Comic Strip Creators (N) for Writing ...

Comic Strip Creators (N) for Writing to Learn (Low Stakes)


http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/


Create comic strips in a variety of languages for free!


According to www.leadandlearn.com, implementing the writing to learn instructional strategy has three major objectives:

1. higher engagement
2. increased critical thinking
3. demonstration of deep subject-area understanding

Using an online comic strip creator can enhance the process in meeting the first two objectives.


In my experience with middle and high school students, choosing and customizing images is an inherently engaging process. In recent Windows Movie Maker projects, the bulk of student on-task time was used in selecting and modifying images for the movies. When I started teaching 12 years ago, selecting and clipping images for poster board-based projects also took the majority of time (if allowed) on a project. Students love to customize and they love choice. Creating online comic strips allow for both.

The decisions that go along with expressing ideas in a limited amount of space requires a great deal of critical thinking. In a comic strip students must distill their ideas to demonstrate understanding of content knowledge. They must also choose relevant images (and symbols) to demonstrate their ideas. The process of making decisions about content, analyzing information to "make it fit", and creating symbols to represent content are all part of higher level thinking whether you subscribe to Bloom or Costa.




Getting Started

1. You may want to visit Adrian Bruce's Blog where he discusses introducing this strategy to his students by exploring the puns in "lame" jokes. Bruce also provides a link to his favorite online, comic strip creators in this post.

2. Then go to  http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/ and click "Enter Here". Be sure you have enough time; the easy to use interface and the many options will engage you immediately.

A tutorial for using the interface is available.





Note: You will want to make sure your school/district's content filter's do not restrict the resources prior to use. My LEA's restrict some due to "Humor/Jokes".





Contact your tec fac or the author for support on any step in implementing this resource.

Skype (N) for Scaffolding and Classroom Talk

Skype (N) for Scaffolding and Classroom Talk

According to the "From Now On Technology Journal" One of the major components of Scaffolding is that it "points students to worthy sources". (http://fno.org/dec99/scaffold.html)

What better way to enhance student research and discussions than to bring in an expert on the topic at hand. A live discussion with a book's author or an expert on gene therapy can enhance a lesson exponentially.


Experts need not be only ivory tower residents but can be feet-on-the-ground peers of our students. For example students studying Alaska, or literature set in Alaska, can gain much understanding from communicating in real-time with peers who live there (see user mikefrancis' post here: http://skypeinschools.pbworks.com/Experiences).

Skype is merely the free tool (from their site: "Skype-to-Skype video and voice calls are always free. As are group IMs and conference calls on Skype") that allows these communications. It utilizes  an internet connection and a webcam (optional).


There are only four steps to using integrating Skype in your class:

download the software and create a Skype account!	Skype with people all over the WORLD computer to computer for FREE!
find other educators using Skype;	learn to use Skype with other applications for truly interactive learning...

from: http://technologypd.pbworks.com/Skype-in-Education



Links to in-depth video tutorials and links for taking this integration further can be found at:

http://edtechteacher.org/skypetutorial.html

For a real-life tutorial contact your Technology Facilitator or the author.

Blogs (N) for Collaborative Group Work, Literacy Groups, Writing

Collaborative Group Work, Literacy Groups, Writing to Learn, Questioning, and Classroom Talk (N): Blogs

Want students to have an vehicle to discuss ideas outside of face-to-face classroom conversations?

Blogging may be the answer for you.

There are a variety of free blog service providers online.

If you'd like to ensure the privacy of you/your students' blog posts, please consider activating the blog feature in a ning (www.ning.com or www.edgecome.ning.com for EECHS staff/students).

You may find a greater degree of functionality with Google's blogger service.


Blogger allows you to publish Google Docs (Part of the Apps suite) to your blog with one click. In addition, Google's blogger can be linked to facebook and twitter to get your message out to as many people as you would like. 

Blogger also has Access Controls to restrict unwanted visitors to a blog.


