A month's worth of Twitter Favorites

Here a are a few of my favorite tweets from the past month. Too often, I favorite a tweet, bookmark a website, or star a blog post in my Google Reader but never go back to reflect and review these saved items.  I'm including an audio podcast of my reflection for those who would like to hear a little bit more about why I chose to save these tweets and my impression of the links they include.  Enjoy.

Can't see the audio player? Click Here

p.s. People occasionally ask how I get my favorites list into the blog posts, so here's my big secret.  Go to http://twitter.com, open your favorites, highlight, copy and paste into your blog. 

My Favorites

coolcatteacher Vicki Davis 

LiveWeb - insert and update web pages real-time in PowerPointdiigo.com/0d6s8 via @Diigo

14 Oct 

courosa Alec Couros 

This is #awesome! "The World Is Full of Interesting Things" - a fantastic example of a Google Prez. http://is.gd/g1daF

14 Oct 

dgende Dolores Gende 

@willrich45 new blogger at Huffington Post writes "My Kids are Illiterate. Most Likely, Yours Are Too" http://huff.to/bEtme8

13 Oct 

jackiegerstein JackieGerstein Ed.D. 

Comic and Animation Technologies in the Classroomhttp://wp.me/pKlio-6V

5 Oct 

ddmeyer Dan Meyer 

"I never set out to become anything in particular, only to live creatively." Best video you'll see today. http://bit.ly/a8fjOy

2 Oct 

tonyvincent Tony Vincent 

Allowing texting in the hallway between class, study hall, and at lunch has decreased sneak texting in class:http://tonyv.me/letthemtext

23 Sep 

ChrisLAtkinson Chris Atkinson 

Domain Gadget Directory Manager (DGDM) - Keeping your Google Sites Clean http://ff.im/-qP324

19 Sep 

mikekaechele Michael Kaechele 

I truly believe if we are giving students a quality education in a caring environment that parents will ignore Stan. Test scores good or bad

18 Sep 

»

dannymaas Danny Maas 

This looks great!-->Join.Me - Instant Web-Based Screen Sharinghttps://join.me/ #edtech #edchat #creativity

18 Sep 

Intro to the iPod touch in the classroom - Video recorded 8/17/2010

This is a recording of a presentation I gave in August as a part of our Tools for Teaching Digital Natives series.  In it I discuss some of my favorite apps, suggestions for finding new apps, and a few recommendations for setting up a classroom set of iPod touches.

Another great resource for iPod Touches in the classroom which I recommend is http://iear.org.  You can also take a look at my Appolicious Apps list here http://www.appolicious.com/users/kithard.

Can't see the video? Click here.

ToonDoo and PicLit: Two tools for supporting UDL "Multiple Means of Expression"

Although I've known about ToonDoo for a while now, it was a blog post this morning at What Ed Said and a Tweet from @web20classroom about the site PicLits yesterday that got me thinking more about the great resources on the web for letting students explore and play with language and images in non-threatening and creative ways.

When we ask students to share what they understand about a particular concept or idea we usually expect  verbal answers via a class discussion or formally written responses. We rarely ask or allow students to combine their verbal and written responses with images or video to help clarify their understanding, or when we do we usually build too many expectations into the project (you know - design a poster that explains every aspect of James Joyce's Ulysses) that many students feel overwhelmed at the analogue of image and ideas.  

ToonDoo and PicLits are very inviting explorations of the way that images and text can communicate more effectively than either media alone. They work well as stand alone activities but can also be combined with larger multimedia activities like classroom blogs and sites like Glogster to help students express and reflect on their learning in fun and creative ways.

See the full PicLit at PicLits.com

I imagine students exploring language and learning new vocabulary through PicLits' magnetic poetry styled site. Or using the freestyle text editor to address more specific written responses to questions posed by a lesson.  

ToodDoo would be a great resource for asking students to represent or summarize an important scene from a text or to describe a math or science concept to a fellow student.  

And both sites contain thousands of examples of student created work which could be curated and then presented to generate discussion about effective uses of language and images related to a specific classroom theme.

I know that providing more examples of how students would use these sites to share what they know would benefit anyone who reads this post.  Are you using either of these sites in your classroom?  How would you use these sites to support all learners in your classroom?

