Grammatica

Games are such a wonderful way to learn! I think it would be fun to develop an online game to teach grammar ?  I've created a video to pitch my idea. I laughed so hard while I was creating this video. I created the voice using Garageband and yes...it is my own voice.

Kiera's Story

This project was an emotional journey for me. It's hard to believe that at times I actually forget how hard it was when Kiera was born. It must be because she is so fantastic now! This has been a story I've wanted to tell for some time, so I am grateful I was nudged into it finally. Beyond the story though, I thoroughly enjoyed playing with different camera angles and the editing process. I hope you enjoy.

Poetry in Motion

It's been a while since I last posted. I was feeling quite overwhelmed by the responsibility of a family, job, school and AR project, but I'm beginning to feel like my old self again. Ready to triumph over the online world of my master's degree. I'm gaining oodles of ideas for the classroom. I hope to have time to sit down and chronicle the different ideas I have for digital storytelling that I want to make a reality next year.

Here's my latest project: Poetry in Motion

Although it's overused, I love this Robert Frost poem. Through the filming I tried to grasp the theme of questions and questioning one's own decisions. Throughout the journey the boy looks back for approval...but then there's the journey of the boy into the man. At the end, the man looks back and asks the boy if he's followed the right path, in order to honor his inner child. My only regret is that I didn't have a good tri-pod, and the filming is too shaky...otherwise, I'm quite satisfied with the outcome.

TIME

ETC - FINAL PROJECT

OneMinuteMessage 2: Ekoloko

Web 2.0: EkoLoko

EkoLoko-An Ecological Virtual Environment for Kids

What is EkoLoko?
EkoLoko makes me want to say "WooHoo!" It is a new, free, and exciting virtual community where kids are able to explore a virtual world while learning values and knowledge about the real world through games and quests . This environment helps kids become responsible and involved individuals. Kids are taught to value ecology, nature and equality in both their virtual EkoLoko world and the real world. Kids have the chance to be a hero by saving their world through responsible ecological and social decisions.

Is it safe?
One of the best aspects to this kid friendly virtual world is that it provides a very safe environment for kids by offering on-line moderators, and kid’s safety patrol. Numbers are also disabled in the text box to protect kids from giving out private information. Not only are there multiple safety measures in place, but also EkoLoko takes the time to make sure each member understands the rules of conduct. The very first quest children encounter is a game about the required code of conduct. Until first time users are able to complete this quest, other benefits are disabled.

Can this be used in education?
I see this virtual world being a wonderful classroom tool. First of all, students have to read and follow directions in order to complete quests, but it’s a fun way to make sure students are comprehending what they read. Also, it offers kids a chance to interact with other children around the world. You don’t have to know Hebrew to play a game with a child from Israel. EkoLoko also educates students about their world by creating games that teach sound environmental practice. For example, this world creates a recycling game that mimics the game of basketball. Avatars collect litter and place it in the correct recycling bin by shooting baskets. It reminds of a fun game I used to play with my kids to make cleaning up a fun time.

Are there any drawbacks?
Although I believe the benefits of EkoLoko outweigh the issues, there are some minor annoyances that may deter kids or educators. Much of the text is in Hebrew, and this can cause some confusion in the beginning, however the important points are in English, just make sure to click on the English flag before entering the site. Sometimes the games are slow loading, but never more than 1-2 minutes. Overall, these are small problems that are overshadowed by the fun of interacting and playing on the site.

OneMinuteMessage: Storybird

Web 2.0 Animoto

Animoto Offers the Best in Web 2.0

No more boring slideshows in my classroom--Animoto is here at last. As a teacher I am now free to develop digital storytelling at its finest at no cost. Animoto is one of the newest and free digital presentation tools for the classroom. This Web 2.0 tool offers anyone the ability to create thirty-second clips to present their idea or message, however educators can apply for a free unlimited version at the following link: http://animoto.com/education.

The creation process is simple to learn and user friendly. For each presentation, students simply have to complete three steps: 1) upload pictures and videos 2) add music from Animoto’s library or upload your own music and 3) finalize your work by submitting your creation to Animoto for analysis and processing. The final step usually takes around 5 minutes for a thirty second production.

Animoto orchestrates a custom video by removing the hassle of creating backgrounds and transitions so students can instead focus on content and narrative within the video. Instead of spending hours putting everything together, like background and font, Animoto constructs the texture of the video. Many of my students enjoy using PowerPoint for their class projects, but I believe once they are introduced and become familiar with Animoto, it will be their tool of choice.

In order to understand the ease of Animoto I decided to create my own project. This was a simple presentation to promote reading in my classroom. I spent a total of 15 minutes uploading pictures, selecting music and waiting for Animoto to create my final product. Considering the small amount of time I invested, I believe I was able to create a quality video.



To tell a story using pictures and video requires higher synthesis from any student in a creative, new way. In a recent interview, Lovely stated, “Web 2.0 is about trust…sharing and collaborating….it’s about putting the power to learn and create in the hands of the students” (2009). Animoto offers a high quality product that is affordable for educators and engaging for every student, thus putting the power to learn and create in the hands of the student.

