Applify Your Learning: Layering Your Apps

Applify your student’s learning by layering your apps. Utilizing multiple apps to create a final project is a great way to enhance student knowledge and creativity! One of my teachers jumped at this idea for a project with her 5^th grade students. For this assignment, students researched a specific scientist, downloaded a picture, created a Wordfoto, (Turns Your Photos and Words into Stunning Works of Art - $) and inserted the Wordfoto into the Phoster app. (Make your own poster $) Then the students inserted the Phoster as the background image for a Tellagami project (Free). Check out the below example as well as these student project examples.

Reporting Live!

3rd grade students at one of my elementary schools created newscasts on the topic of “Rapid Changes to the Earth (TEKS 3.7B)” for their Science unit.  The students researched information about rapid changes to the earth (earthquake or volcano) and created (approximately) a two – minute newscast. 

Additionally, montages of volcano or earthquake video clips were created for the backdrop (to be inserted into PhotoBooth) to give the appearance that the students were actually in the scene. The students had a great time and what a fun way to integrate technology!

Technology Integration is H.O.T / Digital Blooms

Digital Blooms

Want to discover how technology may help meet the levels of Bloom's Taxonomy in your classroom and how Web 2.0 Apps may elevate your student's thinking to a higher level?

I presented at TCEA (Austin/early February) and showcased examples of ways educators in my school district have integrated technology into their curriculum to encompass all levels of the Bloom's Digital Taxonomy thinking skills.

It was my hope the attendees walked away with some helpful ideas and a resource which they may refer back too from time to time.

Side Note:

• Please know, many of these projects encompass more than one level of the Digital Blooms taxonomy.
• Majority of these examples utilize various web apps but other computer applications (i.e. iMovie, Photostory, GarageBand, MovieMaker, etc.) are highlighted.
• Some of the videos are unlisted in the YouTube account. Should you click on a video and it is unavailable, please try clicking on the YouTube link to view directly.

Love Infographics Con't!

I wrote a post about infographics in November, mentioning that I recruited some teachers to let me work with their students to create infographics. I meet with a few 3rd grade students and all of my 5th grade students.  With each class, I went over what infographics were,  examples for them to view as well as how to utilize the online program, Piktochart. (As mentioned in my previous post, I did purchase the educator's account for $39.99 a year - still, I believe, a great investment! 

The 3rd grade students decided to work in groups and they created a infographic from a level reader they were reading in ELAR about Gemstones. Below is one example of their work....Not too bad!

My 5th grade students were assigned to choose an article from three National Geographic Explorer Student magazines:

• Deadliest Predators which also included Volcanoes or Leaves
• No Bones About It which also included Bare Bones and Hurricanes
• Panda Mania which also included Mirror Images and Neighbors in Space

Prior to beginning this project in the computer labs, students were assigned homework to preview the site, Piktochart and choose their template. A few students (with parent's permission) signed up for the free version to obtain "hands-on" experience with the program. Once they chose their template, one teacher had her students sketch a rough template on paper as a guide while they were researching. 

Once the projects were completed, the teachers reviewed each project and students either had to add/edit their information before the infographics were downloaded. I converted the graphics to a pdf so they may be sent to our print center to make colored copies. According to the teachers, their students were so excited and loved this project. Below is an example of a student product. I thought she did a terrific job!

Please click below to view more student examples.  I cannot wait to do my next project with these kiddos!

Infographics

Few Notes:

• Since Piktochart is relatively new, I had to add each graphic individually - very time consuming! Supposedly, with the updated version (not sure when) they will have a batch upload. You are only allotted 100 uploaded graphics. Once this project is complete, I will delete the graphics and student infographics to make room for future projects in the Spring.
• We did experienced problems with the graphics not showing up (boxes with a red X) once they were added to the infographics. Changing browsers helped but this was not consistent. Hopefully, they will fix this bug.
• All students had access to the username and password for the site.
• I contacted the company and suggested adding bullet options, option to bold one word within a paragraph and a preview button. (Let us see if they listen to their consumers.)
• The company did suggest using Piktochart with Firefox or Safari. We did use Chrome in the labs and this worked much better than IE.
• Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions!

