http://www.answergarden.ch/
Basics: Students repsond to a question of some sort with an answer that is less than 20 characters. All of their answers are recorded in the answer garden. The whole class can see what everyone else thinks about the topic. You can turn the brainstorming session into a wordle.
Example:
What is your favorite app to use in the classroom?... at AnswerGarden.ch.
Test Kitchen: Students love this app. I was having them brainstorm for an essay and they were putting in their answers to the prompt. They could not get enough of it. They loved that they got to see each other's answers. I turned their answers into a wordle and they were so excited to find their word in the wordle. This is a great way to brainstorm or share ideas and it gets students engaged in what they are doing.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Voki
The Site:
http://www.voki.com/
Basics: This site is to create talking avatars that will say whatever you want them to say.
Example:
Classroom Applications:
-Tell the objective for the day to the class.
-Explanation of a concept.
-Define vocabulary words.
-Students can make them to show their understanding.
-Present questions to students.
Basically, they are just a fun, easy, and engaging way to present information.
http://www.voki.com/
Basics: This site is to create talking avatars that will say whatever you want them to say.
Example:
Classroom Applications:
-Tell the objective for the day to the class.
-Explanation of a concept.
-Define vocabulary words.
-Students can make them to show their understanding.
-Present questions to students.
Basically, they are just a fun, easy, and engaging way to present information.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
authorSTREAM
Site:
http://www.authorstream.com/
Basics: This is a site where you can upload a PowerPoint presentation and then embed the presentation into a website or a blog. It will keep all of its features and animations. You can also have people access the presentation with a link. Also, you can have a meeting online where you present to people in remote locations. It's very easy to use and it has a free version with a lot of features.
Example:
Embedded Version
Linked Version
http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/techlearninglab-1089331-rafts-presentation/
Test Kitchen: I have used this site many times in my class. It is great because you can use it to present a PowerPoint or you can have students watch the PowerPoint on their own. This is especially convenient when someone is absent, students are working on different things at the same time, as a review, or when some students are ready to move ahead.
http://www.authorstream.com/
Basics: This is a site where you can upload a PowerPoint presentation and then embed the presentation into a website or a blog. It will keep all of its features and animations. You can also have people access the presentation with a link. Also, you can have a meeting online where you present to people in remote locations. It's very easy to use and it has a free version with a lot of features.
Example:
Embedded Version
Linked Version
http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/techlearninglab-1089331-rafts-presentation/
Test Kitchen: I have used this site many times in my class. It is great because you can use it to present a PowerPoint or you can have students watch the PowerPoint on their own. This is especially convenient when someone is absent, students are working on different things at the same time, as a review, or when some students are ready to move ahead.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Review Game Zone
The Site: http://www.reviewgamezone.com/
Basics: This is a site where you can create quizzes or tests and the students can choose one of 10 games that they want to play as part of the test. They will answer a question correctly and then they get to play a quick game.
Examples(There are some adds on the intial page):
Remember to scroll down the page because some of the adds say "play now for free" but, they will take you to another site.
Genres
http://www.reviewgamezone.com/game.php?id=6775
Your Brain
http://www.reviewgamezone.com/game.php?id=6791
The Moon
http://reviewgamezone.com/game.php?id=45
Nth Term
http://reviewgamezone.com/game.php?id=3046
Test Kitchen: I used this site with my kids during summer school and they loved it. It amazing how easy it is for kids to take a quiz when they are allowed to play a game at the same time. Some of the games where more interesting than others and the favorite game was Outer Space Attackers. It can take a long time to finish if you are good at it.
Helpful Hints: You can create a teacher account for free. You don't have to have students create accounts. They can use your class access code and put in their first name or a code name (to protect their privacy) and you will be able to see what they have done in the program. I have not used this feature but, it nice to have and not all sites have something like this.
Similar Site(s): http://www.what2learn.com/
Basics: This is a site where you can create quizzes or tests and the students can choose one of 10 games that they want to play as part of the test. They will answer a question correctly and then they get to play a quick game.
Examples(There are some adds on the intial page):
Remember to scroll down the page because some of the adds say "play now for free" but, they will take you to another site.
