BP12_2010022_ToonDoo One Minute Message

BP11_2010024_Comments for John (Doink)

View my comments on John's Doink blog post by clicking here.

An Animation by RickyRico, made at DoInk.com

BP10_2010023_Comment for Dana (Storybird)

Click here to see my

comments on Dana's Storybird

blog post.

BP8_2010021_OneMinuteMessage

BP9_2010023_EtherpadWeb2.0

Etherpad is a real time collaborative document that allows people to communicate, contribute and edit information as it is being typed. This is an easy to use and efficient program that can easily be brought into the classroom. Etherpad can be used for editing in English classes or any class that requires written assignments. Imagine the students working more with one another to edit and create work. Take the focus off of the teacher and allow students to drive feedback and collaboration. You can easily turn an individual assignment into a collaborate assignment, making the class more engaging for the students.

After seeing Ether pad being used as an example in one of our Wimba sessions I decided to use Etherpad in a project a colleague and I have developed. I have been working on an interdisciplinary project in which students must create and program a robot, through nonverbal communication. We were running into problems with the blog program our school uses. Basically, we were using the blog as a chat and found it just wasn’t working the way we needed it to. We also had a hard time grading student participation through these blogs. We were not using the blog in the correct manner and decided to use it for self-reflection instead, as it is intended.

We decided to use Etherpad as a means of student communication. This allows us to see how well student communicate through written language and who participates and who does not. I went in and created ten documents for my class and saved the link to each document on our project Ning. This allows students from each group to quickly open their own document at the beginning of each period to use to communicate during the period. Since we are requiring them to communicate through nonverbal means, this real time application is perfect for students to give each other immediate feedback.

BP7_2010022_CommentsforJohn

http://jhspiritofmedia.blogspot.com/2010/02/bp32010021web20tools.html

BP6_2010021_Commentsfor Julie

Please follow the comments I have posted for Julie Jurue's VoiceThread thought the link below:

http://thelearningcurveunleashed.blogspot.com/2010/02/bp42010021web20tools.html?showComment=1265844949142_AIe9_BGb-oKWAUb-y3D3E_g0cC3S7L1ORvQuUVg-FZax8o-vUoYkOraWk-ePIWrzgf9SFNfrfPcoRFZyHlMKw5DlZ7y__WKe5AWJOP4UI4kgecCdVPvYz1yxHjOuux7PGzDTVa7H8RRI08GA7CVOJuoBwSBqK_5nPypAyZonNerKxXUs3czM2RWw7LxMl-ZBTMONwnui5w6jf_p6IUT5MmteEq1TZnX-P26jhFvsf1mwKDbXV7LGsb1NE08Jc2eZ7zCSHCT8CcgS#c101877899960103654

BP5_2010022_Web2.0-VoiceThread

VoiceThread (http://voicethread.com) is a digital storytelling tool that allows you to upload comments verbally, through text, or by drawing directly onto pictures and slides.   VoiceThread allows for creators to upload images, documents or videos to create a storyline or topic.   A VoiceThread can be open to the public or kept private, they also offer Ed. VoiceThread (http://ed.voicethread.com), which is a secure site for educators.  VoiceThreads can be easily embedded into your own website or blog and is a great tool for collaborative conversations in and outside of the classroom.  They can also be used in conjunction with blogs to reach a broader audience if you are looking to branch out of the classroom. VoiceThread is a fairly easy application to use and offers a variety of tutorials to help you get started.  I highly recommend this applications for diverse areas of education.

I have recently used VoiceThread in 2 different ways.  During a bullying unit I found a video I wanted students to reflect upon, so I uploaded the video from (www.youtube.com) into a blank VoiceThread and asked my students to tell me what this video meant to them and how they think they could stop this kind of bullying in their school.  I used this activity as an introduction to my bullying unit but it could be used in so many different contexts.  Check it out...

Just last week I finished up a unit on Teen Pregnancy, for the project students were asked to create their own VoiceThread on what they have learned about teen pregnancy from their choice of several different articles on teen pregnancy and parenting.  Their target audience was their peers and they had to use images that they felt best represented their topic.  I really enjoyed watching the students analyze and add to the work of each other, I was very impressed with the teamwork that took place in the classroom to create this project.

 

BP3_2010021_Web2.0-ToonDoo

I have been using free comic creator applications in my class for a few years now, but recently I had a student introduce me to a much more advanced comic creator site called Toon Doo.  Toon Doo is a fun and interesting way to create individualized cartoons, comics and books.   This site has so much to offer www.Toondoo.com.   This site is simple to follow and required minimal set up.  While in this site you will find a plethora of options and information to help you along the way.  The site offers a blog, discussion forum, a help wiki, and contests.  You also have the ability to follow others and have others follow the cartoons you are creating.  Students can use any of the many characters, scenes, items, sports, and equipment within their cartoon.  They can also create their own customized characters to look just like anyone they want.

I use this site during my stress management unit.  Students spend time learning about stressors and the impacts that stress can have on their well-being.   They also practice a variety of stress management techniques in class.  For the unit assessment, students create comics or a cartoon that demonstrate a stressful situation and how someone can use techniques to manage this stress in their life.  It is a fun way for them to apply what they have learned to a real life situation they have created in the dialogue of a cartoon or comic.   I would love for students to eventually invite their peers to their cartoon for feedback.

You could also use this site to create your own cartoons or comics for directions, instructional information, or rubrics.  Cartoons add a little spice to your lesson and create a fun learning environment for your students.   After introducing this lesson I see students with comics they have created for fun, in their folders.  I love to see them using these applications in their everyday life.

