Math Playground - An Arcade of Engagement

Today's tip is a well developed math game website. 

http://www.mathplayground.com/ASB_Index.html

If you are looking for a one stop place for arcade type math games, this Math Playground link is sure to engage your students.  The site keeps it simple and provides clear directions.  The games load quickly, some can be played publicly and privately, and some support both single and multiple players.   If you create a private game, you can add a password and students can share it with friends.  Games on this page include the addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and ratio, fraction and integers. 

In addition to using Math Playground games in your classroom, this is a good site to share with parents to support the home/school connection.  Teachers frequently ask me for sites that will engage their students and this is one that I continue to recommend.  If you like this page, there is much more to the site you can explore.

Check it out and see if it will work for your students or share it with a colleague.  Leave a comment if you find that Math Playground is a hit with your students. 

Learning About Web 2.0 Storytelling - A Resource

 Today, I am sharing a wiki about Digital Storytelling that I think keeps it simple but provides information, videos, and conversation on the topic.  You can read about digital storytelling or "click" and enter a discussion on various aspects of digital storytelling.  The authors of this wikispace site, Bryan Alexander and Alan Levine, provide a variety of storytelling links and examples.  This wiki was developed after the two wrote an article in 2008, "Web 2.0 Storytelling, Emergence of a New Genre." Click the title to read the article.
 Check out this wiki to expand your understanding of Digital Storytelling and how to integrate technology into your storytelling lessons.http://web2storytelling.wikispaces.com

I hope you find this wiki resource useful and simple enough to navigate.  Try a few clicks and see what you find.
Share your thoughts in a comment.  Two years after this article was published, has the new genre emerged in your classroom or school?

Take a Shot: Online Contests - An Easy Find

The web provides access to many FREE resources for teachers and you can also find opportunities for your students to participate in contests, challenges, projects, and events like the Google Science Fair and much more.

If you are an educator, click the link for classroom resources, complete the simple registration form and Google will send you materials for your class or even your whole school.  Students or teams ages 13-18 are eligible to participate in the Google Science Fair. Google will kick off registration on January 11th.  So, if you register your classroom/school now, you should receive your material before the.

My next example will be ending on January 21, 2011 but there is still plenty of time to enter.  Olive Garden is sponsoring its 15th annual Pasta Tales Essay Contest.  Students from 1st - 12th grade are eligible to register online or you can print a form.  This year's topic for a 50-250 word essay is: “Describe how furthering your education beyond high school will help make your dreams come true.” The contest grand prize is a three-day trip to New York City and a $2,500 savings bond and there are also winners at each grade level who receive a bond and dinner at a local Olive Garden.

 According to the contest website, submissions will be judged based on creativity, adherence to theme, organization, grammar, punctuation and spelling by the Quill and Scroll Society of the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Iowa, with winners selected by Olive Garden.

This form keeps it simple and the essay topic is central to motivating students to achieve and think about furthering their education beyond high school.

If you are looking for a way to challenge your students and open their eyes to new ways to demonstrate their abilities, search the web for contests, events, and opportunities like these.  There are hundreds available, depending upon where you live and the age of your students.

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.  Wayne Gretzky
http://www.brainyquote.com 

If your students don't ever participate in something like these contests, they will never have the opportunity to win. My search of online writing contests yielded 930,000 websites so, if my examples aren't to your liking, I am sure you will find something that could work for your students. Many contests are simple online submissions like Olive Garden's.  Teachers should check with a school administrator and follow appropriate protocol for online submissions.  I hope you are able to let your students take a shot!

If you have participated in an online event, contest, etc. share your experience in a comment.  If not, could the Google Science Fair or the Olive Garden Pasta Tales Contest work for your students?   Share your thoughts on this topic.