Genres
http://www.reviewgamezone.com/game.php?id=6775
Your Brain
http://www.reviewgamezone.com/game.php?id=6791
The Moon
http://reviewgamezone.com/game.php?id=45
Nth Term
http://reviewgamezone.com/game.php?id=3046
Test Kitchen: I used this site with my kids during summer school and they loved it. It amazing how easy it is for kids to take a quiz when they are allowed to play a game at the same time. Some of the games where more interesting than others and the favorite game was Outer Space Attackers. It can take a long time to finish if you are good at it.
Helpful Hints: You can create a teacher account for free. You don't have to have students create accounts. They can use your class access code and put in their first name or a code name (to protect their privacy) and you will be able to see what they have done in the program. I have not used this feature but, it nice to have and not all sites have something like this.
Similar Site(s): http://www.what2learn.com/
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Website of the Week #17-Jaycut-Your Free Video Editor Online
Link:
http://www.jaycut.com/
Basics: This is a free online video editor. You can add video, audio, text, and special effects. It is very easy to use, it's online and can be access from anywhere, and it's free. Once you make a video you can embed it or upload it to youtube.
Examples:
Book Trailer
Instructional Video
Building Background
Classroom Ideas:
How to Use It:
http://www.jaycut.com/
Basics: This is a free online video editor. You can add video, audio, text, and special effects. It is very easy to use, it's online and can be access from anywhere, and it's free. Once you make a video you can embed it or upload it to youtube.
Examples:
Book Trailer
Instructional Video
Building Background
Classroom Ideas:
How to Use It:
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Website of the Week #16- My Fake Facebook Wall
www.myfakewall.com
Basics-This is a site where you can create a fake facebook wall for fictional characters, historical figures, or just about anything. This is not connected to facebook in any way. Each page is a separate thing. Students create a username, log in, create the fake wall, and then they get a link to see what they have created.
Examples (There are more examples at www.myfakewall.com):
Click Here to See Full Page
Click Here to See Full Page
Test Kitchen:
We have been using this in my class to create facebook walls for characters in the books and authors that students are researching. They enjoy doing this a lot more than writing a paper and they have to really think about who their friends would be and what they would say to each other. They have to know the characters really well. They also have find basic information about the person or character. We are in the middle of this project but, I thought I would share in case anyone wanted to use it before the end of the year. It really seems to make it relevant for students and I haven't heard any complaining about do this project.
Basics-This is a site where you can create a fake facebook wall for fictional characters, historical figures, or just about anything. This is not connected to facebook in any way. Each page is a separate thing. Students create a username, log in, create the fake wall, and then they get a link to see what they have created.
Examples (There are more examples at www.myfakewall.com):
Click Here to See Full Page
Click Here to See Full Page
Test Kitchen:
We have been using this in my class to create facebook walls for characters in the books and authors that students are researching. They enjoy doing this a lot more than writing a paper and they have to really think about who their friends would be and what they would say to each other. They have to know the characters really well. They also have find basic information about the person or character. We are in the middle of this project but, I thought I would share in case anyone wanted to use it before the end of the year. It really seems to make it relevant for students and I haven't heard any complaining about do this project.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Website of the Week #15-Wordle
http://www.wordle.com/
Basics: This is a site where you make a word cloud. You enter the words you want to be in your cloud and the site will create a cloud of your words.
Examples: (Click on Picture to see Full Size)
Cactus Canyon Website Wordle
Wordle of this Blog
Declaration of Independence
You may be familiar with wordle and I have known about it for a while but, today I came across a presentation that has 51 ways to use wordle in the classroom and I thought others might want to use it. I found this on http://www.freetech4teachers.com/ and it came from a man named Tom Barrett. There are ideas for all levels and all subjects. Check it out below.
Other Word Cloud Sites:
http://www.tagxedo.com/ (can turn the cloud into a picture)
http://www.tagul.com/
http://wordlin.gs/
http://worditout.com/
Check out more about these at Free Tech 4 Teachers
Basics: This is a site where you make a word cloud. You enter the words you want to be in your cloud and the site will create a cloud of your words.
Examples: (Click on Picture to see Full Size)
Cactus Canyon Website Wordle
Wordle of this Blog
Declaration of Independence
You may be familiar with wordle and I have known about it for a while but, today I came across a presentation that has 51 ways to use wordle in the classroom and I thought others might want to use it. I found this on http://www.freetech4teachers.com/ and it came from a man named Tom Barrett. There are ideas for all levels and all subjects. Check it out below.
