Just Because!

BP13_Final Video

Let's Inspire Change!

PE9_Diigo

I have applied for the teacher account which allows you to manage several groups. I have one for my students and one for fellow teachers. I have downloaded the Diigolet, which allows you to easily bookmark, highlight pages for notetaking, add post-its, and comments. I have also, downloaded the offline reader for my iphone, which allows me to read content while offline. I can't wait to introduce this to my students tomorrow. I can't wait for them to start adding content.

To e Continued.....

PE8_Diigo

So I have created a group called Mrs. Johnston's Class. I have added all my students to my group, with student accounts, which disables the ability to share account info. I am in the process of adding bookmarks. My wish is to have links the students need in one place for the students to access whatever they need for assignments in class. Some of our links I will have to get when I am at school, since there is account info and passwords associated with the links. I want to find out if there is a way for me to save some account info, in a place for the students, so they do not have to remember all of it. I may have to create a google doc, but I am trying to get away from them having to go to multiple places. I teach second grade, so keeping it as simple as possible, opens it to more students.

PE7_Diigo

I have chosen to learn more about Diigo for my new Web 2.0 tool. I have searched for a way to organize all these amazing Web2.0 tools for my students and fellow educators. I think Diigo may be just what I need. In the beginning of the month, we were told to make a Diigo group and share it with our group. I did that, but have not found the time to explore it more. I need to know how I can make it accessible to my students. Technology can be amazing in the classroom, but it does take a lot of organizing before hand; otherwise you will end up with 18 students raising their hand, (if your lucky), saying, "What do I do now?".

PE6

Bitstrips for Schools

So I have been able to explore even more. I found a forum where teachers can get and share lesson ideas, get help, and request features. I had no idea this was out here for my students. I'm thinking even if I have to pay myself, it is worth it for the benefit of my students. In a simple lesson my students are creating, writing, and reading. I can incorporate the site into other subjects, also. I can have students hypothesize before a science experiment, explain math problems and create new worlds.

One of my favorite aspects of the site, is the

ability to comment on my students comic strip. the other students can also comment on each other's comics. This is a wonderful way to create an environment of encouragement and motivation. You can see in the picture above my students have already figured out how to comment, as they have commented on the strip I created to welcome them to the site.

As you can see my students have fully embraced this website. They are at home, doing

something other than playing video games or vegg-ing in front of the TV. I am sure they will

soon be showing me what I can do with Bitstrips. My goal is to invite administration to view our comics and convince them this is an amazing, untapped resource for student motivation. It is well worth the money. This has also proven to me, that there is a world of resources being developed for my students and I must always be searching for the best way to

personalize learning for them.

PE5

Bitstrips for Schools

So the students are at lunch, I get to play in bitstripsforschools.com, a little bit. It is more dimensional than I thought. Other comic strip programs simply allow the student to create and print. With bitstripsforschools.com, teachers can create student accounts. The students can log-in to our "classroom" and create an avatar. You can see in the picture to the right, the students were able to log on and create their avatars in a short time.

While we were in the lab and the students were creating avatars, I went exploring. The site allows the teacher to create lessons. For example, I create my first lesson, The First Thanksgiving. The directions state for the student to create a comic about their visit to the first Thanksgiving. They will do this after a virtual field trip to Plimoth Plantation. I asked the students to answer three questions with their comic, "What do you like?", "What do you not like?", and "What surprised you?". I think we are off to a great start using our new Web 2.0 tool.

PE4

I have been looking for something to get the students excited about learning. I perused different blogs searching the perfect tool. It's Monday morning and I come across bitstripsforschools.com, on Rena's Blog (I think, as I looked at many). I went to the site and was a bit discouraged to see that it is not free. It teased me with a free 30-day trial, and thought, nothing to lose, just my time! So I preceded to sign-up for the free account. I came to the realization that if I liked it well enough, I could try to convince admin to pay for it, $750 for the entire school doesn't sound like much, however in these times.... I signed up, named my class 2nd Grade.... teacher's can pay for individual accounts for $10/month. I was talking myself into it, because the more i was in the site, the more I like it!

