Revisiting Badgerlink

Teachers in Wisconsin- you have a plethora of some amazing free resources available to you that will enhance your teaching significantly.  These resources are available through Badgerlink, Wisconsin's online library.  Badgerlink resources include databases with full-text articles, multimedia, and e-books.  Below highlights some of my favorite Badgerlink resources and how you can use these in your classroom.

TeachingBooks is your resource for finding anything that you want to know about the books that you teach and the books that the kids love.  After searching for a book title or author, you will be linked to a wealth of resources, including author videos and podcasts, discussion guides, lesson plans, book trailers, and even author pronunciations.  This amazing database is not only a must-use for ELA teachers, but TeachingBooks also lists curricular uses of its tools for teachers of any subject.

Wisconsin Media Lab provides free multimedia resources for Wisconsin educators.  Organized by subject and grade level, teachers will find popular titles such as Bill Nye, Into the Book, and Wisconsin Biographies. 

NoveList is that go-to resource for when you need to find just the right book.  Within NoveList, you can search for reading lists, similar titles, reviews, related articles, and further information about various books.  It's a great resource for when you have a student who read a book and is looking for other titles just like that one.

Soundzabound offers royalty free music for students to use in their multimedia productions.  Students can choose from short sound clips or full-length songs.

Access Newspaper Archive allows users to find  full-text newspaper articles dating back hundreds of years. Want to read articles about the sinking of the Titanic on that date that it happened?  Find them by searching here.

Search for full-text poems, essays, short stories, novels, plays, and speeches through LitFinder's amazing repository.

Tools for Differentiating Learning

I was lucky to attend Naomi Harm's WEMTA session on personalizing learning this past Monday.  In her session, Naomi went through several resources that can help teachers easily differentiate learning for students at different levels in their classrooms.  Two tools- The Differentiator and Respondo!- really stuck with me as being fantastic resources for teachers to use with students.

The Differentiator allows teachers to define the learning target by choosing the thinking skill, content, resources, product, and group size from the list given on the site.  This gives students the opportunity to design a learning outcome that meets their needs and gives them options for a variety of products.  After choosing one option from each of the categories, a clear learning objective is set!

Similarly, Respondo! is another awesome tool for having students and teachers create different outcomes to meet different learning styles.  This tool, on the other hand, is specifically focused on creating different outcomes when responding to literature.  It works similarly to The Differentiator by having users choose different outcomes based on different elements of the text.

The best part of both tools- They require students to critically think about classroom content and create products that involve higher level thinking.  Learning outcomes can measure the same objective but be different for students with different needs, abilities, and talents.  I think that students would really enjoy being empowered to use these tools to decide on the products that will show what they know.

Create Interactive Images with Thinglink

One tool that I intend to make great use of this year is Thinglink.  Thinglink gives users the ability to create interactive images by uploading a picture and linking the image to websites, videos, and text.  This could be a great project for students or could be used by teachers to create student guides.  Thinglink's site is free and does allow students to connect with others by commenting on one anothers' creations.  If a picture is worth 1,000 words, imagine how much more powerful it could be by linking different media to it and sharing the vast knowledge available on the Internet.  Check out an example below to get an idea of how Thinglink works.  How can you use this with your students?

Share My Lesson: Free Lessons Created for Teachers, By Teachers

One great find from ISTE 2013 was the website Share My Lesson.  Share My Lesson is an extensive database containing over 265,000 resources and over 300,000 members.  Teachers can not only search and share lessons, but also follow people whose lessons they really like.  Lessons are searchable by grade, subject, or topic and linked to the Common Core Standards.  Searches and resources can be saved to one's account for later reference.  My quick searches of "Internet Safety" and "Scary Story Writing" yielded some impressive resources that included not just lesson plans, but weblinks and student handouts as well.  This is a site worth bookmarking and using on a regular basis for its simplicity and the extensive collection of resources available.  Why reinvent the wheel when there are others out there who have done it already and have freely shared what has worked for them?  You may be inspired to share your great ideas as well and connect with a large network of educators just waiting to learn from you.

