How can you transform those boring paragraph format blogs? Add a voki or an interactive quiz! Use the many free Web 2.0 options out there. Let's talk quizzes.
I recently had my 3rd and 4th grade Gifted and Talented students complete a research project on a topic of their choice. While I was interested in their research, my primary goal was to teach them how to use some great web 2.0 tools so that we can start blogging our way through the school year.
Blogging is a great way for students to highlight their work and it allows parent interaction and it is easy to do collaborations and more. I loved this project. The students spent more time on vokis, learning the blog dashboard, categorizing posts and importing graphic and videos than actually researching their topic. Overall, it was a great success and I am looking forward to the next project where content is king.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Password Management
Web 2.0 is the greatest thing ever! Especially when you consider the advanced technology available to us today. And the best part about it- a lot of it is FREE!
Recently, my third grade class went green and completed a Gifted and Talented Project all online! No papers, no posters, no mess! They blogged their projects using Dabbleboard for brainstorming, edublogs to record information and Voki to add that cool factor! They also have an e-mail account for communication purposes. That adds up to a really cool project and 4 username and password combinations!
So what is a frazzled GT/Technology teacher to do? How do I manage all of those passwords? Or better yet how do I teach the students to manage their own passwords?
My solution was to have each student maintain a file in their e-mail inbox draft folder. They opened a new e-mail and then listed all of the websites and passwords. Then they save the e-mail as a draft with the subject line "Password Management." So next time they ask me, "What's my password?" I can direct them to their own system of management, thus saving me a few more hairs from early gray.
Of course, I have access to the password for the e-mail accounts and blogs, because I am the administrator of those accounts. But for those really great web 2.0 products out there, the students have to log in and create an account. I can't imagine trying to manage all of those log ins and passwords. Personally, I have to keep a large rolodex with all of my various passwords and usernames.
Recently, my third grade class went green and completed a Gifted and Talented Project all online! No papers, no posters, no mess! They blogged their projects using Dabbleboard for brainstorming, edublogs to record information and Voki to add that cool factor! They also have an e-mail account for communication purposes. That adds up to a really cool project and 4 username and password combinations!
So what is a frazzled GT/Technology teacher to do? How do I manage all of those passwords? Or better yet how do I teach the students to manage their own passwords?
My solution was to have each student maintain a file in their e-mail inbox draft folder. They opened a new e-mail and then listed all of the websites and passwords. Then they save the e-mail as a draft with the subject line "Password Management." So next time they ask me, "What's my password?" I can direct them to their own system of management, thus saving me a few more hairs from early gray.
Of course, I have access to the password for the e-mail accounts and blogs, because I am the administrator of those accounts. But for those really great web 2.0 products out there, the students have to log in and create an account. I can't imagine trying to manage all of those log ins and passwords. Personally, I have to keep a large rolodex with all of my various passwords and usernames.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Dabbleboard- Cool whiteboard app and interactive teaching tool
This is a great online tool for brainstorming, drawing and collaborating. This tool comes complete with video chat and everything. Registration is free and you can save all of your work. Check out one great thing we can do with Dabbleboard.
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