Technology is a tool some teachers fear. The mere sight of a computer in their classroom may be enough to haunt them at night... but why are some teachers adamant about using something that can make our jobs easier?!
With the growing demands on educators (see Common Core, PARCC, teacher evaluation, etc.), we need something in the classroom that can allow us to prepare our students for the 21st century, while still meeting the needs of a changing system that revolves around data collection.
Below, find resources I have compiled about three tools I use regularly in my classroom for data collection, Edmodo, Google Forms, and No Red Ink.
Edmodo
* The Edmodo Teacher's Guide: A very detailed PDF on Edmodo basics
* Edmodo Quizzes- Tips and Tricks: Includes pictures, annotations, and helpful tips
* Edmodo Quizzes: The benefits of using Edmodo quizzes and more annotated pictures
Google Forms
* Google Forms Templates: Templates divided by category for all teachers
* Public Templates on Google Drive: Google-compiled search results for teachers
* 10 Great Free Google Forms Every Teacher Should Be Using: Speaks for itself!
NoRedInk
* Using NoRedInk for Students: PDF guide with annotated pictures
* English Teacher Rethinks Grammar Lessons... with an App: Mashable article on the site!
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Friday, June 28, 2013
Creating Videos
Videos in the classroom can be a powerful tool for engaging learners of all ages. Not only can its use increase student motivation, but it can also aid in the development of 21st century skills.
Being an English teacher, I view my role differently than some. I see myself as a teacher of literacy, and being a literate individual today means being able to produce and interpret more than written text. A literate individual in the 21st century needs to be able to read media and interpret its message. Using video in my classroom provides me with an opportunity to teach these skills.
Though there are a plethora of websites with videos cached for any concept one can imagine, sometimes it's nice to have your own stuff, in your own words, with your own voice. And if you're thinking that, you need to make your own video!
Yes, there are some online tools that are more user-friendly, knowing the basics of your computer's movie editor is a must! Below, you will find two extremely helpful tutorials on getting started with Windows Movie Maker and iMovie!
Tutorial for iMovie
Being an English teacher, I view my role differently than some. I see myself as a teacher of literacy, and being a literate individual today means being able to produce and interpret more than written text. A literate individual in the 21st century needs to be able to read media and interpret its message. Using video in my classroom provides me with an opportunity to teach these skills.
Yes, there are some online tools that are more user-friendly, knowing the basics of your computer's movie editor is a must! Below, you will find two extremely helpful tutorials on getting started with Windows Movie Maker and iMovie!
Tutorial for iMovie
Tutorial for Windows Live Movie Maker
Voicethread in the Classroom
Over the past five years of teaching, Voicethread has been a tool that has helped develop my classroom community. By using Voicethread, a site that allows users to have multimedia conversations, students have increased their understanding of technology, become more fluent public speakers, and developed friendships all based on every English teacher's dream... books!
When using Voicethread, I set my students up with "identities". I did not opt to assign each student a log-in; instead, they all use one log-in with multiple users (or as VT calls them identities!). Once logged in, students can upload images, documents, or video files to their own Thread.
Think of a thread as a PowerPoint slide with no animation. It serves as a talking point. Just like a PowerPoint slide is not the presentation, it is a guide for the speaker and audience alike, in Voicethread the real conversation takes place around the image, document, or video. Literally!
While logged into their individual identities, students leave comments either narrating the file on the Thread, posing a question, or leaving feedback for another classmate. The comments circle the thread, leading to a conversation about the issue at hand (see below!)
When using Voicethread, I set my students up with "identities". I did not opt to assign each student a log-in; instead, they all use one log-in with multiple users (or as VT calls them identities!). Once logged in, students can upload images, documents, or video files to their own Thread.
Think of a thread as a PowerPoint slide with no animation. It serves as a talking point. Just like a PowerPoint slide is not the presentation, it is a guide for the speaker and audience alike, in Voicethread the real conversation takes place around the image, document, or video. Literally!
While logged into their individual identities, students leave comments either narrating the file on the Thread, posing a question, or leaving feedback for another classmate. The comments circle the thread, leading to a conversation about the issue at hand (see below!)
In my classroom, Voicethread is a place for students to upload book reviews. Other students watch the reviews and leave comments to their peers. In other classes, I have seen it used as a place for retelling stories, summarizing major plot events, or even sharing strong student work as a model!
Below are a few great resources for those of you interested in using Voicethread in the classroom!
For sample Voicethreads from real students, see here!
For a great teacher resource on using VT, click here!
For 100 Ways to use VT, check out Free Technology for Teachers!
Interested in getting started? Great PDF here!
