Digital Learning Day and Pi Day are fast approaching, but maybe you've never heard about these two days before.
Digital Learning Day was started to showcase how technology can improve student outcomes and
support teachers. Many online education programs provide special activities for Digital Learning Day that emphasis the use of collaboration, sharing of best technology practices and boost technology learning for teachers and students.
Here are some resources that will assist teachers and students as they explore Digital Learning Day:
Digital Learning Day: Resource Roundup - includes a video introduction to technology integration, online learning and blended classroom resources, digital games in the classroom and more.
As a technology user, nothing is more frustrating than trying to get a computer issue resolved. You try to explain the problem to the best of your ability, but then get a communication back asking for more information. This use to annoy me to no end until I started working in the technology department. Then I started receiving the communications regarding computer issues and having to decipher what they meant. For instance, Susie Smith might call the office stating my computer doesn't work. If I went solely on that information, my first assumption would be the computer doesn't even turn on. However, as I begin to ask questions like what are you trying to do on your computer, I might discover that Susie isn't able to access the Internet. Of course this leads me in a different troubleshooting direction than the statement my computer doesn't work. Due to limited or misinformation, a tech must resort to a series of questions to actually narrow down the specific problem occurring on the computer. So how can you as a computer user help your tech department understand the issue occurring on your computer?
First, take the time to learn some basic technology terminology. For example, the Internet is the great World Wide Web that you peruse for information, but the browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) is the application on your computer that allows you to access the Internet. If you tell me the browser isn't working, then I might tell you try a different browser. But when you tell me the Internet isn't working I can make several assumptions. There is an issue with an Internet page you are trying to open, the WiFi isn't turned on or isn't connecting, or you don't have your ethernet cable plugged into the computer. To assist you in learning some computer jargon, here are the basic computer terms you should know (some may be specific to a Mac computer):
Browser- A software program that allows a person to explore the Internet in an easy to use way. Examples of popular browsers include Chrome, Firefox and Safari.
Internet- Also known as the web or the net, the Internet contains billions of web pages created by people and companies from around the world, making it a limitless location to locate information and entertainment.
Network - A collection of computers, servers, mainframes, network devices, peripherals, or other devices connected to one another allowing for data to be shared and used. A network is internal so a printer at the high school cannot be used by someone sitting in their home across the street because their device is not part of our network.
Server - Servers are used to manage network resources. For example, a user may setup a server to control access to a network, send/receive e-mail, manage print jobs, or host a website. The servers in our district control access to things like FASTT Math, student login accounts and the time clock.
WiFi - Short for Wireless Fidelity, WiFi is how you connect to the network without a cable tying you down.Ethernet Cable - An Ethernet cable is one of the most popular forms of network cable used on wired networks. Ethernet cables connect devices on local area networks by being plugged into the Ethernet port on your computer.
Dock - A bar located at the bottom of the Apple computers running Mac OS that allows quick access to programs you frequently use as well as running programs and files. It is similar to the Task Bar on a PC.
Window - A section of the computer's display that shows the program currently being used. When you click on Finder or the hard drive on you computer, you also get a window that shows you the folders on your computer.
Dialogue Box - A new window that appears above the rest that lists additional information, errors, or options.
Monitor - A video display screen and the hard shell that holds it. It is not a computer, but rather a means for viewing what is available from the computer
Desktop - A type of computer that fits on or under a desk, usually laying horizontally, compared to a tower that lays vertically. Unlike a laptop, a desktop computer is a stationary computer that remains at a desk.
Laptop - A portable computer with the same abilities as a desktop, but is small enough for easy mobility.
Hard Drive - The computer's main storage media device that permanently stores all data on the computer - abbreviated as HD.
URL - Short for Uniform Resource Locator, a URL is a standardized naming convention for addressing documents accessible over the Internet, for example http://www.usd495.net.
Address bar - Alternatively referred to as the address box, location bar, or URL bar, the address bar is a name used to describe the text box used to enter a websites address in a browser. The address bar allows the user to enter a URL or IP address of the page they want to visit or save that page for later.
