TweenTribune

TweenTribune is a wonderful way to enngage, inform, and educate your students by allowing them to interact with the news, while fulfilling requirements for language arts, computer skills, and other classes. What's really great is that it is FREE!

You can register your class and then have then sign up by selecting your class and then choosing a user name and password. Once your class starts using TweenTribune, the site will automatically generate custom pages showing:

• The stories your class has commented upon
• Individual comments by each student, on his or her own page
• All comments by your students, in one report that can be sorted by students’ names, comments, or dates
• And don't worry – you can moderate, edit, or delete your students’ comments before they’re published.

Visit TweenTribune to find out more about this great classroom tool.

VoiceThread

There is a new buzz word going around called VoiceThread. This is one of the Web 2.0 tools that is really rather unique and nifty for use in collaborative projects in the classroom and out. It allows people to post a "work" on line and then make either video, audio, written, or even comment by uploading supporting files. I can see it even as sort of an online Paedeia in a way.

If you think you might want to check it out, got to http://voicethread.com/#home

Also, for ideas on how to use it in the classroom, their is a Wiki site at http://voicethread4education.wikispaces.com/ that helps explain more about it and how to use it.

Let me know what you think.

Teachers' Domain

Me again. Wanted to tell you about another really great source of information and professional development - http://www.teachersdomain.org/
Here is a little blurb to describe it:

Teachers’ Domain is an online library of more than 1,000 free media resources from the best in public television. These classroom resources, featuring media from NOVA, Frontline, Design Squad, American Experience, and other public broadcasting and content partners are easy to use and correlate to state and national standards.

About TD Professional Development
Teachers' Domain online courses provide K-12 teachers new ways to inspire students, broaden content knowledge, and integrate technology into their classrooms. Each Teachers' Domain online course features outstanding digital media from NOVA and other PBS programming, and course pedagogy is driven by inquiry and exploration.



Membership is free and there are some really great resources to use and courses to take.

Let me know what you think.

Apologies

Okay, I have to aplogize. It has been a while since I have posted anything. But as you all know, things have been really hectic with the new laptop deployment, OnCourse, Gizmo training, the new network printers that have a mind of their own, Compass Odyssey, and the list goes on. But that is not all bad. These are signs of progress. To me they are like the roadsigns on the highways indicating that new roads are being constructed. These are just new "inroads of technology" being constructed for us and our students to use as part of this new 21st Century environment. It is exciting even if it is at time a bit overwhelming.

When I look back at when we used to complain because we did not even have one working computer in the school for the students or faculty to use, it is amazing how far we have come. Now we have teachers begging for computers, data projectors, printers, and now we are even getting jealous when some teachers get Smart Boards and we don't. My how the times they are a changing.

YouTube to the Rescue!

Many of you are familiar with YouTube as the place where students go to check out funny videos, comedy skits, or clips of their favorite bands, but it is rapidly growing into a valuable educational tool as well. Students can find videos to supplement their understanding of concepts being taught in your classes - even math. The thing is, they can watch at their own pace and easily rewind to re-watch until the concept is clear. If one video doesn't help, they can try another.

Not only is it good for the students, but we as teachers can benefit also. When I was needing to learn some information about blogging, there it was on YouTube. I was recently looking for a way to explain a concept in programming class, so I thought why not try YouTube. Sure enough, I found an explanation by a high school teacher in Hawaii (I think it was) that was simple and elegant. With a few changes to comply with the lesson that I was teaching it work great.

So if you or your students need additional help with some concept or idea, try YouTube.