tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70798440893952296092024-03-05T01:48:00.208-05:00Middletown Web ChallengeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-7927815046012654852012-03-10T09:16:00.000-05:002012-03-10T09:16:11.644-05:00TED.comRegina and I will try to update the blog weekly with tools and websites that you might find helpful in your classroom. Of course, for the month of March, you can check out the <a href="http://middletowntech.tumblr.com/">Middletown Elementary Web Challenge</a> to see a variety of other tools that might work for you. Right now you can learn about <a href="http://www.youtube.com/teachers">YouTubeEDU</a>, which is YouTube's special site just for education.<br />
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The tool I wanted to highlight this week is TED.com</div>
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TED stands for <i>Technology, Entertainment, Design</i> and hosts a series of TED Talks in which people from a variety of industries give short talks related to their passion. You can find talks by well known celebrities like <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/al_gore_s_new_thinking_on_the_climate_crisis.html">Al Gore</a> and <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/bill_gates_unplugged.html">Bill Gates</a> to people who are relatively unknown to you like <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/neil_pasricha_the_3_a_s_of_awesome.html">Neil Parischa</a> and <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/charlie_todd_the_shared_experience_of_absurdity.html">Charlie Todd</a>. You can find talks on science, engineering, living a better life. Almost anything you want. They are great filler videos to show on short days or when the students all finish the test early and you can't start the next unit or the day before long breaks. None of the videos are longer than about 20 minutes and some are even less than 5. Below are a few of my favorites from different areas. My only word of caution is TED is intended for adults. While most of the videos are fine, there are a couple that contain words that are inappropriate for school. Like everything else, make sure you watch them in advance before showing to your class.<br />
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Seth Godin: This is Broken<br />
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/4246943">Seth Godin at Gel 2006</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/gelconference">Gel Conference</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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Google Science Fair 2011 Winners<br />
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Why you should always check your presentation before giving a TED Talk<br />
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Are Mushrooms the New Plastic?<br />
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</div>MSeigelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05383883930301441191noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-89523649377016926172012-02-29T06:21:00.000-05:002012-03-02T10:30:51.889-05:00Day Nineteen: Twitter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is hard to find a good place to start this final post because Twitter can be used in so many different ways. Let's start with....</div>
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<u>To Tweet or Not to Tweet</u></div>
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Educators have pretty much always functioned in isolation. Yes, we would share with our colleagues within our school and those we met at conferences, but for the most part the things that happened in your classroom were known to only those in your immediate circle. Twitter widens that circle, significantly. Actually the circle is a sphere. And that sphere is the entire world. Through Twitter, I share ideas with educators from Indiana, Colorado, Chicago, Canada and Australia. I can be involved in a conversation with one person from Alabama or participate in a chat with thousands of educators across the globe. Because these conversations are not limited by the time frame of a conference, they can go on for hours or even days and involve a variety of perspectives. Twitter has absolutely changed my life and especially my teaching; I barely recognize the teacher I was 2 years ago (I celebrate my 2yr Twitter-versary in April!)</div>
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Why should you tweet? The real question is why aren't you doing it already? If someone said to you there's this amazing conference. It has some of the best instructors in the world, educators that are leading educational reform. It is free and located extremely close to your home. You can go to it during school and you won't have make sub plans. If someone said this to you, would your response be "No thanks"? Of course not!</div>
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Let's look at it from this perspective. Educators are constantly tweeting ideas and resources 24/7. If you were to spend 30 minutes per week simply watching the twitter feed (the scrolling tweet of people you follow), I guarantee you will find at least 1 new idea for your classroom. Now if you do that for an entire year, that's 52 new ideas. 52 ways to improve as an educator and learner. Would you ever be able to come up with 52 new ideas doing what you currently do?</div>
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<u>Twitter: The Basics</u></div>
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So hopefully I have been able to convince you to sign up. Let's walk get you started with your account:</div>
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<li>Go to <a href="http://twitter.com/">Twitter.com</a> and register. I use Twitter almost strictly for educational purposes so I chose a name that relates to what I do (<a href="http://twitter.com/DaretoChem">@DaretoChem</a>). You can something simple like your name (<a href="http://twitter.com/reginaschaffer">@reginaschaffer</a>). It doesn't matter what you pick, just pick something that you can identify with.</li>
<li>Don't be an egg-head. The default picture is a white egg on a colored background and no one will follow you with this picture. Find something that clearly shows your face and more people will want to hear what you have to "say."</li>
<li>You can follow celebrities and sports teams, but you can skip most of this.</li>
<li>Here is the tougher part: finding people to follow. You can only get good ideas if you find people tweeting out good ideas. The best resource I have found is on <a href="http://www.cybraryman.com/">www.cybraryman.com</a> under his <a href="http://cybraryman.com/plnstars.html">PLN All-Stars</a>. Here the top tweeters from each category are listed so this is the best people to start following to get ideas related to your classroom. At the bottom of this post, I have included a Google Spreadsheet with the Middletown educators that you can follow as well. If you sign up, please add your name to the list.</li>
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<u>The First Tweet</u></div>
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Well, it's not that simple. Before you venture out into this new social media (well, new to you), watch the following video by <a href="http://twitter.com/stumpteacher">Josh Stumpenhorst</a>. Josh is the Illinois Teacher of the Year and an absolute must follow.</div>
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Like Josh, I recommend downloading a third party program like <a href="http://www.tweetdeck.com/">Tweetdeck</a> or <a href="http://www.hootsuite.com/">HootSuite</a> for filtering your tweet streams. Once you are following a number of people, twitter's website become too cumbersome. For your first tweet, introduce yourself, say hello to the world, ask people to follow you. Some tweeters will follow you if you follow them; others are more particular.<br />
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If you trying to find good info, you will want to search by the hashtag (#). <a href="http://cybraryman.com/edhashtags.html">Here is a link</a> to all of them that are out there for education, but below are the most popular.<br />
#edchat is used for anything education related<br />
#mtwnchat is for anything related to the Middletown district (March 1st at 8pm is our 1st live chat!!)<br />
#scichat anything science related<br />
#sschat is for social studies<br />
#engchat is for English topics<br />
#ntchat is focused on resources for new teachers<br />
#edtech is for educational technology<br />
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We all know that it is important to grow as an educator. Sure you can do this by attending yearly conferences, but if you are like me, you are starting to get bored with what you are seeing or, worse, saw it last year. Twitter is constantly changing, constantly growing, and always current.<br />
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<u>How You Can Use It With Your Students</u><br />
While Twitter is a great resource as a professional growth tool, one of the most interesting ways that I have changed is by using it with my students. From an informal Twitter poll, my students have said about 1/4 of the students at South are tweeting. They are sending out messages before school, after school, during school. They are shouting to the world their thoughts and views, and we need to know them to better meet their ever-changing needs. If you don't believe me, check out this report from CNN.<br />
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What are you going to do with it?<br />
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To keep you thinking and give you some additional resources, here are some great links to follow:<br />
<a href="http://www.livebinders.com/edit/index/82396#">Twitter in Education Livebinder</a><br />
<a href="http://www.cybraryman.com/twitter.html">Everything You Need to Know About Twitter</a><br />
<a href="http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.com/2009/01/teaching-with-twitter.html">Teaching With Twitter</a><br />
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And if you don't believe that Twitter can revolutionize, ask the Egyptians, Syrians, and Libya. Oh, and after the earthquake in Haiti, Twitter was used by rescue teams to locate survivors.<br />
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Here is the Google Spreadsheet of who to follow from Middletown. If you have a Twitter account and are not the list below, please add yourself (or fix your info as I didn't have a complete list when I made this).<br />
You can find the spreadsheet<a href="http://tinyurl.com/87chgy5" target="_blank"> here.</a><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AvpeNiG_pcH9dFhFWFhFMDFReDdJMVdKQkFPbXFYQlE&single=true&gid=0&output=html&widget=true" width="600"></iframe></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-15964536688241500952012-02-27T08:12:00.004-05:002012-02-27T15:24:51.112-05:00Day Seventeen: Google Apps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="123" src="http://www.computeractive.co.uk/IMG/936/139936/google-docs-logo1011-580x358.jpg?1292348631" width="200" /> </div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.6089553763158619" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><b id="internal-source-marker_0.6089553763158619" style="font-weight: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We know we know there was no post on Friday, but it gave you a chance to really take a good look at some of the previous tools; and think about how you would use them in your classroom. A weekend blog post comment emphasized "balance" and "incorporation" and I echo her sentiments. While we have introduced you to many tools, by no means is it expected for you to try them all. We know that there will be something here for everyone, and just trying and incorporating one can make a remarkable difference.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today we will take a look at google docs and google apps. We are a <a href="http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/edu/" target="_blank">google apps</a> for education district and have added additional “apps” (applications) to our google domain. This just means you can access these apps from within your google dashboard.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is google <a href="http://youtu.be/eRqUE6IHTEA" target="_blank">docs</a>? It is google’s suite of office tools. Microsoft has word, powerpoint and excel; google has a document creator, presentations and spreadsheets, in addition they also have <a href="http://youtu.be/zABy2ri_kTI" target="_blank">forms</a> that allows you to create surveys (and view them in a spreadsheet). Here is a short overview of google docs.</span><br />
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Here is a <a href="http://youtu.be/cPnOtUvqQXQ" target="_blank">way </a>to use google docs for classroom peer editing and review.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most of us have experience with powerpoint either creating them or viewing slideshows that others have created. Let’s look at google’s version called presentations and see how it stacks up to powerpoint.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Powerpoint</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Presentations</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Large Selection of themes/backgrounds </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Limited selection</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ability to narrate<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Not yet</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can add video<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can also add video</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Variety of slide transitions/animations<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Limited</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No realtime collaboration possible<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Real time collaboration </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">$$$$<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Free!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Windows based <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Any platform (Windows/Mac/Linux)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Does not work well w/other versions<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Not an issue; plus you can download AS a powerpoint, pdf or image</span></span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paid upgrades<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Weekly automatically added updates/upgrades </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*Basically powerpoint is still the reigning champion in terms of features, but presentations are adding more and more everyday. One important difference is powerpoint is a standalone software and presentations is a web application.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is a really cool <a href="http://youtu.be/bt9F7tKcZcU" target="_blank">video</a></span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> showing the power of presentations....and no one expects you to create this (although I secretly want to try)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2011.la.wordcamp.org/files/2011/08/sliderocket-230x100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="38" src="http://2011.la.wordcamp.org/files/2011/08/sliderocket-230x100.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now we are going to look at some web apps that are included in our google domain; that you and your students have access to. The first one is slide rocket. Slide rocket is a presentation maker that, honestly, combines the best features of powerpoint and presentations (and even has some flash based tricks you find in </span><a href="http://www.prezi.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prezi</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). You can work collaboratively, it has a ton of features presentations lack, you can narrate, add video/audio, the graphics really pop and are perfect for student assignments as well as </span><a href="http://app.sliderocket.com/app/fullplayer.aspx?id=067ea08e-c7db-4ece-878b-d6fd0cc1f378"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">teaching.</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Here is a brief overview of sliderocket and you can reach it by going to your google docs toolbar and clicking “more”; it is listed.</span></b></b></span></span><br />
