This is an astonishing video about the impact of social media on our world today. It shows remarkable statistics that I think will surprise you. I can foresee using it for our own knowledge about the tools we have as 21st century teachers, and I can see it as a useful discussion starter in our classes.
I saw it on a site I really recommend, Free Technology for Teachers. More about this site in future entries.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Create Fake Facebook Profiles (historical or fictional)
I found an interesting tech tool that I am currently using with my 6th grade math class. Although my 6th grade students usually write a short 2 page report on an assigned mathematician, this year I have added a new component to this assignment. I have found three different ways to create fake Facebook-like profiles.
My FakeWall allows you to upload images, write wall posts, even create ‘likes’ and comments. You do need to register and unfortunately because it is still in beta, there were many times it crashed as I was experimenting.
Derrick Waddell has created a template for historical figures that you might prefer to use. This is available through the Google Docs public template gallery. This template has a place for pictures, a friends column, an ‘about me’ section, and even a map to plot the travels of historical figures. You may want to check his template out at the above link.
In addition, he has created a tutorial to help use his template.
With the help of Classtools Fakebook , a free site, my students are creating facebook-like pages for their individual mathematicians. Fakebook actually will search the Internet for the photo to upload. It allows students to save their work and edit it later.
While these fake Facebook-like sites do not allow others to respond like Facebook, my students have been gathering information so that they themselves can generate the “friends” and create posts. Creating a fake Facebook profile hopefully will be a fun way for my students to organize information that they have discovered about their mathematicians. We are scheduling the computer laptop carts so students will input information together and I will keep you posted with how this new twist (to our mathematician reports) turns out!!
I can visualize this being used for historical figures as well as creating profiles for characters in novels.
My FakeWall allows you to upload images, write wall posts, even create ‘likes’ and comments. You do need to register and unfortunately because it is still in beta, there were many times it crashed as I was experimenting.
Derrick Waddell has created a template for historical figures that you might prefer to use. This is available through the Google Docs public template gallery. This template has a place for pictures, a friends column, an ‘about me’ section, and even a map to plot the travels of historical figures. You may want to check his template out at the above link.
In addition, he has created a tutorial to help use his template.
With the help of Classtools Fakebook , a free site, my students are creating facebook-like pages for their individual mathematicians. Fakebook actually will search the Internet for the photo to upload. It allows students to save their work and edit it later.
While these fake Facebook-like sites do not allow others to respond like Facebook, my students have been gathering information so that they themselves can generate the “friends” and create posts. Creating a fake Facebook profile hopefully will be a fun way for my students to organize information that they have discovered about their mathematicians. We are scheduling the computer laptop carts so students will input information together and I will keep you posted with how this new twist (to our mathematician reports) turns out!!
I can visualize this being used for historical figures as well as creating profiles for characters in novels.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Student Privacy and Security Online - Code Name ID
As teachers, we have a serious responsibility to keep our students safe online. This is the first of several entries that will provide background, suggestions, and tools for safe internet participation for children. Like most adults, our students do not necessarily consider the potential consequences of posting personal information online. While we cannot control what they choose to do at home, we can supervise their internet use in school and teach them about how to make safe decisions. There are so many tools to make learning meaningful and fun - we just want to be sure they're safe, too!
One important way to protect children is to guard their privacy by using a code name or ID for their internet use. This strategy allows the children to have an online presence through which they can share their work publicly without being personally identified by strangers. One way to manage this is to assign unique code names to students so that you know who they are, but others will not be able to identify them. Their online ID should include a code first and last name because most websites require both names to register.
Once the online ID is chosen, start students off by registering for a free gmail account in that name. This will be the email account they use to communicate with you, and it will be the account they use to register for other online sites and tools. It will also give them access to the google tools we've discussed in earlier blog entries such as google docs, forms, and presentations. Since many sites require that users be at least 13 years old, it is best to have the students register at home with a parent or get a signed note from a parent requesting that the student get help at school. You will want to keep a record of the permission form, the student's code first and last names, and their password. (This will also be useful when the student forgets the information...) Make sure they know that you and the parent have the account information and that you may check it at any time. Teach that these accounts are for school use and will be monitored according to school policies. To finish up this initial registration process, ask the students to send you a confirmation email from their new account that includes their real name and account password. It's a great way to confirm that they've followed the directions correctly and that their real name is not connected with their account in any way.
When your students have completed this initial registration and confirmation, they're ready to get started with so many exciting tools! Coming soon - xtranormal, voicethread, and more!
Information about internet safety and concerns from American Academy of Pediatrics: http://safetynet.aap.org/
One important way to protect children is to guard their privacy by using a code name or ID for their internet use. This strategy allows the children to have an online presence through which they can share their work publicly without being personally identified by strangers. One way to manage this is to assign unique code names to students so that you know who they are, but others will not be able to identify them. Their online ID should include a code first and last name because most websites require both names to register.
