Digital Storytelling with Slate

Jul10

For this project, I used Slate. You can view my project here. The app Slate is free to download. The app was very easy to use. One thing I really liked about the app is that is provided helpful cues as I created the project.

Another aspect of the app that was really user-friendly is that it provided a search engine for pictures. I could search for a photo within the app instead of having to go to Google and save pictures and then put them in the presentation. This feature was really convenient.

I chose this app over others because it was very easy to use and I could also create an Adobe account so I can log-on anywhere and view my project. I would definitely recommend this app to other people because of the ease of using it and also the professional presentation it creates.

I will use this app in my future teaching career, especially for days when I have a substitute. I can prepare a presentation for my students to view even when I am not there. It also ensures that the students are told the material I really want them to know. It is a quick way to make a substitute day productive and easier for the substitute.

Using Apps in the Classroom: Tag Journal Lesson Ideas

Jul9

I used the iTunesU app to find this iBook, Tag Journal Lesson Ideas. This collection is made so students can keep a journal on their iPad or other device and easily capture important events throughout the day. They can use this app to take notes and record thought and ideas with text, photos, short videos, and voice recordings. This app can therefore be used as a field journal, lab notebook, and/or writing journal. The app also features GPS location and sound recording.

The subjects included in the app are science, literacy, and history. The ages range from 5-18. There are ideas for activities for each subject and age level. The activities include an objective and also the topic, ideal group size, and time to complete.

This app is found using the iTunesU app and then clicking on the for educators tab. After clicking on that, simply scroll down to the Using Apps in the Classroom heading. From there, there are several different options that can be downloaded.

One of the activities I looked at is the literacy activity for ages 14-18. I really liked this activity because it uses grouping, which helps students collaborate in their learning. This activity also uses a span of five days to connect an everyday observation with at least three different subjects. Then, at the end of the five days, the class creates a T-Chart to analyze “What We Learned” and “Connections.” From the work I have done including Common Core Standards, I think this activity and app will align with standards for English/Language Arts classes.

Inspiring Ideas for Teachers: Book Reports

Jul6

English classes usually contain book reports throughout the year. As a future teacher, I must be constantly thinking about how students can become more engaged and exciting about doing a book report, something they usually do not look forward to.

In order to find the course, the iTunes U app is needed. Then, after accessing the iTunes U app, select the “For Educators” icon. From there, scroll to the Inspiring Lesson Ideas section. In that section, there are several courses that can be chosen from. The course is free as well as the iTunes U app.

The course has a list of 23 different creative assignments to help students become more excited about the book report. The overview states that there are three parts to the book report: a summary and personal opinion, character analysis, and the creative component. The first two parts are what a traditional book report consists of. By adding the creative part, it is the goal that the students enthusiasm will increase. The list of 23 assignments also includes apps that will help the students. The goal of the assignments is to show that the students have read the book, thought deeply and reflected on the book, and have understood the assignment.

One of the assignments that I found in the course that was suggested for students to complete the third part of the book report, the creative component, dealt with a letter. The letter is suggested to be directed to the main character. Not only do they write a letter to the main character, but they also write a letter that the main character would respond with to the letter they sent. The letter can be written on paper, or on a computer or other electronic device. This assignment gives students the option to be creative, but also the opportunity to show the teacher that the read the book and really do understand the main character.

Overall, I think this course is extremely helpful. Students are not always excited about reading a book and then doing an assignment over it. This creative component will be helpful to encourage students to read the book and also enjoy completing the book report.

Week 5 Reflection: Tech Edge in the Classroom

Jul1

After watching three different videos, I learned about many effective apps that students can use to enhance their learning.

The first video I watched can be viewed here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/tech-edge-ipads-in-classroom/id663440596?i=320093759&mt=2. This video discussed apps that are useful for English Language Learners. Two apps that I really thought were useful were Duolingo and Marcelo the Fox. Duolingo is a game-based app that helps students learn a new language. There are multiple languages available for the students to choose from based on what language they want to learn. The student can set the time they want to use the app for to practice. Then, they have the option to take a test to see what level they should start at. There are images with the text to help them translate and remember the translation. It is a language to language translation where the app uses the language the student already knows and then uses the language they want to learn.

