Hope for 21st Century Education
Category: Resource type
GE Smart Grid Augmented Reality!
What it is: Okay, sometimes I just have to share things because they are off the charts amazing. Augmented reality is something I was introduced to by my graphic artist husband. Until I found this GE Smart Grid site, I wasn’t able to share it with others and let students play with it. What is augmented reality? Basically you print off a sheet from the website that has a bold graphic on it. When you hold up this graphic to a web cam, a 3-D model is produced on screen, by moving the paper you can look at different views of the 3-D model, zoom in and out, and in some cases cause the model to react to other inputs (like blowing into the microphone). The GE Smart Grid Augmented Reality shows a digital hologram of smart grid technology in the form of wind turbines and solar energy.
How to integrate GE Smart Grid Augmented Reality into the classroom: I am introducing this site to my students as a discussion starter for where technology is going and brainstorming what augmented reality could be used for. The Smart Grid site can also be used when teaching students about alternative energy sources like wind turbines and solar energy. They can actually see 3-D models of each and interact with them. This would be a great introduction and attention grabber for an energy unit in science classes.
Tips: Augmented reality is still relatively new technology, it is starting to pop up in the advertising world and in baseball trading cards. Hopefully the education sector will jump on this technology, how amazing would it be to hold up a science worksheet to the computer and be able to see a 3-D model of a skeleton, or a beating heart?! (I’ll see if I can talk my husband into working on a few augmented reality education goodies). 🙂 Mac users, if you can’t get it to pick up your camera, ctrl + click on the popup window and choose the USB camera option. Enjoy!
Leave a comment and tell us how you are using GE Smart Grid Augmented Reality in your classroom.
SM@RT Education Technology Services Inc. Education 1 to 1
What it is: Today I was truly inspired by a fellow blogger. Mike Summers is relatively new to the educational blogging scene and even relatively new to the education scene, but as I read his posts I was inspired for change. Mike has written 23 posts and after I read his first three I couldn’t help but spend the next hour (and every 5 min. break between classes) to read all 23. As I read the posts on his blog, SM@RT Education Technology Services Inc. Education 1 to 1, I kept saying aloud, “exactly! This is right on with what I have been thinking, this is what keeps me up at night.” After getting through about half of the posts it was time for lunch, I joined my colleagues in the teachers lounge and reiterated what I had been reading. It started an amazing discussion with those who were present. When I finished reading I was ready to take on the world. If there are so many like-minded educators and people who are passionate about education succeeding, why are we stuck in the rut we are in?
How to integrate Education 1 to 1 into the classroom: This is a blog that you should take the time to read and respond to. I am passionate about technology and technology integration in the classroom, but I know that putting the best technology in the world into the classroom is not going to change education. Education needs to change on a foundational level. We need to transform the way we are teaching from the 3 R’s “RAM, Remember, Regurgitate” and teach our students how to think critically, creatively, and collaboratively. We need students who are problem solvers. Technology is always going to feel forced in the traditional classroom because it invites students to create, solve problems, and work together. In the traditional classroom technology acts as a replacement for a chalk board but does essentially the same old thing. It may be more visually appealing but it is not transforming our students. (More of this in my next issue of iLearn ezine…taking longer to complete than expected!) Read Mike’s blog, it will inspire you, it will change the way you approach technology, your students, and your classroom. Next, start a conversation with other educators. There has got to be a way that we can change education and shape it into something that we can be proud of. Something that will benefit our students and make them better human beings. Isn’t that why we entered education in the first place?
Tips: I would love to hear from those of you who read Mike’s blog, what do you think, did it start conversations?
Leave a comment and tell us how you are using Education 1 to 1 in your classroom.
ActivInspire
What it is: ActivInspire is a new software from Promethean that is free! The free edition is a ‘personal’ license that can be used by anyone. The ActivInspire software works with ANY interactive whiteboard (SMART, Mimio, Wiimote Whiteboard, eBeam, etc.) and even for those of you who do not have an interactive whiteboard, use the software with just a computer and projector! The Promethean Planet website has thousands of lessons and resources that are free to access and can be used with ActivInspire to engage your students. ActivInspire has two launch options, the first is to launch in Primary function. In Primary, ActivInspire is very user friendly for primary elementary students. The second option is to launch in Studio with tools that are perfect for older students. ActivInspire works on Windows, Mac, and Linux based machines. Some of the goodies in ActivInspire include interactive protractors, rulers, clocks, grids, and more. New power tools include intelligent shapes and handwriting recognition. There are themed templates for fast and easy lesson building. ActivInspire supports flash files that can be embeded in Flipchart lessons. ActivInspire can open SMART and PowerPoint files, making it quick and easy to pick up any lesson and improve it.
How to integrate ActivInspire into the classroom: ActivInspire is software that can keep students engaged in any lesson in your curriculum. The software is incredibly intuitive and makes it easy to create amazing interactive lessons. The lessons (flipcharts) can be saved and shared among colleagues. Begin building a library of interactive lessons for your students. Be sure to visit Promethean Planet for thousands of ready made (FREE) flipcharts and activities to use with the ActivInspire software.
