11.5- Thing #11.5

1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey? My favorite find was Screencast-O-Matic. I've been wanting to find something this simple to use for my students and you found it for me. So excited.

2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals? Just like with the original 23 things, these 11.5 have definitely assisted me. I love using technology in the classroom. I am not the know-all, but I still wish others on my team felt the same way about technology as I do. The Library2Play just helps me find more ideas and tools I can use to be the best teacher I can be.

3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you? Screencast-O-Matic hands down. SO EXCITED about it.

4. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept? I love the set up the way it is. I like being able to work and explore at my own pace without having to sit through meetings.

11.5- Thing #11

I definitely agree and disagree with the various ideas about digital citizenship. Most of what I disagree with seems to come from people (not sure if they are all teachers) who are not being very realistic. How can we expect students to be digitally responsible if no one shows them. It doesn't matter whether students are using technology or hard copy resources. Expectations should be explained, modeled, and practiced both guided and independently. They must be shown that 1 resource is never enough, how to decide what is important information based on their assignment, how to compare the information as that will help them determine ranges or whether there is no way a fact they found could be true, to use their own words and not plagiarize, and to cite their sources. Kids, I don't care what age, will not know how to be responsible like this if the adults around them don't take the time to show them. This obviously means that we need to devote the time to show them. 1 lesson will not be enough. This is a continual process that will learn from and build on for the rest of their lives.

11.5- Thing #10

I joined a virtual world, named an avatar, learned to walk and sit and talk and then explored. I used one of the free sites: Frenzoo. I wasn't that into it. I'd rather talk with people in person. That's one of the reasons why I don't like to use the phone, but that's just me. I know my students have experience with virtual worlds because they have shown me in the classroom and they communicate with each other through the virtual world as well as in person because they will tell each other to go to a specific room or place in the world. I can see how it can be used education wise and how it might give some students a bit more confidence, but I am just not that excited about it. I don't plan on using this Thing in my room unless my students are really into it and then I will because of them.

11.5- Thing #9

I think Slideshare or another similar site is useful, but I don't know if I'd use the word important. This can allow for collaboration or just sharing of information. This will also help students share with others who may not have access to Power Point. Useful, allows for sharing and collaboration, but I still don't know whether this can be classified as important.

11.5- Thing #8

I really like using Screencast-O-Matic. I know my video is not the best, but I want to keep it on my blog so I remember how truly easy it was to use even without any prep. I didn't rehearse or play around with the site before I did this so I could really tell how easy it was to use and whether my students would have difficulty. There was some squeaking here and there, but I didn't use fancy equipment either. I just used my district laptop with its own internal microphone which is good since I won't have to worry about extra equipment for my students. I'm really excited. I had tried Jing before and didn't like how I had to download the software and my computer wouldn't let me, blah, blah, blah. I totally recommend Screencast-O-Matic!! I will be able to have my students do this to model technology skills, to evaluate web sites, have a screen shot of a poster or photo and have students present info., editing skills...I can't wait to use this in the classroom.

11.5- Thing #7

http://video.pbs.org/video/1108704964/
This video is about lonely animals which happen to be endangered. I will definitely be able to use this for earth day where I usually have students focus on endangered animals and what this means for our planet. (PBS- NOVA)


This video will go along with our study of ecosystems and adaptations found through Hulu- National Geographic. Students can then create a web sharing what they feel is most important.

Additional sources of videos that I use: still love Discovery Education (aka United Streaming).

11.5- Thing #6

iTouches/iPods are so easy to use. There are so many apps that are appropriate for students/the classroom that ARE free. I just went to a district tech session with an apple rep as the presenter. Unfortunately, I was completely bored during this 6 hr. workshop because I really did know how to do everything for this presentation. To make the day worth it, we received a handout with tons of apps for the different subject areas (all free too) AND I won an AWESOME door prize- a rockstar so now I can have 4-5 iPods connected and turn them into a listening center. Depending on your class or the time of year, you will need to download what you want on the iPods or provide certain choices and then let the group decide what to listen to (music, audiobook, podcast,...). If not every student has a device, partners or group work will do. Just like with literature circles in the classroom or experiments, every person in the group can have a specific duty: leader, recorder (voice or text), getter... You can even, depending on what the assignment is, switch devices and have groups build on what the previous group did on the device.

