Monday, May 31. 2010
Screencasting: Share Video of What You See on Your Monitor
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There are only a few drawbacks to being a computer nerd and the biggest issue is that everyone from your boss to your friends to your colleagues has questions about how to add something to their web page or how to submit an online absence request. (It’s like being the only friend with a pickup truck when someone is moving). This is why I have fallen head over hills in love with Screencasting! Screencasting is actually quite simple; it’s a recording of what is happening on your monitor. With most applications today you can jazz it up to create a dynamic video with added audio and other media files.  |  |
Wednesday, May 19. 2010
Monday, May 17. 2010
Take Your Interactive Whiteboard Engagement to a Higher Level
Posted by Tony Vincent
An interactive whiteboard can increase the level of engagement in a classroom. Just by handing a stylus pen to a student the level of engagement increases two-fold. However, many times this is where the interactivity stops. Using a concept that is familiar to educators, Bloom’s Taxonomy, along with an interactive whiteboard and student response systems, you can intensify the academic rigor of any classroom.
Bloom's taxonomy, originally created by Benjamin Bloom, classifies levels of intellectual learning that are commonly found in a classroom setting. Benjamin Bloom identified six levels that are known as Bloom's taxonomy. These levels from highest to lowest are: remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating.
Many educators use these levels to aid in the creation of lesson plans and lesson objectives. They are aware that the higher you travel on Bloom's taxonomy, the more cognitive demand increases. Students who are challenged cognitively are more likely to retain information and develop a deeper understanding of the material presented. This applies to lessons utilizing technology as well.
Tuesday, May 11. 2010
New! in Google
Posted by Tony Vincent
Do you use or have you tried Google Docs (word processing, spreadsheets, or presentations), Sites, Gmail, or Calendar? Many educators have found that the best things about using Google Docs, Sites, or Calendar with their students or colleagues are the ability to collaborate and to work from any computer. Teachers are using Google's offerings for lessons in conducting Collaborative Lab Experiments, to Present Online at Any Time, and improve writing with collaborative activities like Writing and Publishing a Poem.Google's suite of tools are known as Google Apps. Google Apps are freely available to everyone, but some schools participate in Google Apps for Education, which customizes Google's tools for school use. Google Apps are frequently updated with new features. Google's 2,668 (and counting) employees seem to thrive professionally in the Googleplex environment, if the amount of their product creations and upgrades are an indicator. On average, the Google Apps Blog posts new features, products or updates every other day. But only some of those new features for the 40+ Google Apps are useful for educators. Below is a brief review of some of what I think are the best new or upgraded qualities for the Google Apps in Education pack from the past six months.