Tips: To see the possiblities of the ActivInspire software, take a look at Flipcharts created by the developers of ActivInspire. Promethean also has a great set of support tutorials that will have you up and running in no time!
Leave a comment and tell us how you are using ActivInspire in your classroom.
Number Gym
Number Gym is math software that can be purchased for the math classroom. However, they have a number of free online activities (examples of their software) that are perfect in the math classroom. I want to review each of these freebie mini-math games:
What it is: Exploring Fractions is an interactive way for students to learn about fractions. Students see the fractions represented graphically and numerically. As students change the numerator and denominator of the fraction, they see the graphic change accordingly.
How to integrate Exploring Fractions into the classroom: Exploring Fractions is a great interactive site to teach your students about fractions. This is a wonderful website to use with an interactive whiteboard for whole class fraction instruction. Invite students up to the whiteboard to take turns adjusting the numerator and denominator of the fractions. Have students observe the graphic changes taking place and describe the changes as a class. Exploring Fractions is also very useful as a math center on the classroom computers. As students are learning about fractions, they can visit the computer as a visual manipulation center.
Tips: All parts of the Exploring Fractions website can be hidden (hide the numerator, denominator, or graphic). This is a nice feature for having students “fill in” the missing information.
What it is: Mr G’s Place Value Chart is a great mini-site to teach students about place values. The chart has a thousands, hundreds, tenths, and ones column. Students can drag counters up and down the chart to create numbers. Every portion of the Place Value Chart can be hidden from view depending on what you are using the chart for.
How to integrate Mr G’s Place Value Chart into the classroom: The Place Value Chart is an excellent visual manipulative to teach students about place value. Each time a student moves a counter, the number at the top of the screen adjusts accordingly. Use the Place Value Chart to teach your whole class with an interactive whiteboard. Call students one at a time to adjust the number with counters. Encourage students who are at their seats to observe how the numbers change. Hide the number at the top and have students move counters and say what the number is aloud as a class. This is also a great mini-site to set up as a math center in the one or two computer classroom. As students are working on place value, they can visit the math center for a visual manipulative.
Tips: Hide the columns that are not being used to teach with so students aren’t confused by all the ‘extras’.
What it is: Bond Builder is a mini-game that gives students a ‘dot spotter’ that looks like a dice, students add the numbers on the dot spotter and drag it to the correct sum on a dial. They are timed as they drag the dot spotter cards to the correct location.
How to integrate Bond Builder into the classroom: Bond Builder is a fun basic addition or counting reinforcement game. This game could be played as a center activity in the one or two computer classroom or whole class with an interactive whiteboard. See who can get the fastest time and practice those addition facts at the same time!
Tips: There are two levels of dot spotters (really just different sets of dot spotter cards).
What it is: Table Extender is a multiplication game that gives students a challenging multiplication problem and asks them to drag the problem on top of the correct answer. Students are timed as they go through the various challenges.
How to integrate Table Extender into the classroom: Table Extender is a good way to get students practicing their multiplication. It makes them think quickly and attempt to beat their own fastest times. Split students into teams and take turns sending students to the interactive whiteboard to solve the problems. This mini-game would also make for good practice as a computer center in the classroom.
Tips: There are three different levels of Table Extender for students to work on.
Getting to Grips with Graphs: Trigonometry
What it is: Getting to Grips with Graphs: Trigonometry lets students explore the equation y=aSin(bx*+c*) through adjustments to a, b, and c in graphical form.
How to integrate Getting to Grips with Graphs: Trigonometry into the classroom: This mini-site is a wonderful visual representation of Sin. Students can adjust a, b, and c and watch the affect of changing numbers on a graph. Use an interactive whiteboard and call students up to change the values of a, b, and c. Encourage other students to observe and describe the changes of each value that is adjusted.
Tips: The scale of the graph can be changed to fit your classroom needs.
Leave a comment and tell us how you are using Number Gym in your classroom.
Switcheroo Zoo
What it is: Switcheroo Zoo is a site I learned about from Kevin Bibo on his outstanding blog Cal Teacher Blog. Switcheroo Zoo has fun interactive games and activities such as “Make New Animals” where students can create their own animal combinations, “Build an Online Habitat” where students choose animals and match them to the correct environment, “Switch Zoo Puzzles”, “Where do I Live” where students help return rescued animals to their homes, “Sound Match” where students match the animal song to the correct animal, “Meerkat Grab-a-Snack” where students help feed a Meerkat by catching food, and “Catch the Moment” where students take ‘pictures’ of wildlife. Switcheroo Zoo also has short films, sound clips, and photographs about animals for students to watch and listen to. Your students also have the opportunity to become a “Switch Zoo Guide” by completing the Switch Zoo Quest. Students play nine fun animal related games and activities to become a guide. When they finish, they will receive a Switch Zoo certificate of merit, a guide badge, and are added to the list of offical guides.
