Cool Presentation Tool

Looking for a presentation tool that is different from Slides or Prezi? I came across a website called emaze today and it looks like it would be a really good presentation tool. It is free to use, and also very simple. Worth taking a look at for sure if you are doing presentations with your kids :) 

Socrative

We have been experimenting since going to the Google conference with Socrative.  Socrative allows you to create quizzes and have the kids answer them.  You can choose multiple choice, true/false and short answer.  I have used it in a couple of settings.  After Red Sky came, I had my kids answer reflection questions on Mistitim.  We have used it as a starter/game to review math facts using the Space Race option.  Last week, I took old PAT questions on our science unit and used them to review for both our performance and science assessments.

The kids have enjoyed it because it gives them immediate feedback.  I have liked how the kids are engaged and how the program sends me reports to my Google Drive.

We have used it on the laptops, but there are teacher and student apps on the iPad.

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                                                                                                   Space Race

Math Fact Review

Science Review

Report

Minecraft Measurment

In grade six, we are learning about area & volume, as well as multiplying decimal numbers.  A big focus throughout the year has also been mental math and estimation, and figuring out strategies to solve problems. To try and tie this all together in a fun and engaging way, we have undertaken a "Minecraft Math" projects. Using Google classroom, students were given a Google slides presentation with all of the problems on it. After solving them, they downloaded the Google Chrome extension "Techsmith Snagit" to record a screencast explaining their strategies, which they then uploaded back to classroom. They also turned in their slides presentation.  I have never seen the students more on task, focused on their work, and determined to come up with a way to solve the problems. It was great!

This idea was inspired by the following project:  
http://brianaspinall.com/?p=648   

Google Drawings--Super Easy to Use!

For a long time I have been thinking I needed to take a look at Google Drawings, but just wasn't getting around to playing with it.  Being the procrastinator that I am, I finally got to experimenting with Draw the day before I planned to use it in a lesson a few weeks ago.  Had I realized how easy it was to work with, I would have been using it for much longer!

Instead of using worksheets, etc. I have now had students create posters, textbook pages and public service announcements.  We are preparing for some larger projects and used these activities as more interesting ways to research information.  As always, anything I hadn't worked out, the kids quickly discovered.

A couple things to note if you haven't used it:

• If you are planning to print, have students change the page size to 8.5 x 11.
• Encourage kids to explore with layering boxes and adding dimension by changing the thickness of borders, etc.
• Have fun!

GAFE in Div I

Sometimes, it feels like we can't use Google Apps for Education in Division 1. I thought I would share this presentation because it had lots of really good ideas from her grade 2 classroom for ways that they were using Google in those early grades :) 

Meaningful Technology Use

Similar to last year, the Google Summit has been overloading my brain with awesome resources, tools, and ideas that I can take back and use in my classroom right away! One thing that I thought I would share are the following two images. While they aren't new and hopefully everyone has seen them before,I thought I would share them because they are a good reminder about how we should be meaningfully using technology. 

The first is called the TPAK model. It emphasizes the importance of balancing content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and technological knowledge in order to create the most meaningful learning opportunities for students in our classroom. All three need to work in collaboration in the classroom. The second image is called the SAMR model. It highlights the progression of technology use, and how it should ideally be used so students can redefine their knowledge. When we are using technology in our classrooms, we need to reflect on the purpose for using it, and ensuring that it is leading to meaningful learning. 

TPAK Model

SAMR Model