A catalog of apps sorted by Bloom’s Taxonomy #standagain
Please leave a comment and share how you are using Bloom’s Taxonomy of Apps in your classroom!
Integrating technology in the classroom
Please leave a comment and share how you are using Bloom’s Taxonomy of Apps in your classroom!
Tips: Share these resources with parents. They often hear reports that emphasize the negative aspects of online behavior and, instead of teaching students how to properly manage their freedom, restrict it all together. This is okay for the short term but does nothing that is beneficial for students long term!
Please leave a comment and share how you are using Google Digital Literacy Tour in your classroom!
Tips: Thank you, Gord! We love the books and are enjoying problem solving and exploring!
Please leave a comment and share how you are using Math Puzzles from Math Pickle your classroom!
How to integrate Admongo into the classroom: Advertising is all around us, Admongo helps students identify the ads that they are surrounded by every day and prompts them to think deeply about the purpose and aim of advertising. Students at Anastasis are currently completing an inquiry block all about advertising. A look at advertising can introduce students to persuasive writing, the effect of different music, colors and mediums, critical thinking and problem solving.
I like to have students to consider both sides of advertising. First, what does it mean to be a consumer and how does advertising play into that? Second, how would you create an advertisement that reaches a target audience? Advertising asks students to carefully consider their audience, the objective, and the tools that they use to spread a message. You can also tie advertising to history by asking students to look at World War II posters. Students can analyze the purpose of the poster, the call to action, the colors used, the intended audience and the message being “sold”. Students will need to do some digging to find out why the posters were successful and what events were occurring that made the posters necessary. After students explore actual World War II posters, they can plan and create their own.
There are so many places to go with an advertising unit and Admongo is a great starting point. Students can go through the game independently on computers or use an interactive whiteboard/projector-connected computer to take turns navigating through the game. Stop and discuss each question that pops up as a class.
Tips: Be sure to check out the “Teacher” section for lesson plans, print materials and videos.
Please leave a comment and share how you are using Admongo in your classroom!
What it is: The title of this post is a little underwhelming- I had a hard time expressing ALL that this site does in one line. Mangahigh is a game based learning site where students can learn all about math. What is unique about Mangahigh math learning games is the way that the learning topics are addressed. These aren’t your typical drill/skill math games that only address the four basic operations or introductory algebra skills. The games adapt in difficulty to student levels as they play. Games continue to challenge students without getting too difficult too quickly and frustrating kids. The Mangahigh games encourage students to observe, hypothesize, test, evaluate and conclude. All games are based on the Common Core standards making it easy to integrate the games into your current curriculum. Teachers get their very own login to Mangahigh where they can assign challenges, track student progress and use the games as a form of formative assessment. The mathematics topic in Mangahigh are geared for elementary, middle and high school students (I am a big fan of site that meet a variety of ages and needs!).
How to integrate Mangahigh into the classroom: Mangahigh is a great way to shake up your math classroom while injecting it with a big dose of fun, discovery and challenge. The best way to use Mangahigh is in a one-to-one setting where each student has access to the Mangahigh site. This makes it easy for students to work at their own pace and for you to track progress.
Mangahigh would be a great way to tailor what your students are working on so that each child is getting challenged at the level they need. Use the built-in analytics to help inform decisions about where to go next with your students.
Don’t have access to a one-to-one environment? Don’t discount Mangahigh yet. The site could be used in a one or two computer classroom as a math center. Rotate your students through the center throughout the week. Those who have computers at home can continue the learning there. Mangahigh would be a great way for students to continue their learning.
Tips: Do you have a pen pal or collaborating school? Mangahigh will let your students engage in a Fai-To where they can have a friendly little math smack down competition.
Please leave a comment and share how you are using Mangahigh in your classroom!
Today @j_allen asked how we handled eportfolio’s at Anastasis Academy. The 140 characters of Twitter felt a little too limiting to explain the hows and whys of what we do…bring on the blog post!
Anastasis has a one-to-one iPad program. Our students own their iPads in a modified BYOD (bring your own device) setup. I say modified because we requested what device they brought. The iPad was the ONLY supply on our supply list. Anastasis supplies all other materials (pencils, papers, crayons, markers, paint, glue, etc.). This has been a fantastic setup for us. Families are in charge of keeping the iPads in working order, synced with the student iTunes account and charged for class. We made the decision not to own the iPads as a school to keep costs low for technical support, replacement of broken or out-dated devices and so that our students could take ownership over their own devices. Students can add any apps to the iPad at home using their own iTunes account. As a school, we purchase curricular and productivity apps for students. Students download these apps using redeem codes so that they can stay signed into their own iTunes account.
Anastasis has 60 students in 1st through 8th grade. At the beginning of the school year, we sent home a list of recommended restrictions for parents to set up on student iPads. We taught families how to enable parent restrictions on the Internet, movie/app/song ratings, and how to block in app purchases. We asked all parents to restrict student access to Safari. At school, we downloaded the MobiCip app to every iPad so that we could filter the Internet. MobiCip allows us to set up broad category filters based on age. A premium MobiCip account lets us filter exactly what we want to and allow those sites we want to. (For those who are wondering our students do have access to YouTube.) 🙂
I digress…the question was about ePortfolios.