The only downfall I have come across with this site is that you may run into cartoons that are not appropriate for all age levels.  Within the character options there are a couple female characters whose attire is questionable for all audiences.  So it is important that you do some research on your own before using this program in your class to make sure you are aware of what the site is exposing your students too.  I consider these minimal downfalls compared to the options this site offers.

There are a variety of free comic creators out there, but I do not feel any compare to the options available in Toon Doos.  If you are interested in adding comic creations to your class check out these additional free applications to see what works best for you.

http://www.Toondoo.com

http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/   

http://www.stripcreator.com/

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/comic/

http://www.scholastic.com/goosebumpsgraphix/makeyourown/index.htm

BP4_2010021_RSSFeeds

I am new to RSS feeds and basically I just went in and started searching for sites that provided information that I felt would relate to my Action Research Project.  I feel the sites I choose offered ideas and research to help develop my plan for implementing a bullying prevention program into my class and school.

Educational Research Report – provides reports related to all areas of educational research. 

http://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/

Educause – because Dr. Deason suggested becoming part of a professional organization.

http://twitter.com/EDUCAUSELI

American School Health Association – has up to date information about successful practices in health education.

http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=162985209284&share_id=323047120466&comments=1#s323047120466

Educators for Social Responsibility (ESR) – this site promotes different strategies for guiding children in learning good communication practices and healthy relationships which I feel will help me to target my activities to effectively decrease acts of bullying.

http://esrnational.org/

Stop Bullying Now – suggestions for adults and teachers on successful strategies for preventing bullying in schools.

http://twitter.com/StopBullyingNow

BP2_2010021_EducationalUsesforBlogs

Recently a colleague and I created an interdisciplinary project, between health education and technology education, that teaches a multitude of strategies essential for success in the 21st century.  In this project students drive their own learning through creativity and collaborative work to build and program a robot all through non-verbal and written communication.  The objective of this project was for students to be exposed to new technological applications and become more proficient communicators and advanced problems solvers.  This project was intended to push students outside of their comfort zone and challenge them to find new and creative ways to communicate while accomplish the goal of building and programming their robot.

In this project students used a blog forum through our school districts website for students to communicate back and forth with their team members to build and program this robot that was initially created in the technology education class.  Basically we were using the blog as a chat.

I have spent some time reading about the use of blogs in schools and see that the way we were using the blog wasn’t necessarily the most efficient way to apply this tool.  Ramaswami’s (2008) article, The prose of blogging, made the world of blogging a little clearer to me.  I have always thought of blogs as more of a means to chat with others than to journal and reflect upon ideas.  Ramaswami offers a variety of suggestions on how blogging can be used to improve writing strategies and collaboration.  Ramaswami’s focus was on enhancing writing techniques through blogging, but through this article I see how I can implement blogging in our project as a more self-reflective tool, where students can go to write about the challenges and barriers they are experiencing with this project (since they are not permitted to use verbal communication).  By using the blog as a reflective tool instead of a chat tool we are creating a collaborative environment where students express challenges and can offer suggestions to others on how to overcome these barriers with this project.  I have also found more efficient means of collaborating in real time with applications such as Etherpad (http://www.etherpad.com), for students to discuss building and programming ideas that also offer pictures and diagrams to be sent back and forth to help with their construction.

I am amazed everyday at the new and innovative applications available at my fingertips.  I love finding new ways to enhance my existing projects and to make class time more efficient as well.  I am excited to apply these changes to our project for next quarter to see if they will prove to be successful tools.

This picture is of the Ning we have started working on for this project, http://21stcenturyproblemsolving.ning.com, that offers an easy way to access and monitor the blog along with other tools we will be using this project.  The site is under construction but will be up and running soon.

Ramaswami, R. (2008) The pros (and a few cons) of blogging.  The Journal.  35(11), 21-25.  Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

BP1_2010021_iGoogleScreenShots

For my WGO tab in iGoogle I have included Facebook, Twitter, and a To Do list to get started. I have also included a Google calendar, the weather, and my Gmail gadget that will serve as great tools for organizing my daily activities.

In the FSO link of my iGoogle I have included a link box that is filled with links I use regularly for the FSO program. I have also included a sticky note for ideas and reminders as well as a gadget to my Google docs for collaborating with others on ideas and works in progress.

For the AR/CBT tab of my iGoogle I have included the Box of links with sites that will be helpful in the development of my Action Research Project. I have also added a Listy of things I need to accomplish in the near future. The delicious site is an excellent addition for quick searches and bookmarking sites that will be beneficial for this project (which seems to be currently unavailable). I have also decided to populate this tab with a Google Docs gadget for efficient access to the documents I am working on with my critical friends. The Free Technology for Teachers gadget allows me to see the newest suggestions for integrating technology into the educational setting. The Twitter gadget will be used to keep up with Twitters that will help guide ideas for my AR project.

The ETC tab is loaded with goodies to help me get through this course efficiently with the least amount of stress as possible.   Gadgets included in this tab are a Listy, Google bookmarks, YouTube, Blogger, Google Docs, Google Reader, a box of links, and Flickr.  I hope the addition of all of these gadgets will prove to be effective tools throughout the ETC course.

I am pleasantly surprised at all of the capabilities available through iGoogle. I am excited to explore and create an efficient Personal Learning Environment that helps to enhance my teaching and learning as a whole.