Edmodo

The resource for today is called Edmodo.

What is Edmodo?

Edmodo is an online collaborative platform for teachers and students to share content, connect safely, as well as access homework, assignments, quizzes, grades, classroom discussions and notifications. Edmodo is used as a platform for teachers to share videos, lessons, and other connections between different teachers around the world.

Is it free?

Edmodo is free for ANYONE. Teachers are required an e-mail address as well as name, username, and password. As a student, you must provide the group code, name, and username. An e-mail address is OPTIONAL. Parents may also sign up, but need a parent code to access.

What will Edmodo bring to your classroom?

This product can prove to be beneficial in all different grades throughout the education system. From using it in the Kindergarten classroom to take a poll on favorite type of animal to using it in 12th Grade classrooms to quiz about a book that was just finished in a literature unit to a college student answering and responding to others in a discussion board format. This tool brings an easier way to communicate with one another and collaborate in a safe, effective way. The format of Facebook is also incorporated into this, so many students will be used to the format and will easily transfer their skills to the program.

How do I use Edmodo?

Below, I will show you the steps of using Edmodo.

Here's the main page once you log in. You can see that it looks similar to Facebook in many different aspects.

This is the NOTE feature. Kind of like a status update.

This is the ALERT feature.

This is the ASSIGNMENT feature. You can assign something that you've created, title it, describe it, send a due date, and attach anything necessary.

This is the QUIZ feature. Below, I have created a quiz and you can see sample questions.

Here's a MULTIPLE CHOICE question.

Here's a TRUE/FALSE question.

Here's a SHORT ANSWER question.

Here's a FILL IN THE BLANK question.

Here's the QUIZ feature, again. This is the assignment portion.

With Edmodo, you have a notification panel. This panel lets you know of all the new things that have happened since you last checked in.

Finally, here's the POLL feature.

Like Facebook, students can comment on one another's posts to hold conversations. I commented on the poll post to see what would happen and it showed up!

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How can I use Edmond in my classroom?

Below is a list of ways that this tool can be utilized in the classroom:

-Use as a Science fair exhibition fair
-Lunch count using the polling feature
-Connect tutors to the students via Internet
-Student writing projects such as class blogging
-21st Century Field Trips (provide links and videos)
-Use for Project Based Learning and Inquiry projects
-Allow students to comment and then discuss grammar of the postings
-Create profiles for famous figures in U.S. history to role play their lives
-Practice writing foreign language sentences in a foreign language classroom
-Allow students to come up with assignments to make them "teacher for a day"
-Use the calendar to show students when things are due, when holidays are, and so on
-Use as an online book club (collaborate with other groups around the nation and world)
-Use for a research project about a day trip to a local amusement park OR an overnight stay
-Live chat with one another during special programs such as presidential debates, news shows, etc.
-Use with books such as Flat Stanley to show where Stanley has gone over Winter or Spring break
-Use for Science lessons to grab attention & interest as well as probe for information about the lesson

Honestly, the possibilities are ENDLESS.

How would YOU use Edmodo in your classroom? Answer in the comments on this post!

VoiceThread

The resource for today is called VoiceThread.

What is VoiceThread?

VoiceThread is a collaborative video making service that is completely free. According to the website, "VoiceThread is a collaborative, multimedia slide show that holds images, documents, and videos and allows people to leave comments in 5 different ways." These presentations can be shared on various websites, presenters can doodle on the presentation to let you know what is most important at different times, and comments are allowed from multiple points of entry to encourage communication and discussion.

Is it free?

