Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Top Ten Web Tools

Top Ten Web Tools listed on this post are ones to check into. While on the site, Ed Tech Toolbox, browse around further to learn of other web tools. Let us know what you find of interest to you in your teaching or that you might recommend to others. 

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Creating Animated Pictures

Gickr.com lets you upload a series of pictures and turn them into a quick flicking slide show. I uploaded just two to try out the site.

Here is how the site describes itself:

"Gikr.com lets you instantly create Animated GIF online, free....Just upload pictures or grab them from Flickr. Create funny flashy slideshows with you and your friends, cartoons, previews, banners, etc. Post them anywhere you can post pictures."

Have you used the site? Here is my quick 2-photo animated gif.

gif maker at gickr.com
gif creator

http://gickr.com/ready/7891ce0c-f449-1954-159f-f516dae1bdc7#.UHTrGKRrPLY

About Me Page

Now that you are on Twitter, your Profile should include a link for others to find out about you. You can add a blog, website, or other information resource. If you don't have a blog or website, I suggest using the About Me site to set up a page you can direct potential followers to for finding out about you. 

Here is an example for a student Ben McNaboe who has joined Twitter.

Ben Naboe About Me

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Learn about Students Using Google+ Hangout to Connect with Other Schools

Check this blog post, Google+ Hangout With Four Classes!

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to see how schools are now using Google+. Google+ allows students in multiple schools to easily connect via video. Leave a comment at the end of the blog post for the students in the Fifth Grade class to see. Here is a quick image from one of the screens during the Hangout. Also, take some time to post a comment here after you check out the 5th graders' blog post. What do you see as the potential for using Google+ Hangout in the classroom? Are you using Google+ yet? Have you tried a Google+ Hangout? Do you think more teachers should make use of this resource?

 

Google+ Hangout With Four Classes!

SlideShare

If you don't use SlideShare, I suggest you look into it. You can upload your own slide shows to it as well as find slide shows there to "favorite" and download. Some of the ones you download, you can edit to use for teaching in your own classroom. Others, once saved to your "favorites" and tagged into categories, can be later accessed for showing in your classroom. SlideShare has many benefits. You don't even need an account to browse around to see what is there. But once you discover the advantages of SlideShare, you are likely to open an account. 

Slide shows found on SlideShare can be downloaded and embedded into blogs and websites, as illustrated below. 

 

Here is another SlideShare I just found, thanks to a tweet. Take a look at it, and let us know what you think.

Note SlideShare has a Search box. Use it to see what you find that is applicable to your teaching needs.  
Do you use SlideShare? Do you use other presentation sharing sites? If you find a slide show in Slide Share that you think you can use in your teaching, let us know.  As one of the first sites online for sharing of slide shows, SlideShare is a leader in the field and has an extensive collection of slide shows. 

Managing Classroom Behavior

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I've been hearing a lot recently about a technology tool DoJo for managing student behavior. I was wondering what others thought of the concept. Here is a link to an article to read about DoJo and a direct link to the website for Dojo. Check out what DoJo is, and let us know what you think.

Checking Out DoJo

DoJo: Behavior Management Software

Image credit: http://www.classdojo.com/

More on Texting and Driving

Given the interest in this topic, I decided to post a link to a New York Times article, Teenagers Say Parents Text and Drive. Read the article, and return here to post your response. I am also including an image from the article, credit attributed right to the source in the link. 

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Digital Citizenship

I am posting this because it deals with Digital Citizenship but it also demonstrates how SlideRocket works. Access the presentation:

Digital Citizenship

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After using the presentation, comment on the points raised about digital citizenship. Also, what did you think about SlideRocket as a presentation tool? You can go to the SlideRocket site to learn more about the features and sign up for an account.

Also, check this ThingLink on Digital Citizenship, and let us know what you think about ThingLink.

 

Cell Phones in the Classroom

Check this short video, and leave a response.

 

View more videos at: http://nbcconnecticut.com.