Search Bar- This is the process of locating letters, words, files, websites, etc. When you are in an Internet browser, the search bar is usually located on the top right side of the page. However, Chrome and Safari have combined the search bar and address bar into one.
Operating System (OS) - A software program that enables the computer hardware to communicate and operate with the computer software. Without a computer operating system, a computer and software programs would be useless. On the Mac computers in our district we are running OS X 10.9, also known as Mavericks.
iOS - The name of the operating system that runs on Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, and Apple iPad Touch devices given to the devices. The most current iOS for Apple devices is iOS 8.
Second, complete some basic troubleshooting before contacting your technology department. While your tech department enjoys assisting you, there are several things you can do to try and help yourself. Although different situations will require different troubleshooting tasks, here is a standard go to list for troubleshooting:
Check all your cable connections - unplug and plug in your cables (If an outlet is involved, make sure the outlet is working properly by plugging something else in that you know is currently working.)
Restart the computer or equipment - shut it down, count to 10 or 20 and then restart it
Check the help resources and emails provided by your technology department
If you are having specific issues connecting to a page on the Internet or just connecting to the Internet, try this list:
Try a different web page - my go to is ESPN or CNN because it has loads of information on the page and if it loads everything then I know it's an issue with the specific page I'm trying to access
Try a different browser and see if you get the same result
Use to see if the website is down for other people or just you
Turn the WiFi on the computer off and back on (If using an ethernet cable, unplug it and plug it back in.)
Finally, include as much information as you can related to the issue. In Susie's issue with not being able to access the Internet, she might start by telling me what website she is trying to access, that she has tried using both Firefox and Chrome, and she has tried accessing more than one website - she could even tell me which sites to be more specific. Here is a list of information you can include in your communication with the tech department:
What were you trying to do that you couldn't do?
What type of device or computer are you using?
What program/application were you using?
What have you done to try and resolve the issue yourself?
Did you receive an error message? If so, what did it say?
If you do nothing else to help your process when working with any tech department or support service, start off by telling them what you are trying to do that you can't do.
As many of you know, I've been taking 2 teachers with me to the Tech Integration Group at Essdack this school year. It is an opportunity for teachers to "come play with the big boys." (It really should be come play with the geeks, but I've always wanted to say the other.) This group explores technology - new web tools and apps, technology techniques like augmented reality, ideas for incorporating technology in the classroom and more. Below is a little more information about this technology opportunity including future dates and topics for 2013-2014.
I have already taken several teachers this school year and asked them to share about their thoughts and experiences from the day.
During Friday's Tech Integration Group, I learned some helpful tips for integrating technology into my Social Studies classroom using primary documents such as maps from Google Earth. We did an interesting activity comparing maps from the same location during two different periods in history. The activity required us to use critical thinking skills and come up with reasons for why the maps were different as well as which one was the earliest. I can't wait to use that same idea in my classroom! - Sandie Raper
I really enjoyed the day. I think what I learned most is to appreciate the thoughtful and deliberate decisions made by our tech department. I also learned that I can explore new programs without trepidation. Today I learned how to network with other educationally minded people in order to share ideas. I was happy to have the time to "play" around with edmodo, and I feel confident in introducing the program to my students next week. However, most of the students are probably aware of it if they have taken classes from Mrs. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Wilcox, or Mrs. Schmidt. I also look forward to creating new projects in my English classes that may reach reluctant learners. - Janet Fleske
I learned about several new apps for the ipad. Shadow puppets and Tiny Scan were two that I thought would be helpful in my classroom. We also had a guest appearance from Glenn Wiebe. He showed us several ways to use primary sources such as pictures, quotes etc. He also showed several different ideas for lesson plans using Google Earth. We then went to his website which has all kinds of websites, tools and ideas to implement. He explained to us what the new social studies standards would be like and how the kids were going to have to use Historical thinking to be able to answer correctly. We were then given time to play around on these resources and try to figure them out and get experience on them. - Stephanie Bauer
Attending the technology PLC, I was not sure what to expect to begin with. I really like the sense of community that is developed with the goal of focusing on technology and the incorporation of technology in the classroom. The ideas that are brought up and the questions are great for improving technology in schools, as well as the different problem/ solutions that the different districts are facing.