An introduction tutorial can be found here:


http://www.blogger.com/tour_start.g

Blogs are reccomended by the NC New Schools Project as a way to integrate technology on a novice level to add meaning to Collaborative Group Work, Literacy Groups, Writing to Learn, Questioning, and Classroom Talk.

Need help integrating this technology? Feel free to contact your technology facilitator and/or the author.

The Blog is Back!

Hello EECHS,

Each of the resources I have sent regarding tech integration this Spring have been collected here:

http://tecfacnoob.blogspot.com.

I posted the Google docs directly to my blog with one click. Want to know how? Just contact me.


Brent

Flickr (N) for Literacy Groups, Fve Card Flickr

Five Card Flickr for Literacy Groups


http://ltlatnd.wordpress.com/2010/03/17/five-card-story-telling/

This resource is brand new and utilizes images on Flickr while challenging students to link them in a story.

http://ltlatnd.wordpress.com/2010/03/17/five-card-story-telling/

Feel free to contact your technology facilitator, or the author, if you'd like help/earning tech CEU's integrating this in your practice.

Alliance or Horde?

Alliance or Horde?

http://thejournal.com/Articles/2009/11/09/Virtual-Communities.aspx



Wouldn't it be great if something like this was piloted in a club next fall?


Please contact me if you'd like to lay the groundwork/gain CEU's.




http://thejournal.com/Articles/2009/11/09/Virtual-Communities.aspx

Trailfire....getting started

http://trailfire.com/pages/about/trails.php#trails


Trailfire is an app that allows you to string together web pages in a process similar to adding them to your "favorites". You can then e make notes, add questions, and give directions on each stop of your "trail". Your trail can be shared with students.

Worried that a site on your trail may be filtered/blocked? With a few clicks we can easily add the sites to our Contentwatch "allow" list.

More information here:

http://trailfire.com/pages/about/trails.php#trails

Want to earn CEU's for implementing this tool? Just contact me.

Updating Your Free AVAST Antivirus

Updating Your Free AVAST Antivirus

Step One: Remove Old Antivirus

Note: These instructions work best for the Firefox Browser

1. Go to "My Computer"
2. Choose "Add/Remove Programs" (list may take a minute to "populate")
3. Find your installed antivirus (usually AVAST or AVG)
4. cLICK "Change Remove"
5. In the window that pops up choose "uninstall" (uninstall all components)
6. Restart your computer.

Download/Install New AVAST anti-virus

7. Go to www.google.com and search for AVAST HOME EDITION or just go to this site:

 http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10019223.html

8.  Click on "Download Now"
9.  Choose "Save File"
10. Once the download completes double click it in your small "downloads" window
11. Click "Ok"
12. Click "Run"
13. Click "Next'
14. Click "Next' and wait for installation 1-2 minutes
15. An orbiting "a" will now appear on your task bar (near clock)


Step Three Scan for viruses

This process can be completed as often as necessary/suspicion of viruses on your computer arises.

16. right click on the AVAST "a" icon on your task bar

17. Choose "Open AVAST! user interface"

18. Choose "Scan Now"
 
19. Choose "full system scan" to scan entire computer.
        Choose "removable media scan" to check disks and (ughhhh) USB's

20. You have now completed the renewing your virus protection.

Google Apps

Google Apps

Accessing your Google Apps (tecfacnoob.com)

Step One:  Accessing your account

1. Click on the Red "M" on your google talk interface (school laptop)

2. Log in to your account if needed (this defaults to your Gmail box)


OR

1. Go to www.google.com/a

2. type "tecfacnoob.com" in the box below the banner (THIS WORKS FROM ANY COMPUTER ANYWHERE)

Utilizing Google Docs for Storage

NOTE: Google is now allowing any types of files to be uploaded/stored on their servers (with over 1 gigabyte of space). These files can be accessed from any internet connection (including some cell phones). These files can be shared with anyone. This eliminates the need for USB drives and even having these files emailed to you, thus reducing the spread of viruses. EECHS students have the same feature in their MyEdge accounts.


