NOTHING - I HAVE NOTHING!

Sorry if you are visiting this blog for a profound and life changing lesson in technology!  Had a huge assignment due in class on Friday, and have been grading those that have been turned in.

BUT - does anyone have any ideas on how to get kids to turn in their assignments?  Have around 35 that have either not turned in anything, or just part of what was due on Friday.  Very Frustrating!

Primary Sources again? -- Library of Congress has a wonderful website.

So, looking for finding the perfect Primary Source for your classroom?  Look no further than a website that is maintained by your own tax dollars.  The Library of Congress has an updated website that not only is user friendly, but also is uber easy to use.

Here is the weblink:  http://loc.gov/

We are always looking at making connections as a way to include information about our world.  I decided to look up anything I could find about Newton, Kansas.  I was successful in the Print Photographs and Historic Newspapers.

Found a neat 1908 Cowboy Photograph included below.

From the searchable nationwide newspaper database, there were over 460 results of "Newton, KS" in the papers.  These high resolution PDFs can be read online or downloaded and used.  The red high lighted areas are where the search engine found "Newton, KS".  

Don't feel like you have to recreate the wheel when it comes to lesson plans to use this material.  I will be reviewing another website on that either later this week or next Monday...depending on the progress of my class project.

Have anything to share, awesome websites or ideas?
Please fill out the document below.

Photos for Class - Making it easier to cite your sources for pictures in Creative Commons.

Happy Thursday Evening to you all,


Ironically we just spent a class period learning how to do this in the CMS Library yesterday.  How do you cite sources?  How do you find an image on google images and properly cite it in a project?

Here is your answer:  Photos for Class.

http://www.photosforclass.com/

Understand this program/search engine is limited to the Creative Commons and Flickr.  The one problem that we might have is that Flickr was blocked on our network at school (I am at home writing this, and it is working fine).  So, it might not work for you at school...but it is awesome!

We are working on Kansas History Projects that include people like Walter P. Chrysler.  Search for the Chrysler Building in New York City and here you find a great photo.

It is a little hard to tell, but the bottom area of the photo has the information that tells everyone where the photo is from and that it is part of the Creative Commons.

Depending on your filter and the use of Flickr, this could help with making sure that your students are not just picking random photos from google images.

There it is.  Hope this is something that you can use in your classroom.

If you have something to share, please take a moment and fill out the survey below.

Loud class? - I have a tool for you.

This week has been a rough one at CMS, and so I have an abbreviated entry for this week.  We all have classes that have differing levels of loud.  If you want a visual tool to have your kids see how loud they are.....I have the tool for you.

Here is the link:
http://www.academyapps.net/toonoisyliteonline/

It will take you to this screen.  Scroll down and then click on the "Try the Lite version for free"

You will need to enable your microphone on the computer (it will prompt you to do this)

Choose the limit.....and then measure the noisy kiddos.

Let me know what you think.  

As always...if you have anything to contribute...please let me know.

TImeline JS - Looking at something in a linear fashion.

Being a history guy, timelines have been the bread and butter of many a history project for me in school (elementary, middle, high, college....).  The hard part was always finding the information (before Google and Wikipedia) and finding pictures/items that would work on the timeline itself.  The hardest part was making the timeline.  I am artistically straight line challenged.  Those of us who suffer from ASLC, have to work very hard in not only making the straight line for the timeline, but also the little lines that tell the amazing information we have gathered.

What if I told you that you could make an interactive timeline that not only had the data, but could also include multimedia......and could be accessed anywhere (and collaborate with your peers or students)?  What if I told you all you need is access to a google drive account...well....here it is!

Northwestern University has made this an open source program.

Step 1:       Go to the website:  http://timeline.knightlab.com/

You will see a page that will look like this.

It will show you how to use the template, copy it to your google drive, and start entering the information.

I have included a short intro video that talks about the program and how to use it.

