Google Docs Talks

Well, really you talk and your comments get recorded into the Google Doc. Here is a video of how it works. It was created by a high school English running a paperless classroom, but the concept can be applied to anyone using Google Docs to collaborate. I already tried out the process to give feedback to a student, and the recording and playback worked perfectly for me. Now to try it out with more students and to see if this is concept that will spread to other classrooms. Let me know what you see as the possible application of voice recording into a Google Doc after you watch the video.

Must-See Video Created by 5th Graders: "I Am Art"

In this video, the students act out what art means to them. The video shows their creativity, reflects art's diversity, and is just plain downright entertaining. These students are awesome. Take a look, and let us know your reaction.



I AM ART from Tricia Fuglestad on Vimeo.

Amazing Use of LiveBinder to Showcase Students' Web 2.0 Projects

Just caught this excellent LiveBinder that catalogues middle school students' use of Web 2.0 tools including Animoto, Google Sites, VoiceThread and Glogster. What a wonderful way to celebrate student achievement.

Take a look, and see if you glean ideas for using LiveBinders or any of the tools featured.  Have you ever considered using a tool like LiveBinders to archive and showcase students' projects?

Here is the link to the Live Binder: Web 2.0 -- A Celebration of Student Work. Below are screenshots form the Blogging and Google Site sections.

Exploring HaikuDeck as a Creative SlideShow Tool

HaikuDeck is a relatively new tool for the iPad that is attracting lots of attention. You don't need an iPad though to browse around the site to find reusable "Decks."

This first one, created by Fiona Walker, includes both slides and text in the sidebar.  Click on the  HaikuDeck icon at the bottom of the slide to view the Deck on the site to see the sidebar notes.

Created with Haiku Deck, the free presentation app for iPad

Here is another HaikuDeck, created by JD Doctolero, with the notes.  Click on HaikuDeck icon to view at the site for the notes to be viewable. In this blog post, you can only see part of the presentation. The way HaikuDeck works is that if you want someone to see the notes, the deck needs to be viewed live right at the site.
Created with Haiku Deck, the free presentation app for iPad


This deck, created by Susan Spellman Cann, is an excellent example of HaikuDeck's visual power.

Created with Haiku Deck, the free presentation app for iPad

Here's one by Sam Patterson, a California high school educator, which I caught on his blog, Be the Distraction. He also maintains another blog, The Paperless Classroom. In fact, he recently on April 13 posted "Why Teachers Should Blog."


Created with Haiku Deck, the free presentation app for iPad

Educators using HaikuDeck boast about its focus on the visual and the fact that images have a Creative Commons license "free to use."

What do you see as the potential of using HaikuDeck in your professional work or in the classroom? Even if you don't have an iPad, keep in mind you can visit the site and find Decks to use, as I have in this post. How might HaikuDeck offer some advantages that other presentation tools such as PowerPoint or Prezi don't offer?

50 Educational Tools Every Teacher Should Know About

Lists like this one proliferate, and you wonder how you could every know all the digital tools recommended on these lists. Thought I would share this one, though, because the recommendations are diverse and solid, and they come from a well-respected source in the field of education: Edudemic. If you don't have Edudemic in your RSS feed or are not following the site on Twitter, you should figure out some way to follow all the wonderful leads provided.

Here is the link to Edudemics' post, "50 Educational Tools Every Teacher Should Know About." The link has been tweeted out approximately 2,500 times, so obviously others also find the list valuable.

cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo shared by ScratchEdTeam

After going through the list, let us know which tools on the list you use regularly, which you use occasionally, which you would like to try out, and which you believe should be omitted from the list.

Looking for an Easy to Use Web 2.0 Tool to Motivate Students

Take a look at Voki, a program that let's you customize an avatar and then make it speak by either recording your own voice or typing in text and allowing one of the built-in voices in the program to speak your words. The program has all kinds of applications, and it's enjoyed by both students and teachers alike. In fact, you need not be a student or teacher to use the program. Anyone with a message to convey can put words to action by using this avatar program.

Vokis can be embedded in blog posts and websites and shared via email and in many other ways. Recently, I read a blog post, "Have You Used Voki with Your Students Yet?" The answer for me is yes: I have used it in a variety of ways including posting one right here in this blog's sidebar encouraging visitors to post a comment.

So if you're looking for an easy-to-use, entertaining Web 2.0 tool that can serve multiple purposes, be sure to check out Voki.

Here is a another quick I just published.

Are You Integrating Technology or Merely Using It?

In my exploration today, I came across this table contrasting technology use and technology integration. Thought I would share it with you for your review and comments. I found it on the TeachBytes blog, and the title "What's The Difference Between Using Technology and Integrating Technology" caught my eye.
What strikes you as a theme? What do you agree with? What do you disagree with?

Excellent Model of How One Connecticut School System is Using Tech

If a picture could talk, this one will give you an idea of what is ticking in one local school system in Connecticut. To find out more, visit the website by clicking on the image below. Explore around the site and blog postings, and come back here to leave a comment about your reaction to what you found and insights you developed.

Interestingly, the most recent post is about the use of Twitter. If you check the site after new posts appear, here is a direct link to the Twitter posting. Just wondering why more of are not using Twitter. Let me know. Click on the image if you need to get directly to the post if it does not show up as the first post when you visit the Regional District 13 site.

No sooner did I post this and return to Twitter to let Michelle know I directed you to her site, another Connecticut person I follow on Twitter popped up with a link to her website, so here is another model for you to explore. Click on the link to find out more, and also notice again how the teacher is using Twitter in her post about that. Click on the image to visit Mrs. Petroski's Class site. 

http://mrspetroski.weebly.com/

So now that you have explored sites by two local educators and seen how they are using both Weebly and Twitter, what's your response to the use of these tools? How do you think the student and parent audiences are being affected by these sites.

Michelle, author of the first website I directed you, has invited you to write comments on any of her posts. She will share what you write with the students. Thanks. 

Neat Tool for Creating Timelines with Maps and Images

MyHistro.com is a site I discovered some time ago and signed up for and forgot about. However, emails popped up with links to look at some of the model timelines others created at the site and I discovered I could embed these interactive timelines into a blog posts, so here are some examples to show you what can be produced with the site. Use the next arrow to navigate through the timelines. You can also use the option to view the story with full functionality at the MyHistro.com by clicking on the link below each story.

The Beatles:


The Renaissance: 




A Young Girl's Story of Hope

Stephen King:
Here is an



Now that you have seen these examples, what's your take on how this tool MyHistro.com can be used in the classroom?