Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Thing #7b
I subscribe to Free Technology for Teachers on my Google Reader. There was an interesting article about Nook Study. I found out about a very neat and FREE resource called Nook Study. It is a free tool from Barnes and Noble. It gives free access to over 500,000 ebooks that students can highlight and annotate from using Nook Study. They can even bookmark certain pages. It looks like a fantastic tool for students. It is coming soon -- I am looking forward to checking that one out! I wonder if it will have all the books that I need for future classes that I might take ... I will check to see!
Thing #21
WOW! There are so many Google Tools -- probably my favorite part so far. It is amazing what it all has to offer.
Google Sketch up is a great feature -- I can really see students using this tool in Math class. They could make a prism with specific dimensions and really see it in action and they could also change the dimensions as they go. Very neat feature! They could also create a model of the figure and then find the solution if the actual object was __ feet long. Using proportions in real life!
Google Earth is also great for measurement. Students can use scale and distances in Math class. They could locate the pyramids in Eqypt, and find the perimeter of the base and the surface area too. They could also determine the distance between two cities and predict/estimate the number of miles between two other cities. I see a future project coming on!
Google Calendar is a great tool. I find myself so busy -- no one can keep up with me. The Google Calendar would be a great way to do that! Teachers can see when I am coming to their schools, when I am in meetings, classes, etc. How great! My family can also keep track of me too! Here is a sample of my calendar.
We have already had the pleasure of experiencing You Tube and Blogger, which are also tools listed. Google Tools has a LOT to offer! I could spend hours experimenting and see what all it can do!
I thought that the Books feature was neat to search for full texts ... interesting! Also the Picasa could be another way to save and share photos -- kind of like Flickr. I have a digital camera -- I just need to carry it with me more often to take pictures and then share those images!
I enjoyed looking at the many Google Tools. I need to explore more and see what else is out there! Thanks for another FREE teacher resource!!! =)
Google Sketch up is a great feature -- I can really see students using this tool in Math class. They could make a prism with specific dimensions and really see it in action and they could also change the dimensions as they go. Very neat feature! They could also create a model of the figure and then find the solution if the actual object was __ feet long. Using proportions in real life!
Google Earth is also great for measurement. Students can use scale and distances in Math class. They could locate the pyramids in Eqypt, and find the perimeter of the base and the surface area too. They could also determine the distance between two cities and predict/estimate the number of miles between two other cities. I see a future project coming on!
Google Calendar is a great tool. I find myself so busy -- no one can keep up with me. The Google Calendar would be a great way to do that! Teachers can see when I am coming to their schools, when I am in meetings, classes, etc. How great! My family can also keep track of me too! Here is a sample of my calendar.
We have already had the pleasure of experiencing You Tube and Blogger, which are also tools listed. Google Tools has a LOT to offer! I could spend hours experimenting and see what all it can do!
I thought that the Books feature was neat to search for full texts ... interesting! Also the Picasa could be another way to save and share photos -- kind of like Flickr. I have a digital camera -- I just need to carry it with me more often to take pictures and then share those images!
I enjoyed looking at the many Google Tools. I need to explore more and see what else is out there! Thanks for another FREE teacher resource!!! =)
Thing #20
Google Docs is a great FREE teacher resource. I had a great time creating a 'Field Trip News' page in Google Docs. I really want to use this as we plan every third Saturday to feed the homeless. We go each month and we all plan the menu and take turns bringing the main dish, vegetable, fruit, bread, and dessert. It would be great to use a Google Docs for all the members of the group to edit the doc and add to it, creating the list of 'who brings what'. Talk about collaborative! That would be great!
The Google Forms is a great tool to get information quickly from teachers or friends. If you wanted to find out information about your teachers, you could easily make a Google Form with campus, grade level, years of experience, room number, extension, etc. You could also find out their favorite Sonic drink to surprise them after a busy day!
I also enjoyed the Google Spreadsheet -- what a great asset! You can make games on the Spreadsheet for students to use - or even a quiz! It could actually grade it for you too! That might be a neat thing to incorporate in a teacher's busy schedule -- a computer-graded game or quiz! It might take some effort, but I am sure it could be done ... Soliciting a technology facilitator for some help might just do the trick!
