Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Space Day

Part I:
NASA has created an iPhone App for Space-o-holics to keep up with all the projects going on at NASA. Everything is now available at the touch of your fingers. What a crazy world we live in.


Part II:
Have you been looking for video that shows the magnanimity of our universe or how infinitely small we are. Here is a great example

Monday, December 14, 2009

Changing your Facebook Privacy Settings

Last week Facebook changed their privacy policy so now your pictures can be indexed and viewed by search engines like Google and Yahoo. To change the settings only takes a few seconds but saves a lifetime of privacy.

How to Video

Friday, December 11, 2009

Outlook on the Desktop

If you live and die by your calendar like I do, you will love Outlook on the desktop. Its like having one of those giant desktop calendars, but this one is virtual. I am not promising that you will never forget an appointment, but it will be harder not to see one coming up.

Monday, December 7, 2009

OpenDNS: Web Security

OpenDNS is a great tool for filtering the web at home or at your K-12 institution. I have been searching for a good content filter for my home computers and after looking around I never found anything that meet all my requirements. I wanted something that filtered content, did not slow down my computers, but gave me options and control. After reading an article on Lifehacker on the best Internet filters to use I decided to give OpenDNS a try. OpenDNS suggest you install it at the router level, which I did, this enables you to filter content on any computer that logs on to your network. I was amazed at the simplicity of the install and controls.

I went with the free version, however there is a home upgrade for $9.95 a year. They also have special K-12 pricing. (See Pricing)

Installing is easy...

As my colleagues always say there is so substitution for adult supervision

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Wolfram-Alpha: A Math Teachers Best Friend or Worst Enemy?

WolframAlpha allows you to solve easy or complex math problems by simply typing "solve:" and then the math problem. Example: solve: 2x+5=9. What makes this different than other search engines is an orange hyperlink that says "show steps" WolframAlpha walks you through the steps of solving the equation. (See Example) Students could use this to help them on their homework or they could simply let WolframAlpha do their homework and show work.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Flockdraw: An interactive Whiteboard

Have you ever wanted to collaborate visually or artistically like you would with a Google Doc. Flockdraw allows you to collaborate in real time with others while you draw your idea. Its simple and its free. Think of it as Kidpix or MS Paint that students can work together on, it saves your work automatically and you can embed it to your website.

Ideas for the classroom: "Pictionary" game with vocabulary or spelling words, practice drawing maps. work math problems with other students

Start Collaborating in 5 easy steps

Step 1: Go to the Flockdraw website

Step 2: Click on the Start drawing button

Step 3: Copy the address from the address bar and paste it into an email

Step 4: Send it to collaborators

Step 5: Start drawing / collaborating

Google Earth Play and Learn

Google makes it easy to start implementing Google Earth in your classroom. They have created an online game that teaches students and teachers how to implement Google Earth. The game start off with finding your house and it leads you through the process of creating content. Google has done it again!

Go Check out the game: Get started with a Practice Quiz


Here is short video over viewing what google earth can do.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Is This the Future...

Google is coming out with their own operating system, it is cloud based and will boot in seven seconds. Google is betting on the fact that most users use the computer to get on the internet so why not make the operating system the browser.

Google OS

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

TimeMe: Classroom Timer for Free

Time me is a very simple timer that can be used in the classroom. Make sure you click on the Time / Stop watch settings to select an alarm sound if not the timer is silent. It is ad supported and therefore free. However, you can purchase the download verision and the ads will be removed. Go check it out at www.timeme.com

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Google has Changed the Way we Teach

Several weeks ago a friend of mine sent me the Bart Simpson episode that talks about cellphones in the classroom. One of my favorite quotes is from Bart's new teacher, "Are you telling me you memorized that fact when anyone with a cellphone can find that in thirty seconds?" The truth screamed out at me. We can no longer use low level questions in the classroom or for homework. A student does not even need to read or even use his textbook to find the answers they only need keyboarding skills and Google

How do we fix this?
1. Ban Google
2. Google proof questions.

Students must be challenged to use the upper level of Blooms Taxonomy. Questions must make them apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate.