Lovely (2009, February 2). [In an interview with Riedel, C.] Top 10 Web 2.0 tools for young learners. T H E Journal. Retrieved January 14, 2009 from http://thejournal.com/articles/2009/02/02/top-10-web-20-tools-for-young-learners.aspx?sc_lang=en

RSS Feeds

My 5 top rated RSS Feeds

1: Schools Matter

This blog explores issues in educational policy and advocates for a recommitment to the public education system. Every professional should be aware of current issues in their field.

2: Blog of Proximal Development

This blog focuses on adolescent literacy and technology in education, specifically the impact of Web 2.0 tools. Being a language arts teacher, I want to hear other perspectives and ideas in the area of literacy.


3: The Storybird Blog

This blog is by the creator of my new favorite Web 2.0 site, Storybird.com. This blog expands on the idea of digital creativity, storytelling, media, families, and artists. Collaborating between illustrators and authors using digital media is an excellent resource for the classroom and aspiring writers.


4: Suzie Boss’s Blog

A writer and journalist, Boss writes about powerful teaching and learning. She is an advocate of project based learning and has written a book on the subject. Boss inspires educators to expand the boundaries of the four walls of the classroom.

5: Edutopia’s Blog

Provides up to date information on the latest and greatest initiatives and research in education. This is also one of my favorite educational websites.

Web 2.0: Storybird

Storybird: A Web 2.0 Tool

The Tool
Storybird is a Web 2.0 tool used to create online picture books found at www.storybird.com. This tool allows users to invite peers to collaboratively create beautifully illustrated stories with ease. It is a Language Arts teacher’s dream tool. The ease of Storybird is incredible. This platform is as simple as drag-and-drop. Covers can be auto generated or customized. Art work and pictures are pre-installed from Illustrators all over the world. I choose to design a story with Irisz Agacs’s artwork, an illustrator living in Budapest, Hungary. In order to determine the ease of use, I decided to create my own Storybird story titled, I Feel Small.

I feel Small on Storybird

One of my favorite aspects of this site is that students can sign up without their own email. They have a kids’ sign up tab, which requires an adult’s email, so I can easily use my school email in order for students to sign up in the classroom. This is a rare find amongst Web 2.0 tools and the World Wide Web, which reaffirms Storybird's commitment to kids.

The Assignment
One of the ways my READ 180 students invest in their community each year is to read to first grade students in our district once a month. This models the importance of reading to the younger students while allowing my middle school students a safe environment to read out loud. This year I want to increase the creativity of this assignment by having students create their own book to share with the first grade students.

Step1: Middle school students will select an already created story from the Storybird library to read to a first grade student. This will allow the middle school students to become familiar with the platform and the different art available on Storybird.

Step 2: Students will work in pairs and create their own unique story to teach an important social moral. Using the story engine students can be inspired through already created pictures and art found on the “story art” page. Students will use literary devices such as alliteration and repetition to enforce the main idea or theme in their story, thus enforcing their own understanding of theme, alliteration and repetition.

Educational Uses 4 Blogs

Educational Uses for Blogging

Technology is advancing faster than most schools are willing to acknowledge, which means educators have the responsibility of changing the tools they use to teach. Grover (2009) states, “if schools cannot change fast enough to keep pace with the advances in learning technologies, learning will leave schooling behind” (p.1). For this reason, educators should be taking every measure to incorporate technology into their lessons and blogging is a simple and effective way to accomplish this task.

Blogging can be used to enhance current curriculum in any classroom for multiple reasons, but the most substantial reason would be to bond the uses of technology between home and school for students. Zawilinski (2009) states, “classroom blogs bridge the ever-widening gap between out-of-school literacies and in-school literacies” (p. 652). Blogging is a simple tool teachers can use to demonstrate the importance of technology in the classroom while also teaching creative thinking, self-reflection and effective communicating skills (Ramaswami, 2008).

Blogging can serve multiple purposes for educators. Teachers can create classroom newsletter or informational pages for parents. This would allow parents to check on homework, see projects or provide up to date changes in curriculum. Mirror blogs or reflective blogs could be used to enhance intrapersonal skills and guide personal evaluation of performance or understanding. On the other hand, students can build interpersonal skills through literature discussions by reading and commenting on various views and reactions to literary pieces. Blogs are also an effective way to showcase student work such as student writing samples, art projects, podcasts or digital videos (Zawilinski, 2009).

While the above-mentioned ideas are simple, yet powerful, ways for educators to incorporate blogging into their classrooms, blogging is also a great resource for educators. Communicating through blogging is a great way for professionals to share their perspective. Teachers can promote educational discussions, offer professional support, and contribute ideas for change within their profession. Not only does blogging offer educators a larger community, but also enhances understanding of current issues in education. By and large, blogging is a dependable, creative tool for educators and a simple way to incorporate technology into the classroom.

Grover, Shuchi. (2009, Nov. 10) [Review of the article “Rethinking Education in the age of technology: the digital revolution and schooling in America”]. Teachers College Record. Retrieved January 7, 2010, from http://www.tcrecord.org/Content.asp?ContentId=15828

Ramaswami, R. (2008). The Prose (and a Few Cons, Too) of Blogging. T H E Journal, 35(11), 21-25. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

Zawilinski, L. (2009). HOT Blogging: A Framework for Blogging to Promote Higher Order Thinking. Reading Teacher, 62(8), 650-661. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

(picture courtesty of Stock.xchng:http://www.sxc.hu/)