Other Word Cloud Sites:
http://www.tagxedo.com/ (can turn the cloud into a picture)
http://www.tagul.com/
http://wordlin.gs/
http://worditout.com/
Check out more about these at Free Tech 4 Teachers
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Website of the Week #14-Minute Board (embeddable forum)
http://www.minuteboard.com/
Basics: This is an web application that creates a unique forum that can be embedded into your website. Students have to create user names and passwords and then they can participate in the forum.
Example:
(Feel free to interact with this forum example. You can click on the posts to see what they say without an account or you can create an account and respond to the posts.)
Test Kitchen: I have used this with students a couple of times. It is a very easy way to create a forum and it is a very basic forum. Basically, you can create posts and people can reply to your posts. There does not seem to be an option to reply to a reply so the threads are short. It is a great venue to teach students about appropriate posting and you have complete control over what content is added to the forum. I used it as a way for students to respond to some different topics but, I don't think that I have gotten the most out of it yet.
Classroom Applications: Forums or message boards can be used in any class and any content area. It is a great place for people to share opinions and to answer questions that have unique answers.
Ideas for...
Music and Art Class-respond to different works of art
Social Studies-choose a side and support your view
Science and Math-explain a process in your own words
Language Arts-respond to a piece of literature
Basics: This is an web application that creates a unique forum that can be embedded into your website. Students have to create user names and passwords and then they can participate in the forum.
Example:
(Feel free to interact with this forum example. You can click on the posts to see what they say without an account or you can create an account and respond to the posts.)
Powered by
MinuteBoard.com
MinuteBoard.com
Test Kitchen: I have used this with students a couple of times. It is a very easy way to create a forum and it is a very basic forum. Basically, you can create posts and people can reply to your posts. There does not seem to be an option to reply to a reply so the threads are short. It is a great venue to teach students about appropriate posting and you have complete control over what content is added to the forum. I used it as a way for students to respond to some different topics but, I don't think that I have gotten the most out of it yet.
Classroom Applications: Forums or message boards can be used in any class and any content area. It is a great place for people to share opinions and to answer questions that have unique answers.
Ideas for...
Music and Art Class-respond to different works of art
Social Studies-choose a side and support your view
Science and Math-explain a process in your own words
Language Arts-respond to a piece of literature
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Website of the Week # 13-Jeopardy Labs
http://www.jeopardylabs.com/
Basics: This is a simple way to create a jeopardy game. No login required. All you do is add the questions and answers, then they give you a link to your game. It's that simple.
Examples:
Math
Social Studies
Science
Language Arts
Test Kitchen: We used this as a way to review this past week. Jeopardy is of course a popular way to review. The best part of this site is that it is simple, free, and there is no downloading. I played with the whole class which I think is a little hard and not all of the students can participate fully. I think that when I use it again I will have them play in small groups instead of teams with the whole class. They could have all been doing this on their computers. This is also something they can do independently and it is so simple the students could even create their own board.