Lesson ideas:

• Veteran's Day is Tuesday.  Have the students enter data on America's wars and conflicts in our history.  Include dates, pictures, and other information that would support their research..
• In our Kansas History class we will be finding information on people involved in Kansas History.  The students will be making a movie with Moviemaker (Thanks Rachel M.!) and then we will load the video and other data on youtube, and then later on a class timeline.  

Don't feel like you need to reinvent the wheel.  This will help you collaborate with peers, students, and even others in different countries!

Do not hesitate to email me with questions or if you need some help with this.

Map your Recipe - Building Geographic and Historical Awareness with Grandma's Peppernut Recipie

Since the wind in howling and it is November 1, it is time to start thinking about the holidays and the food that comes along with them.  Map your Recipe is a great tool to look at those family classics in a new way.

Since I can't find our recipe for peppernuts, I found one on Food Network.  Sorry Grandma Van der Werf, this is not your famous creation.

Map Your Recipe
http://selborne.nl/foodmap/mapyourrecipe.php

Just copy and paste your favorite recipe and then stand back and watch it work.  Amazingly enough, the Russian Mennonite recipe uses ingredients mostly from the Middle East!  If you are a total geek like me, then you can also look at the history of the recipe.  Just think of the many ways that you could use this.  It could be in a geography lesson about family recipes.  This is such a cool site!  Hope you will find a way to use this in your classroom.  As always, let me know of anything you would like to contribute to the website.  I am always looking for your input or direction on where you would like me to go next.  

Please take a moment to fill out the survey below if you would like to have something reviewed, or would like to contribute!

.

Google Keep - Google's answer to Apple's Stickynotes.

My kids in my classroom are going to hate this app/website.  Ever try and find the website that you looked at the night before....but forgot the address...and you didn't email it to yourself?  Ever wish that your non-Apple computer had something like stickynotes....that was a google app?  Well....wish no longer...because it is here!  Google Keep is now an app for your phone or a website connected to your google drive.  I am so excited about this BECAUSE....it will save me from going through my chrome's history to find something.  Ok....here is a screenshot of my new Google Keep page.  Not much on it yet...but give me a couple of days.

Website
keep.google.com   or find it in the Chrome store.

You can setup your display preferences, add and delete posts, make lists, check off things that you have completed on the lists, setup reminders! (awesome!), and help organize your life (not really..but it sounds great).

Really easy to use, and can be connected to your other google apps.  Here is a video if you are wanting some help.  It is awesome!

Let me know what you think about this.  I am planning to use it first thing on Monday....to remind me about our new tardy policy!

As always.  Please let me know of things that you are using in your classroom that are working for you.  Apple or IBM...doesn't matter!

Here is the form below.

EdTechTeacher (Brenda T - Thanks for the link that helped me find other awesome stuff and put off the work I should have been doing!)

I would just like to tell all of you that I about a 5 minute attention span and am procrastinating grading my history tests.

 I am always looking for resources that not only pull in technology into the classroom, but also can help me!  It is selfish, but reinventing the wheel is not what we have time to do as educators.  That is why Brenda T....you have not only helped me procrastinate, might havejust  saved me some time in the process (ohh....the irony).

So, here I find her original tweet/post.

Great, since I am on a laptop, what can I do with this (apps don't exactly work for our technology....but I understand the 7th Grade Teachers would like this)?  So, instead of grading those pesky tests, I clicked on the link and explored the website.  I am so glad that I did.  Now there are no silver bullets here, but they have it made uber simple for all of us techies and those that feel like the Amish among us with the technology mandate.

So here is the short of it.  Instead of cruising around on the website, if you click this link....
http://edtechteacher.org/tools/

It will take you to a page that has helpful links and tabs based on subject or activity.  Here are some examples of some of the tabs there are more than I could include on this screen shot.

It also has links (tabs) by subject area.  Please take a moment to look at this if you have time during conferences.  There is some really neat stuff here.  Even some that has been reviewed already on this blog.  Procrastinate away!!!!