I feel that our district is ahead of the game compared to other districts. I’m thankful for the technology connections that our district has and the ability to explore different educational tools. I was surprised by the fact that some district can’t have google apps or other technology things that our district has. I also feel that our district is ahead of the game with teachers starting to use more and more technology all the time.
When the guy from Mcpherson College talked, he said that things students learn need to be concrete and tangible student improvement. I think this is very true of education, how can we engage students so the content they are learning is concrete and tangible to them. - Joy Schmidt
If you have not had the opportunity to take advantage of one of these technology days, look through the dates and topics below. Find one that peaks your interest and send me an email to reserve your spot!
So, the other night I was sitting and enjoying the thunderstorm as it blew through town when I started thinking about technology, journaling and photography. Photography actually popped in my mind first because of all those awesome lightening photos online. I had a couple thoughts pass through with the storm. I shared the first earlier this week in part one of this post. My second thought relates to my experience with searching for a journaling app. When I first started working in the tech department last year, I was fortunate enough to receive an iPad to use on the job. I was struggling with typing on the iPad, so I picked up a wireless keyboard to use with the iPad. The only problem was it hindered the mobility of the device. If I wanted to type a note on the iPad, I either carried the keyboard with me or I learned how to type on the iPad. Of course the best way to learn any technology is through personal application, so I decided to start journaling on the iPad. I enjoy journaling because it helps me clear my mind of the thoughts, ideas and situations from the day. With a practical and personal application in my mind, I set out on my next task - finding a journal app.
I searched online for the best journaling apps, but at the time I didn't want to pay for an app because I didn't know if I would like journaling in the iPad. I tried about half a dozen free apps before I moved to a couple of paid apps - some of them I got for free when they hit Apps Gone Free. These journaling apps varied in format and functionality. Some were basic daily dairies with limited text, but extensive enhancement features like daily mood graphics and inserting photos. Some gave you the full advantages of word processing, but provided no means for backing up your content. I lost several weeks of writing on one of these apps. I did finally find one that allows you to have multiple notebooks so I could have one for personal and one for work. It gave me the basic word processing features, but allowed me to add images and turn my journals into eBooks that opened in iBooks. However, a new system update came out in the iPad and after I ran the update my journals were messed up. The dates all switched to the same day and some content was lost. While that was discouraging, my typing skills on the iPad did improve. I loved that the device started anticipating what word I was trying to type and gave me the recommended word if I started to mistype the word. But it is a different experience typing on an iPad. Your fingers can never fully set on the keyboard like a real computer keyboard, and I end up typing with about three fingers from each hand. My thumb and pinky rarely see any action.
Sometimes with technology, we have to find that one purpose to get ourselves in the mood to explore and "play around" with the hardware and software. It's not always easy and sometimes we just have to force ourselves to try things out. When I was first learning to type on the iPad, I was ready to give up after the first day. It felt awkward typing on this device and it slowed me down. My brain was working faster than I could move my fingers. After a few months of diligently working, my typing skills did get better. But you know what else I discovered through this process? I still like grabbing my little spiral journal and pen. The technology is nice, but it isn't the right tool for me when I want to just sit and journal. There are too many distractions for me with the iPad and I never get all of my thoughts and ideas written down. This was a good lesson for me to experience because it helped emphasis the fact that laptops, computers, iPads and all those other devices are just a tool. Like all tools, you have to
have the right one for the job at hand. Does that mean I don't use these tools? No, it just means that I have to decide which tools will help me complete the task at hand the best, even if it's paper and pencil.
I'm sitting at home with most of the lights off listening to my favorite soundtrack selections as the thunderstorm outside advances across the sky. As the lightning flashes, it spotlights the car sitting in my driveway. Sometimes the thunder rumbles and it really does sound like a bowling ball rolling down the lane aiming to strike a few pins. There is no crash though, so it must be a gutter ball. As I watched this moving picture, I started thinking about technology, photography and journaling. You're probably puzzling over the connection between these items. You might even be humming that little ditty from Sesame Street:
One of these things is not like the others, One of these things just doesn't belong, Can you tell which thing is not like the others By the time I finish my song?