Additional Online Free and Simple Review Games:
http://www.superteachertools.com/
Example:
Jeopardy
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Board Game
Friday, April 1, 2011
101 Web Resources
Student Created Projects
1. www.voki.com
2. www.bitstrips4schools.com (Comics)
5. www.edu.glogster.com (Create Interactive Online Posters)
6. Quick cube
7. http://info.scratch.mit.edu/About_Scratch (Create Games and Other Web Stuff)
16. Clapper Board
17. Talking Animals
18. Trading Card
19. Add a Caption
21. Captionizer
23. Magazine Cover
24. Movie Poster
25. www.timetoast.com (Timeline Maker)
26. Animoto
27. http://www.toufee.com/flash-websites.html (Create Flash Widgets)
Presentations
28. www.prezi.com
31. www.issuu.com
Student Practice/Graphic Organizers
36. www.what2learn.com (Make Games)
38. www.amap.org.uk/create/ (Create a Web Diagram)
40. Dustbin Game
41. Label A Picture
45. Guess the Picture
46. Target Diagram
47. Burger Diagram
48. Cycle Graph
49. Priority Chart
50. Make a Map
51. http://www.thatquiz.org/ (Premade Math Quizzes)
53. https://bubbl.us/ (Mind Maps)
Video Making and Watching
54. www.jaycut.com (Like Movie Maker but, online and Free)
55. www.khanacademy.com (An awesome collection of Instructional Math Videos)
56. www.youtube.com
59. www.screenjelly.com (Screencasting)
Online Community/Social Bookmarking
61. www.titanpad.com
63. www.edublogs.org
65. www.symbaloo.com
66. www.diigo.com
67. www.stixy.com
Searching and Research
75. http://quinturakids.com/ (Easy Web Searching)
Widgets, Gadgets, and Other Random Stuff
76. www.vocaroo.com (Podcasting, record your voice and embed on your webpage)
77. www.cosketch.com (interactive online whiteboards)
79. www.yakitome.com (Free Text to Speech Generator)
84. powerpoint games
87. Countdown Timer
Reading
95. Wacky Webtales (MadLibs)
96. Book Adventure (Free Alternative to AR)
Tech Resources for Teachers
101. www.edutecher.net
Friday, March 25, 2011
Website of the Week # 11-Classtools.net
http://www.classtools.net/
The Basics: This site has games, graphic organizers, and widgets that can be used online and embedded in a website.
Examples: (You can interact with these examples right here in this page.)
Test Kitchen: I used this sight extensively this week with my class. There are about 15 different tools that they offer and the tools are interactive for the students. Basically you create a template and the students fill it out. The students can keep their work by embedding it into a personal webpage of some sort. I use google sites because it is free, easy, and the kids at my school already have secure usernames and passwords. The students created a portfolio and have been embedding their creation from this site all week. They loved it! I've shown 5 examples here and there is much more. This would be great for just about any subject.
The Basics: This site has games, graphic organizers, and widgets that can be used online and embedded in a website.
Examples: (You can interact with these examples right here in this page.)
Test Kitchen: I used this sight extensively this week with my class. There are about 15 different tools that they offer and the tools are interactive for the students. Basically you create a template and the students fill it out. The students can keep their work by embedding it into a personal webpage of some sort. I use google sites because it is free, easy, and the kids at my school already have secure usernames and passwords. The students created a portfolio and have been embedding their creation from this site all week. They loved it! I've shown 5 examples here and there is much more. This would be great for just about any subject.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
5 Free and Easy Sites
Here are 5 sites that you might want to check out:
http://www.classtools.net/- This site has a variety of templates for teachers and students to use. It has a timer and a name selector, a venn diagram, a fishbone diagram, games, and other features. It is free and easy to use. All of your creations can be embedded or linked.
http://www.vocaroo.com/- This is a very easy site to create podcasts. You can record your voice for as long as you want and then link or embed the recording. There are a lot of podcasting tools but, this one is the most simple one that I have seen.
http://www.authorstream.com/- This is a program where you can upload powerpoint presentations so that students can access them. The uploaded version keeps all of the features of the orginal version. They can also be link or embedded.
http://www.jaycut.com/- This is a movie making program that is completely online. You don't have to download anything. It is similar to moviemaker and your movies can be linked, embedded, or uploaded to youtube.
http://www.litesum.com/- This is a site that creates a more simple version of a wikipedia entry. All you have to do is enter a topic and it will give you a short summary of a wikipedia article. This is great for students who have a hard time navigating or reading longer articles.
http://www.classtools.net/- This site has a variety of templates for teachers and students to use. It has a timer and a name selector, a venn diagram, a fishbone diagram, games, and other features. It is free and easy to use. All of your creations can be embedded or linked.
http://www.vocaroo.com/- This is a very easy site to create podcasts. You can record your voice for as long as you want and then link or embed the recording. There are a lot of podcasting tools but, this one is the most simple one that I have seen.
http://www.authorstream.com/- This is a program where you can upload powerpoint presentations so that students can access them. The uploaded version keeps all of the features of the orginal version. They can also be link or embedded.
http://www.jaycut.com/- This is a movie making program that is completely online. You don't have to download anything. It is similar to moviemaker and your movies can be linked, embedded, or uploaded to youtube.
http://www.litesum.com/- This is a site that creates a more simple version of a wikipedia entry. All you have to do is enter a topic and it will give you a short summary of a wikipedia article. This is great for students who have a hard time navigating or reading longer articles.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Website of the Week #10-Big Huge Labs
http://www.bighugelabs.com/
Basics: This is a site where you can do cool things to pictures. You can create things like billboards, trading cards, magazine covers, collages, motivational posters, etc.
