David Lee EdTech

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I was informed by a teacher that she would like to screencast lessons from her iPad. Since she teaches Chinese, and writing the written language is a crucial part of her curriculum, she thought the iPad and a stylus would be the perfect tools to use for screen-casting.  So I researched iPad apps and styluses that would make this goal possible. What I found were two apps, ScreenChomp and ShowMe, and an article that reveals the top styluses in the market.  1. ScreenChomp  After downloading the app, I found that it to be very easy to use. The app allows you to record with audio, pick the thickness of your “pencil” strokes, and import a background if you don’t want to use the default “whiteboard.” You will be given a link to share with anybody who has it. Additionally, I did not have to sign up for an account to use the services.  I did have some difficulties with ScreenChomp. In my first 5 screencasts, only one was able to actually be made into a link. Additio...

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaVM57K4kWE?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=500&h=375] Here is my Sketchbot creating a sketch of me on sand in London’s Science Museum. Students can learn how machines can be operated by people on the web. They would need to first take a snap shot of themselves, and a sketchbot in London would draw their portrait on sand! ( Source: http://www.youtube.com/ )

For my Web Browsing unit, I have decided to add Chrome Web Lab for two reasons.  It would allow students to learn how modern day browsers can install apps and extensions. Allow students to learn about the power of the web: how the web enables people to collaborate how the web can give you the experience of being somewhere else how the web connects to physical objects how data travels across the web how easy information is accessible Chrome Web Lab is a collection of five Chrome Experiments that show how innovative, creative, and magical the web can be.  1. Experiment 1: Universal Orchestra Students can play music collaboratively with people all around the world in live time! 2. Experiment 2: Sketchbot  Students can learn how machines can be operated by people on the web. They would need to first take a snap shot of themselves, and a sketchbot in London would draw their portrait on sand! 3. Experiment 3: Teleporter Students will learn how they can visit far away places through the web....

I have decided to include Google Chrome apps and extensions into my Web Browsing unit. I think students should know that web browsers allow users to install extensions that benefit their browsing experience, as well as provide educational and productivity apps. Here is a list of apps I have already installed into my browser and will use in my class: 1. Little Alchemy : This entertaining website allows students to learn about how combing different elements creates new substances. 2. Chrome Web Lab:  This website teaches students about 5 important things that people can use the web for: How the web enables people to collaborate How the web can give you the experience of being somewhere else How the web connects to physical objects How data travels across the web How easy information is accessible 3. Google I/O: Input and Output : Students can use geometry to create a machine that will transport a ball to its rightful place.  4. Builder with Chrome (LEGO) : Students can see a glimpse of t...

Even a drama class can integrate Google Apps into its curriculum! Two blocks before her class, a teacher asked me if I could create a KWL chart and a graphic organizer for her class to use. Her unit was on street performances.  The teacher started her class with a YouTube clip that demonstrated the art of street performance. She then asked the students what they knew about the topic and what they would like to learn. I typed in each students’ comment into the KWL Chart document. Students were then divided into groups and were told to watch linked video clips that were provided on their graphic organizer. After watching the video clips, the students gathered into their groups and attempted to answer the questions the teacher had for them. 

Last week, a 4th grade teacher asked me what I can do with Google Apps and literacy circles. For this portion of her reading program, I decided to use Google presentation because I have found it to produce greater motivation and student engagement compared to Google documents. Google document is an app that can be better utilized by middle and high school students.  Google presentation is the perfect way for groups in literacy circles to document key information about their books simultaneously onto one shared document.   After the book has been read, the literacy circle conducts a collaborative discussion guided by their shared Google presentation. This document assists the group in critical thinking and reflection on what was read and discussed. Students can also add onto their understanding from what they learn from other readers in their circle.  Slide 1: Title Page Slide 2: Table of Contents: To make it easier for the teacher, each of the literacy groups will need to link their sl...

Today’s verdict should not be viewed as a win for Apple, but as a loss for the American consumer. It will lead to fewer choices, less innovation, and potentially higher prices. It is unfortunate that patent law can be manipulated to give one company a monopoly over rectangles with rounded corners, or technology that is being improved every day by Samsung and other companies. Consumers have the right to choices, and they know what they are buying when they purchase Samsung products. This is not the final word in this case or in battles being waged in courts and tribunals around the world, some of which have already rejected many of Apple’s claims. Samsung will continue to innovate and offer choices for the consumer. Samsung after their loss in court

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejSmcmeQfzo?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=500&h=375] Use Google Hangouts to broadcast your lesson live to students who are absent. ( Source: http://www.youtube.com/ )

What is Google Hangout? Google Hangout is a video conferencing program that Google+, Google’s version of Facebook, provides. You can say Google Hangout is similar to Skype, but where they differ is Hangout’s amazing list of features. I first tried out Hangout with my mentor Mark Page. We instantly saw the potential Hangout could have in an education setting. And when I learned about Flipped Classrooms, I thought Google Hangout would be a great tool to record any teacher’s online video lectures. Here are the features of Google Hangout and how they can be used in a flipped classroom setting: Chat face to face anywhere you are with a computer, phone or tablet.  Students get to use devices that they use in a daily basis. Student-student and student-interaction can occur anywhere. Conduct virtual meetings that allow you to communicate with up to 10 people.  Students can finish their group projects together anywhere, if they do not complete them during class period. Students can ask their te...

The purpose of this blog post is to explain how Google Hangout can be used to ‘flip’ your classroom. But first we should start by learning what a Flipped Classroom is, and how Google Hangout allows teachers to ‘flip’ their classrooms.  Here are two YouTube clips on flipped classrooms featuring the two teachers who made this classroom model popular:  Flipped Classroom ,  Flipped/Mastery Classroom . The image above illustrates how the traditional classroom consists of teacher-centered lessons that require teachers to lecture about academic content and assign readings and questions for homework. The flipped classroom is drastically different because the academic content is learned at home through online videos. When students come to class the next day, they get to work on assignments, projects, and lab activities concerning learned content, while being facilitated by the teacher. There is also a flipped-mastery classroom model that is based on the idea of teachers ...