T3 Technology Retreat!

On Thursday, June 30th, from 8:30-4:00 pm, LCISD is putting on a Technology Conference that is going to be AWESOME!!!  I am presenting, but there will be lots of other presenters too.  Go to http://icafe.lcisd.org/blog to check out the schedule.

There will be presentations on:
Promethean Board – from using textbook materials to enhancing your PowerPoints
SMART Board – both math and science specific sessions as well as troubleshooting sessions and using your SMART Slate
iPad – the best apps, using it to teach
An intro to Edmodo
Moving into Moodle
Project Share Introduction
And more!!

This is going to be a great day for teachers from all over the area to get some great ideas for integrating technology in their classroom next year! 

I really hope to see you there! :)

Professional Learning Network

Do you have a Professional Learning Network, or for short a PLN?  Of course you do!!!  You have it in the people you talk to at work, the people you have met at trainings, and the endless amount of people you have gone to when you "googled" something to get ideas.  Those people all make up your PLN.

What are great ways to learn about new people to add to your PLN? 

Twitter & Blogs are two great ways to add to your PLN.  Your co-workers are probably following some really interesting people on Twitter.  You could be following them too.  Then, those connections are now a broader part of your PLN.  I have started following some of those people's Blogs too.  While Twitter can only use 140 characters, people like me sometimes need more room to write, which is why we have blogs.  Actually, the Blog came before Twitter.  Twitter is a micro-blog, basically, it's people blogging without having to type as much, but still get great information out there. 

Who do you follow?  Who should I be following?  I have listed a few below.  I would love to add to my PLN.  You should check out my list and see if you would lke to add to yours too.

Great Math Technology Sites
Great Twitter People to Follow

Twitter In The Class / To Extend the Class...

I just ran across Chad the Teacher's Blog about Tweeting to your students OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL... 

http://chadtheteacher.com/blog/how-about-a-tweetudy/
His thought is to help them study, but what are your thoughts?  Are there other ways to use Twitter in your classroom?  Could you tweet with your students during a class period?

Some Ideas:

1)  Have a computer or a few iPod Touches set up to Twitter to Tweet during class about interesting topics, ideas etc. that learn.  This would help not only students who are absent that day, but also possibly students throughout the school and beyond.

2)  Tweet ideas that you don't want the students to forget, tweet the homework assignment, they could then go and look it up later if they forgot or needed some review.  This would also help parents, grandparents etc. that need to keep up with what is going on in the classroom.

3)  Easy notifications on changes to class content, schedules, venues or other important information.  Let the students be informed.  When you find out something that is upcoming in your schedule, let the students know about it.  Will there be a change because you have a visitor coming to class or maybe there is an upcoming play/band concert etc.  Let the students know so that they can ask their parents about it.  Remind them that there is a bake sale going on and to bring their money.

4)  "Sum"ming Up...Maybe there is someone that really understood the assignment and can rewrite it in 140 characters to help the other students.  Have them sum it up. (yes, this was supposed to be a silly play on a Math Term).

5)  Sharing information that students have found with other people.  If the students are able to get online, either at home or during school, let them share their finds.  Sometimes they find really neat stuff that you would have never taken the time to find.

6)  Is there some mathematician that you could follow?  Maybe you are learning something in math about a specific topic.  Find a person in that field you could follow.  Math is in the real world...this would be one way to help let the students recognize it.

7)  Collecting Data for Geometic Analysis is a great example from:  http://www.teachscienceandmath.com/2009/04/16/using-twitter-in-science-and-math-class/
•Students collect information from students located in other schools regarding the dimensions of their classroom, desks, number of students, and other objects in the room which take up floor space.
•Then students develop geometric representations of these classrooms, to determine which classroom has the greatest and least amount of square footage per student.
•Students then share their results with all participants.

I'm going to have to come back later and post some more ideas.  The juices are just starting to flow...