Don't Get Stuck in 1.0

I began this blog in September and I have been sharing technology tips and tools that I think educators should consider using with their students. Many of the tools are Web 2.0 tools and in my work with teachers, I still find that there is confusion about this and other tech terms. Recently, I read a post by Nicky Hockly that is part of a series she is writing. Her post provides a clear, easy to understand history of the web and how teachers are using technology in classes.
Click and Read Teachers & Web 1.0 – A Beginner´s Guide to Webs 1,2,3, x Nov 16th, 2010 by Nicky Hockly
In my work with teachers, I find great variation in knowledge and skill level about what is possible using a computer with students. Some teachers are fearful of tools that require a "registration" and they like to stay comfortable with PowerPoint and video clips. That is part of the my reason for creating this blog. I know teachers like it to keep it simple so I try to emphasize that aspect of the tips and tools I am sharing. Nicky Hockly's post keeps it simple and I hope you will click and read through it as it may clarify some of the terms you hear about and may be using in your work.
I aim to help educators move out of their comfort zone and take a dip in the waters beyond Web 1.0 that Ms. Hockly writes about. Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you are finding tools to enhance your curriculum and engage and motivate your students. Getting students to produce content for the Web is what I think is exciting and different from Web 1.0.   Share your thoughts here or leave a comment for Nicky Hockly on her blog.  Develop a passion for Learning.  If you do, you will never cease to grow.

                               -Anthony J. D'Angelo -

Vocaroo - A Super Simple Way to Create Voice Recordings

Vocaroo is a free online voice recording tool that doesn't require any software installation.  It's one of those little tools with big possibilities.  I shared this with some teachers today and they quickly came up with ideas for using it so I decided to share it here. When you open the site, this is what you will see.  Vocaroo really keeps it simple.

All you do is click to record and start your recording.  You can use the computer's build in mic or plug in an external mic.  When you are done you can preview your recording and re-record if you aren't satisfied.  When are are ready to share your recording, you can email it, embed it in a website by copying the html code that you will see, or you can download the file.
  I looked for some examples of teachers using Vocaroo and found Mr. C's website.  His assignment was for his elementary students to use Vocaroo to record a reflection.
The teachers I shared Vocaroo with came up with some ideas on how they might use the recording tool.  They want to try recording homework assignments and posting them to their Google sites, have students record responses to assignments, have students explain math problems, and share class announcements.  There are many ways you can use this simple but effective tool.  Try recording and see what you think.  The simplicity of the tool makes it a good choice for giving students a "voice."  It could be the start of a class podcasting project. If you use Vocaroo, post your experience as a comment.  If you have ideas on how you could use this voice recording tool, please post them too.

This is how a Vocaroo recording looks when it is embedded.  Click the triangle to hear my recording. 

What's in a Glog? Using Glogster for Multimedia Posters

Glogster is a Web 2.0 tool that provides you an opportunity to create a multimedia poster (glog) online. Your poster can include video, audio, pictures, text and other creative elements. No more cutting magazine pictures to and letters create posters. You drag and drop elements into your poster. It this tool is new to you,  check out the examples and videos that are available. Glogster Edu provides educators with a free account. Note: A premium account is available but I suggest you keep it simple and begin with the free education account.  Once you create and save your project, there are several ways to publish it.  Make sure you follow your school's acceptable use policy for sharing.

Here is my very simple glog poster.  I have a link to my blog and two videos that will provide some ideas on how to use the tool.  The opportunities for creativity are endless.   Here are some ideas for using Glogster Edu with your students.  But, like all tools, it is essential that you have a basic understanding of how to create a glog.  Try it yourself.  It's easy to learn.  

If you want to read more about Glogster Edu, this link will connect you to the site overview.
http://edu.glogster.com/what-is-glogster-edu

If you are looking for a way to explore digital storytelling, Glogster Edu may be the answer for your students. If you are already using Glogster Edu, share your glogs and leave a comment about your experience. I believe this tool keeps it simple enough for elementary students to be successful using the tool but it is engaging enough for middle and high school students.  The ability to include multimedia elements, makes it cool enough for kids.

