• Are teachers using technology vocabulary in context? As teachers we tend to focus on the core curriculum content versus the technology content. Do our students know the definition of multimedia? Can students identify, name, and implement various forms of media?
• Have we as teachers acknowledged how multimedia has evolved? I know personally, four years ago when students created multimedia products it usually was contained in a PowerPoint. But now with video creation, editing, and sharing at our student’s finger tips, are we taking the time to identify its many facets?
• Are we building opportunities within our lessons for students to reflect? When students create a product that incorporates multiple forms of media, it is likely to include the application of new learning through an ongoing task or project. The product that is created should naturally lend itself to reflection by encompassing summarization, producing opportunities for feedback, and providing platform to share newfound knowledge.

• There is no login required, 
• Features include (from the Apple app store description) import of photos and video, adding music, text slides, voice over, trim clips and play with fast and slow motion.
• Saves to Photos (camera roll), can be shared over AirDrop, posted to multiple social media sites, emailed or saved to your Google Drive.
• Saves your work and can be edited even after sharing/publishing 

• Difficult to use on iPhone or iPod screen
• No login, work can’t be accessed form multiple devices
• Upload time – I would recommend keeping videos under 5 minutes

Perhaps it's me being ADHD but, the mention of any meeting seems to make me run in the other direction. Maybe it's the thought of having to sit still, not being able to check my email, or just the idea of being in a closed area with a bunch of people... yes I know, I'm a very special person. This past week I attended the faculty meeting at CE and I am still not sure if it was a meeting or a celebration.

Faulty meetings are at the end of the day on Thursdays in my district and usually it is a time for administration to explain policies, share observations, give key dates and keep their staff in the loop. Let it me known that CE does that but they also enjoy sharing a space with one another. Mrs. Lancarte and Mr. Johnson have cultivated an incredibly positive environment and do a fantastic job of modeling practices that they would like teachers to consider for their classrooms. Oh and did I mention the meeting is infused with TONS of technology?!

Here are some technology highlights from the faculty meeting...


Mrs.Lancarte sent out the agenda earlier in the day so that staff knew what to expect but also loaded it in the campus meeting LiveBinder so that staff could locate previous materials.


As teachers convened in the meeting space they were told to log into Twitter and answer a question that was on the meeting agenda and were instructed to read others responses, comment and gain knowledge from each other. Once the meeting started, promptly at 3:45, Mrs. Lancarte began reading a few of the tweets aloud and would ask questions about the resources posted.



Nikki McDorman tweeted out a reference called Texas Teacher Round-Up. The best way to explain this resource is that it's a blog that has K-5th pages that then are divided by subject, in each subject tab every standard (TEK) is listed and under each standard is either a link to a blog post that explains an activity on how to teach that standard, a TpT resource or a presentation.


Brian Intermill presented about Reflector he taught teachers how to activate and mirror an Apple device in the classroom, and also explained uses... having students solve problems in ShowMe without having to go up to the board, great way to play app games so that everyone can participate, and he also shared a new app called, Fractions. I loved using Reflector in the classroom because if you go to the camera app it allows you to walk around the room and mirror student work on the board (if you are using manipulatives is a life saver). To learn how to use and to gain more information about Reflector please see my Mirror, Mirror on the SmartBoard post.



Brian Intermill also shared the iPad App, Fractions. This app is a virtual manipulative that allows you to explore equivalent fractions, comparing fractions, bar models sand circle models.



The 4th Grade time then presented the iPad App Sock Puppets students were exploring homophones in class and wrote script that had to include homophones then create their skit in Sock Puppets. Student products were shared with Reflector. To gain more information about Sock Puppets please reference my Too SKINKIN' cool. Sock Puppets post.



Mr. Johnson (Assistant Principal) had teachers collaborate using HackPad. HackPad a space where you can share a document with others and allows for both asynchronous and synchronous collaboration.


I am beyond impressed by the amount of technology used, information shared, teaching methods modeled and  the learning positive environment. Thank you CE for allowing me to be a part of your PLN and be a part of your campus celebration.

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) 

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)

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.