We use a combination of Evernote, Edu 2.0 and Edublogs to keep and share our work. Evernote has been a fantastic app for our students. Students can record text, images, and audio directly in Evernote. Each note can be emailed to teachers and parents. A link can also be generated for each note making them easy to share on blogs. Better yet? There are SO many apps that have the ability to share with Evernote. Very handy. Students do quite a bit of writing directly in Evernote. This is a good place for all of student writing (even those pieces they don’t want to, or aren’t ready to, share). Evernote makes it easy to organize all of their notes into notebooks (the learning curve here is teaching students to use some organization). The ability to record audio and take pictures of their work in Evernote is great. This means that students can capture learning that isn’t natively digital-digitally. All of those awesome inquiry projects that they construct and build can be captured and reflected on in Evernote. Another HUGE benefit to the Evernote/iPad combo: it goes with them everywhere. Recording learning on a field trip? Check. Recording learning at home? Check. Recording learning on the fly? Check. Teachers often send students a PDF instructions for an assignment or a picture to the student’s Evernote account. Parents can login to their child’s Evernote account from any computer or iDevice to see what they are working on.
Edu 2.0 is our education portal. In Edu 2.0 we can share things as a school community. Edu 2.0 has a built in e-portfolio (we don’t often use this), a blog, a post feed, calendar, and message system. Edu 2.0 makes it easy for us to stay connected as a school community. Because we teach young students, this “walled” community is a safe place for students to share any, and all, of their work and thoughts. Students often write blog posts in Edu 2.0 about their learning. Other students, parents and teachers can comment on the Edu 2.0 blog posts. Teachers use Edu 2.0 to send students assignments, make class announcements and communicate quickly with parents in their classroom. Students can link any content from their Evernote account to their blog in Edu 2.0 to share it with other students, parents or teachers. The school calendar is updated with all birthdays, learning excursions and school events so that students, parents and teachers are always up-to-date. The live post feed makes it easy for teachers and administration to make school-wide announcements. This feed shows up on the home page of every student, parent and teacher.
Each of our teachers has a class Edublog. This is where the teachers write blog posts about the happenings in their classrooms. Students can also contribute to the class blogs to get input and comments from a global audience. The Edublog is the place for interaction and collaboration with the world.
We have a school YouTube account where students can upload videos and stop motion animations. The school account has become a nice central place for students to share their work with the world. I act as administrator on the YouTube channel so that I can moderate comments and videos. Students can easily link to, or embed, videos they have created in Evernote, on their Edu 2.0 blog or on Edublogs.
This combination of tools has worked well as an ePortfolio for student work. I love that at the end of the school year students have ALL of their work with them. Because they own their iPads, the Evernote content goes with them. Even without the iPad, students can access their Evernote account from anywhere and continue using it.
Do you have a one to one program? I would love to hear your solutions for an ePortfolio!
What it is: Writing Prompts is a Tumblr blog I learned about from @johntspencer on Twitter this morning. It is a fabulous blog packed FULL of writing prompts to use in the classroom. There are currently 247 prompts on the site but new prompts are added regularly (so subscribe to this one!). The prompts are pictures coupled with a text prompt and are sure to get the creative writing juices of your students flowing.
How to integrate Writing Prompts into the classroom: These Writing Prompts are a fantastic way to get your students thinking outside of the box and interested in writing. Display prompts on an interactive whiteboard, projector connected computer, or at a writing center on classroom computers. Students can spend 15-20 minutes of uninterrupted time just writing their thoughts. Keep these in a journal so that they can go back through their writing and choose a 15 minute piece they would like to expand on.
A blog is the ideal platform for writing of this kind because students can re-blog the prompt along with their written piece. Students can get feedback from teachers and peers in the form of comments on the blog.
The Writing Prompt Tumblr blog is the perfect addition to a classroom or student RSS reader. New posts will be delivered as they are posted so your students will always have a fresh supply of writing inspiration. I use Google Reader when I am at a computer, Reeder or Flipboard on the iPad.
Tips: These prompts are best for secondary elementary, middle and high school students. If you teach younger students, consider creating a writing prompt Tumblr of your own. They are easy to get started with!
Please leave a comment and share how you are using Writing Prompts in your classroom!
What it is: Thinking Blocks is a great find by @matthewquigley who was nice enough to share his find and let me take the credit (I may have made up that last part…). Thinking Blocks lets students model and solve math word problems by using online virtual blocks to visualize the problems in new ways. Thinking Blocks includes blocks to model addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions, and ratios. On the Modeling Tools tab, students will find modeling tool videos on addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions, ratios, decimals and percents, and algebra. These thinking blocks were developed by Colleen King as she worked to help her students in their Singapore Math program. While the concept of modeling word problems with the blocks is most closely associated with Singapore Math curriculum, it can be used to support any math program and is especially helpful to use with visual learners. Students can use virtual blocks to model known and unknown quantities. By modeling in this way, students are better prepared for moving from arithmetic to algebraic thinking because they learn how to break complex problems into their simplest form. The activities on the Thinking Block website includes guided and independent practice opportunities. The tutorials can be used for guided instruction. Videos show worked examples from each section (addition, multiplication, division, fractions and ratios. Progress tracking is built-in (currently this is only per session but the site notes that sometime in September this should be included for multiple sessions). The Modeling Tool lends itself to independent practice. Students can choose from hundreds of built-in word problems or enter their own. Dynamically generated models let students check their own work. A full screen option is included for use on interactive whiteboards.