VoiceThread is free for every e-mail address. There is NOTHING to install on your computer. You can (if you so choose) receive a single educator license, school license, or district/state license for a price. For the single educator license, you are allowed to create up to 50 different student accounts (no e-mails needed), work in a secure environment, create classes or groups, and can create unlimited voice threads or 50 per student a year. The price for this is $79.00 a year. For the school license, you are allowed to create anywhere from 350-1980 users. Of course, the price varies for these accounts anywhere from $450.00-$2055.20. The more users, the bigger the discount. You also receive the same benefits that are listed above for the single user license. Finally, for the district/state license, you have to call in order to receive a price. You also receive everything listed above, but you receive more, too! You receive reporting and analytics, advanced security controls, enhanced support package, custom homepage to showcase student work, and you can control student publishing rights. Depending on your needs, one of the above plans (or even the SINGLE free plan) might work!

What will VoiceThread bring to your classroom?

This product can prove to be beneficial in all different grades throughout the education system. From using it in the Kindergarten classroom to create a slideshow about the alphabet using pictures that start with the letters to using it in 5th Grade classrooms to talk about the United States to a college student working through a description of a plan using Bloom's Taxonomy. This tool brings an easier way to create "PowerPoint type presentations," visual aids, and slideshows in the classroom environment while adding different voice options to create interactive, fun presentations. 

How do I use VoiceThread?

Below, I will show you the steps of using VoiceThread.

Head to VoiceThread.com & click the "Sign in or Register" button to do either or. I already have an account so I went ahead and logged in.


This is your dashboard on VoiceThread. As you can see, I have 4 different VoiceThreads currently. At the bottom of this tutorial, you will see the State Project VoiceThread I created for a course in my undergraduate career.

Step 1: Upload your images, documents, or videos from your computer, media sources, URL, or webcam.

Step 2: Begin to work on the comments. I just chose a random photo from my computer to write a VoiceThread about. Click the COMMENT button at the bottom of the picture.

Here are your choices of how to record: by phone, video camera, record, or type.

Here's the example comment I made for this photo. I did a comment by text rather than by voice.

Step 3: Share your presentation! You can do this by sharing with different groups, your contacts, or simply get the link to share.

EXAMPLE

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How can I use VoiceThread in my classroom?

Below is a list of ways that this tool can be utilized in the classroom:

-Perform poems using pictures and voiceovers
-Presentation on oneself to allow others to 'get to know' you
-Create different movie trailers for books that have been read
-Create a video report on an animal, containing pictures and voice overs
-Create a video about a science project showcasing the scientific process
-Use the book "The Important Book" to influence important voice threads
-Create a slideshow on a specific state and it's symbols (state flower, animal, etc.)
-Write a review about a topic just discussed (what was liked and what was disliked)
-Vocabulary words - describe the word, definition, how you could use it, part of speech, etc.
-In an art classroom, inspect a piece of art on a slide by discussing the differing aspects noticed
-Summarize a story using the slide show feature to showcase different pictures from the stories
-Create mystery places by uploading pictures and having students write about where it might be
-What are they thinking activities (discuss what the person or people in the picture might be thinking)
-Create photo brochures with voice overs of countries that are being studied in a foreign language class
-Write a short fictional story using photos from the Internet and voiceovers using the mic or text features

Honestly, the possibilities are ENDLESS.

How would YOU use VoiceThread in your classroom? Answer in the comments on this post!

Diigo

The resource for today is called Diigo.

What is Diigo?

Diigo is an annotation service that can either be used online or on a mobile device. According to the website, Diigo is an online personal research tool, collaborative research platform, social content site, as well as a knowledge-sharing community. Diigo is an online web highlighter that provides sticky notes for those times when you need to quickly jot something about a website and an online bookmarking and annotation program.

Is it free?

Diigo has three pricing plans. The first plan, you receive: unlimited bookmarks, 1000/year highlights, and 30 total cached pages. This plan is FREE. The next plan is the basic plan. You receive: unlimited bookmarks, unlimited highlights, full text search, and it's ad free. This plan is $20.00/year. The last plan is the premium plan. You receive: the basic plan PLUS unlimited cached pages, unlimited screen captures, and priority support. This plan is $40.00/year.
There is an educator upgrade which includes the following features:
-Create accounts for entire class
-Students of same class are set up as a Diigo group so they can share group bookmarks and annotations
-Privacy settings are pre-set so only teachers and classmates can communicate with one another
-Ads presented are limited to education-related sponsors only

What will Diigo bring to your classroom?

