Make Your Own Motivational Posters

Students can get inspired and be creative in making their own motivational poster at bighugelabs.com.

It's very fast and easy to use. Students can share their poster with the class by presenting it on a PowerPoint or SmartBoard slide, or uploading their poster to a blog or any online conference. Here's one that I quickly made using an image from the Disover Magazine website (source listed below).
















Source: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/science-tattoo-emporium/?nggpage=11&pid=110

Accommodations in the Digital Classroom

10 Uses for a Digital Camera for Students with Learning Disabilities:

1. Create an individualized activity sheet, with photos of the student doing various physical activities
2. Create a concept map using photos, with labels (for various subjects)
3. Take pictures of animals, pets, and/or people and write about the picture
4. Take pictures on different days throughout the week, and have students try to sequence the pictures correctly
5. Build vocabulary with pictures of people, objects and places on school grounds (eg. Math or Science terms)
6. Comparing items, people, concepts and/or environments using digital imagery to support ideas
7. Use pictures of familiar places in the community to learn names and functions
8. Tell a story using digital storytelling application
9. Create title page of each unit in a course using pictures related to topics within that unit
10. Pictures to learn different ways of organizing/classifying items

Digital Classroom

10 Ways to Integrate Digital Cameras into the Classroom

1. For Geography – photos from an actual “fly over” of their city to document land uses and create a photo essay
2. For Math – photos of parabolas in real life applications
3. For Math – photos of 2-D and 3-D geometric shapes in real life
4. Family tree project including pictures of family members
5. Community Profile diagram (Student in centre, then working outwards to Family, Friends, School, Clubs, Town/City, Province, Country)
6. School Clubs and Sports activities
7. Assemblies and school events (eg. Terry Fox Run, or Drama Festival)
8. For Phys Ed or Art- Action shots
9. To create an advertisement
10. Embed images into presentations

Advantages of Digital Imagery

The use of digital photography has many advantages both in and out of the classroom. If planning on incorporating digital photography into your classroom, or if simply interested in learning how to take the perfect picture, you may find the following Photography Tips and Techniques helpful.

Advantages of Digital Photography

Immediately able to see the image (on digital camera), and assess the photo quality.
Know whether or not to retake the photo to get the desired results.
Not paying for development of unwanted photos.
Cheaper than buying and developing film.

Choice of printing one, some, or all of the photos.
Photos can be printed at any time, and as many times as needed.

Easy to organize by date, trip or category,
and therefore easy to find to specific photos.

Always a click away.
Very portable, can be accessed on phone or other hand held devices.

In terms of editing, there are many advantages, such as:
photo enhancement,
brightness adjustment,
horizon adjustment,
overlap different photos,
special effects (eg. black and white, and painting effect).

Efficient mass storage, using no physical space.
Images do not deteriorate over time.

Easy to share with one or many other people at the same time.
Can be downloaded from other sources.
Can be uploaded to a server or website.
Embed into documents and/or presentations.

Thanks for reading!

Marcia

Searching the Sea of Online Audio Resources

In researching audio technology for the classroom, I came across a vast array of resources. At first, it was difficult to know where to start, since there is so much available on the internet. However through collaboration and further research, I have chosen some useful resources to list here on my blog. I hope that this list could serve as a starting point for others who are interested in learning more about digital audio for the classroom.

Online Conferencing Applications
Skype
GoToMeeting

Online Lessons (Audio and/or Video)
iTunes U available online through iTunes Store

Collection of Educational Audio Books, Podcasts and Downloads
www.learnoutload.com

Free Audio Books
Classics
librivox.org
Classic Tales

Free Recording Sofware
Audacity

Free Audio Clips
www.partnersinrhyme.com
www.freeaudioclips.com
music.download.com
www.findsounds.com

Digital Storytelling Applications
Voicethread.com
Microsoft Photo Story


Happy researching!

Marcia

Free Text to Speech Software

Audio technology is a great way to aid and increase literacy in the classroom. The following text to speech applications are available as a free download. They are only compatible for Windows, however can read text from a variety of programs such as MS Word, MS Outlook, Internet Explorer and Adobe Reader. The voices sound a bit robotic, but overall the intonation and fluency are not bad.

Text-Speaker
Natural Readers

Marcia

Benefits of Digital Audio

The use of digital audio in the classroom offers more flexibility and convenience for both teachers and students. Listed below are some advantages of digital audio over cassettes and CD's.

1) Global audience potential
- Audio may be accessed by a global audience, increasing information distribution and student access. For student made audio, it increases student awareness of communication efficacy.

2) Easy to use
- digital audio files are easy to use, store and share.
- easier than cassettes to navigate to specific parts of the audio file.

