#Why I Don’t Use Technology: Anti-Tech Teachers Lament Has No Standing!

 

The conversation went something like this:

Teacher: Do you know he suggested using Tagxedo at Reading Night?

Me: What a wonderful idea!

Teacher: I don’t see why they want to use technology. (said with disdain)

Me: Why not? The kids and parents would have a good time.

Teacher: What if it doesn’t work? What if it doesn’t print? Then what are we supposed to do?

Me: What do you mean doesn’t work? It’s really easy to use.

And the conversation continued...READ MORE

 

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“Word of Mouth” Tech Tools and Resources #2

I’ve decided that every 5 new tools I “discover”, I will not only post them on my blog, but I will also update my “Word of Mouth” Livebinder.  Hopefully, some of these tools will be useful to you as well.

Children’s Books Forever! – I found this one on ilearn Technology, always a great source for the coolest sites ever! Those of you with IWBs will love this site. Digital  FREE childrens books, classics and favorites, that can be viewed on IWBs, Powerpoints, or overhead projectors.  The quality of these books is not shabby either! I already sent the link to the lower grades in my school.

National Archives Experience- Digital Vaults –  (iLearn Technology) Do you teach SS?  Are you always in need of primary sources? All I can say is Wow! I am teaching the Civil War and I got lost in this site and what you can do with it. If you want to make history rea,l utilizing primary sources, this site is it. It’s a digital vault that you can control, you can choose the pics you want and then create a poster or movie. Excellent site!

Reading Rewards.com – (Edmodo community) I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand Reading logs. “Read for 20 minutes and write it down.” BORING! Here is a way to spice up your reading logs, it’s gone digital! And it’s not just a Reading log, they have social networking, K-12 Teacher Tools, and Reading Rewards!

thatquiz – (HP TeacherExchange) – Math test activities for students and teachers. Online interactive quizzes in a number of subjects.You can set up a class home page and administer your tests from there, or give the students the test code of the assigned test. You can create your own tests; matching, multiple choice , and slides.

Bizworld:The Bizworld Foundation (Sean Murray) I learned about this from one of my readers, the Education Coordinator for Bizworld.  If you are looking for a program that provides real world financial literacy and entrepreneurship, this is it! It’s for grades 3-8, and it’s broken down into three kits, BizWorld,  BizWiz, and  BizMovie.  Each kit provides the kids hands-on activities to promote that goal, and it looks like a lot of fun!  BizWorld focuses on business and enterpreneurship, BizWiz, money management, and BizMovie, technology and entrepreneurship. I am excited about using  BizWiz with my class this year!

“Word of Mouth” Livebinder

iLearn Technology

Apparently, during one of my forays of technology websites, I discovered iLearn Technology . 

I must have enjoyed it because I became a subscriber.  However, until yesterday, when I was supposed to be cleaning out the desk in the hallway, I rarely opened the email notifications I received from the site. Well, before I tackled the desk, I decided to get rid of all the work email that had piled up.  As procrastinators do, I began opening the email instead of deleting it, and I was glad I did.  ilearn Technology is wonderful!  This site is a wonderful resource for technology nuts such as myself.    I ended up in the archives because I was opening older emails, but it allowed me to find new sites I had not been privy to.   Every time I opened the site, the Featured Post had changed, offering me another site to check out, and another addition to my Delicious links. I really got stuck on the 31 of My Favorite  Digital Storytelling Sites page.  Yes, 31!  I was familiar with a few of them, but not all.  My mind raced with how I could apply these sites in my classroom,   Piclits,  Smilebox, and the other 29 sites that were listed. Even now, as I type this, the Featured Post is a distraction. 🙂  You can’t go wrong with this site, you can be overwhelmed, but like they say, just try one new thing. They have a search engine, and they offer applications for education for each suggested site.  I also love the fact that the authors thank contributors from their PLN for some of the sites they listed.   I never did clean out that desk yesterday, so I’m going to stay away from ilearn Technology today, at least  until that desk is clean!