So, how do technology, photography and journaling fit together? I always love those great photos of lightning storms with a streak of lightning shooting down from the sky. While I admire the quality of those awesome photos, my photography skills are sadly lacking. I know it's all about the right equipment and lens, but I just don't have enough knowledge and understanding to capture those breathtaking photos. I could learn, but I just haven't invested the time to learn. So, I will have to either be content with admiring the great work of others or invest my time to learn a new skill. You're probably starting to make the connection to technology, but let's look at how journaling fits into this picture. I love to journal. I don't call it writing because that reminds me too much of essay papers and after surviving the completion of my English major in college, I'd rather not think about essay writing. It gives me chills. Journaling, on the other hand, has been a great way for me to think through the random thoughts and events of the day. Sometimes they are a string of situations, events and ideas that have no direction connection, but somehow they seem to come together in some profound epiphany. Ok, maybe they're not always profound and maybe it isn't always an epiphany, but there usually are some revelations by the end of my journaling time. The one thing I've found about journaling is the more I do it, the more comfortable I become writing out my thoughts and ideas. Sometimes my brain moves faster than my hand can write. I may have had a little skill in writing before I started journaling, but like anything, practice improved the skill.
Are you grasping a connection yet? Well, here's a curve ball for you. When I first started filling out those infamous teaching applications in the hope of securing my first teaching position, they always asked you to write about your philosophy of education. I hated that question because I wrote what they wanted to hear. You know the answer. It boiled down to one statement. Every student can be taught. Well, they can be, but does that really mean they learn? I can teach English, but unless students put the knowledge into practice no real learning is occurring for them. The same is true with technology. I can go to workshops or watch videos and be taught, but until I actually act I never learn. So you may still be baffled by these loose connections. Let's see if we can tie them together.
As I watched that storm progress, I thought about all those teachers and staff who have told me how bad they are with technology. I've heard phrases like "tech tarded," "I'm no good at technology," "I'm stupid when it comes to computers," etc. To them, technology is that looming storm hanging over their head. It rumbles and sends them into the gutter when they don't experience success. However, whether they realize it or not, most have a little skill, at least enough to turn the computer on and off. But seriously, most have more skill than that. They can check email and look at photos and videos from friends and family. Just like my journaling, they learn enough to do the things that are important to them. My journaling will never be a published masterpiece, but it does what I need it to do. Over time, my writing has improved just from continual practice. The same is true with technology. The skills improve just from regular use of the computer. Sometimes, however, we have to dive in deeper if we really want to improve and master our skills. I can take photos, well enough that I don't cut off anyone's head, but if I want those breathtaking images of lightning strikes during a thunderstorm, then I have to delve deeper in my learning. I either need to take a course, read articles and books on the subject or watch tutorials to gain more knowledge and understanding. Then, I must act on that knowledge by practicing the skill. Like writing in my journal, my photos will improve from continual practice.
Am I stepping on toes? Maybe. Am I preaching to the choir? Sure. But I find that sometimes I have to be reminded of the obvious. It's like this blogging business. It does have great value, but I'll never improve if I don't practice and do.
I do have one other thought relating to technology, journaling and photography, but you'll have to wait for the next post.
When I hear the word s'more, I visualize those great chocolatey, gooey campfire delights. As you enjoy this mountain of decadence, the heated chocolate drips out and the marshmallow oozes out burning your finger from the heat. But you savor every bite. When it's gone, you make another because you only get to enjoy this treat around those late night summer campfires.
On this winter day, my heart was elated to find another s'more. It might not be ooey, gooey, chocolatey, but it's still a great treat to explore! Smore is an online flyer creator that can publish your flyers instantly via Facebook, email or embedding to a website or blog. When you create your flyer, you can add text, photos, videos and audio. You can choose from various design backgrounds and colors. The most difficult element in creating a flyer is deciding what you would like to say.
