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Monday, May 28, 2012

What is Podcasting?


It’s Memorial Day Weekend, how many of you are cruisin down the road listening to the radio? Well did you know that a podcast is similar to a radio show in that each show consists of a series of individual episodes you can listen to on your digital audio player like an iPod, smartphone, and computer.  So what’s the difference between a podcast from a traditional radio show is that you can listen to your podcast whenever and wherever you want to, and you can subscribe to a podcast series so when a new episode is available, it automatically downloads to your computer. So the next time your listening to the radio think of podcasting to catch up on the latest with its wide range to the ability to create or listen to audio or video content either live or downloaded for later use.

Ideas for Using Podcasting in the classroom:
  • Publish student work
  • Student project for assessment
  • Distribute school assignments
  • Peer teaching
  • Language classes
  • Create archive of class lectures
  • Interview guest experts
  • Create oral histories

Here are a couple of Podcasts I have listened to when catching up on the latest technology happening within the classroom: Take a listen and see what you think?

Teaching with SmartBoard: Want to jazz up your SmartBoard files over the summer take a listen to this video podcast, which explores techniques for teachers. Their main emphasis and purpose is to create lessons that are engaging for students to learn. So if you would like to get your students up and moving to the SmartBoard listen to this video podcast. This podcast is a quick listen and quite enjoyable to learn one new technique for using the SmartBoard within your classroom.  They also have a website to view more and watch some of their YouTube videos. It’s a quick listen too between 25-30 min, and will leave you thirsting to listen to more, enjoy their show. Click here to subscribe to the podcast in itunes.


Appy Hour U: App enthusiasts Lisa Johnson and Yolanda Barker bring this podcast to you as educators using iPads.  They provide a menu of appealing lesson ideas, and are using mainly FREE apps to create their lesson plans.  I love the enthusiasm and energy in the hosts’ voices in this audio podcast.  They use BlogTalk radio to produce their show but it can also be accessed from iTunes. There latest App shows have been around Mobile Learning 2012. They have been talking with other districts and learning what’s happening around different states.  For mobile learning it can happen anywhere, in a classroom, at the dining table, on a bus, anywhere.  Shows vary in length from 30 min – 60 min but a great deal of information to gain at when listening to this show. Hope you enjoy listening to Appy Hour U as much as I do.  Click here to subscribe to the podcast in itunes.

EdTech talks: This is made up of a community of educators interested in discussing and learning about the uses of technology in education.  For EdTech talks they webcast several live shows each week with different guest speakers.  The latest episode I listened to was about Reboot and how they were changing career paths.  They discussed about where they had been and where they were going.  Their discussion lead to how their show had developed and what they planned to do in the future.  There show was a very quick 25 min listen and I can’t wait to see what is to come from this group in the future.  Click here to subscribe to the podcast in itunes.




Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Web 2.0 Teaching Tools


 "Shopping2Null"  February 19, 2007 ,via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution.

Over the summer break its time to create a list of tools to hook even the most reluctant learners with Web 2.0 teaching tools or even boost your students' academic achievement. Using Web 2.0 tools  revitalizes your lessons by integrating instructional technology tools into your teaching plans.


Education in the Cloud with Web 2.0 tools; this blog is dedicated to providing educators free Web 2.0 tools and tutorials for staff and their students.  

Web 2.0: Cool Tools for School; This is a collection of educational Web 2.0 applications which are by categories such as writing research, presentations, storage, drawing tools, collaborative tools, and creativity tools.

Free Technology for Teachers; This website provides a host of resources and lesson plans for teaching with technology.

Web 2.0 Guru; Enhance educational experiences to enrich curriculum and instructional practices. This of all resources is sure to engage all learners and empower every child with critical 21st Century Skills.

50 Web 2.0 Tools Your Students want to Use; This is a collection of Web 2.0 tools and ideas for what students see as being useful in and out of school.

Scoop-It has bits and pieces of articles using Web 2.0 tools in the classroom: Web 2.0 Tools for Educators


For those of you who are into your boards on Pinterest here are a few collection to add to Web 2.0:

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Appy Trails

As the school year winds down we are embarking on change leading into the 21st Century.  In May our Board of Education approved grades 6-8th for a 1:1 initiative using iPads. Over this past school year our JH staff members have had the opportunity to explore and become acquainted with the iPad and what type of Apps to use in the classroom.

Over the past few weeks I have been following some interesting blogs for Apps.  So before you leave on your trails for this summer here are a few stops to check out.
  • Here in the TechChef4U they whip up a great deal of ideas for the classroom for using Apps.  There ideas stem from the Bloom's Taxonomy and using mostly FREE Apps with there students.  This blog is sure to spark up and appaetite when reading all the interesting ideas you can cook up with your students next year. Don't forget to download the App on your iPad or Smartphones to stay up on the latest FREE Apps.
  • Its always a busy place with no stops in the road but check out Digital Kindergaten.  From insightful ways to use Technology, and what Apps worked best within the classroom. If you found this blog useful make sure you inspire this blogger to keep sharing to brighten your day.
  • This directory of Apps called APPitic was created for educators to transform learning in the 21st Centrury learning. These apps are tested using a variety of different grade levels, classroom settings, and instructional strategies.  The list is endless to explore and Apps are created and added everyday.  This is a great resource if you are exploring an App to fit within Bloom's Taxonomy or a teaching strategy.

What Apps or readings have sparked your classroom instruction this past year?  Well Appy trails to you and enjoy your summer reading.







Monday, May 14, 2012

Stop and Smell the Roses

This old saying which has varied over time can be put to good use from a golfer Walter Hagen that appeared in the 1956 book "The Walter Hagen Story." Here is the original saying "You're only here for a short visit. Don't hurry. Don't worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way."

Well its the last full week of school finishing up on tests, last minute projects, and entering in grades.  The clock might be ticking but we can all learn something with this beautiful weather,  to stop for a second just to smell those roses and come up for a breath of fresh air.

As the week passes by a few things to think about:

    • Make lists for organization: Sticky's on your Mac works great
    • Always have a back-up plan if technology fails
    • Allow time for getting your DVD's made
    • Reminder for turning in grades
    • Don't worry as educators jump in with both feet and give it everything you got because this week too shall pass.




Thursday, May 10, 2012

Blogging About The Web 2.0 Connected Classroom: Creating Social Media Guidelines...The Handout

Blogging About The Web 2.0 Connected Classroom: Creating Social Media Guidelines...The Handout

With our new Milleniums this is a great resource to take a look at about Social Media Guidelines.

Cool Cat Teacher Blog: After the school year is done will you have leftov...

Cool Cat Teacher Blog: After the school year is done will you have leftov...: With two weeks left in school, I was sitting at my desk planning the other day and as I considered my options it struck me that each schoo...

This is blog posting is wonderful inspiration as we are rounding out the last two weeks of school, enjoy it and leave a legacy for your students as they walk out the door on the last day of school.