Podcast for Learning Math - It's Math Dude

Yesterday's post featured Grammar Girl, a podcasting website that provides audio podcast grammar tips.  The same company features Math Dude.  Math Dude is written by Jason Marshall and here is his bio.

Much like Grammar Girl, Math Dude features short audio podcasts that can be downloaded to an MP3 player or accessed from a computer.  The sites features concepts from beginning math to real world math.

If you teach math and you are looking for another way for your students to learn and retain the concepts you teach, have them try using this site.  Using audio files is easy and cool for students and this site keeps it simple.  You do not need to register to hear a podcast.  The written script is included below the audio tool.  Simply click play and you are into the world of learning with podcasts.

You can view available podcasts by type or see all the available topics.  The best way to stay connected to this site is to subscribe to new posts and can do that through a newsletter, iTunes (for your mp3 player) or by RSS feeds.


I encourage teachers to explore the use of audio podcasts with students and I would love to hear your experiences.  Math Dude and Grammar Girl can be another tool in your instructional tool belt.  Check out Math Dude and pass it on to a math teacher.  Thanks for reading my post and if you know good instructional podcasting sites, please share them in the comment section below.

Listening for Learning - Grammar Girl Podcast

I have been sharing Grammar Girl with teachers for several years.  It is one of those tools that middle and high school students will use because they can access it from their phones, mp3 players and computers.  Listening to audio is an integral part of students' lives so listening to podcasts is cool and is a medium that is comfortable to students.  Grammar Girl is an audio podcasting website that provides short audio and/or written tips to improve students' writing.  The founder of Grammar Girl is Mignon Fogarty.  You can read her bio at: About Grammar Girl

Podcasts are like listening to the radio on your computer and the possibilities for learning are endless.  Grammar Girl keeps it simple.  The podcasts are free and there is no log in.

You can listen to the audio and learn about grammar, punctuation, word choice, style and more. The site also includes the dialogue of the podcast in writing.  Episodes are about 5 min in length.  You can also subscribe to new podcasts in a variety of ways. Subscribing means you receive notification every time Grammar Girl posts a new podcast.
Have you ever struggled over "affect versus effect," "who versus whom," "bad versus badly," or "active versus passive" voice?  Grammar Girl has the answers.  

I hope you check out Grammar Girl and use it with your students or share it with another teacher.  Share your thoughts in a comment if you have used Grammar Girl.  Give it a try!  I'm confident your students will like it and learn from Grammar Girl.

Site Sharing with Portaportal

Portaportal is another tool teachers can use to organize and share websites.  The free version of the Web 2.0 tool works well but there is an upgraded membership that eliminates the ads.  You will need to register for Portaportal but it is quite simple.  Portaportal offers a getting started tab that helps keep it simple. They also clearly state their privacy policy so you know that your websites will not be linked to your email address.

With Portaportal, you create categories of websites you want to share and you populate a form.  When your portaportal site is displayed, your categories are listed and they link to the sites you have saved.  You can continue to update your portaportal and you share the link with students, colleagues, etc.  They will be able to easily find and use the sites you add to your Portaportal.

The best way to understand Portaportal is do see what other teachers have created.  I have shared a screen shot of one Portaportal and links to a few more.  Check out this easy to use tool.  Give it a try and see if it works for you and your students.  As always, share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of this post. 

This is Harveys Portaportal.
You click the "triangle" next to a topic to open the category and reveal the weblinks.










Here are two examples you can explore.
 A resource portaportal.  http://guest.portaportal.com/sduggan
A math and science portaportal.  http://guest.portaportal.com/adebellegarde 
Training resource page - http://guest.portaportal.com/elamj

Enjoy Portaportal a new way to organize and share your bookmarked websites.  Does anyone have any other ideas on how to use Portaportal?

