A couple of classroom helps I need to remember

Kahoot!
Fun interactive response system for classroom.

Padlet:
Post sharing in the classroom. 

The Snipping Tool:
Nice for saving images quickly.

Animoto - February 10, 2015

Today we made a few little Animoto videos in class. It is a fun tool to use. I used pictures from Google and from Flickr. I got a little confused on Flickr and when I downloaded, it used the url/folder or something weird and I couldn't upload them to Animoto...so lesson learned ;o) make sure I open and download the actual pic from Flickr.

We talked about getting good images and the additional search tools on Google - use those! Remember we can drag pictures to the search bar to find others like that image. It is helpful.

Animoto could be a fun tool for an assessment - highlights from a book club book, review from a lesson in social studies. Maybe it's "pictures" that show different parts of speech. A video of adjectives, etc. It seemed simple enough for students to use... I'm not sure if they would all have to create accounts? hmmm?? Something to look into. But good all the same.

Reflection on Audacity February 3rd 2015

We made our "Pompeii News" recording today and had a little too much fun. I think it will be one of those things that we think is really funny - but other people will just shrug their shoulders, roll their eyes and wonder why we are so amused. Oh well ;o)

The Audicity system seems pretty user friendly. I will  need to play with it a little bit more. I am slower at finding and uploading and moving things around. I can do it, just not as quickly as some of my younger cohort friends! But then I am the one who was listening when Pam, our teacher said, "Remember it won't let you make changes if you have it on PAUSE". So I do add some benefit to our group ;o) So remember for future reference: You need to STOP playing the clip to be able to manipulate it.

I appreciate the other sound clip libraries we had to work with. I am going to add them here, so I won't forget them:

Audio Resources

Soundzabound: Login to Pioneer Library (Links to an external site.) using the Student Login (pioneer, discover) to access a licensed version of Soundzabound
Freesound.org (Links to an external site.) :  Need to create a free account to download sounds
SoundBible (Links to an external site.)
Free Music Archive (Links to an external site.)

I think that's all I have on this one. 

p.s. Kahoot.it - fun for interactive quizzes with the class, when they have access to computers/chromebooks, etc. Pam says there are lots of pre-made quizzes to choose from. 

Webquest Reflection: January 29, 2015

Our group did a "Day in Pompeii" Webquest. It was fun to research and look around at all the information that is available.

I came across a fun site that I would like to put here for future reference it is:

http://questgarden.com/search/
(a rather adorable pirate themed math one... http://questgarden.com/154/12/4/130506162724/index.htm) 

It is a WebQuest search area. On there are some cool WebQuests. Some of them encourage you to use them and even change them, as you need. The few I looked at - just ask you give credit where credit is due! Fair enough.

Ideas for use: books, science, parts of a sentence (different links to: adjectives, nouns, verbs, etc.). Math ideas... maybe how to use the stuff you learn, telling time, money, fractions, etc.

It's easy to use something like this as a review, but I will need to remember this can be a great "move to the next level" tool. Also, find a way to bring us back together to share our feedback? Could this be part of a "jigsaw" group? Everyone researches and comes together to share there findings?

I like that we have looked into this as a tool for the classroom. I am glad I now know how to create one of my own if I can't find what I am looking for. Along those same lines, if I find one that is open to change, I also know how to rework it for my needs. Fun stuff!!

Tools, Tools and MORE TOOLS!! Yay

My Website Reflection January 22nd.

In your reflection this week, share 2 new things you have learned how to do with Google Sites.

Creating the resources pages was an interesting way to present that info. I learned how to add some of that, but I liked learning how to better "stylize" it to make it look nice.

I also had a good time finding stuff to add to the files area. I think this could be used for "homework". My kids forget there homework all the time and if I knew there was a place online where I could find and print it for them, instead of having to go back to the school to pick it up, that would be wonderful. 

Parent Survey - January 13th

Doing forms in class today was perfect for me. We talked a little bit about it with Cory last semester - so I enjoyed getting into some of the other little details that can be helpful. I also like being able to brainstorm and hear ideas of how other people think to use these tools. Very helpful and good class for me today! Thanks.  

I am thinking I would like to use this blog as a place to help keep reminders and cool tricks that I am learning in this class. Here's a couple of things I would like to make sure I remember when using Google Forms: 

• If I am going to email the link I need to "unclick" the Include Form box. That way you can see the cuteness. If not they will get just a plain form - it'll still work, it just won't be as fun! 
• Remember ask for NAMES on forms. 
• I like the statistics that you can use on the responses to forms (under the tab - FORM): showing summary, etc.
• Get a QR code: goto goo.gl, remember to grab the URL from the "send form" screen. I don't want to send my form to someone with the "edit" ability! Use that URL to get a shorter URL for sharing. Also, look under "Details" to get the QR code. 

A few ideas for using forms/QR codes:

• Parent surveys (put a QR code on the intro sheet parents get at Back to School night!)
• Quick quizes/assessments
• Class voting (class party, read aloud book choices, PJ day, etc) 
• Student survey (tell me about you? favorites, what they've liked so far, etc)
• Student projects: create a survey for the book you read, a science lesson you studied, etc. 
• Use QR codes around the room for fast finishers, chrome book time centers, etc. Link the QR code to a survey, slide show, blog, etc. with activities for the class to do. SO FUN! 

One other quick reminder for me: When setting up a group in gmail, open up "more labels"! I always forget that's where the group set up is.  

January 6th 2015 - ISTE Reflection

Identify 3-5 specific ISTE standards with which you feel the most comfortable.

I seem to be the most comfortable with being a good example of proper use of technology and being happy to promote and share it. These were the standards that caught my attention.

• Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats

• Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information

• Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness

• Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues and others in face-to-face and virtual environments

Identify 3-5 specific ISTE standards that would be important to you as teacher for which you need more preparation.

As far as needing more preparation pretty much this whole category, "Main Category: Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments." makes me a little nervous ;o) Here's a few others I would like to get better at.

• Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity

• Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources

• Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress

• Evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning

What do you want to learn in this class?  

I would like to become more confident in using some of the things I learned in Cory's class (and the things I will learn this semester). I feel like I have been introduced to tools that can do some neat things, but I would like to become more confident with them. It would be nice to be a little bit FASTER! I enjoy blogs and videos and Glogster - it just takes me a long time to get things done. I guess practice will bring improvement. 
 

Also, just being introduced to new resources (like Padlet), things that have been "tried & true" is wonderful!