Friday, April 12, 2013

1-to-1 Essentials Program | Common Sense Media

1-to-1 Essentials Program | Common Sense Media:

As technology becomes cheaper and as we move closer and closer to Common Core implementation where the standardized test becomes computerized, more schools and districts will be moving to a 1 to 1 program either through netbooks, tablets, or laptops.  Having a plan, managing the devices, commuication with parents, teachers and students, and integration of the technology into daily lesson plans are a few of the factors that will determine if your 1 to 1 program will be a success or failure.

Common Sense Media has a in-depth look at how a district or school can work through these issues in a 3 phase process.

Phase 1 is Envision.  Here is the foundation work to make your program a success.
Phase 2 is Communicate.  Begin the process of communication to the key players involved in your 1 to 1 program.
Phase 3 is Implement. They have posters for care and maintenance for a variety of ages, planning calendars  and sample user contracts for a variety of topics.

All phase's have handouts and videos that will be helpful for every teacher, student, parent and administration that are all downloadable and free for educators.

'via Blog this'

Friday, April 5, 2013

TED ED

There have been some wonderful TED talks over the years about almost any subject by artists, educators, business leaders, lawyers and more.  Ted Talks are very well organized
 and can be found at their own web site, Youtube, iOS apps, and even as podcast at iTunes and iTunes U .  In the past two years they have added a new section called TED ED which takes some of the talks from the past and even new talks and enhanced the talks with questions, the permission to edit, add to, and enhance for your use in the classroom.  Here is the short introduction to TED ED.



The reason I am revisiting this is that recently David Warlick wrote a post about "Exploring the Ocean" which was a great video to show biology students about the diversity of ocean life.


 For each talk, you have video of each talk a section to meet the creators, which include the speaker, director, artist, producers and more. "Think" link are multiple choice questions for each video that students can answer.  "Dig Deeper" is links to resources that provide additional information about the topic being discussed.  And some also have a "Discuss" section which is a guided questions about the video.

And best of all, it is free.  On a side note, I stumbled across a talk somewhere that said, "TedxAnchorage" and went "There's a TED conference in Anchorage?"  A little research and found the facebook page and saw that it has been happen for at least the past three years at the end of January and is free and open to the public to attend.  These talks have a distinct Alaska slant to them and the issues that Alaskans face throughout the state.

Additional Resources:

The most watched TED Talks.

TED Talks based on Subject

YouTube Channels

One last video 4 minute video about a 6th grader who writes and sells his own apps.



Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Google Story Builder

So we were discussing Google Story Builder yesterday during work and how it could be used in the classroom.  This is based on the concept of having two or more people working on one document within Google Docs.  Here is one of the promo videos that was made using the service.



One of the more powerful ways that emerged for use in the classroom that could be used to work on synonyms and antonyms.  You could create a script for the students on a handout and then have them visit Google Story Builder and find synonyms and antonyms for selected words and turn it into learning experience.  Other uses could also include famous moments in time between two people and how a conversation might have taken place.  One could use it as a discourse topic in government to show two opposing view points.  This project works best if you choose two or more characters and having working toward a greater good or having them debate a topic.   Your allowed to have 10 spots for conversations so you have a concise discussion in the telling of your story.


Husband:  I Love You!

Wife: (change the word love using a synonym)

Husband:  (change the new love word using a synonym)

Wife: Although I hate it when you do not wash the dishes.

Husband: (change the word hate using an antonym)

Wife: (Change the new “hate” word using an antonym again)  (then add) Anyway, let’s change teh subject.  Come help me find inspiration for your new book?

Husband: (Change the word inspiration and book using synonym) (and then add) Since your last book was horrible.

Wife: What?????

Husband:  (change horrible using an antonym) (and then add) Sorry (after what???)

Wife:  That’s more like it!



After you have the writing aspect down, they then provide you with theme music to enhance the situation to make it more dramatic as well.

Then share the goo.gl link and you are done.  There is no way to save your work.


This is what it would look like.