TELL US ABOUT A COOL TOOL! ADD YOUR ENTRY AS A COMMENT BELOW. PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IN YOUR RESPONSE.
- name of the tool
- platform(s) on which it works (web-based, iOS, Android, etc.)
- what it does
- one way it could be used in your situation (classroom, PD, etc.): Be specific with your ideas!
- optional: "testimonials" from users (i.e. students or staff)
Meograph.com
ReplyDeleteWeb based and iOS
Four-deminsional story telling/interactive timeline
I had my students pick an European Explorer that we had been studying about and make a time line. In the SAMR model I would place this in the redefinition phase if students worked together or in small groups and collaborate.
Another idea I had for the beginning of the year was for students to produce their own interactive time line.
My students loved this tool. They asked me everyday if we were going to work on Meograph.
I can't wait to try this myself and see how we can use it in our kindergarten class. An interactive timeline of our year together might be good to start.
DeleteToontastic requires iOS 5 or later and is iPad compatible. Toontastic allows students to create their own cartoon stories. I have not had a chance to use this with a class of students yet as we will be receiving the 1:1 iPads in the upcoming school year, but I am looking forward to the opportunity to do so. This app allows students to develop a setting, characters, conflict and resolution to the story as they develop their own cartoons. I plan to use this app to guide my students through story components. I also see this as a great addition to my writing workshop. This will give my students another way to share their writing. I think they will be very excited about sharing their creations!
ReplyDeleteSoundation
ReplyDeleteWebsite Generator
It allows people to create music.
One of the music standards is to compose music and it is really hard to motivate students to compose when you have a pencil & paper and they do not know where to start. This website would allow them to sequence all kinds of sounds with a push of a button. They can explore on what sounds good and what does not sound good. At the end, we can share our music with the class. I think the students would be proud of what they have created and it will motivate them to want to compose and make it fun at the same time. They can create and take their music anywhere!
http://www.soundation.com/
One of the greatest tools that I found that many students or teachers do not take advantage of is the Windows snipping tool. It is a tool that lets you take a snapshot, or picture, of a part of the screen, the whole screen or just a window. It is actually a tool that can be used in conjunction with a lot of other tools.
ReplyDeleteFor example, if a student was researching a topic for a presentation, they could actually take screenshots of information or pictures they found on the Internet. Students could also take a screenshot of a task they performed to help explain it in a presentation as well. Basically if you can see it on your Windows desktop screen, you can take a picture of it or snip it!
This past year after visiting a classroom, a student asked me how to take a snapshot with ActivInspire, and I told them, it would actually, in my opinion, be easier to do this using the Windows snipping tool. After I showed the student that day, the student was like, I am going to start doing it this way, it is so much easier. After seeing the impact it had on the student, I decided to go back and make a tutorial of how to use the snipping tool. You can view the tutorial for yourself at http://bit.ly/19VTtwP
Love the snipping tool!
DeleteI just found the snipping tool last year. I can't tell you how many times I've used it. I love the idea of students using it.
DeleteLisa just showed me how to use this last week, I know it will come in handy!
DeleteI agree Tracy. I use the Snipping tool in many ways from taking a quick clip for my website to inserting into Word.
DeleteLOVE to Snip!! Great tool to use in all areas!
DeleteAlso, I think an app that is worth every teacher purchasing is Teachers Tech. I think I paid $1.99 for it, but it has so many resources at your fingertips. I highly recommend. Just something extra that I wanted to throw in.
DeleteScribblepress.com
ReplyDeleteweb and iOS
To create, share and publish stories, writing, storytelling and report creations.
I will use this app throughout the year in my kindergarten classroom for students to create, edit and publish books for our class and families to share. In the fall, we will publish books about favorite colors with simple text and pictures. Later in the year, students will create and pusblish books on animals, weather, seasons, and any topic they create. Students can work alone, with a partner or small or whole group to work collaboratively to publish.
In the SAMR model, I would place this in the modification level and hopefully redefinition level throughout the year.
I used Scribblepress last school year and first graders loved it! Using real life pictures to write about is so developmentally appropriate for our little guys.
DeleteMyStory is a book creator where children can draw, color, type, import pictures from their photos, and record voice. Students can then share their creations by emailing or exporting the story to iBooks.
ReplyDeletePlatforms: iOS 5 or later/ iPad app
This app currently costs $1.99/ student (half off if buying for classroom.
Students used this app to take pictures of each stage of the Monarch Butterfly's life-cycle. Students then wrote a sentence or two describing each stage to make a book. I edited the stories with each individual and then students revised their stories and recorded their own voice reading the story. First graders didn't have access to email or iBooks for most of last year, but I'm looking forward to those sharing options.
First graders loved this app!
connexions
ReplyDeleteWeb-based
Open source library of modules of lesson plans - the site does require you to login in order to save lessons but you can also view without a login
I found this after reviewing the reading for module 4 and decided to look without much hope of finding anything because there is very little out there for agriculture and to my surprise I types in "Soils" and a wealth of information was at my fingertips.
