Web Quests

Web Quests are fun and interactive ways to encourage collaboration and deeper thought. Teachers must create the web quest, and students once put in groups, would work through the web quest.

Im still a little uncertain about the webquest, but here are some websites to help me and you out.

example of a Web Quest




Web Quest Building:
http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=68367

http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=51190

http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=68364

http://zunal.com/index.php



Evaluating Web Quests:
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/processchecker.html

http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquestrubric.html



Web Quest Resources:
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/finepoints/index.htm 

http://www.webquest.org/ 

Web Quest Template 



My Web Quest

Podcast Update

I was just given a few great video tutorials on how to use Audacity from my professor and wanted to share them with you. This program is usually not used for Mac computers, Im not sure if the program even exists for them or not. Anyways if you don't have a mac and want to learn how to make a podcast, here are three great videos telling you the basic steps on how to make a podcast using Audacity.

Video #1

Video #2

Video #3

Padlet

Padlet is a cool interactive tool where you post anything you want on a blank wall that can be shared and collaborated on. I think this tool would be great for many assignments in the classroom and its great because the students can easily contribute to the discussion.

To make a new wall, you can either sign up or just start a new one with out an account. I got an account because its free so might as well.

So how do you do it? To post you simply double click onto the wall and add text, picture, articles, or video. You can also just simply drag and drop. It's easy!

Heres a few helpful videos if you are still confused.

http://padlet.com/

How to use Padlet


and here is my Padlet
 Ms Cryders Classroom

Podcasts and Vodcasts

 In my class, one assignment I have to do is a podcast. I had listened to a podcast during an online course once, and it was okay, but other than that I haven't had much experience in it. I have been listening to a few podcasts as well as a few vodcasts, and to my suprise, there is a lot you can do through this tool.

To make a podcast you must have a mic, headset, and software. Some software is free, while others you have to pay for. One free software for Mac users is Garage Band.

When making a podcast there are a few things you should be aware of.

You should probably have some kind of background music, either while you speak or during silent moments.

You should also be sure to pronounce words correctly and clearly to enable to listener to be able to fully understand you.

Last thing I would be aware of is the inflection of your voice, being sure to emphasis words to make your point as well as make it a little more interesting to listen to.

Here is a great example of the use of podcasts in the classroom. Students make the podcasts for their fellow students.
  Podcasts by students for students

Here is an example of a vodcast that would be great to use in the classroom. This vodcast allows students to search books based on subject, author, title and grade level. Once a student has chosen a book, they can watch the vodcast giving a summary of the book.
Book Wink


My last example is a website that allows you to search a large database of many podcasts. They have many different categories of podcasts, from history, to education, crafts, etc.
 www.podcastalley.com


Just kidding, another great website full of music that could be used in a podcast.
freeplaymusic.com

The Smart Board

In my classroom that I am observing in, the teacher has a Smart Board. This is one thing I want desperately for my classroom. I think it would be a great tool for the classroom. I love how interactive it is and I think students would really enjoy it.

The first time I saw my cooperating teacher use her Smart Board, I was so excited. She used it to fill out a concept map as a review for the test. It was great because she was able to show the concept map to the whole class using the Smart Board, and then was able to fill it in right on the board with the provided Smart Board markers. She was never in the way of the screen and was able to write neat and clear so all the students were able to read it.

My mom, a third grade teacher, also has one in her classroom. She uses her Smart Board for math class the majority of the time. She likes the Smart Board because she is able to write a math problem, have students come up and answer it, and if the student is wrong, she can move the number onto a different part of the screen. I thought this was such a cool thing to do when teaching math because students are able to see exactly what went wrong, and how to fix it.

check this out if you want more info on smart boards

Prezi

Today we learned about Prezi, a fun and unique alternative to boring slide show presentations. What are the benefits to Prezi? The possibilities are basically endless, you can take your audience on a unique ride, not only going linear, but also up, down, side to side, as well as zoom out and zoom in. Prezi allows the user to put photos, videos, and music into their presentations. Its great for projects, presentations for lessons, to your boss, or what ever you need to present on. There are countless ways to make one and you are able to put a little bit of you into the presentation by being able to be creative with the project.

I would use Prezi as a way to teach a lesson, introduce a project, or make a book review/report. There are many other uses for Prezi.

Twitter in the Classroom

I think, if used right, Twitter could be a great tool to be used in the classroom. My concentrations are language arts and social studies, and I would really love to use Twitter in my reading class. While students read at home, they will be able to post to Twitter their thoughts, feelings, and question with the hashtag that we have decided on. This way students can get what they are thinking out of their heads and share it with the class in a fun, new way. Students can then retweet, favorite or reply to other students thoughts all from the comfort of their own home. This way students are having a discussion on the book and we can then come together as a class and talk about the discussion we had.

On Twitter you are able to post links, pictures or just write your thoughts, all which could be used in a classroom setting.

There are many ways Twitter could be incorporated into the classroom, sometimes you may just have to be creative with it.

The most important thing about Twitter in the classroom is that it would be fun for the students. I think they would thoroughly enjoy the experience and learn from it, which is my ultimate goal; to make learning fun.

My class Twitter

Glogster. Not to be confused with Blogger

I am currently working on a Glogster, which is glog (short for graphic blog) that can create interactive posters. So far I have messed with linking things to the glog, but I find it somewhat annoying because I am unable to copy and paste the link. I have to put the website I want to link at the bottom of my computer screen to be able to copy the link word for word. It is also somewhat slow. But it does have some good things about it. First, it is free. Can't beat that. Second, it has many different options to put on your glog including text bubbles, posters, and other decorative items. Im noticing it may be making my computer run slower also.

Welp Ill get back to working on my glog, see ya.


the Glog