Thing 8: Flashcards

By the end of this module, you should have completed the following:

1. Reviewed the online flashcard services
2. Created FIVE flashcards using one of these services for one of your classes
3. Share the link to your flashcards in the Comments section 

FLASHCARDS

Flashcards are cards that have information on them, usually with a term on one side and a definition on the other side.  They are a useful tool for studying chunks of information.  

The traditional pen and index card method is still a good one, but there are a number of online services that not only allow you to create your own flashcards tailored to your subject, but also allow you to search through banks of other flashcards already created.  

FLASHCARD CREATORS

Here are a few good online creators of flashcards:

StudyStack:  StudyStack allows you to create your own set of flashcards once you sign up for a free account.  You can also search through the other sets of flashcards that have already been created.  Study Stack allows you to also create crossword puzzles, matching games, word searches, and other classic study games for any subject area. You can create a game using any type of numerical or text data. Once you're data is in your account, you can use that data to create multiple games.

Quizlet:  Quizlet says that they make simple tools that you study anything, anywhere.  You can search through other sets or create your own.   You can study your cards in five different ways including playing a couple of games with your cards. When creating your flashcards you can enter information for each card individually or import information from a text document to be used in your card set. 

Flashcard Stash:  Flashcard Stash is built upon a dictionary, so when you put in a term, you will get a selection of terms to choose from.  You can also create your own.  You can sign up for a teacher account.

Cobocards:  Cobocards allows you to create customized sets of flashcards. One of the key differences between Cobocards and other flashcard services is that Cobocards provides you with pdf copies of your flashcards that you can print to study offline.

Printable Flash Cards:  If you want to be able to flashcards to simply print out and give to your students, then this would be a good service for you.  You input your information and then download the flash cards as PDF to print out for students.

MAKE SOME FLASHCARDS

Make at least FIVE flashcards for one of your classes using one of the services above (or if you find an even better service use that and share with us your find!).  

Share the link to your flashcards in the Comments section below. 

Thing 7: Infographics

By the end of this module, you should have completed the following:

1. Explore what infographics are and places to make them
2. Find TWO infographics that relate to something you are teaching and could be useful in a class
3. Post the ones you find in the Comments section below
4. EXTRA CREDIT: Make an inforgraphic and share!

WHAT IS AN INFOGRAPHIC?

An infographic is a visual representation of data.  It can include text, images, statistics, charts or diagrams.   Their appeal is that they are visually attractive and present large amounts of information in a succinct way. 

EXAMPLES OF INFOGRAPHICS

This is an example infographic that explains all the things your favorite librarian does :)  

This work by Mia MacMeekin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.

The Daily Infographic shares out a new infographic every day on a variety of topics.  

WAYS TO USE WITH STUDENTS

Here is a video on why infographics are an important learning tool:

Here is a video that looks at ways to use infographics as an assessment tool:



Infographics as a Creative Assessment from Kathy Schrock on Vimeo.


PLACES TO FIND INFOGRAPHICS

You are to find TWO infographics that you might be able to use with a class.  Here are a few places to begin your search:

• TIME Magazine: http://www.time.com/time/graphics
• BBC Interactive and Graphics: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/11628973
• NY Times and The Guardian Graphics: http://www.marijerooze.nl/thesis/graphics/?paper=All
• Cool Infographics: http://www.coolinfographics.com/

Feel free to seek out your own.  Tell us where you found it!

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN INFOGRAPHIC

There are now a few online programs that help you design your own infographic.  These are a few of the best, and EXTRA CREDIT if you make one!

FYI:  I've done a few of these projects with students and Piktochart and Easelly are the ones that get the best reviews.

• Visual.ly:  http://create.visual.ly/
• Infogr.am: http://infogr.am/
• Piktochart: http://piktochart.com/
• Easel.ly: http://www.easel.ly/

Thing 6: Bookmarking and Curating Sites

By the end of this module, you should have completed the following:

1. Explore the bookmarking and curation sites
2. Watch the video on curation
3. Comment on which one you liked best for your personal finds and how could this be helpful for students as well.
4. EXTRA CREDIT:  Sign up for one of these programs and add in THREE sites that you would like to bookmark or curate

WHAT IS DIGITAL CURATION?

Curation in the art world is about gathering together pieces of art in order to preserve and maintain them. Often it is about combining similar pieces of art to form a cohesive collection or show.

Digital curation is about the same thing, gathering together digital assets, whether it be websites, images, videos, or PDF files.  With the abundance of digital information, the curation of these assets is important in order to maintain them in a cohesive and understand way for your research projects or personal finds.

Here is a quick video overview of digital curation:


What is Curation? from Percolate on Vimeo.


PLACES TO CURATE OR BOOKMARK YOUR DIGITAL ASSETS:

There are many programs that will help you bookmark or curate your digital assets.  Take a look at what I have found to be some of the best options here.    Look at the choices in the right hand column.

