GoogleForms

Most of you are probably familiar with GoogleDocs.  Part of GoogleDocs is an application called GoogleForms.  This is an easy way to create tests using several formats such as text, multiple choice, checkboxes, choose from a list, or scale.  The advantage of using this tool to create tests is that students can access it from anywhere.

For detailed instructions click on the following link:

http://edtechsec.blogspot.com/2009/04/googleforms-beginning.html

EdTechSec.  Retrieved April 29, 2009, from http://edtechsec.blogspot.com/2009/04/googleforms-beginning.html

Please share other ideas you may have for using GoogleForms.

Diane

Wikis in the Classroom

Now that you've had an opportunity to read about Wikis, I thought you might want to see how other educators have implemented Wikis in the classroom.  Please click on the link below:

http://wikisineducation.wetpaint.com/page/Wikis+in+the+Classroom

Once you've reviewed the website, please let us know how you have implemented Wikis in your classroom.  What has worked for you and your students?

Wikis in Education.  Retrieved April 26, 2009, from http://wikisineducation.wetpaint.com/page/Wikis+in+the+Classroom

There are numerous videos and powerpoint presentation on this site explaining how to use Wikis in the classroom.  Wikis are helpful in coordinating information.  As a teacher just getting started with integrating technology in the classroom, Wikis are easy to understand and use.  

http://wikivideolibrary.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Wikis (Videos and Powerpoints). Retrieved April 26, 2009, from http://widivideolibrary.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Diane

This blog will introduce you to Wikis.  

What is a Wiki? A wiki is a website where anyone can edit anything anytime.

Why a Wiki?  It's easy, it's free, and it has educational benefits.

Do you want to see a Wiki in action? Go to http://stonierpage.wikispaces.com

For detailed information on how to get started with Wikis in your classroom, click on this link.

Go to http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Change Issues in Curriculum and Instruction/Wikis in the Classroom

Wikis are a great place to start if you are ready to integrate technology in your classroom.  They give you an opportunity to collaborate with your students as well as other educators.  This could become your first step to becoming a digital learner!

Stonier Page. Retrieved April 25, 2009 from http://stonierpage.wikispaces.com

Change Issues in Curriculum and Instruction/Wikis in the Classroom. Retrieved April 25, 2009 from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Change Issues in Curriculum and Instruction/Wikis in the Classroom

Inspirational Video for You

I wanted to share something with you to say thank you for all you do every day to make a difference in our world.  Every day we have an opportunity to change someone's life.  Gandhi's quote "Be the change you want to see in the world" is a quote that each of us can embrace as we work with our students and each other every day.

Please click on the link below to listen to the YouTube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQVPR71QdHA&feature=related

An inspirational film that touches your soul. Retrieved April 21, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQVPR71QdHA&feature=related

Netvibes

Netvibes is a free service that allows you to organize your digital content.  I have found it to be very useful for organizing information that I will use for professional development courses for our teachers as well as my own personal learning.  Having my Twitter, Facebook, email accounts, bookmarks, and RSS feeds all in one location has been a real time saver for me. 

The following link has an excellent explanation on how to get started with Netvibes.   Included at this site are screenshots showing Netvibes set-up pages, directions to Netvibes help page, video tutorial on setting up an RSS feeder using Netvibes,  and tutorials explaining how to use Netvibes in an educational setting.

http://softwareforlearning.tki.org.nz/Products/Netvibes

How do you think Netvibes can be used to support your professional development?

Software for Learning. Retrieved on April 21, 2009,  from http://softwareforlearning.tki.org.nz/Produts/Netvibes

Diane 

Handbook for Emerging Technologies

Good morning, I just found a great tool from Amanda's blog.  Thanks, Amanda!

The tool is a "Handbook for Emerging Technologies for Learning" written by George Siemens and Peter Tittenberger.  The link to the handbook is below:

http://umanitoba.ca/learning_technologies/cetl/HETL.pdf

This is an excellent resource for helping teachers plan how to incorporate technology into the classroom.

I'd like to hear your feedback on the recommendations they have suggested in the handbook.   

Diane

Twitter

Twitter is one of the easiest tools I've used to stay connected to people who have similar interests.  During surfing the web, I found Sue Waters site that seemed to explain how to use Twitter in a simple manner.  Go to http://suewaters.wikispaces.com/twitter

 She recommended two posts to learn more about using twitter:

1. Are You Twittering? Here’s How I Use Twitter explains how to set up twitter
2. Using Your Twitter Network For Help & Providing Their Recommendations  

I also recommend viewing the YouTubes I've posted to help you.

