Rhyming Words---Bookr

For my story I chose to focus on rhyming words.  I developed a very advanced book using Bookr on another topic and attempted to publish it...it failed and in turn lost my entire book.  This was my second attempt.  It worked with the shorter book so I assumed my first book was too long.  This website was very exciting for me at first.  I was so motivated to use it.  There were many different actual photographs that were so much more interesting than an average clip from clip art or image from google images.  In this respect I really liked this technology.  I see my students easily navigating through the website, but I do wonder if the website is trustworthy...will they feel as frustrated as I did...does it lose work often?!  If not then I believe they would truly enjoy working with this type of tool.
In the case of this book I developed a short story for very young students (kindergarten).  I wanted them to be exposed to rhyming words in an interesting way.  MY OBJECTIVE:  The students will be able to identify all of the rhyming words within the text through oral response with 90 percent accuracy.  I think that students would love hearing this story as I would present it first.   Next, I think they would love following along with the rhyming words and speaking them with me while they enjoy the real life photos :).
Jen and her Hen

Digital Story Telling

As the University of Houston states in their article, The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling, this technology is a way to use computer-based tools to tell stories.  The idea of this technology is that we are able as educators and students to participate in the exchange of ideas using video clips, images, music and sound as a way of communicating more effectively.  It is important to note that most educational uses for digital storytelling are anywhere from two minutes to ten minutes in length.  The educational uses for this type of technology varies.

"Educators at all levels can use Digital Storytelling in many ways, from introducing new material, to helping students learn to conduct research, synthesize large amounts of content and gain expertise in the use of digital communication and authoring tools."

I think that this technology is an awesome way to do any of the things previously stated.  I see this technology as an exciting new way to present information to my students and allow my students to present to me.  An excellent resource to use in any classroom :).

Photo By: genericface

How to use Microblogs in Professional Development & Teaching

After having read, How to use Twitter for Social Learning, on Diigo I began to recognize all the different possibilities for this type of technology within the world of education.  To name a few, collaborative writing, twitter book clubs, micro learning and even for feedback and quizzes.  I think that these ideas listed are all ways that I would be able to use twitter in my classroom.  I think that students would become more engaged in the process of reading for a book club if they were allowed the time necessary to actually go on twitter and respond or reflect to and through their classmates via twitter.  What an excellent way to incorporate "hip" technology for our youth.
On another note I also read, TeachPaperless:  Twimpact: Twitter's impact on my week.  This was very a very inspiring article highlighting the importance of twitter regarding teacher growth.  This specific educator explained, "I learned a new trick for the Promethean Board that I never would have known was possible".  Ah ha...this twitter for educators thing really is possible.  It seemed from this specific Blog that twitter had provided only positive attributes to his teaching and continued learning.  I think that some of the available networks he was able to establish, and in turn, the information he was able to acquire wouldn't have been possible without Twitter :).
I see the value of this network and plan on incorporating it soon (with restrictions of course:).