As usual, I was struck by a post by my favorite blogger, Bill Ferriter (The Tempered Radical), dated January 29th. My take on his post is that we need to ask ourselves, "What is it about innovators that makes them different from others?" Or better yet, where do we start if we want to be more innovative? His answer was to ask "What if..?" instead of saying, "Yeah but..." I appreciated the following quote: "We're all too ready to trip over the hurdles in front of us without even attempting to jump." He's right. Innovators are "Do-ers" who start with the question, "What if...." and then explore all of the possibilities, never allowing themselves to be satisfied with sitting on their "Yeah buts."
Change is inevitable. If we sit on our "Yeah buts" we will become obsolete...much like the way Block Buster almost did before they got on board with online movie rentals. They would have been passed by as has beens had they dug their heels in and resisted the wave of change that was happening, despite how comfortable they had become as the movie rental giants of the past. Bell Ferriter asked his readers these questions, and I am passing them on to you:
What small step can you take today?
What larger step can you take next week?
What giant leap can you take a month from now? A year from now?
The bottom line is to move forward.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Tech. Tuesday- Jan. 24
I was reading a manuscript the other day and came across a clever trick for "teaching" a new software,application or App to students without the teacher having to master it first for him or herself. It was called, "Three with No Repeats." In a nutshell, the teacher introduces the new program or application and the outcomes expected from using the new tool. Then the students are allowed time to fiddle with the tool and challenged to find three tricks or tips for using the tool and then share with the class. The challenge is that no one can repeat a trick or tip that someone else has already shared. It's a win-win for all!
Spreading Some "App-iness"
Here are some interesting new iPad Apps that I came across this week:
World Book: This Day in History
With this free App, users can use the multimedia calendar to see what happened on this day in history around the world, or on any given day on the calendar. For instance, did you know that on this day in history (Jan. 24) Sir Winston Churchill died in 1965? Gold was also discovered in California in 1848.
To read more, go to: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/world-book-this-day-in-history/id364739528?mt=8
iTranslate
This App is a universal translator that combines written and voice recognition functionality to translate words, phrases and conversations in more than 50 languages. Users can type text, copy and paste text or even speak into the mic and the translator translates instantly. There is even a language dictionary. The basic App is free, but users can purchase upgrades. For more information, go to: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itranslate-free-translator/id288113403?mt=8
Perhaps you are interested in trying out the "Flipped Classroom" concept with your classes. I have found two Apps that you will find useful.
Show Me
This free App allows users to create lessons with voice-over using an iPad as a multimedia white board. Users can use a blank screen or they can upload photos as backgrounds for their lessons. The lessons are converted into videos that can be shared over the internet or emailed. It was so simple to use, I had this demo up and running in less than 3 minutes.
For more information, go to: http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/showme-interactive-whiteboard/id445066279?mt=8
They also have a website with hundreds of lessons already created by the ShowMe Community that you can use with your classes. These lessons are divided by content area, so they are simple to browse. Check it out:
http://www.showme.com/learn
Educreations
Just like ShowMe, Educreations allows users to record multimedia voice-over lessons using this white-board tool. The main difference is that users can animate by moving images on the screen while they talk. This would be especially useful for coaches as they can record and send plays to players.
To find out more about this free App, go to: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/educreations-interactive-whiteboard/id478617061?mt=8
As usual, if you see something here that you want to try, but you need help, please do not hesitate to come see me!
Spreading Some "App-iness"
Here are some interesting new iPad Apps that I came across this week:
World Book: This Day in History
With this free App, users can use the multimedia calendar to see what happened on this day in history around the world, or on any given day on the calendar. For instance, did you know that on this day in history (Jan. 24) Sir Winston Churchill died in 1965? Gold was also discovered in California in 1848.
iTranslate
This App is a universal translator that combines written and voice recognition functionality to translate words, phrases and conversations in more than 50 languages. Users can type text, copy and paste text or even speak into the mic and the translator translates instantly. There is even a language dictionary. The basic App is free, but users can purchase upgrades. For more information, go to: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itranslate-free-translator/id288113403?mt=8
Perhaps you are interested in trying out the "Flipped Classroom" concept with your classes. I have found two Apps that you will find useful.