Bilblonasium: an Online Reading Community for Kids

 If you are looking for an exciting tool that will engage your students in reading and connecting with others who love reading, look no further than Biblionasium. Biblionasium is an online community designed especially for kids to share favorite books, keep reading logs, find reading suggestions, and connect with other like-minded readers. The design is similar to Shelfari, only student accounts are managed by teachers and do not require student email addresses. Biblionasium offers a paperless alternative to traditional reading logs in a safe, private, online space. Teachers can easily track and organize student data and even create groups and reading challenges for students.  Biblionasium offers the social media experience for today's connected students in a safe, fun, yet educational environment with a format that is sure to engage even the most reluctant reader.

21st Century Ways to Teach a Book

Today I was presented with a challenge; a Language Arts teacher wanted to know how to teach her next in-class novel without the usual routine of study guides, comprehension questions, and vocabulary worksheets.  Your memories of English Language Arts classes probably include those types of activities.  While those activities all have their place and can still be worthwhile, technology has made it possible for students to create connections with their reading in deeper ways.  Below is the start of a list of ideas for truly engaging students in a book discussion using 21st century tools and higher level thinking.

1.  Create a classroom space on Edmodo.  Have students discuss the story in large or small groups.  Connect with another classroom elsewhere reading the same book.

2.  Contact the author to see if he or she will Skype.  Many authors will Skype with students for free.

3.   Use the Fake Tweet Builder to tweet a character or write a book review.  Try the lesson created by The Daring Librarian.

4.  Create character conversations using ifaketext.  See the example that I created between Katniss and Peeta.

5.  Find one image that represents the book or a specific part of the book.  Share this in Edmodo.  Have other students guess and comment on what it represents and why it was chosen.  Use Thinglink to have kids link their images to videos and other information.

6.  Use BrainyFlix to illustrate vocabulary words.  Share final product in Edmodo.

7. Create a voki speaking from the perspective of one of the characters to share his/her feelings during any part of the story.  Blabberize would also work well for this purpose.

8.  Have a QR Code scavenger hunt to begin the book and help students understand background information.  Display QR Codes around the room, and use a QR code scanner to have a scavenger hunt.

9.  Use Padlet to connect with the story at the beginning of class.  Post a sticky note with a question related to the reading/connection to students' lives.  Students respond and comment on others.  This would also be great as an exit ticket.

10. Use tools such as the trading cards, motivator, and magazine cover at Big Huge Labs.

11.  Create a comic that illustrates a part of the story at Make Beliefs Comix.

12.  Rewrite the ending of the story.  Use  PowToon or GoAnimate 4 Schools to create it as an animated video.

13.  Use the app Songify to turn text that students write about the story into a song.

14.  Create a screencast of students discussing and illustrating vocabulary words using apps such as Educreations or Show Me.

15.  Have students create a Google Earth virtual tour to highlight parts of the setting.

16.  Use mindmaps and online organizers such as Popplet and Mindmeister to make connections and map out parts of the story.  These tools also allow images, weblinks, and video to be added.

17.  Post a request for a partner class on Skype in the Classroom.  Find another classroom to take part in a virtual conversation.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, this is only a start!  There are many other ideas we could add to this list.

What are your ideas for teaching literature in 21st century ways?  What are you doing in your classrooms to help students form real connections with the text and think about their reading in deeper ways using 21st century tools?

Do your students do "projects" or "project-based learning?"

Project-based Learning has transformed the way classrooms are structured in the 21st century.  It gives students opportunities to create ownership over their learning, work for an authentic audience, and puts students in real-world situations where problem-solving is the key factor.  On the other hand, it is important to understand that projects are not the same as project-based learning. Below is a fantastic comparison between the two provided by Amy Mayer of FriEdTechnology:

How does your classroom compare? 

Are you interested in changing your classroom but not sure where to start?  The Buck Institute for Education focuses on project-based-learning and offers amazing resources on its website including the latest research and a project directory.  

In addition, here is a great CommonCraft Show video explaining the basics of project-based learning.

Finally, here is a wonderful checklist from the BIE that lists the essential elements of project-based learning.

Google Apps Promo

Here's a funny and enlightening promo for using Google Apps with students!

Being BRAVE to inspire our kids and ourselves!

This morning as I attempt to get back to reality after a great couple of days attending the Wisconsin State Reading Association annual convention and picking up an award for Leadership in Literacy Technology, I  am busy decompressing and reflecting on all of the great new ideas and knowledge that I gained.  Some of the useful nuggets include better ways to manage our iPads, new apps, great new books, and better ways to implement online Lit Circles.