Texting and Driving: Tragedy Waiting to Happen--Get This Message Out to Your Student and Others

I don't ordinary add posts to this blog of this kind, but I could not help but advocate for this message. Every day, I see people texting while driving. This video and accompanying story are a powerful message that needs to be spread. Because it comes from a 16-year-old who faced a near deadly accident while texting and driving, it might well speak to students today. Do you text and drive? Why do you think of people who text and drive? Do you think this video is strong enough to get the message out?

You can find the original story with the video at College Student Drives Off Cliff While Texting, Prophetic Message

 

Edmodo in the Classroom

I keep hearing great reasons to use Edmodo in the classroom. In this blog post, Pernille Ripp, a 4th-5th grade teacher from Wisconsin, addresses her reason why she uses Edmodo:

5 Reasons Why I Love Using Edmodo in the Classroom.

Do you find her argument convincing enough? What have you heard about Edmodo in the classroom?

Here is a screen shot of an Edmodo page I set up for a class.

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Here is a link to access information from the Edmodo site about the use of the tool in the classroom.

Edmodo About

You will find a video aboutr Edmodo on this page:

Edmodo Features

After reviewing the above links for information on Edmodo, would you consider using this tool in your teaching? Do you know teachers using it?

I just found this NBC Education Nation use of Edmodo, which demonstrates how the producers of Edmodo broaden out beyond classroom use for connecting people and sharing ideas. Check out what Brian Williams, of NBC News, is doing through Edmodo. Also, be sure to use the link NBC Education Nation to see how Edmodo is involved.


Global Read Aloud

If you teach elementary school or work with young children, you might want to check out the Global Read Aloud. This year's fall selections are Charlotte's Web and the One and Only Ivan. You can find out more about the Global Read Aloud at this site. Global Read Aloud. 

 

1001 Free Fonts

Looking for new fonts to spice up your website, publications, instructional materials, etc., check out 1001 Fonts. The fonts are free to download. Have fun browsing. If you download and use any of the fonts, let us know for what purpose and what you think of the site. Here are some screen shots of fonts you'll find at the site. 

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Also, note Google Doc now offers tons of fonts to use. You need to access these, and they will be part of your Google font options. Anyone using one of your Google Docs will need to have the font installed on his or her Google account for the selected font to display in the Doc. To learn how to access the fonts, as well as the many templates Google now offers, check this blog post: 

Google Docs boasts 450 new fonts and 60 new templates

Helping Students to Use Google Search

Today, I found an excellent lesson plan about how to teach students to use Google searching well and how to critique websites for credibility. It was on this blog:

 

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The lesson plan was designed to be used with students in the upper elementary grades, but could be used in other grades. The blog post in which I found the lesson plan also has a link to download a comparable lesson plan for younger students.Here is a link to the lesson plan as found on the blog: 3rd to 5th Grade Search Lesson The blog also has a link to download the lesson to Google Doc, which might be a good idea if you want to try to find it later--another advantage to Google Doc.

I suggest reviewing the lesson plan and trying it out with students. Also, note the blog that the plan is on. Its author, Jeff Utecht, promises to post a new lesson plan daily. If you can, follow his blog and also follow him on Twitter. 

Note that when you go to Jeff's blog, there is also a way to follow him on Facebook. This teacher has a lot to share, so stay in touch with his teaching ideas any way that is convenient to you.

After reviewing Jeff's lesson ideas for helping students to be better "consumers" of Google searches, let us know what you think. You might  even try the lesson yourself. Do you have other tips for helping students to make better use of Google to find reliable websites?

12 Awesome Ed Tech Tools for 2012-2013

This is an excellent list and explanation of 12 essential tools teachers should consider implementing in their classrooms. It is offered by Richard Byrne, the author of the well-know blog Free Technology for Teachers. Review the recommended tools and comment upon the ones you use, and ones you would like to explore. Do you agree with Byne's recommendation? Do you think he left out any tool you would include in your list of 12 awesome ed tech tools. (Use the sroll feature to go through the full list.

12 Awesome EdTech Tools for 2012-2013

Just Want to Remind You about Photo Pin

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Just want to remind you of the website Photo Pin, where you can find images for your website, blog, or other project. Check out Photo Pin, and remember to insert the code that accompanies the pic to acknowledge its source.

photo credit: ~Sage~ via photo pin cc

Do you think Photo Pin will be a site you will be using? What sites do you use to find images to use in presentations and multimedia that you create? 