I havent been able to play around with it enough to see if I can assign to students or if I can just insert a link into MBC to direct them there.
Science teachers - I even found a lab safety unit complete with a test!
I have found (through 5-star Symbaloo) Quizlet. Quizlet is a web-based flashcard application that also provides multiple study methods, practice quizzes, and games (where class statistics are posted for those of a competitive nature). I find Quizlet fascinating because of my struggles with finding a good way to teach and reinforce vocabulary. A recent conversation with a student who has failed the ECA three times resonated with me the importance of vocabulary. I think most would agree that the ECA is a minimal standard for graduating high school. It is the state’s idea of which skills every graduate should know. This particular student was almost in tears when he/she informed me that he/she didn’t understand the questions on the test because it had so many unfamiliar words. Conversations with colleagues has led me to understand the importance of vocabulary on the SAT and ACT as well. I tell my students: that although they hate to do the vocabulary, and often memorize it just long enough to pass the assessment, one typically does not build vocabulary much after high school. They will graduate (many of them) with as many words in their arsenals as they will ever have. So, I continue to struggle year after year with concepts and pedagogy for improving vocabulary. And I don’t want to just keep throwing worksheets at them!
ReplyDeleteHELLO QUIZLET! I have already added all the vocabulary for the year on Quizlet. I will have my students join my Quizlet Classes through a individual link. From there, I will be able to see who has reviewed the words. Last year, I developed a powerpoint flashcard template and posted it on My Big Campus. I have no idea who utilized this tool, but am confident that it was not too many students. With Quizlet, I can see who uses it. I do not feel the need to assign worksheets or any other practice assessment. I only want to introduce them to Quizlet and allow them to use the user-friendly study tool.
I also found www.planboardapp.com.
DeleteI REALLY like what you posted about Quizlet!. I am constantly trying to engage students with science key terms. You are right they do love competition and I love you can keep track of their engagement. I am going to use
DeleteI really think Quizlet is great also. I cannot wait to use it. I think using the Flashcard app (and I know there are several, but the one most of our sixth grade teachers used last year) is such an easy way also to work on vocabulary. It is such a simple easy app to build up vocabulary terms since I know I will have seventh grade students with iPads this year. Another year of changes and new tools to try.
DeleteBLOG "COOL TOOL"
ReplyDeletePREZI
Platform: Web-based iOS App: Prezi Viewer
I started asking my Honors students to create at least one Prezi to analyze and present their PBL projects two years ago. They really loved them, last year I offered as an option to all my students this year as many had learned the techniques from MR. Dugle's class and loved the creativity and options. They begged to present with Prezi. There are other great presentation tools like Google SlideShare, it is good to offer a choice. I found their project presentation quality as well as content improved, according to the rubric assessment.
I looked up several ways you can use Prezi in all levels of classrooms, there is even several Prezi u-tube videos on how to use it effectively. 1. Zoommg into the details of a picture or diagram...to share information in a visual way...ie...zooming into an apple to find cells, then cell organelles. 2. Using to create an interactive Venn diagram using text and/or images investiagating a key question. 3.You can easily imbed YouTube video...students can from home. 4. You can provide a rubric or outline with them to guide them through the process: What is the key question they will investigate? What images are they going to use? How will they lay the material out on the canvas (sketch how the images will be arranged) What path will they draw through their annimation? Children are creative they can create timelines, diagrams, and more to present. 5. Use a Prezi to create a mind map and organize the project. 6. I like to use the Prezi to document everything we do as we go through the project.....they beg to edit it. We have to build in time to edit daily if only 5-10 minutes. 7. Great for collaboration....they work on it at the same time and work on it anywhere, anytime (with internet). 8 it has great graphic organizers so you can use it to summerize facts and study for an assessment, or use it as an assessment.
I love Prezi because students have to think about the big picture and it is harder for them to just cut and paste information without really understanding what they are talking about or presenting. Students love it too!
DeleteList Selector is an iPad app that was such a timesaver last year. One of the classroom management tasks I always hated because it took so much time was making groups. I wanted my classes to be collaborative and I wanted a quick way to make groups both on the fly and prior to class starting. Enter List Selector. You simply preload your classes and then tell List Selector how many groups of students you want, and viola! Quick and easy. I could make random partners in about two seconds during a class activity. It even helped me make seating charts. Definitely a cool classroom management tool.
ReplyDeleteI used this app after you showed it to me and you are right, it is a great way to randomly select groups for activities.
DeleteVisual Thesaurus was the 2010 World Technology Award for education. The students and I use it daily in our Writing Workshop. It originally was web based but now is available on iPad and iPhone. When writing gets stale, one of the quickest ways to remedy it is to locate and replace the overused and tired words. To view Visual Thesaurus it is to be impressed. Check out Visual Thesaurus. It is not a free app but runs about $19.95 a year, but is well worth the money.
