Techno Teacher Talk

Collaborize Classroom

2011-12-01T10:49:00.001-08:00

This resource is EASY to set up! It is a safe and password protected place for your students to participate and collaborate on class assignments! It is FREE! It is a tool that will help you to address 21st Century Skills! It can be used for student-driven projects and challenge-based learning. Students can carry on dynamic conversations about content topics! You can bring a variety of resources to the table that will enhance learning...pictures, videos, links, Word and PDF documents. Connect your assignments to real world issues! Differentiate assignments for different ability levels. Group your students according to the particular challenges in the assignment. Track student activity and participation, and tap into the library of lesson resources. Sound interesting? If so...visit http://www.collaborizeclassroom.com/ and http://www.collaborizeclassroom.com//blog/ to check out this resource!

Students do not have to have an email account to join your site! Once you setup your account, you will need to go to the "Site" link under the "Manage" tab. Make sure that there is a check mark beside of the "Allow students to go to this site to request membership" option. Save your changes. It would probably be best to setup student accounts in a lab setting where you can guide students as to how to create usernames and passwords.

In the lab setting, students will go to your Collaborize Site. Where it says login, they will choose the "Register Now" option. Fill in all of the fields to get students ready to collaborize!

If you are using this resource, please share how you are using it!

Podcasting with PodOmatic

2011-03-31T12:06:00.000-07:00

Introduction - What is podcasting and how can I use it in the classroom?

podcasting_intro

Using PodOmatic.com to create a podcast...

podomatic_101

Embedding a podcast into a First Class Website...

podomatic_embed

Good sites to reference...
http://fcit.usf.edu/podcasts/index.html
http://www.edutopia.org/podcasting-student-broadcasts
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/sites/sites074.shtml

Create a Blog for Your Classroom!

2011-03-30T07:35:00.000-07:00

A blog is a great way to communicate with students and parents! Of course...I am communicating with you right now by means of a blog! It only takes about 5 minutes to set up and post your first comment! Sounds easy, right? Don't let fear of the unknown hinder you! You can even get your students involved in the process!

1. Set up the blog!
This link - http://twexample.blogspot.com/ - gives you a template or example of how you can set up a classroom blog. Blogger offers info on how to set up a blog...customize a blog...add to a blog...manage a blog...etc.! Check out this link! For more directions...click here.

2. Customize the layout and other options. Make it your own!

3. Post information, photos, videos, links, etc. from a variety of sources. You can also use your phone to update your blog!

4. Allow viewers to make comments or post to your blog. If a student has a Google account, he/she can login and make a post. If students do not have a Google account, they can post using the "anonymous" option. However, you may want to require that they include their name or an identifying number or code word at the end of each post. This link will help with monitoring and modifying posts.

5. Add widgets...embed code or html.
http://twblogwidgets.blogspot.com/
Top Widgets for a Blog
Twitter Feed
Tammy Worcester's Embed Bookmarks - Lots of great resources!

6. Add static pages. Click here for more directions!
More tips...
Here are some options for teachers::
- About our class / school - embed a Google map
- Student podcasts - use Vocaroo
- Lesson plans - easy with an embedded Google spreadsheet
- Links for students / parents - embed from Delicious
- School calendar - embed from Google Calendar
- Homework dropbox - use a Google form

For tech directors:
- How-to videos - use Jing
- Livecast
- Help Desk - use a Google form
- Schedule - use a Google calendar

For administrators:
- What’s happening?
- School calendar - embed from Google Calendar
- Podcast - Using Podcasts in the Classroom - use Vocaroo
- Feedback form - use a Google form

7. Another cool tool -
- Great for scheduling PT conferences / works with Google Calendar
http://youcanbook.me/

Some if this info is from Tammy Worcester. I attended several of her sessions at the 2011 NCTIES Conference...she had tons of great ideas and tools to try!

Webnote

2010-11-22T11:15:00.000-08:00

Webnote, http://www.aypwip.org/webnote/, is an easy collaborative tool to use with students, and it is also great for personal note-taking! Once you are at the site, enter a name for your session in the "Create or Load a Workspace" box! You are NOT required to have an account in order to be able to use the site! If the name that you enter is unique, you will start a new note-taking session! Give this session name to students and they will enter the same note-taking space! As they add new notes, they must save their changes by clicking the save icon at the top. Students simply need to refresh their browser to be able to see the notes added and saved by other classmates. Students can then respond to comments or continue taking notes. This could be used in small groups or in a whole class situation. This tool could be used for brainstorming a topic, taking notes for a project, mapping out ideas, or simple discussion! If you use this tool and have feedback, please post to this thread!

Shelby Star Article about our $100,000 grant...

2010-10-17T19:03:00.000-07:00

http://www.shelbystar.com/articles/sponsored-50630-contest-win.html

SmartBoard Lessons

2010-05-25T10:57:00.000-07:00

Teachers can now access the Notebook lessons from SMART that correspond to the NC Standard Course of Study Competency Objectives. They had been unavailable since the redesign of the SMART website. The lessons are now housed on the SMART Exchange along with the non-vetted ones from teachers in the SMART Community.

Below is a quick link directly to the lessons that meet curriculum standards:
http://exchange.smarttech.com/curriculum.html

Tween Tribune - A News Resource for MS Students

2010-05-24T09:38:00.000-07:00

Each week, Tween Tribune searches the Web to find news stories that will hopefully appeal to tweens (students between the ages of 8-14). Students are then able to make comments about news articles. The best part about this site is the FREE options that are available to teachers! Teachers can set up a FREE account. When students create an account, they simply select the appropriate teacher to join! The teacher will (1)get a record of the stories that his/her students have responded to; (2)be able to see individual student comments on his/her page; (3)get a list of all comments that can then be sorted; (4)have the ability to moderate responses before they are published. There is a Faculty Lounge where you can share lesson plan ideas with other teachers. Stories are relevant to any subject matter and the site can be used throughout the curriculum! When you visit the website, be sure to click on the "For Teachers" link at the top of the page!

Skype in the Classroom

2010-05-20T09:50:00.000-07:00

Skype

Skype will allow you to:
network with other instructional technology teachers
connect students with experts worldwide
connect students who are learning similar & related content
allow parents to see their students presenting
allow students who are absent a chance to participate
allow teams of teachers to meet virtually
allow administrators to connect with classrooms from their office
become the "teacher as facilitator"

How can I use Skype:
Paying for an author to come and visit with your students can be a very expensive event! However, it is a great way to get students interested in a certain genre, to introduce a novel study or to build excitement about a particular series of books! You can bring an author into your classroom through the use of Skype! There is a great site that will help you to find authors willing to Skype with teachers and students. Skype an Author Network
“The mission of the Skype an Author Network is to provide K-12 teachers and librarians with a way to connect authors, books, and young readers through virtual visits.” Contact authors early before calendars are full!

Check out this website for many more ways to use Skype in the classroom!
50 Ways to Use Skype in the Classroom

How to Use Skype in the Classroom:
http://www.lincolnschool.org/uploaded/faculty/ehunt//Skype_workshop_handout.pdf

Asynchronous Tools:
Voice Thread
YackPack

Connect with other classrooms:
ePals
iEarn
Center for Interactive Learning and Collaborating
Global Schoolhouse Projects Registry
TWICE - Two Way Interactive Connections in Education
K-12 Online Conference

Blogging About Blogs

2010-05-20T07:20:00.000-07:00

Ideas are everywhere! This is a list of some really great blogs for teachers!
http://www.onlinecourses.org/2009/09/13/100-best-blogs-for-tech-savvy-teachers/
Find some to follow! Try out new ideas and share with us how they are working in your classroom!