Authors Who Skye with Classes and Online Book Clubs

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Image: http://www.katemessner.com/authors-who-skype-with-classes-book-clubs-for-free/

Looking for a way to connect your students with the authors of books. Take a look at this post about authors who will Skype with classes. The post also includes ideas for online book clubs. Here is the link to the post: Authors Who Skype with Classes and Online Book Clubs (for free). After exploring the information, leave a comment about your response to what you found on the post.

100 Best Video Sites for Teachers

Check this list of 100 Best Video Sites for Teachers. The list covers general video sites as well as subject area specific sites. Now is the time, early in the school year, to plan what videos fit your curriculum and to plan lessons that integrate them effectively. Lesson ideas are offered on some of the sites as well. 

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Image credit: http://edudemic.com/2012/08/best-video-sites-for-teachers/?utm_source=hootsuite&utm_medium=socialmedia

Pros and Cons of Digital Tools in the Hands of Young Children

A topic of constant discussion--should young children be using digital devices, and if so, which ones and for what purpose, and how often. Since we are all concerned with the welfare of young children, I suggest checking this article and letting us know your thoughts.

Pros and Cons of Digital Tools in the Hands of Young Children

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A Teacher's Weebly Website

Found an example of a teacher's website with a varierty of resources that you miight want to look into. It's also a good example of web authoring with Weebly. Even you don't use Weebly, you'll find the resources on the site useful.

Me and My Laptop is the name of the site.

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EduClipper.Com

EduClipper.com, a new website, provides an excellent way to clip what you find on the Web, organize it into groups, and share what you want with others. To learn about what promises to be an excellent ideally suited tool for educators, check out the site and the short video on it that explains its features. 

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If you sign up for the service now, you will receive an email to let you know when you can start using the site. EduClipper.com just came out, so you might have to wait to use it, but it also looks worth it to sign up now, so you're ahead of the curve when the site is available for wide-scale use, including use in the schools. This tool looks to be one excellent social bookmarking site intended specifcially for schools and educators, and it already has come highly recommended by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).

Some Advice for Those Looking for Teaching Jobs

Those of you interviewing for teaching jobs will appreciate advice from Pernille Ripp, an experienced elementary school teacher. I follow her blog, Blogging through the Fourth Dimension, and she just posted: More Tips for Landing that Teaching Job.

If you have time, browse further on the blog. This is a teacher who does lots of innovative technology activities with her students, including each student keeping a blog.  She uses KIdBlog for this. I've read their blogs and can attest to their enthusiasm for learning through blogging. Access to their blogs is restricted, but you can read Pernille's teacher blog The Adventures in Mrs. Ripp's Class to find out how she conducts her class.  


 

Vokis in the Classroom: Fun Learning Tool for All

Summer is a wonderful time for playing around with websites and software to get ready for the school year. One fun site to explore is Voki where you can create a talking avatar with My Voki.
Here are a few simple ideas one teacher, Susan Oxenvod offered in a blog post: Wikis in the Classroom

Using Vokis with Students:

  • Record a welcome message for incoming students and embed it into your blog, wiki or website.
  • Kick off a contest of some sort, the winning studentse 's prize can be the opportunity to create and publish a Voki.
  • Teach students how to communicate efficiently through oral messages or talking text.
  • Use Vokis in your projects, allowing students the option to communicate a message through a Voki instead of typing bullet points. (again)

As you know, I like playing around with Voki. I created another quick one this morning, and although I will create another one for the start of classes in the fall, I embedded the one I just did. In this case, instead of typing text for one of the characters to speak, I decided to record myself.

Press the play button to start the Voki.

 

TeachersFirst: Lesson Plans and Websites to Use in Classroom

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Bookmark the site, Teachers First, to browse now, in the summer, and when school starts in the fall. The site is updated weekly with information about top-picked websites to use in teaching. Each site is described. The grade level appropriateness is given, and ideas for using the site in the classroom are suggested. Here is a link to the main site and link to this week's picks.