Inspired to Write: PicLits

PicLits.com is a creative writing site which provides images (unfortunately, you cannot upload your own pictures) and word banks to generate sentences about the picture.  According to the site, “The object is to put the right words in the right place and the right order to capture the essence, story, and meaning of the picture.” 

Students have the option to choose words from the word bank - by dragging/dropping them into the photo - or composing/ “freestyling” their own words.

As the words are dragged/dropped onto the picture, the site allow for the option of capitalization as well as various tenses of the word. It even has end punctuation! How cool is that! 

It is amazing to me that this site has been around since 2008 and I just now stumbled upon it. I cannot wait to share this with my teachers!

Classroom Applications: 

• Practice the various types of sentences (Grammar)
• Writing/introducing poetry (i.e. Alliteration, Limericks, Lanterne, Diamante, Haiku)
• Creative/descriptive writing
• Free verse poems
• Parts of speech 
• Subject/verb agreement
• Compound/complex sentences
• Story starter
• Inferencing
• Vocabulary words (example1)
• Practice with foreign language
• Word formation
• Verb tenses
• New Year resolution
• Sensory and figurative language (i.e. Simlies/Metaphors, Synonyms/Antonyms)
• Character traits
• One line summary of a song or story
• Collaborative writing
• Prompts for journal writing
• The images and accompanying word banks provide visual and vocabulary support for ESL students and reluctant writers. http://www.web2teachingtools.com/piclits.html#
• Science classes can use the nature photos to write about curriculum topics. http://www.web2teachingtools.com/piclits.html#
• Images can be used to practice math problems or write math sentences. http://www.web2teachingtools.com/piclits.html#
• Have students find a memorable quote from a story or book they are reading and create a Piclit to showcase it. http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Each student can choose a phrase they hear often (from mom, dad, grandma, teacher etc.) and design a Piclit around it.  http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Choose a line from a favorite poem and create a Piclit.  http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Choose a line from a favorite song or rap, http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Choose five vocabulary words.  http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Choose five adjectives to describe the picture they chose.  http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits
• Choose five rhyming words to describe the picture they chose.   http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/post/969226323/piclits 

Composing Songs: Helping and Linking Verbs

3rd grade students, at one of my elementary schools, worked collaboratively to create a song to assist in memorizing various helping and linking verbs. The students created slides in Keynote, composed and recorded a song to the tune of a holiday carol. (This could also be created in PhotoStory or PowerPoint.)

What a clever idea from an innovated teacher, M. Duke!

What do you want to CREATE today?

This site was past on to me by a fellow colleague and I thought it was definitely worth sharing. What do you want to CREATE today? is a fabulous student/teacher resource which simplistically identifies the various types of projects/products student may create.

This website, “Mapping Media to the Curriculum” by Wesley Fryer was created to accompany and support his eBook, “Playing with Media: simple ideas for powerful sharing.”  This book was written primarily for educators who are interested in learning more about digital communication.

The site provides the below menu for students to choose from and within each product, you may find the workflow, various tools to create the product, links to tutorials as well as lesson ideas and samples of each product.   What a fabulous site for both educators and students to refer too. Check it out~

Love Infographics!

Infographics....I am so into these and have been dying to create one. I came across the site Piktochart on Pinterest and thought I would give it a whirl.

I signed up for the free account which is pretty limited. Only 3 basic themes to choose from and 5 slots for image upload. As I was checking out the prices, I came across the cost for educators - Only $39.99 a year compared to $29.00 a month for the Pro account. Needless to say, I jumped all over this and purchased the Pro Educator's account. (To me, this was worth the cost and I plan on using it a lot throughout the year.)

The interface is very easy with its drag and drop capabilities and with 80 themes to choose from...you cannot go wrong. Check out the below YouTube video on How to Create Infographics with Piktochart.

 I created this infographic for Bloom's Digital Taxonomy utilizing one of their themes:

Click to Enlarge Graphic

I am so excited to use this program that I recruited a few teachers to let me work with their kids on creating infographics for one of their units of study, I am currently working with a few 3rd grade students and will begin a project with 5th graders after the Thanksgiving holidays. Once they are complete -  I will post them. 

If you get a chance check out Piktochart.com.