Text to speech technology is rapidly improving and adapting. During the last two weeks of school a fourth grade teacher and I used glogster and xtranormal with her class to publish their research about technology in N.C. While using xtranormal, the students quickly caught on to the need to phrase questions carefully, so that the technology could get the intonation right. Just this morning while I was visiting the PBWorks Summer Camp wiki I read about someone using voki to embed a talking avatar into their wiki--takes all of five minutes, even if you fancy up your avatar. And of course, voicethread has been around for a long while now.
Enough about the cool factor--what I like about sites is the text to speech capability--users key in text and the tool transfers it to audible speech. I am amazed at how eagerly students approach learning tasks when these tools are used. And their increased conscientiousness is leading to better finished products that include more polished compositions. Afterall, who wants their avatar or their video characters to sound, well, you know, d@*b (there, I didn't say it)?
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
You Tube, Teacher Tube, Vimeo
Been aware of these Web 2.0 tools for a while, but never really given them much thought as to how they could fit in an elementary setting, so I never spent time to explore them until I read about a guy who is delivering lectures via You Tube (College 2.0: A Self-Appointed Teacher Runs a One-Man 'Academy' on YouTube http://bit.ly/bNTTy0
Thanks to Larry Ferlazzo for tweeting about it:)
I just uploaded my first You Tube video earlier this week to allow the colleague that I was preparing it for to review it and was amazed at 1. how easy it is to upload a file 2. contrary to my initial uninformed opinion, I was not besieged by pop ups, raunchy ads, raunchy videos, etc. and 3. I can control who has access the videos I upload.
Beginning to think that these tools would be an excellent way to implement reteaching activities and increase the students' capabilities to allow other students to provide feedback. For teachers--when they are preparing things for professional development, they can record real-class examples of the strategies they are using. And, finally, kids in our summer reading program really enjoy Storytime Online, so I am considering recruiting some of our local "celebrities" to complete a similar project.
Just exciting to think about the possibilities from these tools that I had more or less written off:)
Thanks to Larry Ferlazzo for tweeting about it:)
I just uploaded my first You Tube video earlier this week to allow the colleague that I was preparing it for to review it and was amazed at 1. how easy it is to upload a file 2. contrary to my initial uninformed opinion, I was not besieged by pop ups, raunchy ads, raunchy videos, etc. and 3. I can control who has access the videos I upload.
Beginning to think that these tools would be an excellent way to implement reteaching activities and increase the students' capabilities to allow other students to provide feedback. For teachers--when they are preparing things for professional development, they can record real-class examples of the strategies they are using. And, finally, kids in our summer reading program really enjoy Storytime Online, so I am considering recruiting some of our local "celebrities" to complete a similar project.
Just exciting to think about the possibilities from these tools that I had more or less written off:)
Friday, June 18, 2010
I Know my mama, but not my MoMA
But I plan to use the Do You Know Your MoMA? feature with students who absolutely love art, but could care less for reading. Each segment has a blurb about each work of art. We have Word Masters and Math SuperStars at our elementary school--wouldn't be too hard for someone to keep track of results of students who want to play along. Makes me want to look to see if other opportunities exist for other content areas:)
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Where in the world???
Happened to glance over at David's laptop the other night while he was studying for a Cultural Geography quiz and he was using activities at:
http://lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/index.html
and
http://www.maps.com/FreeStuff.aspx#
to prepare. Pretty good success rate--he scored 18/20.
What I like about both sites' activities is that users get multiple chances to answer and I also like how both sites give informational corrections. Finally, the GeoQuiz at the maps.com site uses high quality maps and included movement from place to place as if the user is turning the globe.
http://lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/index.html
and
http://www.maps.com/FreeStuff.aspx#
to prepare. Pretty good success rate--he scored 18/20.
What I like about both sites' activities is that users get multiple chances to answer and I also like how both sites give informational corrections. Finally, the GeoQuiz at the maps.com site uses high quality maps and included movement from place to place as if the user is turning the globe.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
It's Been a While...
With this new post comes a new goal--to visit at least every other day and discuss at least one new thing I have learned.
Was just thinking today as I was helping two of my colleagues burn DVDs of their 2nd grade class' year-in-pictures projects that with my use of google docs and the capacity to upload any file, that I have developed a much better understanding of file sizes,which elements of videos really bump up a project's size. Knowing these facts is helping me plan more effectively and communicate to our faculty how much production they can realistically expect to complete in a day's time. As a result, we are creating higher quality products, because we are not in a frenzied panic to get something done in 45 minutes that will in reality and by the necessity of the medium, software, and hardware we are using will take 2 1/2 to 3 times as long.
