Even First Graders Can Blog!

I was checking out Mrs. Patton’s blog when I saw an intriguing title, “Blogging with students? Yes Please! (Even the little ones!)”.  The part that got me interested was “even the little ones”.  

I could imagine that a high school students would be able to understand how to set up a blog (if they don’t have one already).  Now the little ones would find it to be more complicated.  On Mrs. Cassidy’s Classroom Blog she has her first graders blogging! Yes, first graders.  I can feel the first grade teachers fearing for the safety of their precious, naïve little ones.  This is proof that it can work and the big bad world of scary internet creeps might not care about a six year old’s blog.

There are two important rules to Mrs. Cassidy's class blogmeister blog. Parents and classmates are allowed to comment, which makes for great interaction.  Some people may not realize that putting a last name could cause the internet creeps to come out of the woodwork.  Rule #1 Mrs. Cassidy has students using first names only.  If there is a post or a comment using a last name it is simply deleted. Rules #2 the students’ faces are only pictured on the main blog page.  Not on the individual entries. 

Now to the good part – when you click on a student’s blog entry it is listed chronologically, which is probably helpful for Mrs. Cassidy.  I randomly chose Camryn.  Each entry has a relevant title and some are just two sentences another is an addition story using Storybird. I love that I saw writing, spelling, math, etc. as blog entries.  Camryn also has pictures that you can tell were created in Paint that have been added to his or her page.  Some students have video recordings of them talking about something in class. This is like an online open house of students’ writing. 

I think this is the greatest thing I’ve seen in a while! Yay technology!  

Kinect Used for Math

 “Kids like technology; kids like video games.”  Watch the video and see how one teacher had programmers develop a Math App in Johnny Kissiko's  Kinect in Math article on the K12 Mobile Learning blog. There is a video showing how math is being used by connecting movement and math.  You can see yourself on the video as you can see the graphing being created by using your body.  The others students that aren’t actively using the Kinect are able to give feedback to help the participant.  A teacher needs a computer and a Kinect.  

I will tell you right now…I would’ve loved math if I could get up and move around while learning.  I think this is a great idea!  It will take a long time for something like this to be put into every classroom, but it makes me excited about what changes are going to happen to education in the next few years. 

Add More to Your Delicious Links

Educators Technology has read my mind.  They have put together the Teachers Easy Guide to the Most Important Web Tools in Education which is awesome!  The easy to read list has categorized some important topics about the newest and best tools.  The list has 13 different links from editing tools to mind mapping tools.  This is a really great list and I advise you take a peek and bookmark it!

First, I would like to suggest you look at The 33 Digital Skills Every 21^st Century Teacher Should Have.  Since I am working on my Masters in Educational Technology, this list is important and it makes me feel like I am on the right path to becoming a 21^st century teacher.

 When I looked at The Best Digital Story Telling Tools for Teachers list I was glad to see a bullet list of the importance of digital storytelling.   I also saw two that I have visited before with my computer classes.  The Zimmer Twins was such a great activity for my students.  They had a blast showing me and classmates their stories.  I enjoyed that class so much because I just walked around laughing at the crazy and creative ideas they were able to put into their stories. 

I know how much I loved using the Zimmer Twins, but there are a lot of other great ideas here that I can’t wait to look at.

Enjoy!

Hiding Behind a Username

I find myself looking at comments on pages all the time and thinking “what a train wreck” because I can’t look away.  I continue to read and get so frustrated because people will put opinions and offensive comments that can be horrible to readers. (I know, I know, freedom of speech is a great thing)  They do this behind an ambiguous username.  Yes, some things can be construed the wrong way.  But, what about when I search YouTube and find many videos that have comments using vulgar words and are not even on topic.  When I look at my hometown newspaper, I see comments that are demeaning and practically challenge others to fights.  It is awful and I really think that it needs to stop.  Maybe, just maybe, if websites made people use their real name they could be less likely to leave rude comments. Perhaps, they would think before they type. 

On a side note…I am embarrassed to say that I look at them to try to figure out what is going on (I am always trying to analyze the actions of people when they come off as crazy).  I will read all of the posts to see where the fight began.  It is horrible and can be compared to high school gossip.  Maybe for lent next year I will give up looking at the comments section.  Samantha Murphy writes about something that, in my opinion, should be the norm. 