3) Convenient classroom use
- Specific "listening centers" are not necessary since iPods or mp3 players can be brought to the students opposed to the students relocating to the cassette or CD player.
- can be used by many students at the same time with access to a set of mp3 players or iPods.

4) Increased accessibility
- audio files may be shared and copied electronically
- or may be posted online for either a specific group of people or everyone
- may be accessed at any time on iPod; does not require use of power outlet or cassette/CD player.


Example: Digital Audio in Special Education
Special education teachers can read upcoming tests, so that students may have access to narration.

- More convenient for students: can play and replay any question when needed.

- More convenient for teachers: teachers only have to read test questions once, then can distribute to a large number of students at the same time.


Marcia

What is RSS?

RSS, so I recently learned, stands for "Really Simple Syndication". I had no idea, and even after learning what the acronym stood for, I still had no idea.

I then found this video which is quite helpful in explaining RSS to people like me who are new to the whole scene of internet feeding - I mean - web feeds. Sorry, still learning the lingo. Basically, RSS helps to simplify the publishing and reading of information on the web.



Hope that helped.

Changing the Classroom, One Podcast at a TIme

I must admit, I did not know a whole lot about podcasting until reading the articles posted in this forum. Every once in a while, I would catch an advertisement on a newscast to “visit our website and watch the podcast”. I have used podcasts in my Grade 9 Geography classroom, mostly relevant stories that I had found on CBC News, however I also had the perception that podcasts usually included video. I now know that this is not the case, and that there is an immense collection of podcasts including audio only, audio with images, and of course videos.

So, in the spirit of integrating this technology in the classroom, I made a list of the benefits that I feel have the most impact.

1. Podcasts can “change student perceptions of audience.” (Fryer, p. 1)
One of teachers’ favourite questions is the same question that students’ despise. I’m speaking of: “Explain your thinking.” When posting information on the internet for everyone to hear (and see applicable), students are not only communicating to the teacher, but their peers as well, and potentially a global audience. This encourages them to be aware of different varying degrees of knowledge and perspectives of their audience. They are motivated to explain their points more thoroughly, opposed to assuming audience (being normally the teacher) knows what they mean.

2. Time/place choice
Podcasts have the power to change the classroom from a fixed location in space and time to a flexible location, giving more control to the learner. At the high school level, there has been much discussion about the time at which school should begin. You may recall the Toronto District School Board delaying the start time of one of their high schools to 10:00 a.m. to maximize student alertness during school time. (See Toronto Star Article, and CP24 Article)

Another benefit is that podcasts extend learning beyond the classroom walls. Students have the opportunity to create their own learning environment.

3. “No-frills communication” (Fryer, p. 3)
Audio podcasting forces students to communicate effectively without the use of visual aids. This encourages them to explain their ideas and/or understanding of concepts thoroughly. In Math, this would also be a useful method for encouraging students to learn and use the proper vocabulary related to the subject.

In conclusion, I have realized that I have underestimated the power of explicit audio learning. Podcasts offer a new and novel way to incorporate this learning style into my teaching. Upon further research and collaboration with colleagues, I hope the post a list of fun and interesting ways of incorporating technology for the audio learner.

Stay tuned☺

Marcia

Source:
Fryer, Wesley A. Tools for the Teks: Integrating Technology in the Classroom.

Spice Up Online Discussions with VoiceThread!

VoiceThread is a neat way to integrate audio, images and text into story telling and discussion. It's very interactive, and offers different options for comment participation. Users may comment in the form of text, audio or video. You can even comment from your cell phone!

This VoiceThread discusses the use of this application for educational purposes. I was intrigued to hear and see comments from educators all over the world!

Marcia

Math Podcasting

Assessment and evaluation in the Math classroom has certainly changed over the years. Students are evaluated in four categories: Knowledge, Application, Thinking/Inquiry, and Communication. For me, Communication to be the most difficult category to assess and evaluate in my Math classes. I often find myself trying think of different and/or better ways of doing this, and podcasting seems to be an interesting option to add to the list.

I like the idea that students can focus on taking what they know about Math (vocabulary, strategies, skills and knowledge) to communicate these ideas effectively. This is often a challenge, even for the brightest students. I also like that it promotes overall communication skills as they "become attuned to their tone, intonation, speed of delivery, and expression..." (Fryer, p. 2).

At the end of Fryer's article, he asks, "Isn't it time you and your students started a classroom podcast?", I thought, "Yes, of course! .... Ok.... How?"

