We're in a 24/7 world where access to information and resources needs to be available on demand. With so many resources to choose from, how does an educator know what works best? This Blog aims to do some of the leg work for you so you can pick and choose from what's great.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Creating Vocabulary Cards
You can have students make vocabulary
cards with either Popplet or Educreations. Here are the instructions.
For Educreations, they can save their work.
- Click on Done
- Save Lesson
- Give it a title
- Click on Private
- On the next screen click "Cancel"
- It will save it in Educreations but they won't be able
to share it with you...yet. Later when
they receive their school email account they can set up their Educreations
account with that email. Conversely,
they can enter their own personal email if they choose.
For Popplet:
- Click on Export
- Click on Save JPEG
- Their work will be in their Photos Camera Roll
Monday, August 6, 2012
Socrative
Socrative is a smart student response system that empowers teachers to engage their classrooms through a series of educational exercises and games via smartphones, laptops, and tablets.
http://socrative.com
No App needed. Students can access the student response system via a web browser.
Check it out - it's free.
Creating an Apple ID in iPad
- From the Home Screen, tap Settings and then tap Store.
- Tap Sign In, or sign out if someone else's Apple ID is there already.
- When a prompt appears, tap Create New Apple ID.
- Choose the appropriate store by tapping Store, and select the country in which you are located. Tap Done to confirm your selection, then tap Next to proceed to the next screen.
- The next screen will display the iTunes Store Terms and Conditions. You can opt to have the Terms and Conditions emailed to you for easier reading by tapping Send by Email. To do this, enter your valid email address then tap Send.
- To agree to the Terms and Conditions, tap the Agree button which is located in the bottom-right of the page. Tap Agree again when the confirmation appears.
- Once you've agreed to the terms and conditions, you'll need to enter an email address, password, and choose security questions and provide answers to them.
- You can also enter an optional rescue email address.
- The email address you provide will be your new Apple ID (which is what you will use to log in to the iTunes Store). Enter your email address and then tap Next.
Tip: If you are trying to create an account using an existing Apple ID, like your MobileMe email address, you will receive a prompt telling you that your email address is already an Apple ID. Simply tap Continue, then tap Use Existing Account on the following screen.
- Next, you'll be required to enter your billing information. To change the default card type, tap the Credit Card field. Select your card type and tap Done. You will not be charged until you make a purchase.
- Once you've filled out all the fields for your billing information, tap Next.
- You'll then see a screen that says Verify Your Email Address.
- Tap Done and check your email for a verification email from Apple. If you need to set up email on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, see iOS: Setting up an email account.
- Open the email and tap the Verify Now link enclosed in the email to activate your account.
- You'll be taken to a secure page to enter your Apple ID and password to complete your account verification.
- Once you've entered your email address and password, tap Verify Address.
To modify or change your account information such as Apple ID, payment information, or billing address, tap your account name located at the bottom of the page once you are signed in to the iTunes Store. When prompted, tap View Account.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Canvas Resources for Teachers
Here are some links
to additional invaluable resources as you begin using Canvas
Click HERE to download the "Build a Simple Canvas
Course" to practice building a basic Canvas Course
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Recommended Apps for 7th Grade
English/Language Arts Apps for Teachers of English 7, Read 180 Study
Skills and AVID
Mathematics Apps for Teachers of Algebra and Math 7
· qrafter (or similar QR code
reader); http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/qrafter-qr-code-reader/id416098700?mt=8
Social Sciences and iOS Start
Workshops for teachers of World Cultures, Moderate to Severe &
Librarians
Annotation,
Brainstorming, Collaborating
• Notability ($0.99)
• Skitch (free)
• Popplet Lite ( free)
• Whiteboard Pro: Collaborative
Drawing ($0.99)
• Bump (free)
Recording tools
• iTalk Recorder Premium (1.99) or
Lite (Free)
QR Scanner
• Zapper (free)
( OR QRafter OR ATTScanner )
Science Apps for Teachers
of General Science
· Screencasting app such as ScreenChomp - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/screenchomp/id442415881?mt=8 OR Educreations - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/educreations-interactive-whiteboard/id478617061?mt=8
· Brainstorming app such as popplet lite - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/popplet-lite/id364738549?mt=8 OR Notability - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/notability-take-notes-annotate/id360593530?mt=8
· Annotation app such as Skitch for iPad - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skitch-for-ipad/id490505997?mt=8
· Drawing app such as Skitch for iPad - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skitch-for-ipad/id490505997?mt=8
· QR scanner such as Zapper QR Code Scanner (free for a
limited time; QR scanners require a camera) - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zapper-qr-code-scanner/id505847168?mt=8
· Bump* - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bump/id305479724?mt=8
*Not needed if iPhoto is purchased and installed on devices (iPhoto $4.99/$2.49 VPP - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iphoto/id497786065?mt=8)
*Not needed if iPhoto is purchased and installed on devices (iPhoto $4.99/$2.49 VPP - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iphoto/id497786065?mt=8)
School Guard - Internet Solution for Parents and Schools
Our School Guard
solution would help address this issue, at no cost to schools/districts:
With our solution,
parents can opt-in to allow a school policy to manage personal device use
during school hours. The school policy could block different types of
traffic and destinations on student-owned devices during school hours,
including total internet access during standardized testing or access to social
networks during normal school hours.