While so many great ideas were shared, I was most struck by a session presented by author and veteran teacher, Kate Messner.  In her session about creating student leaders, she inspired her audience to create authentic and meaningful learning experiences beyond standard classroom-based instructional activities.  One of the ideas that she stressed throughout the presentation, and the message that struck me the most, was that in order to create thoughtful, reflective, forward-thinking future leaders, we need to give kids experiences that force them to be brave.  This type of bravery does not mean exposing kids to life-threatening activities, but rather giving them a chance to go outside of their comfort zones and outside of their usual safe boxes.  Many of us have this fear of failing, of not looking perfect in the eyes of our students, of somehow not appearing to know everything.  I know that I personally put a lot of pressure on myself to feel as if I can solve any problem and find the answer to anything.  I often worry about not keeping up and not staying one step of everyone else.  I worry that when I put myself out there, others will think that I am not good enough or smart enough.  As I listened to Messner, I reflected upon how I limit myself by giving in to these insecurities.  I realized that I gave less of myself when I did this.  Do I really want to do this to my kids as well?  If I am supposed to be their leader and their model, how can giving in to my fears and putting limitations on myself teach them about being brave and the rewards that come along with that?

Kate inspired me to take more steps to be brave.  How can I do that?  First, by expanding my PLN, especially through Twitter.  Second, by making more of a personal contribution to my school district, associations, and the other educational communities of which I am a part.  While we all often make the excuse that there is not enough time, the real excuse is sometimes our fear of not appearing to be perfect to others and worrying that others will think less of us.

On the other hand, I have always been a brave teacher.  I am not afraid to try whatever new tool I discover immediately within my lessons.  I believe in giving kids as many real-world learning experiences as possible.  I use Skype regularly to connect kids to authors, other classrooms, and world experts.  The same class that I have been teaching for three years has looked almost completely different every semester that I begin anew.  That's why I am really excited about Messner's new website Kid-sourcing.  Kid-sourcing was created to connect kids to experiences where they are able to solve real-world problems.  As shared by Messner, the data collected by students engaging in some of these projects will be used for real research.  What better way is there to give kids real-life opportunities, take them outside of their comfort zones, and allow them to participate in the body of knowledge that is being created?  When opening our students to these types of experiences, we not only engage them in real-world activities, but we are also teaching them to be brave.  Bravery, of course, is essential to creating great generations of future thinkers and leaders.

I encourage you to consider your own classroom.  How are you instilling bravery within your students?  What opportunities are you giving kids to connect with the world outside of their classrooms?  How are you modeling bravery?

This blog has been a big step for me.  As I continue to add new posts, I attempt to put aside my fear of worrying about what others will think of me and my ideas.  I continue to put more of my voice into it, which is really the key piece in contributing to the world.  It is one way that I choose to be brave.

Thanks, Kate Messner for inspiring me!

10 Creative Presentation Alternatives

Presentations are a common way for students to share their knowledge, but have you considered the many different websites out there that allow students to creatively present their information in new ways?  Think about giving one of these options a try next time you want your students to share what they have learned.

1.  Meograph- Dubbed "four dimensional storytelling," Meograph allows users to integrate timelines, Google Maps, links, and videos to create one interactive story.

2.  Jellycam- This is a simple, free stop-motion animation creator that creates videos using a webcam or uploaded images.  A soundtrack can also be added to your video.

3.  Powtoon- If you are familiar with Common Craft's simple video tutorials and have always thought of making your own, Powtoon is the tool for you.  This easy-to-use tool allows users to make simple animated presentations by choosing from one of their several options.

4.    Go Animate- Create animated videos to be saved and embedded online.  Users design everything from the characters to the background and add voice through a microphone or typing in text.  View some examples from our students.

5.  Easel.ly Infographics- Infographics are a fantastic way to visually present information.  Easel.ly is a great tool for easily creating your own Infographic on a topic of research.  What is an infographic?  It is a visual representation of information or data.  Your students can use Easel.ly to mix text with images to create a professional looking visual of their knowledge.  Take a look at this infographic example below.

6.  Biteslide Online Scrapbooks- Students can make their very own digital scrapbooks using Biteslide by adding their information, images, videos, and Biteslide's fun additional tools.  Embed, download, and share student work.