1. Log in to your tecfacnoob.com (or standard Gmail) account

2. Choose "Documents" from the top left toolbar (blue letters).

3. Choose "Upload" and then browse for the file on your computer (like attaching a file to email)

You can now return to your Google Documents App at any time and utilize the "share feature" to share the file with any number of people.

VOKI and Student Presentations

VOKI and Student Presentations

Want to have students give oral presentations but don't want to sacrifice instructional time?

Try VOKI (www.voki.com)

A Voki is an avatar that students design (features, avatar accents, and backgounds). They can then record their voice (via laptop microphone or cell phone). There are also preset historical/pop culture avatars that appear in our curriculum.

The students can then share their Voki's (via a link in an email) with you or place them in a blog.

For a brief tutorial (for you and/or students) check out this slideshare:

 http://www.slideshare.net/digitalmaverick/voki-presentation-649297

or just jump in and have some fun:

www.voki.com


As a bonus...

The AVID presentation rubric can be found here:

https://sites.google.com/a/tecfacnoob.com/mrb/home/avid/avid%20presentation%20rubric.jpg?attredirects=0

and a presentation evaluation form can be found here:

https://sites.google.com/a/tecfacnoob.com/mrb/home/avid/public-speaking-evaluation

Google Lit Trips

Google Lit Trips

Google Lit (erature) Trips combine plot content from books with Google Earth to offer an interactive experience for greater understanding of concepts.

Here's a screen shot example from Homer's Odyssey

 How to use Google Lit Trips

1. Start by selecting a Lit Trip from:

http://www.googlelittrips.com

The Trips are grouped by grade level at the top of the screen.

2. Download the ".kmz" file from your selected lit trips page.

3. Distribute the ".kmz" file to students (Schoolvue is the most efficient option).

Note: Google Earth updates itself often, It would be advisable to arrange for the technology facilitator to be present to aid in helping students updating their machines (administration rights are needed).

4. When the .kmz file is double clicked, Google Earth will begin with the map overlays in place.

As always, please see your technology facilitator if any help is needed.

Creating A Onenote Sharing Session.

Creating A Onenote Sharing Session.

Our students' laptops have a powerful tool in the form of Microsoft Onenote. Onenote has been added on to the Microsoft Office Suite on our machines.


This application works like a fully modifiable notebook in which students can:

1. Create tabs, subtabs, and new pages for any class, unit, or topic.

2. Insert text anywhere on their notebook page.

3. Capture video (with our lifecams) and audio (with the microphone integrated in the laptop) and insert this media directly into the notebook.

4. Capture screen clippings from any apllication/webpage and insert them into their notebook.

5. Share a notebook (including all the tools), or notebook section with classmates in a live sharing session.



In this doc we will focus on the live sharing feature.

To Share your notebook:

1. Find and open the Application (in the Microsoft Office 2007 group)
-If you've never opened Onenote there is basic tutorial built into a sample notebook.

2. In the top toolbar, click on "Share" and choose "live sharing session"

3.  Choose "Start a ....". or "Share current section"

A "Start Live Session" window will appear on the right side of the screen.

4. You have the option of setting a session password here.

5. Click "Start Live Session"

6. Click on "Shared Address information" and look for an "IP Address" number (If you are at school it will always start with with 10.163)
-This is the number to share with participants in your sharing session.

To access someone's shared notebook...

1. Find and open the Application (in the Microsoft Office 2007 group)
-If you've never opened Onenote there is basic tutorial built into a sample notebook.

2. In the top toolbar, click on "Share" and choose "live sharing session"

3. Choose "Join Existing Session'

4. In the "Live Sharing Session Address' box, enter the IP Address (See step 6 above)

The session should connect/begin within a few minutes.


As always, feel free to contact your Technology Facilitator to implement this and any other technology in you practice (and, of course, earn CEU's in the process).