In her article YouTube Wants to Prevent Harmful Comments by Using Real Names on Mashable, Samantha Murphy writes about YouTube’s effort to curb bullying by having users use their real names.   She states that YouTube eventually wants users to leave their full name and a picture that is linked to their Google+ account.  Maybe this could help users think before they post something hateful.  It will be interesting to see how this pans out. 

Tablet…Don’t Leave Home without It

The ReadWriteWeb’s Brian Proffitt gives us the results of a tablet user survey in Tablet Travelers Still Pulling Content, Not Pushing Productivity.  Proffitt’s conclusion was that tablet owners are consistently taking their tablets when they leave their house because it is useful when “they just need to kill some time”.  Now the uses of the tablet are mostly searching online and checking e-mail.  Check social network sites, games, and music rounded out the survey responses.    Surprisingly, the responses did not specifically involve working.  

I have a tablet, conveniently it is what I get my internet connection through, it is an added bonus. Yay!  Although, I enjoy using my tablet it doesn’t let me do a lot.  When I open blackboard for school, it won’t let me type.  I would like to use be able to do more with it, but I’m sure that I would have to buy an app to do what I’m looking for.  Proffitt said that it seems like people could be doing the majority of this stuff on a smartphone.  So why would someone use a tablet instead of a smartphone?  Since I don’t have a smartphone (I know I live in the last century) I can’t answer that question.  If I did, I can’t imagine what use I would have for a tablet.  Just something to think about. 

"Cheating by healers. Healing is different."

Say what???
 I suggest you read Bogus College Essays Graded an F by Jay Mathews if you have an extra minute or two.  I found the examples taken from the essays were funny because they didn't make any sense (see my title as an example).  Makes me realize the importance of learning how to write.  Also, how easy it is to buy junk off of the internet.  :) Enjoy!

Statistics About Technology in the Classroom Got Me Thinking...

When looking at Jeff Dunn’s article 20 Must-See Facts About the 21^st Century Classroom I am glad to see a picture from Open Colleges sharing these facts. The picture is rather difficult for me to look at because it is so scattered.  Moving on…some of the facts are interested like the study that shows that games raised test scores.  So now there is actual proof that learning games can be useful.  The graphic also gives “Top 3 Reasons for Teaching Technology in the Classroom”, which are

• ·         “Adapt to diverse learning styles”
• ·         “Boost student motivation”
• ·         “Enhance the material being taught”

When I looked at this picture, one thing stuck out.  “1 in 5 students have used a mobile app to keep their coursework organized”.  I looked at this and thought this number should be a lot higher.  Teachers should push to integrate this into helping students learn.

There are some teachers , now I’m talking about our upper elementary and middle school, that require their students to fill out their agendas.  Students have to fill it out and turn it in to collect points.  Have you ever seen a teenager’s room/backpack/desk?  Some of them are just plain filthy.  Teachers are asking students to be responsible enough to write their homework in their agenda and keep their agenda with them at all times (it doubles as a hall pass at one of our schools).  

*Surprise* 

Students, usually the ones that struggle academically, lose them and have to pay for another or they don’t get to go to the bathroom.  Here is my thought, have students use an app to organize their work.  I can’t remember the last time I heard of a teenager losing their phone, it is always with them. 

Picture little Timmy out past his curfew up to no good.  Suddenly, a ding from his phone breaks the silence as he is putting graffiti on the side of a building. “Oh shoot!” exclaims Timmy. “I better go home and finish my history paper.”  Thanks homework organizer app. 

OK, lame scenario and I know not every student has a cell phone.  I think this could be beneficial for some students that struggle with organization, but manage to keep their phones.  Just something to think about...

Something You Will Want to Add to Your Delicious Links

Educational Technology and Mobile Learning has given me yet another list that I must bookmark on my delicious site.  “A List of Free Must Have PDF Tools for Educators”  contains 13 links to some interesting PDF tools. 

A couple on the list that you may be interested in using in your classroom can convert a Word document into a PDF flip book.  You could create a flipbook for students or they could create their own by using something they may be most familiar with – Word.  You can use Page Flip Flap to “documents, images, photos, or videos” and convert them into an “interactive flipbook”.  You can share the link with others too.

I only have time to try out one of these tools right now.  Blog Booker allows you to create a document of your blog entries.  If you wanted a hard copy to give out as a Christmas present this is the tool for you.  You could save your blog…here is my blog as a PDF as of today. Pretty neat it even has the comments and a contents page. Your students could find this useful if you get them blogging.