Show Me
This free App allows users to create lessons with voice-over using an iPad as a multimedia white board. Users can use a blank screen or they can upload photos as backgrounds for their lessons. The lessons are converted into videos that can be shared over the internet or emailed. It was so simple to use, I had this demo up and running in less than 3 minutes.
For more information, go to: http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/showme-interactive-whiteboard/id445066279?mt=8
They also have a website with hundreds of lessons already created by the ShowMe Community that you can use with your classes. These lessons are divided by content area, so they are simple to browse. Check it out:
http://www.showme.com/learn
Educreations
Just like ShowMe, Educreations allows users to record multimedia voice-over lessons using this white-board tool. The main difference is that users can animate by moving images on the screen while they talk. This would be especially useful for coaches as they can record and send plays to players.
To find out more about this free App, go to: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/educreations-interactive-whiteboard/id478617061?mt=8
As usual, if you see something here that you want to try, but you need help, please do not hesitate to come see me!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Make Learning Fun with Puppet Pals App
I was just reading about this clever little iPad app called Puppet Pals HD and decided to share it. I can envision all sorts of fun classroom applications for it in the lower grades, but I would not want to underestimate the possibility of use in the senior grades. In short, Puppet Pals HD allows users to create shows with photos (both stock and personal), animation and audio. Students can demonstrate their understanding of content and concepts by the use of visual images, recordings of their own voices and animation that tells a story. Check it out! The basic app is free, but be sure to check out the themes that can be purchased separately. If you find a theme that you could use, ask I.T. to get it for the iPads. I'd love to hear about how you used this in your classroom.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/puppet-pals-hd/id342076546?mt=8
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/puppet-pals-hd/id342076546?mt=8
Tech. Tuesday- Jan. 17
My focus today is on providing some tips and strategies for the technologies that most of you use daily in your work or in your classroom.
Outlook:
Check out this video for some excellent tricks and tips for Outlook email and calendars:
SMART Board:
Check out this link to a LiveBinder site with a smorgasbord of pre-made interactive lessons and activities to use on the SMART Board. Click on the SMART Lessons tab and then the SMART Board Templates tab. Then scroll down to the grade level that you teach. I was especially pleased to see that there are some potentially useful activities for French classes.
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=7376
Microsoft Word:
Here is a great tutorial video about some tricks you may not know about in Word!
A number of you have asked about using photos and clip art in your Word documents. Here is another tutorial clip with some great tips.
The only thing I would add to this is to make sure that you click and drag from a corner if you want to enlarge a picture. This will enlarge it proportionally. If you click and drag from a side, your picture will become skewed. I see this all the time.
Outlook:
Check out this video for some excellent tricks and tips for Outlook email and calendars:
SMART Board:
Check out this link to a LiveBinder site with a smorgasbord of pre-made interactive lessons and activities to use on the SMART Board. Click on the SMART Lessons tab and then the SMART Board Templates tab. Then scroll down to the grade level that you teach. I was especially pleased to see that there are some potentially useful activities for French classes.
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=7376
Microsoft Word:
Here is a great tutorial video about some tricks you may not know about in Word!
A number of you have asked about using photos and clip art in your Word documents. Here is another tutorial clip with some great tips.
