BP12_2010013_OneMinuteMessage-#2

This is my one minute message on classtools.net

I hope you find it as useful as I have.

BP11_2010013_BlogComment#2

This site is awesome! I look forward to reading other comments on it.

http://kerwin5fsu.blogspot.com/2010/01/bp122010013oneminutemessage2tradingcard.html?showComment=1264466145352_AIe9_BHzk4ArP9u0hcSV4IK1io96IHrYZOLLjwLW3aTEFl9glarCIuqYpo3k3s23yq6oJKNKPZXi9F7BVK4b1CKSSQTFbeW6aCfhUa9WcFSJQUaiON3OYHLhlGwnOc4XGIDgoJIunibIQIA5tWLUC4z6Z1kNvWQOz5cLA0dNKI7dTPqY9-j-jex0UAHNeCsZoJAl7s9_f2Ec1W0SrBln4t8bothAxekQcmthlUqTUZStpk3wwcU7tj66KQCS7eSkX8DjxAaNaHvX#c1452840584627483524

BP10_2010013_BlogComment#1

Isabel has a great 1 minute message of Tag Galaxy

http://sevenfireflies4edu.blogspot.com/2010/01/bp820100121minutecommercial.html?showComment=1264463378848_AIe9_BGXDVMOE0ro2Vf6Dewlr8mOEYciKusVgR45CX8f29fRlv15h4t_-9amcNupnxLBiytJmi73Ox__OiKP_kPdjfFS7Xh9Se-z-kk-hr3RG3YZlEjtKZnTADmmYxDGu3mc7B7QBJHpaARL8iKevE9tA1652X1KOhgo65NyorsiWM36eFdSSmoyOc_2aWxpyD7o6abJy5sIq1545jggGPFnvONkTcBrlntxd_BG_hhzZ5BCVELVTro#c721174022068579274

BP9_2010013_Web2.0 T3-Classtools

Figure 1 Venn Diagram

The Web 2.0 tool that I chose this week is classtools.net I chose this tool because of all the things it has to offer. While researching I came upon this site and looked at it for the Venn Diagram builder. I thought I would check it out, but I did not think it would become one of my favorite Web 2.0 tools for a Venn Diagram creator. I opened the site and found that it was so much more than this. I could not believe that so many tools could be found in one place.

Figure 2 Arcade Generator

The one tool that really grabbed my attention was the tool to make your own arcade game. This tool uses another tool found within the site called flashcard generator in order to help you make an arcade game that students can either play or design one themselves to check for understanding. This tool is all about making learning fun and bringing something into learning that all students are familiar with in playing games.

Figure 3 Timeline

This site is loaded with tools that teachers can use from a timer, random name generator, Venn Diagram, burger diagram, Timeline, and Animated books just to name a few. This site allows access to all of these and more in one place. Teachers don't have to search all over for these tools anymore they can just go to classtools.net and find everything they need.

Figure 4 Burger Diagram

I have used the timer, name generator, Venn Diagram, Timeline, and I am in the process of using the Arcade game generator to have students set up games on various building sites and teaching about erosion and deposition within that game.

Teaching should be about making things easier for the student as well as the teacher and this Web 2.0 tool definitely does that.

BP8_2010012_One Minute Message#1

This is my one minute message for Game classroom.

BP7_2010012_BlogComment2

http://elijahduncan.blogspot.com/2010/01/bp32010011web20t1-listhings.html?showComment=1263832723050_AIe9_BGXBVfV7FhX5oSS-_BNwfPrW-5uWwHzsSYiOp6NbTu3dH2kgN5AknloHQrZiSHbDkRg8aeEbYWQM-Kaz0mRQ7FkdPslJ5YChOKPWVSqxDiuAAHchIEuzuX8CjO_-YxqV1nqQysNKnqSlLBZQEDy-qd-iyWpWiCt-_M5doRR9C2PwXcP6Hc1___CrpudsP73LKcLu3-sO9s6wZWwXqgn3dMwxeNnzafvKfR6cldlnQLR5J8az9E#c7231799089006410443

BP6_2010012_BlogComment1

http://kerwin5fsu.blogspot.com/2010/01/glogster.html

BP5_2010012_Web2.0T2_Voki

The Web 2.0 tool I chose to review this week was www.voki.com This tool allows the user to create an avatar which can be given a voice through text to voice or the users own voice through the microphone on the computer and also through the telephone.

I was able to create several voki's using avatars such as President Obama, a dog, and various other animated characters. I used the microphone on my computer to make the avatar speak and then used it on my Smart Board in order to do the lead in to a science lesson. It allowed me to use up to 60 seconds of time and it came out extremely clear. The students were listening very well because they couldn't figure out why a dog had Mr. B's voice.

The students then wanted to create their own so I had them go home and set up accounts so we could start using it. The next day the students came in and I let them experiment a little bit. They used the text to voice recognition which wasn't as good as the microphone and only allowed for them to do few characters, so they weren't able to be nearly as long as with the microphone. After a few that were done this way I decided to have Voki call my cell phone and let the students speak into the phone what they wanted to say. This worked very well and turned out extremely clear.

I then had the students make avatars from home using Voki and they used their phones. They were able to create 60 second messages and they were perfectly clear. The assignment I gave was just simply to give me some interesting facts that are related to Science. Tell me something interesting that you think others might want to know.