Monday, October 1, 2012
Utilizing Blogging for Weekly Journals
As an English teacher, I know and appreciate the importance of writing and writing often. And like other LA educators, I have my students respond to weekly prompts that connect to ideas or assess the skill discussed in class that week.
In the past, I have used the old-fashioned pen and paper notebooks to accomplish this task, but this year, I am trying something new.
This year, each of my students is going to keep their own blog for their weekly responses. Every week, I will pose a question to the class on Tuesday and the students will have until Friday night to answer the question.
Once I have all of the blogs, I put students into Blog Buddy groups of approximately 4-6 students. I scatter students from all of my classes into heterogeneous groups that will change each marking period. Every weekend, the students have until that Monday night to read and comment on the blog posts of their Blog Buddies.
So far, the students love it! They have been busy creating their webpages, designing them to reflect their personalities... and honestly, I don't think I'm going back!
The students are excited because they now have an audience to read their work! A purpose to do their best! Before, I was the only one giving the students feedback about their writing, but now, it's different and I can tell by their writing!
The students are excited to write, read, and BLOG!
I highly recommend using this!
Want to try blogging in your classroom?
Try these sites below!
Blogger
Edublogs
Word Press
*Note: I use Blogger in my classroom because it connects with the Google account the students are required to have!
In the past, I have used the old-fashioned pen and paper notebooks to accomplish this task, but this year, I am trying something new.
This year, each of my students is going to keep their own blog for their weekly responses. Every week, I will pose a question to the class on Tuesday and the students will have until Friday night to answer the question.
So far, the students love it! They have been busy creating their webpages, designing them to reflect their personalities... and honestly, I don't think I'm going back!
The students are excited because they now have an audience to read their work! A purpose to do their best! Before, I was the only one giving the students feedback about their writing, but now, it's different and I can tell by their writing!
The students are excited to write, read, and BLOG!
I highly recommend using this!
Want to try blogging in your classroom?
Try these sites below!
Blogger
Edublogs
Word Press
*Note: I use Blogger in my classroom because it connects with the Google account the students are required to have!
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Before Using the Tech...
I know when I get back to school, especially after events like TeachMeet and EdCamp that I attend over the summer, I want to use tech!!!! After waiting for so long and brainstorming so many ideas, I just want to get the kids on the computer.
But the truth is... they're not ready yet.
Think about the first few days of school. Regardless what grade we teach, we start the first week of school walking through our class expectations, basic rules, and practicing procedures and routines. Even with my middle school students who have been in school for years, I start with the basics. I review how to enter the classroom, how I want them seated, where I want their books, I even show them my expectations for discussions!
Using technology in class is no different! The kids need to be trained on your routines, procedures, and expectations for their behavior and work produced.
Before my students use the computers or any type of technology in the classroom, I have a few things I review.
But the truth is... they're not ready yet.
Think about the first few days of school. Regardless what grade we teach, we start the first week of school walking through our class expectations, basic rules, and practicing procedures and routines. Even with my middle school students who have been in school for years, I start with the basics. I review how to enter the classroom, how I want them seated, where I want their books, I even show them my expectations for discussions!
Using technology in class is no different! The kids need to be trained on your routines, procedures, and expectations for their behavior and work produced.
Before my students use the computers or any type of technology in the classroom, I have a few things I review.
- What computer/device to get: Unless you have a BYOD program at your school, you probably use a laptop cart. Make sure students are assigned a number for a device. This way students will know which computer to get every time they work with tech, and you can monitor the devices!
- How they will be getting the computers: My laptops are in a cart in the back of my classroom. I can't just have my 7th graders run to the back of the classroom to get them... it would be madness! The kids know they are called over by groups. They wait until I give them the signal.
- How to put the computers away: Believe it or not, some students don't know what to do when they're done using a computer! Show the students how to hibernate, sleep, or shut down the computer. Show them how to plug-in the computer using the appropriate wire, which way you want the computers facing. Take this seriously so it's done well!
And MOST IMPORTANTLY... Netiquette
Netiquette is proper etiquette online. The lessons you teach about this can be some of the most powerful you will teach all year!
Explicitly tell students what type of writing is expected, how they are expected to post or comment to each other, and how they are to write an email to their teachers! These are little things, but they must be Taught! Modeled! Discussed!
There are some great videos that explain this on Youtube if you're stuck or you can see what I use with my students on my Techy Tuesday blog!
What are some other things you teach students before using tech in the classroom???
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
An Idea for Welcoming Students Back to School!
I've been doing a lot of thinking about how I'm going to welcome to students back to school.
