Movie making magic!!!!

Technology is a great way to engage students in the classroom.  Students love iPads, pods, computers anything gadgety! I think that whenever they get the opportunity to use any of these things their attention is grab right away.  Making movies is a great way for children to learn about specific topics because they have to think about all of the details.  I'm all for making movies and using technology in the classrooms! YIPPEEE!!!!!!

MARKBOOK SPREADSHEETS

Ok folks I'm back!! Uni holidays have been crazy and I'm getting ready to finish off uni!

Today we were learning about markbook spreadsheets and they are amazing!!! I think these are a must have tool for all teachers. They will keep our marks, notes, EVERYTHING in order! I think I would use an app rather then create my own because I'm all about the time saving, but I think it's awesome!!

Mr. Schultz's Classroom Rules!!!!

Mr Schultz is teaching the class about rules!!!

I think comics are a great teaching tool.  Students have a great time making them and they engage in them really well.  I really like them!!!!

Multimedia hey hey hey!!!!!

All right, I'm totally a bit frustrated with this whole multimedia stuff.  I'm really struggling with embedding video's and such in my powerpoints!!!  Grrrr total annoyance today!!!!!

Are there ACTUALLY 7 things we should know about blogs?????

Well, well, well!  There really is a lot of information out there about blogs.  Some of the things that I consider most important are the following:
1.  What is it?
Blogs are a short-hand term for 'Web Log'.  It is a collection of personal commentary and links that someone has written about, or better yet, 'blogged about' and put on line.  Blogs can be accessed anytime and anywhere as long as there is an internet connection.
2.  Who's doing it?
Well, EVERYONE, basically is doing it now.  Blog's are getting SOOO popular it is crazy.  Teachers, students, parents and everyone in-between are getting onto the band wagon of blogging.  They are group blogs, class blogs, family blogs, individual blogs, even corporate blogs.  Even I'M BLOGGING!!!!!!!
3.  How does it work?
Well, you simply find the right blogging application that suits you and you pop your information into it and VOILA its there online for everyone to see.  Entries can include anything from writing, to hyperlinks and images and EVEN video's!!  I know, totally CRAZY, (or as the youth of today would say 'tots cra cra'
4.  Why is it significant?
I'm going to quote straight from the article I've read because it totally sums it all up.  "Blogs foster the growth of communities, and the dynamics of collaborative filtering and recommending/referring may provide new ways to evaluate, vent and critique student-created knowledge.
5.  What are the downsides?
Well with anything great, there are always downsides!  Blogs mainly can include biased or inaccurate information.  It is the equivalent of an online trashy mag.  There's a lot being said but what is actually the truth is hard to determine.  As I like to say, 'perception is every persons reality'.
6.  Where is it going?
So I've read that there is something stupid like 50 million people blogging.  It's gone completely viral, similar to the Facebook epidemic.
7.  What are the implications for teaching and learning?
They are beginning to be more and more accepted within the education system.  They are used for a vast variety of things and this can be on either sides of the spectrum.  The implications will vary due to individual perception and belief.  

Podcast Shhhmodcast!!!

Ok, ok!!!  Really what is the BIG deal about bloody podcasts?  I don't get it.  I need to be able to have something to look at rather than just listening to it.  I find that it is a bit like having the car radio on in the background and you can hear the music but are you really listening to it?  I know that the majority of the time I'm not.  I would rather be looking at a slideshow and actually reading the material then listening to something.  Listening, for me, is to Music.

 Writing about podcasts!  Blogging is Fun, Podcasts, not so much!!  

Did someone say e-portfolio?

All right Peeps, listen up here's the story about the guy that lived in a blue world!  Haha, not really,  I've just learnt about e-portfolio's and the crazyness, confusingness of them!  I think once I wrap my head around it and if I keep using it then it will start to make a bit more sense.  I also think that it could be a very useful tool for future use, I'm just not to sure yet what I will be using it for!!  Right now assignments are only coming to mind.  Maybe an assignment on the Canadian Grizzly Man (as seen below) and teaching him about Wifi, wiki's and e-portfolio's!  AMAZING!!!!

Wiki Wiki WHAT!!!

Hmmm, what do I think about wiki's.  I don't really understand them, but that could be because I'm a bit oldschool in my way of thinking.  What's wrong with just a simple pen and paper?  I get that they can be a good tool to use within the classroom and some even mentioned that they could be used to communicate with parents, but blog's can be used for the same thing!  

Crazy Canadians learning about technology

So far so good!!  Wednesday night has turned into madness learning about the Great Canadian Wilderness and the use of technology.  Can bears use computers and are Tree Octopuses real?