I wish I could take credit for all these thoughts, but I cant please check out the ElectronicEducator's blog.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Classroom Response for the 21st Century.

When I think of a Classroom Response System I think of a remote like device that uses infrared or radio frequency to transport information from the student's device to the teacher computer. I came up with an idea this week for a system that just might work in the classroom. You can take any internet enabled device whether wi-fi or a student cellphone on a data plan and point them at a Google Form (Quiz) created by the teacher. Teachers would create their own content post the link on their website and have students take the quiz from their device. Teachers could even form cohorts and share quiz folders in Google Docs and build the school or districts Quiz / Test database.

Schools could even purchase a classroom set of iTouches for teachers or grade levels to share for almost the same price of a reponse system. In addtion to the "response system" you have 100,000 apps from the Apple Apps Store. Sounds like a much better use of money.
Try it from your device <-- Click here

Screen Shot from iTouch of Google Forms Quiz: (Click on Picture for full size image)
How to Create a Quiz Using Google Forms





Thursday, November 12, 2009

Make Your Own Animated Video with Xtranormal

Have you ever wanted to make your own animated video? Xtranormal make this process easy and free. You can either do your own voice overs or it has a speech-to-text option where your characters have computer generated voices.

How to Video: by YutubeMedia

Google Safe Search

Google has made searching for children just a little bit safer. You can now lock your safe search settings with a password, so your children cannot search for illicit material. Any time you see the Google Colored Balls (See Above Picture ) you know that your searches are locked and safe. I do love the disclaimer at the end of the video. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTION FOR ADULT SUPERVISION when children are on the Internet. This tool does make it a little bit safer.

Google Safe Search: How to Lock

Monday, November 9, 2009

Texas ASCD Hightlights

This years Texas ASCD Conference focused on technology, I gleaned some incredible information from the concurrent sessions and the keynote speakers. I highlighted some of my favorite points in the slideshow below. Like always Alan November challenged educators to unlearn what we know and to try something new. He made the analogy of how we need go back in time and be more like the one room school concept where children teach children. We have to teach less and let the students take ownership of there learning.

Highlights from Texas ASCD

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Wallwisher: Brainstroming in the 21st Century

Wellwisher is a great site to post news, ideas and even brainstorm with your class. (Or another class across the hall or across the world.) Wallwisher requires an account to create a wall but people who post notes simply have to point and click. Let me know what you think of Wellwisher on my "wall" http://wallwisher.com/wall/classroomnext . Thank you R. Rodgers for showing me this. Check out his blog at Moss-Free Stone

Friday, October 30, 2009

Putting Technology in the Hands of our Students

I was recently preparing for a presentation for Texas ASCD about usteam.tv. One of the things I wanted to show was how to upload a video from http://www.ustream.tv/ to http://www.youtube.com/. I googled for instructions and the first video that I clicked was the one below. I was amazed that I was getting instructions from a 10 year old. Not only was I getting instructions, but I was watching a full scale production with advertisements. Just when I think I am doing a great job of implementing technology in schools I realized how far behind I am. I wonder how this child is being challenged in his school? I wonder if he just can't wait to get home so he make his own tutorials about the lesson that day to show the teacher?

Learning from a 10 year old.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Are You Teaching Like You Are Living?

Thank you for attending. Please email if you have any questions. Classroomnext@gmail.com

Region X & XI Conference at Byron Nelson HS

All the links are hot. Thank you for attending.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

How to open up an iTunes account without a credit card

We just purchased a classroom set of iTouches for students and were planning on using the paid version of iSign and then use several of the free apps for classroom projects. Our first hurdle was that iTunes requires a Credit Card, with a little bit of searching I found a solution right from the Apple help forums, so this is completely legal and not a hack. For those visual learners check out the How-to-Video


How to Open an iTunes account without a Credit Card

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Time Lapse Video for your Classroom

Have you ever wanted to document what went on in your class all day, take pictures of a sprouting seedling, or watch a flower bloom in slow motion? You can do this with a webcam and free software.