This product can prove to be beneficial in all different grades throughout the education system. From using it in the Kindergarten classroom to create a list of bookmarks for students to use to using it in 9th grade classrooms to help students study different inventors and mark notes on sticky notes for future reference to a college student annotating their eTextbooks online. This tool brings an easier way to take notes on the web, instead of writing them down, research, and extend learning in ways that other programs may not.

How do I use Diigo?

Below, I will show how to use Diigo.

MY LIBRARY PAGE

MY GROUPS PAGE

COMMUNITY PAGE

MY NETWORK PAGE 

Install the Diigolet toolbar marker in your bookmark toolbar. This allows you to access all the different annotations, stickymarks, and bookmark features for your Diigo account.

This is what the Diigo toolbar looks like once you log in and are on a website

This is what the highlighter feature looks like.

This is what a bookmark feature looks like.

This is what the sticky note feature looks like.

Finally, this is what the share page looks like - you can share an annotated link which holds all of your highlights and sticky notes that you added. Or, you can simply share the link via e-mail.

After you have annotated something or added highlights, it shows up on YOUR LIBRARY page. This is a great reference tool.

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How can I use Diigo in my classroom?

Below is a list of ways that this tool can be utilized in the classroom:

-Utilize the group feature to assign group research projects
-Save relevant websites to lists to create a research portfolio
-Personal student bookmarks that can be accessed from anywhere
-Use an information search to preview content for a research project
-Create PLNs (Personal Learning Networks) within the classroom in groups
-Research famous scientists and jot down notes of their most prized inventions
-Assign a project for students to find and annotate 5 websites relating to a topic
-Create bookmark lists that surround topics (separate by themes or content topics)
-Use the sticky note feature to summarize the important points of info on websites
-Assign work by asking for annotations on a topic to register student understanding
-Read online books or watch online movies and write sticky notes of important parts
-Annotate a storybook while reading to jot down thoughts and ideas as provoked by reading
-Use annotations for others to see in the classroom, sort of like providing research to your peers
-Write evaluations for websites based upon the information provided using the sticky note feature
-Complete Internet searches on what is factual and what is fiction (highlight information to compare)

ALTHOUGH NOT IN THE CLASSROOM, THE FOLLOWING IDEA IS USEFUL:
-Use in professional development for teachers to identify, share and collaborate with bookmarks that are between one another

Honestly, the possibilities are ENDLESS.

How would YOU use Diigo in your classroom? Answer in the comments on this post!

Animoto

The resource for today is called Animoto.

What is Animoto?

Animoto is a video creation service that can either be used online or on a mobile device. You upload pictures or video clips that you want to include in the presentation, add music and words to explain what is happening, and then you click the "produce video" button. According to Animoto's website, once you hit the produce video button, it does it's "magic and in minutes brings it all to life with a beautifully orchestrated production you can share with family and friends."

Is it free?

Animoto is free for up to 30 seconds of video with limited styles & music tracks. For $30.00 annually, you can receive the Plus account and that allows you to have full length videos, allows your Animoto presentations to be downloaded, but you're still limited to specific styles & music tracks. For $249.00 annually, you will receive the Pro account. This includes full length videos, 1,100+ music tracks to choose from, downloadability, and free HD upgrades.
You can (as an educator) apply for the Education Video Slideshows by Animoto program. Teachers will then receive all-access privileges (receiving the 

What will Animoto bring to your classroom?

This product can prove to be beneficial in all different grades throughout the education system. From using it in the Kindergarten classroom to create a video about the alphabet to using it in 7th Grade classrooms to tell about a famous American inventor, to a college student identifying their time and what they have learned in their internship. This tool brings an easier way to create "PowerPoint type presentations," visual aids, and slideshows in the classroom environment without having to hassle with the transitions between slides, text, and adding your own music (finding it, as well!). 

