Friday, March 15, 2013

Inquiry learning

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/03/creating-classrooms-we-need-8-ways-into-inquiry-learning/

Mind shift - site for inquiry

Ed Tech Gurus Top 10!!

http://bestcollegerankings.org/elearning-edtech/

Check out these top edtech gurus!!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

More from etmooc

I am taking part in a MOOC - Massive Open Online Course. It's free and I can do as much or as little as I wish. Awesome! Learning for the sake, and love, of learning!! The latest blog I'm reading is on
Rhizomatic learning.
( the following is taken from the blog... )

Rhizomatic learning is a way of thinking about learning based on ideas described by Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari in a thousand plateaus. A rhizome, sometimes called a creeping rootstalk, is a stem of a plant that sends out roots and shoots as it spreads. It is an image used by D&G to describe the way that ideas are multiple, interconnected and self-relicating. A rhizome has no beginning or end… like the learning process...

Reference, Dave Cormier's blog,
http://davecormier.com/edblog/2011/11/05/rhizomatic-learning-why-learn/

Dave asks these questions and reflects on the responses....

Why do we teach?
What does successful learning look like?
What does a successful learner look like?
How do we structure successful learning?

I'm not going to post my response... Yet... I need to think about the questions. However maybe these are questions educators need to think about as we plan, assess and evaluate not the students, but ourselves in learning. Ahhh it's late... Enough! Read the blog I linked, it's pretty thought provoking.

Here's another blog from etmooc that focuses on rhizomatic learning ... I love her idea for genius hour! Very cool!!

http://thinkingandlinking.wordpress.com/

A blog after my heart

So I have found an amazing blog to follow. The focus is integrating technology and literacy! Love it!! http://education584.blogspot.ca/?m=1

On the blog, there are cross curricular posts which not only effectively integrate technology into lessons, but look at literacy across all subjects. Upon a quick scroll of the posts, I could see information on digital storytelling, to resources like Edcanvas, to student development of PLN Personal Learning networks.

Pretty cool!

First Nations Wisdom and Open Ed

Connection between shared learning resources and First Nations' views... Interesting blog

http://karenatsharon.blogspot.ca/2013/03/collective-wisdom-using-aboriginal.html?m=1

If you can't curate - retweet

http://m.flickr.com/photos/planeta/7776885762/

If you can't curate - retweet

http://m.flickr.com/photos/planeta/7776885762/

Popcorn Maker

Popcorn maker is from Mozilla and allows you to remix and recreate videos and Gif images. Mozilla provides instructions for doing these types of techno projects.

So how it be integrated into education? Imagine the old fashioned and ridiculous collage? Try a video montage on a message related to a theme or topic - or as a way to recreate or reapply what was learned in a unit. Lots of possible combinations - the key is to first look at the curriculum outcomes and explore how students could use this tool to recreate what they've learned in another way. Without rambling further, just remember that the tech is the tool not the main focus.
https://www.webmaker.org/en-US/projects/show-them-some-love-internet-style/

Remix the biography

Mozilla project for education - free and easy to use!

https://www.webmaker.org/en-US/projects/interactive-biography/

Monday, March 11, 2013

50+ ways to tell a story

Assessment ideas - Telling student academic stories

http://50ways.wikispaces.com/

Sunday, March 10, 2013

OER on Web 2.0 resources

Check out this OER - open Educational Resource on Web tools for education! Love it lots!!

http://www.oercommons.org/community/100-ideas-for-educators/view#.UQbs0myu5Sk.twitter

How to Integrate Tech in the Classroom

for more information on this post ho to Edutopia! http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-introduction-video


Reference info...http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration
Everything you need to know about effective integration.... But is it??

Is tech integration just having a great lesson that involves apps or on-line sites? Is it about finding a cool activity that will engage and get the students attention - because after all they are the "Net Generation" - and this is the only way you can sustain their attention?

