David Lee EdTech

Slidebean  is a web-based tool that allows users to create aesthetically-pleasing presentations with very little difficulty and effort. It is so simple to use that I decided to have my 1st graders try it out. Slidebean will go live on June 4th, 2014. The beta version has already been used by over 7,000 people. According to the CEO of Slidebean,  Caya Jose Cayasso , the company's immediate goal is to become a "true valuable alternative alternative for teacher and students to build their presentations." With its extremely simple user interface and its elegant designs, Slidebean could become the next big presentation tool in education. However there are some issues that Slidebean needs to address before this can happen (see the  Needed Fixes  section at the bottom of the post).  Technology Integration  Our 1st grade classes just finished up their Plants unit. They learned about the different parts of a plant...

This Volcano/Boundaries project is part of a 4th grade science unit based on the Next Generation Science Standard 4-ESS2-2. Goal:  Create a continental boundaries diagram and a volcano diagram, and ultimately record yourself explaining your creations. DAVIDLEEEDTECH.ORG

Creating a Google Site is a great way for students to demonstrate their knowledge of any academic concept . However, I don't think it is a good tool to use as a class site. Yes, Google Sites allows users to effortlessly integrate Google documents, presentations & drawings into their site, but it isn't too friendly to other types of files. Additionally, the web-based tool is not intuitive. Different settings are confusingly placed in different areas of the site, and the customization of the site is extremely difficult. However, there is one thing that makes Google Sites a good tool to use to create a class site: The ability to give editing permissions to students for specific pages.  A 3rd grade teacher at my school has given her students permission to edit their own page on her site. This allows the students to add their work onto their page so that the teacher can assess their work. Additionally, parents can visit the class site and see all their children's work and pr...

[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/ )

Mcgraw-Hill is on the right path with ebooks! It has introduced an ebook called SmartBook that provides students with questions throughout their reading. The purpose of this is to see what topics students are having trouble with, and try to reinforce learning by giving them additional text in the troubled areas. Amazing use of students’ learning patterns!

What is Project-Based Learning? I have transformed my learning environment by incorporating project-based learning (PBL) through the use of technology. Technology in the classroom has given my students the necessary tools to inquire complicated questions and solve rigorous challenges. Through PBL, my students have gained academic content knowledge and developed important 21st century skills, which includes information literacy, problem-solving, communication, and the use of digital media. The PBL process involves the introduction of a driving question, the culminating challenge, content research, student-generated products, and a summative assessment. PBL entails student-centered activities that focus on authentic, real-world issues in the form of a driving question. This meaningful question is open-ended so that students can research and develop a solution through the utilization of technologies. For example, to review area and perimeter with my 3rd graders, I decided to have my stude...

The Research Tool allows students to search for more information on any word, phrase, or topic while creating their Google presentation. They can search for web results, images, quotations, maps, reviews and more!

If you are planning to assess student geometry knowledge and skills, look no further than a digital architecture . Students will learn and apply the process of planning and designing a 3D architectural building model. They will apply geometry concepts to accomplish their goal. To make the learning experience more authentic, the students will take on the role of architects who will create models for their clients.   Learning Plan Geometry Lessons Guided/Independent Practice Architecture Presentation/Lesson Architecture Research:  Paper Floor Plan/Geometry Sheet Digital Floor Plan Constructing Digital Structure 3. Architecture Presentation : Provide students with background information on architecture, examples of architecture, its design elements and principles, and a review of geometry concepts related to geometry. 4. Architecture Research : Have students navigate architecture websites and complete the graphic organizer that focuses on key information.  5. Paper Floor Plan/Geometry S...

Caitlin Early, the elementary PE instructor, and I have collaborated to create a document of a list of ideas for tech integration in PE. Enjoy!

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 ...