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<div style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span> </b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Visit sliderocket and view their many examples to see if this is a tool you will want to introduce into your classroom! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"></b></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next we will look at an app called </span><a href="http://www.lucidchart.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lucid Charts</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Here in Middletown many of the elementary and middle schools use the </span><a href="https://www.lucidchart.com/community/examples/featured-default/2/mind-maps"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mind mapping </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">software </span><a href="http://www.inspiration.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inspiration</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Again this is stand alone software so if a student is using it at school they can not continue working at home. With Lucid Charts (you find it the same way you do for slide rocket) you can create </span><a href="https://www.lucidchart.com/community/examples/featured-default/16/flowcharts/education"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">charts/</span></a><a href="https://www.lucidchart.com/community/examples/featured-default/3/network-diagrams"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">diagrams</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://www.lucidchart.com/community/examples/featured-default/4/drawings"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">drawings</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, even </span><a href="https://www.lucidchart.com/community/examples/featured-default/9/floorplans-room-layouts"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">floorplans</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and room layouts in school and continue working on it at home collaboratively with classmates; or in our case colleagues. Even administrators can use it to create </span><a href="https://www.lucidchart.com/community/examples/featured-default/8/org-charts"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">organizational </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">charts, it has something for everyone.</span></b><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can even create a “lyrical flowchart” </span><b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">disclaime</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">r</span></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: we take no responsibility if this song is stuck in your head all day and you find yourself singing it to your classes! </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next time you need a chart or diagram of any kind give Lucid Chart a try!</span></span></div></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://rookery2.viary.com/storagev12/678000/678369_3fd4_550x900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="75" src="http://rookery2.viary.com/storagev12/678000/678369_3fd4_550x900.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The last app we will look at is the <a href="http://advanced.aviary.com/" target="_blank">Aviary suite</a> of creativity tools. They are also found in google docs, under “more” (toolbar). While Aviary offers a tool to markup documents, extensively edit videos, create vectors, create photo effects and one click editing; we will concentrate on its audio editing tool. With this tool you can create a podcast, edit previously recorded audio, make looping beats and even remix a song. Teachers can record lessons for absent students, skill review, or messages for the class or parents. You can create podcasts and store them on your blog or website, or have students create newscasts, or audio recordings that make your curriculum come alive. Warning, there is a learning curve, (not expert level but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention it) so you and your students should view the </span><a href="http://youtu.be/mTX-qKMdl6s"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tutorial</span></a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">and begin creating! I would think English classes could create book reviews, dramatic readings or alternate endings. Maybe Science classes could explain the steps in an experiment (to embed in their slide rocket presentation) or have a student created monthly science podcast that covers science in the news and how it relates to what they are learning. Math teachers could have podcasts explaining complex math concepts (again pairing it with a slide rocket or lucid chart) or posting a math problem on their website or blog and challenging students to create an audio explanation and post it. </span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2011/12/10/blogs/bitpix-google-logo1/bitpix-google-logo1-tmagArticle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2011/12/10/blogs/bitpix-google-logo1/bitpix-google-logo1-tmagArticle.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I hope today's post peaked your interest in trying the district's google apps, whether it be docs or one of the added web applications!</span></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-34538918053819441052012-02-25T10:26:00.000-05:002012-02-25T10:26:56.172-05:00Weekend Update 4The Technology Integration Committees want to thank everyone for their support over the last couple of weeks. We are approaching the 5000 page view mark (currently at 4855!) and should top it easily in the closing days of the month. Hopefully everyone has had a chance to read all of the posts and have started integrated the different web tools into their lessons.<br />
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Normally here is where we give some important stats about the blog, but we have just of cruised for the last week, gradually growing each day. But, I do want to announce we have added another CONTINENT to our following: Australia! So, a hearty G'Day, Mates, from Middletown, NJ, USA!!<br />
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When selected the tools for this challenge, we had 3 conditions: easy to use, immediate implementation, and FREE. Well, there is a great blog that we would like to focus on for this update and that is <a href="http://freetech4teachers.com/">FreeTech4Teachers.com</a>. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LNuOrxtw0iA/T0j6y1-2TtI/AAAAAAAAABQ/eZbPp-0Hogs/s1600/Free+Technology+for+Teachers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LNuOrxtw0iA/T0j6y1-2TtI/AAAAAAAAABQ/eZbPp-0Hogs/s640/Free+Technology+for+Teachers.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Richard Byrne (<a href="http://twitter.com/rmbyrne">@rmbyrne</a>) is a Social Studies teacher in Maine and runs this blog as a way to expose teachers to as many free resources as possible. EduBlogs honored his site as the 2010 Winner for Best Resource Sharing Blog and 2011 Winner for Best Ed Tech Blog. 36,000 people view his blog every day! Byrne is a Google Certified Teacher and has a number of Google Apps tutorials on his site as well.<br />
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As you will see when you visit the site, his current week's list of resources includes:<br />
<a href="http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2012/02/flipping-your-classroom-with-free-web.html">Flipping Your Classroom With Free Web Tools</a><br />
<a href="http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2012/02/interactive-bulletin-boards-guest-post.html">Creative Interactive Bulletin Boards</a><br />
<a href="http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2012/02/web-20-collaborative-projects-in-middle.html">Web 2.0 Collaborative Projects for Middle School</a><br />
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But our favorite part of the site is his list of Favorite Resources. One of the most important ones (and #2 on his list) is the <a href="http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/12/super-book-of-web-tools-for-educators.html">Super Book of Web Tools For Educators</a>. This an extensive list of tools that can be used in all areas of education and an absolute must for any educator looking to increase the level of technology and student involvement in class.<br />
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Take a look at <a href="http://freetech4teachers.com/">FreeTech4Teachers.com</a> and let us know what you found. We love to read all of the comments (all 366 of them!) that are left on the blog. Have a great weekend!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-74128524023593390712012-02-23T00:00:00.001-05:002012-02-23T07:46:28.685-05:00Day Sixteen: Diigo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nDlyaDSuqANbMYC4iuBqg5CItxoN93cooRcD4Wm5wp1la_FDuZyxKoct7kC9wjvN_FlfmY2XbNxmuy6k_MXAu-Id8ZhX2i4YKKtGvToQBwu2euG6hMLSKMt6YNkcoQeTq0AxqXuZ90tq/s1600/logo-v5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nDlyaDSuqANbMYC4iuBqg5CItxoN93cooRcD4Wm5wp1la_FDuZyxKoct7kC9wjvN_FlfmY2XbNxmuy6k_MXAu-Id8ZhX2i4YKKtGvToQBwu2euG6hMLSKMt6YNkcoQeTq0AxqXuZ90tq/s1600/logo-v5.png" /></a></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Diigo is a social bookmarking site that enables users to bookmark and tag web pages, organize pictures, documents, audio and screenshots, and it can be accessed via PC, Mac, Android, iPhone and iPad. </span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you upload Diigolet, you are able to highlight text, and add sticky notes with comments on each bookmarked web page. You can then share the sites with others by creating a group or you may keep your bookmarks private. This is particularly helpful when working on a research project because all sources can be saved in one location and shared with classmates. </span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/6775948" target="_blank">How to install Diigolet</a></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxvClxJkkVe456G5QmixSar3LfUiSveIxGLz9C9zh65IQAL82EmGiUAEGukkjmDxVQG562-AUq3Rq1TP1uh2vtHrxZBrTjFrIKxRegVr7KJ5mSPxCUw4QylVUFjF854jeYhAnMZeHSAN-/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-02-20+at+9.13.50+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxvClxJkkVe456G5QmixSar3LfUiSveIxGLz9C9zh65IQAL82EmGiUAEGukkjmDxVQG562-AUq3Rq1TP1uh2vtHrxZBrTjFrIKxRegVr7KJ5mSPxCUw4QylVUFjF854jeYhAnMZeHSAN-/s400/Screen+shot+2012-02-20+at+9.13.50+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCrLiLUwI2VIfCzhjnYVkFHLrX_LvkKkctpg0Q2_9npskNUv6lWIQgfcnGd7GpJZPQK4jL2Ab5b-jeMQPnytMJWajfH4mCRRf4q3nPnZ3U-e37fdUKQ7OBcG7_S-C0X2GC0AwQ1rbQuKg/s1600/Diigo+annotate.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCrLiLUwI2VIfCzhjnYVkFHLrX_LvkKkctpg0Q2_9npskNUv6lWIQgfcnGd7GpJZPQK4jL2Ab5b-jeMQPnytMJWajfH4mCRRf4q3nPnZ3U-e37fdUKQ7OBcG7_S-C0X2GC0AwQ1rbQuKg/s400/Diigo+annotate.gif" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">You can annotate text, ask students questions, have students leave comments, etc.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></b><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></b></span></b></div><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422" style="font-weight: normal;"> </b></span></b></div><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Source: <a href="http://www.diigo.com/tools">www.diigo.com/tools</a> </span></span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Diigo now has an app for iPad that serves as an all-access digital library. The app is free, but it is new, so they are still adding features (group bookmarking isn't available yet). </span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDl20yTl52ZCnedXLf9hELYJii6SKvBGSdvuHAYmOXROb5avWgemhUR_ukRTtnKAiO3OKmCYOrNIMx9NTtxCX7vHcsAELIwoNKHmuXFeEWHjiTkiOnZmroUsLtIvqoSXJBq0YAZz8aoUS/s1600/mzl.hskjoljh.480x480-75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDl20yTl52ZCnedXLf9hELYJii6SKvBGSdvuHAYmOXROb5avWgemhUR_ukRTtnKAiO3OKmCYOrNIMx9NTtxCX7vHcsAELIwoNKHmuXFeEWHjiTkiOnZmroUsLtIvqoSXJBq0YAZz8aoUS/s400/mzl.hskjoljh.480x480-75.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br />
</span></span></span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Educator Accounts:</span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you sign up for an educator account, it’s free and it allows you to set up class groups where students can share sites with classmates. Student email addresses are not required and privacy settings are pre-set so only the teacher and classmates can communicate with them. It may take a few days to be approved for the teacher console, but it is well worth it.</span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; display: inline !important;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By setting up a class group, you can provide students with websites that you have already approved, eliminating issues with students using unreliable sources. </span></b></b></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"> </b></div><div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Diigo is also great for storing assignments. If you want students to read an article in the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New York Times</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, for example, you can bookmark it on Diigo and mark areas where you would like them to focus/respond/analyze, etc. Students can share and interact via group sticky notes, highlights and bookmarks. You can also publish a bookmark directly to your class blog. </span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<div _mce_style="margin-bottom: 9px;" style="margin-bottom: 9px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span></div><div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once you have an educator account, the Diigo in Education group will send you a daily email of several different bookmarks made by other educators. I have found many interesting articles and resources via these emails. </span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></b><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></b></span></b></div><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></b><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Articles worth reading:</span></span></span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.ictineducation.org/home-page/2009/11/2/10-reasons-to-use-diigo.html" target="_blank">10 Reasons to use Diigo: The Educational Technology Site</a></span></span></span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Quarterly/EDUCAUSEQuarterlyMagazineVolum/ClassroomCollaborationUsingSoc/236685" target="_blank">Classroom Collaboration Using Social Bookmarking Service Diigo</a></span></span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://mindshift.kqed.org/2012/01/how-to-create-your-own-textbook-with-or-without-apple/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How to create your own textbooks-with or without-Apple</span></a></span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.13242570799775422" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RC3uvzv4_8&feature=related" target="_blank">Diigo Sign up Tutorial</a></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>*Note that this tutorial was designed for a district in which Diigo is blocked; this is NOT the case in Middletown.</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Diigo educator account:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u><a href="http://www.diigo.com/education" target="_blank">Sign up now!</a></u></span></span></b></span></b></div><div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal;"><div class="MsoNormal"></div></div></div>Mrs. Berghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05875190919654375264noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-34545539598729174882012-02-22T06:00:00.000-05:002012-02-22T21:29:42.136-05:00Day Fifteen: QR Codes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://qrcode.kaywa.com/img.php?s=8&d=http%3A%2F%2Fmiddletownchallenge.blogspot.com%2F" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://qrcode.kaywa.com/img.php?s=8&d=http%3A%2F%2Fmiddletownchallenge.blogspot.com%2F" width="150" /></a></div>
