Google Lit Trips

Google Lit Trips - Overview

Google Lit Trips

Google Lit Trips is a great way to expand a student's experience with literature. Several trips have already been created and accessible and you have the ability to make one of your own. Trips are available for K-5, 6-8, HS and higher ed. Some of the titles available are:

A Family Apart by Joan Lowery Nixon
Underground to Canada by Barbara Smucker
Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

TitanPad

Imagine google docs on steroids - that is what you get with TitanPad. TitanPad is a free web 2.0 application that is used to create collaborative digital documents. Google docs and TitanPad are different in that Titan occurs during real time. Each person that is logged onto the page (each page you create has a unique address) can write and edit at the same time. Each person has a designated color as well. A teacher can create separate pages for each group and the group can collaborate online. At any time, the teacher can choose the "timeslider" tool. This will generate a doc that has the time that each item was posted as sell a key that lets them know who said what so each student can be held accountable. Docs can also be exported into word so they can easily be printed out.

TitanPad

GeoGebra

A great math site that I just found would work well on your SMART board if you are teaching algebra or geometry. Lessons range from elementary to high school. Since some of the activities are java based they offer quick interactive lessons that will enhance your instruction. Of course the best part is .... it's free!

GeoGebra

Aegom - Science, Math and ELA lessons

Are you interested in free science, ELA or math lessons to use with your SMART interactive whiteboard? Check out these free evaluation lessons at Aegom. They do charge for a subscription, but you can try a few out for free.

Aegom

YouTube Channel

Did you know that Bradfield's has a youtube channel? I have posted several instructional videos this past month and will be adding more in the next few weeks. If you are looking for an easy convenient way to have professional development the videos will work well for you and your district. In the next few months I will also be hosting several Bridget sessions that will be an hour long and held in the late afternoon. I am in the beginning stages of planning these and eventbrite will be used for people to register. Email me suggestions on things that you would like to learn and I will include it in the topics. shawns@bradfields.com

http://www.youtube.com/bradfields61602

Yodio

Another way to use student's cell phone in an instructional manner is Yodio. Yodio is a free web service that can be used to create digital storybooks. Students can call into the Yodio phone number and record their message as well as send photos. Imagine how this can change a field trip. A chaperone can use their phone and students can take pictures of interesting things that they are learning about as they proceed through the day. They also leave messages with their comments. Back at school, they log into Yodio and use their recorded comments and photos to create a digital storybook. Another easy way to use the cell phone to create an educational experience.

Cell Phones in the Classroom?

Over 90% of schools have some type of rule about cell phone use by students during the school day. However, cell phones have the ability to help teachers teach more effectively if they are used correctly. I will be posting several things today that I learned while reading February's Educational Leadership. I encourage everyone to grab a copy and read it thoroughly. It is titled "Teaching Screenagers" and every article focuses on technology in our student's lives and ways that you can take advantage of their tech abilities in the classroom.

One of the articles about the use of cell phone's caught my attention. It is titled "Adventures with Cell Phones" and is written by Liz Kolb. Activities that were shared in the article, Poll Everywhere, using Google Voice for giving oral quizzes, Mobile Geotagging, creating digital storybooks using yodio as well as many others.

Poll Everywhere is having students use their cell phones to text a response anonymously to a question you post as they enter the room. The example that they cited was one in which a teacher asked students to give their opinion about the most important cause of the U.S. Civil War. Students text'd their responses to Poll Everywhere and the responses were quickly seen on the interactive whiteboard. Responses are anonymous and students can quickly look up and see what their peers are saying. The teacher continued using the web application having them text why they chose their answer. This is just one way that a cell phone can be used as an educational device. Poll Everywhere could also easily be used by a teacher who is conducting a training for adults or for staff meetings when a principal wants to quickly get the pulse of his staff.

Google Voice is one I definitely will look into further. You are able to set up a free local number for students to call with Google Voice that is associated with the teacher's phone number or voice mailbox. Students can leave recorded messages, assignments or test answers. One example that was cited was a Spanish teacher who sent a text message to her students letting them know that an oral exam was ready to take. The students called in the the Google Voice number and listened to her pre-recorded instructions and questions. They responded in Spanish with their answers. When the student hangs up, their quiz becomes an MP3 file in the teacher's private Google space. She can then call into Google Voice or log in online to hear the quizzes. The teacher can also text message from Google Voice to each student their individual evaluation. Because Google Voice archives voice mail and text message communications you will have a running record of the activities and progress. If the teacher chooses, they can also make the oral quiz into a podcast by uploading them to a podcasting service such as iTunes and requiring students to subscribe to the podcast.

Pretty cool right? Let me know if you use any of these and how it went.

Central IL - Moveable Feast

If you are looking for a great opportunity to hone your tech skills and be able to integrate technology more effectively in the classroom, Moveable Feast is for you.

For over ten years the University of Illinois has worked with the Feast and have helped over 10,000 participants enjoy low cost staff development with a 5:1 participant to trainer ratio. The trainers are teacher who use technology daily to provide meaningful instruction. The feast covers a variety of topics including SMART, Moodle, web development, RtI, podcasting, Office 2007, Windows 7, Google applications, Web 2.0 tools and much more.

Check out the website for more information. Registration begins on April 1st for this awesome week long tech experience. I have been a participant as well as a trainer and it is by far the best staff development that I have ever experienced. You also have the opportunity to earn graduate credits through the U of I. Moveable Feast

There are three weeks to choose from - don't delay your registration to insure your spot!

New Common Core Standards

If you haven't had a chance to check out the new Common Core State Standards that are going to be adopted in 40 states, you should. The English Language Arts appendix PDF files have examples of text and clear objectives that the student should be able to complete. This will be much easier to decipher for new teachers and create continuity among states. I look forward to familiarizing myself as we make the change.

Common Core State Standards

Calligraphy Pen

One of the nicest things about the new 800 series boards is the calligraphy pen. If you choose it from the toolbar, everything you write will appear as calligraphy. What most people don't realize is that you can have the use of a calligraphy pen with your 600 series board.

10.7 updates are now available for your SMART notebook and driver software. Once you update (and are attached to hardware) the calligraphy pen will available. It is a wonderful tool and definitely something that will benefit those that don't have the best handwriting. Try it out!