Examples:
Test Kitchen: I tried this with my students during our propaganda techniques unit. They made companies and then they each created a poster, billboard, or trading card to advertize their product. It was easy and the kids loved it. All they had to do was select a picture, write what was going to be on the poster, and click create now. It is one of the easiest things that I have done this year and they enjoyed the chance to create a poster. They can do all of this without logging in. They just need somewhere to save their creation. I had them all post theirs to a google wiki.
Classroom Applications: This site could be used in any class. They are a lot of possibilities with this site. You could have students create projects to show what they know, define things, illustrate a concept. You can also use these posters and things to add a little spice to your lessons. Create a set of motivational posters that define key vocab words. Create trading cards of historical figures and then let the kids trade them.
Basics: This is a site where you can do cool things to pictures. You can create things like billboards, trading cards, magazine covers, collages, motivational posters, etc.
Examples:
Test Kitchen: I tried this with my students during our propaganda techniques unit. They made companies and then they each created a poster, billboard, or trading card to advertize their product. It was easy and the kids loved it. All they had to do was select a picture, write what was going to be on the poster, and click create now. It is one of the easiest things that I have done this year and they enjoyed the chance to create a poster. They can do all of this without logging in. They just need somewhere to save their creation. I had them all post theirs to a google wiki.
Classroom Applications: This site could be used in any class. They are a lot of possibilities with this site. You could have students create projects to show what they know, define things, illustrate a concept. You can also use these posters and things to add a little spice to your lessons. Create a set of motivational posters that define key vocab words. Create trading cards of historical figures and then let the kids trade them.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Thursday's One to One Training for Cactus Canyon
To advance the story click on the arrow on the right side.
To make it full screen click on the little square in the bottom left hand corner.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Website of the Week # 9 - What 2 Learn (Make Your Own Educational Games)
Website Link: http://www.what2learn.com/
Basics: This is a site where you can create games for just about anything you are learning. They have 12 games templates to choose from and you just create 8 questions. Then you have a game that you can embed or link. There are games that others have created as well. You do have to sign-in to create games...and it's free.
Examples:
Zombie Boxing
Play this game on the what2learn site
Link to Tanks Game
Link to Skiing Game
Link to Penguins in Peril
Test Kitchen:
I have only used this a couple of times in my class but, it was a huge success. Each game took me about 10 minutes to create. The students were learning about 40 prefixes and they used the games to practice. With the first set of prefixes they studied flashcards from brainflips.com and then played the games. When they felt ready they took a quiz in google forms. After that they moved on to another set of prefixes which they studied and then they created their own game through What 2 Learn. The kids absolutely loved it. They were engaged the whole time and it got them a lot of repetition with their vocab words in a relatively short amount of time. Plus, how can you go wrong with Zombie Boxing?
Although I did not try it, there is a feature where you can create accounts for students and it's free. Then you assign them games and keep track of the results of what they are doing and they will give you as many free accounts for students as you need.
Classroom Applications:
Great for...
...all subject areas
...vocabulary words
...comprehension checks
...math facts
...fill-in the blank questions
...closure
...quick checks
...review
Technical note: To get the embed code or the link when you finish creating the game, you then play your game, and when you get to the play mode your embed code and link will be on the right hand side.
Also, they give you a number code to keep to know where your game is in the future.
Basics: This is a site where you can create games for just about anything you are learning. They have 12 games templates to choose from and you just create 8 questions. Then you have a game that you can embed or link. There are games that others have created as well. You do have to sign-in to create games...and it's free.
