TEACHnology Today
Technology Integration Newsletter-December 17, 2014
Technology Goals
Remember, you have up to two half days of technology time to dig into resources and figure out how to implement new technolgies into your classroom. Do you have any big projects you like to do with your students? I challenge you to think about how technology could play a role in that. For example, in my World History class we do a timeline project on Chinese dynasties. I decided last year that I wanted to see what was available online regarding digital timelines. I ended up finding a really cool (and FREE) 3D timeline creator. Once I took some time to explore the site and felt comfortable enough to give it a try with my students, we jumped into the project and the results were awesome! Did we have snags when working our way through the website? Of course we did. Was I an expert at navigating the site and troubleshooting problems? Not even close. But I did work through problems with students to the best of my ability, and you'd be surprised how many problems are worked out when students help each other.
I heard last year of a teacher who had a policy regarding technology called "Ask 3 Then Me." Students had to troubleshoot and problem solve on their own, then find a friend who might be able to help them rather than running to the teacher with every little issue. Is that pheasible for your younger students? Probably not, although you may find that some early elementary kids are fairly handy with technology if they've been exposed to it at home.
I love watching students problem solve in groups and help their classmates work through common technology issues. It also allows some of your tech saavy students to showcase their abilities, which is a huge self esteem builder! If you are interested in moving towards a project utilizing technology or are unsure of where to begin, please feel free to email me and I'll work with you every step of the way!
If you click the link below on iPad skills, you can see a list of student objectives regarding iPads and a list of apps that will help students meet those objectives.
Some iPad Skills and Apps Associated With Them
iPad App of the Week: Phoster
This app allows you to create stylish posters using one of 197 different templates. You can use it to make classroom posters to print and laminate, or students can use it to show what they know. You can also integrate photos using your device's photo library. It can be downloaded and used on iPhones, iPod touches and iPads.
This app costs $1.99 but is featured from time to time in the Apps Gone Free app, so I'll be on the lookout to snag it if it does return!
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Fill Out Form Below for Individual Technology Integration Meeting
Past Editions of TEACHnology Today
September 11, 2014: Important Links, Technology Goals, Google Calendar and Chromebook Checkout, the 1-iPad Classroom and Reflector App
September 18, 2014: Important Links, Kahoot.it Tutorial, iPad App: Rhyme to Read
September 25, 2014: Digital Citizenship Image, Chromebook Checkout Refresher, iPad App: Noise Down, Bookmarking Sites: Tizmos and SymbalooEDU (with examples/resources by subject area and grade level)
October 2, 2014: Technology Goal Submission, Tutorial: Remind, Technology Workshop Opportunities, Chromebook Use Update
October 14, 2014: Technology Goal Update, iPad Spectrum, Apps for Every Classroom, Cool Tool: Planboard with Examples
October 23, 2014: Teaching Digital Citizenship and Internet Safety, iPad Reference Card (Printable), Cool Tool: Chatterpix App, Google Classroom, Apps for English and History, Sight Words on iPad, Youtube Channels for Educators
November 10, 2014: Tech Integration Request Form, Reflector and Splashtop (installation and use with your iPad and school computers), Google Calendar Refresher and links to LP School Calendars
November 18, 2014: Technology Mini-Session Poll, iPad App Suggestions with ThingLink, Thankful Turkeys with imagechef.com, Past Editions and Tech Integration Request Form
November 25, 2014: Technology Mini Session 1 Information, Planboard: Unit Planner How-To Guide, Formative Assessment with Socrative
December 4, 2014: Using Apps to Level your Classroom Library, Leveler Websites and Databases, 15 Virtual Field Trip Apps, and a Neat End of Year Activity
December 17, 2014: Survey Tools, Socrative, 30 Best Apps of 2014, WebTools with No Registration Required, Fun Classroom Timers
January 8, 2015: Technology Goal Update, iPad Student Objectives with Apps, iPad App of the Week: Phoster, A Comprehensive Guide to Classroom Blogging