Learning What You Don't Know - Innovation In Action

It is not uncommon for teachers learning how to integrate technology in their classrooms to say, "how do I know what I don't know?"  Technology is changing rapidly and I understand how intimidating it may be for educators to keep up with innovations.  Here is a resource to help you "see" innovation in action.

Teacher TV, a video and resource library website from the UK, is one of those places to help you conquer the "what don't I know" blues.  Here is what the site says about learning with their videos.

This website is supported by the UK Department of Education but is managed by an independent media consortium.

The goal of Teacher TV is to provide quality professional development
resources for teachers.   
About Teacher TV provides additional information. Teacher TV keeps it simple and the website is easy to navigate and allows for searches by subject and grade level (Stages) to it applicable to all teachers.

While Teacher TV provides outstanding videos for teachers to watch, they depend on teachers sharing videos of best practices in classrooms.  The videos are by teachers, for teachers.  Teacher TV sponsors video submissions including contests like "Tomorrow's Teacher." 

Check out Teacher TV and see what other teachers are doing in their classrooms.  It's one way to learn in 2010 that is easy and that you can do anywhere, anytime.  I hope you enjoy Teacher TV.  I would love to hear what you think about this resource. This site can help you find an answer to what you don't know.  Please share your thoughts with a comment.

Happy Friday!

Lesson Support - Who is your hero?

English classes in the schools where I have been working are beginning a unit on non-fiction writing and it is also bullying awareness week.  I was researching resources to support the English teachers and I came across a website I haven't visited in a while.  This not for profit organization supports anti-bullying efforts that are important for our schools and I can't think of better examples of 

Have you seen the My Hero Project website?  According to the website, "the MY HERO Project was founded in 1995 by Karen Pritzker, Jeanne Meyers and Rita Stern as a response to the lack of positive role models in the media for children. This not-for-profit website was built on the belief that people of all ages from around the world would participate by sharing stories, art, and short films that illuminate heroes from all walks of life."

Students are able to submit writing, art or short films to My Hero Project and the site has teacher resources and lesson plans.  My Hero Project activities address the ISTE NETs and the connection is stated on the site.

There is a well developed set of resources, galleries of work, and lesson plans to support the mission of the site.  Students can register and create a "my hero webpage" on the site.  

I hope you will check out My Hero Project.  It is an inspirational project that is worth exploring.  Let's get kids exploring a hero, developing creative projects and participating in the lesson activities that you will find on the site.

Leave a comment about your experience with My Hero Project.

BBC Squirt the Dog - Keeps it Simple and Fun

Squirt the Dog is an excellent interactive from the BBC schools website that teaches angles.  What keeps it simple is the fact that students can read, manipulate, answer challenges that support critical thinking, and take quizzes on the material. 
The web layout is easy to understand and teachers can choose the type of activity that meets the objective of the lesson.  I appreciate the creativity and I think students will want to figure out the correct angle to squirt the dog.  When you open the site, you will see the html code at the bottom of the screen.  You can copy and paste the code into your website or a blog.  It's very easy and exactly what I did here.

This is the screen you see on the shape, space and measuring activities provide opportunity for plan, reading and the quiz.

The activities are from the UK BBC - KS2 Bitesize website.  I encourage you to check out the material that will engage your students while teaching basic math, problem solving and critical thinking.

BBC - KS2 Bitesize

Write a comment, if you find this site useful in your teaching.  Try to squirt the dog! 

Virtual Math Manipulatives - interactive learning for all ages

Utah State's National Library of  Virtual Math Manipulatives is one of the best interactive sites for students from Pre-k through high school.

The organization of the site with the grid format keeps it simple  and easy to find the appropriate manipulative for your concept and grade level.

The interactive games provide the correct answer for students and the activities work well on an interactive white board.  I have teachers who use the tool as an introduction to a new lesson and then provide opportunity for students to use the site for practice on individual computers.