Parents can also
block or limit messaging and calls during school hours using our controls.
While our solution
won’t address the entire population, it is also FREE and a step in the right
direction showing concerned parents that they have an option to work WITH the
school to manage appropriate use.
Even if the school’s
policy is “no outside internet access”, our solution can help students/families
comply with that by shutting that outside access off during school hours.
Consumers: http://www.kajeet.com/4u/school-guard.html
Schools: http://kajeet.com/byod
QNA about Canvas
Q. What is Canvas?
A. Canvas is a learning management system. It allows
teachers, students, and parents to communicate via a web-based, open source,
platform agnostic, and mobile device friendly interface.
Q. What is a learning management system?
A. A learning management system (aka: LMS) is like a
virtual “school” that allows organizations to create an environment where
content, resources, and information is shared among stakeholders. Canvas has
the following specific features:
- a place for learner
expression (blog/portfolio/wiki/threaded discussion)
- a place for content
interaction (posting/submitting assignments; accessing courses;
posting/submitting grades; online assessments etc.)
- a place to connect with
other learners (e.g. threaded discussion forum)
- a place to connect the
thoughts of other learners in a personal, meaningful way
- a place to dialogue with
the instructor (email, chat, VoIP, etc.)
- a place to dialogue with
gurus and the larger Canvas community
- a place for learning
artifacts i.e. content management capabilities accessible and managed by
the learner.
- modularized for
additional functionality and tools which allow for incorporation of new
approaches as needed.
Q. Why do we need an LMS?
A. A robust LMS (if user-friendly and widely adopted by students, teachers, and
parents):
- · saves paper
- · enhances communication
- · extends the learning environment beyond the school day
- · supports collaboration, makes feedback accessible and easy to manage
- · allows for digital portfolio creation and archiving
- · serves as a portal or dashboard that can be used to access apps, productivity tools, media and rich content, classroom communications, etc.
Q. Are we required to use Canvas?
A. The District adopted Canvas to help support the
success of 21st Century learning. Over the next 6 years, Canvas will be adopted
District wide. Middle School Principals have been introduced to Canvas. Many
have participated in “basic” training. There is no “requirement” that teachers
use Canvas but the hope is that teachers will use Canvas when they see the
value-added features Canvas has to offer. Minimally, Canvas streamlines
communication with students and parents and eliminates the need for a “backpack
express.” When fully used, Canvas can integrate and manage every aspect of the
administrative side of teaching (communication, grading, posting assignments
and collecting work, content sharing, etc.)
Q. Do we have to use the grade book in Canvas?
A. Canvas has a grade book along with a very intuitive
speed grader that allows teachers to review, mark, and comment on work
(written, video, and voice) with ease. Once a grade is posted, a communication
goes out immediately to the parent via text or e-mail depending on which
preference the parent chooses. Many teachers have shared that they use other
grade book tools.
Q. Will we get support and training for Canvas?
A. Yes. One of the factors in selecting Canvas over other
LMS providers is that Canvas provides excellent training and support. We are
also incorporating Canvas training with the Apple training scheduled for
August.
Q. I have logged on to Canvas but I don’t see my classes.
Do I have to create my own rosters?
A. IT is in the process of creating e-mail addresses for
students as well as integrating each school’s master schedule with Canvas. Once
this occurs, your class rosters in Canvas will synchronize with student
information in Chancery. You will be notified as soon as class rosters are
visible in Canvas.
Q. How do I get a Canvas account?
A. Go to https://sweetwaterschools.instructure.com.
Use your e-mail ID as your username e.g. david.damico@sweetwaterschools.org.
If you don’t already have a Canvas account, click on “I don’t know my
password.” Canvas will e-mail you a temporary password. Then you will be
prompted to créate a new password. USE THE SAME PASSWORD YOU USE FOR YOUR
DISTRICT E-MAIL.
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