The following video will walk you through a short tutorial on using smore:
On January 21, 2013 Glenn Wiebe spent an afternoon with our staff talking about the connections between common core, effective instruction and technology. As he began, Glenn stated that, "Change is hard and sometime hard to see." He shared samples of various common core standards and the key words being used to indicate the use of technology. Some of those key words included digital tools, digital media, text read aloud, digital sources, multi-media and other media. I found this interesting because sometimes as educators we read just like the students. If it isn't stated in black and white, then it is not implied. So, if the standard doesn't say 'use technology to...' we assume technology is not a part of the standard. However, the simple phrase 'text read aloud' can imply the use of technology.
Glenn also spent some time sharing Google Earth. He called it the ultimate "Swiss Knife" of technology. Google Earth is available on all student and teacher computers. It is also available for use on the iPad, but has some limited features.
Later in the afternoon, Glenn shared some great Google search strategies that will benefit teachers and students. They are the 2M List, quotation marks, title, site and file.
2M List - You add the words that must be on the site and put a minus in front of words that must not be on the site (columbus -college -university)
Quotations Marks - Put your search phrase in quotation marks to get that exact wording. This is a great way to check student writings for plagiarism. If some wording doesn't sound like the student, then put that phrase or sentence in quotation marks for a Google search. If it was copied from the Internet, it will show you the source.
Title - If you need a particular word or phrase to be in the title of a website, then type intitle: and your word or phrase in quotation marks.
Site - Use site:site type (edu, com, org, net) and your term to narrow your search results.
Site Types: .com - used for commercial purposes, usually by corporations and businesses .edu - used by educational organizations .net - used by internet related companies, but also used by all types of businesses .org - used by organizations, usually nonprofit like Red Cross
*You can also search by country site. For example, .us is for United States and .uk is for United Kingdom.
File - Search by a specific file type like powerpoint by using filetype:ppt and then your search terms.
Possible File Extensions: .gif OR .jpg OR .tiff - images .doc - documents .ppt - powerpoint .mpg OR .mov - movies .pdf - portable document files
Glenn ended our time by talking about Visual Discrepant Inquiry. In simplest terms, you give students part of an image and ask them to tell you what the photo is about - time, place, overall content or focus of the image - from the portion they can view. Slowly you reveal more of the image and have students continue the investigation of the photo. The key element that reveals the significance behind the image isn't revealed until the end. Glenn explains the process in more detail in this article - http://historytech.wordpress.com/2009/02/27/tip-of-the-week-visual-discrepant-event-inquiry/. It was an intriguing activity and not hard to duplicate with Keynote or Powerpoint and a projector.
Throughout his instruction, Glenn also provided staff with time to explore various web tools he introduced throughout the afternoon. In our district, some of the sites are only available to staff and some have been opened up for student use.
Research BibMe - Create a bibliography for your works cited. We also have EasyBib available through Google Docs which not only allows students to create an MLA formatted works cited, but it then downloads right into Google Drive.
ReadLists - A group of web pages - any type - bundled together in an eBook format. Here's a sample
Shmoop - Provide learning guides, homework helpers and test preps for anyone wanting to learn. Shmoop also provides indepth literature analysis for those complicated text. Resources are available in Spanish.
KeepVid - (only open to staff) Download videos from the web onto your computer to prevent issues with buffering. This works great for those YouTube videos you want to show in class, but stall out from the buffering.
Readablility - Turns a web page into a readable document that you can save for later once you create a free account. Good for those great articles you stumble upon during the day, but don't have time to read in depth. Save it to Readability and read the articles as time permits. You can get the Readability app for your Android, iPad, iPod or iPhone.
Evernote - Set-up a free account to save your notes (text and audio), webpages, lists and more. Evernote is accessible and syncs your account on the computer, website and mobile apps. Great tool to use when researching on the internet. You can get the Evernote app for your iPad, iPod or iPhone.
ThinkFinity - (only open to staff) Use the search box on the right-side of the home page to search for lessons based on standards, grade level and content area. If you are trying to search by Common Core standards, scroll past all the regular state standards - the common core are listed below the regular state standards.