Here are two of the dozens of interactive, virtual manipulatives.  Check through the site and see how the manipulatives could support your math lessons.  I've seen high levels of student engagement when teachers use the Virtual Manipulatives.


Check out the site and play with with the interactives. Then try one with your class or share it with a colleague.
Post your comments and share your thoughts about the site.

Voki - cool tool for fun Friday.

Get a Voki now!  Click the play button to hear my message.
Voki allows you to create an avatar, record a message, share it with friends, or publish it.  You can do this without registering, which keeps it simple for teaching students how to use Voki. You can also register on the site and save your creations for future use.  Teachers may want to do this so you can create Voki messages and have them ready to share with your students.  

Using Voki, you can customize your avatar or if your goal is to share a message, you can simply use the many characters that are already designed.  Although using a microphone allows you to practice presentation skills, the text to speech feature supports writing, punctuation, etc.  If you are looking for a simple way to get your students' creative juices flowing.

Here is my classroom joke of the day Voki. 


Get a Voki now!
Try this creative tool and see what you can create.  Then, see what your students create.  Share your comments about Voki and how you could use the tool with your students.  Have a fabulous Friday!

Fact Monster - free reference site and much more

Fact Monster is a free interactive website from Info Please.  It provides students with comprehensive reference materials, games, quizzes, and a lot more. 
The homework help section provides excellent resources.  You can choose a subject, skills or types of reference resources.  

Fact Monster is engaging for students from elementary through middle school.  I have worked with teachers who use it for lesson review, afterschool program activities and homework.  Fact Monster has interactive quizzes that provide instant feedback.

I have added a screen shot of the tool bar that keeps it simple with good visuals for easy searching.

tool bar

Check out Fact Monster and all the various components you can use to enhance a lesson.  Share a comment about how you use it or what your students think about the site.  Sharing builds community!

Wise Owl - Learning Resources Site

NC WiseOwl is a site published by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. This site provides incredible resources for teachers and students.  The site has featured web sites for elementary, middle and high school "zones."  You will find links to online encyclopedias, dictionaries, photographs, reference material, and interactives.  In additional to the student material, there is a professional zone and a media/tech zone.

When I add a post to my blog, I try to make technology learning easy for educators.  I have tried to share individual programs, tips and web tools.  NC WiseOwl is a bit different because it has an abundance of resources but, the website is easy to navigate and has a clean look that I think you will find "keeps it simple."

The November featured websites link to excellent interactive learning resources with pictures and online quizzes.  Students can even print a certificate after successfully completing a quiz.

As with all lesson activities, it is important for teachers to preview the material.  Ensure the website opens on your computers and that all the links are working.   Thank you to the NC Dept. of Public Instruction for sharing these resources.

I hope you will click though WiseOwl and that you find an activity that will support your November instruction.  Share your comments.

Facebook as a Learning Tool - Yes Indeed

I read this article and knew I had to share it.  So many schools/districts are blocking Facebook and other social networking sites and this article does an excellent job of explaining how teacher, Erin Schoening has harnessed the power of social networking with her 1st grade students in Council Bluffs, Iowa.   

First-graders use Facebook as a learning tool

Congratulations to Ms. Schoening for challenging and engaging her students in an experience that I believe they will never forget.  She has parents on board and students are "writing for an audience." 

I realize that people have strong opinions about Facebook so, I choose to look at the student engagement, collaboration and positive communication that Ms. Schoening's project has generated.  There are other tools we can use to communicate and collaborate and most have positives and negatives.

Teachers, consider this as one fine example of what a group of 6 and 7 year old students can do with proper supervision, instruction and support.  Share your thoughts in the comment box. 

Kerpoof Studio - Multimedia Experience!

