Do you ever want to do something with your class and the whole technology thing is just too much? I get that a lot so I’m always on the hunt for tools that “take the mystery out of things” and just work. Remember that we are also in a world of constant change so…
Category: Software and Tools
Webspiration in the Classroom
If you’ve used Inspiration, you may want to venture to use the web version which will allow your students to access this Visual Thinking, Concept Mapping & Writing tool from home. Webspiration is an ONLINE tool with features that assist students in capturing ideas, organizing information, diagramming processes, and developing writing. Files can move from Inspiration to Webspiration seemlessly…
Blogging Tips for Communication and Organization
Sometimes a bit of practical tips are helpful to add to your toolbox of blogging ‘know-how’. So here we are… Custom Menus: Using custom menus provides another layer of organization not found in ‘categories’. For example, if you wish to have a list of your students located in a specific category, you can use the Custom…
Digging Deeper – How to Introduce Blog Commenting
How to Develop Blog Writing: Brainstorm Session Sometimes our questions may be “how do we start our classes blogging past the basics?”. Here is one way that may help to introduce the students to the idea of commenting. (We did this at our recent SCIT gathering.) This starts in the classroom with good questions. Record…
Cultivating Conversation – Spoken Ink
Moving from the last post on Reimagining Conversation, I wanted to dig deeper into the importance of oral language as foundational to literacy development. We are creatures of connection and we use language to communicate our needs, ideas, feelings and discoveries. The abilities to express ourselves grow over time and practice…lots of practice. Yes, I know…
Purposeful Play
“To play on purpose is to take risks. To challenge what you know. To ride the edge between what is and what might be, what never was and what should’ve been..” — Bud Hunt Over a week ago we launched this year’s SCIT (Skills and Curriculum Integration of Technology), a district program to support teachers on their journey of integrating technologies in their classrooms. All…
Take Your 3-Ring Binder Online or Bookmarking Gone Extreme!
This is a “have your cake and eat it” situation. Last time I shared bookmarking through the use of Symbaloo (a great tool that lays websites out in visual tiles). Today it’s LiveBinders. This tool organizes your resources and presents your content in a binder format. (They even look like little binders.) Tabs provide the organizational structure so that…
Visual Bookmarking
Bookmarking is probably the one of the most useful methods for gathering and storing a huge range of information. Of course, the key is retrieving that content when needed. More importantly in a classroom, you know your bookmarks have been vetted – a starting point for research and deep questions. I’ve been playing with…
SCIT 2010-2011 Celebration
This past month, SCIT Participants came together to share their learning journey. As part of the SCIT program, these teachers learned how to use a variety of literacy support software programs such as Inspiration, Kidspiration, Photostory, Comic Life, MovieMaker and WordPress Blogs in classroom instruction. The SCIT program blends curriculum, instructional practice, classroom management, and communication around effective…
Apps Big and Small…
It’s nearing the end of the year and looking forward to a little warm weather and a slower pace. Over the next couple of months, there’s a bit of time to do a little play and see what’s just around the corner. In that vein, here’s a little bit for you to discover. Interactivity –…
Magic in a Flashdrive – MyStudyBar
The updated version 3 of MyStudyBar from the Regional Support Centre – Scotland, is out for those of you looking for more options for students with difficulties in reading, writing and organizational skills. While this is not nearly as robust as Kurzweil 3000, it certainly has tools that can be easily utilized and is FREE,…
Kurzweil 3000 – Session 3 Writing on the Calendar
This third session of Kurzweil 3000, which deals with writing supports has been rescheduled on the Staff Development Calendar to Wednesday February 23 (3:30-5:30) at Schou – TLC. Questions such as “How can Kurzweil support students who find written output challenging? What about the writers workshop process of braining, organizing, and drafting?” For more…
Digital Writing – Digital Teaching – Session 1
Digital Writing is… Session One (February 9, 2011): “If we engage students in real writing tasks and we use technology in such a way that it complements their innate need to find purposes and audiences for their work, we can have them engaged in a digital writing process that focuses first on the writer, then…
Reaching More with Less $ – SET-BC/PSAP
Sometimes post holiday sidewalk sales aren’t just in malls. Some of you have been using Kurzweil 3000 and are finding great benefits in how the students are able to be fully engaged with class materials. For those of you who have been waiting or saving up your pennies, SET BC/PSAP has launched a discount to…
Graphica – Learning Series – Challenge Activity 1
Homework for October 25, 2010 Please read one graphica novel and be prepared to book talk next session. Complete a Comic Life page. Show what a typical day looks like for you? Use only “Onomatapoeia”. View Francine’s example for hints.
Kurzweil – Take Next Steps Session – Tues. Oct. 25
These are the handouts for the Kurzweil 3000 Refresher session. Writing Support Writing Support Practice/Play From Previous Sessions: Implementation Process Reference basics v11
Teach-nology Camp
How was it?!! The Learning Technologies Team would like to thank you all for participating in the camp. Our example of using stop motion animation to create a message could be applicable to developing any type of story. We hope that you have increased your comfort level in using cameras, movie maker, and file management techniques in developing the …
Blogs – Learning Series – Challenge Activity 1
Before the next Blog workshop, please try to complete the following tasks: A) Upload 2 – 3 images to your media library. 100 pixels by 100 300 pixels by 300 original file upload and resize in editor B) Create a List of 3 Links C) Change your current theme and identify the changes observed? What…
Teach-nology Camp!
The Learning Technologies Team has a wonderful opportunity on Friday, Oct. 22nd PSA Day. Teach-nology Camp! “Camp is Cool! Technology in camp is Cooler! This digital storytelling experience will encourage you to incorporate a multitude of technical and communication skills while bringing out your inner child spirit. Participants will learn how to create animated movies…
Learning Sessions Focused on Connecting, Communicating…
Imagine a simple way to share and connect information with your parent community, your student community, your teaching community. Imagine being able to update that information or receive comments anytime, anywhere. In our busy schedules it is increasingly difficult to share everything that we feel is important — enter the web world. Using platforms like…