ISTE 2018

I have the elite honor of speaking at the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) Conference in Chicago July 2018.  While there, I will be presenting two sessions.

• Are We Advocating or Educating? Social Media Guidelines for Students —As we implemented 1:1 in our schools, it was necessary to establish social media guidelines for our students. Follow our creation from beginning to end of our board-approved social media guidelines to educate our students on acceptable use. This presentation is scheduled for Monday, June 25, 2:00–4:00 pm CDT.

• Teachers' Perceptions of Their Administrators' Influence on Technology Use in the Classroom —Based on the 2009 ISTE Standards for Administrators, this study determined the technological leadership qualities that teachers perceived as most critical, most important, and most influential on their daily integration of technology into instruction. The presenter will give the results of the study and ways to improve those leadership competencies. This session is based on my dissertation research.  This presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, June 26, 10:15–11:15 am CDT.

For more information regarding ISTE 2018, please visit https://conference.iste.org/2018/.

~Cara

Favorite Website: Science4Us

What is Science4Us?

Science4Us is an exciting and interactive online science curriculum for grades K-2. Science4Us is standards-based and inclusive of the Common Core State standards in Math and Language Arts. It also inclusive of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Teachers and students are guided through animated lessons, songs, games and cross-curricular activities in a sequence developed using the 5E Instructional Model: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. Embedded professional development provides teachers with the opportunity to review content, common student misconceptions, math and literature integration, and best practices as needed. Implementation is easy; there are no materials to order or software to download. All of the lessons, games, hands-on activities and teacher support materials are accessed digitally. Delivery of Science4Us is flexible. The curriculum can be delivered as a whole class using a single computer and projector, in small groups at centers, or individually with students logging in at school or home. The Science4Us curriculum covers traditional physical, life, Earth and space science content in a way that is designed to keep today’s digital natives engaged.  

For more information, visit http://www.science4us.com/.

~Cara

I have used VocabularySpellingCity with the students in my classroom for over six years. In fact, my entire school now has premium memberships for every teacher. Students take their weekly spelling tests online after practicing their words by playing the games at home and at school. They love the iPad app. Each child has his/her own username and password, so he/she has direct access to the site from any Internet-enabled device. I was so impressed with the site and how it affected student learning that I shared it through various social media platforms. I am now compensated to work with VocabularySpellingCity after school as a social media consultant.  Science4Us is a sister site to VocabularySpellingCity.

How to Edit a PowerPoint in Google Drive

Can a PowerPoint be edited on a Chromebook and opened on a desktop computer.  The answer is YES! 

1.  Download the PowerPoint needed.  

2.  Open drive.google.com, and log in with your Google account.

3.  Click the red box labeled NEW at the top left of the screen.

4.  Choose GOOGLE SLIDES.

5.  Select CANCEL on the CHOOSE A THEME screen.

6.  Select FILE.  Then, choose IMPORT SLIDES.

7.  On the screen that pops up, select UPLOAD at the top.  Click the blue box labeled SELECT A FILE FROM YOUR COMPUTER.  

8.  Select the PowerPoint you downloaded.

9.  Once it finishes uploading, next to SELECT SLIDES on the top right, choose ALL and then IMPORT SLIDES.

10.  You can now click the slides on the left that you do not want and delete with the delete button on your computer.  It automatically saves your changes.  

11.  Where it says UNTITLED PRESENTATION at the top, click on it and rename it to the PowerPoint name.

12.  When you get ready to use the presentation, log back into drive.google.com on your desktop computer.  You will see the presentation in the list of files.  Click the PRESENT button at the top right to make it full screen.  

~Cara

Favorite Websites: VocabularySpellingCity

We all look for great websites to use with the students in our classrooms.  As the instructional partner for an elementary school, I get the joy of visiting all classrooms on a regular basis.  This allows me to see and hear from teachers, students, and parents what their favorites resources are.  Overwhelmingly, one of the favorites at my school is VocabularySpellingCity.

VocabularySpellingCity is an award-winning, game-based learning program for vocabulary, spelling, phonics, writing, and language arts that gives you the ability to use any word list with more than 35 learning activities, assessments, and games.  Districts, schools, and families use K12 educational service worldwide with more than 5 million active students.  The site correlates with educational standards, including Common Core, state, and international.  There are also apps for iPhones, iPads, and Android devices available.  Be sure to visit http://www.spellingcity.com/teacher-resources.html featuring premade word lists and lessons.  My favorite part is the precreated lists for our new reading series.  My teachers simply have to import the lists into their accounts.  No need for them to spend time entering the words. 

For Back to School, VocabularySpellingCity is offering a free trial of their Premium Membership.  Visit http://www.spellingcity.com/teachers-overview.html for more information.  Give it a try, and let me know what you think.

~Cara

I have used VocabularySpellingCity with the students in my classroom for over six years. In fact, my entire school now has premium memberships for every teacher. Students take their weekly spelling tests online after practicing their words by playing the games at home and at school. They love the iPad app. Each child has his/her own username and password, so he/she has direct access to the site from any internet-enabled device. I was so impressed with the site and how it affected student learning that I shared it through various social media platforms. I am now compensated to work with VocabularySpellingCity after school as a social media consultant.