BP12_OMM_GoAnimate!

Create with GoAnimate.com

BP11_Link to Comment

Click here for a link to my comments on Marsona's Blog

BP10_Link to Comment

Click here for a link to my comments on

John's Blog

BP9_GoAnimate!

GoAnimate.com: Procrastination by meli1456

http://goanimate.com/movie/0ec4HLr8DuzE?utm_source=linkshare

I chose to use GoAnimate! as my Web 2.0 tool. I have just found it and had so much fun creating a cartoon. It was a great outlet for some of the stress I am feeling. You are able to create characters, choose a scene, and animate. There are a large range of things you can have your characters do, sit, stand, slide, etc. Then when you save and view, you can embed the cartoon into your site. All for free!

My concern, in wanting to use this, like next week, is that there does not seem to be a way to create one teacher account. Each user must have an email account in order to save and view their cartoons. I have 18 students in the class, and another 15 in my A block, this might be hard to manage. I might have a solution with the diigo, educator account feature; they have student emails.

My problem is as soon as I find a way to implement something; I don't get a chance to follow through with the whole implementation. I get a chance to start, show it to the class, and then I have to move on to the next tool. Between work, school, and home, there is no time for exploration.

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PE3_iMovie

Here is the finished product. I chose to work on a product and apply lessons from the lynda.com tutorial. I created an iMovie photo slideshow from my pictures of a vacation to Seattle. I was able to learn some new features and tricks; then apply them while creating my own movie.

PE2_iMovie

I think I am finally getting to something I didn't figure out on my own, adding and using stills in videos. In previous projects I have created photo slide shows using a slideshow program. I think using iMovie to create a photo slide show, will have more options for editing and make it easier for exporting to a DVD. I just did a photo slide show for my daughters sweet sixteen, it was not easy to get it burned to dvd, although that was my first time trying to do so. I am going to attempt to do the same thing using iMovie and our photos from a recent trip to Seattle. I have to admit, Apple makes products that are very user friendly, that why I find these Lynda videos almost obsolete. I am going to view the rest of the videos, while making my photo slideshow to showcase my new talent!

PE1_iMovie

So far, I have viewed tutorials on how to import media from all sources and skimming the videos. I can't lie I am a little bored. This would've been helpful the first week for the program, after that I had already figured it out on my own. I have already created many things in iMovie, as is/was required through courses. Also, I like to jump in and start programs, then look for help if I need it. I'm not likely to retain anything new, unless it was a problem point in the past. I am far from expert at iMovie, so I'm thinking it will get into something meatier soon.

BP8 Web 2.0 Commercial

BP7

Follow this link to view my comments on Lauren's blog.

BP6 Comment

Follow this link to my comments on Tina's blog

BP 5 Research Web 2.0 Tools

I used the link, 100 Essential Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers, to search for a tool I could use with my second graders. I find it hard to find things they can do themselves, that will benefit them in the learning process. I came across Animoto; I really like it. It allows students to use video or pictures to create video, with sound and titles. It seems easy to use and the students would be able to create videos of learning experiences, such as, labs and field trips. The students can then share and get feed back on their video. I like this site because of the ease of use and the online sharing.

Another use for this site is for research. I have located several videos that I could use to show concepts to my students in the classroom. I found videos on the water shed, alphabet, and USA. These videos will grab my student’s attention and motivate them to learn the content. I can use the videos to both teach and inspire. My students can see what others kids have created and say, “I can do that!”

I have been out at a special place and thought of how I wish my students could be there with me. I have downloaded an app for my phone that allows me to take pictures and within moments turn it into a video to share with my students. I could share it instantly or wait and show them when we get back into class. This would be a great way to share inservices or PD’s with my colleagues also.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

BP2 Google Screen Shots