Blogs & Micro-Blogs (Twitter)
Here is a link to my Blog: https://plus.google.com/u/0/105765813967684555408#105765813967684555408/posts
I have learned to create and use both Blogs and Twitter. I must say I did not think I would use but now understand it is a great way to communicate with students and provide feedback as well.
As I have learned from the various technological resources we've created and explored almost all have an option to add blogs or tweets.
I think using an outlet students are currently using anyway is a great means of communication. Both provide a way for students to journal as well. Recently, I had a teacher who has been teaching for 24 years tell me the best feedback response to her students hand written journals is to read each and everyone and supply them with feedback. Blogs and Tweets are a great alternative to allowing students to journal for activity assignments. Communication is imperative with students to gain trust & respect, learn more about them and allow an outlet for thinking.
I have learned to create and use both Blogs and Twitter. I must say I did not think I would use but now understand it is a great way to communicate with students and provide feedback as well.
As I have learned from the various technological resources we've created and explored almost all have an option to add blogs or tweets.
I think using an outlet students are currently using anyway is a great means of communication. Both provide a way for students to journal as well. Recently, I had a teacher who has been teaching for 24 years tell me the best feedback response to her students hand written journals is to read each and everyone and supply them with feedback. Blogs and Tweets are a great alternative to allowing students to journal for activity assignments. Communication is imperative with students to gain trust & respect, learn more about them and allow an outlet for thinking.
Here is a link to my Twitter account: https://twitter.com/Shannon41247758
Inspiration & Kidspiration Software
The Inspiration and Kidspiration Software available to teachers is a great way to allow students creativity, help organization, display ideas and complete research projects among many other uses.
The activity I created was based around the book, "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas". It worked well as a tool to organize themes, characters, settings and explore traits of each. Not only does it make diagramming easy but you can put active links in as well to open additional sites for resources. There is an endless array of subject areas this could be used for. I especially like how it creates an outline of the diagram you have created. Again, I think this can help students who are struggling with organization to see what a finished outline looks like after putting the proper elements in place.
The activity I created was based around the book, "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas". It worked well as a tool to organize themes, characters, settings and explore traits of each. Not only does it make diagramming easy but you can put active links in as well to open additional sites for resources. There is an endless array of subject areas this could be used for. I especially like how it creates an outline of the diagram you have created. Again, I think this can help students who are struggling with organization to see what a finished outline looks like after putting the proper elements in place.