Tech Integration

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 16:11:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:22:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:15:00 +0000

Welcome

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:05:00 +0000

Welcome to my blog.

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:52:00 +0000

Get a Voki now!

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 16:22:00 +0000

Help us Learn...Give us Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:53:00 +0000

Today I had the pleasure of meeting Colonel Gary LaGrange, US Army Retired; who is the president and CEO of Help us Learn...Give us Hope. This organization is devoted to providing school supplies to our soldiers in the Middle East who then distribute them schools and children.

Help us Learn...Give us Hope

Smilebox

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:46:00 +0000

Smilebox is a fun, easy, and free tool that allows you to create photoalbums, slideshows, scrapbooks, and postcards. Upload your photos, videos, words, and music for a creative and unique digital story.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Google Teacher Academy - Motivation

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:37:00 +0000

BuiLD YouR WiLD SeLF!

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:59:00 +0000

Build Your Wild Self is a fantastic website sponsored by the New York Zoos and the Wildlife Conservation Society. The site is a fun and easy way for students to create their own avatars with animal characteristics ~ perfect when you are teaching lessons on animals, habitats, and biomes. There is even a link at the bottom that will take you to the many zoos located in NYC - such as the Central Park Zoo, New York Aquarium, Bronx Zoo, and Queens Zoo.

As you can see from the screenshot - students follow down the tabs, first choosing 'boy' or 'girl' and can then customize their avatar's face, clothes, and animal characteristics. Have fun!

Thanks to TechGeek - one of my PLN friends from Plurk - for sharing this site.

Types of Tech

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:35:00 +0000

What types of tech do you use? Fill out the survey and submit!

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Differentiated Instruction Survey

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:19:00 +0000

This survey was made using Google Forms - easy to use and implement in your classroom!

Tux Paint

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:58:00 +0000

Tux Paint is a free computer art software geared for children ages 3 - 12. Tux Paint combines fun sound effects, a variety of creative art tools, an easy interface, and either a blank canvas or scene that allows children to unleash their creativity.

Tux Paint works great on individual computers or as a whole group activity on an Interactive White Board. The following images were created as

a learning resource for pre-school. The first one is a comprehension exercise after reading the story "Where's Spot?" and the second is an activity on colors.

Check out Tux Paint for more screenshots, how-

to's, videos, and teacher testimonials!

Bookr

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Tue, 05 May 2009 00:55:00 +0000

Bookr is a feature of PimPamPum that allows you to use Flickr images and create a book that you can publish online. For teachers, create an account in Flickr that is specific to you classroom - and upload your pics to this account.

The following story was created by a third grader.

GoAnimate

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:55:00 +0000

GoAnimate is an application that allows you to easily create computer animated stories. Fun and easy to use, this website is a great way to encourage those non-readers to create their own stories that can be published for all to enjoy! GoAnimate compliments any lesson on narrative elements, sequencing and can be used in other content areas such as science and social studies. Use the vast collection of animated characters that GoAnimate offers, or you can upload your own images from your computer. To jazz up your story, add movements and animations to your characters, use different backgrounds or settings, and even add some background music! Check out the creation below by my 4 year old assistant!

GoAnimate.com: The Happy Bunnies by mtilley

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Breaking The Mold

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:21:00 +0000

Here is the presentation from the 3rd Annual Kansas Governor's Mentoring Conference.

One YouTube video is included; the remaining videos were found under 'Pay Attention' (which is also located on this blog) 'Thriller' and 'Think Before You Post'

Breaking The Mold

View more presentations from mtilley.

It's a Jungle out there!

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:33:00 +0000

This interactive site is perfect for pre-schoolers and primary students. Use on an interactive whiteboard or as a learning center. Let your students loose and see what they create!

NGAkids Jungle was inspired by the French painter Henri Rousseau. Students can change the background, sky, animals and even customize plants, flowers and trees. This site is super simple for young artists and their masterpieces can be printed.

This picture was created by a 4 year old.

XtraNormal

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:52:00 +0000

Xtranormal is an easy application to use to create 3d movies for FREE! It only takes four steps - 1. Pick your scene - 2. Type a script - 3. Add actions and sounds - 4. Publish and share. You can embed into a blog or even upload to YouTube.

BeFunky

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:20:00 +0000

BeFunky is a free application that easily allows you to turn your digital images into artistic creations. The different effects that you can choose from include the cartoonizer, stenciler, warholizer, and even charcoal! Want more? You can also check out the 'goodies' and add frames, speech bubbles, shapes, and even accessories. It is super simple to do and the results are fantastic! Check out my creations!

Sqworl

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:53:00 +0000

Sqworl is a web application that allows you to create one URL that hosts multiple URL's - think of the advantages of this when your students are doing research, or when you are taking them on an exciting virtual field trip, maybe by just having a collection of math sites to assist with assessments. The possibilities are endless and the time saved is turned into constructive learning time!

Sqworl Screencast from Caleb Brown on Vimeo.

Twitter Vs. Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:48:00 +0000

Pay Attention

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:41:00 +0000

This video is not new, but to me is one of the most powerful truths about education today. I still find it amazing how many teachers still refuse to change their teaching style in order to engage today's learners. Are they afraid of the technology? Are they afraid of messing up?

The topic I get the most resistance from is that of using cell phones in the classroom. The number one reason listed......"Student's will abuse it." This is a valid point, but do student's abuse their right to use a pencil? How many times do we catch our students passing notes or doodling when they should be paying attention? Do we take away their pencils? What about calculators? Do students abuse this technology? Of course! Remember when we used to spell dirty words with the calculator? (Of course I never did this :)

The simple fact is this: It is our jobs as educators to prepare our students for the real world. We are not going to do this the old fashion way. Our students are tech savvy and need the extra stimulus that technology can offer. Can't you think of the one student who never hands in their homework, but is always texting? Why not give them an assignment that requires them to text?

Bottom line: The world is changing and we as educators must adapt with it!

Video obtained from YouTube: Pay Attention

Kideo

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:12:00 +0000

Ever go to YouTube or TeacherTube to find a great video for your young kiddos? Both of these video players have great content for our students, but unless you know exactly where to go - this process can be very time consuming. (Not to mention the numerous acts that you could have lived without seeing:)

Kideo is a video player that plays a continuous stream of videos that are appropriate for pre-school through 2nd grade. If you find a video that you like, you can simply click on the YouTube icon in the bottom corner and you will be directed to YouTube where you can gain more information on the video and also get those awesome HTML codes; which will enable you to embed the video in your blog or wiki.

A BIG Thanks to AngelaMaiers via Twitter for introducing me to this site!

Wordle

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:29:00 +0000

Wordle is a Web 2.0 application that allows you to create word clouds. You have the ability to change the layout, font, and color scheme. Use Wordle for character traits, vocabulary, synonyms, adjectives, science, social studies - the list is endless!

Glogster

noreply@blogger.com (Mindy) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:22:00 +0000

Glogster is a free application that allows you to create interactive posters or web page. Students can create glogs for any content area and include video and images. Discovery Streaming is an excellent resource for students to find image and video. Using TeacherTube or YouTube is another great resource. Don't have access to any of those? Just make your video and take your own pictures!

Image obtained from: http://www.glogster.com