If you are using a Mac try Gawker it will take pictures in intervals with your built in iSight camera and when its done Gawker will put all the pictures in to a Quicktime movie. Examples (Gawker will also let you use multiple webcams)

If you are using a PC download Microsoft's Webcam Timershot. Timershot will save all the photos into a folder of your choosing. To incorporate them into a video drop the pictures into movie maker and see your photos come alive.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Limeades for Learning

Do you ever go by Sonic and think "Do I ever need a Route 44?" Well now don't think about it just go and get one. Attached to your drinks is a little tab that peels off with a security code. Use that code and to go to the Limeades for Learning website and vote for an educational project near you. Don't forget Sonic Happy Hour is from 2 -4 o'clock and drinks are half price.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Google Picasa, It Just Got Better!

Google does a great job of taking great free applications and making them better. Picasa already crops, organizes, straightens, retouches, and adds text to photographs, but now it adds face recognition. I also appreciate the fact that it only takes up ten megabytes of space unlike other editors that are not only memory hogs but constantly run in your system tray. Plus its simpe to use. Great Job Google!

How to work Face Recognition Video





Monday, August 31, 2009

Current Events: Channel One & CNN Student News



Two great online resources for current events are Channel One News and CNN Student News. Both sites are targeted for students and do a great job of relaying the news in a "hip" fashion.

Channel One: It has more commercials, but does a great job of incorporating student input with a comment section. Young broadcasters you might remember this is where Anderson Cooper and Lisa Ling got their start.

CNN Student News: Less "hip," but covers the news short and concise with no video commercials.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Authentic Audience: YouTube Gives Your Students a Global Voice

One of Phillip Schlechty's design qualities in his book Working on the Work is giving students an Authentic Audience. An example of this is a Chorus teacher in New York City started broadcasting his students singing popular songs on YouTube. The videos showed students passionately engaged in their work and the videos went viral. So viral that one of the songs Landslide caught the attention of the author Stevie Nicks. Stevie was so touched by their work that she invited them to Madison Square Garden to preform for her. After they were done Ms. Nicks hugged every student.

Reach out and take a chance give students to opportunity outside the school walls and see that an imagination can take you places you never dreamed you could go.

They were also nominated for a MTV music award, not bad for a bunch of 5th graders.

Link to PS Chorus blog to see more of there great performances.
http://ps22chorus.blogspot.com/


Video # 1: Landslide by PS22


Video # 2: Students preforming at Madison Square Garden for Stevie Nicks

Monday, August 24, 2009

Great Games from Sheppard Software all Subjects (FREE)

Most games have 3 levels... Easy, Medium and Hard. Plus these games would work great with Interactive White Boards.

Social Studies:
US Geography: States, Capitals, regions, and Landforms
World Geography: Capitals, Countries, Landforms

Math:
All Games: Basic Operations, Mixed Operations, Fractions, Place Value, Telling Time, Dollars and Cents, Early Math, Pre-Algebra.

Science:
Animals: Trivia facts on all kinds of animals
Animal Games: Producer and Consumers, Food Chain, Animal Diet, Endangered Animals, Carnivores, Omnivores, Herbivores, Mammals, Birds and Identifying Animals to Regions
Chemistry: Elements and the Periodic Table

Good links at Sheppard Software:

How to embed YouTube Videos in PowerPoint 2007

In the last year YouTube has made it more and more difficult to download content from their website. So if you would like to "legally" embed videos into your presentation here are step by step instructions to embed YouTube content directly into your PowerPoint 2007 Presentations.

Instructions for PP 2007:
1. Copy the YouTube URL that you would like to view
2. In PowerPoint turn the Developer Tab on by clicking the MS logo on the top left of the screen. At the bottom of the window that pops up click the PowerPoint Options button. Check the box that says "Show Developer Tab in Ribbon."
3. Now that you have the Developer Tab in PP click on the More Controls button it looks like a hammer and a wrench.
4. Select Shockwave Flash Object
5. Now "draw" the box on your PP where you would like the Youtube video
6. Right Click on the box and select Properties
7. In the box to the right of Movie Paste your YouTube URL
8. Now change the URL as follows delete "watch?" and change the = sign to /

How-to-Video for 2007:


How-to-Video for 2003:

Thursday, June 18, 2009

iPhone Art

Incredible artwork done by finger painting on a iPhone Application called Brushes. Checkout more pics from the Telegraph.co.uk or Brushes Photostream on Flickr.

