There are moments when an image tells a better story than just having a bunch of words on a page (actually that’s most of the time).  However when that image has a level of interactivity such that it delivers even more information, then you have a perfect marriage of visual and linguistic.

On any given year, we have many projects and Learning Series on the go.  Our blog houses ongoing information with specific instructions, workflows and lesson plan ideas.  They are meant as guides to facilitate the journey of integrating technologies in the learning environment.  I’ve used a tool called Thinglink  to capture  some of these project details.  Hover over the various buttons on the image and you will find popups with weblinks or additional pieces of information.

How would I use this?

Consider having students use this much like Glogster to share their knowledge of a unit of study. Each button connects to layered information. How about a class newsletter using captured images of student work?  Or as a sharing piece to parents.  There are so many possibilities to bring dynamic learning to your audience.

Thinglink comes as a website and as an ipad app, giving you great flexibility cross-platform.

Maybe this post should have been called “Sanity is Everything”.  You’ve decided on an inquiry project that injects elements of learning technologies. Besides knowing what software you’re going to use and booking the lab or equipment, you dive in. Not so fast! These next thinking steps will allow you to experience a successful project [aka - learning at its peak] or something dramatically different than expected.

The success of all great projects have a workflow in the ‘behind the scenes’. A workflow consists of a sequence of connected steps. It may include tasks, procedural steps, organizations or people expertise, research information, and tools needed for each step. While there is a place for “exploration of a tool”, knowing the basics of how the tool works in advance of the project will definitely go a long way towards the success of the end goal.

Here is a workflow that we recently did to frame our learning in an ipad workshop.  The goal was a collaborative definition of “digital literacies” and how it might look in multiple settings.  We started with conversation and paper, then moved to ipads and more collaboration, then back to ipads and writing revisions, and finally publishing our creation.

When students and teachers have a map of where they’re going, they can anticipate and go off in new tracks of exploration, always knowing they can meet the goals set.

Peace (in connecting),
j

Spring is definitely in the air – the buds are on the trees and the daffodils have poked their heads above the ground. This also  means that the latest newsletter is out.  Check it out here!

Recently an email landed in my box with a link to a voicethread.  For those of you who haven’t seen VoiceThread, it’s a handy tool for collaborative communication out on the web. 

But let’s start at the beginning.  I was involved in a planning project with a school envisioning a whole flip of their library.  Aaahh, “Martha Stewart” time!  An “L” shaped technology research pod, e-projection island, cozy corners and circles of literary conversations, all while engaging the senses and bringing the world in and amplifying voice out.  This  wonderful teacher-librarian wanted to show me exactly her ideas and thoughts – without me having to drive over.  She took a few photos and popped them into a voicethread along with her recorded voice.  Now I’ve worked with voicethreads before but always in curricular content.  It suddenly struck me as this slideshow was going on that I was privy to her thoughts with crystal clarity!  Thanks Sylvia!   This has opened the doors to even more possibilities regarding the use of VoiceThread.

HOW WOULD I NOW USE THIS TOOL?

• instructions to show a process (an easy way to use this in a flip classroom with ways for student responses)
• Literature Circle or literacy response circle
• writing process (“how to” revision group)
• science experiment (discussion and replay)
• math process (“how to”, critical challenge)
• create/share with iPad
• oral language development and inclusion
• communication/sharing on the class blog to the world
• documenting learning [student and teacher]
• interactive session

If you’re using this with the iPad, consider creating a global class or school account.  This will make your organizational life easier.  How are you using VoiceThread?

District Pro-D arrived on February 22nd.  Offered at two sites (Byrne Creek and Taylor Park) complete with video feed of our keynote to Taylor Park, it served as a reminder that connection, collaboration, ideas generation happen when we all come together.  With over 110 sessions, it was an electrifying event. No small feat for a large school district!

The iPad ShootOut Panel of Dragana Mihic (Teacher-librarian at North), Dave Maclean (Principal at Westridge), Livia Chan and Janet Chow (District Learning Technologies) provided a series of fast-paced rounds of idevice apps framed around the following questions:

Please connect with any of our panel or our Learning Technologies team to further explore.

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