Or there is a tool on this list that converts HTML to PDF quickly. 

Check it out, you may or may not find these useful.

Computers Might Not Always Work in Education? Ruh roh Shaggy.

The Washington Post online featured writer Jay Mathews’s article “How computers can hurt schools”.  Mathews wrote about a lawsuit in Michigan.  His article discusses a lawsuit that involves a 7^th grade boy who took English classes online.  The student states that the teacher sat at the desk as students worked and seldom walked around.  The teacher did not provide any instruction about the material; the teachers only graded papers and made sure students were keeping up on work.  The student is suing because he has fallen behind academically speaking.  Scholastic was the creator of the online program that this particular student used.  Mathews writes that a spokesperson, Kyle Good, said that programs don’t work “unless teachers are actively involved”.

From the administrator’s point of view I’m sure they see this as an opportunity to make larger class sizes thus removing teachers. 

From the student’s point of view I’m sure they like that they are able to work at their own pace and don’t have to listen to a teacher lecture. 

From a teacher’s perspective…BORING.  I would not want to sit at a desk and grade papers with minimal student interaction.  I like to talk to the students, see what they think about topics, and have students even teach me a thing or two.  It sounds like it is against a teacher’s Hippocratic oath”.  If used correctly, say in cooperation with that crazy concept called teaching, I think programs like Read 180 can be helpful, if used appropriately.

In my opinion, it sounds like the boy involved in the lawsuit has been cheated of his education.  Hopefully, it isn’t too late.

Cell Phones! Cell Phones! Cell Phones!

I'm surprised students are not picketing in front of schools standing up for their right to use cell phones in school chanting "Cell Phones! Cell Phones!".  I understand the administration's point of view, they could be used inappropriately for cheating, etc.  What if we used cell phones for positive things?

Well, Med krarbach you never seem to fail me when it comes to great ideas! 

On Educational Technology and Mobile Learning. There is a review of text messaging tools that can be used to communicate with your students and/or parents.  Great Free Text Messaging Tools to Use With Your Students  links you to another page which lists 9 Awesome Group Text Messaging Tools for Teachers.  The original page (hopefully I haven’t lost you) lists four different ways to text your classes.

• Remind 101
• Celly
• StudyBoost
• SendHub

This article used a few video clips promoting these ways of communication.  I am not familiar with these, but I like how Celly allows groups to message or take polls.  Check out the video.

Wouldn’t it be great if a cell phone wasn’t banned from the classroom?  Could you imagine encouraging proper cell phone use in class?  Students would rejoice! Parents could even be in the know and could help remind students of deadlines or ask them specifically about their homework.  

Now, this is what is going on in my head:  I imagine the heavens opening up and the angels rejoicing “Hallelujah”.  Now, I may be a getting a little dramatic or I watched too many movies where this happens when something momentous happens.  To be honest I have had my share of run-ins with cell phone abusers in a cell phone prohibited classroom and it seems like we are beating our heads against the walls.  Use their love of the cell phone and rejoice!

I promise that I won't make this a habit, but...Did I forget to mention these suggestions are free?  Woohoo!  You don’t hear that too often. J

I Guarantee Your Students Would Love This Site...

or your money back...

Just kidding, this site is free!

I would really like to use the website Beeclip edu that Med krarbach describes on Educational Technology and Mobile Learning. This site can create collages, moodboards, portfoilios, or scrapbooks.  The home page talks about “empowering creativity”.  From the look of the thumbnail size examples it looks like it could be useful in the educational setting.  I have a dozen ideas for uses in my computer classroom. 

I checked the website out and it looks very user friendly.  When you start the registration free trial it explains the function of each tool.  The example on this page looks like the beginning of a project that students in my class would enjoy creating. 

It isn’t just pictures that students could scrapbook, they would also be able to add text and videos to create a scrapbook.  I could see a science class creating a scrapbook with images that represent photosynthesis and adding a video clip to help students visualize and hear the important information.  I think it would be useful in any subject.  Could you imagine this being used in your classroom?  When students are finished everyone could view them like a science fair/art show an educational scrapbook show...  One thing I do know is iIt could be a great display of work for parents to see what their child is doing in their classroom.

