I've been getting to know these three tools this week, and exploring how they can have an effective impact on teaching and learning in the classroom and beyond.
The first is Google Live Forms.
I've always loved this application, it's usefulness as an assessment tool is massive:
You can reach students wherever and whenever they have Internet access with traditional style assessment tools i.e. quizzes and worksheets that will automatically collect, correct and organize the the assessment information. It's a great way to very efficiently gather both formative and summative data from the whole class.
Here's a sample form that I made in > 5 min: SAMPLE FORM
Please fill it out to generate some data!
Here is the Google Spreadsheet that collects the results.
Pretty handy!
iPad: Made by Apple
Umm, actually to be specific, I am exploring a tool within a tool: Guided Access on the iPad. There are so many great teaching and learning applications (in all senses of the word!) for the iPad... but there is also a tendency to exit some of those apps and go find Angry Birds! Guided Access solves this as I will demonstrate:
(please let me know if the you aren't able to view video... I'm not sure I shared it correctly!)
I have been making recipes!
That is, I've been trying out "IFTTT" the, 'if this, then that' application that has that generality that can literally be used in an infinite number of ways to enhance teaching and learning (just won the world record for most uses of the word that in a sentence!).
Not only can an educator create efficiencies for learning (for example setting up notifications and records of students' posts to come to any app [mail, evernote, oneNote] when any student posts to a shared doc, social media page, etc.) but students and teachers can co-create recipes that in a very basic way introduce programming and hacker/makers' skills = developing 21st C inquiry skills! Identifying problems or needs, planning solutions, collaborating to put plans in action, and communicating about outcomes.
There are so many resources available online, downloadable on your computer or on your mobile device. It can be mind boggling!
Here’s a great filtered list for Teachers that leads to professional learning, lessons, activities, games and more that are connected to the Ontario Curriculum! You may be required to set up an account, or use an existing membership through your board:
A great link from this page is to http://www.tvokids.comwhich has tonnes of fun games to get your learners engaged in literacy, numeracy, science and fun! (Grades K-6)
Also talk to your DSBN teacher about Ministry approved software that you can use at home!
I've put together a little review of 3 excellent blogs... all a little different from each other!
Which was your favourite and why?
Not a single blog I looked at had Fair Use of Fair Dealing statements! Or use of Creative Commons licensing... was that a similar experience for others?
A constant work in progress! This will be an interesting 'time capsule' professional blog I think! Currently this blog is re-imagined as a staging ground for some tech-skills development in my AQ course. I could scrub all my previous posts done for my pre-service technology class... but those relics are really priceless: nothing like showing off the processes of learning and development!
I was really sad to see some of my Slide Rocket presentations disappear into the ether... but there's still a Prezi and a few choice posts to explore!
For the 9F61 AQ I am really hoping to get real life feedback, ideas, and experiences from peers in how they are implementing new technologies and new ways to promote enhanced learning! I'm hoping to get "hands on" with new 'toys' and develop my understanding of 21stC learning, so I can critically evaluate and implement the many tech-bits we encounter!
You can see some of my experiences and teaching assignments in the "Backstory" section of my about.me page: http://about.me/mcinnes3m
It feels like it has been a long time since I've been here! Just a few months, but they have been so jam packed it feels like years! This little project was a really fun component of my pre-service learning at Brock... and I don't feel like letting it drift off into cyberspace so I'm dusting it off and making it a full time tool in my education tool-box!
We've been discussing the "Empress of the Blues," Bessie Smith and how she is a great example of the "Classic Blues" genre of music. Here are the lyrics to one of her most famous songs, "St. Louis Blues," you might remember watching it in class last week!
One of the important parts of analyzing music, is understanding theformthat composers/artists use. We discussed in class that Classic Blues often used the aab form. Can you find an example of this in the lyrics? How does that form feel to you? Why do you think Classic Blues musicians used it? Bring your answer to class tomorrow!
Families,
On page 115 of the Ontario Arts Curriculum we find specific expectation C2.2 which requires students to "identify the elements of music... and describe how they are used." Form, or the way bits of music are organized within a song, is a distinguishing characteristic for many genres of music, especially Classic Blues!
Well we're moving on from patterning... for now. But we will likely see it again and again throughout the year. So just so you don't forget, here is an interesting problem:
We will be looking at a very similar problem tomorrow in our math groups. Study the video carefully. do the problem with Mr. Khan as he does it. You can pause it, rewind it, watch it over and over again if you want! Focus on the strategy he uses to develop his formula using the information he is given.
Families:
On page 93 of the Ontario Math Curriculum we find that students are expected to "determine a term, given its term number, by extending growing and shrinking patte***" WAIT! Let's simplify. What your student will be able to do is: create a math formula based on a pattern, that can predict what that pattern will look like waaaay down the line. They won't be predicting lottery numbers yet, but this is one of the tools to get there ;)
http:/ /Blogs can be great learning tools.
We will be organizing our own class blog! A place where YOU can be a PRODUCER, a CREATOR, a PUBLISHER!
Of course this will take some RESEARCH, and some PLANNING.
Families! Please help out with this:
1. Share our 'Tech XP!' Fill out this form to let me know how comfortable you are with technology:
2. Share this page with your parents. It outlines the CYBER-SAFETY and guidelines that we will be following to say safe in cyber-space. Safety is just as important here as it is in non-virtual reality!