How do I use Animoto?

Below, I will show you the steps of using Animoto.

STEP 1: Sign up for Animoto - I signed up for the free account that gives me 30 seconds of video.

STEP 2: Choose a style for your video. This is where you choose the backgrounds.

STEP 3: It will bring up your choice of background, asking if you want to purchase it or IN SMALL PRINT it says make a 30-second video for free. This is what I chose.

CLICK ON:

Step 4: Watch the video that pops up if you'd like, or you can go ahead and do what you want. I chose to watch so I could see what Animoto was all about.

Step 5: Choose your music. You can either choose music from their library or upload your own music from your computer.

Step 6: Choose your photos. You can either choose to upload from your computer or use their images and video clips.

As you're adding photos and text, there's a WHITE BOX that appears around the approved things (photos, text, and videos) before they end up going over the time allowed. As you can see, I stayed within my 34 seconds allotted.

 Then, when I added text, I went exactly up to my time allotted - 34 seconds.

Next, hit preview your video - if you are happy with the way it turned out, hit publish! YOU'RE DONE and have created a fantastic presentation in no time.

Below is the video I ended up creating.

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How can I use Animoto in my classroom?

Below is a list of ways that this tool can be utilized in the classroom:

-Show the rules to new students
-Summarize a story in 30 seconds
-Presentation on oneself to allow others to 'get to know' you
-Create different movie trailers for books that have been read
-Create a video report on an animal, containing pictures and text
-Teach complex topics in various subjects (how to use notation, etc)
-Identify the rules for special education students through presentation
-Create a commercial about a new product that you want others to buy
-Allow students to show their understanding of a topic in the classroom
-Create a video about a science project showcasing the scientific process
-Create photo brochures of countries that are being studied in a foreign language classroom

-Use as a teaser of what the days events will hold - specific subjects you're going to go over
-Vocabulary words - describe the word, definition, how you could use it, part of speech, etc.
-Assign homework using the Animoto program, as it can be accessed from school or from home.
-Create an presentation on an Amendments by finding pictures to represent the Amendment assigned

Honestly, the possibilities are ENDLESS.

How would YOU use Animoto in your classroom? Answer in the comments on this post!

Poll Everywhere

The resource for today is called Poll Everywhere.

What is Poll Everywhere?

Poll Everywhere is a mobile device polling system. This is the new age way of taking a poll of people in any context - conference, radio program, television program, and classrooms. It is an easy way to gather a group of responses from any mobile device by using SMS, or what is better known as text messages.

Is it free?

Poll Everywhere is free for up to 40 people participating (audience) in the SMS text messaging. If you go above 40, it begins to cost you. At 50 people, it costs $15.00 - 250 people, $65 - and so on. So, in a classroom, this would be great as most classroom sizes do not exceed 40 students, including the teacher.

What will Poll Everywhere bring to your classroom?

This product can prove to be beneficial in all different grades throughout the education system. From using it in the Kindergarten classroom to poll about favorite color, gender, or favorite animal to using it in 12th Grade classrooms to poll about what colleges students are looking into, to what a college student felt about a course they just finished, the possibilities are endless. This tool brings an easier way to poll your classroom all at once incorporating a technology aspect instead of using paper and pencil or whiteboard and markers. 

How do I use Poll Everywhere?

Below, I will show you the steps of using Poll Everywhere. 

Step 1. Start by clicking on the big green button, "Create your first poll."

Step 2. Either watch the video and then enter a question OR simply enter a question for the poll.

This is the page you'll be brought to in order to choose how your audience will respond.

Step 3. I am choosing to use the multiple choice option for my poll. I put in the 4 basic colors as my answers that my audience can choose from.

This will be the screen you are brought to once you hit the CREATE button on the bottom of your poll creation site.

Let's start this tutorial of the graph by looking JUST at the graph itself. You can see the different choices, their codes to use when texting the graph or entering online, as well as the different axises on the graph itself.