Examples:
Zombie Boxing
Play this game on the what2learn site
Link to Tanks Game
Link to Skiing Game
Link to Penguins in Peril
Test Kitchen:
I have only used this a couple of times in my class but, it was a huge success. Each game took me about 10 minutes to create. The students were learning about 40 prefixes and they used the games to practice. With the first set of prefixes they studied flashcards from brainflips.com and then played the games. When they felt ready they took a quiz in google forms. After that they moved on to another set of prefixes which they studied and then they created their own game through What 2 Learn. The kids absolutely loved it. They were engaged the whole time and it got them a lot of repetition with their vocab words in a relatively short amount of time. Plus, how can you go wrong with Zombie Boxing?
Although I did not try it, there is a feature where you can create accounts for students and it's free. Then you assign them games and keep track of the results of what they are doing and they will give you as many free accounts for students as you need.
Classroom Applications:
Great for...
...all subject areas
...vocabulary words
...comprehension checks
...math facts
...fill-in the blank questions
...closure
...quick checks
...review
Technical note: To get the embed code or the link when you finish creating the game, you then play your game, and when you get to the play mode your embed code and link will be on the right hand side.
Also, they give you a number code to keep to know where your game is in the future.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Website of the Week # 8 - Simple Cube
Simple Cube Site Link
Basics: On this website you can create a cube that can then be linked or embedded in another webpage.
Examples:
Attention Grabbers
RAFTS
Why Use Blogs?
Test Kitchen: I have been using this site in my class for a few months now. It is a cool gadget that helps engage students. I have never had any problems with it. I have not had students make their own yet but, I suppose that it would be really easy to have the students make their own as well. You don't need to log in to create one but, you can log in and save yours if you want to. The site is sponsored by the Australian Arts Association but, they don't seem to mind if you use it for your class. The is one weird thing that it does sometimes when you use long sentences it puts part of the word on one line and the rest on the other line. Beggars can't be choosers though.
Classroom Applications:
Basics: On this website you can create a cube that can then be linked or embedded in another webpage.
Examples:
Attention Grabbers
RAFTS
Why Use Blogs?
Test Kitchen: I have been using this site in my class for a few months now. It is a cool gadget that helps engage students. I have never had any problems with it. I have not had students make their own yet but, I suppose that it would be really easy to have the students make their own as well. You don't need to log in to create one but, you can log in and save yours if you want to. The site is sponsored by the Australian Arts Association but, they don't seem to mind if you use it for your class. The is one weird thing that it does sometimes when you use long sentences it puts part of the word on one line and the rest on the other line. Beggars can't be choosers though.
Classroom Applications:
- Display objectives for the day and announcements.
- Definitions of words.
- Choose between different activities.
- Show examples.
- Play a game.
- Use it as dice.
- Choose a topic.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Website of the Week # 7-Bitstrips (Make Your Own Comics)
http://www.bitstripsforschools.com/ (30 day free trial for a classroom)
http://www.bitstrips.com/ (free individual accounts, no classroom)
Basics: This is a way to create comics. You can create comics that explain something or the students can create comics to show understanding of a concept. You can create a template for an assignment as well. The student can create their own avatar.
Why Bitstrips? (Quality of video may not be great, but you can hear what they have to say)
Bitstrips for Schools from Bitstrips on Vimeo.
Example:
Test Kitchen: I used my Bitstrips 30 free trial for the classroom today for the first time. I didn't have the students make a comic today. Today I just had them read the comic that I made and then leave a comment after they were done. I had a lot of positive feedback on the program and everything ran smoothly. Many students were itching to actually create their own comic. We will be doing that some time during the next 30 days. I learned that I may want to make my comics a little bit more basic and have less writing per frame. Everyone was engaged and read the comic though. That is a lot different than when it is just text.
Tip: Since the free trial only includes one classroom and 40 accounts I just set-up one account per computer and named them number 1, number 2, number 3, etc. That way up to 5 student (one per class) is using the same account. It isn't ideal but it seemed to work out great today. The accounts were very easy to set-up and we have unlimited access for the next 30 days.
Classroom Applications:
This could be used in any subject area for a variety of activities.
Math: Have them create a story that practices vocabulary words in a real context.
Science: Explain a scientific process frame by frame.
Social Studies: Tell a story about a historical figure from a different point of view.
Language Arts: Adapt an essay. Condense it into comic book form.
Additional Related Sites:
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/comic/index.html
(Recommended by Mindy Sanders)
http://www.bitstrips.com/ (free individual accounts, no classroom)
Basics: This is a way to create comics. You can create comics that explain something or the students can create comics to show understanding of a concept. You can create a template for an assignment as well. The student can create their own avatar.
