To Pin or Not to Pin

Pinterest is probably not new to those of you reading this blog, but you may not have thought of using it the way my teacher friends are using it which is why I chose to share this resource.

When I first discovered Pinterest I did think it was a ‘cool tool’ and I created an account.  I even added it as a widget on this blog, but then I never did much with it.

A few months later I heard some of my teachers talking about it with more excitement than they could contain.  They were creating boards to organize their teaching resources.  Their boards were curriculum related (Language Arts, Math, etc.) and theme related (Christmas, Fall, Beginning of the School Year).  It has become an addiction for good reason.

Saving websites as Favorites/Bookmarks can be risky… if your computer crashes (or is reimaged) all your Favorites disappear and if you haven’t backed them up you’re likely to have a meltdown when you discover they are gone.  Favorites saving websites, like delicious.com, are good tools (I’ve used it for a few years), and though you can add tags to your bookmarks (and even share them with others), when sorted they aren’t as visually pleasing as Pinterest.  And…. with Pinterest you can follow others’ boards and others can follow you.  The social aspect of this resource is what makes it such a great resource.

I have now joined the bandwagon and created a few boards that are technology resource related.  I’m sure that in time I’ll branch out and create boards for my other intersts like crafting.  Until then, I’ll be pinning.  Will you?

(Note: In some school disctricts, ours included, Pinterest is blocked.  That makes it tough to access those saved resources while still at school.  For that reason, I still save bookmarks to delicious.com.)

Geek or Nerd?

I love to learn about the origin of words, so today’s email from MakeUseOf Geeky Fun was especially fun for me.  One of the items in the email was an info graphic detailing the differece between geeks and nerds.  http://www.makeuseof.com/tech-fun/geek-vs-nerd/

Did you know that the word ‘geek’ gets its origins from circus performers, or that Dr. Seuss coined the word ‘nerd’?  I didn’t!

When you read the info graphic on this website you’ll learn more about the difference between, traits of, geeks and nerds, and looking at the two, I guess I’d have to say I am a geek…but only in some respects.  I would say that I certainly have specific niches and interests, but I’m far from an expert in any.  I try not to be pretentious or long-winded, certainly never wear ironic t-shirts, and my interests have never included gaming (unless you count virtual farming!), but I did enjoy learning html when I first started creating websites (and still use it on occasion including this blog post), and I am definitely a fan of gadgets!  (See the info graphic to see what I’m talking about.)

So, today I poke a little fun at myself and challenge you to do the same.  If you’re reading this, are you a geek or a nerd?

Make-a-Flake

Make-a-Flake  has been around for years, but sometimes we forget about some of the resources we’ve found, especially when they are seasonal.  Every time I rediscover this site, I get hooked into creating snowflakes.  Students (of all ages) will enjoy creating unique snowflakes, but teachers will also enjoy ways to integrate them in class projects. I have attached directions on how to create a snowflake as well as ways to use it in the classroom. 

If you have found other ways for your students to use this, please share by posting a comment.

Happy cutting!

Youblisher.com

 I frequently have to upload and link to a PDF document from a webpage or blog/wiki and though I can always just have linking text, I think that a graphical link – the thumbnail of the document – is often more desirable.  Youblisher.com is a wonderful resource for this and it’s free and very easy to use.

After logging into your (free) account, you browse to the location of  your PDF and upload to Youblisher. 

If necessary, refresh the window to see your uploaded publication.

You have four choices of ways to publish your document:  URL (link only), Text Link (the name of your publication will be hyperlinked), Embed with Small Cover, Embed with Large Cover.

The last two options are the ones that show a grapic of your publication when you embed the code.

When embedding the code, you most often need to be in HTML view of your website or blog/wiki.  Where exactly to paste the code can be confusing for some, so here is a hint. 
 – In compose view, type in XXXXXXXXXXXXX in the location where you’d like the link/thumbnail to appear.  Then switch to HTML view and scroll down the page looking for all those Xs.  Select the Xs and paste over it the code you’ve copied from your Youblisher publication.

The next best thing about Youblisher is the way the publication opens for viewing.  When it first opens, you see the whole page.  Hovering over the document the first time you’ll see a ‘Double click for zooming’ message.  There is a button at the bottom of the screen that you can use to zoom in at any time.  When zoomed in, you can use the scrool bar or click and drag the screen to see other parts of the page.  When zoomed out, you can turn the page(s) by clicking on the bottom right (or left) edge of the page (it curls up when you hover over it), or, at any time, click the left or right arrow buttons at the bottom of the web page.  The viewer also has the option of printing your publication or opening (downloading) it in standard PDF format.