7.  Knovio- Want to update your flat PowerPoint presentations?  Knovio is the answer.  Using a webcam or microphone, you can add video and narration to a PowerPoint slideshow.  Simply upload the PowerPoint file, record, and share with others online.

8.  Jux- Create really cool, professional looking products such as Top 10 countdowns, slideshows, articles, or videos by adding information and images.  Modify using Jux's effects and templates.

9.  Popcorn Maker- Modify videos that you find on the web by adding in Google Maps, text, or web links to the videos to view while they play.  Think about the many ways in which students can add their thoughts or information to a YouTube or other videos.  What about adding a Google Map to a video that highlights an important location or linking to a web article that further explains a topic?  There are many different options for creativity.  Videos created with Popcorn Maker can be embedded into a blog or a website for others to view.

10.  Comics- Comics are a great way to get kids thinking about information and sharing it creatively.  The free comic creator Make Beliefs Comix is easy to use, requiring no login.  Bitstrips for Schools is a more advanced comic creator, but it is not free.  (It does have a 30 day free trial!)  View some examples of comics our students created about Internet Safety using Bitstrips for Schools.

Lessons from TIES

I was lucky to attend the TIES Education Technology Conference in Minneapolis from December 9-11.  The awesome speakers there highlighted best practices in educational technology and reminded us all of how 21st century teaching uses technology to engage students in meaningful experiences.  Among these lessons were the following other reminders with which I walked away:

1.  Using a technology tool does not equal innovation.  Innovation does not equate to throwing in a project or tool to say that you use technology in your classroom.  Innovation is using a technology tool as an extension of meaningful learning.  Innovation is using a technology tool to take students deeper into the learning and connect them with real-world experiences that lead to a better grasp of how the concepts are used outside of the classroom.

2.  Stuff is not what is important.  So many use the excuse that there are not enough computers, SMARTboards, iPads, etc. for the reasons that they do not regularly integrate technology.  My argument is that so much can be done with one computer and a multimedia projector.  Through these you can engage your class with online interactives, videos, virtual tours, ebooks, Google Earth, or podcasts.

3.  Kids need license to be creative.  A 21st century student needs to be an innovator, thinker, and creator of new knowledge.  Our assignments and projects need to give kids the opportunity to do this.

4.  The 21st century classroom is collaborative and connected.  Workers of today have no walls.  They can freely communicate and work with someone on the opposite end of the world through Skype, Google Docs, Today's Meet, and many other tools.  Classrooms of today need to model these same practices.  Why not have students create something with a student from another part of the world?  Or even with another student from another school in our district? It is important that we not limit learning to the confines of our classroom to allow students to explore collaboration and communication in a 21st century work environment.  There are so many resources that will give you opportunities to connect your class to another.  My favorite: Skype in the Classroom.

5.  You do not need to be an expert on all things technology to integrate it into your classroom.  The great thing about technology is often it is easy to learn through experimentation.  If you give kids a class to try out a tool, I guarantee that the majority of them will figure it out.  Use your school technology specialist to help you brainstorm ideas and teach lessons to ease the burden of having to feel like the expert in all areas. Most of all, don't be afraid to fail.  Things are not always going to go as planned.  The risk is definitely worth the chance of a flop.

6.  Technology should be integrated into every class as a natural extension of the learning, not as an add-on course or unit.  To repeat what is stated above, technology should be used to enhance the learning and not as a tool to simply state that you are using technology.  It should not be an "extra" or a "bonus", but rather something that is just a part of our everyday life and the way we learn.

7.  Don't assume that kids know how to use technology properly.  Kids must be taught effective use, safety, ethics, and copyright.  There are many important rules to consider as creators of new information.  We MUST teach our students how to properly give credit, what is legal to use, and what information is safe to reveal online.  As educators, this is our responsibility to teach as well as model in our own use of technology.

To access resources and handouts from the conference, visit the TIES wiki.

