Introducing the App or Tool of the Week .....

Introducing the App or Tool of the Week .....

I have learned a lot in the past year or so about different apps for my iPad and web tools I can use for my personal, professional, and classroom.  My toolbox is over flowing with these tools so I thought it was time to start sharing my favorites.  At least once a week I am going to try to share an app or tool I have found very useful.  To launch the App or Tool of the Week I wanted to start off with a tool I use daily which is Symbaloo.

Symbaloo is a pin type of board a.k.a a webmix or social bookmarking tool.  It can be private just for you or you can share it.  I love it because I can organize my resources, student examples, and tools on a webmix and share it.  One of the features I love the most is the ability to embed a webmix on to my classroom website.  This helps me guide my students to where I want them to go.  There is no more of me hearing "Where do I do to go Mrs. Wilson.", "What was that address again.", or my favorite one "I can't find it, I think you told me wrong".

Another feature I really like is that you can copy and add links to other webmix without losing the original link.  For example if I want 4 groups to have the same resource all I have to do is add it to one webmix and then copy it over to the other 3.

To Get Started Making a Webmix:

  • First you will need to create an account.
  • There are many ways of doing things what I find easy in making a webmix is to click on the "Plus Sign" that is located under my name at the top right hand side of the screen.
  • Name your webmix.
  • Click the "ADD" button.
  • Next it is time to add a website or URL.  Click on a Square.
  • Click Create Title.
  • Add your web address where it says http:// - The easiest way is to copy and paste directly from the website to avoid typos.
  • You can modify your square by telling it to show the a Title, changing the color, adding a graphic, and etc... 
  • Click the "SAVE" button when you are finished.
  • If you don't like where the square ended up you can drag and drop it to the location on the webmix you desire.

Tips:

  • Copy and Paste the URL instead of typing it in.
  • When you add a new square update your webmix.
  • Stay organized.  If you have resources on a topic I would group them together. 
  • You can color code your squares.
  • Check to see if your link you just added takes you where you want it to go.


My 1st e-Textbook....

My 1st e-Textbook....

To really embrace Flipping my Classroom I have created my 1st e-Textbook.  This book is full of video clips, interactive review questions, and screen shots.  I designed this book by topics not necessary chapters. My Computer Apps class is an 18 week long course.  During the course I have to cover the topics of Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Research, and Email to name a few.

My goal was to make this e-Textbook interactive and full of resources for my students.  I also wanted to pair this book with my classroom website.  I created a few videos clips with Green-Screen Effect.  I also made a few quick intro video clips via PowTown.  I loved that I could link to video clips from Google, Prezi, SlideRocket, and Glogster Edu.  Why reinvent the wheel if the creator of the tool already made a video clip?

What I love about this is that there is a Glossary and a place built in for kids to take notes.  This is my 1st try at an interactive e-Textbook and I am sure I will be making revisions.

The possibilities for e-Textbooks are endless.


Who Should I Follow??

Who Should I Follow??

I have been asked several times why do I use Twitter, what purpose does it have.  The answer for me is simple.  Twitter allows me to connect with others who have the same passion as I do for technology and education.  With out a missing of a beat the next question normally follows.  Who do you follow or connect with?  Twitter has opened a door and sometimes it could be a little door with a trickle or a huge gate that just floods you with way too much information so you have to pick and choose.  I tend to follow and interact with people that have the same interest as me.  I am very much interested in Flipped Instruction so I follow people that are currently applying the Flipped Classroom model in their instruction.  My passion lately has been AR (augmented reality) so I have been also following people that are experiencing and using AR.   Depending on your interest and passion you should pick people that spark ideas for you or motivate you in some way.

Hash tags are a good way of finding people with your interest.  For example I am into Flipping my Classroom so I follow the hash tag flipclass (#FlipClass).  If you are at a conference you can also connect with people at the same conference by following their hash tag.  For example I attending Podstock and their hash tag was #podstock13.

Twitter Chats are also a great way of connecting with people.  There are several different educational Twitter chats every week.  To attend a Twitter chat you need to know what time they will be online for the chat and you simply follow the hash tag.  For example #Flipclass meets on Mondays at 8pm Eastern time.

Tips:


  • Follow people with same interest as you.
  • Don't be afraid to unfollow people if they are not a fit for you.
  • If you are uncomfortable of sharing just follow until you are.  Once you are comfortable your experience with Twitter will be much better and you will get more out of it.
  • Don't just be a taker, try to give every once and a while.
    • My Twitter - @katieann_76



Coloring Contest via ColAR...

Coloring Contest via ColAR...


I used the App ColAR.  I went to their website and downloaded their coloring pages.  For our contest each person received the same page and was asked to color it.  They had no idea that I was going to use this app to make their art work come alive.

View the video below to see how our contest played out.


Ideas for this app:

    • Interactive Art Show
    • Coloring Contests
    • Have students record a story while the 3D art is showing on the iPad.
    • Take a Screenshot or Record the 3D art and to a digital portfolio.  
Visit their website for more information.







My Recap of Podstock 2013....

My Recap of Podstock 2013....

Every time I attend a conference on educations plus technology I get inspired and energized.  I love meeting and connecting with new people that have the same interest and passion as me.

This year I did a poster session for Podstock on how I did Flipped Instruction within my classroom.  As I was thinking how I was going to accomplish this and make my mini session with people rememberable.  I decided to "Flip" my presentation.  I made my presentation interactive with the use of Augmented Reality and kind of let it speak for itself.  On my board were trigger images.  You scanned the different images with the app Layar and either a student created work appeared or a tool and or resource would appear.  One of the resources was a little video I created in front of my Green-Screen on the different tools I used in my classroom.  I also turned around and made my little handout interactive as well.  I explained that just like my board you could scan the images and magically the resources would appear for them including the video I created explaining the tools and the resources I used.

I love to share what I have learned so below are links to the notes I took while at Podstock.

When I learned that there was going to be a Photo Walk my heart sang with joy.  Below is the link to my Podstock 2013 Photo Walk.  I really enjoyed sharing that passion with others and can't wait how they saw and captured our little walk.
I also love to create something to help me remember my time at conferences.  Sometimes it will be a scrapbook page or two, a collage, or even a slide show.  So this year I took my iPhone and captured a few moments while at Podstock and mashed it all up to create this little video.  I had a hard time picking my favorites.
Thanks for the great connections and I hope you keep in touch.