Museum Box

The Museum Box is a cool little site that I have had on my list of sites to post about for a while. It allows students to create what I like to call a "virtual or interactive time capsule" filled with information pertaining to a specific event in time, a person, place, etc. This is a great way for kids to debate a topic presenting their argument through visuals that can include documents, images, videos, and sound. Students can also view and comment on museum boxes submitted by others.

The Museum Box interface is pretty slick and your students will quickly learn how to create their boxes using the onscreen "eye catching" buttons and easy to follow directions. The box is divided into multi -layered cubes, with each side of the cube containing the artifact (document, image, etc.). Another feature I like is that it does not require using a specific Internet browser. It will work on Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Chrome, etc.

Set up is easy, but does require an initial school registration that is free. Your account has to be verified that can take up to 5 days. This allows you the ability review and approve your pupils' work. Once you are approved, you can login to the Teacher Administration area and create student accounts (under Manage Users) or ask your pupils to sign up and select your school from the school list. Once this is done, when pupils submit their boxes they will go to you for review and publication.

Here's a video that overviews Musum Box from EduTeacher TV. Check it out!!

Put some Pizzaz into your Presentations with Prezi!

Have you heard of a website called Prezi? Prezi is a digital zooming story telling and presentation tool that helps you create outstanding visuals for your thoughts. The site allows teachers to create engaging and interactive presentations in which you can ZOOM into specific key points according to the discussion in class. Once you are finished presenting to students, you can give them the web link to review the presentation at home.

What's neat about Prezi is that all your information such as text, graphics, videos, etc., are placed on one big canvas (no additional slides are needed!). You move around from topic to topic setting up paths from one to the other. You can ZOOM out to see a whole concept, and ZOOM in to take a closer look at it's parts. It blows PowerPoint out of the water!!

Here's an example of a prezi that I created (click the link below). Not only was it fun to make, it was really easy to do. Once my prezi opens, use the on-screen arrow keys to navigate and the magifying glasses to zoom in and zoom out.

"What is Prezi?"

Forget Blogging, Try Glogging!!

I can often be found behind my laptop investigating websites to see if they are worthy of a TechTip. The questions I ask are: Does it have the potential to improve student learning? Will it provide a new method for teaching a current curriculum? Will it engage students and get them excited in the learning process? Will it be easy for the teachers and students to use? Glogster is one of those sites I answered "Yes" to all of the above asked questions.

Glogster creates Glogs or Virtual Online Posters. Posters have been used forever in education as both a teaching tool and as means to evaluate what a student has learned about a certain topic. They are a great way for students to express themselves. Because the world we live in is bursting at the seams with multimedia technology, it's only natural that kids and teachers can now design posters on the world wide web. No paper, markers, or glue are necessary to design snazzy expressive glogs! Gloster is a free site that is web based allowing students and teachers to share their projects globally.

Don't take my word for it. Check out this SlideShare Presentation that does a nice job explaining what Glogster is all about:

Ga E T C Glogster

View more presentations from Techtalk.

Game Time....bring it on!!

This one goes out to all you mathematicians out there. Calculation Nation...have you heard of it? I discovered it by accident while finding free online games that were safe and educational for my kids to play at home. We all know that there are a ton of free online educational games. I've had my kids playing them since they were able to hold a mouse, but not one has hooked them as quickly as Calculation Nation. Wow!! This one's a keeper. I could see this being used in a computer lab setting, as a group activity in your room with a data projector, and most definitely with the interactive whiteboards.

The beauty of this website, besides the fact that it is free, is its' design. The first step is to create an account that involves choosing your player identify from a list of character options. Brilliant!! Every video game out there these days from the Wii to Club Penguin, requires the same thing...assuming an alter identity! Kids love it!!! Because it simulates what they are doing in their personal gaming world, they don't seem to mind that "it's for learning".

Students choose whether they want to challenge opponents from anywhere in the world or challenge themselves. The "passport" keeps track of the location of your opponents by sticking a red dot on the map location. Arrange a classroom challenge to see who will be first to play someone from each of the 50 states!

The games are designed for the upper elementary and middle grades math curriculum. These online math strategy games allow kids to learn about fractions, factors, multiples, symmetry and more, as well as practice important skills like basic multiplication and calculating area — all while having fun. In the game "Fraction Feud" for example, players prepare to battle in this game of fraction action! In each joust, players earn points by creating a larger (or smaller) fraction than your opponent.

Another feature I like about this great online global learning environment, is the fact that it has something for everyone: Students, Teachers, Parents (all participants in a child's learning adventure!). Each games includes a "How to Play" page for students, as well as, information for both teachers and and parents complete with a .pdf downlad titled: "A Families Guide: Fostering Your Child's Success in School Mathematics."

So get on your game face and let the math competition and learning begin.!!!

BRING IT ON!!

Poetry Month Picks

Since April is the month for verse,
I hope my focus you will not curse,

I went ahead and picked some sites,
That I hope will aid in your poetry plights,

Links for games and haiku reads,
Interactive forms and video feeds.

Click on the links to take a look,
If you don't find it here...get a poetry book!!

Magnetic Poetry: Just like the set on your fridge, this fun interactive website allows students to arrange words to make their own poems (enforces language and writing skills). http://www.magneticpoetry.com/magnet/

Poetry4Kids: This site is just chocked full of resources. They have it all: Poetry Games, Podcasts, Lesson Ideas, School Author Visits, Contests, and more.
http://www.poetry4kids.com/

TeacherTube (Video Examples): Looking for video? Don't forget TeacherTube...great collection of poetry recitation by students and lessons presented by teachers.
http://www.teachertube.com/search_result.php?search_id=poetry

Instant Poetry Forms: Students choose from of list of available poetry forms and then fill in the blanks using their own words to create a poem that they can print from the web. http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/newpoem.htm

poetryvlog.com: A weekly video of original poetry read by the poet. Poems read are available in text format. http://poetryvlog.com/

TeenSpace: Teen Poetry Wiki: If you know student's who love poetry...show them this site. Like all wikis, this site provides students a location to write, read, share, and discuss their poems with other teens from around the world! Other features include Poet of the Week and WordPlay (poetry exercises designed to strengthen lexile skills). http://www.ipl.org/div/teenpoet/

Thinkfinity: Read.Write.Think: Poetry Search Results: 29 different resources including online poetry forms, poetry collection charts, poetry webquests, lesson plans, magnetic poetry, plus much much, more: http://thinkfinity.org/PartnerSearch.aspx?Search=True&orgn_id=9&subject=all&partner=ReadWriteThink&resource_type=interactives&q=poetry&grade=all

VoiceThread.com: A poetry search provides a large selection of threads ranging from poetry analysis, poetry reads, art & poetry, original poetry pieces, and much more. http://voicethread.com/#q+poetry

Enjoy!!