You are starting to see them everywhere: those odd-looking black and white squares included in everything from advertisements in magazines to posters in store windows to bananas (<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS-JDdIOz1SEb0u2VtySA7nDlTUgXyjfWh4mPdmt91Nq3oyIDJesQ">yes, you read that correctly</a>). That odd combination of pixels is actually information that can be displayed using your smartphone's browser. The code can contain a website, your contact information, a picture, link to a YouTube video and so much more. Before we get into how QR Codes can be used in the classroom, let's take a look where QR codes come from.<br />
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<a href="http://odonnellonline.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/qr-codes-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="700" src="http://odonnellonline.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/qr-codes-small.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
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Now that we understand where they came from, let's learn how to create our own. There are a couple of options available depending on your level of technology. The QR code scanner in the app store for the iPhone comes with an option to create your own code right on the phone (I believe there is also one for Android, but neither are really reliable). If you are a Chrome user (and if you aren't we need to have a talk about that), there is an app in the Chrome Web Store called "<a href="http://www.the-qrcode-generator.com/">The QR Code Generator</a>" which will generate your code right in your browser. However, if none of those options are to your liking, the favorite web site for creating codes is <a href="http://qrcode.kaywa.com/">Kaywa</a>.<br />
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So you have your generator and now you need something to create your code for. QR Codes are a great way to direct users to view simple information like your class website or a video from YouTube that you want them to watch. Go to that location and grab the url from the address bar (or in the case of YouTube videos, click the SHARE button and copy the url given there), and paste the url into the generator. For example, one of my favorite videos to share with my students is the <a href="http://youtu.be/po9qy-tjeYw">MHS Lip Dub</a>. After copying the url (ctrl+C), I can go to my Chrome app, paste in the url and generate my code as seen below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBuoi9bUgl4FdJCHxhkCSkVmVA0Di70a0WyFAEyTFgZiw4JtjrcHuw7xL945PNLf6n6vRNcrXG9bMhPHA629THs-HZrast1O1zg-zy-Eug1sQUDgdGs1LbM8YagumdN-sTRZwwQAfJ1A/s1600/QR+Code+Generator.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBuoi9bUgl4FdJCHxhkCSkVmVA0Di70a0WyFAEyTFgZiw4JtjrcHuw7xL945PNLf6n6vRNcrXG9bMhPHA629THs-HZrast1O1zg-zy-Eug1sQUDgdGs1LbM8YagumdN-sTRZwwQAfJ1A/s320/QR+Code+Generator.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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The code can now be copied or saved as an image and put in any number of different places. One word of advice: the purpose of a QR Code is to direct a user to a location on the web when they are not currently sitting in front of a computer so putting one on your website is a bit of a waste. I want to provide one other tip about QR Codes: the longer the url, the more complicated the QR Code becomes which makes it look garbled. You will want to use a url shortener to make it more manageable and therefore a nicer looking code. Personal preference is for all things Google so try <a href="http://goo.gl/">goo.gl</a>, however <a href="http://bit.ly/">bit.ly</a> and <a href="http://tinyurl.com/">tinyurl.com</a> are also popular. If you use the Chrome QR Code app, it already contains a "Shorten url" button so there is no need to copy from the external site.</div>
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After a short discussion at lunch, we came up with the following list of possible ways to use QR Codes in the classroom.</div>
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<ol>
<li>QR code on the syllabus given on the 1st day of class to direct students to the class website. Can also be put on the sign on the door to the classroom.</li>
<li>QR Code scavenger hunt. A great to connect your subject to different areas of the school is a scavenger hunt. But, instead of simply finding a clue, the students find a QR code with it that directs them to a website to help them answer a specific question.</li>
<li>QR Codes in books in the media center. The code could contain a link to the author's website, an Amazon book review, or a preview of the movie based on the book.</li>
<li>Links to YouTube videos. This could be like the lip dub above or to podcasts that were created using <a href="http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html">JING</a> about classroom content to be watched outside of class. It could even go to a <a href="http://ted.com/">TED</a> talk if you can't find what you are looking for on YouTube (is that even possible?).</li>
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So you have your QR code, now what? Well you want to scan it with your smartphone to see if it works (always make sure it works before posting it!!). Each company has their own free app that can be downloaded from their particular web store. I am a Blackberry user (hey they used to be good), so <i>QR Code Scanner Pro</i> is the best app. As for Android and iPhone you will need to consult someone lucky enough to have that device (just ask your students. They know the best apps to use). Once you open the app it will access your camera to scan the code and <i>Voila!</i></div>
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The above were created in a five minute brainstorming session over lunch. How can you see QR codes being used in your classroom?</div>
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Here are some other resources for your consideration:</div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=51894">QR Codes in Education Livebinder</a>--by <a href="http://twitter.com/web20classroom">Steven W. Anderson</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.libraryjournal.com/slj/articlesatechnology/886846-464/qr_codes_in_the_library.html.csp">QR Codes in the Library</a></li>
<li><a href="http://blog.tribehr.com/Portals/116839/images/vidyard.jpg">QR Codes T-Shirts</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.schrockguide.net/qr-codes-in-the-classroom.html">QR Codes in the Classroom</a>--<a href="http://twitter.com/kathyschrock">Kathy Schrock</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/periodicvideos/5912075438/sizes/l/in/photostream/">Periodic Table of QR Codes</a></li>
<li><a href="http://qrvoice.net/">QR Voice</a></li>
</ul>
</div>MSeigelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05383883930301441191noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-56879737734468281082012-02-21T07:00:00.037-05:002012-02-21T12:05:58.891-05:00Day Fourteen: WeVideo<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ta6Aqu8KB2w/TzvDA1yXg4I/AAAAAAAAACM/npACvQSVoR0/s1600/wevideo.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709371371827987330" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ta6Aqu8KB2w/TzvDA1yXg4I/AAAAAAAAACM/npACvQSVoR0/s200/wevideo.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 100px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T73uSBSFMDU/TzvC6TFPAHI/AAAAAAAAACA/bo18V5lCc0A/s1600/WeVideoLogoWeb.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709371259432665202" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T73uSBSFMDU/TzvC6TFPAHI/AAAAAAAAACA/bo18V5lCc0A/s200/WeVideoLogoWeb.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 76px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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<div><b id="internal-source-marker_0.4929039829876274"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.wevideo.com/">www.wevideo.com</a> </span></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span id="internal-source-marker_0.4929039829876274"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wevideo is similar to Windows Moviemaker, however, wevideo is cloud based and allows you to access your videos from any computer. Wevideo also gives you the ability to work collaboratively on a video. Wevideo has many more graphics and effects that you can add to your video to make it more entertaining. Wevideo provides you with a movie editor where you can upload your pictures </span></span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709373138508081762" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WmEmSuyUqFA/TzvEnrLuamI/AAAAAAAAACk/EKFkjX-w8tc/s320/Screen-shot-2011-11-12-at-15.47.29.png" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 180px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">to the site, drag and drop them into the editor, and add transitions, graphics, text boxes, music, and much more.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Finished videos can be exported to YouTube or any other media outlet (t</span>witter, etc.) and published. Students in Middletown can login directly with their Google accounts or a free account can be created. In order to collaborate, you must invite someone to work on the project. This can be found in the dashboard section. In order for you to view student created videos, the student must invite you to collaborate on the project or the student must export it to Youtube, publish it, and share the link with you.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://youtube.com/create">www.youtube.com/create</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
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</span></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YG8XxDDBw98/Tzpl0V-UIqI/AAAAAAAAABQ/cJdni8DdHMI/s1600/wevideo.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708992905194425698" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-prMCNUwdSAU/TzpqzLtWzWI/AAAAAAAAABo/cu7rqrjQy2s/s400/6262110389_5f1c13ca49.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 354px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wevideo can be accessed directly from <a href="http://wevideo.com/">www.wevideo.com</a> or it can be accessed through Youtube. If you go to <a href="http://youtube.com/create">www.youtube.com/create</a>, there is an option to create a video using wevideo. Using <a href="http://youtube.com/create">youtube.com/create</a>, you are given the same options as wevideo.com, however, you can publish your video directly to Youtube from this site (the publish option is in the top right hand corner). </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Videos that have been exported from Wevideo, but have not yet been published, will appear on your dashboard and you will have the option to publish them to Youtube. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The students, as well as teachers, have their own Youtube channels through their Google accounts. You can access this channel two ways: 1. from the Google homepage, go to more, then even more, and click on Youtube and 2. if you are signed into Google, you can go to youtube.com/create and you are automatically logged in. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Tutorial:</b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SVD9h0jDps0" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<br />
<b>Dashboard Overview:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br />
</b><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hwCY9-IKtcY" width="560"></iframe></span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<b>Student Example on the Boston Tea Party!</b><br />
<div><b><br />
</b><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iaZVnHtH3Xg" width="560"></iframe></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-9651244986941027632012-02-19T07:07:00.000-05:002012-02-19T07:07:54.555-05:00Weekend Update 3It has been a very impressive month for the Middletown Web Challenge Blog. Not only have some great tools been posted through the collaboration of the Technology Integration Teams, but the overwhelming support from the staff has been phenomenal. As we have done the past 2 weekends, here are some of the statistics:<div><br />
</div><div>Total Number of Page Views: 4180</div><div>Total Number of Comments: 301</div><div>Average Number of Views Per Post: 278.7</div><div>Web Tool With the Most Comments: Blogger (51 comments)</div><div>Number of Continents Viewing Blog: 4</div><div><br />
</div><div>We are slightly more than halfway through the challenge and we are looking for an even more impressive 2nd half. Coming soon will be posts on Google Apps, Twitter, WeVideo and much more. Please continue to view and comment on everything you are learning. Remember that every comment you make will enter you into the contest to win the very special prize at the end. You know, it's about time we stop beating around the bush and just tell you what you can win. Dr. George has purchased a beautiful, brand new...</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQOInwL8Lp18gJbCWp5e5zahjbaGqAiqwy_e8c87NABFFHoY0bMHg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQOInwL8Lp18gJbCWp5e5zahjbaGqAiqwy_e8c87NABFFHoY0bMHg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://goo.gl/Zf7rg</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But, as they say "You must be in it to win it!" so keep those comments coming. Now, a word from our sponsors.</div><div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQaF361DceFRfLtj19wdUtbcdWOWmhxQrzLm8_3oGDZOJNY6eUYmw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="67" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQaF361DceFRfLtj19wdUtbcdWOWmhxQrzLm8_3oGDZOJNY6eUYmw" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://goo.gl/iEBRB</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.archlearning.com/">Archipelago Learning</a> just signed on as one of our sponsors and some of their products will be given away as prizes at the end of the Web Challenge. Archipelago brings us such great programs as <a href="http://www.studyisland.com/">Study Island</a>, and <a href="http://www.northstarlearning.com/web/index/">Northstar Learning</a>. These programs provide in-depth and varied methods for practice and assessment in different levels of learning for both math and English classrooms. Focused on a standards-based approach to assessment, Study Island helps students tailor their guided practice around topics and skills that will help them be successful both in class and on state standardized tests like the NJASK and HSPA. From their website </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"<span class="bodyFont" style="background-color: white; color: #231f20;">Since 2000, Study Island, from <a class="emlink" href="http://www.archipelagolearning.com/" style="color: #0092c8; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Archipelago Learning</a>, has been building and marketing online, state standards-based learning programs that are the most effective and easiest to use of their kind. Our in-house technical development and content teams design and create our programs, which are then sold to schools on a subscription basis through our direct sales force. Used by millions of students in thousands of schools across the United States, all of our programs are built specifically from state standards and are designed to create a very user-friendly experience for both students and teachers alike</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20;">."</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #231f20;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We greatly appreciate the support of Archipelago Learning in the advancement of learning for both students and staff in Middletown!</span></span></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-25898470300104804852012-02-17T15:33:00.000-05:002012-02-17T15:33:04.665-05:00Day Thirteen: Podcasting/Screencasting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQKEqEcLJqdNPNSjIbMbrElZbctqs2TKn9TCFUHWYpJa4gejp0THA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQKEqEcLJqdNPNSjIbMbrElZbctqs2TKn9TCFUHWYpJa4gejp0THA" width="200" /></a></div>
