David Lee EdTech

Kindergarten students used Comic Life on the iPad to create a comic about the qualities of a good person.  Steps taken in this lesson: Read “Because of You”  Have students take pictures of each other doing actions that good people do. Open Comic Life on the iPad Choose template Add title, author’s name, speech bubbles, and photos Have students present their comics to their classmates

Nalisha Narsai, our 1st grade teacher, decided to have students become zookeepers of specific animals. The students were required to become “experts” through research on the Kid’s National Geographic website.  A reporter interviewed her zookeepers about their animal.  To capture the interviews, she had students video record using the iPads.  Ms. Narsai used iMovie on the iPad to create her Zookeeper movie. If you plan to create a movie as well, make sure to record video AND photos. Here are some resources to help you create your own movies on the iPad.  iMovie on iPad 2 Tutorial How to Edit Your Movies Easily

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAo_ZSmjLJ4?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=500&h=281] M indUP Program “MindUP™ is a family of social, emotional, and attentional self-regulatory strategies and skills developed for cultivating well-being and emotional balance.” -The Hawn Foundation website ( Source: http://www.youtube.com/ )

[gallery] 1st grade #Students used #iPads to record animal interviews of “zookeepers”

[gallery] Our #zookeeper for the #Animal project

Embracing social media use in schools with a toolkit for administrators

Raising Boys Achievement in Blended Learning

[gallery] #USA #Olympians visited our campus. The #athletes played games with our #1stgrade #students. The Winter #SpecialOlympics will be held in #Korea.

[gallery] #Kindergarten #students using #ComicLife w/ #iPad to create good citizenship comics

Image from GLearning   Google Slides Is Now Offline: "Create, edit and present with Google Slides offline"

[gallery] #Programming kit and #Promethean table for #students at #21clhk : #edtech #elearning #education

[gallery] #Administrator using #Skitch for immediate informal #teacher observation feedback. Annotate a photo you take of #teachers in action. Share via email to teacher(s).

[gallery] #VEX #robotics in #education . #21clhk

[gallery] @colingally uses #minecraft with Unit of Inquiry criteria, concept based & Transdisciplinary skills. #edtech

Provide Teachers Immediate Feedback for Informal Teacher Observations Erin Zaich ’s conference session, “Learn to Create Dynamic Audio/Visual Feedback on Essays, has inspired my principal, Danielle Rich, to provide her teachers with immediate feedback/comments during her informal teacher observations.  I suggested that she use Skitch , an Evernote app, that allows you to annotate images with text, shapes, and sketches.  Here are the steps an administrator would take in using Skitch for iPad to provide feedback: Sign into your Evernote account or create one New Skitch : You can take a photo, choose a photo from your camera roll, draw on a map, start with a blank page, or capture an image from the Web. In this case, it will be an image you took of your teacher (Choose a Photo).   After you choose your photo, you can annotate it with the tool bar on the right. Share via Email to the student you are giving feedback. The image can also be sent to all teachers if you find somet...

[gallery] Every product or idea is a remix! Copy, Transform, & Combine. W/ @intrepid teacher #21clhk #edtech

[gallery] @ebzaich replaces red pen w/ #digital & #audio using @edu creations #21chkl #edtech

[gallery] @kellyed121 ‘s ChallengeBasedLearning unit that analyzed the factors that drive the #cagehomes in #HK and find solutions. #edtech

[gallery] There needs to be a balance in #edtech. Idea from @drlarryrosen ‘s keynote @ #21clhk #overstimulation (at Renaissance College 啟新書院)

[gallery] Dr. Jenny Lane discussed how #mobilelearning brings the world into the #classroom, takes the classroom into the world, and takes the #teacher into the home. She also mentioned TPACK Model (technological pedagogical content knowledge) that connects and uses the three types of knowledge together to create effective & engaging tech integrated instruction.

[gallery] Dr. Larry Rosen talks about how technology can be “weapons of mass DISTRACTION.” High use of technology can cause students to have anxiety. Additionally, there is no such thing as multitasking, but only task switching, which leads to shallow learning. #edtech #elearning #education #21clhk

How Teachers are Using Tumblr in the Classroom

[gallery] charliecakehole : These are a great idea! This is awesome.

