Other Tools

I think this website is a great resource for web tools, but it is a little overwhelming. I saved it as a favorite so that I can go back and find it, but I feel like I have learned so many new tools and technologies, that I can't possibly try to use them all. The first tool I looked at was Create A Graph. It did exactly as the name implies. It was a very easy graphing tool, but probably a little too elementary for junior high students. I would prefer them using excel, which they have already been taught to use. The second tool I looked at was Phuser, which is similar to google docs. It is basically a place to collaborate. Again, it was cool, but I don't see how it would be more useful than google docs. And, you didn't have to sign in, which I didn't really like. I don't want people outside of my class to be able to edit what the students are working on. The third tool I looked at was Bubblus, which creates a web or brainstorm. This would be great for the students to create a concept map at the end of the chapter. Overall, there are some really neat tools on this website, and I hope I get the chance to look at them all.

Wordle 2

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/1942091/Types_of_Matter

This is a link to a wordle I created about the different types of matter, which we are beginning in 8th grade science. Again, I think it's a neat way to introduce my students to a new topic.

Wordle 1

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/1942052/Chromosomes

The link is to my wordle about chromosomes. We are studying genetics in 7th grade science, and I thought this would be a cool way to introduce it. I used it as my title slide in my power point. It was just a neat way to get the students interested. What turned out really neat was that the picture kind of has the shape of DNA, which is in chromosomes. I'm not sure I would use this with my students, but I will probably make a wordle each time I introduce a new topic.

Photoperiod Project

Using the google docs in the photoperiod project this year has been great! Every students is more responsible for doing their own work, where as before, I felt like students were copying information from each other. Now, they are still sharing, but each student has to get their own information. I am also able to constantly check their progress and pull students aside who are not keeping up. This way, they have many reminders to get the work done before it is due.

Digital Storytelling

Here is an example of the digital storytelling I did in my communications class:
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The students loved this assignment. They really liked being able to choose their own topic and find pictures, video, etc. Each quarter that I have done this project, I have added more for the students to do and they have really taken off with it. I think they like not having many boundaries so they can be creative. I think that this will be a great project to keep adding to as technology changes. I already have some ideas for how to add stuff from this class to the project!

Diigo

I just set up an account with diigo and I love it! For my major projects this year, I have been posting all of the links that the students would need on progress book. This shouldn't be the case, but some students cannot get into progress book except on their home computer where the password is saved! This would be a great place for me to post the links and let students add other links. I also like how I can leave comments for them about my favorite links, etc. I have not tried to start a group for my classes yet, but I am going to try it next quarter for my communications project. I love finding out about these fun new websites! And it was so easy!

Digital Story

I've been working on my digital story with my communication students in movie maker. We've had a few problems with video - the only video I can add is a united streaming video (saved as .wmv) or a video that they take on their own (I think I can add this). Other than that, they can't download videos from the internet and save it in their public folder to upload into movie maker. This has been frustrating for some students who have found good videos.

Audacity is a great program, but sometimes freezes up and students lose their work. They also have trouble with the functions sometimes not working, and they have to restart the program.

We are now beginning to record our voices, and hopefully be done with the project next week!