Twitter As A Teacher

Twitter...Tweet, Twit, T-WHAT?!?!  Ok, So I haven't been the biggest fan of Twitter even since I got on it.  I never understood how it could really help me be a better teacher and I definitely didn't understand why we would want to Tweet about school stuff.  I do Facebook and I am going to get better about writing Blogs and I text and and and...it seems like Twitter was just another one of those things to keep up with, but really, it's such an amazing resource.  And the best part about it...you don't have to read a TON or write a TON...it's only 140 characters. 

Again, I did some searching and Richard Bynes at http://www.freetech4teachers.com/ has come through for me.

First real questions...

What's Twitter Anyway?

Twitter is an information network made up of 140-character messages called Tweets. It's a new and easy way to discover the latest news (“what’s happening”) related to subjects you care about.

How is it Useful?

Twitter contains information you will find valuable. Messages from users you choose to follow will show up on your homepage for you to read. It’s like being delivered a newspaper whose headlines you’ll always find interesting – you can discover news as it’s happening, learn more about topics that are important to you, and get the inside scoop in real time.

Twitter is FREE.  You need to sign-up for an account.  Go to http://www.twitter.com/

How to Start Using Twitter:

If you remember one thing after perusing this page, it should be this: reading Tweets and discovering new information whenever you check in on your Twitter timeline is where you’ll find the most value on Twitter. Some people find it useful to contribute their own Tweets, but the real magic of Twitter lies in absorbing real-time information that matters to you.

1. DISCOVER SOURCES: find and follow others

It’s best to begin your journey by finding and following other interesting Twitter accounts. Look for businesses you love, public service accounts, people you know, celebrities, or news sources you read. (Click here for help finding interesting accounts.) Tip: One great way to find more interesting accounts is see who those you know or admire are following.

2. CHECK IT OFTEN: pay attention to what’s happening

Messages from others you follow will show up in a readable stream on your homepage timeline. Once you've followed a few people, you'll have a new page of information to read each time you log in. Click links in others' Tweets to view: images and videos they have posted, the profiles of users mentioned in their message, or Tweets related to a hashtag (#) keyword they used. Tip: Try hovering your mouse over a user's name anywhere on your homepage. You'll see a pop-up box called a "hovercard" containing information about that user.

3. TAKE IT WITH YOU: connect your mobile

One of the best things about Twitter is that it’s portable. Connect your account to your mobile phone (see below for instructions) or download a Twitter application to begin reading Tweets on the go. Now you can get updates about traffic problems in the middle of your commute, find out what the players are saying while you’re at the game, or catch up on the buzz about an event you’re about to attend. The possibilities are endless! Tip: Using Twitter via SMS allows you to pick and choose which updates you want from those you follow, so you can get mobile updates from the accounts that matter most to your life on-the-go.

How to Start Tweeting:

Many users find it fun or exciting to contribute their own content to Twitter (we call this “tweeting”). If you’re one of them, here are some good ways to get started posting your own Tweets. People you know and people you are interested in what you have to say may follow you and they’ll see all the Tweets you share with them.

1. BUILD A VOICE: retweet, reply, react

Use existing information (other people's Tweets) on Twitter to find your own voice and show others what you care about. Retweet messages you've found and love, or reply with your reaction to a Tweet you find interesting. Tip: If you're a new user, others are more likely to find your messages if they are retweets or replies.

2. MENTION: include others in your content

Once you're ready to begin authoring your own messages, consider mentioning other users by their Twitter username (preceded by the @ sign) in your Tweets. This can help you think of what to write, will draw more eyes to your message, and can even start a new conversation. Try posting a message mentioning a celebrity or person you admire – they often respond to fans. You’ll see their response on your Mentions tab. Tip: Can’t think of anything to write? Don’t worry! Like I said, the real magic lies in locating and reading content on Twitter.