Why Bitstrips? (Quality of video may not be great, but you can hear what they have to say)
Bitstrips for Schools from Bitstrips on Vimeo.
Example:
Test Kitchen: I used my Bitstrips 30 free trial for the classroom today for the first time. I didn't have the students make a comic today. Today I just had them read the comic that I made and then leave a comment after they were done. I had a lot of positive feedback on the program and everything ran smoothly. Many students were itching to actually create their own comic. We will be doing that some time during the next 30 days. I learned that I may want to make my comics a little bit more basic and have less writing per frame. Everyone was engaged and read the comic though. That is a lot different than when it is just text.
Tip: Since the free trial only includes one classroom and 40 accounts I just set-up one account per computer and named them number 1, number 2, number 3, etc. That way up to 5 student (one per class) is using the same account. It isn't ideal but it seemed to work out great today. The accounts were very easy to set-up and we have unlimited access for the next 30 days.
Classroom Applications:
This could be used in any subject area for a variety of activities.
Math: Have them create a story that practices vocabulary words in a real context.
Science: Explain a scientific process frame by frame.
Social Studies: Tell a story about a historical figure from a different point of view.
Language Arts: Adapt an essay. Condense it into comic book form.
Additional Related Sites:
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/comic/index.html
(Recommended by Mindy Sanders)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Website of the Week # 6 BrainFlips
http://www.brainflips.com/
Basics: This is a website where students can study virtual flashcards. You can make your own flashcards or search their bank.
Examples: (to see the cards clickthe link then click GO FLIP and then choose one the 3 modes)
These are the flashcards I created for poetry terms-
http://www.brainflips.com/GroupProfile/463
Spanish Numbers:
http://www.brainflips.com/study-flashcards/287/Numbers-in-Spanish.html
Math Facts (multiplication and division):
http://www.brainflips.com/study-flashcards/851/John-s-math-facts.html
Presidents of the U.S. (Example of adding pictures to cards)
http://www.brainflips.com/study-flashcards/44/BrainFlips-United-States-Presidents.html
There is a wide variety of cards that have already been created by other teachers. All you have to do is search for whatever you are looking for and copy and paste the link where students can access it.
Test Kitchen:
I used poetry terms flashcards with my students this week. They studied these cards after they finished a quiz and then I told them they would be using these words for a game the last few minutes of class. Students enjoyed them a lot. One of the great features is that you don't lose them like paper flashcards. Also, you can tier the flashcards for a variety of learners. I took a few mintues to explain how they work and then linked the cards to my learning platform and all the students could work at their own pace. This one is an easy win for technology. There is intial set-up of the cards but, them you have them forever.
Classroom Applications:
This can be used in any class that teaches any kind of vocabulary or facts. Pretty much any class.
Tips and features of Brain Flips:
Basics: This is a website where students can study virtual flashcards. You can make your own flashcards or search their bank.
Examples: (to see the cards clickthe link then click GO FLIP and then choose one the 3 modes)
These are the flashcards I created for poetry terms-
http://www.brainflips.com/GroupProfile/463
Spanish Numbers:
http://www.brainflips.com/study-flashcards/287/Numbers-in-Spanish.html
Math Facts (multiplication and division):
http://www.brainflips.com/study-flashcards/851/John-s-math-facts.html
Presidents of the U.S. (Example of adding pictures to cards)
http://www.brainflips.com/study-flashcards/44/BrainFlips-United-States-Presidents.html
There is a wide variety of cards that have already been created by other teachers. All you have to do is search for whatever you are looking for and copy and paste the link where students can access it.
Test Kitchen:
I used poetry terms flashcards with my students this week. They studied these cards after they finished a quiz and then I told them they would be using these words for a game the last few minutes of class. Students enjoyed them a lot. One of the great features is that you don't lose them like paper flashcards. Also, you can tier the flashcards for a variety of learners. I took a few mintues to explain how they work and then linked the cards to my learning platform and all the students could work at their own pace. This one is an easy win for technology. There is intial set-up of the cards but, them you have them forever.
Classroom Applications:
This can be used in any class that teaches any kind of vocabulary or facts. Pretty much any class.
