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BP15_20091121_Peer_Review3_Comic Strip Creator

BP14_2009113_Web 2.0 Tool_Comic Strip Creator

I have spent countless hours scouring the Internet for Web 2.0 tools.The Emergent Technologies in a Collaborative Culture (ETC) course requires researching and blogging about Web 2.0 tools but my motivation for locating excellent tools goes beyond the requirements of this course. My Action Research project draws upon Web 2.0 tools and the introduction of several of them to my students. Additionally, having extra tools in the teacher’s toolkit is a good thing. I have had a lot of fun researching, experimenting with and evaluating these tools.

I have always been intrigued by comic books. Growing up, my older brothers had quite the collection of Superman, Batman and the Archies. I wanted to find some type of a comic strip layout tool I could introduce to my classes. I teach Video Graphics and I am looking for small interesting projects that include a writing component. A short comic strip about school life just might be something the students are interested in.

In researching the Web I found several different comic strip tools. Most were not free so that caused me to move in another direction. I did find one that I think meets the needs of this particular project. It is called Comic Strip Creator. It is available as a free download but works only with Windows. Since there is only one Mac computer in my entire school (a loaner from Apple), this will not be a problem. After downloading the program I could not get it to work. I sent the company an email and they responded the next day saying I needed to “turn off” any anti virus software installed on the computer. It installed like a dream after I did this.

Comic Strip Creator is great. I laid out this comic strip in about 3 minutes. In addition to downloading the program, there is also a download for clip art and backgrounds. I used both of them in this example. And finally, a word to the wise… be careful when searching for the site. The correct url is listed below. Changing the .org to .com may “strip” you of all rights as a teacher!

http://www.comicstripcreator.org/

BP14_20091121_Peer_Review2_Media_Asset_Wordle

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2009

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BP13_20091121_Peer_Review1_ClassTools.net

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2009

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www.ClassTools.net

BP12_20091121_E-Learning_For_Kids

E-Learning for Kids is the best hands down Web 2.0 too that I have encounter. It is designed for teachers, parents and everyone. E-learning for kids is a free online learning resource for kids.

Courses at E-Learning for Kids offer curses that cover curriculum areas like:

Ø Math- skills: Allows students to master measurement, counting, estimating, factors, multiples, fractions, length, area, angles, averages, number sense, money, and sequence and patterns.

Ø Language Arts: Allows students to master letters, words, compound words, opposites, phonics (beginning sounds, digraphs), and story comprehension.

Ø Science: Have courses on plants, photosynthesis, animals, earth, living things, animal homes, and fossils.

Ø Computer / Technology: Has courses on Google search skills and keyboarding skills

Ø Health and Life Skills: has so many to choose from, including body systems, teeth, sickness, and more.

Ø English Language: offer courses on sentence structure, question and answer, story structure, and characters.

Within each category there are lots of games and courses available across age levels. All of the courses are directive and interactive, allowing the students to interact with the computer characters.

BP11_20091121_KerPoof

KerPoof is another cool Web 2.0 tool; it is free online multimedia software that allows students to explore their creativity by drawing, making animated movies, writing and illustrating stories, producing pictures and cards. The software is easy to use, giving students even those who aren’t proficient in art or technology an opportunity to produce and share successful artwork quickly and without frustration.

KerPoof’s library has lots and lots of amazing stuff, the images are interesting and varied, and the themes go well beyond the scope of pirates and fairy gardens. The color palettes vary from bold to subtle, and the tools that invite students to consider and adjust an object’s perspective is among the attributes that makes this website an awesome tool for learning.

KerPoof allows students to save their creations to a gallery and accumulate Koins (KerPoof’s virtual currency). A paid membership offers access to additional features including groups, the chat feature, shopping, and additional characters and avatar accessories. The site also offers teacher resources and ideas for utilizing the multimedia software in the classroom.

BP10_20091121_YackPack

YackPack is an awesome Web 2.0 Tool that can quickly improve educational communication. You can motivate students, give quality feedback and communicate clearly with students, parents and administrators. YackPack is very simple and easy to use, it allows students and teachers to focus on content and not be distracted with what’s going on. YackPack is private and secure, its safe from outsiders.

Once you create a YackPack for your class, you can grade student work, and give them quality feedback about their work and their grade.

You can give assignments, offer encouragement on assignments, discuss topics as a class, and answer questions from students. If other teachers in your school have YackPack you can collaborate with other classrooms.