Teachers First

Featured Sites, Week of June 17

I already found some sites for week of June 17 to explore. Look around the site and let us know what you find. I am going to explore Knovio, a site I browsed around before, used a couple times, but have not used again. Now, I want to try it further. The site lets you upload a PowerPoint and turn it into a video. 

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Let us know what sites you find that are value to you through using Teachers First. What do you think of the site?

Free Photos from Photo Pin

Photo Pin

You can use the search box on the Photo Pin to find free photos. Note you just need a link back to the original source. The site is easy to use. Check it out. Here is an example:

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photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography via photo pin cc

When you find a piciture you want, download it in the size you want, copy the code to give credit, insert the picture where you need it, and then use the html button on your site so you can embed the code. The photo credit line will appear similar to how you see it on this blog post.

Try out Photo Pin and let us know what you think. 

PowerPoint is a Visual Communication Medium

Check this wonderful PowerPoint slide show that I found on SlideShare today. It demonstrates once again that PowerPoint is a visual tool. The message in the presentation is incredibly relevant. It showcases the digital world we live in and variety of sources of information confronting us every day. Please leave a comment after viewing the presentation regarding the impact of visual messages, using a medium such as a slide presentation tool to collect a series of visual images, and the the overall message of the presentation. Note also how effectively the author of the presentation, Steven Wheeler, has captured on each slide the source for all his borrowed images. 

 

Teachers Who Use Technology Will Replace Those Who Don't

Do you think it is essential today for teachers to stay current of technology? If they don't, do you believe they will lose out on the job market? Ann Mayer, author of Fried Technology blog, offers some insights into this topic as well as some tips if you're on the job market.

Take a look at her blog post: Fried Resumes, Because Everything is Better Fried.

You might not agree with her, but take some time to review her points. Her ultimate message probably reflects the position she is in as a technology coordinator in a school. Do you believe schools today are ready to recruit top-notch candidates who have technology skills and know-how and realize how to use these skillls in the classroom, or do you believe in the age of standards and assessment mandates, it does not matter as long as teachers can teach to the test? 

In the spirit of sharing and acknowledging Ann, I am using an image she has on her post. She obtained this image from a subscription service and added the text to the image. Reflect on the quotation, and let us know your thoughts. 

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Searching for the Source of an Image

Have you ever had an image you want to use but don't remember its source. You can do a reverse image seach with Google. You use Search by Image and copy and paste the image into the search box or drag and drop the image into the search box. This video explains the process. Try the technique with an image, and see if the process works for you. Let us know what you find.

 

The 33 Digital Skills Every Educator Should Have

Check this blog post The 33 Digital Skills Every 21st Century Educator Should Have. Do you agree that educators need these skills? Which do you consider the most vitall? Why?

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Screenshot attributed to  Educational Technology and Mobile Learning 

Great Resource to Bookmark

In case you don't know about Jerry Blumengarten's Cybraryman Catalogue, want to make sure you do. This is a site you should explore and bookmark for future reference. There is a weath of information on the site for teachers and other education professionals. Jerry started the site a decade ago, and now that he is retired, he has the time to continuously build it. Many teachers and educators recommend the site as must-a go-to resource. Join the crowd. Here is a link to the site and screen capture of the opening page.

Cybraryman Catalogue

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Evaluating Websites for the Class

I found this graphic display of how to evaluate iPad apps for education. The display works well for evaluating any website for classroom usage. Review the form, and let us know what you think. Would you use this form to evaluate

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 websites for appropriate use in the classroom? What do you agree with on the form? What do you find confusing or irrelevant? Would you consider saving this form for future reference? To access the evaluation form, created by Sylvia Rosenthal Tolasini, use this link: iPad Evaluation Form. (illustration: screen shot of the top of Sylvia's form.)

 

"What Do YOU Know About the Creative Commons?"

This post "What Do YOU Know About Creative Commons" from the Tempered Radical blog (author Bill Ferriter, 6th grade language arts teacher) explains how to teach concepts of copyright, what creative commons is, and ways to approach helping students understand how to search for images and acknowledge their sources. Mention is made of the use of Flickr to find images that are available for fair use and educational purposes. 