3. GET FANCY: explore advanced features

As you become more engaged on Twitter, others will begin to find and follow you. Once you're familiar with Twitter basics, consider exploring the site’s more advanced features: lists, direct messages, and favorites. Learn how to include images or videos in your Tweets, or consider connecting your Twitter account to your your blog, Facebook, or website to show off your updates across the web. Tip: The best way to gain followers on Twitter is to regularly engage and contribute in a meaningful way.

Tips and Tricks:

Need help finding interesting accounts?

Click the “Find People” tab at the top of your Twitter page. You can find and follow other accounts in these three ways: 1) browse accounts by subject, 2) import your address book contacts to find out which friends are already on Twitter, 3) search one-by-one for people or groups of interest.

Some Recommended People To Follow that I follow & Other Math Teachers Follow:

Please check it out and see what awesome ideas are out there and what ideas you can share to help others too.  Great People To Follow

Using Blogger

Wow, so, I have been researching Blogger.  There is alot of information out there about it.  I found a really helpful website by Richard Byrne called Free Technology for Teachers .  I used a few of his slides out of a slideshow to create some helpful information about Blogger...Thanks Richard Byrne for the post and helpful information so that I didn't have to recreate it.  This information came directly from:  http://www.freetech4teachers.com/p/free-downloads.html

I commented here about Google Accounts being FREE!!!  They are a GREAT Asset because there are so many GREE Google pages you can go to.  If you don't already have a Google Account.  Please, take a few minutes and create one.

This is the initial creation of the blog.  You can make a name for your blog here and create your website link.  I named mine Mrs. Chapman's Class because I want to use mine for my class, but if you are going to use yours for things other than just your class, name is something fun and creative.

This is why I like Blogger so much.  It's very user friendly for those people who aren't very tech. savy.  There are other Blog-Sites out there.  Wordpress is another very popular FREE Blog site.  I have heard it is more popular among High School Math Teachers who blog.  If you are a bit more tech savy, this might be the way to go.  If you aren't... you might want to try Blogger first.

Everything below here inforamtion about more Tech Savy Teachers.



Blogger

Blogging  -
Repost from Chad the Teacher:  http://chadtheteacher.com/blog/3-tech-tools-for-your-class-3/

If I could recommend you take on one tool this next school year, it would be blogging! I am a HUGE fan of blogging…obviously (see Chad's Blog http://chadtheteacher.com/blog) …and I think you should too! For your classroom, blogging really can change the amount of reach you have with your students and how you interact with them.

Reach

Blogs are really cool, because kids can access them from anywhere…anytime!
Students wondering what they have to do for homework tonight? They can check your blog!
Do they need to see all the requirements for this weeks project? Guess what…it can be on your blog!
Want to share some ideas or notes that go beyond the basic lesson you covered in class? Hmm…sounds like a blog might be the answer!

Depending on what level you teach, you may have your students most of the day or just for 45 minutes, but no matter what level it is, you probably don’t get to cover al the material that you like to…or need to…in the course of time that you have those students in class. A blog allows you to reach those students after school hours to give them additional knowledge, resources, or simply remind them that your class still exists outside of the normal window of time they are used to thinking about it!

Start it Right

Here’s the key…you can’t halfway do a blog! If you aren’t committed to updating it or putting meaningful information on it, students aren’t going to check it. How do you do that? Well, start by scheduling the time that you are going to put your updates up on the web. Make sure you schedule 20 minutes each day to sit down and write 150-200 words to keep your students up to date.

Second, put some “prizes” in your post! This will help your students learn that they need to check your blog! What does this look like? It can be as simple as posting something like, “Come in with a red piece of paper tomorrow and get extra time at your favorite center.” Or “Come in with question #34 done (which I didn’t assign!), and you can get a free homework pass!” Use these “prizes” every few posts as you start the year, and it will train students to go home and check it out!

Third way to keep it going…have the KIDS do the writing! Why should you be updating your blog every day? Have a station in your room where a student sits down at a computer everyday and the post what that day’s homework is. Have them write what things you covered in class today. Is it going to be incredible writing? Probably not, but it will get better as the year goes on, and it will be a huge help in you managing your posts!