Advanced Google Search - Use the advanced tools when searching in Google. This will help you narrow your search and obtain the information you are seeking without wading through millions of web sites. Critical Thinking Google Earth - This program allows you to take a virtual journey of the globe. You can explore terrain, 3D buildings and more. Resources for Google Earth were provided in the beginning of this post. This program is available on every staff and student computer in our district.
YummyMath - Get ideas for bringing real-life into the math classroom. Searchable categories include Algebra, Number Sense, Data & Probability, Geometry and more.
Google Earth Math - Provides Google Earth math map lessons for use in the classroom.
Visually - Search for infographics to enhance your curriculum in the classroom. You can also create your own infographics at this site.
Infogram - Create interactive inforgraphics and charts for the classroom OR have students create an infographic to share stats and content. Create an account for free. Common Core Diigo: Glenn Wiebe Common Core - 40 website links centered around common core
Collaboration Google Drive - Share and collaborate in real-time, create documents, presentations, spreadsheets and forms, and store various file formats, photos and videos. Every staff and student in our district has an account to access Google Drive.
My Big Campus - Engaging online environment for your classroom. Share assignments, tests, slideshows and other resources to students whether they are in class or not. Our technology department is exploring this venue to replace Blackboard. Dropbox - Store and share your documents, photos and videos. Not as user-friendly for collaboration. Communication Ted-Ed - Videos that can be used to enhance your current curriculum or to be viewed by students as homework in preparation for the upcoming lesson. You access resources to dig deeper and some videos provide questions to get students thinking about the content they viewed.
Little Bird Tales - Use this tool to create, record and share online stories. Check out the demo video below:
Celly -This is a group messaging and communication service you can use via a cell phone or web browser. Check out the Celly for Schools Set-up Guide and Celly for School for ideas on using Celly in your school and classroom.
PrintFriendly - Use this tool to print only the text on a web page. Just copy the URL, go to PrintFriendly and paste the URL in the box. Hit return and wait for your PrintFriendly view to appear. You can remove any text from your new document before hitting print. This will save you from printing those worthless blank pages. Slideshare - Store and share your slideshows and pdf files through Slideshare. Once uploaded, you can embed your files and slideshows on a website or blog. You can view and use slideshows shared by other people. Great way for students to share their presentations in real-life.
Socrative - Engage students in games, polls, quizzes and tests through Socrative. It is similar to using a clicker system, but students can respond via the Socrative student app available for iPad, iPod and smart phones. Students can also respond via a web browser on the computer. The main Socrative website is blocked by our district filter for students, but they can access your classroom by using the following URL - http://m.socrative.com/student/#joinRoom.
Below are additional resources from Glenn's Presentation: Social Studies Central - Links to all of Glenn's handouts, presentations and web sites.
I was recently reading this post on 5 Educational Trends for 2013 just to see the top 5. Most of them didn't surprise me except for trend 4 - augmented reality. The author talked about Project Glass and shared the following video:
Since I'm not real familiar with augmented reality, I decided to Google "What is augmented reality?" I found the best user-friendly definition on the website Pocket-Lint. They explain augmented reality is "the art of super-imposing of computer generated content over a live view of the world."
Mashable, an Internet news blog, provided a little more complex definition, but they also had a slew of articles to discover more about augmented reality. While I was sharing the above video with Yvonne, she started wondering when they would come out with a contact lens version of these Google classes. Wouldn't you know, The Pentagon is already working on this endeavor.
After viewing and reading this information, my first thoughts went to a young adult scifi book called Feed by M.T.
Anderson that came out in 2002. The people in this society have
computer implants in their head that feeds them information about their
environment, but also sends out advertisements. I thought how creepy is
that! With these glasses we aren't that far away from the concept in
this scifi book.
It started a discussion in the tech office as to what will happen with technology in the next 10 to 20 years. Of course ever the jokster, Stan started depicting himself as the crochety grandpa who doesn't like any technology you can't touch. "Give me a keyboard any day!" I wondered how wearing a device like this would impact every day tasks like driving. We have issues already with texting and driving. What would happen if I were watching Finding Nemo in one eye and watching the road with the other. How would your brain handle that input of information? How would this impact our society and everyday living? What would the have and have not divide look like? How would this impact education? One thing I can say is it makes science fiction seem more like science fact.