The video "A Shared Culture" expains the concept of Creative Commons.  Do you feel prepared to teach students about fair use and creative commons? Was the "What Do YOU Know About Creative Commons" post by Bill Ferriter helpful to you? Is the video "A Shared Culture" helpful in increasing your understanding of creative commons? What more would you like to know about creative commons?

YouTube for Schools

YouTube sponsors a safe way to sign up for an account intended for school use. Check this video for an introduction. Have you heard of the service? Would you consider recommending it to school administrators and teachers?

Check this site for more information: YouTube forSchools

Posters and Images to Download for Free from Flickr

KTVee's Photostream on Flickr has posters that she claims you can download for free. In addition to using the pictures as posters, you might find other uses for them. Check them out on her Flickr Stream. Here is one example:

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New York Joins Efforts to Keep Students Reading Over the Summer

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Image credit: Anna Raff

The New York Times is encouraging student reading in the summer through a hashtag on Twitter. Use the link below to find out about the project. 

 

Join the Conversation About Summer Reading

 

The New York Times is also encouraging summer reading through a blogging project. Find about this project using the link below.

 

Blogging a Day Devoted to Summer Reading

 

 

 

Commissioner Pryor, What’s that Stench? It’s Coming from the Double Standard!

Keeping up with the news in Connecticut about the great divide in students' academic success, see the article below. 
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The article:
At yesterday’s State Board of Education Meeting, Commissioner Stefan Pryor recommended, and the State Board voted, to take over the New London School System.  They also voted to renew Achievement First – Bridgeport’s charter for another five y
Click on the link after via to access the full article. 

What's your view on how to approach the academic divide in the state?

New Weebly Templates

Just off the press. Weebly has added new features and termplates. You can find out about them in this post: 

Weebly Adds Slick Themes and Templates

Also, check this video for a short preview.

Screen Capture and Cropping Tools

Looking for ways to do screen shots and then crop the shots. Here is one suggestion, plus a link below to find 13 methods.

I found Awesome easy to use once I installed it on my Chrome toolbar. Not only can you take a screen shot and crop it, but you can also add text and symbols. In the sample below, I added the text you see in red. 

Remember to save any screen shots you take, so  you can later insert those images into your website or other creations.

Awesome

 

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Use this link to explore other methods: 13 Free Web Annotation Tools. 

Manchester School District Policy on Social Media: Is It Constitutional?

Perhaps you have heard that the Manchester, CT schol system has created a social media policy governing employees. The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut (ACLU-CT)  has questioned the constitutionality of the policy. Check the story via this headline. Click to read the post from "Legal Clips":

 

ACLU warns Connecticut district that proposed employee social media policy is unconstitutional

 

Leave a comment.

Old School--New School

Where do you stand on this infographic? 

online learning [Via: Colorado Technical University online learning]

Kids Speak Up about What They Like in the Classroom

Heather Wolpert-Gawron

A twelve-year teaching veteran and a California regional Teacher of the Year, Heather Wolpert-Gawron's musings on educational policy, curriculum design, and daily school life can also be read at www.tweenteacher.com.

A while back, I was asked, "What engages students?" Sure, I could respond, sharing anecdotes about what I believed to be engaging, but I thought it would be so much better to lob that question to my own eighth graders. The responses I received from all 220 of them seemed to fall under 10 categories, representing reoccurring themes that appeared again and again. So, from the mouths of babes, here are my students' answers to the question: "What engages students?"

1. Working with their peers

"Middle-school students are growing learners who require and want interaction with other people to fully attain their potential."

"Teens find it most interesting and exciting when there is a little bit of talking involved. Discussions help clear the tense atmosphere in a classroom and allow students to participate in their own learning."

2. Working with technology

"I believe that when students participate in "learning by doing" it helps them focus more. Technology helps them to do that. Students will always be extremely excited when using technology."

"We have entered a digital age of video, Facebook, Twitter, etc., and they [have] become more of a daily thing for teens and students. When we use tech, it engages me more and lets me understand the concept more clearly."

3. Connecting the real world to the work we do/project-based learning

"I believe that it all boils down to relationships. Not relationships from teacher to student or relationships from student to student, but rather relations between the text and the outside world. For example, I was in a history class last year and my teacher would always explain what happens in the Medieval World and the Renaissance. And after every lesson, every essay, every assignment, he asked us, "How does this event relate to current times?" It brought me to a greater thinking, a kind of thinking where I can relate the past to the present and how closely they are bonded together."