This is where I got "stuck" - how can I effectively integrate this technology into my Math classes. I wrote down a few things that came to mind, and right away I was thinking mostly about reflective activities. I listed some ideas below:

Group reflection assignment: Students talk about the unit. Discuss what they learned, liked, disliked. Discuss what they found interesting, things they would like to learn more about or do more of in class. OR they could summarize the unit as a review.

Individual response: Students choose from a list of questions provided by the teacher which to respond. They may respond in different formats such as a blog or a podcast.

I decided that I needed to hear/see some examples for inspiration. I was quickly and easily able to locate Math podcasts in iTunes. Overall, I found them interesting, but mostly because I love Math. The podcasts I happened to see had very useful visual aids, however the audio was very dry and monotone. I plan to continue my search, and I am optimistic that I will be able to find a great use for podcasts in my classroom.

Marcia

Source:
Fryer, Wesley A. Tools For Teks: Integrating Technology in the Classroom. Classroom Audio Podcasting.

Now, When You Say "Book", Do You Mean "Paper Book" or "Digital Book"?

Inspired and intrigued by the introduction of Apple's iPad, a colleague raised the question about the possibility of books becoming irrelevant. With new technology oozing from the seams of every major software developer, it's a very interesting question. I actually began to wonder, "What is a book, anyway?"

So, will e-books eventually replace paper books, just as digital music replaced its predecessor the music album? Well, at the risk of sounding very traditional, here are my thoughts on this issue.

Reading is an experience, and there are now as there always have been, a wide swath of reading materials for one to consume. T.V., the Internet and digital media are all threats to the reading industry, however books and bookshops are part of our culture. People like the experience of reading a book, holding a book, smelling a book and being seen with a book, none of which can be replaced by iPod, iPad, or iAnything.

I'm not saying that I think e-books are bad and won’t have an impact. In fact, I believe they will change the future of books as we know them. I think e-publishing has and will continue to massively increase the accessibility and circulation of research and literature. For those who can afford the gadgets, it's easy, convenient, and often cheaper than buying the printed version. Not to mention the environmental benefits of paperless books, and the elimination of transportation of goods. And of course, there are already many classrooms in which every student has their own laptop and all textbooks are digital.

In conclusion, there is no doubt that e-books will change the future of book production and distribution, but I don’t think the “paper book” will be extinct any time soon. Perhaps, one day I will look back on my naivety and laugh! Only time will tell.

Marcia

Choosing Educational Software

Choosing appropriate software for the classroom can be tricky at times. This can be an overwhelming and time consuming task. For me, a lot of consideration must be given to the time it takes to learn and set up the program, and if I need to organize lab time in order to utilize the program effectively. Since lab time in my school can be very challenging to acquire, activities need to be well timed, and predictable in terms of length.

Despite this challenge, I am still able to find many other methods for technology integration through use of the SmartBoard. The SmartBoard allows me to present, simulate, and explore new concepts every day! I often use the SmartBoard as a station in group activities ranging from investigations, to drill and practice games, to enrichment activities. This has allowed me to move away from "technology application days" that were separate from "regular teaching days", to incorporating technology into my everyday teaching.

My starting point is variable. Sometimes I have a specific learning outcome in mind, and choose software that will enhance the process. Other times, I discover new technology or have a specific program in mind, and then try to think of ways that the program will enhance the learning of my students. Wherever the starting point, some other key considerations for me are:

Curriculum Connections
The program should help most students reach the learning goal of the lesson or activity.

Accessibility to students and teachers both at school and at home
If the program is more accessible, there are more opportunities for integration in the way of student practice at home, or for assessments and evaluations.

Audience engagement
The program should appeal to the target audience (students AND teachers). Let's face it, why would teachers make an effort to incorporate technology that they themselves do not enjoy using? Some factors include overall presentation, such as quality graphics, multimedia options, interactive games, and appropriate quantity and quality of text per page.

Reliability
The program needs to function reliably and consistently. Time needed to set up and get program ready for use should be fast and predictable.

Flexible Integration
There are a variety of ways of integrating the software into the classroom. For example, investigation and exploration activities, simulations within lessons, practice and consolidation activities, enrichment or remedial activities, and/or games.

User friendly
This is the most important feature for me. Ease of navigation and use of features is critical for use in the classroom.

Below are some of the programs that I often utilize in my lessons or class activities, and the ways in which they are most commonly used.

Fathom and Excel - For organizing data, creating charts and graphs, analyzing the relationships between variables.
ExploreLearning.com - For simulations, practice and consolidation, investigations, visualizations, and interactive games.
Geometer's Sketchpad - For investigations, simulations, visualizations of abstract concepts, graphing, and designing.
Smart Technologies Notebook software - For presentations, simulations, practice and consolidation, and games.

Marcia