Getting Started with Google Docs: Presentation and Ustream recording

I've been looking back at some of the professional development resources I developed over the summer. I managed to capture my Google Docs presentation in August using Ustream and even found a way to edit out a few miscellaneous minutes that were unrelated so that this post should serve as decent starting point for anyone wondering what all the fuss is about with Google Docs and cloud based office suites. The rest of my Google resources can be found here at my website.

One aspect of this presentation that I'm particularly keen on is the focus at the beginning on how I use Google Docs Presentations (think PowerPoint) to model Universal Design for Learning strategies. I'm the first person to tell you that slide shows of any sort are generally a drag to watch, but hyperlinks and embedded media plus the ability to share the presentation out to personal computing devices and smartphones makes Google Docs a new kind of beast in the world of information delivery. Several accessibility issues are addressed when you allow individuals to view along with you on the screen of their choice at their own pace with the ability to go backward or forwards 24 hours a day 7 days a week with or without the presenter. Add some audio or even a video like the one below and you've got a "multiple means of representation" dream come true. Throw in the fact that interactive links turn the viewer into a participant and you start see how traditional delivery via a PowerPoint projected on a wall just doesn't cut the mustard.    

My blog has been a bit quieter than I would like of late. September is a busy time for all of us in education, but hopefully the start of the school year has been as exciting for you as it has been for me. Enjoy the journey.

Can't see the presentation? Click Here

Can't see the Ustream recording? Click here

AT alert. Did Google just create a Word Predict tool for the masses? #edtech

Today Google Labs released a new product called Scribe which incorporates their autocomplete technology into a stand alone word prediction text editor.  My first thought was how does this compare to similar word prediction software found in products such as Kurzweil 3000 and Premier AT?

Screenshot from Premier AT talking word processor

In many ways the word prediction features are very different. The example above from Premier AT is primarily assisting with spelling with some emphasis on word selection.  Google scribe on the other hand is more whole language (not sure what the proper term would be here) in that it predicts phrases in addition to spelling.  

Obviously Google Scribe is pulling from the endless well of search queries that underpin Google's search technology, and that makes it incredibly efficient at guessing what you might want to say next.  I think the implications for classroom use with students who struggle with writing are significant.  At the same time I have not had a chance to try this with any students yet to see what limitations exist.  

Sentences composed using Google Scribe.

Many Google Labs projects never see the light of day but I could easily imagine this feature becoming integrated into the Google Docs suite.  If this were the case I think that Google might possibly have enabled a fantastic Word Prediction tool for the masses.  

Google has created a bookmarklet that opens the Google Scribe feature in any text editing field including those found in Google Docs. I actually enabled it to finish out this post.  For more information on how to use bookmarklets check out this post by Steve Dembo. 

I have a feeling this won't be the last time I'll be blogging about the uses of Google Scribe.

Update: I just tried to enable the Scribe bookmarklet in Google Docs and it causes several problems.  Hopefully this will be integrated sooner rather than later.

Classroom Broadcasting, 21st Century Learning Symposium, New Learning #TTDN #edtech #sccresa10

In this podcast episode I compare and discuss ways to broadcast and record from the classroom using mobile apps like audioboo.com, ipadio.com, and evernote.com. I also share my reflections on this year's 3rd annual 21st Century Learning Symposium hosted by the St. Clair County RESA. I conclude with a look at my recent attempts to set up my own Moodle and WordPress sites using the webhosting service bluehost.com.  Running time: 

University You: Building a learning network with #Twitter (part 1) #edchat #edtech

I wanted to share the following  presentation which I created to help St. Clair County educators begin using Twitter.com to build their learning networks. It's a good starting point for anyone who has never used Twitter, needs to set up an account, and wants to learn some of the strategies for making Twitter work as a professional networking tool.

Making a good first impression with Animoto

Last week I wrote about Google Search Stories as a way to quickly create quick 30 second videos about any topic (including your online identity) using Google's web, image, and map queries. This week I want to focus on how to make amazing videos using your own images and video. Animoto for Education gives educators and students free access to unlimited full length "music" videos using amazing visual effects.

When my principal, Pete Spencer, came to today to request a last minute "Welcome" video for our new student orientation I didn't blink. With Animoto, it's easy.  I uploaded some photos, grabbed a couple video clips, typed in 4 quick title slides, picked out a funky tune from the music library and hit submit.  What do you think?