Once the online ID is chosen, start students off by registering for a free gmail account in that name. This will be the email account they use to communicate with you, and it will be the account they use to register for other online sites and tools. It will also give them access to the google tools we've discussed in earlier blog entries such as google docs, forms, and presentations. Since many sites require that users be at least 13 years old, it is best to have the students register at home with a parent or get a signed note from a parent requesting that the student get help at school. You will want to keep a record of the permission form, the student's code first and last names, and their password. (This will also be useful when the student forgets the information...) Make sure they know that you and the parent have the account information and that you may check it at any time. Teach that these accounts are for school use and will be monitored according to school policies. To finish up this initial registration process, ask the students to send you a confirmation email from their new account that includes their real name and account password. It's a great way to confirm that they've followed the directions correctly and that their real name is not connected with their account in any way.
When your students have completed this initial registration and confirmation, they're ready to get started with so many exciting tools! Coming soon - xtranormal, voicethread, and more!
Information about internet safety and concerns from American Academy of Pediatrics: http://safetynet.aap.org/
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Powerpoint Presentations with Google Docs
If you use powerpoint or your students make presentations with powerpoint, you'll appreciate the Google Docs PRESENTATIONS. This tool is just like powerpoint, but it's all internet based. There are several advantages to using the Google version. One main advantage is that it is available wherever you have an internet connection. You're not stuck if you don't have your flash drive with you. The same is true for your students. Another advantage is the protection from potential viruses and other malware that flash drives bring to your computer. One outstanding benefit is that you can post a link to your powerpoint on your class webpage so absentees can view it from home or students can use it as a study guide.
To create a PRESENTATION, log in to your google account. Click the tab on the upper left side of the screen that says DOCUMENTS. If you've already created a powerpoint, click UPLOAD and choose FILES. That will let you browse your storage and double-click on your saved powerpoint. If you're starting a new powerpoint, click CREATE and select PRESENTATION. The Google version works very similarly to powerpoint so you'll find it easy to use.
If you want other people to view your PRESENTATION such as one you've posted for your students to view, click on the SHARE button and adjust your privacy settings to allow ANYONE WITH THE LINK to view. Copy and paste the link onto your class webpage.
To create a PRESENTATION, log in to your google account. Click the tab on the upper left side of the screen that says DOCUMENTS. If you've already created a powerpoint, click UPLOAD and choose FILES. That will let you browse your storage and double-click on your saved powerpoint. If you're starting a new powerpoint, click CREATE and select PRESENTATION. The Google version works very similarly to powerpoint so you'll find it easy to use.
If you want other people to view your PRESENTATION such as one you've posted for your students to view, click on the SHARE button and adjust your privacy settings to allow ANYONE WITH THE LINK to view. Copy and paste the link onto your class webpage.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Google Docs for Surveys or Quizzes
Use Google Docs to create an online survey
Another great use of Google Docs is Google Forms—a fabulous tool for creating surveys or even giving short multiple choice quizzes. You create your survey or quiz using Google Forms, post them on your classroom website or blog, students complete the survey or quiz, and their answers appear in an easy to view or grade spreadsheet. Whenever someone fills out your survey or quiz online, the corresponding spreadsheet is updated automatically. Here are some important guidelines:
1. Make sure that the first question is “student name.” Otherwise you won’t know who submitted which responses.
2. You can mix question types (multiple choice, short answers, paragraph) but if you have too many types and too many students, the spreadsheets are a bit difficult to view.
On the Google docs page Click Create New and drop down to Form
On this screen (the form entry interface) you will have a few options to choose from.
There is a place to put the title and an area for instruction at the top.
The +Add item pull down lets you edit this form. You will notice that when it comes to questions you can add several different types. The Question type has a corresponding Drop Down menu with “Text” being the default type. If you absolutely want the question answered, make sure to click the “Make this a required question.” If you are finished with your question, click the Done button.
You can continue to add more questions by using the +Add Item drop down button.
Next you can choose from several themes. Remember, nothing is set in stone; you can change themes, until you find the one you like.
Now that you have your form created, you can either email it to your intended participants (you created a survey for other teachers to respond) or place the link on your website (you created a quiz for your students).
Instead of completing the yellow and white emergency forms at the beginning of the year, wouldn’t it be great if our district had an online form for us to complete! The spreadsheet could be easily manipulated for whatever list the district needed, whether it be an alphabetically listing of its employees or a listing by school site .
The possibilities are endless. Please take a look at either Elisa’s two surveys or mine on our websites.
