My favorite tool that I hope to use this year is Diigo. I hope to utilize this in various ways in our writing and reading, especially in showing textual evidence.
I don't know if my thinking has changed as much as I just hope that the utilization and incorporating technology goes smoother. I have more ideas that will allow me a greater variety to choose from throughout the year.
An unexpected part of the program is the number of different things that we were exposed to. Taking it to the next step in assessing and organizing the classroom into "real" projects is still an unknown. I look forward to growing and expanding with the program.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Tool 11 Digital Citizenship
This may be the most important part of technology for our students so that they are not only safe but understand etiquette and the law.
First, personal safety. Students need to be warned about how easy it is for predators to discover who they are through simple fact finding methods. Students need to keep their personal information private.
Students would benefit from seeing text written in different ways and give their opinion as to the 'tone" behind the print. For example, how we interpret words written in all caps. Students need to understand that the language register still applies on line. We speak/write in one way to school collegues and term papers and in a more casual manner in emails to friends.
The law is important to know as in Middle School, students often say and do rash things, not realizing that these things remain forever in the digital world. Evidence of this is seen daily in the newspaper as well as appropriate videos showing similar scenarios.
First, personal safety. Students need to be warned about how easy it is for predators to discover who they are through simple fact finding methods. Students need to keep their personal information private.
Students would benefit from seeing text written in different ways and give their opinion as to the 'tone" behind the print. For example, how we interpret words written in all caps. Students need to understand that the language register still applies on line. We speak/write in one way to school collegues and term papers and in a more casual manner in emails to friends.
The law is important to know as in Middle School, students often say and do rash things, not realizing that these things remain forever in the digital world. Evidence of this is seen daily in the newspaper as well as appropriate videos showing similar scenarios.
Tool 10 I-pod Apps
Simple apps such as Hangman could be used to reinforce vocabulary.
Google earth could be used for the different geographic differences in Texas.
Dragon dictation is a fun way for students to see their words go from the verbal word to the printed word.
Google earth could be used for the different geographic differences in Texas.
Dragon dictation is a fun way for students to see their words go from the verbal word to the printed word.
Tool 9 Jing and Skype
Using Jing students could take screen shots of still pictures and then add their own dialogue. This could be strung together to make a short video.
Students could also take a shot of some text and then circle or highlight to clarify or teach a concept.
Skype allows students to interact with other students or persons of interest in real time.
Students could also take a shot of some text and then circle or highlight to clarify or teach a concept.
Skype allows students to interact with other students or persons of interest in real time.
Tool 8 Video Resources
http://a4esl.org/q/h/homonyms.html
This site is one that could be especially helpful for ESL learners for practicing homonyms and self-testing.
Another site is Animoto. This is a site for creating videos from still shots or pictures. Video can also be inserted.
http://animoto.com/intro/1?gclid=CKGVkrGst6MCFRCbnAod1VExbg
This site is one that could be especially helpful for ESL learners for practicing homonyms and self-testing.
Another site is Animoto. This is a site for creating videos from still shots or pictures. Video can also be inserted.
http://animoto.com/intro/1?gclid=CKGVkrGst6MCFRCbnAod1VExbg
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Tool 7 Digital Storytelling
I created a story with I movie. In the past, we used Garage Band for making small tourism "spots" for our Texas Cities. We plan to continue to use both of these this year.
Tool 6 Wikis
A Wiki would be useful especially on a project where the students need to explain their work and their part of the project. It allows for more real time collaboration and it also makes an individual's work more transparent to where they are unalbe to hide behind the work of others.
Tool 5 Tags and Bookmarking
I joined Diigo because I could see how useful it would be to create short passages and ask students to highlight items such as characteristics that infer a character's personality or to highlight nouns.
I used the tag "homonyms" and this is a resource with quizzes with resources that would be useful for ESL and struggling students to use.
http://a4esl.org/q/h/homonyms.html
I used the tag noun and predicate for this "tutorial"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGN_NxKIIFM
I used the tag "homonyms" and this is a resource with quizzes with resources that would be useful for ESL and struggling students to use.
http://a4esl.org/q/h/homonyms.html
I used the tag noun and predicate for this "tutorial"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGN_NxKIIFM
Tool 4 Google Docs and Google Reader
Last year we used Google Docs when the students were researching various Texas cities and sharing their information to create a i-movie.
As a teacher, it would be a great tool when my teaching partner and I want to collaborate on a lesson.
Reader will also be a great tool for keeping current with current events for social studies, RSS feeds, and blogs that I follow.
As a teacher, it would be a great tool when my teaching partner and I want to collaborate on a lesson.
Reader will also be a great tool for keeping current with current events for social studies, RSS feeds, and blogs that I follow.
Tool 3 Image Generator
:: PIMPAMPUM :: Bubblr! .:.
This was made with Bubblr...It was quick and easy.
The What's Up With Watt was made with Flickr.
These would be great to use as pictures or titles to go with a student's written work. They are always wanting to use "fancy lettering" and would love to add a visual.
This was made with Bubblr...It was quick and easy.
The What's Up With Watt was made with Flickr.
These would be great to use as pictures or titles to go with a student's written work. They are always wanting to use "fancy lettering" and would love to add a visual.
Tool 2 PLN
Being able to network with other Language Arts teachers would be a help. I enjoyed reading and commenting with fellow teachers on Ruby Payne's book this year.
These are the 5 blogs I am going to comment on and follow.
Seda Dawson
Cheryl Wegscheid
Kim Montgomery
Kathy Oxspring
Amy Houser
For "netiquette" it is important that we as teachers, as well as our students understand not to write in "caps" all of the way through...so others don't think that we are yelling. We need to make sure they understand safety and how open we are when we post on line.
These are the 5 blogs I am going to comment on and follow.
Seda Dawson
Cheryl Wegscheid
Kim Montgomery
Kathy Oxspring
Amy Houser
For "netiquette" it is important that we as teachers, as well as our students understand not to write in "caps" all of the way through...so others don't think that we are yelling. We need to make sure they understand safety and how open we are when we post on line.
Tool 1 Getting Started
I have used blogs in my classroom before. They are a great way for students to journal and also communicate with each other. The avatars are a popular tool for the students. They enjoy that "alter ego."
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