Why not introduce a new topic, spice up some quotes, or have students demonstrate their understanding of a concept by using images, text and music? PowerPoint is dead, long live Power Point.  

Dive into the Ustream.tv - my #iste10 presentation

I had the unexpected and fantastic opportunity to attend the ISTE 2010 conference in Denver this year. I wanted to make the most of my experience so I signed up to be a presenter in the Social Butterfly lounge. The topic of my presentation was live broadcasting using Ustream.tv to reach learners remotely or for archiving classroom content.

I also used Ustream.tv during my presentation and recorded the broadcast simultaneously.  Due to issues with the conference wifi (it was very good BTW but not ideal for streaming video) my recording ends 9 minutes in.  Still, I feel that it is worth sharing here.  Enjoy. And as always, comments and questions are encouraged.

Go Search Yourself - Link of the week

Here's a fun little weekend project using Google's Search Stories courtesy of Jeff Utecht and his excellent blog The Thinking Stick.

On Wednesday I had the opportunity to present several sessions on Google Apps to the folks Mattawan, Michigan.  I usually include an image of myself stilt walking entitled "Who I Am" to make sure I don't forget to introduce myself.  I was feeling the pull to try a new introduction and Jeff's post about Google's Search Stories inspired me to create the following.

  

I don't "Google" particularly well since both my first name and last name are commonly used words, but I still found a way to convey who I am through search.  This is a nice activity for highlighting the importance of managing our digital identities, and I really like Jeff's suggestions of using Search Stories to do a comparative activity.

I have had a wonderful summer "twibattical" taking a brief hiatus from all things digital, but I'm back and looking forward to an exciting year of sharing and learning with you all.

Planecasting from 35,000 ft. On my way to #iste10 #edtech

Update: Here's my ISTE 2010 reflections planecast which I made on the trip home.

Using Audioboo to make podcasts on the iPod Touch without wifi #ttdn #edtech

MrMegawhat - The tale of a 6 year old's Youtube channel

We talk a lot about digital natives. You know, the kids who are running circles around us adults when it comes to technology. So the other night a friend is over for dinner, and her 6 year old son and my 3 year old son are on the computer showing each other their favorite websites and games using the Kidzui web browser.  The 3 year old navigates the Kidzui browser like he invented it. He doesn't need to spell. The 6 year old has never used Kidzui but has no problem find everything he's looking for. It's almost mundane.

Meanwhile, I am in ubber geek mode (i.e. ignoring everyone) because I'm facilitating a three day workshop on Teaching 21st Century Learning (whatever that means) and getting ready to go to the ISTE 2010 conference in Denver. But I overhear our friend in the kitchen say that her son has created his own Youtube channel to create videos of himself reading books. My ears perk up like a rabbit and I'm off the couch, into the kitchen, grinning and listening like a mad man. She goes on, though a bit perplexed by my over-enthusiastic looks. She explains how she wanted to support his request to make the videos for Youtube and how she always made sure she was in the room or nearby to keep an eye on things. She also helped him to format the channel and add some captions. "He loves Captain Underpants books," she says. "And one day, I'm at work telling a friend about his Youtube channel, and she asks to see it." But when they go online to view it there's a problem.

The 6 year old boy has taken an opportunity when no one is looking (he is super tech savvy) to make a video pretending to be Captian Underpants, and in this video he is dressed in only, you guessed it, his underpants.  The mother is horrified.  The video is promptly deleted, and the boy is banned from making videos.

I remember when I was 6. I had a tape recorder and a microphone, and I spent countless hours making news casts, radio shows, and reading books. Every tape I made is gone I'm guessing (unless my mom is holding out for my 40th birthday in an attempt to embarrass me). But this boy's videos may potentially live on forever, and yes, that might also mean his mistake. Our desire to express ourselves, to create and to share seems so ingrained. The difference is that MrMegawhat has over 6,000 views on some of his recordings and no one ever heard mine.

I don't want his videos to go viral. I question what will happen if I share this post. I do believe MrMegawhat has created a wonderful artifact of his passion minus the one video, so with his mother's permission I have decided to share. I have few answers to the obvious questions this tale tells, but I hope that telling will bring me closer to the truth.