As you upload more documents to Youblisher, your previously uploaded publications still show in your account allowing you access to them and the different code options at any time.

Your PC’s Font Viewer!!

OK.  I admit it.  I’m a font junkie.  I have searched the web for free fonts.  I have even purchased more than a few.  I love to use fun fonts when appropriate. 

However, sometimes deciding which font to use takes a little longer than I’d like.  A free web tool I found today will make that a whole lot easier.  ‘Your PC’s Font Viewer!!’  magically reads all the fonts installed on your computer as soon as you go to the website. 

Type in a word or phrase that you’d like to see illustrated using your fonts.  You can also choose a font color and size.  Then scroll and see how all your fonts looks.  Couldn’t be easier!

ZooBurst – 3D Pop-Up Books

My new favorite thing is ZooBurst.  It was love at first play!

ZooBurst is a FREE digital storytelling tool that is designed to let anyone easily create their own customized 3D pop-up books.  It requires a username and password to login and create a book and right now you have to request an account.  They are hoping, in the near future, to offer classroom management capabilities allowing teachers to create and manage classroom accounts for their students.

One thing that makes ZooBurst so unique is that the books are 3D. As each page of the book opens, the clip art on the page pops up.  You can also tilt and turn the page around (click and drag) looking at all angles of the page. The other unique feature is that ZooBurst has Augmented Reality (AR) capability.  All you need is a webcam.  See their website for more information about how to make the AR work.

Creating a book couldn’t be easier.  You add clipart to each page of the book from either their ‘Open Clip Art Library’ of public domain vector art images, or you can upload your own including photographs.   I used graphics I created, photographs, and clipart I found on public domain websites.  Using the drag-and-drop interface, you move the graphic to the desired location on the page. Graphics can also be sized and rotated.  The author can select one of a few options for a background for the book and also choose a different color for each page.  Shadows for the graphics can be left on or turned off.  The graphics can be double-sided or have a solid color back.  Since all angles of the page can be viewed, you can have different scenes on a page like one in front of a building and one behind (or inside).

Once you’ve added clipart, you can choose to add text in two locations: to any of the clipart added to a page (in a word bubble) and/or to the page.  Chat bubbles and page narration are hidden when there is not custom text associated (with the clipart or page). 

You can create books up to 10 pages long.  A new feature released on May 15 was a replay button now located at the end of the book.  Another reason why I love this resource is that when I expressed a need for a change in the program and suggested some improvements, I received feedback very quickly and the suggestions are being considered and some have even been added. 

Teachers will love ZooBurst.  Besides using it to tell stories, think of it for book reports/talks and projects like timelines, biographies, and reporting on a topic.  I created one for students in an SDA class (specially designed academics).  These students would use a switch to advance the pages of the book.  Clipart of insects and word art  pop up on each page which allows the students to see pictures of the insects they had learned out in class.

Completed books are easily embedded into webpages and blogs.  Just copy and paste the code for each book.

A couple suggestions/observations I have about ZooBurst:

1. Save periodically as you work.  (While making one book I left for lunch and when I returned half an hour later I discovered that my pages were now blank.)  You can always return to a book and edit at any time.
2. Clipart with transparent backgrounds work best. If you are fortunate to have a graphics program that allows you to create transparent graphics, you may need to use this tool before uploading some of your own clipart.
3. Sometimes when you click on a graphic to move or resize it, it gets quirky and jumps on you.  If you have trouble clicking on it again (because it is now behind another graphic) tilt or rotate the page for easier access, move the graphic to its new location, and then move the page back.
4. When viewing the book, if you turn or tilt the page, when you turn to the next page it will also be tilted/turned in the same way as the previous page.

Things I hope to see in the future:

1. The ability to create a book with more than 10 pages.  (ZooBurst is working on this one.)
2. The ability to control the order of the pop-ups.  I thought the order I placed them on the page would make a difference, but it didn’t. 
3. And while I’m dreaming, being able to record voice (narration for text) would be icing on the cake.

SpellingCity

Learning to spell doesn’t have to be boring when there are websites like SpellingCity.com.  This free resource allows teachers to create and save their own spelling lists.  Then, students are offered a variety of ways to learn and practice their spelling words and then even take a quiz.  It makes the teaching and learning of spelling fun!