How to integrate Switcheroo Zoo into the classroom: Switcheroo Zoo is an awesome website for students to explore to learn more about animals and wildlife. This would be a great site to visit when studying animals and their habitats. There are three educational animal-themed games on the site that teach about animal characteristics and habitats. Switcheroo Zoo has an educational section that includes lesson plans for art, science, creative writing, and persuasive writing. In second grade at the school where I teach, students complete animal reports as an introduction to research. Switcheroo Zoo has on-site research with 142 animal profiles, a US endangered species map, and stories about unusual animal feats on a Zookeeper’s blog. This site is packed full of fun, useful activities, lessons, and resources! In a computer lab setting, students can research and play games individual. In the one or two classroom computer setting, students can visit Switcheroo Zoo as a science resource center. With the projector or an interactive whiteboard, complete the activities as a whole class or show the animal videos to your whole class.
Tips: This site does have some Google ads. I use these as an opportunity to teach my students how to spot ads on a website and discuss what the purpose of advertisements is.
Leave a comment and tell us how you are using Switcheroo Zoo in your classroom.
Fliggo
What it is: Ever wish you could create your own video sharing site? Fliggo is your answer. Create a video sharing site in under 5 minutes easily! Sharing student created videos on YouTube is not always an option in the school system. YouTube may be blocked, you may have concerns about other video content, or the related videos that are presented to your students may be inappropriate. Fliggo is the answer. You can create a video sharing site for your school complete with school logo. Fliggo gives you control over who can post videos, who can comment, and how videos are approved. Fliggo is simple enough to use with elementary students!
How to integrate Fliggo into the classroom: Fliggo is the perfect place to upload student created video. I have students turn every Keynote presentation into a video so that we can share it online. Students love sharing their work with the world. I get emails from parents, grandparents, and other family members about how excited they are to see what their kids are working on in school. This is an awesome way to showcase student work. Students can comment on other student work encouraging an authentic classroom community. Fliggo is easy enough for elementary students to upload their own videos if you choose to allow member uploaded video. In my classroom, students create commercials on a variety of topics. I like using commercials because students understand their purpose (to advertise), they are short, and they quickly get the point across. Students have created commercials in my classroom for a multiude of subjects and topics.
Tips: I love the idea of creating a school “YouTube” type site, your students and parents will love it too!
Leave a comment and tell us how you are using Fliggo in your classroom.
Internet Safety
Tonight I am hosting an Internet safety night for parents. I often get safety questions from parents and built a wiki where I can point them for answers. Maybe the wiki will give you some good resources and places to send parents who are asking about keeping their kids safe online. Let me know if you know of a great resource I have left out!
ARKive
What it is: ARKive is an incredible website that I learned about from a tweet on Twitter (forgive me I was in the middle of class and didn’t keep track of who- thank you whoever you are!) ARKive tag line is “images of life on Earth”, but ARKive is so much more than just a collection of images, it has thousands of videos, images and facts about the world’s species. This is the digital version of Noah’s Ark! This is the most impressive animal and life website I have seen! I truly can’t say enough about this site, students of all ages will enjoy this one (I’m talking k-12 here!) ARKive has an education section of the site that is a free multi-media educational resources complete with downloadable, ready to use audio/visual modules on a wide range of science, geography, citizenship, and environmental based topics. ARKive also has some great games for students to play that are directly related to the lessons they learn while on the ARKive site. Games range from building a habitat to word searches and digital fridge poetry.
How to integrate ARKive into the classroom: ARKive’s ready made educational resources make it simple to integrate into your science, geography, or general classes. The resources are ready made PowerPoint presentations (which incidentally also open nicely in Keynote which we use). The resources bring learning to life with images, videos, facts, and some interactive pieces. This is what textbooks should be! ARKive’s ready made resources can be downloaded on classroom computers for use by small learning groups as a center, downloaded to a lab of computers for individual student exploration, or used with a projector and an interactive whiteboard for whole class learning and exploration. The ARKive site itself is a wonderful place for students to explore and learn more about animal species and life on Earth. This would be a great place for students to collect information, images, and video to create their own presentations. The games provided on the ARKive site are fun for students and teach them as they play. For example, students who are studying habitat can play the Design a Habitat game and gain an additional opportunity to interact with the concepts they are learning. Older students can dig into the facts provided on ARKive and learn about animal classification and species of the world. ARKive images could be used in the language arts classroom as a story starter or creative writing prompt.
Tips: This is truly an incredible site, I encourage you to take a look at it and use it with your class! (Click on the education link at the bottom of the site for the Resources and Games.)
Leave a comment and tell us how you are using ARKive in your classroom.
Lost Generation
I came across this video recently on YouTube. As I understand it, a 15 year old wrote this poem as part of a school assignment. Amazing! This video would be wonderful to use as inspiration for a teaching staff or with students. It would be a great opener for a creative writing class! The video speaks for itself, I’m sure you’ll come up with great ideas for using this video with your students (share those great ideas with the rest of us). 🙂