This is nice...Kudos to Thinkfinity and the ReadWriteThink Printing Press

ReadWriteThink's Printing Press is a tool to create online brochures, newspapers, and posters.

An added bonus is that students can save a draft and return to their work anytime to continue where they left off.

As Recommended via an EdSurge list - Dec. 2013

Let's ask the kids...

This post is in response to a December 2013 EdSurge post written by Sho Ota, a 9th grade student at Lynbrook High School in San Jose, CA. Sho is a member of a school organization called Virtual Vikings that "informs teachers about current technological innovations in the educational space".

One of his recent assignments was to attend the Tech for School Summit sponsored by EdSurge and held this past November. The goal of the summit was to have participants (educators, students, entrepreneurs, et. al.) "Play, Listen, Explore, and Share" at intersections where technology and learning meet.

As I read the post, several things jumped out at me.
First, Sho mentions that he struggles with language skills. He also mentions that being able to watch videos of the products in actions were of great benefit to aid in his understanding. HE articulated and self-actualized his realization that visualization is a method that improves his ability to learn.

I wonder how often we, as teachers, solicit feedback from students asking them about what works for them and design learning experiences based on that feedback?

I wonder how often students are asked to think about their personal strengths / challenges when it comes to their own learning experiences?

I wonder how often students are allowed to or encouraged to make decisions about how to drive their own learning based on those understandings?

Which leads me to my second revelation...how Sho was able to recommend several products that addressed gaps HE recognizes from s student perspective based on his own curricular / learning experiences.

The first is a tool called Curriculet (formerly Gobstopper), which allows for digital annotation, a dictionary, and progress reports for both educator and learner. The reason it appealed to him was that he sees a connection between interactivity and reading. According to his assessment, Sho states that "literature teachers would be able to highlight specific passages from a novel and have students respond to the close reading assignment" with the benefit of tracks for performance and completion.

A few other recommendations included Ellevation, NoRedInk, The Answer Pad, and Zaption.

As for me, I find that I am often overwhelmed with the sheer number of tools developed / recommended on any given day. But, this is one article that contains recommendations that I am going to take a second look at and push forward to the local experts for what works at the "front-lines" of learning...classroom teachers AND their students.

It would be well worth the time to develop a system to structure pilot learning options based on Sho's experience.
My instinct is that our students who could provide great insight on teaching and learning as well.

PS - On a quick assessment, NoRedInk is the only recommendation that is currently free. All the other recommendations above have cost associated with use. How to strategically allocate funds for these and other tools, I'm sure is on the mind of many educators and administrators out there...since dollars do add up quickly...

Hour of Code - Ephrata Participates

December 9th through the 15th is recognized as Computer Science Education Week. During that time, students throughout Ephrata Area School District had the opportunity to participate in various Hour of Code events to highlight math and computer science applications.
Jon Mattingly and Gretchen Huebner, who developed one of the iPad Apps featured on the Hour of Code site, were available virtually, to share their first-hand knowledge and experience as young entrepreneurs in this emerging field.
Jon states, “He and Grechen started Kodable last summer because they wanted to make it easy for kids to learn one of the most important skills of the 21st century”.

Better using resources we already have access to...

I've attended several tech sessions in the last few weeks and realize that several resources we already HAVE access to, offer MANY updates and interactive options to enhance learning designs.
We really just scratch the surface for many of these.
With that in mind, one of my present goals is to take the time to consider how to best communicate what's new and how we might be able to best build this into our teaching practice.

Let's start with this one...
BookFlix
BookFlix now works on iPads and iPhones.

BookFlix has also added five new pairs of books (Fall 2013):

Hi! Fly Guy and It's a Good Thing There are Insects
I'm Fast and Train
The Red Hen and This is the Way We Help at Home
Show Way and Harriet Tubman
A Sick Day for Amos McGee and Animals in the Zoo

BookFlix is part of the POWER Library bundle and can be found via Destiny.

Ready to roll my eyes...

I was so ready to roll my eyes at yet another video on 21st Century Teaching...

Soooo...glad I didn't pass up the opportunity to engage with this one.
Kevin Robert's Prezi presentation is one that has future direction written all over it, in it, around it.

Decide for yourself...

Did you know that students at Ephrata High School have their own, newly-styled MOVEMENT!

It’s called the Association of Making and Doing.

The first endeavor of this movement is the CODING COLLABORATORY.
Yes.
You heard that right…CO-DING COL-LA-BOR-A-TOR-Y.
(Also Know As… The Hour of Code)

The next gathering of the CODING COLLABORATORY is scheduled for Wednesday, November 13 from 2:40 to 3:30 in CL 219.

Remember, tinkerers are welcome, experimentation is expected, and learning by doing is all part of the grand plan.

We had a great turnout for our Hour of Code last week…

So, come one, come all, and don’t forget to bring a friend!

PS - We started last week and are using the after-school program from Code Academy as our guide.
More to come...

Liking ThingLink as a replacement tool for our 10th Grade Civil Rights Projects...

The Beard Hat is a funky example, but thanks to Stevie Kline for her lead on this tool.

Also, like the idea of using an InfoGraphic or designing an InfoGraphic as a base and adding dimension with this tool.