I broadcast some of my lessons. Thru YackPack my students have the opportunity to send back individual messages, assignments to me, as well as to other students.

My younger students find it easier to speak than to type their stories and YackPack has made that easy for them.

YackPack is a powerful and expressive mode of communication. Students who have problems with reading or typing can still participate in a rich way; they express their feelings and what they are learning by actively talking thru the sessions.

BP9_20091121_Quizlet

The first time I heard of Quizlet was through Toni when we work together on our last class. I’ve been using it ever since then and I must say I love it!

Quizlet is really efficient. You can create a Quizlet account or you can simple log in with your Facebook account, once you are in there are lots of things you can do for your students.

I personally Quizlet as a memorization tool, Quizlet lets you create "sets" of terms customized to fulfill your students needs. These sets of terms can then be studied and practice under several ways.

Familiarize

"Familiarize" lets you handle terms in a way similar to flashcards. You are able to virtually flip cards over to reveal definitions and terms or view both the definition and term side by side.

Learn

In “Learn”, you are either prompted with the word or definition and the student has to come up with the other one. Words and or definitions that are incorrectly defined are recycled until the student gets it correct. I think this way of study is very effective.

Test

The "Test" lets you create randomly generated tests giving you selecting options to customize a test according to your topic and your students needs. You can have multiple choice questions and matching questions.

Scatter

“Scatter” is a matching game where words and definitions are randomly scattered around the screen. The goal is to match the words with their appropriate definitions in the least amount of time.

Space Race

"Space Race" allows players to test their typing skills while memorizing. The object of it is to type the matching word or definition before a scrolling word or definition leaves the screen.

Quizlet really is a fun and great way to learn anything and I would recommend it to anyone. I think this site is awesome!

BP8_20091121_Google_Setchup

I was introduced to Google SketchUp about 2 years ago in a workshop. I kind of ignored it at the beginning but then I started using it as part of my technology curriculum. Google SketchUp is free, and easy-to-learn, it is a 3D-modeling program that has some simple tools that lets you create 3D models of houses, buildings, space ships, trees, cars and different shapes. You can add details, like textures, and glass to your models, you can place your finished designs in Google Earth, or you can share them with others by posting them to the 3D Warehouse, or print hard copies.

With Google Sketchup, students can draw different things that can help them visualize the size of very large objects. Google SketchUp opens up the world of 3D, is fun, and engaging, it blends the left-brain analytics with right-brain creativity to improve students performance.

BP7_20091108_Social_Bookmarking

Social Bookmarking: Embracing Web2.0 in the Classroom

As educators some of us already use Bookmarks or Favorites in our computers to save Web sites that we frequently use. However, Social Bookmarking is about collecting and storing bookmarks online, tagging them with keywords so they become searchable and shareable with others. Today there are so many social bookmarking sites, but the most popular is Del.icio.us.

Del.icio.us, like all social bookmarking tools, can be used for many different purposes and in many different ways. I’ve been using Del.icio.us for quite a while now in my school. I have a delicious account for my school where my students can find different links to websites according to subject, grade level, and also games and activities that go with the curriculum. In using this application in the classroom I have found it to be useful in many ways. It can show students resources for any project they are working on. It allows them to share not only the resources, but also allows them to leave a note to one another about what they found helpful from that resource. It can give the students direction when searching for information. It also gives teachers the ability to share sites that are not only age appropriate but are approved for finding specific information.

I also use this social bookmarking tool to build a growing list, which is not only produced by me but, also by my students and other teachers in the building. I believe that developing self-organizational skills in today’s world of overwhelming technology information is key to enhance your professional and personal learning practice.

References

EDUCASE Learning Initiative, 7 things you should know about….. SOCIAL BOOKMARKING.
Retrieved November 6, 2009 from
http://educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7001.pdf.

Education World, Sites to See: Social Bookmarking.
Retrieved November 6, 2009 from
http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/sites/sites080.shtml

BlogSpot Fequently Asked Questions, Social Bookmarking in Education.

Retrieved November 6, 2009 from
http://frequanq.blogspot.com/2005/02/social-bookmarking-in-education.html

BP6_20091108_Flickr

This week I explored the use of Flickr, another Web 2.0 tool. Flickr is a great photo showcase and sharing website that gives users the opportunity to comment, tag, and share pictures.