Student Projects

Blogging doesn’t just have to be for you though. It should be for your students as well! Have them create a blog for a character in the book you are reading or from the perspective of a historical figure you are reading…or a math formula! With a little bit of creativity, you can get your students to start thinking out of the box and really start to understand the concepts you’re covering in your class! One idea that I love is Blab Reports for the science classroom! If you think of blogging as a way to post notes and ideas in a central place to look back upon, it can be a very valuable tool!

The Point

My love of this tool is that it is FREE and can have a HUGE impact on your classroom. We always need more time to keep students thinking about our class or learning more and more, and having an online presense can be a huge part of that!

For tools that you can use, both Blogger and WordPress are free…and VERY easy to use!

If you have a teacher blog that you would like to show off to help us get ideas of how we can use one in our class, please share it in the comments section below.

This is something that can have a huge impact next year, so start mapping out your blog and get ready to start writing!

Here are some comments Chad got from his Blog-Post:

Comment 1:  I like the ideas. My blog basically went dormant last year. It was just too stressfull of a year (Teammate left to be a specialist at another campus, then we had a sub, then a teacher that lasted 10 days, finally a great teacher but the kids had lost so much time and trust of the situation).

I would need to figure out a way for students who don’t have access at home to earn prizes for reading the blog, because last time we did a survey 60% of our kids did not have access at home.

I’m going to be teaching 2nd grade Science/Social Studies/Writing or self contained 2nd grade next year. I had kids blog some last year, I want to do more this coming year and using blab reports is definately going to be a tool I use.

My kids bought into blogs more after I did two things. One was twitting their blog posts with the hash tag #comments4kids. After I started doing that, they recieve a good deal of very positive feed back. The class was over the moon when a post one of them wrote about a game Coach Lucky taught them got a comment from a class in Austraila. Their teacher used the information from our post to teach her kids the game. THey had a couple of questions about the rules – and my students answered.
I also used the hash tag to find blog posts that I had the students read and comment on.
The other was I started using several blogs that really interested them in the mornings as part of our warm up. The two they like the most were:

http://zachaboard.blogspot.com/ A family of four (Zach 7, Naia 1 and their parents)living on a boat on the East Coast of US

http://savannahsails.blogspot.com/ Family of 3 (Jake 6 and his parents) doing the puddle jump across the Pacific ocean – they have fantastic pictures of the islands they visit and underwater pictures of coral and fish – even sharks.

The kids would ask me if Zack’s Mom or Jake’s Mom had posted anything.

My kids asked questions via comments and they answered with very detailed answers. Zack’s mom e-mailed us great information about how they secure the boat during a huricane. That lead to a great conversation about how hurricanes work and the different forces would effect the boat.
When peer editing they started to say things like “You can’t just say blue. Remember when Jake’s Mom said the water under the boat was crystal clear and navy blue – what kind of blue is your car”

Comment 3:  I set up a blog for the first time last year. I had many positive comments from parents. I included videos of experiments and pictures throughout the school year. It was difficult to keep up with it towards the end of the school year, but I felt I did a pretty good job for my 1st time. I hope to do even more this year. I like the idea of the contest, and I like having kids create a blog for story characters. Great ideas to try next year! If you would like to check out my class blog, go to rychlikscoolcats.blogspot.com.

So, I'm re-learning Blogger....

Ok, so it's been FOREVER since I have posted something here and I feel terrible.  I have vowed to do just a few new things this summer Technology wise and I am starting here.  Partially because I already have set it up and why not continue something you "sort-of" already know, and Partially because I am going to be teaching a training on it at T3 and CAMT.  I probably should not only be well informed on how to set-up a Blog, but also should probably actually post a few. :)

So...the next couple of blogs will be about Blogger, Google Tools that are great for the classroom & Twitter. :)

STAY TUNED!!!