of your colleagues!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Au70Ua1d3tJqdFZQaDVEalZMNngxVGtCaFMtdllxeHc&hl=en_US
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Au70Ua1d3tJqdFZQaDVEalZMNngxVGtCaFMtdllxeHc&hl=en_US
August 29, 2011
Wow I took quite a few weeks off there. Now to get back into the mode of finding exciting things to share each week. This week in honor of us making the switch to google education I am going to make my tool a google tool. If you have not already set up your igoogle please go and check it out. I am loving having all of my google tools in one place allowing me to check things out at a glance. I have access to google chat, google docs, gmail, calendar. You can personalize it to incorporate whatever apps you would like. Watch the quick jing video below to learn more about how to set up your own!
June 20, 2011
Flisti is a great site for creating a poll. It provides a place to propose a question and provide possible answers. There is no sign in required and once you create your poll you are given a URL to share your poll with others. Polls are easily shared on your website or blog giving students and parents an opportunity for feedback.
June 13, 2011
www.jigsawplanet.com Jigsaw Planet is a website that allows you to take any picture and turn it into a puzzle. Not only fun to play with but also would be a great to use for an anticipatory set. You can change the puzzle piece shapes and also the number of pieces. The great thing about this website is that once you have created a puzzle you can embed it onto you website or blog like the one below.
June 6, 2011
Isle of Tune
At first glance Isle of Tune seems quite simple. Coming from a musical background my first thought was to create a simple well known tune. It became clear quite quickly that in order to create a tune you need to have basic, rhythm, and melody understanding. This is a great activity for music. It includes problem solving and creation. Students can compose their own music adding rhythm lines along side of the melody. Give it a try yourself. Take a look at the shared islands as well. You will be impressed with what others are able to do as well.
At first glance Isle of Tune seems quite simple. Coming from a musical background my first thought was to create a simple well known tune. It became clear quite quickly that in order to create a tune you need to have basic, rhythm, and melody understanding. This is a great activity for music. It includes problem solving and creation. Students can compose their own music adding rhythm lines along side of the melody. Give it a try yourself. Take a look at the shared islands as well. You will be impressed with what others are able to do as well.
May 30, 2011
If you are thinking of starting a class website for next year look no further. Weebly.com is a free website building site. Not only is it free but it is also very easy and professional looking. Weebly’s would be great for displaying student work or keeping parents up to date on the happening in your class. If you would like me to give you a hand learning this site let me know.
May 16, 2011
Graphing Stories
Pick of the week is just that this week. This offer is apparently only for 10 days. Dan Meyer is known for creating video graphing stories for Junior and senior high students. For 10 days he is collecting your graphing stories. Have students create video graphing stories to be published on a well known math teacher’s site. I encourage you to check it out.
http://graphingstories.com/
http://graphingstories.com/
Dan Meyer
May 9, 2011
Tiki Toki
Check out Connected Coaches to see some of the Galileo projects from Wild Rose teachers that have been uploaded. There should be more to come later this week.
http://connectedcoaches.wikispaces.com/Galileo
Tiki Toki
http://www.tiki-toki.com/
Tiki-Toki is a time line web site. It allows you to add pictures and journal like entries on a timeline. The finished product looks sharp. The website is easy to use and a great way to incorporate a sense of blogging in your class. If you are wanting to experiment with students writing on line. This is a quick way to capture what is happening in a students learning.
Create an account and have students write a quick summary of what they learned today in a topic. At the end of the week you have documentation of the learning that occurred in your classroom. On a similar note you could record a few pictures of your classroom and add a descriptions of the learning that was happening. It would make for a great end of the week timeline to send home to parents or administration to share what you are learning in your classroom. A fun change from the traditional newsletter.
http://connectedcoaches.wikispaces.com/Galileo
Tiki Toki
http://www.tiki-toki.com/
Tiki-Toki is a time line web site. It allows you to add pictures and journal like entries on a timeline. The finished product looks sharp. The website is easy to use and a great way to incorporate a sense of blogging in your class. If you are wanting to experiment with students writing on line. This is a quick way to capture what is happening in a students learning.
Create an account and have students write a quick summary of what they learned today in a topic. At the end of the week you have documentation of the learning that occurred in your classroom. On a similar note you could record a few pictures of your classroom and add a descriptions of the learning that was happening. It would make for a great end of the week timeline to send home to parents or administration to share what you are learning in your classroom. A fun change from the traditional newsletter.