The Marcelo the Fox story helps students translate using an actual story. The story is only available in Spanish and English. The user can switch back and forth between the two languages. The story is also spoken in both languages for the student to listen to. There are also graphics to go along with the text.

The second video I watched discussed word games. One of the apps they discussed in the video is called Boggle. The app is free. The game gives the player random letters and then the player has to create words from the letters. The word has to be a minimum of three letters. Multiple players can play so it is a good game for group work.

Another app that was discussed was Words with Friends. This game is played between two people. It sends a notification to the player when it is their turn. This game is useful in the classroom because many people can be playing together. Also, it keeps track of how many games each person has won and lost.

The last video I watched dealt with emergent literacy. These apps would be useful for ELL students and students who are in the spectrum. ABC Photo Touch teaches students how to identify letters. The app also speaks the letter to the user. This app would not be as useful in the mainstream classroom in secondary education, but it has its purpose for students.

Another app that was discussed was called Phonemes. This app deals with the sounds letters make. When the user presses on the letter, the app shows a person speaking that sound so they can see how their lips move with the sound. It helps kids understand how sounds are made.

Overall, I learned that there are many apps that are useful for students in the English/Language Arts area. These apps are not just games, but enhance learning in the classroom. The apps are also very helpful for students who are ELL.

iMovie Trailers: Symbols in Literature

Jun29

I made an iMovie on my iPad regarding symbolism in literature, specifically symbols in The Great Gatsby. This iMovie can be used to introduce this topic to my students. You can view my iMovie here by clicking this link.

imovie__2013_ The app was overall very simple to use. It provided a variety of templates to choose from. After choosing a template, the next steps were very simple. I simply added pictures from my camera roll that I found on Google. Then, I changed the text from the generic text to something that went along with the pictures. The length was not a concern because the template already had a set length.

I will use this app in my classroom myself, but I will also have my students use it. I think they will enjoy using this app more to create presentations. They also will be more professional looking. After they complete the videos, they can easily upload them to our class YouTube page using the YouTube Capture app.

My First Tellagami Project

Jun8

I used the Tellagami app to create a short introduction for my students. I created the introduction for The Great Gatsby. When I teach the novel in my classroom, I plan to spend some time discussing the symbols throughout the book. I made a Tellagami to introduce this idea to the class.

One thing I really like about this app is the idea of using it when I have a sub. This way, the students can still hear my voice and I can explain the lesson the way I know I want it explained. It also alleviates some stress from the sub.

Another thing I liked about the app was its ease. The app was very simple to use. It also provided a tutorial that walked through every step of creating a Tellagami. This was very helpful for first time users.

Another application that this app could have in my classroom is for students to create short mini-presentations. They can post them to our class blog or e-mail them to me for me to view. This way, if we are crunched for time, they can still “present” without taking up class time.

ThingLink in Education: The Great Gatsby

Jun1

https://www.thinglink.com/scene/662010012905766912

I made a ThingLink that will help me introduce the novel The Great Gatsby. Overall, I found that app to be very useful. This app can be used in my classroom when students are creating projects, especially projects that will be presented to the entire class. It is easily visible to the class through the use of a projector.

One negative aspect of the app is that in order to utilize all the features, you have to pay to upgrade it. However, the free version of the app is still very useful and creates a professional, organized presentation. The app would be friendly in classrooms with current budget cuts because it is free. Also, if students have Internet access outside the classroom, they are able to continue working on their presentation outside of class.

ThingLinkforTeachers One way I will use this app in my classroom is at the end of novels. I will have students work in groups to make their ThingLink, but each student can be assigned to create an individual bullet point on the LingLink. I think the application of ThingLink in this sense will be very useful in my classroom.

Lauren Rowe

Future English Teacher

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