Beeclip EDU- Create Online Scrapbooks and More

While searching for an alternative to the no-longer free Glogster EDU, I discovered Beeclip EDU.  Beeclip EDU is a simple platform that gives users the option to create an online scrapbook, collage, photo album, portfolio, or poster by adding photos and videos.  The EDU version is free to teachers, but it only allows for the addition of up to 30 student accounts and one project.  (Teachers can upgrade to the paid version for more features or to purchase additional accounts).  Once work is complete, students have a private environment to view other student projects and insert their comments.  Multiple students can work on the same project simultaneously by adding additional editors.  Work can be embedded, downloaded, and printed once completed.

While this is a nice, free alternative to Glogster, Beeclip's interactive features are limited.  For example, students cannot draw directly onto their scrapbook, search for clip art, add music, or even change the size of the text.  They can, however, add YouTube videos, borders to photos, and text bubbles.  If you are looking for a very simple way to create digital scrapbooks or posters, Beeclip EDU is worth a look.

ifaketext: Create your own fake text messages

ifaketext is a fun website.  Users enter the text from an imaginary conversation happening via text messages.  Once completed, ifaketext creates a screenshot which can be shared through a link or by embedding it in a website. (See my example below).  I imagine how much fun students would have creating conversations between book characters, historical figures, or practicing vocabulary. What other creative uses for this can you imagine?   

Create Infographics to Visually Share Research

Infograpics are trendy on the web.  Who doesn't love a good visual representation of statistics and research information?  Your students can become part of the trend by easily creating their own infographics using these great websites:

1.  Piktochart- With the free account, choose from one of five themes.  Add your images, text, and create charts.  A professional looking poster is instantly created!  Download and save the finished product.  Here's an example of one of their templates.

2.  Easelly- Similar to Piktochart, you can choose from one of their pre-made themes (called vhemes) or start with a blank canvas.  Add pictures, text, and modify as desired.  Easelly also supplies a variety of clip art from which to choose.  Here's an example of an Easelly template:

Infographics are ultimately a fantastic and creative way for students to present information on a topic.  It requires that students synthesize their information in a meaningful way while creating new knowledge.  This is only one of the many 21st century skills that will ensure success in the future.

Google Research Tool: New in Google Docs

Here's another reason why you want to be using Google Docs with your students: Google just added a new tool that gives students the power to conduct an instant Google search right in Google Docs.  Once information or a picture is used, Google will even create a citation or a link for the source.

Here's how to use the Google Research tool:

1.  Open a Google Doc, and go to Tools-Research.

2.  On the right a search box appears.  Type in the search topic.

3.  Underneath each result is the option to add a hyperlink or create a citation with a simple click!  Please note that citations are added to the bottom of each document as footnotes.  These can be moved to a Works Cited or Bibliography page, if desired.

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4.  Students can also choose to limit their searches to images, Google Scholar links, or quotes.

Research has suddenly become easier!

While I love the Google Research tool for its ease of use and quick formatting of citations, we must remember the importance of directing students to APPROPRIATE, RELEVANT, and RELIABLE sources of information.  I tend to caution teachers against using Google as a primary research tool.  We must teach students effective search strategies, website evaluation, and the difference between academic and non-academic sources when using search engines.  Students need to consider authority, bias, publisher, currency, and depth of information before using any website as a source of information.  While we may believe that students are savvy web searchers, the opposite is in fact true.  Although today's students have grown-up with the Internet, they need direct instruction on how to appropriately and effectively find information while navigating a vast variety of information on any topic.  They also need to learn how to effectively evaluate a website before accepting the information presented as truth.  I find it mildly entertaining and slightly disturbing at how easily students will believe the information found on fake websites such as All About Explorers or   Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide.  Your Instructional Resource Coach can provide lessons on Internet searching and website evaluation to help you better prepare your students to use the web effectively.  These are 21st century skills that are essential to success in a digital world.

Remember that we have many excellent subscription databases and library print materials that will lead students to appropriate, relevant, and reliable information.  We need to be guiding students to these resources before sending students off on an Internet hunt without proper guidance.

You Are Your Words: Visually Represent Writing

I love it when students take a piece of writing and use technology to share it in unique ways.  You Are Your Words is a fun way for students to express their ideas by combining their words with a visual representation.  Created by the American Heritage Dictionary, You Are Your Words invites users to upload a self-portrait and add descriptive text.  With the click of a button, students have a beautiful self-portrait with a picture and word overlay.   Not only is this a great tool for self-expression, but imagine they other ways that students could use this to visually represent their writing.