A lot of the tools and techniques I use in the classroom come from solving little problems that stand in the way of fluid lessons. You have all had this situation as well: you go through a lesson and everything seems perfect--students are actively engaged, they are asking good questions, and they are able to answer all of your questions. The next day you put up the DO NOW and you are met with blank stares and comments like "we never learned this." It is almost like someone erased their minds while they slept. One day I asked the class what happened and one of my better students said, "Well, we understand when we are here, but then we go home and we don't remember how you solved the problem. It would be great if you could videotape the example problem and post it on your website." Then the light bulb clicked on! If I could find a way to record what I was doing and post short (less than 5 minutes) example problems I could not only give the students a way to review the material that night after school and right before the test. Now to figure out how to do it.<br />
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There are a lot of ways to do a podcast. You can create a podcast that contains only audio using a program like <a href="http://audacity.sourceforge.net/">Audacity</a>. These would be great in a foreign language class where the students can listen to the vocabulary and pronunciation of words and don't need a visual reference. However, for my class I like to record video and audio because I use them as instruction so I need a slightly more sophisticated program. A great online screencasting (program that captures images from your computer screen) is <a href="http://screencast-o-matic.com/">Screencast-o-matic</a>. Here's a short demo video on how it works (basically a screencast on how to make a screencast):</div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="347" scrolling="no" src="http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/embed?sc=cXhbbqb9C&w=400&v=3" width="402"></iframe></div>
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If you follow the link above to Screencast-o-matic's site, you will see they have both a free version and a Pro version. In the free version you are limited to 15 minute recordings and require you to download the video to your computer which you could upload to a website later. The Pro version (which of course costs money) allows for online storage on their site and basically gives you a channel to show your videos from similar to YouTube. However, YouTube is accessible on most cell phones and even allows for downloads on iPhones which the others do not.<br />
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Now I want to showcase the product of one of sponsors, <a href="http://techsmith.com/">TechSmith</a>. No, I am not just showing this because they are our sponsor. <a href="http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html">JING</a> is a wonderful tool that is so unbelievably simple to use. Here is a video demonstrating that.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/HZKhz0tSVII?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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What I love about JING is it downloads to your desktop so that with a quick click of a button you are recording everything that happens on your screen. It can capture your voice from a microphone, but does not allow you to import music in the free version. In the free version you are also limited to 5 minute videos. However, in the Pro version, a lot more resources are accessible to you including editing and uploading mp3 tracks. TechSmith also saves all of your videos to www.screencast.com which, again, is free, but has some limitations as to how many files and what size you can store there. But, for less than $100, you can get your own site through Screencast.com. I actually upload my podcasts there as well as YouTube because there is an iTunes feed from Screencast.com. I submitted the site to the iTunes Store and all of my podcasts are available for download through iTunes (yes, they're free!). My students can now download them to their computer or mp3 player and watch my any time of the day. I have even had some say they watched whole lessons on the bus ride into school on the day of a test.<br />
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So, as always, the question becomes "How are you going to use Podcasting/Screencasting in your classroom?"<br />
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Here are some general links to get your brain turning:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/seigelchemistry?ob=0&feature=results_main">Mr. Seigel's YouTube Channel</a><br />
<a href="http://fcit.usf.edu/podcasts/">Ideas for Podcasting in the Classroom</a><br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/ExkMeQfuLGc">Integrating Podcasting into the Classroom</a><br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/qBgO30h2cY8">Podcasting in Plain English</a><br />
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Oh, and if you have an iPad, check out <a href="http://www.educreations.com/">Educreations</a> and <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/screenchomp/id442415881?mt=8">ScreenChomp</a> for great screencasting software.</div>MSeigelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05383883930301441191noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-71516233471902041552012-02-16T09:08:00.000-05:002012-02-16T09:08:48.561-05:00Day Twelve: Evernote<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTzLoWbn_NP144Xam0Mk9etXcb_dI_Du7W_ITLi-APKJnyK_PjCsg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTzLoWbn_NP144Xam0Mk9etXcb_dI_Du7W_ITLi-APKJnyK_PjCsg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evernote</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> family of products includes Evernote, Skitch, Hello, Food, Clearly, Peek (iPad only).</span><br />
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.26920732273720205"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These product tutorials are for the Evernote product itself (in which ideas, projects and experiences can be remembered across all the computers, phones and tablets you use). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evernote is a tool that can be used for simple recording notes as well as complex organization of notes using multimedia. I use Evernote to quickly collect ideas, organize ideas into projects and cite sources. Evernote can be customized to the way you work - create notes, attach documents, save pictures, record audio and even video.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a new </span><a href="http://www.evernote.com/about/schools/" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">site </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">just for students and educators using Evernote.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evernote tutorials are available at <a href="http://www.evernote.com/about/video/">Evernote Tutorials</a> and include videos! Also check out the Evernote Trunk which includes explanations and links for <a href="http://evernote.com/about/trunk/items/skitch-ipad?lang=en&layout=default&source=evernote_page">Skitch</a>, Evernote with Twitter, and <a href="http://evernote.com/about/trunk/items/evernote-hello?lang=en&layout=default&source=home">Evernote Hello</a> which creates Evernote profiles using your phone so you never forget important details of people you meet.</span><br />
<h4 dir="ltr" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Quick Evernote for Mac intro</span></h4><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/OlOLXWvaIy0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
</div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;">Quick Evernote for Windows intro</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evernote for iPad Overview--<a href="http://youtu.be/Zkn4FSOTrXc">Play Video</a></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evernote for iPhone and iPod Touch--<a href="http://youtu.be/5vAb53yrPg4">Play Video</a></span><br />
<h4 dir="ltr" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evernote for Android--</span><a href="http://www.evernote.com/about/video/#d1oI92vm4b8%7C1%7C1"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Play video</span></a></h4><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A tips and tricks blog can be found at <a href="http://evernote.tumblr.com/">Evernote Tumblr</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">and is a good resource for practical solutions using Everynote.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">More resources (and experiences) from other sources on Evernote are:</span><br />
<a href="http://jdspicks.blogspot.com/2012/01/evernote-tutorial.html" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JD's Picks</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Evernote Tutorial Saturday, January 21, 2012</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">--<a href="http://youtu.be/IHeVZvnCjNA">Evernote Tutorial Video</a></span></span><br />
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<h1 dir="ltr" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why I Love Evernote: The Student Perspective</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ueQUoeXBfHU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://youtu.be/lZfkiYaRpRI">Extraordinary Videos - Cameron</a></span></div><h1 dir="ltr" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://youtu.be/6DVpO2E3b3E">Evernote for Blogging</a></span></h1><h1 dir="ltr" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evernote for students</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/VZnz5Um5W9k?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></div><h1 dir="ltr" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://youtu.be/f_ikmoREXCo">Evernote for the iPad</a></span></h1><div><a href="http://evernote.com/about/trunk/items/evernote-twitter?lang=en&layout=default&source=evernote_page">Evernote for Twitter</a></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-12484424267631121952012-02-15T00:00:00.018-05:002012-02-15T06:30:09.967-05:00Day Eleven: Edmodo<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="112" 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width="200" /> </div><span id="internal-source-marker_0.8432319225581808" style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Edmodo is a web based communication tool designed for use in the K- 12 classroom. The website has the appeal of a social networking site, while providing a secure and safe environment for teachers and students to collaborate. </span></span><br />
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<span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAzKwC-Jz9Q&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Video: 20 Ideas for using edmodo with your students.</a> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/YAzKwC-Jz9Q?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Edmodo promotes social learning in classrooms with idea sharing, discussion board posts and teacher-student communication. The site allows teachers to create groups of students and disseminate information to those students instantly. Teachers can create an assignment calendar so that students can keep track of homework online. </span></span><br />
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<span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ferKPD29DwA&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1" id="internal-source-marker_0.8432319225581808">Video: A teacher currently using edmodo in her classroom</a></span> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ferKPD29DwA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Additionally, teachers can post assignments, documents, videos and polls for students to access. Edmodo also has an App, which can be downloaded from the App Store and allows students to access their virtual classroom from their mobile devices and tablets.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>Create your profile on edmodo today!<br />
<span style="color: purple; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.edmodo.com/">www.edmodo.com</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.8432319225581808" style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">FreeTech4Teachers: <a href="http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/12/15-things-teachers-students-can-do-with.html">15 Ways to use edmodo in your classroom: </a></span></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-19599857857638598292012-02-14T04:00:00.008-05:002012-02-14T11:05:17.960-05:00Day Ten: LibGuides<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hr3KxrUolf4/TzpMYWvDrfI/AAAAAAAAABI/5K54B8ns3JE/s1600/community-banner.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="49" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hr3KxrUolf4/TzpMYWvDrfI/AAAAAAAAABI/5K54B8ns3JE/s640/community-banner.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lib Guides</span> <span style="font-size: small;">is an integrated online research tool that directs students to an organized, easily accessible menu of resources.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: blue;">Here is how it works:</span></i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Teachers submit the “ingredients” for a proposed research guide. The guide could include a description or lesson plan for a particular assignment, rubric, associated research sites and web tools that students may need in completing a project. The media specialist then enriches the teacher’s ideas by including other streams of information such as databases and search engine widgets, books available in the library, tips for research, citation rules etc. to create all-encompassing pathfinders for students. These guides encourage students to easily navigate a variety of resources at school or from home in a safe, structured environment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Middletown North HS has been creating guides since September and the idea has really taken off! Bayshore MS has just started with their guides but anticipates the usefulness of this tool for the future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Watch the features guide video, check out our own guides along with some of our favorites and explore the Lib Guides Best of Community Site where you can access 226,103 guides by 41,078 librarians at 2,888 libraries worldwide!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out these LibGuides!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.hsnorth.middletownk12.libguides.com/" target="_blank">Middletown High School North</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://bayshorems.middletownk12.libguides.com/" target="_blank">Bayshore Middle School</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://sdst.libguides.com/researchtools" target="_blank">Springfield High School </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://theunquietlibrary.libguides.com/" target="_blank">Creekview High School</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://libguides.brisbanegrammar.com/libraryhome" target="_blank">Brisbane Grammar</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://libguides.com/community.php?m=i&ref=libguides.com" target="_blank">Best of LibGuides Community</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16088373339046919981noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-69298091461305220772012-02-13T00:00:00.000-05:002012-02-13T19:56:35.237-05:00Day Nine: Online WhiteboardsYou have all had this situation: student sends you an email with a question about a HW problem/example from class and you just can't communicate your answer properly through an email. Sometimes you can get your ideas across and then the student sends an email reply right back and now you have this long back and forth that seems to take forever through email. Enter the web whiteboard!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMbEYyh7bwT7dqAvhMsSwErbVdfGTvzwepNPLSNZqcsfdPUyzCcHKLRVQSEXrypVKTg4RHkPzBMgjVhyphenhyphenrrZom69BQQc4JUQRltwpaKslBjSjuCpa5dCKmVLueOWMwZYFR08ZU49SFMWI/s1600/A+Web+Whiteboard.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMbEYyh7bwT7dqAvhMsSwErbVdfGTvzwepNPLSNZqcsfdPUyzCcHKLRVQSEXrypVKTg4RHkPzBMgjVhyphenhyphenrrZom69BQQc4JUQRltwpaKslBjSjuCpa5dCKmVLueOWMwZYFR08ZU49SFMWI/s320/A+Web+Whiteboard.png" width="320" /></a></div>