Kerpoof is a Web 2.0 site that I have used and shared with teachers for several months.  Everything is free and elementary and middle school students have enjoyed the creativity it affords. Students and teachers have given it a huge thumbs up!  
Students can create multimedia drawings, stories, movies, cards, doodles, and more.  The site links to state standards and activities are interactive.  Kerpoof can be used with an Interactive White Board and of course, individually.  It is also a good site to share with parents so families can create at home.  The site has won numerous awards, supports multiple languages, and encourages creativity, reading and writing.  What more can a teacher ask for? 
                  Keeping it simple                   

The teacher link, Kerpoof Scholastics is: http://www.kerpoof.com/teach? It will give you a clear overview of the site's options.
FAQ's for Teachers - Kerpoof is free to teachers and educational institutions. 

• There is nothing to download.  Kerpoof runs using Flash Player 10.  Most schools have Flash Player as part of a desktop/notebook configuration and it is a free download from Adobe.  
• Kerpoof runs on PC and MAC computers.  Technical support is available through a website.

Make sure your students know that they do not need a paid membership.  That option is available however, all your students can use Kerpoof at the same time and it is free.

If you are looking to spark creative writing and storytelling, give Kerpoof a look.  I think you will be impressed.  Leave a comment and let me know what your students think of the site.

Video Site - Next Vista

Nextvista.org is a video library site for teachers and students.  You can search and watch videos and you can also post a video to the site.  You will see excellent video explanations, under 5 minutes, of pertinent topics recorded by students from elementary through college. 
This example is Telling A Story.

 This is Music In Brasilia.

The tabs, Seeing Service and Global Views, offer videos an international perspective of good deeds and views schools throughout the world.  Next Vista is supported by grants and donations.  "Learning is stronger when it starts with an engaging introduction of each topic." 

The interface keeps it simple, easy for teachers and students to navigate.

In addition to providing concise videos, the site offers student the opportunity to create a multimedia piece to showcase a topic, event or person and it could be approved for inclusion on Next Vista.

I really like the focus and philosophy of the site and I hope you do to.  Try a video introduction when you begin your next unit and introduce your students to Next Vista for Learning.  See if these videos engage your students and perhaps pique their interest in developing a multimedia presentation for submission. 

Talking Math for a Wild Wednesday - That's A Fact

That's A Fact - is an interactive math site with great audio support.  Harcourt School Publishers brings this interactive site that they say allows you to, "Set your own pace to check your knowledge of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts and to improve your memorization skills" and there is no registration.  You just click and go, following the spoken directions.

                                                                                
This site really keeps it simple.  It allows students to set a timer and test their knowledge of basic math facts after listening to audio prompts that are very clear.  After the game ends, they can check their answers and they are prompted to practice the facts they missed and take the quiz again.  That's A Fact has a clear interface, amazing sound, feedback, and an assessment.  I believe this simple site will engage students to practice math facts when they may not be so willing to on a paper/pencil worksheet.  

The audio supports English Language Learners (of all ages) and your special education students.  A timer is optional and the quiz/game has 30 facts.

This would be a good site to use with an Interactive White Board.  Students would touch the numbers at the bottom of the screen to answer the questions.  I think it would be easier than using a mouse.

Do you think your students would benefit from using this site to practice their math facts?  Give it a try and post your thoughts in the comment box below.  

Free Rice - Academics With A Social Justice/Responsibility Twist

Today, I had the opportunity to share this site and work with a teacher who had to cover a 6th grade special education class.  We used a Smartboard to share Freerice and the students and they were so engaged in "rice" that they were totally engaged in getting to the board to answer vocabulary and grammar questions.

Last week, I shared the site with another group of teachers and they became a little competitive when they started answering questions and they didn't want to leave the room when the period ended.   I can't wait to see how their students responded to the site!

Freerice is a non-profit website run by the United Nations World Food Programme and they partner with the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.  It is an easy to learn interactive site that donates 10 gains of rice to a third world country for every correct answer.  The engaged learning combined with global community service/social justice is an absolute win-win in my book.

The rice bowl fills as students correctly answer questions.





 Although Freerice opens on English vocabulary, you can change subjects.