In the Teachers section , you will find information about how to get started and a link to training videos.  You can use the games in SpellingCity with an interactive whiteboard or have the students independently practice their words with the online games (at home or at school). You can print worksheets to practice spelling and vocabulary.  Put a link to SpellingCity on your classroom website so it is easily accessible to your students.  (At my school it has been added to the Language Arts container on the App Launcher.) Teachers can print out a parent letter explaining how they can help their children use SpellingCity at home to look up their teacher’s lists, practice words, and get ready for tests. It is also available in Spanish.  The Teachers Forum is also a good place to look for ideas on how to use SpellingCity.  Be sure to sign up for their monthly newsletter to be kept advised of new developments.  This site frequently adds improvements and is responsive to suggestions and comments about occasional problems.

After creating a spelling list, teachers can save it for future use.  The lists can also be edited.  If you   plan to use the same spelling lists another year, you’ll love this time-saving feature.

When students access your spelling list, they can begin with ‘Teach Me’  and hear each word, see it spelled letter by letter, and hear it used in a sentence.  After this introduction to the words, they can choose to progress to the Learning Activities and Games.  There are 11 activities from which to choose including MatchIt, Word Search, Crossword Puzzle, HangMouse, and Alphabetize.  You can make any of these activities full screen and then use it as a whole group activity using an interactive whiteboard.  To prepare for your spelling test, the student can use the ‘Test Me’ part of the program.  Students click to hear each word spoken and then type in the word.  Students can choose to print their results.  Students can always return to the Learning Activities and Games if more practice is needed.

One other terrific feature of SpellingCity are the premade found in Resources.  Choose from curriculum content such as Geography (States C]apitals, countries, etc.) and Language Arts (compound words, contractions, sight words, etc.).  There are also Literature Based Word Lists!

SpellingCity.com is a great website that will fit nicely in you ensemble of resources.  It continues to get better and better as it offers more ways to make learning spelling FUN!

Scribble Maps

Scribble Maps is the quick and easy way to rapidly make and share maps!  Once you begin exploring this application, you will think of many ways you can incorporate it in your classroom.

Scribble Maps‘ simple-to-use online map allows you to draw shapes, place markers and text,  link to a graphic, and ‘scribble’ on them as well.  You are also able to create a custom widget that can be embedded in your website or blog. 

Similar in style to Google Maps, you can zoom in and out showing the desired area you want to work with.  You have four view modes:  map, terrain, hybrid, and satellite.  Then, using the tools, you can map out (draw) a route, mark and identify locations.  With the shapes tools you can draw a circle or square around a specific area and even control the opacity of the shape.

Registration for ScribbleMaps is free.  Upgrading to ScribbleMaps Pro (also free) gives you account management, additional tools, and other features.

View the Scribble Maps Wiki for information on how to manager, edit and use your maps.  The Scribble Maps Blog has video tutorials that demonstrates some of the key functionalities.

This resource would work very will with an interactive whiteboard.

Ways to use in the K-5 Classroom:

• Plot the route you will take on a field trip.  The distance of each segment of a drawn route will appear when you hover over the line segment.  Add these distances up to find total distance.
• Mark locations on a map that represent:
  • Where students are born
  • Where students have traveled
  • Where goods are made
• Use map along with a history lesson.  Outline routes taken.  Plot locations events occurred. 
• While reading a book, plot locations in story or trace a route taken.
• Measure distance school bus takes along its daily route.  How many miles in a week, month, school year? 

Please share with us ways you can think to use Scribble Maps in your classroom.

Kubbu

Many websites offer teachers the capability of creating games and quizzes, but not many allow you to add your students and create groups AND view and analyze results. Kubbu does!

Kubbu is an e-learning tool designed to facilitate teachers’  work and enhance the learning process. 

Setup:
Teachers register (for free!) and then can create up to 30 student accounts.  Each student will login with the teacher’s username and the student’s password.  Students can be treated individually or assigned to groups.  If you create groups, you have the option of students creating their own accounts.

Create:
With Kubbu you create activities, crosswords, and quizzes for online practice, revision and examination.  With the free account, you are able to create up to 15 activities at one time.  Activities may be accessed online or may be printed out in paper form (with answer keys).  If created for online use, you can choose to set a time for which the activity must be completed. 
Categories of activities include:

• Match – extended form of the classic matching exercise.  It is ideal for language practice.  It helps assimilate new words, idioms, meanings, synonyms, etc.
• Divide – used when some notions, terms, concepts or definitions must be classified into categories or groups.
• Slider – a type of dynamic quiz. Its three activities include single and multiple choice questions, as well as a unique ‘climb up’ quiz.
• Composer – great for those who want to create their own concept of a quiz. You have the option of single and multiple choice questions, true or false questions, and fill in short answers.  You can even upload and add graphics and audio files making it  a multimedia interactive activity.
• Crossword – create puzzles with your own list of words

Visit the Samples page to see ways Kubbu can be used.