One of my favorites is <a href="http://awwapp.com/">A Web Whiteboard.</a> The reason this one stands out above the others that I use is its simplicity. As you can see on the right, you get a selection of colors and pen thicknesses, and that's pretty much it. While the ones below have a lot more bells and whistles, all of those extra features tends to slow your connection and make using an online whiteboard tedious. The one downside to AWW is that it works best with a tablet device or Tablet PC with a stylus. I have worked with students on this and if you are not comfortable using your mouse to draw, AWW can be frustrating.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwK0gCRfXAWeMEFY5EBDtd3_IkGp422fJkinIVDOxcS-aM8iBYR_Em2R1M4Qf3_CDkz2wQhsTyb6AJykyYFZ6GHt6TG9iAOP8abjzUg4oe60sKL2VDGDFRbgLci9yVfe_okICqnUTqOQ/s1600/dabbleboard.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwK0gCRfXAWeMEFY5EBDtd3_IkGp422fJkinIVDOxcS-aM8iBYR_Em2R1M4Qf3_CDkz2wQhsTyb6AJykyYFZ6GHt6TG9iAOP8abjzUg4oe60sKL2VDGDFRbgLci9yVfe_okICqnUTqOQ/s400/dabbleboard.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
For as simple AWW is, <a href="http://www.dabbleboard.com/draw">Dabbleboard</a> is equally complicated. You can add pictures, diagrams, curves, arrows, shapes, typed text, as well as hand-written notes. This is a great alternative when you don't have a stylus for drawing or a tablet device because you can type the text and then draw arrows and lines to connect ideas. Dabbleboard also allows you to sign up for an account to save your work to either return to later or email to others. However, because of all of the options, Dabbleboard is tough to you on anything other than a computer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge38_QowAYLtBSqjgbUoWO-eayzjmWDIOFNsw8YssrojFfBag395zMGhUzQKdKtaB6sBMsiyYrW01bHXpEH0vtWT1yB6qdfl3WKPkSIlru_bhrrwr90b_AWYyj5DyL1-md_Varhm_6m2U/s1600/scriblnk.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge38_QowAYLtBSqjgbUoWO-eayzjmWDIOFNsw8YssrojFfBag395zMGhUzQKdKtaB6sBMsiyYrW01bHXpEH0vtWT1yB6qdfl3WKPkSIlru_bhrrwr90b_AWYyj5DyL1-md_Varhm_6m2U/s320/scriblnk.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
Now if you are a math teacher using an online whiteboard, <a href="http://www.scriblink.com/">Scriblink</a> is the way to go. It has options for mathematical symbols and complete formulas, and a button to turn the whiteboard into graph paper for creating graphs out of the equations. Like Dabbleboard, it has a lot of options in colors, pen thicknesses, and the ability to upload pictures. However, it has one major downside and that is it is based on Java. Java is fantastic on computers, but can't be run on iPhones and iPads. <br />
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The reason I turned to online whiteboards is the ability to collaborate with students in real time. All three of the tools here give you a unique web address that you can share with your students to allow them to see what you are writing and have them add to the drawing. Dabbleboard and Scriblink both give you a chat window on the side (similar to Instant Messenger) which allows students to pose questions to you while are adding to the drawing. Because they have the ability to have an unlimited number of users, students could even answer questions posed by other students all within the chat window.<br />
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You are probably wondering why I still prefer A Web Whiteboard when the others offer so much more. The night before my Honors Chemistry class had their midterm exam I ran an online review session using a <a href="http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/">Google+</a> Hangout and AWW. With computers coming with microphones and webcams standard, there is no reason to have a chat window. Even if they don't have a webcam, they can still ask questions through their microphone, hear my response and see the answer appear on the whiteboard. As I was running the review, I would write reactions and formulas on the screen, and my students could make changes as I was writing if they wanted to ask questions to develop a deeper understanding. <br />
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So I have given you an easy way to use online whiteboards outside the classroom, but how about during class? Let me pose a few scenarios to you:<br />
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<li>A classroom set of iPads is brought in and every student takes one to his/her desk. You have a DO NOW problem posted for the students to complete. You post the web address for the whiteboard on the screen and the students direct their browser to the location. Randomly you call on Johnny to share his answer with the class. Unfortunately, Johnny is a little shy so instead of getting up in front of class he just writes his response onto the screen of the iPad and not only does it appear on the screen in front, but it also appears on every iPad in the room.</li>
<li>One of your students, Victoria, brings in her personal laptop from home. You have shared the address for the online whiteboard with the class and Victoria is watching you complete the DO NOW on her screen as the rest of the class sees it appear at the front of the room. She uses <a href="http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html">JING</a> or <a href="http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/">another screencast software</a> and records the entire problem with your voice in the background explaining the problem while she is also taking notes in her notebook. She emails it to herself or puts it in <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/">Dropbox</a> to watch at home. You have also been recording it and post it to the class' YouTube Channel for students who were absent.</li>
<li>You are having the students practice their vocabulary with simple games. Two students are playing Hangman on their iPads. As Alex is writing out the clues on his screen, they are appearing on Evan's screen. Evan writes a letter on his screen, and Alex puts it into the appropriate location in the words. Sounds too simple for an online whiteboard, right? Forgot to mention that while Alex is sitting in your class in NJ, Evan is halfway across the country in a classroom in Iowa.</li>
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So, how can you see yourself using an online whiteboard in your teaching? How do you see your students using this to collaborate with....their classmates? ....students in other schools? ....Scientists/experts in a specific field?</div>
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<i>[Editor's Note: Podcasts/Screencasts will be detailed in a later post and tools such as JING will be demonstrated.]</i></div>
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<br /></div>MSeigelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05383883930301441191noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-27060178679041766972012-02-11T06:00:00.018-05:002012-02-11T16:40:04.577-05:00Weekend Update 2The Technology Integration Teams are so impressed with the comments that are being left with each of the posts. We wanted to share some statistics from the past week:<br />
Number of followers of the blog: 48<br />
Number of page views in the last 7 days: 1208<br />
Number of page views in February: 2734<br />
Total number of comments left: 201<br />
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It is also with great pleasure to announce that the grand prize has been purchased and is currently in transit to the district. Dr. George has purchased a....well, let's just say it is made by a company with a fruit for the logo. The winner will be picked on March 1st and announced both on the blog and at the reception on March 2nd.<br />
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Now, it is with great pleasure that our Weekend Update takes a turn to focus on a particular teacher. Rose Smith, Art teacher at Thompson School contacted us about becoming a contributor to the blog. Even though the blog is maintained by the Tech Committees of South and Bayshore, we didn't want to deny that enthusiasm. Therefore, we decided to showcase the website of Mrs. Smith and her students.<br />
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<a href="http://www.artsonia.com/schools/school.asp?id=2842">Wall of Student Artwork</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.artsonia.com/">Main Artsonia Page</a><br />
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We took a look through the amazing artwork the students were producing and wanted to share our favorites<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QWD7Jy_Jmeg/TzXDca_z7VI/AAAAAAAAAAw/iSR-BYt5Kc4/s1600/extra+credit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QWD7Jy_Jmeg/TzXDca_z7VI/AAAAAAAAAAw/iSR-BYt5Kc4/s200/extra+credit.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ihG45zK4ycQ/TzXDdIDHiII/AAAAAAAAAA4/SSQ4_khSuXA/s1600/happy+holidays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ihG45zK4ycQ/TzXDdIDHiII/AAAAAAAAAA4/SSQ4_khSuXA/s200/happy+holidays.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ERFSvnjj8w/TzXDdlTnAHI/AAAAAAAAABA/egOYuQlwjAs/s1600/trent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ERFSvnjj8w/TzXDdlTnAHI/AAAAAAAAABA/egOYuQlwjAs/s200/trent.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
It is makes us so proud to bring attention the work of teachers like Mrs. Smith. Her students are doing remarkable work and Mrs. Smith is sharing that with the world through this website. We applaud you, Mrs. Smith. Keep up the great work!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-67335099388209135352012-02-10T08:54:00.003-05:002012-02-10T13:33:34.420-05:00Day Eight: Animoto<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IkimKZdu8TTJ4GrM-24y8MpA_zeSv45uCQ4IqArFN7XQjen_HDCj_A2GcR1-Wm_gSguYX24WSEvRYRikAfAtpJ-MYl6H4gcNR_trtJZAovXL5MMdNoiDmLH8nVjoKe-REYxkx2Cry2w/s1600/animoto-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IkimKZdu8TTJ4GrM-24y8MpA_zeSv45uCQ4IqArFN7XQjen_HDCj_A2GcR1-Wm_gSguYX24WSEvRYRikAfAtpJ-MYl6H4gcNR_trtJZAovXL5MMdNoiDmLH8nVjoKe-REYxkx2Cry2w/s200/animoto-logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://animoto.com/education">Animoto</a> is another great presentation tool that incorporates images, text, audio and video. Teachers can apply for a <a href="http://animoto.com/education" target="_blank">free </a>educational account and will be provided with a code that students can enter to create their presentations. Animoto is very easy to use and my favorite part is it times your images, text, video clips, etc. to the piece of music you select. Your students can then download their finished presentations to your class or school Youtube channel to share with the school, parents and the community at large!</div><div class="MsoNormal">Here is a very simple written <a href="http://www.brighthubeducation.com/teaching-methods-tips/57062-animoto-com-in-the-classroom/" target="_blank">tutorial</a> for those of you who want something quick and easy.<br />
Here is a series of video webinars to learn how to use the new features in animoto.<br />
<a href="http://historygeek29.blogspot.com/2011/07/making-current-events-projects-with.html" target="_blank">Here</a> is a history teacher who used animoto to help current events come alive for his students.<br />
There is an iphone and ipad <a href="http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/12/animoto-launches-new-ipad-and-iphone.html" target="_blank">app</a> for animoto users (good for students with those devices)</div><div class="MsoNormal">Watch a how-to video here:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-bGSEwza5gc" width="560"></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Here are some ways animoto can be used (think of ways you can incorporate this tool in the learning experience in your classroom):<br />
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<ul><li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.4261667472310364"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make any lesson come to life with stunning audio and visual.</span></b></div></li>
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<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use at the beginning of the day as a ‘teaser’ for what your students can look forward to learning each day.</span></div></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use to teach complex concepts in History, Maths, Science. Students will respond to new media in the classroom.</span></div></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Allow your students to display knowledge of a concept using Animoto.</span></div></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students can each create an Animoto showcasing who they are through pictures and music.</span></div></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vocabulary activities are limitless. For example, pictures students take with a digital camera could illustrate a word, a concept, or a learning activity.</span></div></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ideal for digital storytelling in the classroom setting. Animoto is completely web-based, students can create videos from school and continue working on them at home.</span></div></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Celebrations of student achievements create a learning environment that is conducive to learning. Spotlight the learning!</span></div></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Find pictures of different geography features by using the internet or your own pictures. Label the pictures according to their feature.</span></div></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Book trailers are a great way to engage students’ interest before reading a book. Students can also create trailers to share with other classmates.</span></div></li>
<li style="list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Create slideshows which demonstrate student reflection on their learning.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">via techmeetsed.com</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 15pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.4261667472310364"></b></div><ul style="display: inline !important;"><li style="display: inline !important; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal;"></div></li>
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</b></ul></div></div><div class="MsoNormal">Watch a 7<sup>th</sup> grade Middletown student <a href="http://youtu.be/lLwiO7ccy9w" target="_blank">sample</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">Animoto is an effective tool for making information come to life in a very modern-looking platform. The presentations can be created to look like music videos which appeals to students. Some of my colleagues and I have had great success using Animoto in our classrooms. Have you tried it?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-5862201195542387812012-02-09T06:00:00.027-05:002012-02-10T13:34:19.202-05:00Day Seven: Youtube<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhlDxuizdv-5nl0k5xSe0S3vu8PzYmV0PrFC9DxZhWfla04bKZzta5rgbbZgW3mbNfuSfCMRxi-ZcUt41bc45C833xRO9ID0DHAXvh8mgT4v3NAYssKiEuhgfTjzZJaQd6hx3BsuYglUc/s1600/Youtube_logo4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhlDxuizdv-5nl0k5xSe0S3vu8PzYmV0PrFC9DxZhWfla04bKZzta5rgbbZgW3mbNfuSfCMRxi-ZcUt41bc45C833xRO9ID0DHAXvh8mgT4v3NAYssKiEuhgfTjzZJaQd6hx3BsuYglUc/s200/Youtube_logo4.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Today we will look at an old favorite, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/" target="_blank">youtube</a>, in a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXYxbZ6M6Aw&feature=plcp&context=C327b88dUDOEgsToPDskJVAV2xMV5wtHvMPLv0bvrP" target="_blank">new</a> light. Over the years youtube has grown to be more than just a place for teachers to go and get video clips to show in class; there are many more options available for educators to use and integrate this resource into their curriculum. So let's look at some of the advantages of the new youtube, that we will call youtube 2.0.</span><br />