As always, please fill out the sheet below if you have anything you would like to share.  I would challenge you to find one thing off of this website and try it this week.  You might be surprised how easy tech integration might be!

Flip Quiz - Great Review Game & Jeopardy style clone

Sorry for the lack of posts in the last couple of weeks.  I have been "promoted" to our team leader while she is out sick.  Never realized how much she does.  CP, get better quick!

Ok.  All of us have probably used a Power Point Jeopardy game at some point.  My experience always seemed to include answers that didn't match questions, and PPT files that were HUGE or just didn't work sometimes.......well that has all changed.

I have found a cool site that has made this type of review game easy to make.  The free version does limit some of the features, but even with that, it is still awesome.

Website is:
flipquiz.me

It can be used on either the computer or the tablet.

Make your free account and then go at it.  I have included the one that I made for class on Monday.

Excuse the formatting (if you zoom in it allows all of the categories to be shown.)
The only draw back I can think of is not having an a physical copy of this on your computer.  Please try it out.  There are also way to search other public boards created by other teachers.  I think that I will find a million reasons to use this.

Please use and let me know what you think.  As always, if you have something to share, please fill out the form below.

Great Tech Article for EVERYONE about creating Structures and Routines in your classroom with Technology.

As my team knows, my personal life is very busy.  With an almost 2 year old at home with an almost 2 month old, I am keeping busy at school and at home!

So....testing new sites and tech have taken the backseat for the moment, but I have a great article for everyone to read.  Those of us that use technology everyday are trying to find ways to integrate more, and some of us are just trying to get the kids to power their technology up at least once a class period.

So....wherever you are on the tech savvy or stupid spectrum, take a moment and read this article.

Here is the link to the article.  Thanks Brenda T for sharing this with us!
introducing-mobile-tech-structures-routines-

If you have something you would like to see on this blog, please use the form below!

Pixabay - A royalty free image search website.

This website was posted on Free Tech for Teachers.  All you have to do is create an account, make sure that you don't select the "Sponsored Images" - and it works just great for notes, blogs, websites, or any other reason you might need an image to "spruce" up your documents.

Webste: http://pixabay.com/

Cost:  Free - but you will need to sign up for a free account.

Description:  Great image searching website for free images that can be downloaded to your computer.  Since these are user contributed, you will need to filter the images before you use them.  Don't recommend having students create accounts, but think it would be fine for teachers/staff....but I guess I would leave it up to you.
The only real annoying thing about it is that you have to be careful not to click on the sponsored images.  These cost to use.

How I used it:  I used it to find illustrations for a quiz I created.  Worked great.  Downloaded the pictures, and then uploaded them to the digital quiz.  Funny thing is that the pictures looked great, but the students could not login to their digital quiz.  Long story.

Need some user submissions.  Please forward things to me and fill out the form attached below.

Microsoft Office Online....a Google Alternative

This is from our own ETC Technology Guru and Fearless Leader.  Happy first post Brenda T!

Please excuse the background text issues.  

Title: Microsoft Office Online (for free!)

URL: https://office.com/start/default.aspx

What it does: Microsoft Office Online is Microsoft's answer to Google Drive. It has all the basic features in the products you know and use from Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) plus the added features of saving online, sharing, and collaborating with others.

How you used it: It is used just like the regular office products but it is online and it is free. You can create an account using your google email.

Tutorials/Help: Really not needed it is that easy!

Optional: Yes, I would be willing to help or answer questions.

Quizlet - Digital Flashcards that can be used to support any subject!

If you are in the 8Black pod, be prepared to see students working on their online flashcards on an amazing program called Quizlet.

If they have anytime in class, now the time should be used to get on Quizlet, not on games!

Website: www.quizlet.com

Cost:  Free for the basic version, but it does cost if you want some of the more advanced educational features.  Have not really found a reason to do this.

