"Creativity is contagious, pass it on." ~Albert Einstein

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Some of you might be wondering what those funny looking cut-outs are all over York Elementary School.  They are called QR (Quick Response) Codes.  They are  becoming pretty popular and I bet you have seen them in magazines, at the supermarket, or even in the newspaper.  QR codes are basically barcodes on steroids.  They can hold a ton of data and are relatively easy to use and create. Check out this YouTube video of an elementary child explaining a use for QR codes:


via marragem's Channel on YouTube

There are a myriad of ideas when it comes to using QR Codes in the classroom.  I have integrated a couple of ideas the first couple weeks of school.  As you wander through the media center you may have noticed several QR Codes.  I have linked several of our more popular books to various media so our kids can meet the author or see a trailer made especially for a book they are wanting to check out.  In the next month or so you will be seeing more of them in the media center (and hopefully around the school) as kids start producing book trailers and podcasts that other kids, parents and teachers will be able to check out using the QR Code reader on their smart phones or other digital devices.
How do you read a QR Code?  It's actually quite easy.  If you have a smartphone or other digital device,  download the QR code app and you are ready to be informed.

Android phone app
iPhone/iPod/iPad app 

When it comes to creating your QR Code, it is relatively easy.  I have had a lot of success with a QR Code generator called Kawya.  It is very easy to use and will fit the needs for your classroom.

Here are some additional links for ideas on how to use QR Codes in your classroom:


QR Code Scavenger Hunt

10 Ways

Tons of Ideas!

QR Code Scavenger Hunt Generator <---Awesome idea!


Here is a LiveBinder with a wealth of information pertaining to QR Codes:



I currently have an iPad and iPod in the media center set up to read QR Codes.  If this sounds like something you would like to integrate into your class, I would love to help you plan and design a technology rich lesson involving QR Codes! 

Good Luck!




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Sunday, August 21, 2011

What a fantastic first week of school!  The kids at York Elementary are ready to go and they have filled me with vibrant energy!  I wanted to break up the usual first week routine of introductions and the "what you did this summer" so I incorporated an app for the iPad/iPhone/iPod I found about three weeks ago called Songify

As soon as I pulled out the iPad there were "oohs and ahhs" all around.  I think it's common knowledge that when kids are interested in something they are going to learn better.  Now the activity that I did with my students wasn't exactly going to tap into their higher order thinking skills, but I had them ENGAGED.

Songify takes what you say and turns it into a catchy, hip hoppy type of tune when you play it back.  You have different types of music you can choose to mix your song to, there are even other genres available for purchase.   The kids couldn't wait to hear what they had recorded.  There were many giggles and smiles which led me to believe the kids truly enjoyed it.

Here are a few ways that you could use this app in the classroom....

Vocabulary

Concepts that you are trying to teach (6 traits of writing, 5 pillars of Islam, 3-R's and other character traits, scientific method, problem solving steps, etc.)

Poetry

Memorization of just about anything (states,  math facts, dates, etc.)

I hope that you will share the ways in which you use this neat app! 


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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

I don't know about you but I was never really a good test taker.  I always thought I had better things to think about when it came to school like sports practice, what was for lunch or new ways to get out of having to study!   If I only knew the things I know now back then......  For some reason when I think of testing I always envision this funny scene from the movie Spies Like Us:

No, I am not condoning cheating in this blog post, I just remember that scene and thought it would a good way to introduce a cool feature involving Google Forms.  I was privileged to do a presentation on it at the Nebraska Educational Technology Association and it's a pretty nifty little script.   It's called Flubaroo.  Flubaroo is a script that you embed into an assessment you have created using Google Forms that will in turn grade the assessment for you.

Here is how simple it is to create your assessment using Google Forms

via The Teaching Palette

Here is how to use Flubaroo

via Flubaroo100
When I was teaching 8th grade Social Studies I used Google Forms for all of my assessment needs as the district I was teaching in didn't provide ANGEL LMS accounts to grades 9-12.  It was before  Flubaroo came out, but I found it easy to create assessments using Google Forms and the kids truly enjoyed taking their tests in an online format.

I would like to encourage you to give it a shot and see what you think.  Good luck!


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Monday, August 8, 2011

It's hard to believe that we are already into the second week of August getting ready for another school year to start.  I am sure that you asked yourself the same question that I have several times, "Where did the summer go?"

I hope that you had a refreshing, invigorating and productive summer.  I know that I am anticipating  the 2011-2012 school year.  I hope you are as excited as well.  I find myself feeding off of the energy of the kids when we are in the building and I truly miss that during the summer time! I have lots of ideas and projects that I can't wait to share with you this year at York Elementary.

I can't wait to get the year kicked off next week and hope that we can do some amazing things regarding the use of technology in your classroom and at York Elementary.  I have composed a "list" of things that I would like you to do over the next couple of days so that we can get the year rolling as smoothly as possible.

I know you will be busy this week, but I would greatly appreciate it if you could do the following before you leave Friday:

1.  Turn on your LCD projector to make sure it is working.

2.  Power up your SMART Board and check to see that your pens are working, orient your SMART Board,  then proceed to an interactive website that you have used in class to make sure the touch pad is working.

3.  Write down any computer issues you are having and send them in an ODIE ticket as soon as possible.

4.  Take time to look through my Diigo library and see if there is anything that might assist you in your classroom.  If you are interested in setting up a Diigo account, I would love to help you!

5. Go to this Google Doc and list three things that you would like to learn this year that pertain to technology and how it will benefit you in the classroom.  (Edmodo, Schoology, Twitter, etc.)

I look forward to working with each of you this year and want to make integrating technology into your classroom as fluid as possible.
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Thursday, August 4, 2011

I have had several requests from teachers on how to update their web pages.  Here is a short video that will walk you through the process.  If you have any questions,  I am more than willing to sit down with you next week and help you with any questions you may have when it comes to your website.   I hope that you have had a restful and productive summer!

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