TeachTech

2012-02-05T16:36:00.001-06:00

2. Not necessarily new Information, but new to me.

iPad: Did You Know. . .

. . . you can split the keyboard into halves so that you can see the center of the iPad? You can see behind the keypad while your typing. Just place a finger on G and a finger on H and pull to the sides! It really helped me this week while trying add student accounts to edmodo. Oh, to put the keyboard back together just reverse the directions.

Web Tools of the Week:

StudyBlue flashcards - simply sign in and search for the concept you are teaching or vocabulary words you wish your student would learn. The cards are already made.

DROPitTOme - (works with drop box) After signing up, students can just type in your url (this is mine: http://dropitto.me/ebert_s) then, students enter a password and simply uploads the document, paper, image, what ever and it is saved in your dropbox. Students don't need to have a dropbox account. Again, it saves time and energy. . .

Apps of the Week:

StudyBlue Flashcards - the app version of the web 2.0 tool noted above.

Splashtop Remote Desktop-info

Splashtop - download

You can access your desktop from your iPad and use it as a remote or mouse. I have remote access to three desktops. All I have to do is enter the password. You will need to download the app on you ipad, then download the streamer on you desktop. Click here for directions.

Not necessarily new Information, but new to me.

2012-01-25T17:28:00.000-06:00

iPad: Did You Know. . .
. . . when reading your email or website and you want to save a pdf file you can download it to iBooks? Simply touch the upper right hand corner of the ipad and select iBooks. This is where your pdf will be downloaded and stored. Then, open your iBooks apps, select collections, (next to store button) select pdfs. It's slick and saves paper.

Web Tools of the Week:

CK-12 - A great site for free digital textbooks that are aligned to state standards.I searched science middle school and I found a great book with videos and images of what students were studying. I am using that chapter this week with my students.

PaperRater - Free site that grades and checks for grammar, spelling, proof reading, and plagiarism for specific written work, for example: lab reports, expository, persuasive, book reports, movie reviews. . . Simply copy and paste your written work, select the education level of your student's paper and then the TYPE of paper to be analyzed. It will display the grammar, spelling, word choice and it will assign a grade for high school level and above. Furthermore, it gives comments and advice on how to write the paper better.

Apps of the Week:

from the Simplek12 webinar

TED is a nonprofit site devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. There are a lot of videos with excellent interviews, educational information, and world events on this site.

hudsonAlpha iCell
There are 3 cell options: plant, animal or bacteria. One can move the 3D cell and view organelles where the structures are labeled and function explained. The best part is that it has 3 levels of information, basic, intermediate, and advanced.

Web 2 and Classroom Instruction that Works

2008-06-16T00:16:00.004-05:00

Our school district uses Classroom Instruction that Works and I want to add a professional development page onto my wiki that includes web 2 tools that I use and can facilitate in a workshop. I found while searching wikipedia that this was already created on http://www.web2thatworks.com/index.php?title=Classroom_Instruction_That_Works.
Can I use most of the text in my wiki with the creative commons license and siting the sources?

wikispaces in education

2007-08-10T21:06:00.000-05:00

Today I added science pictures from flickrstorm to my wiki page that represents visually what my student will learn this year. I asked them to try to figure out what each of the pictures represents. I sent them each a postcard to visit my wikipage. Now I think I will add podcast welcoming them to our classes wikipage. I am very excited about this connection with my students before school even begins. Hook them early, and often.

2007-08-09T08:42:00.000-05:00

I know there is a tremendous advantage to blogging in science. Does anyone have any ideas where to start?

tags: middle school blogging, david jakes, blogging in science,

What have I learned from Web 2.0 Tools?

2007-08-08T14:59:00.000-05:00

I think back to Monday morning through today, I learned how to create, respond, comment, edit, and post blogs. I learned to communicate with twitter, add or delete friends, find fast answers to questions. What I really found useful was the delicious site which allows me to network resources, and piggyback off others tags. Mostly, though, I enjoyed Pageflakes and Bloglines which allowed me to place all these tools in one place for me to see. This is sooo cool!!

Pageflakes vs. Bloglines

2007-08-08T14:23:00.000-05:00

I am a newbie to each of these tools. I have added many flakes and posts to my pages, what is your best use/flakes/posts that works for you?

Response to How would I use Blogging as an instructional tool.

2007-08-07T11:29:00.001-05:00

We have teaching teams at AFMS, in which I am apart one in the 7th grade. I can effectively use one hour of team time and get all the 7th grade teachers to begin a blog site. I have 1/6th of the 7th graders for six weeks intervals in my technology class. I will be able to have the students respond to the teachers blog. Once they are ready, they can create one of their own and by the end of the year, I will have taught the proper/best practice to blogging to all the 7th graders.
125 students and 9 teachers

As I set my colleagues up with blogs, I will have them post essential questions regarding their curriculum. Therefore, the students will benefit from reflective learning and teachers from reflective teaching.

As a classroom teacher, do you think there would be a problem with only some students learning how to blog at a time and not all will know how until the end of the year?

Response to How would I use Blogging as an instructional tool.

2007-08-07T11:29:00.000-05:00

response to Square Peg, Round Hole

2007-08-06T20:02:00.000-05:00

In response to Square Peg, Round Hole, I believe what David Jakes writes is true, it would beneficial for students to connect, create, communicate, and collaborate using Web 2.0 given his platform. Even though schools/teachers are still tied to the same old problems-- lack of computers, computer time per student, digital divide, one computer classrooms -- and can be very overwhelming, there are teachers who want technology to be an integral part of one's education.
As to the question asked, I can't answer because we do not, I do not use Web 2.0 tools, however, as I read each of the four essential literacies, this is what I was thinking:

1.) Be able to connect -in science I teach mutualism. There are 6 kingdoms in which all living organisms are divided. In each kingdom, there are species that cannot survive without the cooperation of another species. Its called mutualism. As stated in the blog, students can. . .

use these connections to understand the world view of others, and learn how to forge and develop mutually beneficial relationships that lead to cooperation rather than competition.

It is our nature to be connected, why not expand the connection which would allow for reaching students' full potential.

2.)Be able to create - Using Web 2.0 tools will allow me to apply HOTS easily. Synthesizing, comparing and editing information. Also, a tool from web 2.0 can be used in a differentiated learning atmosphere.

3.) Be able to communicate - I agree we need to teach students to write more professionally. Adding a new way to communicate ideas, thoughts, questions. . with the world without texting.

4.) Be able to collaborate - A different way to penpal? Without the email account? writing letters? One of the most important standard in science is to share/collaborate one's findings, results, conclusions, data, etc. without collaboration, would we be discussing this?