Teacher+Tools+UW-L

WIKISPACES (My Home Page)

I have participated in Wikis before, but just for posting to a discussion that someone else set up. I had no idea how versatile and easy they were! My district has gone with Google for email, etc. which includes websites. It is very difficulty to embed tools not related to Google or their partnerships. This Wiki takes almost everything. So. . . I'm hoping to try setting up my lesson plans on this classroom Wiki. I'm also hoping to do my daily calendar activities using the Wiki (which I have started). (Must create account)

Possible uses:
 * Daily Calendar activities
 * Sub plans
 * Students sick at home could access lessons???

VOKI media type="custom" key="10102123"

A voki is an avatar that you can create and make an audio track for. I think this could be very useful in giving directions, possibly as I made a voki for sub plans. I'm not sure that my students (first graders) would be able to make one of these independently. I would have to help them one at a time. (Must create account)

Possible uses: Students could:
 * Explain various concepts
 * Give a book talk
 * Recite a poem

WORDLE media type="custom" key="10102215" A wordle is made from text that you paste into the application and out comes a representation of the words. The more often the word occurs in your text, the bigger it appears in the Wordle. They Wordle above is from a story called "The Fighting Mynahs" from the WisdomCommons.org website. [|Tagxedo] was a similar application that makes your words into a chosen shape. You needed A LOT of words to make the shape.

Possible uses:
 * Mother's Day projects
 * Beginning of unit frontloading
 * Helping students understand important concepts

SYMBALOO The symbaloo site is basically a bookmarking site, but it categorizes your bookmarks for you. I envision putting together a tab for each of the units that I teach so that the websites are right there for me and I don't have to go searching for them. At this time, there is not a way to embed your personal symbaloos, you have to log-in to their website to access your symbaloos. (Must create an account)

Possible uses:
 * Creating unit or subject tabs for students to quickly access websites that you want them to visit. I think I will create a class account and set them up that way. I'll have to check to see if more than one person can log in to the same account at the same time.

DROP BOX, DROPIO, and LIVEBINDERS - These are all websites that our instructor mentioned where you can keep documents and pictures and share them with others. I have not checked these out as I use a site called keepandshare.com where I have shared documents that are too big or cumbersome to email. (Account needed)

CLASSTOOLS.NET media type="custom" key="10102291" There are several tools on this website. I really like the random name picker (for randomly calling on students). There are several graphic organizers that you can choose to customize and save. Below is a puzzle that I put together of the students in my class. I could add interests that the students have or talents that they could help the rest of the class with. (No account needed)

E.GGTIMER.COM This is a great little website for timing whatever you need in the classroom or anywhere! (No account needed)

TODAY'S MEET This website is a form of backchanneling. You can set up a discussion meeting where students or participants can respond to a discussion, lecture, or video through typing via the website. Discussions are deleted after the amount of time you set up. (No account needed) []

SCREENCAST-O-MATIC This is an on-line recording tool. It appears you can capture anything within that screen and it makes it a video.

Possible uses: Finding websites Accessing files Anything that you would need to repeat for students:)

GRABBABEAST media type="custom" key="10102347" Students can create their own beast using predetermined options. I think you can save the creature you create if you created an account, but you can buy a poster with your creature or embed it to your website. I'm not sure how I would handle students work yet - maybe upload to the wiki. (No account needed)

BUILD YOUR WILD SELF Similar to grabbabeast. When you are finished you can email it or print it. I couldn't find an embed code. (No account needed)

Possible uses:
 * Writing prompt
 * Creativity tool

SEARCH-CUBE This website creates a 3-D image with your search term. This would work well when creating my unit or subject Symbaloos. Students would enjoy its interactive feature, but I'm not sure you can always control what comes up. Work cannot be saved or embedded. (No account needed)