Explore these options and then comment below on which one you liked best for your personal finds and comment as well on how you could see students could make use of these programs.

Remember, EXTRA CREDIT if you sign up for one of these programs and add in THREE sites that you would like to bookmark or curate.

Thing 5: Photo Editing

By the end of this module, you should have completed the following:

1. Explore two photo editing tools: PicMonkey and Thinglink
2. Edit a photo in one of those tools and share your results
3. Share with us in the Comments section your experience using these tools 

PHOTO EDITORS

Using pictures and other images can teach visual literacy to students, but can also be another creative project besides a poster.

Two good free photo editors that do different things are PicMonkey and Thinglink.

PicMonkey is a free online photo editor.  No registration is required.  Here is a quick tutorial on how to use PicMonkey:

Thinglink is an online image editor that allows you to "tag" the image with links to video, websites, music or simply add in content and information.   It is a free service and the images can be embedded on a webpage or blog, or can be shared via email.   It is very easy to use.

Here is an example one of the library.  Hover over the image to see the "tags".  Click on the tags to learn more information.



Here is tutorial on how to use Thinglink:

YOUR TASK

You are to pick ONE of the following to complete this week:

1. Edit a picture in PicMonkey and add TWO effects  and TEXT to the image.  Save the image and email a copy to your mentor.  
2. Create an interactive image using Thinglink.  Add  THREE tags to the image.   Share the link to your Thinglink in the Comments section.

Everyone should make a comment describing your experiences using these tools.  Could you see using it with students?

Thing 4: Streaming Video Sites

By the end of this module, you should have completed the following:

1. Explore several sites that stream videos and documentaries online
2. Find two videos that you could use with a class
3. Post the link to the two videos you found on the class blog

STREAMING VIDEOS

Teachers are no longer tied to a DVD player and TV cart to show students videos that relate to topics being studied.   There are some great sites that allow you to stream videos online and are free.  This allows you to not only show these in class, but to also assign students to watch them for homework, freeing up class time for other work.  You can easily link many of these from your Edline page, or if you have a class blog or website, you can embed them into your page.

FINDING VIDEOS

Check out the list of sites that stream videos from the list at the library site here:  https://sites.google.com/site/monumentmountainlibrary/homepage/library-links  The video sites are listed along the right hand side.

For the Discovery Education site, you will need the school's passcode to get full access.  I can give you this through email if you don't already have this code.

Explore this list and find two videos that you could use in a class. 

In the Comments section below, post the links to the two videos you found.

Thing 3: Presentation Options

By the end of this module, you should complete the following:

1. Check out all the presentation options at the MMRHS library page
2. Post a Comment discussing which option you liked best and how you could use some of these in your classes
3. EXTRA CREDIT:  Think of a lesson you are giving, how could you use one of these to enhance your own lesson presentation?  Make a presentation using one of these options and share the link with us!

WHAT MAKES A GOOD PRESENTATION?

Presentations are a part of nearly every class.  They can be amazing or they can be painful to sit through.  Hopefully, some of the ideas here will help to spice up either your own presentation or those that your students are doing.

In the two minute video below, Guy Kawasaki shares his advice for delivering an effective presentation. In the video he is speaking to a tech/ business audience, but 98% of what he says applies to any audience.

A few other links on good presentations:

• 10 Powerpoint Tips: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-tips-for-preparing-a-professional-presentation/
• 15 Strategies for Giving a Good Oral Presentation: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/professors-guide/2010/02/24/15-strategies-for-giving-oral-presentations

PRESENTATION OPTIONS

There are a lot of options out there besides Powerpoint for giving a presentation.   A few are:

• Animoto: Makes music videos out of your pictures.  Text that you can add is limited.   Add your own music or choose from their selections.
• Prezi:  Prezi makes vibrant, zooming presentations.  Easy to embed video, hyperlinks, pictures and text.
• Haiku Deck:  This is an iPad app, that quickly makes stunning visual presentations.  You can then view online.
• Google Presentations:  Using your Google Account, you can create Powerpoint-style presentations. Allows for easy collaboration between students.
• Projeqt:  Projeqt creates online  presentations that are dynamic and can include videos, hyperlinks, pictures, etc.
• Glogster:  Glogster makes online posters.  These posters can include pictures, text, videos and hyperlinks.  
• Slide.ly:  Slide.ly is similar to Animoto.  It makes music videos from your pictures and you can add limited text.

Check out the Presentation Options page from the MMRHS library site.  This will give you more details about each one and have examples for you to view. 

After reviewing all the options, post a Comment below on which ones you liked and how you could see using them in one of your classes.  