Was just thinking today as I was helping two of my colleagues burn DVDs of their 2nd grade class' year-in-pictures projects that with my use of google docs and the capacity to upload any file, that I have developed a much better understanding of file sizes,which elements of videos really bump up a project's size. Knowing these facts is helping me plan more effectively and communicate to our faculty how much production they can realistically expect to complete in a day's time. As a result, we are creating higher quality products, because we are not in a frenzied panic to get something done in 45 minutes that will in reality and by the necessity of the medium, software, and hardware we are using will take 2 1/2 to 3 times as long.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
New To Me...Resources, Events, and Applications
I will be updating content as I learn about new resources, events, and applications. Decided to combine earlier posted content. If you know of something that absolutely, should be here, let me know:)
RSS is Really Simple Syndication: Using Feedburner makes it possible to set up an RSS feed in less than 3 minutes, and yes, I really did read all the options:) My husband has been using RSS on the pages that he builds for people, but it had never really dawned on me to use it, until I started subscribing to other people's blogs. Now granted, some of the content I include in this blog will be far from earth shattering to some, but now, at least if someone wants to keep tabs on what I am learning and posting, it will be easy, I mean "really simple":)
Constructing Modern Knowledge: Read about this event in David Warlick's blog this a.m. Looks like a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in fusing creativity, communication, technology, pedagogy, etc. No go for me--in Texarkana that week for family birthdays. http://www.constructingmodernknowledge.com/Home.html
EPA Education Resources: I will be suggesting this to our Science Club sponsors since much of their programming focuses on conservation, preservation, etc.
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/index.htm
Tomie DePaola Lit. Trip : by: Andy Losik--linked via Twitter
Exuberant Games : by: Natasha Oliver--Beginning Math Animated games with NO advertisements--woo hoo:)
RSS is Really Simple Syndication: Using Feedburner makes it possible to set up an RSS feed in less than 3 minutes, and yes, I really did read all the options:) My husband has been using RSS on the pages that he builds for people, but it had never really dawned on me to use it, until I started subscribing to other people's blogs. Now granted, some of the content I include in this blog will be far from earth shattering to some, but now, at least if someone wants to keep tabs on what I am learning and posting, it will be easy, I mean "really simple":)
Constructing Modern Knowledge: Read about this event in David Warlick's blog this a.m. Looks like a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in fusing creativity, communication, technology, pedagogy, etc. No go for me--in Texarkana that week for family birthdays. http://www.constructingmodernknowledge.com/Home.html
EPA Education Resources: I will be suggesting this to our Science Club sponsors since much of their programming focuses on conservation, preservation, etc.
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/index.htm
Tomie DePaola Lit. Trip : by: Andy Losik--linked via Twitter
Exuberant Games : by: Natasha Oliver--Beginning Math Animated games with NO advertisements--woo hoo:)
Friday, April 25, 2008
I never knew that...
I will be updating this regularly, as I seem to learn daily, random, but very helpful tidbits about applications and programs that I have been using for years. I will insert newer content at the top, so, well, you know...
4. Adding labels to a blog post is as simple as noticing that there is a field for labels/tags, and taking the time to key in major topics mentioned in the post. I have been using this blog since Nov. 2007 and I guess I will see if the labels really make a difference as far as people being able to find the blog without me telling them where it is.
3. Clicking History in the drop down navigation of Internet Explorer makes it possible to see and browse to pages that I have visited within the past two weeks.
2. Paint's fill tool will fill in pretty much any space inside black lines with whatever color you choose. Again--had to slow down and explain to someone else exactly what all those tools in the pallette do.
1. Inserting a picture is a fill option in WordArt. I was helping a colleague finish up Techno-Hounds by showing her the how-tos from her how-do-you-do-? list and just stumbled across it when I was showing her how to fill WordArt with preset patterns, gradients, etc. It's been there all along, and I never had noticed it until I slowed down to show her how to access the menus that Format WordArt opens up.
4. Adding labels to a blog post is as simple as noticing that there is a field for labels/tags, and taking the time to key in major topics mentioned in the post. I have been using this blog since Nov. 2007 and I guess I will see if the labels really make a difference as far as people being able to find the blog without me telling them where it is.
3. Clicking History in the drop down navigation of Internet Explorer makes it possible to see and browse to pages that I have visited within the past two weeks.
2. Paint's fill tool will fill in pretty much any space inside black lines with whatever color you choose. Again--had to slow down and explain to someone else exactly what all those tools in the pallette do.
1. Inserting a picture is a fill option in WordArt. I was helping a colleague finish up Techno-Hounds by showing her the how-tos from her how-do-you-do-? list and just stumbled across it when I was showing her how to fill WordArt with preset patterns, gradients, etc. It's been there all along, and I never had noticed it until I slowed down to show her how to access the menus that Format WordArt opens up.
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