Step 4: I chose to enter using my own cell phone. I typed in the TO number (22333) and the code of my favorite color. I chose red so the code would be 344262. Once I hit send, this is the graph DIRECTLY after it was sent...

Literally 10 seconds after I sent my text, the graph updated itself with my choice. But, I had to play the roll of a young student that may want to send another choice because I have more than one favorite. I wanted to vote again for red because it's the best color ever.

Poll Everywhere is smart enough to tell the user that's attempting to answer more than once that I am not allowed to vote again. This keeps away the multiple submissions by the same person, keeping the data fair and real.

But, if you're in a classroom where students do not all have cell phones, you can also submit answers via the web. Simply go to the website http://pollev.com and enter in the SAME codes that you can use for the current graph. They will automatically fill in to the graph, as well...

We're now at 2 votes! But, like with the text messages, Poll Everywhere knows that you have already voted so it will display the message below if you attempt to vote again:

Should you want to change the way to vote, you could do so by choosing HOW people can respond: text, web, tweets, private link.

Step 5: Continue to collect data. The more data, the different bars will show up as well as different percentages and total vote results.

Step 6: Close your poll after you have collected ALL data to prevent further responses! Now's the time to analyze your data in some way or another.

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How can I use this in my classroom?

Below is a list of ways that this tool can be utilized in the classroom:

-Quiz responses from students

-Teacher feedback from students
-Group evaluations for peer grading

-Check for understanding after a lesson
-Use it to take daily attendance or lunch counts
-Use it to identify the opinions on true or false questions

-Exit ticket to see what students learned from an assignment
-Reading circle responses about comprehension to a question

-Assign homework for students to answer a question from home
-Morning question (what is 2+2, what is the square root of 64, etc)
-Goal poll (students identify their goal time of finishing an assignment or project)
-Discussion questions with responses from students via Twitter, text, or webpage entry
-Keep track of student progress on assignments (texting "Done" when done with an assignment)
-Make decisions that affect the classroom as a whole (pet name, how much more time is needed, etc.)

Honestly, the possibilities are ENDLESS.

How would YOU use Poll Everywhere in your classroom? Answer in the comments on this post!

Welcome to Teachers & Technology!

Hi all!

Welcome to Teachers & Technology. This is my final project for EDTL 6310: Technology in the 21st Century Classroom.

This final project is going to contain 30 different technology resources in a common local place for educators to use to their advantage. Each post will describe a different resource for teachers to use. I will continue to build upon this resource throughout the rest of the year, as this is the topic of my final culminating Master's project, as well.

The resources on this blog could be various Web 2.0 tools or simply just a website for teachers to incorporate into their classrooms to tie in with a specific curriculum area or activity. I have composed a schedule of when posts will be released for this project AND what these posts will be about:

November 1: Screentoaster Poll Everywhere
November 2: Animoto
November 3: Diigo
November 4: VoiceThread
November 5: Edmodo
November 6: Wikispaces
November 7: Prezi
November 8: Storybird
November 9: Google Docs
November 10: Dipity
November 11: SlideShare
November 12: TeacherTube & SchoolTube
November 13: TubeChop
November 14: Podomatic
November 15: Scribd
November 16: Create-a-Graph
November 17: Remember the Milk
November 18: Bubbl.us
November 19: Certificate Street
November 20: Glogster
November 21: Tagxedo/Wordle
November 22: Cramberry
November 23: Teacher Planet
November 24: Build Your Wild Self
November 25: Class Dojo
November 26: Zocial Books
November 27: Penzu
November 28: BiblioNasium
November 29: Voki
November 30: Trackstar

This blog is also a graded blog for the EDTL 6310 course. In order to grade this blog, I will be creating a rubric containing items such as the quality of the resources found, the amount of ideas that come from the resources that can be incorporated into the classroom, the length of blog posts, as well as the depth of the investigation/description of each resource.

Thank you for following along and I hope that you can find a use for some of these resources in your classrooms!