The only thing I would add to this is to make sure that you click and drag from a corner if you want to enlarge a picture. This will enlarge it proportionally. If you click and drag from a side, your picture will become skewed. I see this all the time.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Tech. Tuesday- Jan. 10
A Case for Course Management Tools
As I skimmed over the November issue of the newsletter from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), I noted the results of a survey they had conducted regarding online class management tools. Specifically, the survey asked members which of the tools they used for their classes. Better than 50% of the respondents indicated that they used Moodle. The others used the following (in order of frequency of response):
*Blackboard
*the school website
*Google Apps
*Schoolology
*Blackbaud
*EDU20
*Edline
*netClassroom
*Whipple Hill (Podium)
*Sharepoint
Obviously, the responses show that schools have found a good number of ways to meet the same need. The common denominator, however, is the recognition that there was truly a need. Some concerned teachers, however, have expressed worry that providing too much to students via these online management tools will ultimately perpetuate some of the irresponsible trends that some of us have seen in students. Jill Brown, Director of Educational Technology at the Albuquerque Academy, has an interesting perspective on this. In the ISTE Newsletter, she was quoted as stating, "I sometimes hear the argument that it is important for students to become responsible for writing down their homework, so we are enabling them if we post it online. What matters then, is what you believe to be the main purpose of homework. If it is to have the students learn the content important to your discipline, then it is clear, providing students with every opportunity to be successful with the content is most important." She also goes on to suggest that, while the initial time spent learning, preparing and uploading to a course management system may be time consuming, the teacher actually saves time in the end when he/she, "can spend their time communicating with students about higher level learning topics rather than spending precious face-to-face time following up and reminding them about the rudimentary details of an assignment."
I am not sure how strong this arguement really is, but it is food for thought...
Shifting Gears
MindShift, one of my favorite blogs, featured an article recently that caught my attention. Apparently, a school district in Ohio has employed the concept of role reversal with regards to technology training. They have piloted a program called eKids. The eKids are a self-selected group of students with specific interests in technology. Their task is to chose the technology to specialize in, study it, and then to provide classroom support in that technology (as a student consultant) and/or teach the teachers how to use it. These students earn high school credit for participating by working on a project-based curriculum while they are mastering their chosen skill.
It is an interesting concept and one that could potentially be modified to fit our needs. Does anyone else see merit here? Here is the link to the article if you would like to know more:
http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/12/rewards-of-role-reversal-teachers-...
As I skimmed over the November issue of the newsletter from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), I noted the results of a survey they had conducted regarding online class management tools. Specifically, the survey asked members which of the tools they used for their classes. Better than 50% of the respondents indicated that they used Moodle. The others used the following (in order of frequency of response):
*Blackboard
*the school website
*Google Apps
*Schoolology
*Blackbaud
*EDU20
*Edline
*netClassroom
*Whipple Hill (Podium)
*Sharepoint
Obviously, the responses show that schools have found a good number of ways to meet the same need. The common denominator, however, is the recognition that there was truly a need. Some concerned teachers, however, have expressed worry that providing too much to students via these online management tools will ultimately perpetuate some of the irresponsible trends that some of us have seen in students. Jill Brown, Director of Educational Technology at the Albuquerque Academy, has an interesting perspective on this. In the ISTE Newsletter, she was quoted as stating, "I sometimes hear the argument that it is important for students to become responsible for writing down their homework, so we are enabling them if we post it online. What matters then, is what you believe to be the main purpose of homework. If it is to have the students learn the content important to your discipline, then it is clear, providing students with every opportunity to be successful with the content is most important." She also goes on to suggest that, while the initial time spent learning, preparing and uploading to a course management system may be time consuming, the teacher actually saves time in the end when he/she, "can spend their time communicating with students about higher level learning topics rather than spending precious face-to-face time following up and reminding them about the rudimentary details of an assignment."
I am not sure how strong this arguement really is, but it is food for thought...
Shifting Gears
MindShift, one of my favorite blogs, featured an article recently that caught my attention. Apparently, a school district in Ohio has employed the concept of role reversal with regards to technology training. They have piloted a program called eKids. The eKids are a self-selected group of students with specific interests in technology. Their task is to chose the technology to specialize in, study it, and then to provide classroom support in that technology (as a student consultant) and/or teach the teachers how to use it. These students earn high school credit for participating by working on a project-based curriculum while they are mastering their chosen skill.
It is an interesting concept and one that could potentially be modified to fit our needs. Does anyone else see merit here? Here is the link to the article if you would like to know more:
http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/12/rewards-of-role-reversal-teachers-...
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