PowToon

Check out this cool new presentation tool called PowToon.  My head is spinning with all the possible applications in the classroom.  A free version is limited to 45 seconds for your presentation and it is in beta mode currently.  If you like using Animoto, you will adore PowToon.  The graphics are cute and quirky...right up my alley! Please check it out and play around with the tool...easy and...FREE!

Yep....QR Codes again

Ok...today will be the last time I talk about using QR Codes in the classroom...I promise!  I just discovered when you make a bit.ly (shortens urls), it will make a QR code of whatever you have made!  I took the Animotos my students had created and shortened the really long urls into customized bit.lys.  Then I took the QR Code that was generated for their 'videos' and copied onto coloured paper.  Now the kids at school can scan the codes and watch the videos...here's a sneak peek!

Elise's Earth Day Animoto

Julie-Ann's Earth Day Animoto

While checking out my Twitter feed, I came across QR Hacker which basically lets you 'pimp' your codes.  I have been searching for something like this and they all cost money...QR Hacker is in beta mode so it is...FREE.  Will keep you posted on if it is any good...oh yeah...I said I wouldn't be writing about QR Codes again...

"Dear God" Animotos

My students have been working hard to create "Dear God..." Animotos commemorating Earth Day 2012. I have included some examples...click the links to view some great videos!

http://bit.ly/HaileyAnimoto1

http://bit.ly/JulieAnnAnimoto

BeFunky and 'The Best Part of Me'

In a few weeks, my grade 5s will be working on a project called 'The Best Part of Me' based on the book with the same title. The book is essentially about building self-esteem by writing about one thing each student thinks is the 'best' part of them. When I did this last year, it produced some well-written and poignant paragraphs. In fact, many teachers commented that it was one of the most beautiful displays they had ever seen. As well as a paragraph, each student was photographed in black and white (just like in the book!). This year I am going to use a free photo editing tool called BeFunky to change my colour photos into awesome, stark black and white ones. Education Week was fast approaching, so myself and a gifted student, uploaded the photos onto Microsoft Photo Story and had the kids narrate their paragraphs. This year, my intention is to have the kids make their story (with some assistance from me) on my computer. When completed, the 'stories' will play on the SmartBoard as parents circulate the classrooms. It will be a massive undertaking as I only see these two classes three times a week. Cross my fingers...

EOCCC Presentation

I, along with Vincenza Nicoletti, presented a "Web 2.0" presentation at the Eastern Ontario Catholic Curriculum Conference today at the Hampton Park Inn. We got a lot of positive feedback and would love to do another workshop on a similar topic. Check out our "Prezi"...

Web 2.0 on Prezi

So true...

Integrating Religion AND Technology

 Take a look at the pictures of the "Catholic Graduate Expectations" paintings that the Grade 6s made...and a QR Code describing the picture!  They look amazing!  They used Kaywa to create the codes.

I used QR Voice in the middle frame to explain what the paintings represented.

QR Code Scavenger Hunt

Want to use QR Codes in a scavenger hunt?  Sounds fun but also sounds like A LOT of work!  Have no fear...go to QR Scavenger Hunt Generator and have them do all the work!  Can't wait to try this out in gym class or Religion:)

Create your own App...without code skills!

Just found this on Twitter...a site that will build an app for you without having any coding skills!  I can see kids in the classroom going insane at the thought of being able to create an app for iphone or Android.  Try TheAppBuilder and see your own creation in itunes!

QR Codes...again!

I have discovered another cool QR code application.  It is called QR Voice and will turn your text into a voice (dressed up as a QR code).  Just think of the possibilities for using this in the classroom. Take a look at this great site if you get stuck http://learninginhand.com/qr

Scan the code to uncover my 'voice' message!
I like to use the free QR Code Reader and Scanner from the itunes app store:)

Photovisi

This took a total of 2 minutes to make!

What a great site...again it's...free and easy (two of my favourite tech words)!  Check out Photovisi to make photo collages.