Tips and features of Brain Flips:
- You sign-up for an account.
- Students don't have to have an account but, if you want them to they need to be older than 13 and have a valid e-mail address.
- Search website for cards that others have created or create your flashcards.
- You can create groups.
- To see the flashcards click on the button that says "GO FLIP".
- You can edit other people's cards.
- You can add pictures to the cards.
- There are three modes, one that introduces the words, one that is like regular flashcards, and one mode where you type in a response.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Website of the Week # 5- aMap
In this site you can create a basic web for a persuasive argument.
http://www.amap.org.uk/
Basics: You pose a question, take a postion on the question, and then you add your three reasons for your postion with support and evidence. After it is finished others can respond to your question. Great for any time you want students to support an opinion.
Examples:
These are actual student examples. They were given the choice to start their own argument about anything and these are some of the topics they chose. You can try this app really easily. Just click reply at the bottom of one of them and then click reply again and it will walk you through the process.
http://www.amap.org.uk/
Basics: You pose a question, take a postion on the question, and then you add your three reasons for your postion with support and evidence. After it is finished others can respond to your question. Great for any time you want students to support an opinion.
Examples:
These are actual student examples. They were given the choice to start their own argument about anything and these are some of the topics they chose. You can try this app really easily. Just click reply at the bottom of one of them and then click reply again and it will walk you through the process.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Websites from Free Tech 4 Teachers
I subscribe (it’s free) to an educational technology website called www.freetech4teachers.com . For the new year the writer of this blog had a blog post each day this week dedicated to a different subject area and included 11 websites to use in 2011 for 5 different subject areas. You might just want to took a look. Some of them are more relevant than others but, there are a lot of great resources there. The links can be found below.
11 Websites for Art and Music
11 Websites for Math
11 Websites for Social Studies
11 Websites for Language Arts
11 Websites for Science
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Website of the Week #4 ed.voicethread.com
https://ed.voicethread.com/
Basics: Choose a presentation or set of pictures that you would like to narrate. Upload said presentation or group of pictures. Narrate each slide or add a written message to each slide. Share link or embed voicethread into a website.
Test Kitchen: I have used voicethread in many different ways in my classroom. It is a way to record a piece of text. This has been very useful for students who need directions or any text read to them. When I used this with short stories there were some interesting benefits. Every student could read it at their own pace. If they didn't want to have it read to them they had that as an option as well.
Classroom Applications:
Science-You could have a diagram or a series of diagrams and you could narrate an explanation with doodling feature. This is great for students who may need to see it more than once.
Math-You could create mini lessons as a voicethread. You can narrate the steps of a process and use the doodling feature to underline or highlight key parts.
Social Studies-You could use this a narrated timeline of events for a specific topic that you are teaching.
Language Arts-This an excellent way to read any passage aloud to students. You read and record it one time and then any student can access it at anytime to listen and read along.
Techy Tip-Voicethread, like most web applications, can be embedded into your googleapps website, blog, wiki, or moodle.
Note: If you want to have students create with voicethread they have to have their own account. Classroom accounts cost money.
Basics: Choose a presentation or set of pictures that you would like to narrate. Upload said presentation or group of pictures. Narrate each slide or add a written message to each slide. Share link or embed voicethread into a website.
Test Kitchen: I have used voicethread in many different ways in my classroom. It is a way to record a piece of text. This has been very useful for students who need directions or any text read to them. When I used this with short stories there were some interesting benefits. Every student could read it at their own pace. If they didn't want to have it read to them they had that as an option as well.
Classroom Applications:
Science-You could have a diagram or a series of diagrams and you could narrate an explanation with doodling feature. This is great for students who may need to see it more than once.
Math-You could create mini lessons as a voicethread. You can narrate the steps of a process and use the doodling feature to underline or highlight key parts.
Social Studies-You could use this a narrated timeline of events for a specific topic that you are teaching.
Language Arts-This an excellent way to read any passage aloud to students. You read and record it one time and then any student can access it at anytime to listen and read along.
Techy Tip-Voicethread, like most web applications, can be embedded into your googleapps website, blog, wiki, or moodle.
Note: If you want to have students create with voicethread they have to have their own account. Classroom accounts cost money.
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