Today, I have been given the opportunity to present to our secondary teachers in CISD. I have been given the course title: Web Apps for Infused Lessons. We are an extremely technology rich district, at the secondary level our students are 1 to 1 with netbooks. I am continually on the hunt to find new applications for our teachers and students to use to deepen understanding of curriculum, but given such a broad title, I did struggle to narrow in on just a few applications to share... so...
What is a Web 2.0 app? Collaboration!
Where is my favorite place to go to find out what the latest and greatest tools are? Larry Ferlazzo's: The Best Web 2.0 Applications for Education In 2014 - So Far
I will be adding the applications listed below to our CISD Symbaloo pages (hopefully by Friday).
Presentations
2. slidebean easily create online slideshows, provides multiple formats and the ability to search the Web, withing the application, for images
3. Tapestry is both an online tool and an app that has multiple story-making tools. You can read more about it at TechCrunch.
Flipped Learning
4. Zaption a useful tool for creating interactive (answer open ended questions and multiple choice responses) videos for students.
Reading
5. Booktrack Classroom has books in the public domain online to which they have added "soundtracks" - music, street sounds, etc. In addtion, students can create their own soundtracks to books that they write. Even better, teachers can create virtural classrooms with assigned readings and/or to share their own creations. And, best of all, it's free. You can read many of the books without having to register, but must do so in order to create them.
Flash Cards and Mind Maps
6. ExamTime is a sort of a flashcard site on steroids that provides a number of other tools... just check it out!
Which of Larry's top apps grabbed your attention and you can see you and your students implementing? (please comment below)
What is a Web 2.0 app? Collaboration!
Where is my favorite place to go to find out what the latest and greatest tools are? Larry Ferlazzo's: The Best Web 2.0 Applications for Education In 2014 - So Far
I will be adding the applications listed below to our CISD Symbaloo pages (hopefully by Friday).
Here are a few Web 2.0 Applications and some tidbits about each from Mr. Larry Ferlazzo himself:
Video Conferencing
1. Appear.in this is a super-simple video conferencing site for up to eight people, allows for screen share and does not require registration just a link for each room.
1. Appear.in this is a super-simple video conferencing site for up to eight people, allows for screen share and does not require registration just a link for each room.
Presentations
2. slidebean easily create online slideshows, provides multiple formats and the ability to search the Web, withing the application, for images
3. Tapestry is both an online tool and an app that has multiple story-making tools. You can read more about it at TechCrunch.
Flipped Learning
4. Zaption a useful tool for creating interactive (answer open ended questions and multiple choice responses) videos for students.
Reading
5. Booktrack Classroom has books in the public domain online to which they have added "soundtracks" - music, street sounds, etc. In addtion, students can create their own soundtracks to books that they write. Even better, teachers can create virtural classrooms with assigned readings and/or to share their own creations. And, best of all, it's free. You can read many of the books without having to register, but must do so in order to create them.
Flash Cards and Mind Maps
6. ExamTime is a sort of a flashcard site on steroids that provides a number of other tools... just check it out!
Which of Larry's top apps grabbed your attention and you can see you and your students implementing? (please comment below)
I frequently get asked...
1. How do you find all of these apps and websites?
2. How do you stay in touch with the latest and greatest technology?
My answer? My PLN or Personal Learning Network
What is a PLN?
How should you use your PLN? How to Become a Connected Educator
With new technology being introduced daily we as educators have to MAKE TIME and become connected with other educators. In order to improve our teaching we have to see and evaluate other professionals best practices. It may be my generation or perhaps my personal learning style but the last thing I want to do is sit down and read a book or article about teaching strategies. The best way for me to get information and truly understand it is to: see it and the product that is produced.
I have multiple places that I find my information but have found it helpful to organize my Digital PLN in a Symbaloo:
#cisdechat is held on Wednesdays at 4:00pm!
What/who is your most valuable resource in your PLN? (please comment below)
1. How do you find all of these apps and websites?
2. How do you stay in touch with the latest and greatest technology?
3. When do you have time to find new instructional technology practices and resources?
My answer? My PLN or Personal Learning Network
What is a PLN?
How should you use your PLN? How to Become a Connected Educator
With new technology being introduced daily we as educators have to MAKE TIME and become connected with other educators. In order to improve our teaching we have to see and evaluate other professionals best practices. It may be my generation or perhaps my personal learning style but the last thing I want to do is sit down and read a book or article about teaching strategies. The best way for me to get information and truly understand it is to: see it and the product that is produced.
I have multiple places that I find my information but have found it helpful to organize my Digital PLN in a Symbaloo:
#cisdechat is held on Wednesdays at 4:00pm!
What/who is your most valuable resource in your PLN? (please comment below)
This year CISD 3rd - 12th grade students and teachers have Gaggle Accounts and with Gaggle (drum roll please)...teachers and students have an unlimited amount of blogs! Today I had the opportunity to present the blogging application to the teachers at AV Cato.
Here are a few reason why I am in LOVE with Gaggle Blogs:
1. Easy to set up and access
2. Multiple blog themes available, this allows students to have ownership in selecting their themes but does not allow them edit the theme or move things around... thus gives them time to be creative but with management of time
3. Insert Gaggle Tube videos and documents stored in their Digital Locker with their peers = collaboration!
4. "Say It" button that has a roboticish voice that reads their blogs, this allows students to hear what they wrote and ask themselves the important question of, "Does it make sense?" Oh... did I mention they have this in English and Spanish?
5. "Translate" button will translate the text to another language and "Say It"
6. "Blog Look Up" allows for teachers and students to search all blogs within Gaggle, comment on their peers blogs and "Favorite" blogs for quick access
7. Unlimited number of blogs, this means students can have one per subject or topic
Need some blogging prompts? http://www.lorideboer.net/blogging-ideas-for-students-of-all-ages/
Why should students blog? http://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/3721
Need a Gaggle Blog tutorial?
How do you plan on implementing Gaggle Blogs or other blogging platforms into your curriculum? Please comment below.