Track Progress:
After students have used the activities you created, you can track individual or group progress using the results database.  You can compare and sort results by different criteria and check on their results history.  Results are stored for 30 days.

Communicate & Share:
Using the built-in mail module you can email students inviting them to visit your page and to check out any new activities you have created.

You can create an online group space (class page) from which you can post messages and share files and materials with groups.

Teachers may share activities with other teachers by adding them to the Shared Activities catalogue.  You are able to import activities into your account and customize them if needed.  Use the search tool to find and use something that has already been created by another teacher.

Using the HTML code provided in the FAQs, you can provide a link on your website to the student account login page.

A couple notes: 
Inactive accounts will be deleted if they have been inactive for 60 days.
Use the ‘go back’ link within the program (top right corner) to go back.  Don’t use the back button on the browser.
You can upgrade your account by purchasing individual or group licenses which increases the number of student accounts, activities,  and storage space, as well as some other options.

This is a powerful online tool that you will find easy to use, students will enjoy using, and provides you with excellent data.

Wallwisher: Share Your Thoughts with an eSticky

I love my job!  Today I discovered Wallwisher (http://wallwisher.com/) and am very excited to share this with my staff.  This free tool is very easy to use  – even students as young as Kindergarten can use it.

Wallwisher is an online notice board maker.  Think ‘stickies’ on the web that anyone (if you so choose) can post.  Text on a stickie is limited to 160 characters, but you can also add web based images as well as audio and video files.  This is a wonderful tool for sharing thoughts.

You can post a note as a visitor or as a registered user.  Visitors can post anonymous notes, or type in their name .  (The names on these posts will have quotation marks around them.) Visitors can also be registered users by signing in using an email account.  Here at Parsley, all our students have a Gaggle.net email account. 

As the administrator of the account, you have a few options when creating your wall.  To create a wall, you add a title, and a subtitle which is where you can post a question.  You will also select an image choosing one from their gallery or uploading one of your own.  This image shows in the top left corner or your wall.  You select one of 12 color themes.  In the preferences box, you can add a URL, select who can see and post to the wall, and choose whether you want to approve a post before it appears on the wall.  If using this with your students, I would suggest choosing this option.  Total setup time shouldn’t take you more than 3 minutes.

Once created, you only need to share the URL of the wall with those you would like to post.  It will be easiest for students to access your wall if you add it to your website.    Double clicking on the wall brings up a new ‘sticky’.  If logged in as a registered user, you just begin typing your comment.  If you are an unregistered visitor, you can type in your name (10 character limit so you may want to use first name only) or you can leave it anonymous.  Then you click in the message box and enter your post and then click the OK button when done.  In the bottom left corner of the post you will see the number of characters you have left.  Being limited to 160 characters is a good way to teach students to be concise in composing their comment.  If the 160 characters is not enough, the student could always post another comment.

If you have chosen to approve a comment before it is posted, all you have to do is login to your account and click the ‘Approve’ button on each post.  So that posts appear almost instantly, the teacher could leave her account open on one computer and approve each one as students leave a comment.  Owners also have the ability to edit a comment.

In addition to putting a link to your wall on your website or blog, you can also embed the wall by pasting the provided code in your website or blog.

You can create new walls as needed and delete those no longer relevant.

Stickies can be dragged around on the wall, however, they will only stay put when moved by the owner of the wall or the logged-in owner of the post.

Ideas for  use this in your classroom:

• At the beginning of the year, use it as a getting-to-know-you activity.
• Introduce a new unit.  Ask students what they already know about a topic. 
• Close a unit.  Ask them what they learned or found most interesting.
• Brainstorm.
• Take a poll.  Visitors could all be anonymous.  Then the teacher could graph the results and add the graph as an image in a post (after first uploading the image to the web).
• Post opinions about a current event  – one either in the news or a situation occuring at school.
• Reflect on a story or a charcter.
• Create a to-do list.
• Thank someone.  Have your students post thank you notes to volunteers and then send them an email with the URL.  You’ll make their day.
•  The teacher may choose to post an audio or video file and ask students to comment on it.

Wallwisher could also be used with an interactive whiteboard.

I hope you will take a few minutes to explore Wallwisher.  You’ll be glad you did.

Update April 19, 2010:  View Google docs slide show by Tom Barrett 19 Interesting Ways to Use Wallwisher in the Classroom.