Voki
At our first TILT meeting, we explored the Voki website, which allows you to create and manipulate avatars. We began brainstorming ways to use them in our classrooms and came up with some great ideas. Voki could be useful in many of the following ways:
We are currently reading Gingerbread Man stories and using gingerbread men in many of our math and Language Arts lessons. I created a gingerbread man Voki to help students count by 10s. I posted this Voki on my classroom blog, for students to watch and count with from home!
- To introduce or explain a Problem of the Day
- To aid in transitions
- A daily greeting
- Retell stories by creating characters and have them tell the events in sequence
- Create new endings to stories by creating characters and adding to the story
We are currently reading Gingerbread Man stories and using gingerbread men in many of our math and Language Arts lessons. I created a gingerbread man Voki to help students count by 10s. I posted this Voki on my classroom blog, for students to watch and count with from home!
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LinoWe also explored Lino, which allowed us to comment on a topic by creating virtual sticky notes. This was a great collaboration tool.
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PhotoSyncI love this app! I have been using my iPhone to take photos and videos of things happening in class, and can easily upload to my computer using PhotoSync. Click the image below for the PhotoSync app site.
SymbalooA social bookmarking tool that shares favorite links using image tiles. This is a great tool to help students find certain websites quickly and easily.
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QR CodesQR codes can be a great way to present non-readers with a variety of information. A couple of tools to make QR codes:
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Courtney Niemeyer's Connected Kinders
We had the opportunity to observe Mrs. Niemeyer and her Connected Kinders at work. Our observations helped me reflect on what technologies I would like for my classroom, as well as being more intentional about using what I am already fortunate enough to have. At the top of my list is an ultra short-throw interactive projector. I am also brainstorming ways to integrate my 3 classroom iPads into more activities throughout the day. Perhaps rotating small groups of students through a series of routine activities (similar to Courtney's letter-sound routine)? Also, with a better projector and ReflectorApp, they could be used more in a whole-group situation to supplement activities we are already doing.
ReflectorAppUsing the Reflector tool, I am able to reflect what I am doing on my iPad to my MacBook. This allows me to project my iPad screen, making whole group learning with the iPads much easier. To use this app, you download it to your computer, then using AirPlay you can mirror your iOS device. Easy to use and very cool! $12.99 for single user license.
Using Bloom's Taxonomy with Technology |
NearpodNearpod is a cool tool that allows the teacher to create a presentation on a computer and share the presentation with students using iPads. Would be great to present information, do polls and quizzes and get quick, real-time assessment data in small groups.
Symbaloo appSuper cool! For iPad, iPhone and iPod ... you can access your Webmixes from all of these devices.
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In TILT, we watched a video about successful tech integration, which focused on aspects of Bloom's Taxonomy. This images are useful tools for visualizing how to incorporate technology into Bloom's, as well as app suggestions for each level. These and more at Digital Kindergarten.
Remind101I am going to begin using a text message reminder system for my class. I activated a FREE account, and parents can sign up by texting or emailing. This app will allow me to send messages to students without revealing my phone number. I am excited to see how this tool works!
Class DojoI recently started using this online management tool in my classroom, and so far I love it and the kids love it. You can customize behaviors (positive and negative) for your classroom. Parents can also sign up for weekly behavior reports about their kiddos. So far I have been having them collect a certain # of points and then they get to pick a prize. We reset points every Friday. There is also an app that you can use on your iPad or iPhone. Very cool!
BaiBoardWe briefly used this Baiboard app that provided a collaborative whiteboard for us to share on. Very cool - would like to explore more opportunities to use it in the classroom.
TED-EdWe explored this tool, TED-Ed, that allows you to create lessons around educational or inspirational videos on YouTube. Users create and share videos and lessons.
Digitize Cassette TapesTake those old books-on-tape (or New Kids on the Block recordings, if you are lucky enough to have such a thing) and turn into mp3 recordings for use in listening centers. Could put in Dropbox or into iTunes. Click here for Desiree's tutorial using Audacity. So cool!
ThingLinkThinglink is a tool to delve deeper into stories through images. Thinglink could be implemented in a kindergarten (or other primary) classroom by utilizing this tool with a favorite book (non-fiction or fiction) and creating hyperlinks within the story image that students would click. These links could feature audio or visual questions to encourage students to think more in depth about the story or what they learned (i.e. who are the characters, what is the problem, talk about a vocabulary word, etc). Check out the example below of a teacher who creates weekly homework using Thinglink:
Stop Motion StudioUse this quick and easy tool to make quick motion animation videos. You can also add audio (narrate what is happening). Great tool for students to showcase their learning. Could be a great tool for spelling high frequency words (use Wiki-Stiks or magnetic letters). Could use Play-Dough or drawings to animate animals, etc. Use pieces from a story to retell and sequence stories. See below for an example.
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IDEAL ningWe explored some different professional learning networks today, including Google +, Edmodo, Classroom 2.0 & Educator's PLN. The one that really stood out to me right now is our district's IDEAL ning. Because it will allow me to connect with educators in our district, I think it is most appealing to me. I have used this site sporadically since joining TILT, but I think it will be a great tool for sharing and collaborating ... I need to make a point of visiting this site more often.
Epipheo VideosGreat, fun, informational videos. Click the image on the left for an interesting video discussing the impact the internet is having on our (and our kids') brains.
DreamboxFound this site with FREE virtual manipulatives that can be used with any interactive whiteboard. You can search the tools by activity or grade level. They are aligned to Common Core. Really excited to explore this tool some more!
Letting Kids BlogDesiree shared this great article that really changed my thinking about letting kids blog and using this as a digital portfolio for kids and parents. This is also a great way to start teaching students about being digital citizens. We discussed some tools that would be helpful in allowing students to blog - they can be private, password-protected for each individual student. Kidblog is one tool; Weebly for education is another. Three Ring is another tool that could be used as a portfolio; "tag" students' names to allow parents to view only their child's work.
ColAR Mix - 3D Coloring BookThis is so stinking cool.
Word Cloud Tools |
classroom Response IdeasParent Communication Tool
EpicGreat site with a large variety of books. FREE for educators.
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PowToonRandom Name Picker |