"If you relate the topic to the students' lives, then it makes the concept easier to grasp."

"Students are most interested when the curriculum applies to more than just the textbook. The book is there -- we can read a book. If we're given projects that expand into other subjects and make us think, it'll help us understand the information."

"What I think engages a student most is interactions with real-life dilemmas and an opportunity to learn how to solve them. Also, projects that are unique and one of a kind that other schools would never think of. Also something challenging and not easy, something to test your strengths as a student and stimulate your brain, so it becomes easier to deal with similar problems when you are grown up and have a job. Something so interesting that you could never ever forget."

"I like to explore beyond the range of what normal textbooks allow us to do through hands-on techniques such as project-based learning. Whenever I do a project, I always seem to remember the material better than if I just read the information straight out of a textbook."

"I, myself, find a deeper connection when I'm able to see what I'm learning about eye-to-eye. It's more memorable and interesting to see all the contours and details of it all. To be able to understand and connect with the moment is what will make students three times more enthusiastic about learning beyond the black and white of the Times New Roman text."

4. Clearly love what you do

"Engaging students can be a challenge, and if you're stuck in a monotone, rambling on and on, that doesn't help...instead of talking like a robot, teachers should speak to us like they're really passionate about teaching. Make sure to give yourself an attitude check. If a teacher acts like this is the last thing they want to be doing, the kids will respond with the same negative energy. If you act like you want to be there, then we will too."

"I also believe that enthusiasm in the classroom really makes a student engaged in classroom discussions. Because even if you have wonderful information, if you don't sound interested, you are not going to get your students' attention. I also believe that excitement and enthusiasm is contagious."

"It isn't necessarily the subject or grades that really engage students but the teacher. When teachers are truly willing to teach students, not only because it is their job, but because they want to educate them, students benefit. It's about passion. That extra effort to show how it will apply to our own future."

5. Get me out of my seat!

"When a student is active they learn in a deeper way than sitting. For example, in my history class, we had a debate on whether SOPA and PIPA were good ideas. My teacher had us stand on either ends of the room to state whether we agree or disagree with the proposition. By doing this, I was able to listen to what all my classmates had to say."

6. Bring in visuals

"I like to see pictures because it makes my understanding on a topic clearer. It gives me an image in my head to visualize."

"I am interested when there are lots of visuals to go with the lesson. Power Points are often nice, but they get boring if there are too many bullet points. Pictures and cartoons usually are the best way to get attention."

7. Student choice

"I think having freedom in assignments, project directions, and more choices would engage students...More variety = more space for creativity."

"Giving students choices helps us use our strengths and gives us freedom to make a project the way we want it to. When we do something we like, we're more focused and enjoy school more."

"Another way is to make the curriculum flexible for students who are more/less advanced. There could be a list of project choices and student can pick from that according to their level."

8. Understand your clients -- the kids

"Encourage students to voice their opinions as you may never know what you can learn from your students."

"If the teacher shows us that they are confident in our abilities and has a welcoming and well-spirited personality towards us, we feel more capable of doing the things we couldn't do...What I'm trying to say is students are more engaged when they feel they are in a "partnership" with their teacher."

"Personally, I think that students don't really like to be treated as 'students.' Teachers can learn from us students. They need to ask for our input on how the students feel about a project, a test, etc. Most importantly, teachers need to ask themselves, "How would I feel if I were this student?" See from our point of view and embrace it."

"Students are engaged in learning when they are taught by teachers who really connect with their students and make the whole class feel like one big family. Teachers should understand how the mind of a child or teenager works and should be able to connect with their students because everyone should feel comfortable so that they are encouraged to raise their hands to ask questions or ask for help."

"Teachers should know that within every class they teach, the students are all different."

9. Mix it up!

"I don't like doing only one constant activity...a variety will keep me engaged in the topic. It's not just for work, but also for other things such as food. Eating the same foods constantly makes you not want to eat!"