I think Flickr will be of a great use in the classroom because Flickr invites student collaboration and participation. Students can write comments on the image. This is where students can use critical thinking skills. They can add text in the image, using either the notes or description features. I am planning to introduce Flickr with a lesson that I’ve created.

My Flickr Lesson Plan will address the following objectives:

1. Students will use flickr to show off photos online.

2. Students will upload photos from various files and/or devices.

3. Students will create a yahoo/flickr account.

4. Students will use flickr, to learn how to rotate, add text, and organize photos in their profile.

In this lesson students will have the opportunity to create a flickr account thru yahoo. They will be practicing how to upload photos to the site. Students will run through the various menu options for photos (rotation, adding text, add to a set). This hands on process will give the students the opportunity to explore Flickr on their own and experience the advantages of this tool.

After uploading some pictures each student could choose an area of interest and demonstrate some hands-on skill through Flickr and share it with the rest of the class.

BP5_20090811_Media_Asset_Video

BP4_20091102_Web2.0_Tools

Using technology as a learning tool is extremely important. Teachers are starting to explore the potential of Web 2.0 tools such as blogs, media-sharing services and other social software that can be used to empower students and to create exciting new learning opportunities for the students.

E- learning with Web 2.0 tools take an excellent approach that combines the use of different tools and web services; such as blogs, wikis, and other social software to support the creation of learning communities that support student achievement.

Blogging has become very big in education because removes the technical barriers to writing and publishing online and the journal format encourages students to keep a record of their thinking over time. Blogs also facilitate critical feedback, by letting readers add comments that could be from teachers, and / or peers.

I’ve been using blogs for quite a while now and I use them to present my lessons to my students and they do their writing right on the blog. I have wikis which I find them very useful. I have a delicious account which I think is the best bookmarking site there is. While exploring the Web 2.0 applications I found quite a few applications that can be use with my classes. I like Kideos, which has lost of videos for kids.

I also liked Raylit- Fun Educational Online Platform for because it’s a website that is design for young kids and it helps them to achieve their mental and physical development.

BP3_20091101_Setting_Up_Google_Reader

Google Reader is new to me but I think It's a great way to collect information, without having endless bookmarks that you can't tell what is new and what is old. Google Reader provides me the opportunity of quickly scan the information, see what is important to me at the time that I am looking for it and what can wait until I have more time to read it.

For my RSS Feeds I chose Managing Classroom Technology: How to Manage Classroom Behavior , Top 5 Classroom Management Strategies, Technology in Teaching, Web Watch, and Teaching with Technology.

Managing Classroom Technology: How to Manage Classroom Behavior - I chose this RSS Feed because it provides great resources on how technology helps managing the classroom environment.

Top 5 Classroom Management Strategies- I chose this RSS Feed because it doesn?t only provide tips on managing the environment but also has tips on lessons and differentiated instruction.

Technology in Teaching- This section provides information about best practices in using educational technology, gives you resources for common teaching tools, and highlight projects that have demonstrated success in enhancing education.

Web Watch ? provides all kind of articles in education, from technology to helpful resources for students and teachers.

Teaching with Technology- This RSS Feed provides links to resources with guidance for enhancing teaching and learning by using technologies. The articles in this section show both the benefits and lacks of incorporating technology into teaching and offer practical tips on using technology tools.

BP2_20091101_Getting_Started_With_Blogger

As one of the Web 2.0 tools, blogs can be use in classroom environment as an educational tool. There are many ways that a blog can be beneficial. As a technology teacher I encourage blogs in the learning environment because it provides excellent opportunities for students to read and write it opens the doors for student discussion about a certain topic. It gives the students the opportunity to apply critical thinking skills. With a blog, people have an equal opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions on a regular basis.

Blogs provide a space where teachers and students can work together to develop academic skills. Teachers can offer instructional suggestions; positive feedback and students can practice and benefit from peer review.

In my school we run different types of blogs, an example of that is a Class blog that serves as a communication portal between the teacher and the student. These types of blogs are being used to inform students of class rules, homework assignments, and they also act as a question and answer board. A class blog opens a window of opportunity for students to talk about topics outside of the classroom. Students have the opportunity to be reactive and reflective to one another. Students even may collaborate with students from other classes or other schools to complete an interactive project or to get feedback from other students. In a class blog the teacher can create a showcase of students work and the students can reflect on their own work.