Freerice keeps it simple.  There is no log in required to play but you can register your class, log in and see the total grains rice donated by your group.  They have donated over 2 billion grains to date. 

I would love to hear how your students like this site and how you are using it as a tool.  I hope you try it and share it with a colleague.  By paying it forward everyone wins and more rice will be donated.  Enjoy!

Hot Tech Toy

"We need to prepare students for THEIR future not OUR past." - Ian Jukes.  I saw this toy being sold this weekend and the first thing I thought was that when I was young, this type of watch was found in the comics and in fiction writing.  Fast forward to 2010 and for about $40, kids (of all ages) can have a video camera, still camera, voice changer, downloadable usb file saving watch strapped to their wrists.  
Forget about the flip cam that I like.  Watch out smart phones?  This little watch can take up to 45 minutes of video and hundreds of pictures.  You download your media to your computer and start over.  Both Parents Magazine and the Today Show featured it recently and it is one of the hot toys for 2010.   Stay tuned!  This could be on a wrist in your classroom very soon.

The watch is sold in several places and I am sharing two of several reviews I found on Amazon. Both reviewers talk about active learning and I believe that is how we keep our kids engaged and excited about learning.  How are you preparing your students for their future?  Please share your thoughts and comments.

Amazon Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't worry about 'too much technology', October 25, 2010

By 

Patrick W. Crabtree "The Old Grottomaster" (Lucasville, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Spy Net: Secret Mission Video Watch (Toy)

Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)

I have to confess that, while I was pretty much clueless on how to get this little device up and running, my young nephew [14] had the watch/video/etc. functioning at full capacity in just a few minutes.

It's really a hoot, lots of fun for kids who remain wholly engrossed with it... a really nice gift if your thinking about something electronic.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Product!, August 26, 2010

By 

Shirley Priscilla Johnson "Author/Reviewer -... (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Spy Net: Secret Mission Video Watch (Toy) 

Let me say this is one amazing product. I at first thought it was just some high tech watch that perhaps did a few things extra but was I ever wrong. This watch is amazing.

Here are some of the features I found right off:
It takes photos, both in real time or you can use the time elapse feature
It has a lie detector built in, we used this feature right away and it was really fun
It is a video camera and you can take video or record voice without anyone knowing it
It has a full screen, easy to see and easy to operate
It tells time in many different time zones
It can be connected to your computer by USB and you can download missions
It has a built in voice changer that is a lot of fun to use
It also has several add on features that can be purchased separately that we plan to look into in the future

And that my friend is just the beginning of this wonderful watch.

My granddaughter and I had a blast with it for several hours. We recorded everyone, took pictures, videoed, it was great fun. We than decided we wanted to download a mission. Understand, you do not have to download missions or interact with the website to enjoy this product. It's totally up to you . If you decide to download missions it will probably require adult help and/ or someone familiar with computers. I am well versed with computers and I still had to call customer service for a couple of quick solutions. I was delighted when a real person answered the phone(with no waiting)! She was very courteous and knowledgeable. Within a few minutes we were back on track and completing our first mission. The missions are clear good quality videos with easy to follow instructions.

I have not had it long enough to tell you how durable it is, however it appears to be very well made.

I am very impressed with this product, it is definitely top-notch in fun and entertainment. My 11 year old granddaughter used the product with ease and loves it. Of course understand Grandma's can have just as much fun with it as well, and I am living proof of that. Amazing product, well worth your money. Enjoy!

XP Math - Sharing Math Wheel of Fortune

XP Math is a resource that I really like.  The site is very robust but I want to focus on the Math Games Arcade. 
Here is a a screen shot from Geometry Edition Wheel of Fortune.  You can begin playing the game, with no log in, from this link.  The look, sounds and feel of the game are wonderful.  Once you play the game, check out the other useful math resources and games.  There is a free registration but you do not need to register in order to play the arcade games.  That's Keeping It Simple.