The Google Forms is a great tool to get information quickly from teachers or friends. If you wanted to find out information about your teachers, you could easily make a Google Form with campus, grade level, years of experience, room number, extension, etc. You could also find out their favorite Sonic drink to surprise them after a busy day!
I also enjoyed the Google Spreadsheet -- what a great asset! You can make games on the Spreadsheet for students to use - or even a quiz! It could actually grade it for you too! That might be a neat thing to incorporate in a teacher's busy schedule -- a computer-graded game or quiz! It might take some effort, but I am sure it could be done ... Soliciting a technology facilitator for some help might just do the trick!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Thing #19
Voicethread is a very useful tool. I searched various postings and found quite a few that I found beneficial. I searched 'integers' and found a Voicethread using a number line and one using manipulatives. This concept is developed in 7th grade math, so these would be great to show students in class. What would be even more powerful -- the students create their own Voicethread about a certain topic and upload it. They can share these with each other! What a great way to study and review topics! When a student teaches a concept, they will learn it even better themselves! What a great tool! WOW! Another free technology resource!
I found a Voicethread of someone describing how to add integers using a number line. This would be great to use with students! That way, they see the number line in action!
http://voicethread.com/share/99851/
I found another Voicethread of a student describing how to add and subtract integers using the two-color tiles. I think this would be very useful to use with students. Some students struggle with the use of manipulatives. This Voicethread could really help! I think students would get the most out of this one if they had the two-color tiles to use on their desks too.
http://voicethread.com/share/156253/
I found a Voicethread of someone describing how to add integers using a number line. This would be great to use with students! That way, they see the number line in action!
http://voicethread.com/share/99851/
I found another Voicethread of a student describing how to add and subtract integers using the two-color tiles. I think this would be very useful to use with students. Some students struggle with the use of manipulatives. This Voicethread could really help! I think students would get the most out of this one if they had the two-color tiles to use on their desks too.
http://voicethread.com/share/156253/
Thing #18
You Tube and Teacher Tube have great resources for teachers. I was able to find many resources and did lose track of time ... =) It was worth it, though. I was thinking about uploading videos of showing students and teachers how to use various math manipulatives while teaching concepts. Many people have already starting doing this -- I think it is fantastic! I can utilize videos already created and add some too!
I found a video of an 8-year old modeling Hands on Equations. First of all, he is adorable and very smart! Second of all, it is a great teaching tool. It can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBf25kNs0tA
He did a great job showing the audience how to solve for 'x'. He even checks his work -- fabulous! I think math sounds so much better when it comes from kids -- don't you?
I also found a video on TeacherTube that is about Integers Claymation. It is too cute! It shows the integer rules using claymation. I can see a group of students creating a similar video -- imagine how much these students are remembering their integer rules!
I have two dogs of my own, so I searched for a dog doing tricks. This was a fun video with a dog doing an amazing trick. How cute! He was so patient as he waited to eat the treat.
As a floral designer, I can appreciate a 'how-to' video on making arrangements and bouquets. A 'how-to' video on How to Make a Bouquet for the Bride was very informative. I have made MANY of these! =) She did a great job in her descriptions. I would like to see her 'french-knot' that bouquet ribbon -- that would have been beautiful!
Teacher Tube and You Tube offer many videos that could be beneficial in the classroom and educational setting. I could even see creating some to upload about modeling base-ten blocks, pentominoes, linking cubes, two-color counters, pattern blocks, etc. The possibilities are endless!
I found a video of an 8-year old modeling Hands on Equations. First of all, he is adorable and very smart! Second of all, it is a great teaching tool. It can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBf25kNs0tA
He did a great job showing the audience how to solve for 'x'. He even checks his work -- fabulous! I think math sounds so much better when it comes from kids -- don't you?
I also found a video on TeacherTube that is about Integers Claymation. It is too cute! It shows the integer rules using claymation. I can see a group of students creating a similar video -- imagine how much these students are remembering their integer rules!
