Tool # 7

I created this digital story to publish my poem Where I'm From. This poem is inspired from George Ella Lyons' work. This can be used by students to displaytheir work, particularly their poetry. The process of creating the digital story was time consuming and tedious. But, once it was complete, it was worth the work that went into it.

After 11 Tools :Reflections

I like image generators, particularly Bookr, Wordle and Glogsters. If I were in the classroom, I would make it one of the activities to place in a workstation for reviewing concepts and vocabulary. Reviewing math and science terms through this creative outlet can help in retaining
concepts being studied.
Moreover, participating in this program gives me depth and insights into what is available electronically and will make it easy for me to spot if teachers are using technology to their advantage in maximizing student learning and achievement. Children are no longer passive learners. They are constantly enticed to the learning that is innovative and at their finger tips.

Tool # 11

Technology is constantly evolving in our electronic information age and students need to know that the act of easily accessing information comes with benefits and perils. Three things students must understand about being digital citizens have to do with on-line safety, digital etiquette and utilizing social networking to maximize learning and achievement.

Each area can be presented in an open dialogue with students. When talking about on-line safety, tie in the discussion to the background knowledge that students have on safety in general. Students have schema of procedures, policies , laws and regulations that are in place and followed daily to protect them and maintain their safety (i.e. driving, crossing the street). Anchor charts are always great visuals to record what students know about the subject. Start with the familiar and then move students to the digital community and what they think is necessary to be safe while on-line. The dialogue has to be teacher led with probing questions such as:Do you give your personal information (i.e. address, phone number) to whoever you are chatting to on-line? The teacher generates important points with the issue of safety at the heart of various scenarios.

The same teaching process can be used to discuss etiquette and acceptable social behavior and following copyright laws. The idea is to move students from the realities of their 3-D life to the realm of the digital world, highlighting the benefits and perils.

Tool # 9

Jing can be used to take pictures of the screen you are working on in a step by step progression to create a visual 'How-to'. It allows you to add arrows and text to the screen to provide explanations and extra information. One task that students can be asked to do before using Jing is to write the text step by step in the form of a writing piece that will be taken to Jing later.

Skype is a form of video conferencing that provides instant communication with whoever you want to share information electronically. It allows you to share information live. It can be the primary source for research. Imagine students carrying on a conversation with a favorite author or consulting experts when conducting research papers! For example, they can converse with zoologists if their research is on a particular animal or an architect or engineer if they what to know how geometry (i.e angles, perimeter, area) plays into their occupations. The possibilities are endless.

Tool # 10

I reviewed several Apps from the SBISD list and I found that some presented information only. The You Tube for the Goggle Earth App showed how to explore places that students might want to visit. The example I enjoyed was the visit to New York City and Central Park. I liked the icons that gave extra information on the sites surrounding the primary site that was being explored (i.e. museums, other attractions of interest). I reviewed the Hangman Apps, but could not work the apps to experience the game. However, it seems to be like the old fashioned paper and pencil hangman we are so used to doing. The Paper Toss Apps for the iPhone provided a chance to toss the paper in the trashcan and thus worked with spatial relationships and eye-hand coordination in a 3-D format. I can see these apps in classroom centers and workstations. There are numerous apps games to enhance math, spelling, even SAT vocabulary flashcards. The idea of having students manipulating the screen with the tip of their fingertips rather than working with paper and pencil activities is a great turnabout in educational practices.

Tool # 8

I picked two YouTubes that deal with El Dia de Los Muertos. The first video tells about the tradition in a way that depicts the authentic components of the celebration as it is observed in Mexico. YouTubes allows students to view information in another modality other than a handout or a reading selection. This is a great auditory and visual way of presenting the lesson. The core area of Social Studies can not be better enhanced than through this techological tool.






This second video is in the format of interviews about how El Dia de los Muertos is celebrated. It centers around altars and the items included on them. In contrast to the first video, this video tells of how Americans observe the celebration. In this video, you will see that some people in the U.S. create altars for pets. This is not traditional in Mexico.





Enjoy! In the classroom, YouTube videos can be set up in a workstation and tied to writing activities, family interviews and the creation of altars to commemorate the cultural occassion. Students can also create their own videos and post them on-line. The idea is not only to have students consumers of information, but producers of information, as well. This will involve students designing the concept of the video, preparing for an interview and actually producing a video.

Tool # 6

Using a wiki will take the place of what we have been asking students to do for a long time now.....keep writers notebooks on composition books. a wiki allows students' writing tasks that we ask of them, to go digital. Reader's reponses, connections, writing and compiling personal narratives, all can be kept on-ine for all to see and share suggestions to improve writing pieces and literacy assignments. Wow!

Tool # 5

I visited Delicious and Diigo. In Delicious, I located two sites: Writing Fun and BookRix. Writing Fun dealt with using graphic organizers in the writing process. It had examples of different genres. This can be a site to visit to review different genres now that TAKS writing will change. BookRix allows for students digitaly publish books and have others critique the writing. It is free. All students have to do is upload their work and share it with others. This would be a way to have students revise their writing based on the comments of the reader. Check it out for yourself!
BookRix link:
http://www.bookrix.com/
Writing Fun link:
http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/jeather/writingfun/writingfun.html

Dingo seems to have many applications for the educational organization that would be perfect on several levels. For teachers, it offers the ability to link to, or create a PLN (Personal Learning Network) by reviewing articles or sites and posting thoughts/opinions on the site iteself! Then allowing them to bookmark the site and share it with others who would have the ability to add their thoughts/opinions on the article/site. Great opportunity for ongoing professional development! Now take that same concept and visualize it occuring with our students working on a research paper! Whether it's an individual research paper or a group research project, imagine a school filled with students who are working collaboratively with others, sythesizing the information and making notes online, saving those sites, and then taking information from several sites and evaluating it before putting it all together! And all of this with the ability to have peers or teachers giving them online feedback! One of the sites that I found through Dingo was a YouTube site by wittcowittco. I think you'll enjoy everything that he has to offer!

Here is the hot link for Pod Cast 1 what, why, how:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwGPKm2VZEI

Tool # 4

Imagine the possibilities! Google Docs seems like the perfect application we can use for our newsletter. Everyone can contribute their articles using Google Docs. It will eliminate numerous documents floating all over. Perhaps, even students, can add to the newsletter using this application. As for Google Reader, the greater application with this is that we can subscribe to various sites and get updates in one spot. Subscribing to feeds of interest minimizes the time spent looking for information at numerous sites when researching a particular topic, for example. I am thinking this will be helpful when our students write research papers.

Tool # 2

I find that the essence of Personal Learning Networks is to create reservoirs of knowledge, thoughts and insights that people that visit and "dip out" a cup of ideas to connect with via conversations. It is as easy as finding our own teachers online, based on common interest and needs, and participating by posting our own point of view. Of course, we have to maintain a way of responding appropriately, depending on the site. Teaching students the different registers of communication is vital. Students need to know also about etiquette. We need to listen to what is being commented and engage in a way that generates ggod communication and learning.

Here are the sites that I chose to follow by adding them into my RSS:
http://rebecabarron.blogspot.com
http://hbebulletin.blogspot.com
http://uwrite4us.blogspot.com
http://teachininflipflops.blogspot.com
http://fabulousfourthgradeteacher.blogspot.com