"Fun experiments in science class...acting out little skits in history...if students are going to remember something, they need visuals, some auditory lessons, and some emotions."

"Also, you can't go wrong with some comedy. Everyone loves a laugh...another thing that engages me would be class or group games. In Language Arts I've played a game of "dodge ball. We throw words at each other, one at a time. If they could get the definition, the person who threw the word would be out...Students remember the ones they got wrong, and of course, the ones they already knew."

10. Be human

"Don't forget to have a little fun yourself."

I'd like to end this post with one more quote, this one from my student, Sharon: "The thing is, every student is engaged differently...but, that is okay. There is always a way to keep a student interested and lively, ready to embark on the journey of education. 'What is that way?' some teachers may ask eagerly. Now, read closely... Are you ready? That way is to ask them. Ask. Them. Get their input on how they learn. It's just as simple as that."

Go on. Try it. Ask.

If you like this, you might also like

Teachers need to read and implement these techniques if they are not already!

A Prezi about Becoming a Mobile Learning

It is worth watching and navigating through this Prezi both for its message and method. Although the techniques in the Prezi are advanced features by an experienced user, the presentation gives you a sense of the capabilities of what can be accomplished with this tool after a considerable period of practice. The Prezi also addresses the important, albeit controversial, topic of mobile learning and where we are heading in the future, in the opinion of some educational experts and educational futurists. Use the More option to allow viewing and using the Prezi in full screen. Comments welcomed. 

 

Looking for Examples of Prezis

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On this Posterous blog, you will find examples of Prezis that high school students created for a project for their social studies course. The course is Honors US History 1877-Present. Scroll through the posts to find the projects the students created with Prezi, and click on the link to see that student's Preiz. If you find ones you like, let us know, and leave the URL.

Schools' Response to Social Media May Be Inadequate

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This quote is from a high school principal in New Jersey who at one time banned social media in the school and now openly adopts it. Principal Eric Sheninger believes schools need to take responsibility to convey this message to students.

SHENINGER: My piece of advice is, even though you might think it's innocent, it's not that big of a deal, that it's your private and personal information, once you put it on a social media site, it is there for anyone to, not only access, but they can then share that information, they can repurpose it, they can adapt it. Whether it's pictures, videos or your thoughts, it could lead to a potential disaster down the road where you're looking to get into that great college or looking for a job. Once it's archived, it can be accessed and, as we tell our students, that's your digital footprint. Do you want your digital footprint to be positive or negative going forward?

Here is a link to read the full transcript of an interview with Sheninger: 

Don't Trip Over Your Digital Footprint

Student's Video to Fight Bullying Results in a Stir

A Long Island high school student created an antibullying video for a school project, which created quite a stir. She was initially suspended, but as the story unfolded, the suspension was lifted and she is back in school. Here is the video as well as a link to read more about the story and hear her television news interview. Long Island high schooler suspended for anti-bullying video featuring fake suicide returns to school.http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/long-island-high-schooler-suspen..."> Daily News: Long Island High School Suspended 

What is your response to the story?

Student's Video to Fight Bullying Results in a Stir

A Long Island high school student created an antibullying video for a school project, which created quite a stir. She was initially suspended, but as the story unfolded, the suspension was lifted and she is back in school. Here is the video as well as a link to read more about the story and hear her television news interview. Long Island high schooler suspended for anti-bullying video featuring fake suicide returns to school.http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/long-island-high-schooler-suspen..."> Daily News: Long Island High School Suspended 

What is your response to the story?

New Pedagogies for the Digital Age

This slide presentation offers a plethors of thought-provoking points about how pedagogies wil change given emerging technologies.

 

New Pedagogies for the Digital Age

This slide presentation offers a plethors of thought-provoking points about how pedagogies wil change given emerging technologies.

 

50 Web 2.0 Ways to Tell a Story

Lots of excellent examples on this video about Web 2.0 tools, many of which are applicable to create digital stories. Take a look, and let us know what you think. Which of these tools do you want to use?

 

 

50 Web 2.0 Ways to Tell a Story

Lots of excellent examples on this video about Web 2.0 tools, many of which are applicable to create digital stories. Take a look, and let us know what you think. Which of these tools do you want to use?