Cool Stuff from TIG

I attended my Tech Integration Group this past Friday at Essdack and left with some great tools & ideas to share.

Upcoming Workshops through Essdack

April 2, 2013 - Workshop on eBooks & how to make them

May 29-31, 2013 - Wind Energy Workshop (based on a STEM Initiative)
You will spend the 3 days building wind turbines.

July 17-19, 2013 - Podstock
A tech integration conference for anyone interested in learning more about technology.

Show-N-Tell

COOL Furniture - We tried out a standing table and Hokki Chairs.  The table is great for having small group conversations or getting up and working on the laptop or iPad.  The chairs have a curved bottom so students can rock and move in their seats.  Great for those antsy kiddos & adults.

EssayTagger - Common Core Rubric Creation Tool (no registration or login required)
You can print, save as a pdf or download any rubric you create.

tellagami - Great digital storytelling tool available on the iPod and iPad.  You insert your own background images, create your avatar and record your story.
Class ideas:

• What I did on my Summer Vacation
• Explain a historical image
• Give background on a historical figure
• Book report using the setting as the background image
• Create a real-world math problem

Makey Makey - this one you just have to see to understand

MaKey MaKey - An Invention Kit for Everyone from jay silver on Vimeo.

Six Strike Copyright Law

So, this was new to me, but basically it is a warning system for people who are downloading from sites with pirated materials.  Some Internet Service Providers are implementing this process already.  We looked at a few sites that had samples of the alert messages and a little more information about Six Strike Copyright Law.  During our discussion, we questioned how this would impact schools, but I don't think we'll really know until this gets into full implementation.

If you want to know more, check out these sites:

• Here's what an actual "six strikes" copyright alert looks like
• Should you fear the 'six strikes' anti-piracy rule?
• A Six-Strike Rule for Internet Piracy

Alternate Book Reports

• 10 great 21st century book report ideas - blog post by Glenn Weibe
• 10 Technology Enhanced Alternatives to Book Reports
• Create a book trailer - make a QR code for the trailer and put the QR code inside the book in the library for other students
• Make an avatar of what the character(s) look like to you and then put them in your book trailer or use them to create a movie poster for your book - use faceyourmanga to create your avatar
• Create a book blurb comic strip
• Create an infographic using piktochart

At the end of the day, we had a Skype presentation on creating infographics with powerpoint (or any slideshow program).  However, I will write this up later as a separate blog post.

The best trivia I learned on Friday was "Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit."  This is a common British superstition which is also popular in the United States, especially in Nantucket, Cape Cod and other towns within Massachusetts.  The premise is to wake up on the first day of the month and say "rabbit, rabbit, rabbit." By doing so, you are suppose to receive a present by the end of the month.  Stash this trivia fact away in case you end up on Jeopardy one day!







Images:
Hokki Chairs - http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cTT2BRi4JcE/UAPV-pZVmXI/AAAAAAAAAG8/Z-xSQCk6jRc/s1600/hokkigroup.JPG
Books - http://www.talkshoe.com/custom/images/icons/TC-17371-MainIcon.png
Rabbits - http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zppEBOL4tnc/TZSsuIbWapI/AAAAAAAABdw/RExmQGZ8eGg/s1600/rabbits+rabbit+rabbit.jpg