Activities with Audio Tools

Here are a few activities that use audio in the classroom.  Please click each image to enlarge it.

Audio Tools in the Classroom

Tired of reading about technology?  Take a listen to 3 audio tools that can be used in the classroom here.

P.S. This recording was done using the program Vocaroo!

Google Drive VS Apache Open Office

Before checking out my comparison chart, take a look at what Tech Radar has to say about Google, Office, and Open Office!

Google	Apache Open Office
Free!	Free – though you can purchase Microsoft Office
Easily share programs, files, documents with others	Must use another mode to share – email, USB key, or even Google :P
Uses a “cloud” - information is saved online	Saves to your computer – can't access files from another location
Allows for the creation of word documents, spread sheets, presentations	Allows for the creation of word documents, spread sheets, presentations
Multiple people can work on one document at the same time (live time)	Document can only be accessed by one individual
Online support available – plenty of YouTube videos and tutorials	Office has been around for 20+ years so most people are already familiar with its use
Can save files in different formats (ex. Doc, docx)	Can save files in different formats (ex. doc, docx)

Here is a final comparison of the two programs – it's definitely worth the look!

Did you Know

The DSBN has created a 21^st Century Fluency Project that aims to “cultivate 21^st century fluencies while fostering engagement and adventure in the learning experience.”

Here is a quick graphic that shows how this DSBN program attempts to help students develop into global digital citizens:

In the classroom, this is done by allowing a hands-on approach to learning. Students are using programs such as Kidblog, Audacity, and Reflex Math to stimulate learning and develop critical thinking skills. Each of these resources can be accessed at both home and school, and students are encouraged to use their Google Drive accounts to access their work.

Here is an additional list of some academic online resources that students and parents can access from home:

• Quia – French
• Digital Dialects – French
• Cool Math – Math
• Math Playground – Math
• Fun Brain – Math
• Fun English Games – Math
• NLVM – Math
• Ocean 180 – Science

Technology Tools in the Classroom

1. Class Dojo

I started using Class Dojo with my students shortly before Christmas. In short, it is a behaviour management system that allows students, teachers, and parents to monitor behaviour at school. Check it out here. The site offers three key benefits for teachers:

1. Improve Behaviour

• Allows for teachers to reward students in real time
• Students are aware that their behaviour is being monitored and tracked
• Allows for data collection to analyze long term results

2. Share Data

• Teachers can share the students' behaviour records with the students and their parents
• Feedback is printable or can be emailed
• Teachers can send student information to principal/administrators for additional monitoring

3. Save Time

• Teachers can input data at any time with only two clicks (first on the student's name, second on the corresponding behaviour)
• Data can be printed off and put in the teacher's day book
• Data pages can be used to help with the learning skills section when writing report cards

2. Audacity - Here is a quick tutorial that shows you some of the Audacity basics.

In history, several of the students in my grade seven class are recording monologues that they have created using Audacity. Audacity is a simple program that allows for audio recording and editing. Since several of my students are shy, I allowed them to record their monologues so that I am able to listen to them privately instead of having them present in front of the class. Additionally, the students are able to add background music and sound effects which can help convey the overall mood or tone of their piece. Moreover, student work can be easily saved as an MP3 and shared on blogs, iPods, webpages etc. This engaging tool has definitely shown itself to be a favourite with intermediate students and helps even my shyest students succeed!

3. Reflex Math

This is my first year using Reflex Math. It is a website designed to promote math fact fluency for junior and intermediate students. Check out the homepage and click on Watch Video to get a brief overview of the program. I introduced Reflex to my students in September and they spent 1-2 class periods a week practising and mastering basic math facts which they will need in all strands of math. The program encourages students to use Reflex 3 times a week for 30 minutes at a time to help increase fact fluency. Consequently, students are required to complete Reflex at home 1-2 times a week. As a teacher, I have an account with all of my students and where they are at on an individual basis. I can also track if and when students connect to Reflex and receive weekly updates as to the class's progress. One of my favourite aspects of the program is that it allows students to work at their own level. For example, I can have a student working on basic addition while another masters their times tables.

While browsing the site, I found some testimonials from fellow Reflex Math users:

• The data provided by the program has been very useful in guiding instruction and monitoring progress. Reflex has increased the confidence of nearly all my students. All of the students in my class are considered "struggling" math students, so any boost in confidence is a great help. Once they feel like they have a grip on the basics, most of my students are willing to take chances in problem solving and with higher level questions. I would definitely encourage the use of this program in all classes.
  
• Reflex is an amazing program that allows students to work at their own pace, reach those milestones, and reach their goals. Students continue to gain fluency at a rapid pace.
  
• When students know their basic facts they feel more successful in math, and it helps them to solve harder math problems. I have a student that struggles in math, however he is consistently the "Player of the Day" on Reflex, and has earned the most tokens in the class. He is now looked upon as the class leader!
  