Thing 2: RSS Reader, Finding and Following Blogs

By the end of this module, you should complete the following:

1. Find TWO blogs of interest to follow
2. Subscribe to them in an RSS reader of your choice
3. Post which blogs you are following and which RSS reader you went with in the Comments section below

RSS READER

What is RSS?

RSS (Rich Site Summary) is a format for delivering regularly changing web content. Many news-related sites, weblogs and other online publishers syndicate their content as an RSS Feed to whoever wants it.  RSS solves a problem for people who regularly use the web. It allows you to easily stay informed by retrieving the latest content from the sites you are interested in. You save time by not needing to visit each site individually. You ensure your privacy, by not needing to join each site's email newsletter.  (http://www.whatisrss.com/)

What is an RSS Reader?

An RSS Reader is software that pulls together all the updates from websites into a single system.  This keeps you from having to check all your favorite websites individually, you just go into your Reader and see all the latest content.

There is more than one Reader that you can use.   Later, you will review a few of the most popular ones and select one that works best for you.

Here is a quick video from Common Craft on RSS:

FINDING BLOGS TO FOLLOW

What is the advantages to blogs?  Here is a good infographic (and we'll be doing more with these later in the course) that shows you the many ways blogs could be used:

Your assignment is to find two blogs to follow that are of interest to you.  They could relate to the field you teach or just to an interest of yours.  Here are places to look to find educational blogs that might interest you:

• Edublog Awards:  This is a compilation of blogs that have won awards in a variety of categories.
• http://teach.com/teach100:  The Teach 100 ranks and scores the top 100 educational blogs.
• Five Good Blogs for English Teachers.
• Five Good Blogs for Math Teachers
• Five Good Blogs for US History Teachers

HOW TO FOLLOW A BLOG

Once you have found two blogs to follow, you should add them to an RSS reader.  These are some of the more popular readers that you could use.  Some are only available as apps for your iPad, iPhone or Android device.  And some are available on the web as well as on your mobile device.  You will need to think about what device would be the one you would use most to read your new blog content.

The readers are:

Feedly is the one that is most popular.  It is available across platforms, on the web and as apps on your mobile device.  Right now, though, their app for the iPad is having difficulty and they are updating it currently.

Flipboard  is an app-only reader but it is visually pleasing as you read your RSS feeds like a magazine.

The Old Reader is a clean, simple interface.  Nothing fancy, but keeps your posts organized.

FlowReader is a web-based RSS reader that is also streamlined and clean.  You can view the full-article of your blogs or just a headline version to quickly select the articles you want to read.

You may find a reader that is even better.  Go for it!  Share with us what you found.

Add in the Comments section for this week which blogs you followed.  Maybe there is one that someone else found that you might want to add to your Reader!

Thing 1: Introduction, Google and the Course Blog

Thing 1:  Introduction, Google and Blogs

By the end of this week, you should complete the following:

1. Fill out the Pre-Assessment Survey
2. Create a Google account if you don't already have one
3. Watch the video and read the article on 21st century learning and discuss within the Blog comments feature

PRE-ASSESSMENT:

Take a moment to fill out the Pre-Assessment Survey: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGt0eFR4N280YnZDaDl5alhsOGRuYWc6MQ

This will help us get some background on your skills and type of device you will be working with.  We will use this information to match you up with your mentor.

HOW TO MANEUVER AROUND THE COURSE BLOG:

Watch this screencast on how to get around the blog:

SETTING UP A GOOGLE ACCOUNT:

Much of what we will be doing will require a Google Account.  If you already have a Google account that you wish to use, then skip ahead to the next assignment.

If you need to set up an account, or if you would like to make use of the BHRSD Google for Education account, then follow the steps to do that in this document:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h0JV6Bg5HvbUzxqOq4eKHCeQQOdy_ohZeo4rJeOla7o/edit?usp=sharing

There are a few advantages to using the BHRSD Google account, you get more storage than with a regular Google Account, you will be able to easily connect to others in the BHRSD Google network, and it will keep your school and personal files and accounts separate.

21st CENTURY LEARNING DISCUSSION:

One of the hopes of the course is to begin to think differently about the ways to educate our students.   And this includes thinking about ways to teach in a 21st century, tech-rich world.  You are to watch the video below and to read the article linked.  Then, offer up your comments and reactions to them in the comments section at the bottom of this post.

Watch this video:

Read this article on 21st Century Learning:  http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2011/01/21st-century-pedagogy-teachers-should.html

View this infographic on Ways to Morph Into a 21st Century Teacher:  http://edudemic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/morphing3.pdf

Post your reactions as a new comment in the Comments area below.  Reply to at least one other person's original posting.

NEED HELP?

Feeling confused?  Feel free to reach out to Kara (kara.staunton-shron@bhrsd.org) or Tom (tomroy@gmail.com).  We'll walk you through any issues.

Have fun!