This picture was created by Susan Murtaugh check out her Flickr Photostream.

My questions how are educators using new mediums to create and engage students? Are we seeking, reacting, or just doing things the way we have always done them?

Thursday, June 11, 2009

How to Create Tutorials Using FREE Screen Capture Software

Step 1: Download CamStudio <--- click link to start download

Step 2: Set up CamStudio to Record Screen

Step 3: Using PowerPoint for your Tutorial

Google Squared

Google Squared is a new feature within Google Labs that searches the Internet and puts your search results in a spreadsheet format. This is a great way for students to create notes and compare items in seconds.

How to Video



Check out Google Squared

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Twitter: The Easy Explanation

I have had several questions about using twitter in the classroom or simply "What is twitter?"This video explains it better than I ever could.



Former blog post with examples:
http://classroomnext.blogspot.com/2009/04/twitter-in-classroom.html

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Social Networking in Schools

What is a social network?
According to Wikipedia it is "a network service focusing on building online communities of people who share interests and/or activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. Most social network services are web based and provide a variety of ways for users to interact, such as e-mail and instant messaging services." The most popular examples of these services are MySpace and Facebook.

These sites are integral part of our student's lives and could make a homework or classroom assignment more authentic or engaging. Twenty-first Century Educators need to be able to assimilate social networking into their classrooms so learning can occur inside and outside of the classroom.

Micro Social Network:

Even though Facebook and Myspace are the most popular social networks doesn't mean they are the best for your classroom. I would like a recommend a Ning. Ning is a social network with a twist; teachers can create and control their own social network. Teachers can post class content, syllabus, student projects and even a place to meet virtually while school is not in session.

There is also a Ning community for teachers to share ideas with other educators (http://www.classroom20.com/ )

Excellent article on Ning from CNN

Monday, May 25, 2009

How to Make a CD/DVD Cover for Practically FREE!!

As the end of the year approaches many teachers are making CD/DVD yearbooks for their classrooms. Here is a simple way to create a protective cover so students can take them home without damaging the disk.

Step 1: Download Google Picasa

Step 2: How to Print


Step 3: How to fold

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Web 2.0 Awards by CNET

Are you having a difficult time deciding which Web 2.0 tool is best for your classroom? Here is a good resource to browse through. These 100 sites were voted on by users and Web 2.0 aficionados so they are good quality sites. There are 10 websites in 10 different categories so peruse through them and find something good for next year!
The 11th category is Editor's choice make sure you check out those too.

http://www.cnet.com/html/ww/100/2009/winners.html

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Are You Already Thinking About Next Year?

Here is a great and free opportunity for you to consider. Classroom 2.0 (http://www.classroom20.com/) is a website for teachers who want to implement Web 2.0 strategies in their classroom. They are hosting a webinar on how to create your own classroom Wiki. Even if you are not interested in Wikis there are a lot of great ideas for your classroom, I would strongly encourage you to join the Classroom 2.0 network. The best part about this is that you can take the class from the luxury of your own home because it’s a webinar. The Class is tonight at 7pm. (Sorry for the late notice, but I just found out about it myself.) Don’t worry if you miss this one, Classroom 2.0 has a weekly webinar for educators.