This was a huge hit with the students and my email started filling up with things from my students. They had fun doing it and learned some new content too. I will be doing more of this in the future. Check out some of these samples.

BP3_2010011_web2.0_T1-Gameclassroom

Web 2.0 Resource 1: Gameclassroom

The Web 2.0 tool I chose to explore is called Game Classroom. I chose this tool because it is geared for students in kindergarten through sixth grade and it teaches students Language Arts and Math concepts through games. My initial thought was I have been trying to find a way to help my 4^th grade son with his Everyday Math concepts and games are a great way to keep him motivated. He has been getting a little frustrated, so I tried it out on him to see if it might help my 6^th grade students too. My son loved playing the games and the concepts matched the things he was doing in the classroom right now.

Figure 1 Gameclassroom Homepage

Figure 2 Math Games

The more I explored the site the more I liked it. The next thing I wanted to test was the Language Arts section. I immediately liked what I saw because it had games for vocabulary and writing. These are two areas that I am always trying to get more ideas on. The games I tried were for 6^th grade and I think my students will enjoy these much more than the paper pencil work we often get caught up in.

Figure 3 Language Arts Games

I think that this Web 2.0 tool can be used to support learning in my classroom. The games can be used to support lessons I am already doing. For instance if I am doing a lesson on Synonyms and antonyms I can teach my lesson and then have students play the games that will reinforce what they have learned and then test them to make sure they understood what was taught to them.

Both the math and Language Arts games will help my students to reinforce the learning they are getting from the lessons that are already in place.

BP4_2010011_RSS_Feeds

Differentiated Instruction Strategies For New Teachers

I chose this subscription because my Action Research is on Differentiating Instruction in the classroom. This page has the word “new” in its title however it is really useful to all teachers that are looking to change up their teaching. The page shares articles about ideas to differentiate instruction within the classroom. Many of these ideas involve technology which I will be focusing on in my research.

Instructify

This feed gives teachers tools that they can use to help make things easier in the classroom. Some examples are free timers and calculators. I chose this feed because I am always looking for cool tools to use on the Smart Board in my classroom. It also has tools to help with organization and helps to explain tools you may already have. This is a feed that allows a way to see some great tools that teachers are already using without having to filter through the thousands available in other places on the internet.

Suite 101: Teacher Tips/Training Articles

This is another site that gives teachers ideas of lessons to do in the classroom using various technology and tools that are available. The site also can help with classroom management and discipline. I chose this one because it is another resource to access for how to differentiate instruction within my classroom plus if I need to quick teacher training that is available too.

Technology Driven Differentiated Instruction

This feed shows how teachers and students are using technology to drive their teaching. I chose this feed because it not only gives ideas of how to use technology to differentiate instruction. It also gives examples of what people have already done. The topics cover all subject areas and mostly middle school and above concepts.

Cool Cat Teacher Blog

This feed has teachers discussing things like the newest gadgets, classroom discipline, lessons, and videos to use in the classroom, and even just teachers discussing their frustrations. This site allows me to stay sane and realize that other teachers from all over the country are going through some of the same things that I am. I also get to see what is working in the classroom from the teachers that are using them.

BP2_2010011_EducationalUsesforBlogs

from Technology & Learning

Using Blogs in the Classroom

Many teachers believe that blogging or web logs should be used for journaling. The problem with educators beliefs about blogging is that many do not use them correctly or fail to understand the full capacity of their worth. For instance using them as journals can make more work and the educators job more difficult. The blog should be used as conversion starters instead (Utecht, 2007).

The blog can be used for "real life" applications; For instance used as conversation starters can spark debate. Once the conversations are added the commenting can begin. Students can have conversations from people from all backgrounds and beliefs. These conversations help the students learn through sharing their ideas and thoughts as well as listening to others (Utecht, 2007).

Another example of using blogs to engage students is to document a trip to a place that everyone may not have a chance to go to. For example Riddle an elementary teacher started a blog on her trip to China for her third grade students. The students were able to see Riddle's daily logs of her experiences as well as slide shows, Google maps, and videos telling of her experiences. This type of teaching can engage the student and allow them to become an interactive participate of the learning taking place (Hong, 2008).

In Science blogs can be used to make the students the "content experts". Students can become familiar with theories and even form some of their own and see what others think and maybe expand upon an idea because of someones comment on a topic within the blog. Science which is based on theories and opinions seems like a logical place to allow the students to use more higher order critical thinking skills in order to truly learn content and not just memorize it (Brownstein & Klein, 2006).

Blogs are turning up more and more in education and its usefulness has endless potential because it relies on the educators and teachers themselves to continue to improve upon them.

References

Brownstein, E., & Klein, R. (2006). Blogs: Applications in Science Education. Journal of College Science Teaching, 35(6), 18-22. Retrieved from ERIC database.

Hong, W. (2008). Exploring Educational Use of Blogs in U.S. Education. Online Submission, Retrieved from ERIC database.

Utecht, J. (2007). Blogs Aren't the Enemy; How Blogs Enhance Learning. Voice from Techlearning.com. Technology & Learning, 27(9), 32. Retrieved from ERIC database.

BP1_2010011_iGoogleScreenShots

WSO Page

FSO Page

AR/CBL Page

ETC Page

I am looking forward to using iGoogle more. I really like what I have seen so far with it.