We all run out to check out the newest gadgets and check out the newest applications via web. Sometimes, like a great book that everyone swoons over, it may take time before you decide to actually read, buy, or try the newest release or a new application. Skype was the newest application that had a lot of hype for me, and I have been trying to figure out how to incorporate it into my classes for collaboration purposes. I think my aversion to using Skype has passed now that I know how easily and wonderfully an event can be shared for free that allows access to loved ones that are miles away.
Today for the first time, I tried Skype. I've had an account for awhile, but I really didn't have a reason to use it. However, I recently returned from a Disney trip with my sister, brother-in-law, and two nieces. I had promised to buy my 4 year-old niece a Disney Castle with characters. Since my 13 year-old-niece made the President's Honor roll, her parents decided to buy her an ipad. I know...you'd like them to adopt you. Meeeeeeeeeee toooooooooooo! I didn't want to miss the unveiling of the presents, so a Skype date was set up. (My sister's idea)
Anyway, I signed into my account. I checked my speakers, microphone, and web cam and then accepted the invitation from my brother-in-law and like magic...POOF!... I was in their living room. Excitement filled the air as the girls each had their presents in front of them. My four-year-old niece opened her present first, and she jumped, twirled, and yelled with excitement. Picture it...is there anything cuter than a child jumping for excitement and joy when they receive something that they really wanted. Well, I thought I got a show from the four-year-old, but when my 13 year-old-niece opened her ipad...screaming, arms thrown up in the air and crawling on the floor occurred. You would have thought the Jonas brothers had arrived at her house for a private concert.
I had the opportunity to be part of a wonderful family moment that I would never have been able to experience so easily and quickly with the feeling of really being there. I mean live video stream is worth a million words. Skype is no hype and it is free. You have to try it, to love it! Our skype meeting lasted 48 minutes and didn't cost a cent. Wow! I need to contact a professional, an expert, another classroom, or an author to impact student learning with Skype.
If you want to try Skype, visit http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/home and set up an account. Find a friend, expert, family member and experience free internet calls, video stream, and chat. Happy memories! If you are a teacher, dream big and engage your students in the 21st century learning. Think about it...they are exploring the Internet and Web 2.0 tools on their own and you may think they know how to use these powerful learning tools, but a guide on the side may assist them in doing it safely and help them self direct their learning.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Living the Dream
Today - living the dream of assisting students using Windows Live accounts to gather and share all information and pictures needed for a power point presentation in a private group folder. I love Google Apps, but today's choice was Windows Live.
Student's were finishing up a project and needed a definition for a word in the presentation. One student went to Google and another said "use dictionary.com". Dictionary.com is a decent choice, but when time is of the essence and if you are already in Google then just type:
def:"and the word goes here". You get a quick, accurate, and reasonable definition. Don't forget to cite your information, and you're set.
Student's were finishing up a project and needed a definition for a word in the presentation. One student went to Google and another said "use dictionary.com". Dictionary.com is a decent choice, but when time is of the essence and if you are already in Google then just type:
def:"and the word goes here". You get a quick, accurate, and reasonable definition. Don't forget to cite your information, and you're set.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
NETS-T For Teachers In Wordle
Wordle defined by wikipedia is A tag cloud or word cloud (or weighted list in visual design) is a visual depiction of user-generated tags, or simply the word content of a site ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wordle
I pasted the ISTE NETS for Teachers into Wordle and it generated this image. The larger the word indicates how frequently it was used in document.
You can have students paste written assignments into Wordle to identify key ideas, frequency of use, identify main idea, etc.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Blogging In the Classroom
July 2009, I had the pleasure of attending the Technology In Education Conference at Copper Mountain where I listened to a keynote speech by Dr. Tim Tyson. I was motivated by his speech.
Many of us in the District are new to the blogosphere, and I wanted to share a few ideas he puts in his blog. One idea that I liked was his "Teacher in the Spotlight". In his spotlight on Mrs. Gayla Cockrell, third grade teacher, she talks about how she uses her classroom blog. I enjoyed looking at her blog, and her enthusiasm in her spotlight interview. Thus, I wanted to share how she stated she uses the blog with her kids.
In addition to the obvious uses (communicating upcoming dates and events, reminders, project due dates, test dates, etc.), I have found several ways to use our class blog to get the parents and students interested in it.
Some of my(Mrs. Cockrell's) favorites:
Many of us in the District are new to the blogosphere, and I wanted to share a few ideas he puts in his blog. One idea that I liked was his "Teacher in the Spotlight". In his spotlight on Mrs. Gayla Cockrell, third grade teacher, she talks about how she uses her classroom blog. I enjoyed looking at her blog, and her enthusiasm in her spotlight interview. Thus, I wanted to share how she stated she uses the blog with her kids.
In addition to the obvious uses (communicating upcoming dates and events, reminders, project due dates, test dates, etc.), I have found several ways to use our class blog to get the parents and students interested in it.
Some of my(Mrs. Cockrell's) favorites:
- Posting videos of class performances (readers' theater, presentations, etc.) so parents can watch them at home (even students have told me they watch themselves many times!)
- Polling students and/or parents about a specific question
- Homework assignments (Usually to read an article and then answer a question in the comments section of the blog entry--I want to keep assignments short & simple for my 3rd graders so they don't get discouraged)
- Posting a game where students can actually practice their multiplication facts ON my blog without going to another website—check it out!
- Posting links to websites for specific holidays or topics
- Recording videos of “how-to” step-by-step directions on my Smartboard and uploading them to the blog so parents and students can view the directions at home. (Obviously not everyone has a Smartboard, but you can also find videos on You Tube or Teacher Tube and do this same thing.)
- I know there are many more ways to use the blog, and I plan to incorporate it a lot more during the upcoming school year, but I didn’t even start my blog until April this past year! There are so many possibilities. (Information taken from the blog Pratical, Practical by Dr. Tim Tyson)
Personally, I like the music player on her blog. A few calming songs that can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom. As a parent, I would love the opportunity to connect with my child's teacher and classroom.
If you are interested in creating a blog, wiki, ning, YouTube, polling, or any other idea, leave a comment or email me via District mail or call the high school.
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