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Besides getting video clips, you can set up a youtube channel for your class. This can be a place to house all of the videos you show and showcase the videos your students create. You can create playlists (groups of specific videos) for your different units, just for student videos, or class favorites. It can serve as a multimedia portal for the teacher, students and parents alike, as you can embed your channel onto your website or blog. Here is one Middletown teacher's youtube channel. Maybe Middletown will have its own district channel on youtube soon with professional development videos for teachers, or maybe your school will have a channel highlighting events for parents and the community to share.<br />
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Over the years youtube has evolved and grown into a place where every facet of society is represented with a channel. There are major <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/harvard?blend=1&ob=4" target="_blank">universities </a>(go on and find your alma mater, I found <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/TempleUniversity" target="_blank">mine</a>) , established <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ABCNews" target="_blank">news</a> outlets, traditional <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/PBS" target="_blank">educational </a>organizations, even youtube itself has it own <a href="http://www.youtube.com/movies" target="_blank">channel</a> where you can rent full length movies and one that highlights <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/citizentube" target="_blank">news</a> (be sure to check out their <a href="http://www.citizentube.com/" target="_blank">blog</a> that keeps readers up to date with youtube). Think of your go to website, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/edutopia" target="_blank">education</a> or content area resource, they most likely have a channel on youtube with video content for the public's use that you can subscribe to and receive notifications as they update their channel with new content. I recently found a substantial list of "<a href="http://www.openculture.com/smartyoutube" target="_blank">intelligent</a> youtube channels" (you be the judge), as well as, the <a href="http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2010/10/20/100-incredibly-useful-youtube-channels-for-teachers/" target="_blank">100</a> must see youtube channels for teachers.<br />
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One of the newest resources is the youtube <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/teachers" target="_blank">teacher's </a>channel, it has k-12 content area categories with preselected videos for educational use. Disclaimer: I am not sure who is curating the content and if they align with state or national standards. I will say I have noticed they have chosen a few videos that I have for my students. Being able to go to this page will save time and energy in your future video collecting.<br />
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If you venture over to youtube's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/education" target="_blank">EDU</a> page you will find a smorgasbord of education related content. There are full university lectures and courses as well as content for the lifelong learner. The level of material found here is ideal for high school teachers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kindredcommunity.com/media/images/content/detail/RSAAnimate-SirKenRobinson-1-Oct-2010-page2251.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://www.kindredcommunity.com/media/images/content/detail/RSAAnimate-SirKenRobinson-1-Oct-2010-page2251.gif" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
For some inspiration, try RSA's animate page, which has Sir Ken Robinson's wildly popular animation <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U&list=PL39BF9545D740ECFF&index=5&feature=plpp_video" target="_blank">video</a> talk.<br />
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Youtube is still the number one go to site to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ehow?ob=" target="_blank">learn</a> how to do practically anything! I use it to learn how to do everything from an e-<a href="http://www.blogger.com/://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bycZcXBpmc" target="_blank">portfolio</a> to how to use the latest <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqqWI7OVDWA&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL170D3352CFBE7E10" target="_blank">technology</a>. You can create a playlist with "how to" videos for a specific unit or to reinforce skills used all school year, like this one on English grammar <a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4E6B378A9B167B6F&feature=plcp" target="_blank">rules</a>. You can search for playlists that other users have created by using the search box and filtering for playlist.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.geninv.net/wp-content/uploads/information-modern-contact-lens-vision-eye-care.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.geninv.net/wp-content/uploads/information-modern-contact-lens-vision-eye-care.jpg" width="194" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Are you looking at youtube differently yet? Well here are some tools to help with your youtube experience:</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">There are two <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://watch2gether.com/" target="_blank">site</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">s that allows you to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://www.synchtube.com/" target="_blank">collaboratively</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"> watch youtube videos. </span></span>Groups of students can watch videos together and have an online discussion.<br />
There is a <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S4AfKMhRXFnLFT1umFy5ZkxvXfESofanmIj2tEPHPwU/edit" target="_blank">technique</a> to create an "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Av52WOE1MjA" target="_blank">Adventure Story</a>" where the viewer decides what will happen during different parts in the video.<br />
Don't want to show the entire video? Now you can show a portion of it using <a href="http://www.tubechop.com/" target="_blank">Tubechop</a>.<br />
With <a href="http://www.dragontape.com/" target="_blank">Dragontape</a> you can create a "mix tape"video using a series of video sections you string together.<br />
We have all experienced the internet slow down from time to time, with <a href="http://www.saveyoutube.com/" target="_blank">Saveyoutube</a> you can download a video for offline use.<br />
<a href="http://www.overstream.net/" target="_blank">Overstream</a> allows you to add subtitles to videos and youtube now allows <a href="http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/03/auto-captioning-now-available-for-all.html" target="_blank">auto captioning</a> for all videos.<br />
If you want to browse youtube without all of the visual clutter, try <a href="http://clea.nr/">Clea.nr</a>, it is an extension for chrome, firefox and safari that cleans up your visual space on youtube.<br />
Finally, if you want to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1RoZafZGeU" target="_blank">edit </a>your own video, you can do it right on your own channel. Youtube has its own video editor, that has a low learning curve and is extremely convenient.<br />
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We hope we gave you some ideas to use youtube in your 21st century classroom!<br />
There are so many other ways to use youtube, please share yours with us.......Unknownnoreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-10366594134617263802012-02-07T21:09:00.003-05:002012-02-10T13:34:04.788-05:00Day Six: Today's Meet<div><h1 style="background-image: url(http://www.todaysmeet.com/images/title.jpg); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: normal; height: 0px; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-top: 45px; text-align: left;"><br />
</h1></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TodaysMeet (</span><a href="http://www.todaysmeet.com/" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.todaysmeet.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) is a Web 2.0 tool that allows students to “backchannel” ideas, questions, and comments during classroom lectures and / or class activities. The advantage to TodaysMeet is a real-time, organized, and visually public conversation that can take place on any Internet-connected platform. </span></div><div><span id="internal-source-marker_0.8209884697571397"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of the applications for this program can be a virtual Socratic Circle lesson, a “silent” debate, or a “Twitter-like” class activity. This is also a good tool for the students who do like to talk during class...they can be heard using TodaysMeet! Teachers can also use this site as an anticipatory lesson or a formative assessment. Professionally, administrators and teacher leaders could set up a TodaysMeet forum and get instant feedback at meetings, professional development days, and professional learning communities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Setting up a “meeting place” is quick and easy. Once you enter the website (www.todaysmeet.com) you will be asked to create a room. This unique URL can be active for anywhere between two hours to one year! When the meeting place is created, simply give the URL address to your students and watch the comments post. Students can write back in any teacher-directed criteria, including “text language. ”</span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">With only 140 characters to write, students must be concise in their responses.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Backchannel: </span><a href="http://www.todaysmeet.com/help/backchannel" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.todaysmeet.com/help/backchannel</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to use TodaysMeet (Video):</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gkl8EgFEKvY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Need a tutorial to get started? </span><a href="http://learnitin5.com/Todays-Meet" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today's Meet Tutorial</a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's an article talking about the pros and cons of Today's Meet and back channeling:</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.lz95.net/technology/it/Todays%20Meet.pdf">Today's Meet--A Back Channel</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">How can a back channel be used in your classroom?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">What benefits would there be to students having a conversation about the learning going on in the background while instruction is taking place?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Could this be a method for flushing out misconceptions or confusion before major assessments?</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-6565470552237171852012-02-07T04:00:00.015-05:002012-02-07T19:23:16.883-05:00Day Five: Symbaloo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static02.symbaloo.com/static/img/symbaloo-white_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Symbaloo" border="0" height="72" id="logoImg" src="http://static02.symbaloo.com/static/img/symbaloo-white_3.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">What is it?</span> Symbaloo is a tool to organize and share your online library. It allows you to create a personalized <a href="http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/dashboard">dashboard </a>right on your desktop.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Why I like it: </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">1. I can create a webmix of Internet sites that I frequent, and then just click on the desired tile to go directly to the destination - it is fast and accurate. No mis-typed URLs; no long list of bookmarks to sift through.</span><br />
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2. I can search the Symbaloo gallery and 'borrow' already-created webmixes that amass sites on a given topic that I may need. There are many webmixes for teachers by teachers. That is the beauty of the sharing aspect of Symbaloo. Here is a webmix I found on global warming:<br />
<a href="http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/3700-Global-Warming?searched=true">http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/3700-Global-Warming?searched=true</a><br />
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3. It has broad applicability - this is a web 2.0 tool that is useful to <em>any</em>one for personal or professional needs. <br />
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4. It is not computer-dependent. It is in the cloud and accessible from anywhere.<br />
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5. Our students will find this useful in high school as well as in college (to organize their sites for research) and also in their future careers.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">How you can use Symbaloo with your students:</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">1. You can set up a "digital library" for them for a given assigment. You can include tiles with the web sources <em>you </em>know to be credible and informative to the subject. You can even add a tile that links to the Destiny book catalog if you want them to include books in their research.</span><br />
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2. They can set up their own digital libraries so that as they find good sources for their research, they can add a tile that links to the source. This includes articles they find on the web, and also on the academic subscription databases. This is a tool they can take with them when they leave us.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Getting Started:</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">First take a look at this short video:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKIomnop_D0&feature=player_embedded">How to Create, Edit and Search for a Tile</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/YKIomnop_D0/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YKIomnop_D0&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YKIomnop_D0&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Creating Your Account</span>:</div><span style="color: black;">1. Go to Symbaloo.com</span><br />
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2. Click on the link near the top right to <u>Create free account</u>.<br />
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3. Fill in the requested information, agree to Symbaloo's terms and conditions and then check <em>Create my account</em>. <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Now you are ready to begin!</span> Log in to your account. Look at the tabs at the top of the Home Page. You may now choose from the following:<br />
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1. Utilize an existing webmix - Click on one of the tabs; and then select tiles of interest from the existing webmix (e.g. the <em>Webmix Collection</em> tab has a tile called iPhone apps. You may want to see if there are any apps with an educational focus that you can utilize).<br />
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2. Search the gallery by topic - Click on the link to <em>Gallery</em> at the top right of the page above the tabs. You can search the public webmixes using the search box.<br />
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3. Create your own webmix: Click on the link for <em>Add a new webmix. </em>Name it as you choose. Click Add. Now there are three options:<br />
a. Click on any tile. A dropdown will appear. You may select <i>Quick Start</i> and add tiles for the most frequently used web sites.<br />
b. Click on any tile. Type your desired site in the search box (e.g. Britannica). You will be offered a set of tiles from which to choose.<br />