Triptico Desktop Resources

Another super tool to use on your SmartBoard or any other interactive whiteboard!  Check out Triptico to create wonderful word magnets. So many possibilities with this tool...download it and you are ready to go!  They are constantly adding applications.  It does not need an internet connection and works with both PCs and Macs. There are 23 interactive resources including simple timers, games, word magnets and quizzes.  Did I mention it's FREE?  Not enough adjectives to describe how terrific Triptico is...awesome!

Embedit-in

Just discovered a great tool for your website or blog!  Have you ever wanted to embed a document on your site but don't have the code well...go to embedit-in and you can easily get an embed code for your pretty much any document (pdf, Word, Excel, powerpoint...)  You will amaze and astound your friends with your technical knowledge without breaking out in a sweat or having to read up on html code:)  This tool is a definite hit!

Using Bitstrips Comics

I know a lot of you have probably heard of or even use Bitstrips for Schools in your classroom.  Teaching Religion and Phys. Ed this year, I have tried to incorporate technology into our written work  Many school boards have accounts with Bitstrips so it is free to teachers! This year, they made some fantastic additions.  It is easier for you to monitor who has finished their comic, who is revising and who needs to start. This is a great tool for any teacher, especially if you have more than one class to monitor.  Also, I really like the feature where you can send an e-mail back to a student directly asking tem to make any necessary revisions to their comic.  This year, in Religion, I had the students choose a Covenant Story to recreate in comic form.  In Phys. Ed, the classes used Bitstrips to persuade people to make healthy food choices from the Canada Food Guide.  If you haven't already tried Bitstrips, I highly recommend it.  If you're not sure where to start, they have lesson plans submitted by teachers that are ready for you to assign to your class!  Scroll to bottom of blog to see some class examples:)

Cyberbully Voki Example

Voki in the Classroom

I stumbled across this web tool a few years ago.  Voki is basically a speaking avatar.   It was visual and easy to use...two things that I knew would engage my students.  Voki is basically a speaking avatar. At first, I made a Voki to embed on my website.  I would use it to tell the students what we would be doing in class the following day.  Later, I used it on my blog to announce the winner of the 'Weekly Blog Contest'.  This year, my grade 5 and 6 classes made Vokis to post anti-cyberbully public service announcements.  They have recently changed the ease of students accessing their accounts which makes it even more user-friendly!  For about 30$ a year, you can get 'Voki for Classroom' where you can manage student work and have more "speaking" time.  You can record your own voice or text your speech. Remember to write phonetically!!! They even provide lesson plans that can be posted for your students. Check out the example above!

10 Reasons to Switch to Google Docs

I have been trying to convince some teachers to make the switch from Word to Google Docs...perhaps they will make the leap after reading this article!

Prezi is way more user-friendly!

Last year I wanted to use Prezi with my Grade 5 class to make a presentation on natural disasters. Before we went to the lab, I test drove my own Prezi and found it time-consuming and somewhat difficult to use.  I decided to give it another go this year after hearing about improvements that they had made regarding ease of use.  They now have a drag and drop tool so you can easily re-arrange the journey your presentation takes.  I loved Prezi last year but now I adore Prezi!  This year I plan on having the Grade 6s make individual Prezi's called "10 Things You Don't Know About Me"  to give to their Grade 7 teachers. Will post examples when they become available!  Take a look at one of the Prezi's I made about Technology...

How to look like a techie! (2nd Edition) on Prezi

Using QR Codes in Religion Class

As promised....here are some pictures of the project my Grade 5s and 6s have been working on.  They were asked to create QR Codes about a kindness quote or an act of kindness we could do at school.  Take a peek at this article Good Use of QR Codes

QR Codes Part Two

Forgot to take pictures of the students making their QR Codes to go along with their Tagxedo.  It was extremely busy so that is probably why taking photos was the least of my concerns!  So far, students have thoroughly enjoyed creating these 'mysterious' codes and then using my ipod (with a free QR code scanner app) to decode other codes.  Yes...it may not be groundbreaking and maybe just a tad trendy but it was more fun than writing kindness quotes on a piece of paper!!!  Promise pictures:)