I have two dogs of my own, so I searched for a dog doing tricks. This was a fun video with a dog doing an amazing trick. How cute! He was so patient as he waited to eat the treat.
As a floral designer, I can appreciate a 'how-to' video on making arrangements and bouquets. A 'how-to' video on How to Make a Bouquet for the Bride was very informative. I have made MANY of these! =) She did a great job in her descriptions. I would like to see her 'french-knot' that bouquet ribbon -- that would have been beautiful!
Teacher Tube and You Tube offer many videos that could be beneficial in the classroom and educational setting. I could even see creating some to upload about modeling base-ten blocks, pentominoes, linking cubes, two-color counters, pattern blocks, etc. The possibilities are endless!
Thing #17
Podcasting is a great tool for educators. Imagine the engagement of students when the teacher says, "Get out your iPods ..." How fun! I previewed the Merriam-Webster online 'Word of the Day'. Today's word is 'ponderous' meaning 'of very great weight'. I think this would be a great way to incorporate vocabulary -- one word at a time! Teachers could even utilize the SAT word list in the same way and have students create their own 'SAT word of the day podcasts'. How cute! The vocabulary those students would be exposed to would be beneficial and hopefully retained.
I decided to subscribe to 'mathgrad' through iTunes. I listened to a podcast about 'Scale, Size, and 100-foot Insects'. It was about 10 minutes and it was long! Luckily I enjoy the content, but I can see where visuals are the key. He kind of lost me along the way -- I am a visual learner! Now I know why math is best taught with visuals! =) That is one of the downsides with some podcasts -- they are just audio -- no visual. Something to think about ... I could see a teacher assigning a podcast to listen to and have students write a reflection on their blog or wiki about what they learned.
After that long math podcast, I subscribed to 60-Second Science. Now that is what I am talking about! Quick, informational, interesting, and easy! I put that one on my Google Reader. It has various topics and a new one for each weekday. I am looking forward to what I learn through this one! Did you know that a later school start time could lead to better students? Check out the podcast about it.
Podcasting is a great educational tool. Now I just need some class sets of iPods ... =) Interestingly enough, I bet many of our students already have one -- we can utilize theirs! I think it would be great to start my own podcast. Just imagine -- my tips and ideas on a podcast for other teachers to hear -- I wonder if anyone would subscribe .... =)
I decided to subscribe to 'mathgrad' through iTunes. I listened to a podcast about 'Scale, Size, and 100-foot Insects'. It was about 10 minutes and it was long! Luckily I enjoy the content, but I can see where visuals are the key. He kind of lost me along the way -- I am a visual learner! Now I know why math is best taught with visuals! =) That is one of the downsides with some podcasts -- they are just audio -- no visual. Something to think about ... I could see a teacher assigning a podcast to listen to and have students write a reflection on their blog or wiki about what they learned.
After that long math podcast, I subscribed to 60-Second Science. Now that is what I am talking about! Quick, informational, interesting, and easy! I put that one on my Google Reader. It has various topics and a new one for each weekday. I am looking forward to what I learn through this one! Did you know that a later school start time could lead to better students? Check out the podcast about it.
Podcasting is a great educational tool. Now I just need some class sets of iPods ... =) Interestingly enough, I bet many of our students already have one -- we can utilize theirs! I think it would be great to start my own podcast. Just imagine -- my tips and ideas on a podcast for other teachers to hear -- I wonder if anyone would subscribe .... =)
Thing #16
Library Thing is a neat website allowing you to catalog and tag your favorite books. I can see where this could be very useful. I searched the tag 'geometry' and found all of my favorite geometry books -- "Flatland", "Sir Cumference and the First Round Table", "The Greedy Triangle" and many more. I could use this to list my favorite books for other teachers to use. For example, if a teacher is about to teach radius, diameter, and circumference, they could take a look at Library Thing to search a 'tag' and find a book to help teach that concept. How neat! It also has many social aspects too -- discussions about books, recommendations, sharing book lists, etc. Personally, I could use this site to get new recommendations based on authors and genres that I already love. This is a great way to share some of your favorites and learn about some possible new favorites too!
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