Do you ever find yourself going on line to quickly find an activity like a Webquest or on-line based worksheet because you need to get the students on the computers? If you have, take look at the following model for tech integration. To effectively tech integrate, the tech tool/ resource /activity must match the differentiated needs of the students, as well as the subject or content being taught. Sounds reasonable right? This means that as teachers plan, consideration and knowledge must go into each of these three areas. Surprisingly enough the tech tool must not upstage students' needs or content. Technology is a vehicle to support or enhance learning - it's not the final destination or the main attraction...

The model...
http://infusingict.wikispaces.com/file/view/TPCK.jpg/220936634/TPCK.jpg

Article which explains a little about TPCK
http://eductechalogy.org/index/archives/276

https://www.google.ca/search?q=tpck+model&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#biv=i%7C5%3Bd%7CNRlyFSlIuqXV4M%3A

VanDusen's Regina Convention links

Here is a link to Eric VanDusen's presentation on play from the Regina Teachers convention

Focus on engagement, inquiry and play...

http://erikvandusen.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/rpsta-teachers-convention-2013/

Digital Storytelling

Show and Tell (Digital Storytelling)

Alec Couros’ Open Thinking Wiki
http://couros.wikispaces.com/digitalstorytelling

Bullies Called Him Porkchop
http://www.youtube.com/embed/NgYzIehZxSo

The Centre for Digital Storytelling
http://m.youtube.com/#/user/CenterOfTheStory?&desktop_uri=%2Fuser%2FCenterOfTheStory

Digital Portfolios

Links to digital portfolios...

http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech111.shtml

https://pathbrite.com/

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/01/great-tips-and-tools-to-create-digital.html?m=1

Thursday, March 7, 2013

SMARTbrief Edtech

Great resources to Edtech links. Subscribe to the Smartbrief feed if you are into Edtech. Always good articles and links to resources.

http://www.smartbrief.com/servlet/encodeServlet?issueid=E08F2C6A-ADAB-445E-8A86-025A827BCD16&sid=40e9496c-3855-4f16-992e-5c722f0603ad

Digital Tools for MY

Love this blog post (Middle Web), as there are some great tools for tech integration from a seasoned Middle Years Teacher. Check out!!

http://www.middleweb.com/5545/digital-tools-for-the-common-core/

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Twiddla is Awesome!!

I pretty much started hyperventilating when I saw this video for Twiddla, as the video states a "meeting playground".

If it's also free (for educators and students) - I may need to get a paper bag so I can breathe. Check out the link below. Presenter embeds a slide-share presentation and a backchat - which he shows how to simply code for... OMG - Way too cool!!

It's a platform for multiple tools which can be seen all at once!

The basic service is free for everyone. But for more "deluxe" services there is a cost $14/month min... But if you are a teacher sign up and email them your school address and you get a free account!! For more info. go to Twiddla and checkout the "Features" page - Scroll to the the bottom, and read the  "For Teachers" section.

COOL X 1000 000!!

Instructional video...
http://teachamazing.com/combine-webtools-to-create-interactive-online-environment/

Twiddla...
http://www.twiddla.com/

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Grapplings Tech Learning Spectrum

Think you are a pretty tech savvy teacher or want to find ways to transform learning? This means going beyond knowing how to use a variety of tools in class to getting students to understand how to choose the best tool or resource for a variety of tasks.

Check out Grapplings' Learning and Technology Spectrum graph. I think that this document would be an excellent one for teachers to use to transform their understanding of technology integration into the classroom.

http://www.bjpconsulting.com/files/MAPPSpectrum.pdf

Check out more at the DigiLeaders Wiki

Digital Student Leaders

I love this idea... Student Digital Leaders!!! Empowers students, frees up time for teachers and creates a sense of all taking part in Digital Literacies as fellow learners. Definitely something work trying!!

http://dedwards.me/2013/01/26/digital-leaders-why-you-need-them-in-your-school-plus-a-few-tips-on-how-to-get-started/