Virtual Tours

With budgets so tight these days, field trips have become a luxury for most of us.  Luckily the Internet has made it possible for students to have a great experience without ever leaving the classroom.  Here are some amazing virtual tours for your students:

Take a tour of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.  "Walk" through the whole museum by following the blue arrow that connects the rooms.  Truly amazing!

Tour an Ancient Roman Villa from the Roman Open-Air Museum Hechingen-Stein


The Nine Planets provides an interactive tour of the solar system.

Education Database Online provides a comprehensive list of virtual field trips by subject.

New discoveries that I love this week

This week has been a lot of fun.  As part of a challenge to find a new project for a teacher, I discovered some really cool tools.  Here is a list of my new favorites this week:

1.  Vuvox- Okay, this one is not exactly new, but I have not taken the time to explore it.  Vuvox provides a space to create online collages that incorporate various media- photos, text, music, and videos.  Users can share or embed their work.  This might be a great alternative to Glogster!  You can also search Vuvox for slideshows previously created to use in your own classroom.

2.  Jux- This is really different.  Think of Jux as a way to make instant websites.   Create your personal page by adding one of the following- a top ten list, article, block quote, photo, video, or slideshow.  I could only imagine the possibilities with students.  The result is a professional looking space.

3.  Geotrio- Create virtual tours of anywhere in the world by choosing locations on a Google map.  You can upload your own images and add audio to narrate your tour.  You can also search for previously created tours to view.

4.  Primary Wall- Primary Wall is a web-based sticky note tool designed for schools.  No sign-up is required to use.  Students and teachers can collaborate in real-time on a question or brainstorm.

5.  Sketchcast- Record sketches as you draw, and save them for sharing or later viewing.  I could see this working great in math as students work out a problem and have a chance to review it later.

Jog the Web- Create Annotated Tours of the Web

Yesterday I discovered a tool that could be really fun to use with students.  It's called Jog the Web.  This free site (premium options are available) allows users to create tours or "jogs" of the web.  Once a site is saved or added to the jog, descriptions are added to annotate the site.  I can only imagine the great possibilities for use with students- as both a research and a teaching tool. You can also search for web jogs already created by others to use in your classroom as well.   Click on the link below to see my example below to get an idea of how it works.

Website evaluation

K12 Online Conference Begins Today

People often ask me "how do you keep up with all of the new tools on the web?"  Other than being an avid reader and having a great PLN, I take advantage of the many free professional development tools on the web.  One such amazing resource is the K12 Online Conference.  This annual event features online sessions from the world's educational technology leaders.  While many presentations are streamed live, all sessions are archived and can be viewed 24/7.  Want to learn more?  Click here to view an informational flyer.  This year's session topics include computer-based math, creating ePortfolios, educational apps, creating self-grading quizzes using Google spreadsheets, and Edmodo.  In a time where funding for professional development has basically dwindled to nothing, it is awesome to still have some free opportunities still available.  The best part: I can attend a conference from the comfort of my own home. 

Reinventing the Book Report (or tools to use for digital storytelling)

There are so many great digital storytelling tools available, most of which are free!  Check out my inservice presentation below to sample a few great ones.  The presentation below was made using the website SlideRocket, a great free online alternative to PowerPoint.

 

Skype in the Classroom

Yesterday I was lucky to offer my students an awesome experience: we were able to meet the author of the book that they all read and it didn't cost us a penny!  This was all possible through Skype and a few emails to the author.

Skype is not only useful for speaking with authors.  Skype now has a website called Skype in the Classroom that actually helps teachers find or post projects with other Skype partners.  Posted projects cover every subject area and grade level.  Last year I connected with a school in New York and worked with my students on a pen pal project.  We used the site Twiducate (like Twitter, for education) to talk with their New York "friends."  I also recently connected with a teacher in Texas to develop a virtual book club.

To get started, go to Skype in the Classroom's project database and browse for your appropriate subject and grade level.  Information about contacting the project owner is found by clicking on the project.   Our library has webcams available for checkout as well.  To prepare for a Skype chat, all you have to do is download Skype to your computer and install the webcam.  (Very easy things that I am happy to help with).

Just think about the project possibilities: guest speakers, working on an assignment with a class in another country, state, or city, guest readers, bringing experts right into your classroom...

View the pictures below to see our experience Skyping yesterday.

A new way to tell stories: Zooburst pop-up books

Today I demonstrated a cool website called Zooburst to some 8th grade students. Zooburst is a free site that gives users the ability to make 3D pop-up books.  I recently purchased an upgraded school account that gives teachers the ability to create classes and add students.  With the upgraded account, students also have access to drawing tools and a sound library.  View the student example below to see how it works.