Technology is only the "Icing on the Cake" in Project-Based Learning

1. Have groups record footage with a mobile device (iPad). 2. Send the footage to a computer with a video-editing application (iMovie) via email OR use the an app to edit the footage.  3. The completed movies are then sent to the school’s server folder. 4. Step 3 allows the teacher to project the movies from one location. 5. Students reflect on their learning through an online word processor (Google Docuements). Images are from Ms. Mines’s drama lessons. 

Of course the daughter of Google’s Eric Schmidt knows how to use Google Sites effectively! Eric Schmidt and his daughter Sophie took a tip to North Korea to promote the use of the Internet in the country. Sophie created a Google Site called  It Might Not Get Weirder Than This   to showcase what she learned from her extraordinary and controversial visit to the country.  Google Sites as a Summative Assessment Sophie’s website could be an example of a summative assessment product. She used her site to demonstrate and present the knowledge she gained from her experience in North Korea. Likewise, students in the classroom can demonstrate the knowledge they acquired from a unit through the creation of a Google Site . Teachers can also have students work in groups and use Google Site as a wiki tool. This option involves student collaboration, active student learning, and student progress-monitoring. Teachers can use this authentic assessment to identify strengths and weaknesses in ...

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWiPEDht1nI?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=500&h=375] Find and Get Directions to Your Colleagues at the Conference Using Google Latitude! If your team is going to a conference, convention, or trade show, it can be quite difficult to find your colleagues in the mass chaos. Google Latitude could be the solution to this problem. Google Latitude allows you to locate your colleague and get directions to her/him.  Here are the steps you will need to take to set up the tool for your iOS device (iPad or iPhone): Download Google Latitude Accept & Share  Sign into your Gmail account  Enter an email address (Gmail) or select from Google contacts Settings: Detect your location Now you can tap on a friend and get directions to her/her. Download Google Maps Sign into your Google account Tap on the drop down menu and select Latitude Tap on the ...

[gallery] Interactive quiz on animal groups using #keynote. #education #edtech #class

In the Edutopia blog post,  “The Pros and Cons of Computer Labs” ,  Mary Beth Hertz  discussed the strengths and weaknesses of her computer lab. Here is the table that she created:    I believe my school, Korea International School, has created a computer lab that resolves these cons. These resolutions have only been possible due to the large budget the school has reserved for educational technologies. Here is what my school has done:   Limited Access as Shared Resource/Technology Removed from Classroom iPad Cart (24 iPads) for preschool-2nd grade classes to book 6 MacBook Carts for 3rd-5th grade classes These carts allow teachers to easily and immediately integrate technology into their curriculum, especially tech skills and knowledge that their students learned in the computer lab.   Room Layout All the computers in the lab are against the walls. This allows me to monitor every computers’ screen to make sure students are on task. Additionally, my younger students do...

PBS NewsHour offers a great  lesson plan  about the Presidential Inauguration. Here are the objectives of the lesson: Students will:  Learn about the Constitutional provisions for the Presidential Inauguration. Learn the history of the Presidential Inauguration, including changes to the procedure and notable speeches. Work in small groups to analyze President Obama’s first inaugural address and to compare his ideas with the actions of his first term. Have an opportunity to predict the content of President Obama’s second inaugural address on January 21, 2013. Fun Facts There is also a PBS NewsHour supplement article that will inform students on the President’s Oath of Office, the Inaugural Address, and additional fun facts. 

47 percent of all gamers are girls: Implement Game-Based Learning?

According to Comic Life, there are numerous student benefits for creating comics in your classroom. Reading Fluency Writing in sequential order with logical conclusions Represents their knowledge Focuses on main points Develops creativity Provides an organized structure Assessment Here are three easy options for you elementary students to create comics that focus on any number of academic content: 1. Garfield Comic Creator Great characters and settings Can flip, rotate, and resize characters Con: Only three panels 2. Arthur’s Comic Creator Great characters and settings Can flip, rotate, and resize characters Con: Only three panels 3. ReadWriteThink Up to six panels Multiple characters, props, and settings Black and white (students can color comics after they are printed) Con: Cannot flip, rotate, and resize characters Cyber-Safety Comic Apps I have incorporated comic creators into my Cyber Safety unit. My students created comics about cyberbullying, online safety, and forms of me...

