S e p t e m b e r 2 4 , 2 0 1 0

J o a n b a d g e r : L w I C T / m i d d l e y e a r s p r o g r a m l e a d e r

N e w s l e t t e r

For Middle yearsSearch, learn, share!

An hour of hands-on activities

jbadger@sunrisesd.ca

Blogger in the Classroom

Get the tool: http://www.blogger.com

What is it? Blogger is a tool that makes it easy to instantly publish weblogs or “blogs.” Blogs are webpages consisting of frequently updated posts. The newest post appears at the top of the page, followed by recent posts in reverse chronological order. Older posts appear in archives, usually organized by month. Blogger makes it easy to create rich multi-media posts that include text, links, pictures, and videos. Visitors can comment on posts - or subscribe to the blog using a feed reader.

Why use it? •Students can use Blogger to: • Keep a reflective learning journal throughout the school year. • Post messages, photos, and videos from a family vacation. • Share schoolwork with their peers, parents, and others. •Teachers can use Blogger to: •Post resources, lessons, and homework assignments. •Keep parents up-to-date on class happenings. •Reflect on their own teaching practices and share their ideas with other educators. •Keep a reflective learning journal throughout the school

Some examples of Blogshttp://www.freetech4teachers.com/

http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/

http://6bdmath.blogspot.com/

Google Docs in the Classroom

Get the tool: http://docs.google.com

What is it? Google Docs is a free online word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation editor that allows you to create, store, share, and collaborate on documents with others. If you know how to use other word processors, spreadsheets, and presentation programs, you can easily use Google Docs. Instead of emailing files back and forth between collaborators, Google Docs allows people to work on a single version of a document together online. The chat feature on presentations makes it possible to create a “permeable classroom” by bringing experts into a lesson to interact with students online. You can also create web-based surveys to collect information from students, teachers, or parents.

Why use it? Students can use Google Docs to: • Work on their files from any computer—all they

need is an internet connection. • Get instant feedback on their work from multiple collaborators and their teacher. • Publish their papers and presentations on the web

for an authentic audience.

Teachers can use Google Docs to: • Provide timely feedback to students at any point during the writing process. • Collaborate with colleagues on shared materials and assessment data. • Publish handouts and presentations online for students and parents.

Google Maps in the Classroom

Get the tool: http://maps.google.com/

What is it? Google Maps is a powerful, user-friendly mapping tool available on the internet and viewed in your web browser. In addition to driving directions and local business information, Google Maps also provides terrain maps, satellite imagery, and (in places) a 360 degree photographic “street view” of the real world. Using the “My Maps” feature students and teachers can also collaborate to create their own custom maps by adding new placemarkers that include text, images, and video. Custom Google Maps can be shared by copying a simple web link or embedding the map in a class website.

Why use it? Students can use Google Maps to: • Keep track of class pen pals • Take virtual tours of countries where a language they are studying is spoken. (Include planning for local transportation, site-seeing, dining and hotel reservations!) • Learn about animal and plant life by embedding information in maps of different habitats.

Teachers can use Google Maps to: • Plan a field trip with students. • Create a map of the school or school events for parents. • Teach history by embedding primary documents into interactive maps for students to explore.