How to integrate Thinking Blocks into the classroom: Thinking Blocks is a wonderful website for exploring and demonstrating understanding of word problems. Visual students will be keen on the ability to visualize math in this way, using the virtual blocks to represent word problems. Because Thinking Blocks addresses so many different math disciplines, it is a great way to differentiate instruction for students at a variety of levels.
Thinking Blocks can be used with the whole class using an interactive whiteboard or projector-connected computer. Students can take turns working out word problems on the whiteboard while students at their seats work to arrive at a common solution. Students at the board can “phone a friend” if they need a little extra help or guidance.
Thinking Blocks would make a fantastic center activity on classroom computers. Students could visit the center to practice some word problems and record a reflection about how the blocks enabled them to visualize the problem differently.
Be sure to bookmark Thinking Blocks on school computers and let parents know to bookmark the site at home. I suspect this site could be a life saver for MANY students (I would have been one of them!)
Tips: You can adjust the difficulty of each model by adjusting the numbers addressed before students begin an activity.
Please leave a comment and share how you are using Thinking Blocks in your classroom!
What it is: Math Pickle is a FABULOUS site for mathematics inspiration that I learned about from @davidwees Reform Symposium session. Math Pickle features mathematics videos for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The videos feature real students engaging in inspiring math problems and puzzles. The videos often speak to unsolved math problems throughout history that students work to solve. In the unsolved problem, students must use developmental level appropriate math to work out the problem. Math Pickle is the brain child of Dr. Gordon Hamilton who wants to abolish elementary mathematics as a subject and push the idea that problem solving is at the very heart of mathematics. The videos featured on Math Pickle do just that, put your students in a math “pickle”. If you think about the purpose of mathematics, this makes perfect sense. What we really want is students who are great problem solvers and can use mathematics to help solve those problems.
How to integrate Math Pickle into the classroom: Math Pickle is the most excellent mathematics inspiration I have come across. It approaches mathematics from the standpoint of a problem solver instead of from the standpoint of a rules follower. Already that shift in thinking makes my brain happy. Brilliant. Math Pickle has problems and videos for every grade kindergarten through twelfth.
Use these videos to pump some inspiration into the way you approach and teach math or show them to your students and encourage them to continue solving the problems. Don’t forget to film your students working through their own math pickles!
The Inspired page of Math Pickle is a must see. Students can take a look at what mathematicians do in real life. They can also learn about the source of Math Pickle problems.
Tips: Be sure to check out Muse, news and reviews for additional ideas, puzzles and reviews of math products, puzzles and games for the classroom.
Please leave a comment and share how you are using Math Pickle in your classroom!
What it is: Moneyville is a fantastic site I learned about from iLearn Technology reader Tania. This is an impressive site from the UK that teaches young kids (5-9 years old) about money and economic principles. Moneyville is a fun interactive environment/virtual world where students can explore where money comes from, what money is worth and how they can prioritize spending and save (perhaps the US government should be playing this game?). Throughout the game, students are asked to make a number of decisions that can affect their finances for the year. In Moneyville students can make money by picking apples and selling apple juice, work at the post office to sort packages according to value, work at the city gates where they can earn money by painting, purchase items for their virtual room with the money they have earned, visit with a wizard who can reveal a secret treasure and add items to a wish jar where students can place items they are saving for. Students will also find a time machine in Moneyville where they can journey to ancient Rome, ancient Egypt, the Middle Ages, or to the time of the dinosaurs. The money in Moneyville is generic so it can help students of any country the principles of where money comes from, how to prioritize money, the value of money, and why it is important to save.
How to integrate Moneyville into the classroom: Moneyville is a fun way to help young students understand the basics of money and economics. The site is a fun way for students to explore economic principles. It provides a great place to start discussions about what it takes to make money (work), why money is important, why saving is important and how the economic cycle works. Moneyville would be a great site for students to play on individually in a lab setting at the beginning of a money/economics unit. Expand the game into other disciplines. Students can learn about persuasion and advertising by creating advertisements for their businesses in Moneyville using a paint or word processing program.
Don’t have time/resources at school for students to play Moneyville in the classroom? Introduce them to the game using an interactive whiteboard or projector-connected computer. This is the type of site that my students begged to be able to continue on at home. I never made it homework but rarely had a student who didn’t play at home! If you do have an IWB or projector, create a class Moneyville account. Let students take turns making decisions in Moneyville and talk as a class about the consequences (and unintended consequences) of those decisions.
Tips: Students create a username and password so that they can play in Moneyville with all of their progress and money saved.
Please leave a comment and share how you are using Moneyville in your classroom!