23 Things-Brenda Willingham: 2013

Friday, December 27, 2013

Thing 17, Organize a Project

I use an app on my iPad called Cozi to complete this to-do list. Cozi has shared capabilities with other family members. I will continue using this app to organize other projects, grocery lists and bills.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Thing 20, Share, Remix and Reuse-Legally

I found this great site that is licensed under Creative Commons that can be shared, remixed and reused. It contains videos for math.

mathispower4u.yolasite.com

Welcome to Mathispower4u! This site provides over 3,200 free mini-lessons and example videos with no ads. The videos are organized by course and topic.

Thing 21, Be a Reader of Blogs

Be a reader of blogs

I have been reading blogs on edutopia for a variety of topics from blended learning (getting ideas for my blended learning module) to winter reading with iPad apps. I also follow Richard Byrne.

http://freetech4teachers.com/p/about-richard-byrne-and-free-technology.html

tech with tia is also great. http://techwithtia.wikispaces.com/Tech+With+Tia+Blog

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/blended-learning-getting-started-lisa-dabbs

Blended Learning, We are all new teachersblended learning as: a formal education program in which a student learns at least in part through online delivery of content and instruction with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace and at least in part at a supervisehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd5X7Kz_Bpgd brick-and-mortar location away from home

Khan Academy==Useful tool for online learning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd5X7Kz_Bpg

Thing 16, Use a BackChannel

I used Today's Meet on iPad training that I presented to elementary and middle school SE teachers.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Thing 18, Talk the Talk

LMS stands for Learning Management System. This allows administering, documenting, and tracking classroom activities. Schoology and elearn courses are Learning Management Systems. The teacher can view number of logins, completion of activities, discussions read, responses, etc.

CMS stands for Content Management System. CMS’s are web or programs that allow you to publish and edit content. It allows for collaborative editing, standalone pages, and other features. WordPress is an example of CMS.

Our class is a combination of both LMS and CMS. Our online class and modules are monitored, documented, and tracked while students complete each activity . However, students can post and collaborate with each other in each module.

Thing 19 , Skype Responsibly

My Skype username is brenda_willingham. Skype is a great tool to connect with other classrooms within the same school or county. Skype is not blocked in our county.
It is also free! It allows students and teachers to connect collaboratively with others and work on joint projects. I sent out requests to other teachers in this cohort to add to my contacts. It is my goal to join forces with other teachers and classes to work on cooperative projects.

There are many classes on Skype looking for "pen pals". Some are looking for partners in a particular location such as Australia or another country that the students are studying. Some offer field trips or learning a particular skill. Skype is a great tool for schools or families. Many individuals skype family and friends. However, our family connects with most often with Facetime. I have used Facetime with another teacher in my county to work on an English 9 “Edgar Allan Poe” unit.

Thing 13, Reflect

Wow! I have benefited so much in the course. It has been a great learning experience for me while learning the tools, techniques and applications to help my students. I have made valuable contacts and been exposed to great resources that enhance my learning experience that are irreplaceable. I am using technology in ways that are beneficial to my students. It is encouraging to see them working so hard on assignments and getting excited about their learning and then seeing them share their knowledge with others. I also enjoy sharing what I learn with my colleagues to help them use programs and technology. I am so thankful that I am part of this cohort.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Thing 12, Find Something New Web 2.0

http://www.polleverywhere.com/ in my Web 2.0 tool. This tool allows immediate live 100% audience participation during presentations using phones, laptops or tablets to text a response. Each poll allows 40 responses for the free version. It works with any mobile device including flip phones that can be used to send texts. Responses can be both multiple choice, true/false and/or open ended. Once you've created polls with a correct answer, you run a report to calculate how each respondent scored - and how they rank in terms of correct responses and average time to answer correctly. Polleverywhere can be used to take attendance, take a quiz, vote, take participation grades, or for individual or team competition. This tool can be embedded in Power Point or Keynote. Polleverywhere is free but can be upgraded if needed to a paid account.

I learned to use the "Bump" app to download my contacts, files and photos from an Android smart phone to an Apple iPHONE 5c. I was told that since Android and Apple products could not be blue-toothed and it was not possible to move the information between the two without using cloud storage. However, the app "Bump" makes the transfer between the two possible. Yeah!

Thing 10, Figure Something Out on Your Own- QR Codes

For Technology Open House that our school has each year, I chose "Reading QR Codes". Parents, students and teachers visited by station and read QR codes I created. Before Technology Open House, I installed a scan app on an iPAD to read QR codes. One of the codes created was an QR voice code. The other code was a link to my resource website on WIX.

http://my.qrvoice.net/IqQlOT

Thing 9, Learn from Listening

Learn from listening TED Kelly McGonigal: How to make stress your friend http://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend.html For the last 10 years, Psychologist Kelly McGonigal believed that stress was bad for the health of people and needed to be eliminated. However, now, after following a 30 year research, she is convinced that our health depends on how our belief system about stress. If we change our negative beliefs about stress and concentrate on positive beliefs when our circumstances are not going well, we can eliminate the harmful effects that stress can have on our bodies. When we see our pounding heart and increased breathing as healthy and enabling, we are empowering ourselves to handle that life throws our way. So “stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case.” Can changing our thinking about stress make us healthier? Yes, our beliefs determine our health outcome. We can also benefit by seeking help and helping others in times of stress. Studies have shown that there are benefits for our health, happiness and personal success when we help others. "Caring creates resilience.” Caring people showed no negative health effects from stress, all harm was eliminated when people connected socially with others.

Thing 11, Learn Something from a Video, "A Tour of Khan Academy Site for Coaches"

With the backing and support of Google and Bill Gates, Salman Kahn has developed a free online educational program called Khan Academy. I watched a "A tour of the Khan Academy site for coaches", a YouTube video on setting up a blended learning class in Khan Academy at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd5X7Kzu_Bpg. Teachers can log in with Facebook, Google or email. I learned to create a class, added students and explored the features of using Khan Academy. I will be using Khan Academy for math. To begin, students log in and do an 8 question adapted pretest. They will do practice problems and can watch lesson videos or take hints if extra help is needed. Hundreds of videos are available on different subjects. Students can select their own avatar and can earn badges. However, several subjects are available from Khan Academy, not just math. Other lessons included are test prep, art history, science, etc. It is nonprofit and provides free resources for students, parents and teachers. Coached can view student progress and recommend lessons when more help is needed. Coaches can view time spent on lessons, grades, and activities.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Thing 8A and 8B, Tutorials

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Thing 8A and 8B, Tutorials, "How to Run a Progress Report from LiveGrades"

Cheat Sheet How to Run Progress Reports From Citynet Livegrades

I used scribd.com to embed this word document in my blog. It is free!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Thing 7, images "Sarah"

This is my granddaughter,Sarah. She loves to have her picture taken and to label it.

Thing 6, Youtube Video: Edgar Allan Poe bio

This video was chosen by another teacher and myself to use in the "Edgar Allan Poe" unit. I went to WebTop to have this video unblocked but discovered that it had been unblocked already.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Thing 5, Wordle

This is my first Wordle! I acquired a list of my English 9 students and will welcome them to my classroom on the first day, August 22nd. My students loved this project.