Podcasts: I WANT IT FREE!

Well like many of you educators, I like the word FREE! When it comes to podcasting in my classroom, I have experimented with a couple. Gabcast.com is no longer free (as of March 2009) but while in the quandry to find a new podcast tool, I kept using it because I can sometimes be like everyone else and find myself resistant to change.   Don't get me wrong, I think Gabcast is great and if it were free I would keep using it and I can DEFINITELY understand the need to charge in today's day and time, however my pockets are empty and I must do what I can! So, finally I went out and began the search!

Here are the ideas I came across:

TALKSHOE.com : This is a free podcast site which allows for GROUP podcasting or Community Calls.  You can schedule your calls in advance.  These hosted Community Calls can be discussions, conversations, talk shows and podcasts. For Bloggers and Podcasters: with TalkShoe, you can better connect with your podcasting and blogging audience. You create, schedule and run a live show, and you’re in control. You can do it live with others, or upload existing podcast episodes. When you’re finished recording, your show is then listed on TalkShoe, and can be listed on your blog, iTunes, and other podcast directories.

PODBEAN.com: This website offers a basic podcasting service for free. You must be able to upload your own file (audacity has an older version that is free to download for their website) in order to publish on Podbean.com

Ways to Incorporate your SMARTBOARD

A few of the teachers in our school district have applied for grants for SMARTBOARDS.  A few received them including one at the Junior High level and one at the PreK position. With such a wide gap in instruction from the PreK level to that of the Junior High, I was curious as to what was available for them online.  There are various tools available for all levels of instruction. I am currently working on the Junior High level, but as of now here are a few for the younger ones:

** Personal Favorites**

PRIMARY AND ELEMENTARY

WEB 2.0 FOR TEACHERS

SMARTBOARD RESOURCES

SMARTBOARD LESSONS

ENGAGING LEARNERS THE SMARTBOARD WAY

SMARTBOARDS IN ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS

INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARD RESOURCES K-5

SMARTBOARD RESOURCES 

 (ALL LEVEL AND CONTENT AREAS)

QUIZ TREE

(ALL AREAS AND USES FOR SIGHT WORDS)

abcYA!

Using Electronic Whiteboards in Your Classroom: Profiles, ideas, lesson plans and web sites

WHITEBOARD TOOLS FOR NUMERACY

TES iBOARD

HARCOURT'S:

SCIENCE UP CLOSE K-6

THINK MATH K-5

2LEARN

CANADIAN BASED; ALL LEVELS ADDRESSED

SMARTBOARD ACTIVITIES

LONGWOOD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
ELEMENTARY AND INTERMEDIATE

PRIMARY RESOURCES
(REALLY NEAT!)

SMARTTECH
(NOTICE THERE ARE 12 PAGES TO SCROLL THROUGH AT THIS SITE. LOCATED ON THE BOTTOM LEFT HAND PORTION OF THE SCREEN)

EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER
(ALL GRADE LEVELS)

PBS KIDS INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARD GAMES

E-LEARNING FOR KIDS
A+ SITE!

ILLUMINATIONS: MATH

GREAT K-3 SMARTBOARD SITES WITH JULIE THOMPSON





SECONDARY: JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL

SHODOR INTERACTIVE MATH ACTIVITIES

EXPLORE LEARNING (GRADES6-12)

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF VIRTUAL MANIPULATIVES (GRADES 9-12)

SMARTBOARD ACTIVITIES

(INCLUDES ACTIVITIES FOR SCIENCE, FRENCH, MATH, SOCIAL STUDIES, SPECIAL EDUCATION, MUSIC)

LONGWOODCENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY: WICHITA PUBLIC SCHOOL
(GRADES 9-12) SCIENCE, MATH, SOCIAL STUDIES, ESOL, LANGUAGE ARTS, EXTRA CURRICULAR INCLUDING: DRIVER'S ED, ACCOUNTING, COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY, ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, PARENTING CLASS, PE, FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE, SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND DRAMA)

INTERNET4CLASSROOMS
RESOURCE SITE

HIGH SCHOOL E-THEME LINKS
MATH

EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER
(ALL LEVELS)

There are many more out there, and as I come across them, I will post! Have fun with your SMARTboard!

Pixton

Here is another "comicstrip" Web 2.0 tool that would be perfect for any type of presentation (gotta love those that span the content areas!).
It is PIXTON! Check out their tutorial.

Classtools.net

Very cool resource for teachers. All the games are embeddable so you can pop them into your class wiki! All content areas can use this tool and of course, it's more engaging for the kiddos! It would also be a great idea and it's easy enough, for kids to create their own game as a project or end product to a unit.

CHECK IT OUT!

Digital Storytelling

There are many ways for students to experience digital storytelling today. Web 2.0 tools that provide the ability for students to publish their works can be found all over the net.

Here is a video that explains what digital storytelling encompasses.






VoiceThread is an example of digital storytelling: This slideshow presents many ideas for using VoiceThread in the classroom setting.

VoiceThread in the Classroom

PIZAP! FREE ONLINE PHOTO EDITOR

How to use Pizap

View more presentations from digitalmaverick.

How to use Museum Box

WooHoo! Another Web 2.0 tool for teachers to create ENGAGED learners in their classrooms! This is cool and students are sure to love utilizing it as an end product to various assignments!

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

How to use Museum Box

View more presentations from digitalmaverick.

Using Museum Box

View more presentations from S Kennedy.

PODSTOCK 2010

PodStock 2010

Podstock 2010 will take place July 16 and 17 in Wichita, Kansas. Join the Podstock 2010 Facebook Event to stay up to date about the conference, as well as the conference Ning. Podstock is not just a conference, as Kevin explains it is envisioned as a MOVEMENT.

I Need My Teachers to Learn

Teacher Creates Global Ning: Needs Educators for Collaboration

Although this project is geared toward High School students and teacher, the concept would work well with Junior High and ambitious Elementary students as well.  Global Nation is a website that invites students and teachers from all over the world to share about their cultures.  I have seen postings from students in Afghanistan and even Indondesia. 

The website states: "The purpose of this forum is for educators to collaborate on a Unit of study called Globalization. Educators will join together to create a Unit of study on Globalism in which their students will be able to use distance labs and advanced technologies to teach each other about each other. The purpose of this program is to promote world peace through understanding. I think it is important for us as educators to start thinking about education in a global perspective. Never before in history has the world been this inter-connected. Technology has made it possible for us to communicate with each other in ways no one would have imagined just a few years ago. Texting, twittering, Facebook, Myspace, emails, blogs, webcasts, podcasts, and other technologies have created a global village of sorts. There is a tremendous cultural lag behind this technological revolution, Sure, we can communicate with each but do we really understand each other. It is the duty, the responsibilty of every educator to prepare their students for a world in which peace can only be achieved through true understanding. This understanding comes from education" (Strelec).

Strelec, J. (2010). Global nation: a global way to educate. Retrieved from http://globalnat.ning.com/

Newseum

OK for all those teachers who love to incorporate current events in their teachings, here is an engaging and interactive way to do so! I am providing a link to a screencast which shows how this tool works as well as a screencast provided by Mr. Tooke, from Wilkerson Intermediate and how incorporates it into this curriculum. Carpe Diem and best of luck! Technology Rocks!
http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cQiqY6fo5
http://screencast.com/t/aMBc446Q

5E Process

Persuasive Presentation on Prezi