ReplyDeleteThe Visual Thesaurus is an interactive dictionary and thesaurus which creates word maps that blossom with meanings and branch to related words. Its innovative display encourages exploration and learning. You'll understand language in a powerful new way. Say you have a meaning in mind, like "happy." The VT helps you find related words, from "cheerful" to "euphoric." The best part is the VT works like your brain, not a paper-bound book. You'll want to explore just to see what might happen. You'll discover -- and learn -- naturally and intuitively. You'll find the right word, write more descriptively, free associate -- and gain a more precise understanding of the English language.
Vt announced a major technological advance for Visual Thesaurus users. VT just released a new version of the Visual Thesaurus that works for the iPad and the iPhone, at no extra cost to subscribers. And whether you're using the VT in your Web browser, on your iPhone, or on your iPad, you'll enjoy lightning-fast load times. It is now more than five times faster than the previous version. Just type a word in the search box, and click "Look it up."
iOS (the operating system for the iPad and iPhone)
Supported browsers:
Firefox
Chrome
Safari
Internet Explorer 9
Have fun using the newly expanded VT. Now on iPad and iPhone. David
I think this would be good for me personally. It is so fun seeing what everyone else is using in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI am excited to start using Camtasia with my students. I tried to download it to my personal laptop trying to use Madison’s key, but I am running out of time for this posting. I have played around with the program under the free trial, but didn't get as far into it as I wanted. Most of you went to the quick overview so you know that it is a screen capture tool which you can create your own videos. I plan on having my students create advertisements/persuasive pieces (either collaborating or working individually so they have the element of choice) about their fieldtrip to Chicago. I also plan on using it as a way for students to share information about themselves, book reviews, or research they have completed.
ReplyDeleteI also tried to play around with PhotoPeach. The article stated that it was easy, fun, and free. I like the fact that it will allow you to create slideshows with built in polls and quizzes. You can also use Youtube videos in your presentation as well. I was not successful in discovering exactly how this program is supposed to be shared, but want to investigate further. Some research stated that the free program was only accessible for comment through facebook and another program I had not heard.
I am excited about using Camtasia as well.
DeleteA n iPad app that I used with success in my classroom this year was the “Keep Calm Creator” app. Fashioned after the “Keep Calm and Carry On” posters that are so popular right now, the app is free and allows the user to create their own tagline to follow “Keep Calm and…” as well as to create the graphic symbol to accompany the message (I believe there is typically a crown). My students initially used the app to create digital posters that reflected their individual personalities. I then discovered that I could assign students the task of creating “Keep Calm and…” digital posters for characters within their reading that reflected character traits and themes within text. BTW, there are a few free “Keep Calm Creator” apps available in the app store.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like fun...I want to try it out
DeleteA tool that I used at the end of last year that I will use over and over is polleverywhere.com. This is a free website (set up an account) where you can get instant feedback from your class. Students can answer multiple choice questions or short answers to any question you can pose to them. A great thing is that students can send their answers via phone, laptop, or any other device. I did my final review with this website and the kids loved it and were engaged the whole time. Once they have voted you just need to give the website a couple of seconds and their response will show up on the board. A drawback is that the answers are antonymous. So this was fine for a quick, instant feedback review, but would not work if you wanted to associate a grade based on the student's performance. Next year I am going to embed these random questions within lesson to check for understand and get the kids focused again. Everyone should check it out!
ReplyDeleteMadPad by SMULE is a tool I found that I am looking forward to using in my classroom. It is for Ipad, Iphone or Ipod. It is a tool that let's you mix your own sounds or those from pre-created libraries to create your own music. It is free to use. Basically, you can record any sounds you want...nature, mechanical, body percussion, etc. and then use those sound clips to create your own music from them. I plan ato incorporate it into a unit I am creating using "found sounds" and which is based largely on the Stomp and Blue Man Group performances. Students will record their sounds and create their own music/rhythms with this tool
ReplyDeleteThe Cool Tool I found in the Five Star 5-0 is called Infogram. It is a web based tool that graphs data in lots of different styles. One of the tasks we focus on in ICP is reading and creating graphs. This tool would allow students to use the same data to create vastly different looking graphs. By looking at the graphs they create and those of their peers, students can see differences and learn how to decipher the information a particular style of graph presents.
ReplyDeleteThe cool tool that I've had a great experience with this year is Google Forms, web -based, that I've used with students in the journalism/student publications class. My favorite activity with this has been a Daily Accountability form that I use when my students are in production mode, all working individually. At the end of the 60-minute fourth period class, each person needs only 3-5 minutes to complete the form to tell what s/he has accomplished for the day, with whom s/he teamed, what else they need to do to complete the project, and even a reflection on the work completed for the day. This gives me a way to help keep students accountable for more than just the final project and puts the responsibility back on them.
ReplyDelete