c. Create your own tile. You can do this by clicking on the link at the top right for <em>Creating your own tile</em>. Or you may click on an empty tile. A dropdown will appear. You may select <u>click here to create your own tile</u>. Follow the step by step instructions that come up.<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Voila! </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Enjoy! Here are some links to information that may be of help.</span><br />
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<a href="http://service.symbaloo.com/index.php?p=help&app=ccs&module=pages&section=pages&folder=en_US/help&page=faq.html">FAQ</a><br />
<a href="http://www.symbalooedu.com/wp-content/uploads/Symbaloo-user-guide.pdf">Symbaloo User's Guide</a><br />
<a href="http://edutecher.symbaloo.com/">Edutecher's Symbaloo Tech Tools</a>Ceil Fredahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13330084433621807528noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-63370995731677968762012-02-06T06:00:00.032-05:002012-02-06T07:48:29.125-05:00Day Four: Discovery Education<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today’s post is on <a href="http://www.discoveryeducation.com/">Discovery Education</a>. If you do not have a password, please see an administrator for instructions on how to obtain one.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though Discovery Education is something that has been in the district for some time, there are many new features that could be of use and very exciting for our students at all levels.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the best features is Professional Development. You will see this on the main screen under the logo. This feature brings out the many other ways Discovery Education can be used. It walks you through the processes with clear step by step directions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Throughout the post, please pay attention to the pink explosions. They will tell you where to focus your attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Once you have logged in, you will see the main screen:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2Gs3u_FRh-feIJz8sBVqFLH6T7EjTUWw5kGtX8FZroDNNlsgpe3SaoO8iluR3YAQ5clxdnUCDfn1uumDMsLKGc72dHIXD2vtnLoydUSqFAYaNAP7cqiI2aEpihBfDnD7HxiYRZjoiJo/s1600/blog1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2Gs3u_FRh-feIJz8sBVqFLH6T7EjTUWw5kGtX8FZroDNNlsgpe3SaoO8iluR3YAQ5clxdnUCDfn1uumDMsLKGc72dHIXD2vtnLoydUSqFAYaNAP7cqiI2aEpihBfDnD7HxiYRZjoiJo/s400/blog1.bmp" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This gives you many options to explore. You can either search by topic or by subject and/or grade. This is illustrated above in the pink explosions.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I decided it would be most appropriate to search “Technology.” When you search something, much like the internet, you will receive a list of all of the offerings related to that topic in various mediums.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEBYgIF38rbxMzlZWTbORoitTt9EjatSBUWLEYR3FbLWigVZEWm81_4f_8IAn7KWrga1xQjaCK4JcT2E9hO0LdsJSVyWs6HvnSYI-9BzhniZlfN5ghAZqOlNeKebJs2wZY5s1WkSBc90/s1600/blog2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEBYgIF38rbxMzlZWTbORoitTt9EjatSBUWLEYR3FbLWigVZEWm81_4f_8IAn7KWrga1xQjaCK4JcT2E9hO0LdsJSVyWs6HvnSYI-9BzhniZlfN5ghAZqOlNeKebJs2wZY5s1WkSBc90/s400/blog2.bmp" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you scroll down the left side of the page, you can further narrow your search into topics and media you can utilize.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From the list I chose, “The Ups and Downs of Technology.” This video is sure to help explore how technology affects our lives. This video can be used in a Social Studies class to illustrate the affect technology has on our lives and the future. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE06PiB-oP1V5etKD2IbnR1z6B3rb2mOz02frALww_RebynClbj6JCUl1em_BKyEyhrR1iC-MVCV0SkEmu6bCi-8tGAmC7qyV4G7DfbZV7s4GuOYzu1hnmwwSjcUmlk_k5iZvZcTiRlbM/s1600/blog3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE06PiB-oP1V5etKD2IbnR1z6B3rb2mOz02frALww_RebynClbj6JCUl1em_BKyEyhrR1iC-MVCV0SkEmu6bCi-8tGAmC7qyV4G7DfbZV7s4GuOYzu1hnmwwSjcUmlk_k5iZvZcTiRlbM/s400/blog3.bmp" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="height: 142px; left: 0px; margin-left: 268px; margin-top: 85px; position: absolute; width: 270px; z-index: 3;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the main reasons why I chose this is the availability of a Teachers Guide. This helps me develop my lesson and possibly sparks an idea for a project. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6S5fUDsLopcNblRaRkymC9pSmZceY9L-pInfbcB9EEpvU-NGNSPGRmEqZKj3Rpu7g10VAdz1cfKHj3_zY_YJWXlCa8vSrhMMSUiqcJe9wQzhY_67dhBRY7vJgpJ2To6uWdObr8QLyC7A/s1600/blog4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6S5fUDsLopcNblRaRkymC9pSmZceY9L-pInfbcB9EEpvU-NGNSPGRmEqZKj3Rpu7g10VAdz1cfKHj3_zY_YJWXlCa8vSrhMMSUiqcJe9wQzhY_67dhBRY7vJgpJ2To6uWdObr8QLyC7A/s400/blog4.bmp" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Another great feature of this is the Video Quiz.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kZmjA_lnj8T_Euj5fWqrKr20vagYanIEr82IXtS1N6oEeqxlkWHZ2jzI8I9Jc0iBYTdJAKA5Euoajsax1wPBodXDta8eIEQNBTx5-EtWMCr5fhBfhJpt2z1mZzD-A9aTGRwJBqtKfYA/s1600/blog5.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kZmjA_lnj8T_Euj5fWqrKr20vagYanIEr82IXtS1N6oEeqxlkWHZ2jzI8I9Jc0iBYTdJAKA5Euoajsax1wPBodXDta8eIEQNBTx5-EtWMCr5fhBfhJpt2z1mZzD-A9aTGRwJBqtKfYA/s400/blog5.bmp" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="height: 206px; left: 0px; margin-left: -82px; margin-top: 98px; position: absolute; width: 347px; z-index: 5;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you enjoy this video and find that you can have use for it again on future projects, I would suggest saving it to “My Content.” You can do this by checking the box on the right side of the main video.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybk0lgbvYtIkw5A8kiYPM1fNqMfG1hO_VHPV_QQVm4lNb9cdV-1xAeiU4gniG9RsX4wUYBLfHIIgiDdOZJ5hgChmLmzfch5ZfyPY4zMuXwa0uSaxmEUOr6bqFMruluB35ujxllzwiINQ/s1600/blog6.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybk0lgbvYtIkw5A8kiYPM1fNqMfG1hO_VHPV_QQVm4lNb9cdV-1xAeiU4gniG9RsX4wUYBLfHIIgiDdOZJ5hgChmLmzfch5ZfyPY4zMuXwa0uSaxmEUOr6bqFMruluB35ujxllzwiINQ/s400/blog6.bmp" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then click “ADD” to My Content. It will then prompt you to ask where you would like to save it. You can just click “ADD TO SELECTED FOLDER.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When you have time to work with the site more, you can make folders for the subject matters you teach. For Example:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ucKF6yvwZE7onKjEf9ZLL-IUvXHinF80eKqsirf9K0iGHro2qTU-QwNVuweVdu_F1dwztrYH1Rp_Wd9TnfWxHuwka2L6mRxJ75aegzsxxwV73K6gmnml1ZtfvCYEAjgR58NwL4yCEvo/s1600/blog7.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ucKF6yvwZE7onKjEf9ZLL-IUvXHinF80eKqsirf9K0iGHro2qTU-QwNVuweVdu_F1dwztrYH1Rp_Wd9TnfWxHuwka2L6mRxJ75aegzsxxwV73K6gmnml1ZtfvCYEAjgR58NwL4yCEvo/s400/blog7.bmp" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you find that you would not like to save the entire video, you may just save a clip from the video. Repeat the same process from above.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Another useful feature of Discovery Education is the Discovery Educator Network. Here you can explore a variety of topics related to your classroom and how to bring modern methods and technologies into the scope of learning for your students.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuifFP3z4nObuEhQlMNaZKxvOZGFo-k9jfN63I0Sih4qnC2RiAHLLicsNmnvkb8IX_RKBrkM_p7GMwE1m0xuyzZ9HjzNTbUz5VMBiZR7MZ54mz4x64TZSSbhTAfW3Xk7cB_57wuMJ1ECY/s1600/blog8.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuifFP3z4nObuEhQlMNaZKxvOZGFo-k9jfN63I0Sih4qnC2RiAHLLicsNmnvkb8IX_RKBrkM_p7GMwE1m0xuyzZ9HjzNTbUz5VMBiZR7MZ54mz4x64TZSSbhTAfW3Xk7cB_57wuMJ1ECY/s400/blog8.bmp" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are so many features to this site, we could spend all day going through them. I would encourage you to visit the different features of the site when you have a free moment. There are many wonderful things to see!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</div>Steve Koumoulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01495947353259368831noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-53482012158149940882012-02-05T08:45:00.000-05:002012-02-05T08:45:56.382-05:00Weekend Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">First, the Technology Integration Teams would like to thank everyone who has viewed and commented on the blog posts so far. Here are some interesting statistics that we wanted to share with you:<br />
Number of posts: 3<br />
Number of page views in January: 435<br />
Number of page views in February: 1296<br />
Number of comments: 81<br />
Number of countries with at least 1 viewer: 11 (including Romania, Canada, France & Colombia)<br />
That's right, we are international!! It has been wonderful talking with colleagues about the different web tools and how they are using them in the classroom. Keep up the great conversations!<br />
<br />
We wanted to take a minute and bring to your attention one of our sponsors, <a href="http://techsmith.com/">TechSmith</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRzk8PopvBV6ueqyiXA7kMj8Ca_WhU-jRwkl1Y54RgFnLHqN0kl9Q" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRzk8PopvBV6ueqyiXA7kMj8Ca_WhU-jRwkl1Y54RgFnLHqN0kl9Q" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">TechSmith is a great company filled with people who are passionate about helping teachers bring more technology into the classroom. Some of their products that you may have heard of are <a href="http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html">Jing</a>, <a href="http://www.techsmith.com/snagit.html">Snagit</a>, <a href="http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.html">Camtasia Studio</a>, and <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/screenchomp/id442415881?mt=8">ScreenChomp</a>. All of these programs allow both teachers and students to create screencasts of their work to share on the Internet. Jing and ScreenChomp are both free programs and we encourage you to try them out with your classes. They are extremely easy to use and are designed for both the novice and advanced users. Just a note, ScreenChomp is available only on the iPad.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In a later post, we will be introducing podcasts and screencasts and the TechSmith products will be highlighted for both their ease of use and their functionality.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you to all of the people at TechSmith for their continued support for education and more importantly for helping us with giveaways for participants of this Web Challenge.</div> </div>MSeigelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05383883930301441191noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-22456773977052253872012-02-03T06:00:00.076-05:002012-02-03T11:25:03.675-05:00Day Three: Voicethread and Capzles-Presentation Tools<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://connectingbhseg.wikispaces.com/file/view/VoiceThread-logo.png/173954395/247x73/VoiceThread-logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="99" src="http://connectingbhseg.wikispaces.com/file/view/VoiceThread-logo.png/173954395/247x73/VoiceThread-logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.digitalpedagog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/voicethreadlogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="90" src="http://www.digitalpedagog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/voicethreadlogo.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span id="internal-source-marker_0.9887988574337214"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Voicethread and Capzles are sites that allow students and teachers to create collaborative multimedia presentations. Voicethread has a free educator account that allows you to create up to 50 presentations with your students. These presentations can include videos, images, documents, and audio elements. Students can comment on other presentations through written responses, voice recordings and/or web cam recordings. Voicethread also allows you to “draw” on the presentation to point out elements of the image or document.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Learn more about voicethread:</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;"></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At <a href="https://voicethread.com/products/k12/" target="_blank">Voicethread Educator</a> you can compare the different education plans available to you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many <a href="http://voicethread.com/?#c28" target="_blank">tutorials</a> to help you and your students learn how to use it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is a 6th grade Middletown student's <a href="https://sites.google.com/a/middletownk12.org/ms-knight-s-social-studies-page/home/student-work-samples" target="_blank">voicethread</a> for some inspiration. </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(It will ask you to sign into your voicethread account to view it..hint)</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can use voicethread as an <a href="http://vvrotny.org/2010/01/14/voicethread-as-an-assessment-tool/" target="_blank">assessment </a><a href="http://aesthetech.weebly.com/1/post/2009/04/voicethread-as-an-assessment-tool.html" target="_blank">tool</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can use it for brainstorming writing ideas and <a href="http://edte.ch/blog/2010/02/01/using-voicethread-for-writing-ideas-and-for-peer-marking" target="_blank">peer editing</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are a <a href="http://voicethread4education.wikispaces.com/" target="_blank">couple</a> of <a href="http://digitallyspeaking.pbworks.com/w/page/17791585/Voicethread" target="_blank">wikis </a>of just voicethread resources.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are <a href="https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dhn2vcv5_245f2nkv3g3" target="_blank">26</a> interesting ways to use voicethread in the classroom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is an entire diigo <a href="http://www.diigo.com/list/cobannon/voicethread-resources-tutorials" target="_blank">list</a> just for voicethread!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of course voicethread itself offers a host of <a href="http://voicethread.com/about/library/" target="_blank">ideas</a> for educators k-12 encompassing all content areas....</span><br />
<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Below is a 7th grade Middletown student's voicethread for even more inspiration...</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><object height="360" width="480" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><param name="movie" value="http://voicethread.com/book.swf?b=866884" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed height="360" src="http://voicethread.com/book.swf?b=866884" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" wmode="transparent" /></object></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sign up for <a href="http://voicethread.com/" target="_blank">Voicethread</a>!</span></b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Feeling inspired yet? Wait there's more, you should also try......</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://8.mshcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/capzles-logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="124" src="http://8.mshcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/capzles-logo.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.9887988574337214"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Capzles is a similar multimedia presentation tool that allows you or your students to create a free account. It is much newer than voicethread, and educators are beginning to harness the learning opportunities it has to offer. This site can be used to create a digital story or timeline. It allows collaboration with others while creating your capzles. They can be easily integrated into your curriculum in many different ways. You can create your own capzles for instruction or they can be a tool in a student's 21st century learning belt. Any way you incorporate them, capzles are very user-friendly and now many of our students opt to use this tool instead of traditional paper and pen!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sign up for <a href="http://www.capzles.com/" target="_blank">Capzles</a> today, so you and your students can begin creating tomorrow!</span><span style="color: #000099; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn how to use capzles...<b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">7th Grade Middletown Student Example:</span><br />
