2/26/2013

Post 1 of 2

Resources...resources...resources!

I don't know where to start?  What tools should I use?  How should I use them?  These are frequent statements from teachers just beginning their journey with technology.  As a group, we will collect a list of digital tools and resources on a website called http://www.livebinders.com/.  This way we can learn from each other about the tools we find beneficial for our own classrooms. 

Livebinders is a free, virtual 3-ring binder that can be used to organize resources, tools and websites.   Teachers can use this to create and share web information by topic, subject, or grade-level.

Our Livebinder is called Technology4Learners (to keep it consistent) and you can follow this link to get there... http://tinyurl.com/avvsdes. I have already begun ours with some of the tools I love and others that have been suggested by your peers.  We will continue to update this throughout the semester.  

If you have suggestions of tools, please post them here with a brief statement about what it is and why you like it!

Feel free to start your own, if you'd like to collect your own resources or the ones that are most meaningful to you.  

2/12/2013

Post 2 of 2

Digital Technology skills are essential in today's classroom and I hope you are using the opportunity while in this class to examine all of the tools that are at your finger tips.  This article will provide you with different categories of digital skills.

Please read this article and explore at least one of the technology tools that he has provided in his list.  Feel free to explore a category that is of interest to you or your upcoming project.

33 Digital Skills Every 21st Teacher Should Have. 

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/02/the-22-digital-skills-every-21st.html

2/12/2013

Post 1 of 2

WATCH: Former Green Bay Packers cheerleader fights back against vicious cyber bullying 

Kaitlyn Collins was the target of heartless comments when her picture was uploaded to a Chicago Bears fan page on Facebook. The ex-cheerleader fought back and finally had the picture and nasty posts removed. 

Read more and watch the video at... 
http://tinyurl.com/bkjfges

Please share your reaction.

2/5/2013

Post 3 of 3

Maybe some of you have heard of a little website called Wordle or Tagzedo.  If not, this is worth checking out!  These websites are Word Cloud Generators which allow you to type or paste text  into a generator that creates a cloud of various words.  You can play with the different settings and colors.  This could be something to consider for a project this semester.  

I'd like you to generate a word cloud with one of these two websites and bring it to class next week (February 12, 2013).  Feel free to email a picture of it, if you don't have access to a printer. 

www.wordle.net
www.tagxedo.com 

The content can be anything you'd like!  This could be a great time to try it with your kids or within a classroom setting.  

On the blog, please give me a few examples of how you think a Word Cloud Generator could be used in the classroom setting.  What types of activities could this be used for?

2/5/2013

Post 2 of 3

Identifying the Nine Elements of Digital Citizenship helps us to recognize how Digital Citizenship fits into our lives and the lives of your students.  It shows us how critical these skills are to being successful citizens in a world that is quickly advancing.  Our students are being consumed by social media and technology, teachers and parents alike model good digital technology skills.  The first place to start is looking within your own home, classroom and school.

Please take the Digital Citizenship Audit located on page 44-45 of your textbook. If you can get others in your school (home or workplace) to complete it with you...Fabulous!  After scoring yourself, please explain your findings on the blog.  

2/5/2013

Post 1 of 3

Last week, you were able to explore the world of Student Response Systems by using a website called Socrative.  This a free website that allows you to engage your students with customized educational activities and online quizzes.  There are many wonderful settings and features to this website.  I happen to like the fact that your students can access the quizzes you've created by logging into to an iDevice, Tablet, Laptop, or Computer that has Internet, in order to complete their assignment.

Please use Socrative to create a quiz about the 9 Elements of Digital Citizenship.  We covered most of this material in class last week but you should also have read about this in Chapter 1 and 2 of your textbook.  Please create this quiz as if you were addressing students...be creative with your questions.  Try to use different types of questions (i.e. multiple choice, short answer, true or false).  I will expect to see these next week in class (February 12, 2013).

You will need to create a free, Login with the Getting Started tab.  Make sure to watch the Video on the Home Page to help give you some guidance.  Then you will continue to the Teacher Login and create your quiz.   

www.socrative.com

Please respond to this blog post with your reflection of this assignment.  See the following questions to help guide you.  

What features did you like?  dislike?

Was it user friendly?

How do you see this being used in your classroom?  

Explain why you don't see this as a beneficial tool?

What features would you like to see added?