Chatterpix: A Fun, Free App

I love cool apps.  This is one of my new favorites because it is so fun.  Even better, it is free.  Chatterpix allows you to give your pictures a voice.  Download Chatterpix from http://www.duckduckmoose.com/educational-iphone-itouch-apps-for-kids/chatterpix/.  Once finished, you can share your Chatterpix on Youtube, Facebook, via email, or to your photos to share in a text.  What do you think of Chatterpix?

~Cara

Technology Tools for Teachers

I am currently working on a professional development session and would love your input! Could you take just a minute and fill in the following form?  Thank you so much in advance!

~Cara

Dropbox: Say Goodbye to Jump Drives

If you are like me, you have problems keeping up with your jump drive. My biggest fear was always, "What if I lose it forever?" My life stayed on my jump drive until I discovered Dropbox. I have used Dropbox for over two years. Since then, I have never used a jump drive again. 


Dropbox is an online storage program. Everything is stored online, so you will never lose anything! I store class files, personal pictures and videos, important documents, etc. into my Dropbox. Dropbox holds all file types. You can access Dropbox from multiple computers and your iPad. You can even share folders with friends and colleagues. Your students can upload files into a shared Dropbox folder. There is a paid version of Dropbox, but I have never upgraded. You start with 2GB of free space, and there are multiple ways to upgrade that space.To get started with Dropbox, simply {click here}. 

~Cara

Create Talking Avatars Using Voki

Voki is an online program for creating talking avatars. My students loved Voki! Their assignment was to research a famous athlete and create a Voki of their facts.   Here is one example of a Voki that was created by one of my 4th graders.

 

The possibilities of using Voki in the classroom are endless.  You can easily embed Voki onto websites and blogs.  My students were asked to publish their Voki onto our Kidblogs.  How have you used Voki in your classroom?

~Cara

Creating a TripWow Photo Slideshow

My students recently read the story Grandfather's Journey.  As an extension to that activity, they created a TripAdvisor TripWow slideshow of a place they would like to visit.  In this activity, the students learn how to save a picture, upload it, and share a link.  Below, you will see one of my student's TripWows.

New York City Slideshow: Amber’s trip to New York City was created with TripAdvisor TripWow!

Take time to view other TripWows we created by {clicking here}.

I always post my assignments for my students on Edmodo. This way, the directions and links are always handy whether the students are at school or home.  Here is the assignment I posted for TripWow.

This is a 2 part assignment. Do not go on to the next part until you have finished the previous part.

Part 1: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be? Research that location using Pics4Learning. Save 10-15 pictures of that place on your jump drive. To do that, right click on the picture, and select "Save picture as." Change the location bar to "Removable Disk," and click save.

Part 2: Create a TripWow of your location. Click the link "Make a Free Slideshow." Login using the email address XXXXXXX@gmail.com. The password is XXXXXX. On the right hand side, select "Create a New One." Select your background. Choose "My Computer." Select "Click to Upload." Change the "Look In" bar to "Removable Disk." Select the pictures you saved. Hold the control key down while you click on them to choose more than one picture. Enter the location of your pictures. Fill in the "Customize" section. Click "Done," then "Continue." Click "Skip" on Facebook, email, and blog. On "Share the Slideshow with Your Friends," click on "Copy Link." Paste that link as a reply here. To do that, right click, and select paste.

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  Pics4Learning
  

  pics4learning.com
• 

  TripWow
  

  tripwow.tripadvisor.com

I created a generic email address to be used by all of my students.  This way, I have control of their creations, and the projects are all located in one place when I get ready to download them to share on our class website.  Remember, it is very important to share your students' work.
~Cara

Introducing Google Drive to your Students

My students collaborate on all sorts of projects and assignments.  Google Drive (formally known as Google Docs) is the perfect place for collaboration to happen.  Therefore, I felt it necessary to teach my kids the basics of Google Drive.  In this project, we simply created a Google Document that each student added information.  I wanted them to see the ability of adding to the same document at the same time.  

Here is the assignment as I posted it on Edmodo. 

Lewis and Clark and Me

Turned in (6) 

DUE: 

Sep 7, 2012

This week's story is about the expedition of Lewis and Clark. They explored the Louisiana Purchase. We are going to discover more information about their expedition. 

1)Using SAFE SEARCH FOR KIDS, research Lewis and Clark. Write down 5 facts that you learned. 
2)Open GOOGLE DOCS. If it asks you to log in, the username will always be XXXX@gmail.com, and the password is XXXX. 
3)Click on the document titled LEWIS AND CLARK. 
4)Type your 5 facts. You may change the font and color. Everyone will be typing on the same document. 
5)Once you have typed your 5 facts, click the TURN IN button on this post.

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  Safe Search for Kids

  safesearchkids.com
• 

  Google Docs

  drive.google.com

Just a hint, you will need to create a Gmail account for your class.  This account and password needs to be accessible to all of your students.

You can view our document in progress by clicking {here}.

~Cara