Share a comment if you think your students would benefit from playing these games or if you like the resources that you find on the site.  Please share the site with a colleague.  Enjoy!

Wild Wednesday - A wacky tool for wonderful creativity and more...

Build Your Wild Self

                                   By the New York Zoos and Aquarium 

If you follow children's movies, you may have heard of
The Incredibles, about a family of super-heroes living in the
suburbs or Spiderman.  There is even a new TV show about a family with super powers.
The connection - Build Your Wild Self is a tool that allows children (of all ages) to build a "wild" picture of themselves adding human and animal body parts. 

While it could be a cute tool that allows children to explore their creativity, I think it could be much more for teachers.  The website definitely meets my "keeping it simple" as it is clear and easy for young children to navigate. 

When I first came across this site, my first thoughts were using it to support a writing prompt and using it to promote speaking and creativity.

• Creative writing linked to why they chose the body parts.
• What would it be like to have arms and legs like a tiger?
• Would they have "super ability" based on their choices?

• This tool could be used with the Interactive White Board as a class activity.
• How are animals different from humans?
• Students narrate "why" they are making body part choices.  This supports ELA standards, would be an engaging exercise.  You could video tape the wild self development and explanation. 

The site allows you to email your wild self to a friend too.  My last thought, go wild and check out the site.  I would love to hear your comments and thoughts on how to use this resource.  Care to share your ideas?
Note-there are links to all the NYC zoos and the aquarium.  These pages offer additional resources you can explore. 

Digital History - Wow!

"Using new technologies to enhance teaching and research."  This is what the Digital History website says and the site does have extensive resources for teaching history.
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/resource_guides/default.cfm

Keeping it simple.

This screen shot of the website shows how uncluttered the site is.  The navigation bar on the left side offers "for teachers" with links to exploration, handouts, learning modules, lesson plans, and resource guides.

•  You can also explore resources by period.

• History lovers and teachers will like the extensive resources.

Some parts of the site are still under construction but I think you will find an abundance of quality information here.  Click through the site.  There is so much more than I have mentioned.

One thing teachers struggle with is getting students to properly cite internet resources.  This site shares the proper way to site the website.
  Citing This Website Please use the following reference when citing this website:

To cite the entire website use this form:Mintz, S. (2007). Digital History. Retrieved (insert the date your retrieved the information here without parentheses) from
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu

To cite a specific document on the website use this form:
Mintz, S. (2007). Change this text to the title of the section. Digital History. Retrieved (insert the date your retrieved the information here without parentheses) from
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu (add the complete URL for the specific page)

 Happy history searching with Digital History.

Teacher PD Online

Have you tried learning online?  The K-12 Online Conference is an easy way to dip your toes in the online learning water.

There are only a few more days of the conference but past sessions can be accessed.  Many have video presentations and the site calendar table is easy to navigate.  You can see the type of sessions that educators are presenting.  There is something for teachers at all levels.  The blue hyperlinks on the schedule will bring you to the session.

You can sit with your feet up or relaxing in a way that works for you and learn about ways teachers are using technology with their students, learn about new tools, research that is being done on technology integration, and much more.  Participating in online training is one way to expand your personal learning network. 

I encourage you to see what this special conference has to offer.  Post a comment if you like what you see.

Easy Spelling Web 2.0 Tool - Spelling City

If you are looking for a great way to engage your students in learning to spell, check out Spelling City.

You enter your words in the boxes or you can batch enter by copy/paste into the text box.

Once you enter the words, your students can "learn" the words, play "games" with the words, and "test" themselves.

The best part of the site is that the audio that accompanies the tools.  Spelling City even speaks a sentence with your word.






 Keeping It Simple

• You can play without a log in
• The site would work well using an Interactive White Board
• Includes many games using your words.
• The audio feature is excellent.
• Includes featured word lists you can use.

 Check out Spelling City and see how it could work for your class.  Share your ideas or thoughts in a comment.