Capzles

Timelines are an important part of daily life. We use them for project planning, trips (iteneraries), and to record our history. For those reasons teaching timelines is extremely important-besides they are also "Tested" skills. Being a teacher and a librarian has me on the outlook for ways to help our students construct their learning. One of my favorite teachers has used a timeline program with her class the past few years but after an extreme amount of problems with the newest edition I set out to find a better tool, and I think I have found it in Capzles. Take a look:

Roll Cameras, "Action"

Our students are getting into movie making at a very early age. Yesterday, with the help of our new netBooks I had a group of 16 fifth graders giving up their recess to play producers. First we explored the ability of the our new netBooks to record video. That was a hoot to see since I allowed them to just play around and explore. Next I had them put on their headphones and microphones to record sound. Finally, we put the two pieces together. All of this was pretty remarkable since we only had twenty-five minutes from start to finish. All-in-all the students did a great job. The students are ready to form a club and start producing. Since I want them to gain needed skills they will be able to use in the classroom I'm planning a bit more structure to it all and have found Silvia Tolisano to be a great resource.

Books vs ebooks

There are many conversations among educators about the future of books in our schools. While I support the evolution of reading and the use of ebooks I question the idea that schools can or should get rid of traditional forms of books found in the library. Getting rid of stacks in our higher ed libraries to make room for coffee bars and common areas may be beneficial for high school students as they create their learning communities. However, I share a concern with other educators about our ablility to build the love of reading in our elementary children without paper books. There is just something special about cuddeling up with a good book while someone reads to you.

The video below does a great job of challenging traditional thinking. Let me know what you think about the subject.

Book Clubbing Without Walls

Picture This

Ok, I've tried over the past two years to lead students and teachers to paths other than Google for their pictures thinking it would be easier to follow copyright guidelines. We have explored and used Flickr and Creative Commons but alas Google wins out every time. When I ask a student, "Where did your teacher say to go for pictures?" the reply is, "Google". So I'm throwing in the towel! I'm giving up! I'm going Google! Yes, that's right, Google Images. It's not your mother's Google anymore. Already it has become second nature to the students to use the advanced search option and in particular usage rights. They are learning how to set the usage rights to labeled for use or labeled for use with modification. Then I slide in some training on how to give credit to the picture creator. With this new found method students are becoming responsible users of 2.0 tools. This is a big improvement over the frustration students had in finding the other sites,trying to figure out if they could use the pictures found, and not giving credit where credit was due in their work. Thanks Google.

Edmodo.com

I just had the greatest time working with a group of fantastic 3rd graders using a program called Edmodo. Think social network and you have the idea but with an educational twist. The teacher creates an account, names their group, and then has their students build accounts to join Edmodo. The neat thing is students do not need email accounts and you control who enters by having a group code to give to those you want to invite into the conversation.
Today's class was starting plant study and research so their objective after creating their login was to post a question they had about plants. Right away the student's post appear and the other students are able to respond with an answer or by posting additional questions.
Edmodo would be a great tool to use to engage students while watching a video or student presentations and allow everyone to become actively involved by back channelling.

Summit 09 Edmodo

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Place Spotting

Call me crazy and I'll have to agree, especially after taking on the monumental task of introducing all of my primary classes to our new Apple MacBooks using the website: Place Spotting. The objective of the lesson was to find the seven continents of the world using the quizes I made earlier. Once you are logged in it and working with a quiz it is a bit like Google Earth. Kids seem to love it and most take to it well. However, it does require that students have had some exposure to computers, using the mouse, arrows, and listening to directions. The help of classroom teachers is so appreciated especially when working with the youngest group since they range from the very timid or the over anxious "key pusher" who quickly put up their hands while yelling, "Mrs. R..." in what seems like a chorus.
Well, back to Place Spotting. I really enjoyed using it with the students and like I said most take to it well. It seems to be a good tool to use in teaching map skills, longitude, latitude, and general shapes of the continents and where they are located. Also, it would make a good pre-cursor to Google Earth and the many additional educational applications available with the use of that program. Here's the link: http://www.placespotting.com/myplaces.php and to see my page just login using the login of: tcelibrary and password: sbisd