Here is the link about the Class “Go Wild with Wiki’s”
http://live.classroom20.com/classroom-20-beginner-series.html

Here is the link to join the class tonight at 7pm
http://tinyurl.com/qe27on

Archived Classes
http://live.classroom20.com/archive.html


Classroom Wikis in BISD
http://acftscience.wetpaint.com/?t=anon
http://alejandro-mace.pbworks.com/
http://porterpanther4thgrade.pbworks.com/
http://birdvilletech.wikispaces.com/

Monday, May 11, 2009

NASA's Ustream Channel

Watch it in your class or embed it on your website. Great resource for live NASA footage. The best part is that it's in HD. Here is the link to NASA's Ustream channel. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/spacevidcast



Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Adding Themes to Google Forms (Google's Survey Tool)

One of the good things about Google is that they are consistently improving their product. Here is a short video on adding a little bit of color to your Google Form. (Google's Survey Tool)



Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Twitter in the Classroom


Have you ever thought about opening a twitter account for your classroom? Teachers can send updates about what their students are learning in class, important events, upcoming test, quizzes or due dates, or just cool facts about the subject they are teaching. A unique feature of Twitter is that you do not need a computer to check for updates, by configuring the Twitter settings, updates can be sent directly to "followers" cell phones by text message.

Here are two examples of Twitter pages in our district...

School Page:

Teacher Page:


Wednesday, April 22, 2009

PBS starts Video on Demand site.

Great resource to use in your classroom, but beware episodes are still "sponsored" so allow for discussion during commercials




PBS Video on Demand site

List of Programs...
Nature
Great Performances
American Masters
Newshour
Time Team America
Nova
Frontline
American Experience
Masterpiece Classic
Antique Roadshow

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Free Web 2.0 Tools

All links are Hot so feel free to click away...
Advance slideshow with arrows at the bottom document

Monday, April 20, 2009

Distance Learning 2.0 meets Web 2.0

Three great sites that will help you with your distance learning objectives.

Tokbox: Add up to 20 people to your conference. The best part is they dont have to have a tokbox account. Simply send them the url of your conference and they can join up. Tokbox also has a twitter button that will send the link twitter friends so they can join up too.

Boostcam: Instant / disposable video conferencing. No username and no password required. Very simple to use. Would be great for people who are a little scared to connect for the first time.

FileinaFlash: Send files over the internet by just sending out the url. No username or password required. Most email services will not let you send a file over 20 megabites so if your in a pinch use this to send large files.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Distance Learning 2.0: TxDla 2009

All the links are hot so click on them inside the slideshow...

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

PowerPoint to iPod Compatible mp4


PowerPoint is a simple program to produce your own flashcards or tutorials for your students to use on their iPods or classroom set.
Free Software that you will need:

Friday, March 6, 2009

Puppy Linux: A handy tool to have around

A great tool to have around is Puppy Linux. Its a very small Linux distribution that can be loaded and booted from a USB thumbdrive. This week when a hard drive went bad and a teacher had some important files that had not been backed up. We booted it from the USB with Puppy Linux and navigated through the Windows XP file system and saved her files. This will not work on all occastions, but when it does. Its a great thing.

How to install Puppy Linux on a Thumbdrive




Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Quick Media Converter

Quick Media Converter is often a life saver when working between multiple formats. I have yet to find a media file that it will not convert. It is simple to use and the interface is self explanatory so no manuals or reading required.

Like most freeware websites it is inundate with ads for products that do the same thing, but you have to to pay for them. Quick Media Converter is free.


As a free bonus the Microsoft Reps informed us of this handy site that installs a Codec package on your machine. It even allows .mp4 to play in Windows Media Player and if you are running Vista it will allow you to edit .mp4 in Windows Movie Maker. I have found this to be extremely helpful.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

David Warlick: In Rapid Change we Learn by Sharing

Deep Thoughts:

  • Strive to be a Master Learner
  • We are preparing our kids for a future we do not understand or know
  • In rapid change we learn by sharing
  • We are preparing kids for the 21st century by using 19th century instruction
  • We are not preparing our student for our future we are preparing them for their future.
  • The key to educating a student is to teach them to teach themselves

Internet sites worth checking out from his presentation:

Thursday, February 19, 2009

School House Rock on YouTube

These songs have been etched in my brain ever since I can remember. What a great tool to use in the classroom to make learning fun.