So, I decided I had to play around with SmileBox. I clicked on the Make a SmileBox link on the first website above. It asked me to download SmileBox to computer, so I did. It walks you through the process and opens SmileBox right up after downloading. You do have to create and account, but it is free - don't pay for the premium. Once you've created your account, you can start creating. The program takes you through each step from choosing your template to uploading pictures from your computer. Please note - some of the templates are only available for premium accounts, so choose a free template.
I finished my slideshow in less than 10 minutes, wrote up this blog post and embedded my SmileBox in 20 minutes. It is a simple tool for dressing up those class photos, showcasing student projects or giving parents a tour of your classroom. You'll look like a tech guru in no time!
I came across the following article the other day and as I read through the ideas, I found that some of them were perfect for integrating technology in the classroom.
For example, one of the solutions is to have a question box for the students. You could have the traditional paper/pencil approach or you could use lino, an electronic bulletin board where collaborators can add sticky notes to the board. You could create a board for the class or a specific topic and have students attach a sticky with their questions. You could also use this for quick response answers from your students.
Another idea that came to my mind related to the KWL chart. This year through Google Docs, we have access to Lucid Chart. This online tool allows you to create mind maps, flow charts, venn diagrams and more. You can then share the chart so others can write on the same chart. As a teacher, I could create a KWL chart for a new topic, share it with the students and have them fill in their responses. I could then project the chart so we could quickly see everyone's responses and discuss the common ground we all share and the questions we want need answered or clarified.
One final idea, relates to the idea of group work and the students presenting information to each other. Traditionally, the students would have created a slideshow of some sort to present their information to the class. This was a good start, but usually one student did all the work on creating the presentation because they could all work on the same document at the same time. With the introduction of collaborative tools, students can now share the work load. Google Docs offers a presentation tool that would allow students to work on their slideshow all at the same time. Gone are the days of one student typing in all the information. Now everyone in the group can add their contributions at the same time.
Ideas for writing with students. These would be great for a writing station in the classroom at the elementary level or a quick journal writing to start out the class period.
Online digital story creator geared toward elementary students. Teachers can sign-up themselves and their class. Finished products can be save, printed and emailed.
Animate Shakespeare - Some of the images are not showing up on the site, but you should still be able to view all the videos. Students will not be able to access this site at school.
Watch the Cliff's Notes version of Shakespeare plays. Mixes modern and original text in a fun, fresh way. Videos end with a good class debate question.
Provides interactive math and science games, activities, games and more for elementary students, teachers and parents. Spanish translations of parental instructions and resources available.
This blog contains a plethora of resources that can be used by teachers in the classroom. Each daily post provides a summary of the resource, links and/or videos, and applications in education. At the end of each post you will also find suggests for other resource posts similar to the one you are reading that you might like.
In addition to the daily posts, you will find free downloadable eBooks full of technology ideas to help teachers out in the classroom. Some of the titles included are: The Super Book of Web Tools for Educators, How to Do 11 Techy Things in the New School Year and Google for Teachers. The site also includes pages full of Google tutorials, helpers for creating blogs and websites, resources for developing a personal learning network, and more.
Students can learn to be smarter consumers at the virtual mall. Teachers can use the resources and activities from this site to teach about today's marketplace. The lessons included can be used to cover critical thinking, writing, business, civics and more. This site is geared for students in grades 5-8.
Access online interactive lesson units that connect art & curriculum. Take advantage of art from various time periods; lesson plans complete with reading selections, projects & more; search resources by the type of art, the artist or the curriculum.
TeachersFirst's own units and lessons have been developed for actual classrooms, in consultation with practicing professionals or by the teachers themselves.
Health related lesson plans for grades K-8. Lesson titles include: Big Math and Fries, Food Pyramid Power, Grocery Store Scavenger Hunt, Germs Can Make You Sick, and more.
Digital Learning Day was started to showcase how technology can improve student outcomes and 
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