Description:  This website allows you to upload,search other user created flashcards, share (I have not told the kids this yet), and create vocab flash cards.  The digital flash cards can be practiced online with some really cool features (spelling, matching and practice quizzes).  To create the account I have had the students create their accounts with their school user name and email with the sign up with email option.  When you become more advanced, you can also have them "join" your class and can even push out or share vocab lists with them.

Example of the flash card feature showing both the front & the back of the card.

How I use it:  On Friday they entered vocab from their book.  There is an option when you create to use "user created definitions".  Resist the temptation, these can be right, but usually are not.
Using the Frayer model, have the students put in an example.  You can even use over a million images from Flickr FREE for the visual representation.  If you want to upload your own images that is only part of the paying version.
They will then print out a copy of their vocab which will include their pictures, examples, and other information that would be in the hand drawn Frayer model.

Here is the link on how to upload images:
http://quizlet.com/help/how-do-i-add-images-to-my-flash-cards

Youtube Video Tutorial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN6dP3tPYi0

How I Learned:  My students last year were using this to study for all of their classes at HHS.  There are features I have not messed with yet....but I am happy to help anyone who wants to use this.

Educreations an Ipad App & Can also be used on a laptop.

First guest contribution from the 7th Grade Black Ipad group.  I have created an account on this site (laptop), but have not had a chance to mess with it.  Kimberly T. has used it in her math class and has written up a post about it.

Title:  Educreations

Address/Cost:  My students used the app version of Educreations, and I have used both the app and web version (www.educreations.com)  The app is free (with more options and upgrades available for purchase)

Description:  Educreations is an interactive whiteboard and screen casting tool.  Students can use it as a virtual whiteboard, can annotate on a picture, or create a video screencast with audio recording.   Educreations allows teachers to create classes, where the teacher can easily create and share videos to the class through the app or website.

How I used it:  I had my students take a question from an assignment covering rate of change and proportionality and make a video explaining how they solved the question.   The students were required to not only write the answer out step by step, but to explain it orally as well.  I learned more from watching a short video about one question than about grading the entire assignment.  I could actually hear if they used the terminology correctly and why they were answering the way they did.  I could pin point their misconceptions, instead of just marking the question wrong.

How I learned:  I heard about Educreations from teachers at Inman and Abilene, but I really didn’t learn how to use it until I took the time myself to experiment.  I have also read through the FAQ on their website and when I had a question about saving videos, I tweeted @educreations and they responded within a few hours.  

World Mapper - A new way to look at the world

World Mapper was introduced to me by a student teacher a couple of years ago.  It is a visual mapping site that uses categories such as population trends, diseases, spread of wealth, and a hundred or other options.

Name of Website:  World Mapper
Website:  http://www.worldmapper.org/

The maps can be used for all types of instruction in the classroom.  For instance, the map below is one showing the population trends of the 1500s.

Or you can look at Rabies deaths in the world.

The maps can be either downloaded as a high resolution pdf, or can be linked to your website.
According to the website they have around 600+ maps.

This website is great and I love to use it in class for all different applications.

Enjoy!

Viewpure - Making youtube videos safe for class.

If you use this website, it does not change due diligence with watching videos in class BEFORE you show them to students from Youtube.

Found this when I was teaching at Newton around four years ago.  Derek B. showed this to me, and it works great!

Name:  Viewpure
Website:  www.viewpure.com

FREE to use.

Go to youtube.
Copy and paste the youtube address into viewpure, and it will open in a new window.

Works great.

Enjoy!

Recite - Make a message look cool for free

I am not an artistic person at all.  The beginning of the year bulletin boards take me days to think up instead of moments for you that are more artistically gifted.  This post comes from a website that our own Rhonda D. showed me during the first couple days of school.

Go to:  http://recitethis.com/#
Free and a webisite.

