You can find some good information from Podcasts but I just don't use them very much. I do enjoy that not all podcasts are just audio. I definitely prefer to not only hear but to learn watching something as well. The podcast I finally decided to listen to is right up my field because it is based on technology ideas for K to 2nd grade. The whole podcast was based on using iPads to enhance K-2
Many of the thing that it covers are:
How to use book creator on the iPad
Endless alphabet app
Educreation tutorial
Organizing apps
Quick voice to name a few...
and my favorite....screencasting Apps to help differentiate your instruction.
I particularly loved listening to the screencasting app. because I can use it for my summer website.
I have been very interested in a few topics lately so I went on youtube and started searching under some of the topics. I came across this one after about 45 minutes and watched it. I found it very heartwarming and so important. Basically it is about play and the importance of play in not only children's lives but also in adults. That is why I chose this blog post. It is over 15 minutes and it kept my attention the whole time so i felt it was good enough to share.
I liked how he was dressed all goofy so that might be one fun thing to do in my post if I decide to have it geared to my kids but that might be to silly. It might be cool to do a post of experiments for the students. Then we could do some of the fun experiments at school. Melissa and I saw Steve the science guy and that was really fun so maybe something like that would be fun to create. Another one of my favorite videos from YouTube that I always use is class is Jack Hartman and learning the teen numbers. The guy is definitely goofy for my taste but he does have some great songs that the kids love. Here it is:
This video is great. I would love to figure out how they make all the slides come in and then move to video. I love singing but again I don't want to look like a dork. LOL Jack Hartman is looking too goofy but the kids love....love this song.
Discovery Exercise 2: Making this video is a bit awkward because I would rather not see myself. LOL It was a fun activity but I will start brainstorming ways to create videos and screencasts to use in teaching without showing myself. This is great practice to start implementing for my website I am creating for parents to refer to in the summer.
Discovery Exercise 3: There are some definite advantages of having learning videos available online using sites like YouTube. First, videos can show a more fun side to learning something, a teacher can create playlists to use with lessons to jazz it up, class lessons could be recorded and used later for a flipped classroom or regular classroom and students are more engaged in visually stimulating videos. Student-created work would also be very helpful if uploaded as long as the student work is protected and remains anonymous. A teacher could use student work videos to show examples to classes and the students would love seeing what they have done on a video. I love how using SchoolTube and / or TeacherTube are safe and protected. You can also view tremendous amount of videos to refer to for your lessons.
I loved...loved this assignment. One of the main reasons I loved this assignment is because I love to create memory videos. This is based on presentation tools and I am already familiar with Prezi, Power point, Animoto etc. So I decided to look at the only one I have never tried Kizoa. Jackpot!! I love it and ended up spending way to much time on it. I will definitely be using this again and have even thought about creating a video of each child in my classroom for mother's day. Please check it out and see what you think.
What I really liked about the tool is that it is very easy to use and offers a very polished look. You can make these beautiful animated collages with the video and I think that is really neat. This would not be something I would have the children use, however, I could use it as a fun "Welcome" video with parents when they come on the first open house as well as it could be used in conferences. Maybe I would make a short video on each child and then learning and send it to the parents the day before they arrive for conferences to help them get into the celebration mode. Last but not least, also as a gift. It is free except for the time I decide to put into it.
I really liked using the tool DoInk. Although it was somewhat difficult to learn what to do and how to get it done, I liked my simple little duck animation. In pre-k our children are very young so I am not really sure if they could create something with it. I could always show a few of maybe my older students how to work it and see if they could take off with it. I believe if they could figure it out they would enjoy using it and creating characters. Also if I could get a few students to learn it they could in turn help other students that were interested to learn it. I can definitely see me use it for a fun little addition to get children excited if need be. Useful features were that when you hover over something it gives you an idea of what it is. If you click on the question mark it also helps to give you more detail. Hope you like my little flying quacker duck! https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3faDuRqrWFnd1BxV0JMMzdrdnM/view?usp=sharing
Zoho docs seemed to copy google docs for the most part. I created and uploaded my rough draft presentation of EasyBlog.org. I did like how it would point arrows to the next step. However, for the same thing I can use Google docs for free and Zoho costs money. If I play for it a little more I may see why it costs money but I am happy with Google docs at this point. My powerpoint is at this link: https://docs.zoho.com/home?rd=docs&plan=premiumTrial#allfiles This will only work for 14 days because I have not paid for it.
Quizlet is a free website providing learning tools for students, including flashcards, study and game modes. Although the basic set up is free, it does cost money if you want to be able to do many different things with it. I see how wonderful Quizlet can be but mainly for older children that our able to read. I created a Quizlet located at this link: https://quizlet.com/_213kse if you would like to look at it. What I created is not appropriate for all the students in my class but for some that are ready. Basically they are given a picture of something like a dog and then on a sheet of paper they can write the CVC word DOG. Then they click at the bottom right hand corner to check their answer. I really like Kahoot but again it is limited on how much I can use it with my students. It lets us build fun quizzes. Students use computers, cell phones, or other devices to join in the game. You can create flashcards for review. You can also embed videos and use Kahoot as part of the teaching process, or students can create review games to share. For my students it can be used if I use pictures and or videos for their learning. Plus you have to have a cell phone, computer or iPad to use it. Visit my sweet and simple Kahoot at #800461. I do enjoy this idea and I think it allows variety and something fun for kids to do while learning.
Wikis are not my thing. I looked at the links that Dr. Wilson provided and Wikis still seem to appear basically the same as I remembered them. To me they started out mostly like a google doc which is what I use so why use a wiki. They have evolved to a place that holds a ton of information. That is my problem. They use more photos then I remember but I get so overwhelmed by so many links and information typed in such small print it drives me crazy. I am not saying they do not have place and that other people do not love them. I can see the value of being able to get some great information for teachers. Specifically on topics that teachers need to get more information on. You can get some great info. For example I enjoyed this video from one of the educational Wikis but the time it takes to read through so much information is not worth it. (https://youtu.be/w3PhJDxvgJM) Sorry but Wikis aren't my thing.
