Activity Ideas...what I've been doing instead of blogging...

Instead of blogging, I've been reading some really cool teacher tech blogs...which you can find links to on the sidebar to the right...one of those supplied me with this:
1. Doll House

This was a really cool idea I stole from a blog and adapted...students used "Doll House" app (free) to decorate a room, then they saved to photos, edited to reduce down to just the bedroom.  Some students opened the picture in picCollage and added some other pictures not available on the app.  Then they opened the pic in Skitch and added the text.  It can be done in PicCollage, too, just save as a background.  

I've been experimenting with different apps and discovered Elin's House app is also cool.  You  have more options and the interface is more user-friendly.  The graphics are better, too.  The only thing with this app is that you have to "buy" furniture...they give you 1000 tokens, so most things will still be free.  The fun thing with this one is that you can interact with the furniture...turn the lights on, open the armoire, etc.  

Not really new, precisely, but I was really happy with how this worked:

2.  PicCollage

Students have this assignment in their textbook, normally they draw on paper while I read the description...but instead of drawing, they took a picture of it and uploaded to Skitch.  

They drew the items they heard.  I did one, too, and used it as a model for them to check themselves against. I projected it to the screen so they could compare.  They then posted it to their blog and I had them analyze their results in a comment.

And speaking of blogs...

3.  Kidblog

 We've started blogging...This app is good (it is also available on the internet) because it creates a secure environment where you create "classes" that can then interact with each other, but are not jeopardized by the outside world, or other classes.

It took me about 10 minutes to enter all my students' names and assign them a generic password, which they then changed upon logging in the first time.  This app makes it ridiculously easy to post a picture...they select the "photo" tab, then click on the pic they want, then click "publish".  I had hoped this would eliminate having to upload to dropbox, copying the link, then turning in via google form. The transition has been a bit difficult for me, with some students doing the original turn in procedure and others posting on the blog, but in the long run, it is easier to grade by going to one person's blog...you can see all their assignments at once.

I use it to post pictures we will use in class for writing prompts.

I use it to post reminders...

I also use it to post answers to an activity.

The only draw back that I can find is that the app is a bit glitchy...it is new, after all...rollout was just over a month ago.  The other minor problem is that it doesn't like videos...but sometimes it will take them, and other times it won't.  In those cases, I just have students post the dropbox link or submit it directly to the google form with the link.

4. Dice Maker Lite

I'm ridiculously excited about this free app.  You can upgrade for .99c if you want to get rid of ads.

Once you open this app, select "Play with Dice Maker Lite"...you will be given a die that you can personalize.  When you shake the iPad, the dice roll...allowing you to do something like this, for basic comprehension checks...roll, then say the meaning of the verb in English...you could also use this for practice with subject pronouns.

You can add a second die to the first by clicking the " + ", then the + in a square to add a second die.  It will be a random die, click on the die and change it to  the first one you created...so now you have two.  You can add up to six for free.

I used this one for students to roll subject pronouns and verbs to conjugate...

One of my kids showed me that you can CHANGE THE BACKGROUND!  In settings, go to grid color and then select "photo album".  you can upload any pic as a background.  Here, I had my kids create a board with the two verbs we were working on in Skitch, then save it to the photo roll.  Then I had them upload as a background and use this to indicate the verb they should conjugate based on the subject pronoun visible.   You could use this to have students select which partner goes first...or as a teacher to select which student replies to a class activity...OMG, I love this one!  Like I said, ridiculously excited!

FLANC-presenting goodness

I presented today at FLANC, the yearly conference for world language teachers in NC.  I started with 60 apps in 60 minutes.  It ended up as 40 apps in 60 minutes because I love Edmodo and spent all my time rapturizing (is that a word?) over it...I spoke the gospel of Apple and like to think I converted quite a few!  But, seriously, I was really nervous because I wanted this workshop to provide something that people could really use.  A big shout out to ROSE GRIFFIN, whose friendly face made my day and whose offer of help came at the perfect time!  A few other familiar faces wandered by, including Ellen Hart and Zindy Wilfong (so cool to actually see her face in person for the first time...) from NCVPS!  Becky from back in the day stopped in later as well as my fave world language  coordinator from GCS (see the smiling face above), Liliana.

I rushed to pack up and unpack again across the hall for a 3 hour workshop about going paperless...I had 11 people register, pay money and show up!  I was quite honored that hardworking teachers spent their time on Saturday and their limited monetary resources on my workshop!  I was most concerned about using my time wisely and tailoring this workshop to the specific situations of the members.  We spent some time discussing work flow, QR codes, google forms, google docs, dropbox, Edmodo (do we begin to sense a theme here?) and going to some internet-based websites for learning game platforms...i.e. www.hellomylo.com and mySpanishgames.com .  Thanks to my principal, I was able to bring a few iPads for my workshop-goers to experience the hands-on goodness that is an iPad.

I was very surprised and pleased to meet so many friendly and encouraging computer-lovers like me...I've made some new contacts and created a group on Edmodo (I know, it is getting slightly sickening) so we can continue to exchange resources and support.  All of you out there in my circle, please remind me I said this next year when I am stressing out again trying to perfect my presentations, okay?

To Google or Not To Google-Doc, that is...

Finished our acceptable use guidelines.  you can access my google doc, CLICK HERE to view it.  I borrowed shamelessly from quite a few other schools/districts and added some specifics of my own.  I may need to add one more bullet about saving work every day and uploading to google docs. I'd like to thank Jonathan, Jamie and Marcus for their insight and suggestions.

so, to google or not to google.  we've been discussing today about the best way for students to be able to access their work at home since the iPads stay at school.   we proposed having students submit by email-but whew, clogs coming up!  I think I'd like for students to keep their docs in google docs and then create a blog page or wiki page as a portfolio as a summative activity.

P.S.  I'm still transitioning my unit to electronic format--and adapting it heavily as well.  One of my first new assignments is to log into Edmodo and watch a video I posted, then reply about what they learned about...I would rather they posted to Voicethread or something more sexy, but I am afraid I will blow their minds with too much too soon!  I hope i can get  a least a little ahead by the first actual classroom day on Monday!  Actually, have to turn in plans by Friday, so getting ahead will come sooner rather than later.

Speaking of transitioning to electronic format...i've decided that ibooks author SUCKS, i mean, really, I can't add a youtube video without having a Ph.D?

Paper-less, not necessarily paper-free

Beginning this fall, I'll be implementing iPads in daily use. I am feeling like I may need to "define" what our new classroom will be like...I do believe that the kids and I may need to brainstorm together but this is the shape of my thoughts so far:
1. Paperless does not mean paper free-it means, wherever possible, assignments will be submitted in electronic format.
2. It is still going to include whole group instruction and interaction.
3. Students will still be called to interact with each other
4. Some students may prefer to take paper notes. And keep their info in a binder.
5. Students may need more than one iPad with certain assignments since you can only see one window at a time

Tips for using Google effectively

Source: lifehacker.com via Amanda on Pinterest