Waters, Sue (2009). PLN Yourself. Retrieved April 18, 2009, from http://suewaters.wikispaces.com/twitter

Diane Wright

  

Instructional Technology vs. Traditional Class

Why should we consider integrating technology in our classrooms?   I read an article today that indicates that college students score higher in classes that incorporate instructional technology vs. traditional classes.  The article can be found at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080324125154.htm

Not only did the students score higher in the instructional technology classes, but the instructor stated that he had expanded his instructional capacities and provided a better learning environment for the students.  

Do you think integrating technology in your classroom makes a difference for you and your students?

University of Houston (2008, March 25). College Students Score Higher In Classes That Incorporate Instructional Technology Than In Traditional Classes. ScienceDaily. Retreived April 8, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080324125154.htm

Diane Wright

How to Use RSS Feeds

One tool teachers can use to help manage the wealth of information available today is the RSS.  I've included a definition of RSS as well as provided some instructional videos from YouTube on RSS.

RSS

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  (Redirected from Rss)

For other meanings of RSS, see RSS (disambiguation).

For RSS feeds from Wikipedia, see Wikipedia:Syndication.

RSS

The RSS logo
Filename extension	.rss, .xml
Internet media type	application/rss+xml (Registration Being Prepared)[1]
Type of format	Web syndication
Extended from	XML

RSS (an abbreviation for Really Simple Syndication) is a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently updated works—such as blog entries, news headlines, audio, and video—in a standardized format.^[2] An RSS document (which is called a "feed", "web feed",^[3] or "channel") includes full or summarized text, plus metadata such as publishing dates and authorship. Web feeds benefit publishers by letting them syndicate content automatically. They benefit readers who want to subscribe to timely updates from favored websites or to aggregate feeds from many sites into one place. RSS feeds can be read using softwarecalled an "RSS reader", "feed reader", or "aggregator", which can be web-based, desktop-based, or mobile-device-based. A standardized XML file format allows the information to be published once and viewed by many different programs. The user subscribes to a feed by entering the feed's URI (often referred to informally as a "URL" (uniform resource locater), although technically the two terms are not exactly synonymous) into the reader or by clicking an RSS icon in a browser that initiates the subscription process. The RSS reader checks the user's subscribed feeds regularly for new work, downloads any updates that it finds, and provides a user interface to monitor and read the feeds.

RSS formats are specified using XML, a generic specification for the creation of data formats. Although RSS formats have evolved since March 1999,^[4] the RSS icon ("") first gained widespread use between 2005 and 2006.^[5]

Wikipedia. (2009). Definition. Retrieved April 7, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS

RSS in Plain English, How to Use RSS Feeds, RSS-Feeds, Readers, and How to Use RSS (Videos). (2009). Retrieved April 7, 2009, from www.youtube.com

Tips on How to Use Technology in the Classroom

Please view the video Conquering Technophobia for tips on how to use technology in the classroom from Jim Wilson.  Rubenstein, G. (2008) Here are some of Jim's tips:

Ask for Help, Learn from Students, Take Baby Steps, Be Precise, Expect Snags, Allow Students to Take the Reins, Beware of Plagiarism, and Keep an Open Mind.  To read the full article go to http://www.edutopia.org/freedom-technology-integration-tips

Rubenstein, G. (2008). Tips for Technophobic Teachers.  Online Edutopia. Retrieved April 6, 2009, from http://www.edutopia.org/freedom-technology-integration-tips

Diane Wright

I just received a free magazine on Government ELearning!  Culatta, R., & Wilkinson, J. (2009) recommended the following online resources for helping to build technology literacy:

www.InnovativeLearning.com/instructional_technology-explanations of technologies used for learning

Learning 2.0 Tip of the Week--a good overview of teaching tools from the Otter Group; available free through iTunes store.

If you are interested in subscribing to the magazine, please send an email to subscribe@2elearning.com.

Culatta, R., & Wilkiinson, J. (2009, Spring). Currency and Learning Technology:  Keeping Up or Striking Out.  Government Elearning!, 25-27.

Top 100 Tools for the Twittering Teacher

One of my co-workers sent me this RSS feed today on the Top 100 Tools for the Twittering Teacher.  

I'd like to hear your feedback on these tools.