Tuesday Tips: 12/16/14

Every Tuesday, a tech tip and a book recommendation from the library.

TECH TIP:  A look back at 2014

Check out this video from Google that highlights the top searches of the year (the Top Two most searched items were the World Cup and Ebola):  https://www.google.com/trends/2014/

The most watched video of the year on YouTube was Mutant Giant Spider Dog:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoB8t0B4jx4

BOOK TIP:  Skyscrapers: A History of the World's Most Extraordinary Buildings by Judith Dupre

I just bought this book for the library and it is amazing.  So cool to look at it.  It is as large as the buildings it covers.  A great gift for an architect buff.  

Tuesday Tip 12/2/14

 TECH TIP:  Tackk https://tackk.com/education

If you are looking for a public way to post your assignments, Tackk might be the service for you.  It allows you to make quick and simple webpages.  Registering for a free account allows you to save your Tackk pages forever.  If you don’t register and make a page, it will expire after one week. 

Other features:

• ·      Templates for education.  Customize these for your specific needs:  https://tackk.com/@tackklessons
• ·      Add tools to the webpage like RSVP, video, audio
• ·      Set the page to private so only those in your class can view
• ·      Send out an invite to the page via email
• ·      Customize the URL to your name or class
• ·      While you can’t attach Word files, you can add in URL links to your Google Docs.

 A quick example I made:  https://tackk.com/zyz8h9

 Tackk in the Classroom Page (be sure to watch the Demo Video):  https://tackk.com/education

BOOK TIP:   All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Just selected by GoodReads as the best historical fiction novel of 2014, this novel centers around a young blind girl in occupied France during World War II.  Her story is intertwined with a German boy who is an expert at radios.  The brief chapters and beautiful prose will keep you turning the pages.  It is one of those books that you are sad when it is over. 

Tuesday Tech Tip

TECH TIP:  Down for Everyone or Just Me?  

When a website isn't working for you, enter the URL into this site and see if the site is down for everyone or just you.  It will save you a lot of time trying to figure out why your computer isn't working!

http://www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com/

BOOK RECOMMENDATION:  The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

A horror book in honor of Halloween this week.  Cities across the US have been walled in to contain those who have turned "cold".  In other words, they have become vampires.  Once you enter a Coldtown, you can never leave.  Will this group make it in - and out - of Coldtown to save themselves?  A chilling, fast-paced read.

Tuesday Tech Tips - Last 3 weeks

From October 21:

TUESDAY TIP:  Every Tuesday, a tech tip and a book recommendation from the Library @ MMRHS

TECH TIP:  Your Life on Earth  http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20141016-your-life-on-earth

The BBC has put together a very cool interactive.  You enter your date of birth and a few other facts and an infographic is populated that shows all the things that have happened since you were born.  Good statistical information.  

BOOK RECOMMENDATION:  What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

This was my favorite book of the summer.  Alice is a 40 year old woman who gets amnesia, forgetting the last 10 years of her life.  This includes forgetting having her children.  A look at what is important about life and the choices we make along the way.

From October 15:

TUESDAY TIPS (On Wednesday, due to Jury Duty yesterday):

TECH TIP:  Jeopardy Rocks  http://www.jeopardy.rocks

Jeopardy Rocks is a free online tool for making quick and easy Jeopardy-style review games.  Click on the Build Now box and them add in what you want for your custom URL.  You will need to add in an email and password to create your game.  Then click on each square to add in the question and answers.  You can have up to 6 teams on the board.  

BOOK RECOMMENDATION:  Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

One of my favorite books of all time.  An epic story of twin brothers who come of age during the Ethiopian revolution.   A story of family, courage, and medical miracles.  Beautifully written. 

From October 7:

TUESDAY TIPS:  Every Tuesday, I’ll email out a tech tool tip and a tip on a good book to read. 

TECH TIP:  Random Name Picker  http://www.classtools.net/random-name-picker/

Looking for a fun, random way to get students to participate in class?  Enter your class list and then spin a virtual wheel to have a random name selected.  After a name has been selected, you can remove the name so it is not picked again.  It is free to use and will work on your laptop or iPad.

BOOK TIP:  The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I’m recommending this first, as it was the most read book by students who participated in the Summer Reading program.  It is a book that has wide appeal to teens and adults alike.  Hazel and Augustus are two teens who meet at a Cancer Support Group.  But this is not just a story about cancer, it is a story about what it means to be alive and in love.  A heartbreaker. 

Thanks to Steve Estelle:  If you want a good laugh, though, check out this Saturday Night Live spoof on the book and film:http://youtu.be/DopEzgBk4dA

Thing 10: Final Thoughts using VoiceThread

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

1. Learned about VoiceThread and its use in classrooms
2. Posted your final thoughts on the course in the VoiceThread

WHAT IS VOICETHREAD?

VoiceThread is an online platform for hosting group discussions.  It allows you to view presentations, files, or images by the teacher or creator of the VoiceThread.  This can then be shared and users then can comment on the discussion topic or presentation.   Comments can take many forms.  You can add in a written comment, an audio recording or a video comment.

There is a free version of VoiceThread, that allows you to view and comment on any VoiceThread.  You can create five VoiceThreads with the free account.  You are limited on the amount of video commenting you do with a free account.

This is great overview video of how to use VoiceThread: http://ed.voicethread.com/media/misc/IntroductionToVoiceThread.mov  This will help you know how to Comment on the VoiceThread for this class, but also how to create them now with your own classes.



USING VOICETHREAD:

In order to comment in VoiceThread, you will need to set up a free account.  You can do that here.

Here is the VoiceThread that we set up for this class as a place for you to post your final thoughts:



In order to make your Comments and final reflections on the course, access the VoiceThread through this link:  http://voicethread.com/share/4569323/

Thing 9: Polling Systems

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

1. Reviewed three polling sites
2. Made a Comment on which site you liked the best and a way you could use with a class
3. EXTRA CREDIT:  Make a poll using one of the sites.  Share your poll with us!

WHAT ARE POLLING SYSTEMS?

As teachers, we are always looking for feedback from our students.  We want to know they have comprehended the material, know the directions, or want to know their opinions on certain issues.   Sometimes you might do that through a show of hands, or some other symbol like holding up a green card or ringing a bell.

Polling systems are more advanced versions of these teaching techniques.  They allow you to set up polls or quick quizzes online that students respond to via a computer or their smartphone.  They give you real-time feedback as you see students anonymous responses right away.

Instead of the expensive clicker systems, these polling sites are free and leverage the technology that students already have in their pocket.

POLLING SITES

There are many out there, but these three are the ones most geared to use in a K-12 classroom.

• Poll Everywhere
• Socrative
• Soapbox

You should now explore these three at this site on Polling Systems from the MMRHS library.

After exploring these polling sites, you should make a comment below on which one you liked best and share ways that you could use this with a class.  

EXTRA CREDIT:  Make a poll for one of your classes using one of the polling sites.  Share the link with us!

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.