Lesson Plan Search Engine

Are you searching for a new lesson but are lost sifting through the irrelevant and poorly written websites acquired through a Google search?  If so, you will want to bookmark the Teaching Ideas & Lesson Search Engine.  This tool will give you the power to search through 50 verified lesson plan websites for a great and relevant lesson.

Save Time with Google Templates

Like most of  you, I do not have time to create a lot of my own materials.  Lucky for us, the web is full of materials created by other innovative individuals who freely share.  Did you know that you have access to thousands of awesome teaching resources just through Google Docs?  Google has an amazing template gallery with docs, forms, and presentations created by individuals who have made their work public.  Here's how to find free templates that you can save in your own Google space:

1.  Go to Google Drive.  Click "Create" in the left corner and then choose "From template" at the bottom of the list.

2.  Choose the "Public templates" option.  Now search for your topic of interest.

3.  Be amazed at what you find!

My search for "book reports" resulted in 30 different forms and docs that students could instantly save and use.  The best part: it only took me minutes to access.

Below is an example of one of my favorite Docs templates created by Derrick Waddell.  It's a fake Facebook profile page students complete after researching a historical figure.  This is just a small sampling of the great ideas available instantly to you.

Vialogues: Videos and conversation in one space

I can't wait to try Vialogues with my students.  We all have those moments during the viewing of a video when we need to hit the pause button to add additional thoughts or clarification.  Often there are moments when it would be great to just stop the video all together and begin a meaningful discussion.  Or, a student may have a great comment during a specific segment, but once the opportunity for discussion is available, that thought has long been forgotten.  Vialogues is one solution to these dilemmas. 

The purpose of Vialogues is to create "meaningful conversations" around videos.  These conversations can occur not only in the classroom during the playing of the video, but also at home, the library, or through another web-enabled device.  Here's how it works: after signing up for your free account, upload your own video, choose one from Vialogues' collection, or add a YouTube URL.  You can then invite people to view your video and add to the conversation.  Invitations can be sent through email or by providing a link.  You can also create surveys and embed the vialogue into your own website. 

In addition, after students have access to the vialogue, they can watch videos and carry on the discussion outside of the classroom.  You could even invite other classrooms or parents to join in the conversation.  There is so much potential to create meaningful learning experiences!

Here is a link to my vialogue to get an idea of how it works.

Staying Up-to-Date this Summer

Ahh...summer! What a time to relax and refresh. Summer is also my time to read all of my back professional journal copies that I never had a chance to read, play around with that list of websites that I never got around to, and browse for some fresh teaching ideas. You don't have to take a college course to learn something new and stay current. Below is my list of easy, free, and painless ideas for gaining some quick summer professional development.

1. Subscribe to and browse other educator blogs. There are some amazing bloggers out there who are willing to share a wealth of ideas! Here are my favorites:

• Free Technology for Teachers
• iLearn Technology
• Tech Transformation
• Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day

It doesn't take a lot of time to browse a blog.  When I have fifteen minutes here or there, I read a post or two.  I often bookmark interesting links into my Delicious account and then go back when I have more time to test those.

2.  Join an educator group on a social networking site.  Pinterest has many interesting educators and educational organizations who share their links and clever ideas.  I'm also a member of the Classroom 2.0 Ning, which offers a great social network to connect with other educators.  I encourage everyone to also become members of Skype in the Classroom and browse through the many different connections and project ideas available there.  While I find Twitter overwhelming at times, it is just an incredible source of ideas!  There are so many amazing educators out there to follow, willing to share all of their knowledge at any given moment.

3.  Check out a conference website.  The K-12 Online Conference is an annual online only event, but the past conference videos and presentations are archived on their website. 

4.  Visit iTunes.  iTunes has "iTunes U" which allows users to create and upload educational content.  Searching iTunes will give you access to great professional growth opportunities that you can listen to at your leisure.

5.  Listen to TED Talks.  TED Talks are a collection of interesting videos on a variety of different topics.  

6.  Steal ideas from your colleagues.  I publish on another blog called What's Up in Your LMC.  I have used this blog not only to share information about the library, but also as a portfolio of student technology-related projects that I have worked with this year.  Take some time to browse through my blog and see what others have done.  Maybe it will give you a fresh idea to try next school  year.

Thanks for another great year!  Happy summer vacation!