At TeachMeet NJ, I was introduced to PowToon, an online movie-making/presentation tool that uses fun animation, images, and templates to convey information. Yes, this is currently in Beta mode, and you need to apply to get access to the site, I honestly think I waited less than an hour for log-in information!
Once I logged onto the site, I found it very easy to navigate. It prompted me with, "Presentation or Movie", then gave me different templates to choose from to get started.
I selected a Mission template! I think the students will like it!
Then, I literally went through and filled in the blanks. They had a pre-made movie and I just changed the text and the images to fit my class. The only issue was the timing. If a sentence I typed was longer than the one prior, it messed up the animation and I needed to fix it.
But it was easy! There is a timeline on the bottom of the screen and users can scroll through each second of the movie clip making edits as needed.
Overall, it took me about 20-30 minutes to make the video, but at the end of the day, I like the video, I like PowToon, and I definitely will be using it again!
I want to incorporate technology, but I don't want to overwhelm them.
I want to do something fun, but I don't want them to think my class is a breeze.
Decisions, decisions!
Finally, I decided to use video to set the tone of my class on the first day... but which program do I use?!
At TeachMeet NJ, I was introduced to PowToon, an online movie-making/presentation tool that uses fun animation, images, and templates to convey information. Yes, this is currently in Beta mode, and you need to apply to get access to the site, I honestly think I waited less than an hour for log-in information!Once I logged onto the site, I found it very easy to navigate. It prompted me with, "Presentation or Movie", then gave me different templates to choose from to get started.
I selected a Mission template! I think the students will like it!
Then, I literally went through and filled in the blanks. They had a pre-made movie and I just changed the text and the images to fit my class. The only issue was the timing. If a sentence I typed was longer than the one prior, it messed up the animation and I needed to fix it.
But it was easy! There is a timeline on the bottom of the screen and users can scroll through each second of the movie clip making edits as needed.
Overall, it took me about 20-30 minutes to make the video, but at the end of the day, I like the video, I like PowToon, and I definitely will be using it again!
Friday, August 24, 2012
Preparing for September: Creating a Home Base
I hope I'm not alone when I say this.
My Back to School nightmares have begun!!!!!! As usual they consist of children swinging from unswingable lights, boisterous students insisting on sharpening their pencils mid-lesson, and worst of all, soda spilling on my iPad! Say it ain't so!
To relieve my Back to School worries, I like to nest like an expecting mother. I go to the place I'll be spending the most time this year. A place I like to call Home Base.
Similar to baseball players who routinely head to home plate at the start of their turn, students need a place to routinely head at the start of class. And for my students, that place is Wikispaces.
For those of my readers that are unfamiliar with wikis, please watch the video below!
In my class, our wiki is key! The wiki allows students to be co-contributors to the site; they create as we create! The students can post helpful links, share ideas, comment on each other's work, and also show off what they've been working on in class!
Whether it be embedding a Glog, a podcast, or simply a text-based story, Wikispaces is the container for all things Ms. Spiezio English. Hence, it is the first thing I create for the new school year.
In September, the wiki is pretty blank. (See my latest wiki here!) But by the end of the year, it is OVERFLOWING with student work!!! (See last year's site!)
So, before starting the school year, decide for yourself.... what platform will be your HOME BASE?
More Suggestions for Home Base!
PB Wiki (Another wiki platform!)
Blogger
Edublogs
Edmodo
Schoology
My Back to School nightmares have begun!!!!!! As usual they consist of children swinging from unswingable lights, boisterous students insisting on sharpening their pencils mid-lesson, and worst of all, soda spilling on my iPad! Say it ain't so!
To relieve my Back to School worries, I like to nest like an expecting mother. I go to the place I'll be spending the most time this year. A place I like to call Home Base.
Similar to baseball players who routinely head to home plate at the start of their turn, students need a place to routinely head at the start of class. And for my students, that place is Wikispaces.
For those of my readers that are unfamiliar with wikis, please watch the video below!
In my class, our wiki is key! The wiki allows students to be co-contributors to the site; they create as we create! The students can post helpful links, share ideas, comment on each other's work, and also show off what they've been working on in class!
Whether it be embedding a Glog, a podcast, or simply a text-based story, Wikispaces is the container for all things Ms. Spiezio English. Hence, it is the first thing I create for the new school year.
In September, the wiki is pretty blank. (See my latest wiki here!) But by the end of the year, it is OVERFLOWING with student work!!! (See last year's site!)
So, before starting the school year, decide for yourself.... what platform will be your HOME BASE?
More Suggestions for Home Base!
PB Wiki (Another wiki platform!)
Blogger
Edublogs
Edmodo
Schoology
WIKIS IN PLAIN ENGLISH!
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