RULES TO LIVE BY FOR YOU CLASSROOM WEBSITE IN 2013 Transparent Backgrounds No Cliche Textures (like bricks) No Extreme Gradients No Intro Page New Year's Resolution for Your Classroom Website via WIX

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpplbJMj-No?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=500&h=375] Google Cultural Institute is a website designed to inform visitors about historical cultural stories through video, photographs, manuscripts, and exhibits. This website could be an essential research resource to any social studies unit or history course. You can find world changing events by time or topic. Each search will also provide you with related topics. Since this is a Google website, you can share your interesting findings through Google+!  ( Source: http://www.youtube.com/ )

The Next Web ’s article, 29 new inspiring responsive designs on the web , showcases numerous website examples that offer an excellent optimal viewing experience (e.g. easy reading and navigation). I think teachers and students should focus on effective web design techniques for their classroom website, ePortfolio, or class wiki to give them a  smart, elegant, and aesthetically- pleasing look.   Here are some of the examples that can inspire your classroom website: 1. Starbucks 2. Spigot Design 3. Microsoft Here is my own classroom website that could provide you some design inspiration. I use Wix , a web-based platform that allows you to create stunning websites.  Web Design Unit I have also developed a Web Design unit for my 2nd grade class. The purpose of the unit is to teach students the skills and techniques that are required in developing quality websites. Students will create an ePortfolio that will allow them to reflect and showcase their academic work. Click here or the...

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ1p5SD3sOM?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=500&h=375] STAR TREK HOLODECK CLASSROOM IN OUR FUTURE? Stevie Bathiche , the Director of Research in Microsoft’s Applied Sciences Group, showed the Verge the projects they are working on to hopefully one day develop a holodeck (simulated reality facility).   Why would this be considered EdTech? Well, it seems that a holodeck classroom could be in our future (probably in the far future). A holodeck classroom full of students can interact with their simulated surroundings and teacher. Theoretically, students would be able to experience any type learning activity through this simulation. Holodeck from a episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation Flat Stereoscopic 3D Display that is steerable (As your head pivots or zooms in and out, the 3D image appropriately alters to make it seem like you ar...

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The Lake Elsinore district in California has implemented a program called the Virtual Learning Center. This online program allows struggling students to retake classes that they failed in their traditional setting classrooms. The program allows students to take charge their learning, and learn at their own pace .  Here are some of the specifics of the program: Students get to decide when, where (home, school, etc…), and how they learn  Greater access to courses in alternative formats Students work and learn at their own pace (review videos, activities, etc…) Students see their teachers only on test days VLC IT staff visits each high school one day a week: Initially, the IT staff member worked everyday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. However, he found out that he was rarely needed because the platform and equipment were easy to use.  Visiting the Lake Elsinore VLC website , I found that they use Plato Learning Environment .  Virtual Learning Environment Benefiting Struggling Students

5 Challenges Solved by EdTech

According to Michael Griffie, blended learning requires the human element of teaching and modeling positive behavior for it to succeed in an urban setting.  His school uses the Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) system to encourage students to be respectful, responsible and safe.  Blended learning is an approach that combines computer activities and direct instruction together. This can be done through classroom rotations or a flex model (online activities that deliver most of the curricula). This gives time for teachers to target smaller groups who need help.  Here’s an example of how a blended learning environment looks like from New Classrooms : The Human Element of Blended Learning

Tagxedo let’s you create word clouds out of your URL, Twitter ID, Del.icio.us account, news, search or RSS. Here is an example of a word cloud I created of my edtech blog: As you can see in the second image, you can customize the font, theme, color, orientation, and shape of your word cloud. Share your creation via Facebook and Twitter. Check out this video by eduTecher . It explains how to use Tagxedo very thoroughly.