Technology in Education Blogs

Blog #1: 5 Tips to Help Teachers who Struggle with Technology

As a new teacher, I am a constantly trying to develop my personal teaching style. Fortunately, I have found that several of my more experienced colleagues have been able to offer me a great deal of help and support; however, they are often unable to assist me with technology. Consequently, I found this blog very useful as it provides five practical ideas for professional development. My personal thoughts about the ideas are as follows:

1. Build a tech team

• Establish a technology “point person” who can help with easy/quick fixes
• Support staff and administrators can be great tech resources
• The age of the teacher's students or their primary teaching subject do not impede with assisting other staff with technology

2. Scaffold effective professional development

• Find a balance for technological PD (too much can be overwhelming and too little can be boring)
• Provide support if teachers want to try a new piece of technology in their classroom after a PD event
• Ask teachers what they would like to learn about – give them a voice instead of forcing technology onto them
• Allow for feedback so future sessions are beneficial and a valuable use of time

3. Make time

• Provide opportunities for teachers to learn about technology (ex. take 10 minutes out of a staff meeting to show a new tool)
• Encourage staff to sign up for PLCs so that they are able to learn about and implement new technology

4. Make it relevant

• Understand the difference between using technology and using technology effectively!
• Encourage risk-taking and provide support
• Encourage conversations to take place about technology (ex. the project that my students did using Audacity worked well because...) and challenge other teachers to try it out in their own classrooms

5. Encouragement

• Always encourage colleagues who are willing to try new things
• Offer support and be open if asked about technology (if you don't know the answer, perhaps you can find the answer together)

Overall, this blog opened my eyes to the need for technological professional development to be purposeful and important. As 21^st century teachers, we expect our students to be lifelong learners. Shouldn't we be the same?

Blog #2: Using E-Portfolios in the Classroom

With the increasing amount of technology available in most schools, it seems only normal that a shift would occur from physical copies of student work to e-portfolios. This blog offers a list of several tools that allow students to “collect, organize, and share their work.” Specifically, it provides both free and online options that students would be able to access from either school or home. As a teacher of about 150 students, a 'cloud' of student work is definitely easier for me to work with than 50 pounds of handwritten assignments!

Teaching students to build a portfolio is also a beneficial life skill as it teaches meta-cognitive and critical thinking skills which they will need in many aspects of their adult lives. Students should also be encouraged to reflect on their pieces and share their work with others such as their parents to continue academic discussion in the home in order to promote positive communication. Furthermore, e-portfolios would be an excellent asset for blended learning. Particularly with online classes, students would be able to view and critique the work of their peers even if they never met face to face. Consequently, I believe that all 21^st century learners should be encouraged to start and maintain an e-portfolio. Teachers can also model this skill and create an e-portfolio that includes personal items of importance. As a result, students and teachers are sharing in the development of their learning which strengthens and encourages lifelong learning.

Blog #3: Teaching the Essential Skills of the Mobile Classroom

I found that this final blog was able to effectively sum up the reason and importance of technology in the classroom for student learning. Specifically, the blog focused on the 4 Cs of technology:

1. Communication
2. Collaboration
3. Connection
4. Creation

Each of these is explained in more detail in the blog itself; however, I would like to share my thoughts on the 'creation' aspect. It is my belief that allowing students to be builders or constructors of their own knowledge is essential in the 21^st century classroom. Using technology to assist students in using higher order thinking skills is, in my opinion, a key reason for implementing technology into the classroom. These days, students are not required to memorize and recall facts so much as to be able to process and derive meaning from information. For example, my cousin in grade 7 could look up the year that Canada became a country. However, through the use of Bitstrips she could imagine and communicate her ideas about how the confederation debate around the table in Charlottetown unfolded. Personally, I believe students should be challenged to create and produce a new product that holds personal meaning to them (and embodies Bloom's taxonomy) as opposed to memorization and recall.   

Creative Commons

Role of the teacher pertaining to 21st Century tools:

1.  Explicitly teach about plagiarism and academic honesty

• Students need to learn what plagiarism and academic honesty actually are
• Teachers should provide students with opportunities to practice academic honesty
• Discuss why academic honesty is important - discuss implications of not being academically honest

2.  Model appropriate use of tools

• Teachers can create their own list of websites/resources that they used for each lesson at the end of the PowerPoint or activity
• Show students how to construct a reference list and cite their sources

3.  Help students critique appropriate and inappropriate uses of 21st Century tools

• Encourage students to think critically about academic honesty
• 21st century tools are not 'bad,' but they need to be used appropriately both in and out of the classroom

4.  Teach students how to give credit when using work that is not their own

• Show students how to cite work (books, websites, movies)
• Expect a reference page to be handed in with big assignments/projects showing where they found their information

5.  Praise students for giving credit

• Teachers should constantly be providing positive reinforcement to students
• Inform students of 'next steps' with regards to academic honesty (ex. older students can learn about APA and MLA formatting)