11.5- Thing #5

I think Facebook can be used if you create a group or another account specifically for school- not your personal account. This will allow for the class and parents to communicate in different ways and you can help control who can participate. As far as back channeling, I definitely see some pros to that. Here are some of my favorites from http://pistachioconsulting.com/twitter-presentations/

3. Audience members can get questions answered on the fly
In the past, you might have lent over to you neighbor and said “What did she mean by that?” or you remained confused. Now, audience members don’t have to wait to clarify things they don’t understand. They can tweet their question and another audience member will tweet back with the answer. Audience members who tuned out because they didn’t understand now stay engaged.
5. The audience can innovate
As your presentation sparks ideas, audience members can tweet them and build on each others’ thoughts
6. You don’t have to be physically present to participate
Not only can you watch a live videostream of the presentation, but you can also tweet or chat with the physically-present participants.
You’ll get immediate feedback
You can also use back channels to help make sure everyone participates in some way. You can go back and check who responded so that credit can be awarded. One major con: not having the technology available. I teach elementary so unless we have the laptop cart, the whole class would not be able to back channel during a lesson or discussion.

11.5- Thing #4

Some advantages of having teaching/learning videos available online at sites like these is that students AND their families can access them to see what's going on in the classroom as well as to make connections to what's going on in the classroom. Having student videos uploaded will let them feel more engaged and responsible for their learning and will help them look forward to what others are doing for the same assignment. Sites like this will also let the kids access videos anytime and they can save their favorite ones. We just need to make sure we educate the kids as to what is expected, how to stay safe online, what can/should they publish,...

11.5- thing #3

Skype definitely has some possibilities in the classroom depending on the time you have available to set up, model, and practice with students. I can see it used across the curriculum: chatting with authors (reading/writing), book chats with the librarian or other classes, mathematical discussions where groups solve the same problem but then discuss the different strategies used, interviews for social studies, sharing data or performing and sharing labs with other classes.

11.5- Thing #2

A student can use Wordle for so many things- it's quick, simple, and makes students have to focus on key points. Ideas that are more important have to be typed more times than less important ideas. I have used this for biographies and endangered animals for example.

Students and teachers can use animotos many ways as well. Teachers can use animotos to introduce a topic and get kids interested (they love the music). Students can create animotos to share what they have learned especially if timing is limited. Sending animotos is easy. I am having trouble embedding today. Go figure. Vokis are cool. I know my students will love this!! This will definitely change the way they write, send and read/hear emails. I embedded the small player, so make sure you click on the teeny tiny play arrow in the bottom left corner of the player.
Get a Voki now!

I liked Bookr. Simpler process than Photo Story and has more of a book feel. Bookr would be good for a quick book reflection. Like Wordle and animoto, students have to be more focused. You could also use this when older students work with musch younger ones. Older students could bring in the pictures and help the younger students tell the story by typing for them. the little ones could then send the "books" home. Chocolate by

11.5- Thing #1

I loved how the student received permission to mimic commoncraft. I love their short, simple, and funny videos! The video the student created was simple, yet very informative. I think the idea of "connectivism" is becoming more common. The teacher is a guide, a helper. I feel it allows for students to take more control of their learning. When students have more control of their learning, that fosters learning so that they will become adults who will continue their learning even though they are no longer in school. LIFELONG LEARNERS!!! Yes, librarians AND classroom teachers can be this guide, I unfortunately don't see classroom teachers being able to take this role on so easily due to testing pressures, TEKS, and other such restrictions, but hopefully that will change in the near future.