TechKNOWLEDGEy Tips: Prezi

Click on the link above to visit the Tech Tool: Prezi. If you haven't visited Prezi in a while, there have been several changes that may surprise you. Comment below on ways that you've used Prezi or plan to use Prezi in your classes.

TechKNOWLEDGEy Tips: PowToon in Google Drive

Click on the picture for ideas on using PowToon in a classroom. Comment on how you have used or may use this resource in your classroom.

Getting I.T. Right @ CeVMS!: 6th Grade ELA

The 6th Grade ELA teachers teamed up with Wallwisher/Padlet to create an easy way for their students to turn in, publish, and present work.

Ms. Goldenberg, one of four 6th grade ELA teachers, elaborates on the project:

"My students did a really nice job creating flyers and newsletters in Microsoft Publisher and then posting them on my Wallwisher walls. This was a really necessary lesson for them because they learned how to use Publisher, change file types for posting, and create pie charts. All of the grade 6 LA teachers did this project, and I'm sure they had good results as well."

Check out one of Ms. Goldenberg's walls:

Created with Padlet

TechKNOWLEDGEy Tips: edcanvas

Click on the picture to go to the Smore flyer for more information about this technology tool.

Here's a canvas that I created for you to see how it looks embedded in a site:



One of the great things about this platform--you can sign in with your Google account! You can put all sorts of information in a canvas with very little effort--notice the icons in the circles. It works great as an organizational tool, a presentation tool, a flipped classroom tool--the possibilities are endless!

Please ask if you want a special session with your horizontal, team or department group.

Getting I.T. Right @ CeVMS!: 6th Grade Science

Ms. Midkiff elaborates on classroom procedures for integrating technology seamlessly into the classroom. By utilizing tools such as Google Forms and Wallwisher/Padlet, her students are able to spend more time focused on the content and less time unfocused as she loads the next presentation. Additionally, she doesn't have to spend time reformatting student submissions for presentation. Now that's a good example of "never working harder than your students." Thank you , Ms. Midkiff for talking about the how of instructional technology.

"Sixth grade science students researched nine energy resources. They turned in their energy research to my wallwisher (one for each class period) that was embedded on my teacher website. While each student presented, the others completed a Google Response to Presentation form where they wrote questions for the presenter. The Wall Wisher let me run the slides in sequence without copy/pasting them into one PowerPoint, and the response form helped them to focus critically on the presentations." --Kim Midkiff, 6th Grade Science Teacher

A screenshot of Ms. Midkiff's response form.

A screenshot of Ms. Midkiff's wall.

Think INSIDE the Box

Our Foreign Language department is at it again...but this time they are thinking inside the box--the comic strip box, that is!

The students are working on perfecting their written grammar and conversational wording by creating scenes full of dialog. Using the comic strip creator found at http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/ students are able to choose from a variety of formats, characters, backgrounds, props and speech bubbles to add to their scenes.

Here are some examples of their work (click link after picture to view bigger):

http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/?comix_id=1974021C602993

http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/?comix_id=24492330C601751

Bonus (TechKNOWLEDGEy Tip):

Here's another idea (perhaps if we decide to have a BYOD--bring your own device--day...) You may want to look into the Sock Puppet App. I read about it here. (She's got a great tutorial!) My kids and I tried it out and it's pretty hilarious. It's definitely another way to think INSIDE the box.

TechKNOWLEDGEy Tips: 20 x 20

Do you ever feel that your presentations have fallen into a rut? You're always doing that same old thing? Perhaps you have chosen to rely on the comfortable relationship you have with your overhead projector. Perhaps you've flirted a little with other presentation platforms like Prezi. But, in the end when it comes to technology, you always come back to the familiarity of PowerPoint.

This is where I'd like to introduce you to Pecha Kucha: Have you heard of it?

In a nutshell, Pecha Kucha was invented by some architects in Japan who wanted to use a presentation space, had a limited amount of time, and had a lot of presenters who needed to share ideas. They created the 20 x 20 format: 20 slides, 20 seconds each. Presenters have 6 minutes and 40 seconds to get out the information....and then they're done.

Click here for an extended history of Pecha Kucha (right click on the link and choose "Open link in a new window" so that you don't get lost), but make sure to come back to see how it can be used in an educational environment.

I'll wait......

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....You back? Good!

Cool, huh?

Now watch this video. It's an example of the potential of Pecha Kucha in education.

So, some of the cool things I got out of this:

1. As a teacher, I could use this to introduce a topic and then have time to work with my students.
2. As a presenter, I have to be concise in my choices and make sure that what I put on the screen really assists me make my point instead of allowing the audience a chance to get totally lost in all the words.
3. If we were to do this during Staff Development days, we could get a lot of information!!! and no one presenter would feel left out.
4. I could teach my students this format to present in class and know how many presentations I can get through during one class period.
5. The format can be modified if needed....
6. This is a great stepping stone to PODCASTS!!!

Do you want more examples of Pecha Kucha? Of course you do....click here. Think about it. You can do this!