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<div id="16d27c2d-b19f-4533-a7d8-85ff2ef1219b_c" style="height: 400px; width: 640px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><object height="400" id="16d27c2d-b19f-4533-a7d8-85ff2ef1219b" width="640"> <param name="movie" value="http://widget.capzles.com/e.aspx/id=f1e7ddce-f0ed-4be8-a610-2bfbe02f9889,wid=16d27c2d-b19f-4533-a7d8-85ff2ef1219b,muteAudio=true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param><embed id="16d27c2d-b19f-4533-a7d8-85ff2ef1219b_e" name="16d27c2d-b19f-4533-a7d8-85ff2ef1219b" width="640" height="400" src="http://widget.capzles.com/e.aspx/id=f1e7ddce-f0ed-4be8-a610-2bfbe02f9889,wid=16d27c2d-b19f-4533-a7d8-85ff2ef1219b,muteAudio=true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowScriptAccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque"></embed> </object></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Both voicethread and capzles are available in the itunes apps store and there are plans for them to be available for android devices soon. Please let us know how you could use either of these tools with your students or if you have tried them before. Have fun!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-86526410411042197042012-02-02T00:01:00.002-05:002012-02-05T12:09:28.024-05:00Day Two: Wiki<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ogre3d.org/tikiwiki/dl1576" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://www.ogre3d.org/tikiwiki/dl1576" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A wiki is a collaborative website that allows its members to share, add, and modify information. This web page provides the owner with the opportunity to create an open, collaborative web page, limit the web page to members needing permission to modify the site, or design a closed web page that presents information to its viewers. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Things to consider when choosing a wiki provider:</span><br />
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<ul style="white-space: normal;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">User accounts (so your name is automatically attached to all changes you make).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Membership options/upgrades available.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Page history and stored revisions (not all wikis have this, but it can be an important feature-especially with students).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Document attachments-is this allowed?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Page edit locking (you don't want two people editing a page at the same time, as one will lose their changes).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">An easy-to-remember syntax.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Is it user friendly? Easy to navigate?</span></li>
</ul><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Where can you create a wiki?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.wikispaces.com/" target="_blank">Wikispaces</a> offers free accounts with many of the features listed above.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is a quick <a href="http://youtu.be/-dnL00TdmLY" target="_blank">video</a> explaining what wikis are and how they can be used in a group.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Sample <a href="https://8ila.wikispaces.com/" target="_blank">Wiki</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is a <a href="http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/file/view/wiki+editting+rubric+v2.pdf" target="_blank">rubric</a> for editing a wiki.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are<a href="http://edudemic.com/2011/12/open-wikis/" target="_blank"> 30</a> open wikis every educator should see.</span><br />
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a <a href="http://pdpresentertoolkit.wikispaces.com/workshop" target="_blank">wiki</a> that teaches you how to use a wiki and gives elementary and secondary examples.</span><br />
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The <a href="http://blog.wikispaces.com/2012/01/best-educational-wikis-of-2011.html" target="_blank">best </a>educational wikis of 2011.</span><br />
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Here is a video tour of the #mathchat (twitter) wiki.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">How will you use wikis?</span></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-82272969865842293712012-02-01T05:01:00.002-05:002012-02-10T13:34:40.143-05:00Day One: Blogger<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-25TOWy52KBk/TwZSjH1chdI/AAAAAAAAAAo/fcegecVVU6g/s1600/blogger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-25TOWy52KBk/TwZSjH1chdI/AAAAAAAAAAo/fcegecVVU6g/s1600/blogger.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our first Web 2.0 Tool is <a href="http://blogger.com/">Blogger</a>. This blog was created on blogger so it is only appropriate that we explain how it was created. Let's watch a video that explains what a blog is before we get into creating one:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/NN2I1pWXjXI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>How to Start a Blog</u><br />
Starting a blog is actually surprisingly simple. If you can type a document, you can blog. Start by going to www.blogger.com and signing in. Now, since Blogger is a Google program, your Middletownk12.org account will give you access. But, if you prefer, you can always register for a personal Gmail account first. Once you login, it is simply a matter of picking the right title, web address and layout for your blog. Now let's talk about why and how this can help you in your teaching.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><u><a href="http://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/2350">Why Should You Blog?</a></u><br />
<i>Reflection--</i>One of the most important reasons to start <a href="http://stumpteacher.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-resign-from-teaching.html">blogging is for reflection</a>. There are so many things happening in your life that sometimes you need to stop for a second and reflect on what just happened to you. It may be something a student said in your classroom, it may be a significant interaction with a colleague or it may just be an odd bumper sticker you saw on your drive into work. Whatever it is, stop and write down your thoughts on it. Plus you will have it forever, stored in a convenient location to look back on at a later date.<br />
<i>To Connect with People Like You--</i>Blogs are a great way to find people who have similar interests and view points as yourself. Science teachers can find other <a href="http://problemfinding.labanca.net/">science blogs</a>, nature lovers can find<a href="http://relivearth.com/naturelover/"> nature blogs</a> and foodies can find <a href="http://christinacooks.blogspot.com/">food blogs</a>. Websites are the way to find general information on a topic, but blogs allow you to become involved in the experiences of others.<br />
<i>To Have Fun and Be Creative</i>--One of the most important keys to successful blogging is having a passion about your blog's topic, so you can write prolifically about it. Some of the best and most interesting blogs started out as blogs that were written just for fun and to give the blogger a creative outlet. One of the best parts of blogging is taking an idea and letting it <a href="http://www.thenerdyteacher.com/2011/10/zombies-and-education.html">get silly</a>.<br />
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<u>How You Can Use Blogging in Your Classroom</u><br />
Student Blogs--First, every English teacher will tell you that the more you write, the better your writing will become. The simple act of having students put their thoughts "on paper" will help them when they sit to write that big essay later. Second, teenagers these days realize their impact goes far beyond their small circle of friends and family as they are developing relationships that stretch worldwide through all types of social media. What better way to get a <a href="http://plpnetwork.com/2011/08/26/5-reasons-why-our-students-are-writing-blogs-and-creating-eportfolios/">global perspective on your ideas</a> than to put them in a place where people from all walks of life can view them and respond? Finally, there is a strong movement to reduce the amount of paper being used in schools, both to help the environment and to reduce school budgets. When a student completes his/her assignment online, no paper is being copied and no stacks of grading are being carted home by the teacher. Blogs also give students the opportunity to make their assignments more dynamic. In science class, when asked to document their observations for a chemical experiment, they can both write down what they see and insert <a href="http://nelson-labbook213.blogspot.com/2011/10/v-behaviorurldefaultvmlo.html">pictures of the reaction right into the data table</a>.<br />
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Classroom Blogs--classroom blogs can function just like a normal class website (post handouts, create assignments, update a homework calendar) except they also allow for students to participate in an online discussion. The teacher can post an article/current event/video for the class to view and rather than using class time to discuss, the teacher can have an ongoing discussion through the comments section of the post. Here are a pair of Middletown teachers using blogs with their math classes:<br />
<a href="http://iversmath.21classes.com/">Mrs. Ivers' Classroom</a><br />
<a href="https://mrkerrigan.21classes.com/">Mr. Kerrigan's Classroom</a><br />
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<u>Blogs That Make You Go Hmmmm</u><br />
Below are links to blogs from educators who are leading the digital reform in schools and represent an unbiased, student-centered approach to education.<br />
<a href="http://www.connectedprincipals.com/">Connected Principals</a>--blog for leadership ideas and views on administration<br />
<a href="http://esheninger.blogspot.com/">A Principal's Reflection</a>--comments about education from a principal in Northern NJ, coordinator of <a href="http://edscapeconference.com/">Edscape2012</a><br />
<a href="http://stumpteacher.blogspot.com/">Stump the Teacher</a>--middle school language arts/social studies teacher & 2012 IL Teacher of the Year<br />
<a href="http://www.thenerdyteacher.com/">The Nerdy Teacher</a>--MI based English teacher and educational technology coordinator<br />
<a href="http://georgecouros.ca/blog/">The Principal of Change</a>--general comments about education and leadership from administrator in Canada<br />
<a href="http://blog.web20classroom.org/">Blogging About the Web 2.0 Connected Classroom</a>--edtech leader with great links for additional Web Tools<br />
<a href="http://lynhilt.com/">Lyn Hilt: The Principal's Posts</a>--elementary school principal with great views on education<br />
<a href="http://practicaltheory.org/serendipity/">Practical Theory</a>--HS principal, educational speaker, coordinator of <a href="http://educonphilly.org/">EduConPhilly</a><br />
<a href="http://cybraryman.com/blogs.html">Cybraryman's blog list</a>--an amazing list of blogs which can sorted by subject area<br />
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So, how will you use blogs as learning tools both for yourself and your students?</div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1938890173"></span><span id="goog_1938890174"></span></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7079844089395229609.post-3238952248753019012012-01-19T10:20:00.005-05:002012-01-20T20:09:18.335-05:00An Introduction<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Welcome to the Middletown Web Challenge!</i></span></div><br />
Have you ever looked at a project/a lesson/any assignment you used in class and thought "I wonder if there is a better way to do this?" or "If I look at another PowerPoint, I am going to scream." You may have gone to Google, done a search to see if you could find another teacher's website to get ideas from and have been so overwhelmed by the 1.3 million hits that you just gave up and went back to the way you did it before. Well, this blog is here to help you.<br />
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We have compiled 20 different learning resources for you to try out in your classroom ranging from animation software to podcasting to online whiteboards to Google Apps. Each tool was chosen for three reasons: ease of use, their extremely low price (aka free) and the fact that they can be used to have an immediate positive impact on your class. Each post will contain a description of what that particular tool does, how you can use it with your classes and examples of how others are using it.<br />
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Each time you use a tool, we would like you to make a comment at the bottom of the page for that tool describing how you used it and what your overall impression was about how effective it was in improving learning and teaching in your classroom. By leaving a comment, you will help everyone who views this blog have a better understanding of how each tool can be used in schools. Sometimes by seeing the' responses of others, it will spark in you an idea for a project you might never have considered. Additionally, (and this is the best part) every time you leave a comment, your name will be entered into a raffle to win...<br />
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Are you ready for this??<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQHt_gD-aXDI-v7AOoYuS5ufomisBJaijC9SdIUJQ1ufd0SpPrDUQ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQHt_gD-aXDI-v7AOoYuS5ufomisBJaijC9SdIUJQ1ufd0SpPrDUQ" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Ok, it's actually a surprise right now. The Superintendent is in the process of obtaining a very nice item for each school to be raffled off at the Middletown Web Challenge Reception to be held on Friday, 3/2, in the Commons at Middletown South. Once it is official and the devices have been purchased, we will send out the specifics. Sorry, but only district employees are eligible to win.<br />
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</div><div>The first post of this challenge will be displayed on Wednesday, February 1st. Before you can begin, however, you need to setup your Google profile. Here is a video walking you through the setup:</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwe2goOYybOloKWBbiqtSEgS57jr8opuIkdsToXhVnKeUOXKnfHr4K6P1KYP-dOxwRJ7Fj1VK2d9UG6I0y-jQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
</div><div>You need to have your profile set up so that your information will appear with your comments. Otherwise, how will we know who is using the blog and who to enter into the contest? Thank you so much for participating and we look forward to collaborating with you all throughout the month!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Sincerely,</div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Freehand575 BT'; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Your Technology Integration Team</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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PS: On a related note, if you find value from reading blogs you are going to want to start using Google Reader to track your blogs as they are updated. Here is a video explaining Google Reader.<br />
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