American Rock...
I’m Just a Bill:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Bill.html


No More Kings:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofYmhlclqr4
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/King.html


Preamble:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_TXJRZ4CFc
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Prea.html


Shot Heard around the World:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VQA5NDNkUM
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Shot.html

Three Ring Government:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5I2KFENjS8
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Thre.html

Mother Necessity:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8wuGRlRZqk
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Moth.html

Sufferin’ til Sufferage:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dPF0SGh_PQ
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Suff.html

The Great American Melting Pot:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWJ4udW41Ns
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Grea.html

Elbow Room:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJZLjR4t5B8
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Elbo.html

Fireworks:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvH7ySQi37E
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Fire.html

Grammer Rock...
Unpack Pack your Adjectives:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYzGLzFuwxI
Words to song: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Adj.html

Lolly Lolly, Lolly get your adverbs here:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWYmEICNgOQ
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Adv.html

Conjunction Junction:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkO87mkgcNo
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/conjunction.htm

Interjections:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhHpJ45_zwM
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Int.html

Rufus Xavier Sarsaparila:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOaty7FpwMI
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Rxs.html

A Noun Is A Person, Place or Thing:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2iLAI0gUW0
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Nou.html

Busy Prepositions:

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4jIC5HLBdM
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Prep.html

Verb! That’s What’s Happening:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4GomSmWZs4
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Ver.html

The Tale of Mr. Morton:

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7S_B9GcRI0
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Pred.html

Math Rocks...
My Hero, Zero:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPE_xB0HIbw
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/0.html

Elementary, My Dear:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shvURXhdn8Y
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/2.html

Three is A Magic Number:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11N-BD1aBo0
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/3.html

The Four-Legged Zoo:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yP8rebXF8E
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/4.html

Ready or Not , Here I come:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSnZFykq5n8
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/5.html

I Got Six:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwkgNf69ihY
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/6.html

Lucky Seven Sampson:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssuCj83VAGs
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/7.html

Figure Eight:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jeq5a8bBh8c
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/8.html

Naughty Number Nine:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eds1_rmxIpw
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/9.html

The Good Eleven:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTjMILODX3c
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/11.html

Little Twelve Toes:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJYMSc6ppb8
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/12.html

Science Rocks...
The Body Machine:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3_H89pIWis
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Body.html

Do the Circulation:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgDQN-pvyqw
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Circ.html

Electricity, Electricity:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPyClNtyFOs
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Elec.html

The Energy Blues:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3nvDJe6PU0
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Ener.html

Interplanet Janet:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfPEvKsme-c
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Inte.html

Telegraph Line:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4hw-KCnJts
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Tele.html

Them Not-So-Dry Bones:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns2dkT2sIug
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Bone.html

A Victim of Gravity:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIJeZ4MIXgI
Words: http://www.school-house-rock.com/Grav.html

Monday, February 16, 2009

Qik Video: The fastest way to share live video on the web.

Qik is a video sharing site with a unique twist. Instead of taking the video with a camera or phone and sending it to an video hosting site like youtube. Qik allows you to stream live video from your telephone. So as long has you have a mobile phone signal you can stream video from practically anywhere. (Yes you too can have your own reality TV show) I think this would be an excellent application to use on field trips, sporting events, and classroom how-to-videos.
It is simle to set up and install. Go to the qik website and click join on the top right hand of the screen. They dont ask for any personal information, just screen name and password. You can install it on your phone via SMS and you are ready to go.

Here is an example...
http://qik.com/video/1050639


Thursday, February 5, 2009

Podcasting in the Classroom TCEA (2009)

All the links are active so if you want to know more click on the links inside the slideshow.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Start the Year Off Right With a Technology Resoloution

With the start of the New Year I would like to encourage you to try something new in your classroom using technology. Here are a few ideas.

Click on the Hyperlink to see examples:

CPS: (using the remotes)
Podcast: Create a weekly podcast that could include homework, spelling list, or tutorials
Video Camera: Have students or teacher video review tutorials
Google Form: Create an online test that is easy to grade
Classroom Blog: Document your day or post questions for student feedback
UStream.tv: Starting a channel for your classroom
Photostory: Create classroom project using digital still pictures (on website half way down the page)
Movie Maker: Create classroom project using video (on website half way down the page)
Wiki: Collaborative website where teacher and students create content

Remember the Keep It Simple method. Technology is supposed to save you time not add to it.