Another great use of Google Docs is Google Forms—a fabulous tool for creating surveys or even giving short multiple choice quizzes. You create your survey or quiz using Google Forms, post them on your classroom website or blog, students complete the survey or quiz, and their answers appear in an easy to view or grade spreadsheet. Whenever someone fills out your survey or quiz online, the corresponding spreadsheet is updated automatically. Here are some important guidelines:
1. Make sure that the first question is “student name.” Otherwise you won’t know who submitted which responses.
2. You can mix question types (multiple choice, short answers, paragraph) but if you have too many types and too many students, the spreadsheets are a bit difficult to view.
On the Google docs page Click Create New and drop down to Form
On this screen (the form entry interface) you will have a few options to choose from.
There is a place to put the title and an area for instruction at the top.
The +Add item pull down lets you edit this form. You will notice that when it comes to questions you can add several different types. The Question type has a corresponding Drop Down menu with “Text” being the default type. If you absolutely want the question answered, make sure to click the “Make this a required question.” If you are finished with your question, click the Done button.
You can continue to add more questions by using the +Add Item drop down button.
Next you can choose from several themes. Remember, nothing is set in stone; you can change themes, until you find the one you like.
Now that you have your form created, you can either email it to your intended participants (you created a survey for other teachers to respond) or place the link on your website (you created a quiz for your students).
Instead of completing the yellow and white emergency forms at the beginning of the year, wouldn’t it be great if our district had an online form for us to complete! The spreadsheet could be easily manipulated for whatever list the district needed, whether it be an alphabetically listing of its employees or a listing by school site .
The possibilities are endless. Please take a look at either Elisa’s two surveys or mine on our websites.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Welcome - Google Docs for Posting Handouts Online
Welcome LCMS staff! This blog is for us to learn about ways we can use technology to help us in our work, with students, and for fun. We'll post regularly to provide new information plus this blog format will provide a way to go back and check on something you read about before and are ready to use. Let us know if you've got something you'd like to post - this is our blog for our use. Let's get started!
Use Google Docs to Post Your Handouts Online
USE: We need to provide students with so much paper work at the beginning of school and throughout the year. Sometimes they must have a hard (printed paper) copy, but often they do not. When we post documents in Google Docs we can skip the paper copy altogether or, if a student loses the first copy, it may be printed at home without having to use more school materials or wait an extra day. Click here to see Ms. C's webpage for some examples.
HOW:
1. Create a google docs account either by creating a gmail account or using school email address. Link to create a gmail account. Link to use your school account. We recommend that you create a gmail account specifically for school use and keep it separate from your personal email.
2. Once you're in gmail, click on the tab in the upper left hand corner that says 'Documents'.
3. If you already have written the document and have it saved digitally, find the "Upload" tab in the upper left hand corner and choose the document you wish to upload. If you are composing the document online, choose the 'Create New' tab and select 'Document'.
4. Be sure to write the title in the box at the top left of the page.
5. When you are finished with the document and are ready to make it available, choose the 'Share' tab in the upper right hand. Click on the word 'Change' and choose 'Anyone with the link'.
6. Copy the link and paste in on your school web page with the title of the document. This will allow anyone who clicks the link to view and print the page, but they will not be able to modify it.
ADDITIONAL USES: In future posts we'll talk about how you and your students can use Google Docs to post powerpoint presentations and spreadsheets, create surveys, administer tests and quizzes, allow students to collaborate on documents and presentations at school or from home, but you may want to explore on your own, too.
Use Google Docs to Post Your Handouts Online
USE: We need to provide students with so much paper work at the beginning of school and throughout the year. Sometimes they must have a hard (printed paper) copy, but often they do not. When we post documents in Google Docs we can skip the paper copy altogether or, if a student loses the first copy, it may be printed at home without having to use more school materials or wait an extra day. Click here to see Ms. C's webpage for some examples.
HOW:
1. Create a google docs account either by creating a gmail account or using school email address. Link to create a gmail account. Link to use your school account. We recommend that you create a gmail account specifically for school use and keep it separate from your personal email.
2. Once you're in gmail, click on the tab in the upper left hand corner that says 'Documents'.
3. If you already have written the document and have it saved digitally, find the "Upload" tab in the upper left hand corner and choose the document you wish to upload. If you are composing the document online, choose the 'Create New' tab and select 'Document'.
4. Be sure to write the title in the box at the top left of the page.
5. When you are finished with the document and are ready to make it available, choose the 'Share' tab in the upper right hand. Click on the word 'Change' and choose 'Anyone with the link'.
6. Copy the link and paste in on your school web page with the title of the document. This will allow anyone who clicks the link to view and print the page, but they will not be able to modify it.
ADDITIONAL USES: In future posts we'll talk about how you and your students can use Google Docs to post powerpoint presentations and spreadsheets, create surveys, administer tests and quizzes, allow students to collaborate on documents and presentations at school or from home, but you may want to explore on your own, too.
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