Did I forget to mention it is free?  Woohoo!  You don’t hear that too often. J

Typing Three Words...A Great Accomplishment for Some

Laura Grace Weldon’s geekmom blog features an short snippet of a review about a book about a girl that was diagnosed with autism. Weldon’s blog, Carly’s Voice: Technology Bridges Autism., introduces us to Carly Fleiscmann.  Carly, like many other children, has the complicated diagnosis of autism.  Carly struggled to communicate with anyone until one day she typed three words on a computer keyboard.  This closed the communication gap between her and her family members.  She typed “help teeth hurt”. 

I have had many encounters with students who were diagnosed with autism.  Some able to communicate and others that used pictures to help teachers understand what their needs were.  I had one student start screaming at the top of his lungs and told me that he had to because noise was bothering him and it was the only way he could deal with it.  I can’t imagine not being able to tell someone my basic needs or what to do when over stimulated.  It amazes me that someone that was diagnosed as mentally challenged could stun everyone by typing and spelling out words.  How many other children diagnosed this way can benefit from not only a keyboard, but many other technological advancements?
   

Carly’s story is awe-inspiring to me.  The book, Carly’s Voice Breaking Through Autism, needs to be added to my reading list.  Weldon added two short video clips, as Carly has been recognized for her struggle and accomplishments.  I’ll be honest I couldn’t watch without tearing up a little bit.

I Have Been Looking For This All Year!

Are you kidding me? I have just found an article that would've been helpful a few months ago! 

Keith Ferrell has compiled 48 Ultra-Cool Summer Sites for Kids and Teachers for Edutopia.  There are some great sites on here that my computer classes would enjoy when there is a substitute or if they finish a project early.  I have scoured the internet multiple times in search for such sites.  They are not time consuming, but if a student has an extra 10 minutes they could play around, no make that "explore" these sites.  I have one disclaimer:  I have sent students to Cool Math Games before and it seems like students choose the mindless games that aren't very educational.

I created a unique styling of my name at Spell With Flickr.  And then I spent the past hour trying to figure out how to add HTML codes to this blog.  I hope you get a chance to check out some of the "ultra-cool" sites and if you know how to add HTML codes to your blog posts, please share with me. For now, I saved and uploaded each picture, which surprisingly didn't take much time at all.

Solar Power Could Help My Paycheck!

We know that solar power is a great way to save money on electricity bills.  My teaching position has been reduced this year due to program cut at the high school which led to a trickle down effect of people being bumped and *bam* at the bottom of the seniority, I get told that I don't have a full time position this year. Am I complaining?  Not at all.  I am grateful to still have a job and I will take anything I can get to continue to be a part of our wonderful school district.  I would be happier if they didn't have to cut a great program at the high school.  It was a building trades class that helped build the Habitat for Humanity homes, it was a rewarding experience for students as well as the community.  Yadda yadda yadda...

Wasn't I talking about solar power?  Yes, well the Wall Street Journal Online had an "enlightening" article about solar power cutting costs and saving jobs.  Jim Carlton wrote The Enlightened Classroom.  In Carlton's story he claims that schools that have put the solar panels in to place have seen a reduction of about 1/3 in their electrical costs.  That is saving money that is put right back into the school. Whether it goes to programs or teachers, I don't see the downside.

Our district had an "energy manager" a few years ago that taught us the importance of technology off when we left the buildings and monitored our computers with surprise night visits to see if the monitor was turned off.  It actually saved a large chunk of money.  Now, before holiday breaks emails are sent out to remind everyone to conserve energy.

I think that in the best interest of the students we should implement solar panels.  Heck, turn the project into a lesson for the students.  Incorporate the impact financially, scientifically, and other any other way into the classroom.  It could make a nice real world experience for students and it could open more opportunities for students and *ahem* me. :)

Online Gaming Can Be Educational...?

Med Kharbach has shared a video on Educational Technology and Mobile Learning that features a teenage boy that shows great confidence when he talks to a group of people.  What Kids Learn From Online Gaming speaks about his personal gain from playing games online.  I recommend watching the video to see Lewis Tachau, who is home schooled, discuss his interaction with other children and his ability to regulate his passion for gaming with socialization.  He is absolutely adorable and I think he knows more about history than I do.  He has opened my eyes to a different perspective on gaming.  I think that in the future there could be a lot of benefits to learning like this in school.

Please watch the video, it is 9 minutes, and comment.  I really think you would enjoy listening to this thirteen year old boy speak about his experience with gaming.  I would like to hear other opinions.