All you have to do is put a profound quote, idea, or direction in the box, and then press create.  If you don't feel profound, then use the "find a quote" tab on the left side of the screen.  The templates are random, but you can scroll through them on the bottom of the page to find the one that fits your mood.

Once you have found the perfect template, you can choose to post it to twitter, download it to your computer, email it to yourself, or put it on your pinterest page.  Really neat way to put a message in a cool template.

Try it out and thank Rhonda D. in the art room if you use it.

Long URL? Google is here to help.

Ok.
Here is a short and quick summary of two really cool websites that will make your students and you very happy.

I have to give credit to Rachel C and Tech Thursday for this one.  Tried it today and it worked really well with the quizes that the kids are taking with Google Forms and that will be graded with Symbaloo.

Go to:    goo.gl

Copy and Paste your large url.....example the youtube video for Friday..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQPA5oNpfM4&list=PLBDA2E52FB1EF80C9&index=23

Press the "shorten my URL"...and then it gives you this:
http://goo.gl/HOV3ue

This link will never expire and on the google page, it keeps records of your shortened URL's for you to look at in the future.

Flubaroo - Google Forms Awesome Script

First post of my new blog!  I am so excited!  I have used this app for over three years.  On Tuesday my kiddos will be taking a quiz using this app, and then the app will email them their grades....makes grading a snap!

So here are the nitty gritty details.
Name of App - Flubaroo
It is a google drive script for Google Forms.  You make a quiz in google forms, take it yourself, add this app  script, have it grade the quiz using your submissions as the key, and it does the hard work for you.  You can even have it email the students their grades!  Have not found a way to upload the data directly from Google Drive to Infinite Campus, but I am looking.  So if anyone out there has an idea of how to do it, let me know.

Here are the basics.
www.flubaroo.com
No Cost Associated with this app.
Should work on the Ipads and the Laptops.

Here are some tutorial videos that helped me with this!

The tutorial video goes through it very quickly, but the basics are there.  When and if you are wanting to use this, please let me know and I will be happy to come and help you with it.

As I have said before, let me know if you have something you would like to share on this blog....and I will get it up!

If you have something you would like to share on my blog...please fill out this form.  

Invitation to share with the community of technology pioneers at CMS and beyond.

With the 1:1 laptop and ipad roll out this year at CMS, we have experienced all sorts of emotions associated with our ability levels and confidence when it comes to technology in the classroom.  My goal with this blog is not only to share what I am using, but open this up to the rest of the educational community at CMS, the schools in USD 373, and beyond to share how they use technology in the classroom.

So, here is what I am asking from you.....  Each Saturday (or before) I will be posting a new examples of what is happening in the classroom only as moderator as the blog.  I am hoping at all of you will help me create ideas/content to be posted here.  The only stipulation is that you have tried it in your room.  The positives, the negatives....even how you used it will be helpful to those reading this blog for inspiration or ideas.

Ipad users, even though I am on a laptop, please help us out with apps that are working!

So here would be a sort of template that I would like to follow....(I will help gather information if needed)

Thanks for your time, input, and/or comments.  We all need support as we become digital pioneers with our students that are digital natives.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title:  Name of App/Website (this will become what people can search)

Address and/or cost of the app/website:   (do you have to download the app, does it cost, does it need to be pushed out from ETC....)

What the app/website does: You can use the description of the website, or use the KIS principle....Keep...It....Simple

How you used it:
Please include pics of either the process or the final project (screenshots work for this)
I have included how to take screenshots on both the laptops and the ipads.  Student pics would also work.

Tutorials online or who helped it you with it:  Was this a tech Thursday idea?  Did you watch a youtube video on how to do it?  Give credit to those who are helping us navigate through this new technology.

Optional:
Are you willing to help a person use it in their classroom (We are uber busy and don't have enough time for ourselves....but if you are willing, people will probably take you up on that!)

If you have something you would like to share on my blog...please fill out this form.