Google Chrome

Google Chrome

5 Reasons You Should Use Google Chrome over Internet Explorer & Firefox:

1. It's the only web browser supported by our IT department.
• The technology department will only be updating and supporting Google Chrome
2. It's faster and has fewer crashes than Internet Explorer or Firefox.
• Google simply works better.  I've been a long time user of Firefox and I resisted changing, but since I switched I couldn't be happier
3. It contains great apps.
• Google has numerous apps that you can download to your computer/web browser. These apps will not only make you more productive but can also be fun to explore. 
4. It syncs well will your other Google apps.
• You can create quick apps to your g-mail, calendar and Google documents.
5. It will make you a more efficient teacher
• Google Chrome has great apps to help you in the classroom.

Todays Meet

WHAT IS IT?

Today’s Meet is a backchannel room (backchannel is using a website to maintain an online conversation alongside your live spoken remarks) that allows you to connect with your audience in real-time.  It is totally free and you don’t have to register  to get an account.  Join the Backchat that I created by clicking on the following link:  http://todaysmeet.com/khs

HOW DOES IT WORK?

• Click on the link: http://todaysmeet.com/

• Name your room and choose how long you want it to remain open (2 hours up to 1 year…)

• Click on “Create your room”

• Share the link with your class/colleagues

• If you want to get a copy of all the messages, just click on the “Transcript” at the bottom of the page.  All the comments are listed order so the latest ideas appear at the top.

5 WAY TO USE TODAY’S MEET IN YOUR CLASSES:

1. Start class discussions on various topics, weekly or monthly. (e.g: movie, celebrities, books, poems, etc…)
2. Create rooms depending on students’ needs so that they can ask everything about any issue. (e.g: create a room “midterm2” before the exam for students to ask questions about midterm 2 )
3. Have a backchannel discussion while the class watches a video
4. Have students ask questions during a lecture.  This will increase class "participation" without disrupting the flow of class

5. Use it for group projects. Students can create their own rooms and discuss the details of their projects or assignments here.

Kinetic Typography

What is Kinetic Typography:

It's a fancy way of saying MOVING TEXT.  Kinetic typography is the art form of using movement to help express the meaning and feelings of words. 


The next time you want to have students read something that you believe to be powerful, see if you can find it in Kinetic Typography.  If actions are more powerful than words, imagine the power when you combine them.


Taylor Mali


"Language" by Stephen Fry


"I have a dream" - Dr. King

A playlist of over 100 examples of Kinetic Typography

From Toy To Tool -- Making Cell Phones Useful In The Classroom

From Toy To Tool
Using Cell Phones In The Classroom

 While many teachers have struggled with the intrusion of these electronic devices within the classroom a growing number of teachers are slowly realizing the massive learning potential that these devices posses.  Cell phones are here to stay.  They are as much a part of a student's life as pop tarts and energy drinks (and surprising, more nutritious).  The power of these devices has not been fully utilized within the classroom.  Perhaps now is the time to change that.


Below you will find 10 easy ways that a teacher can utilize cell phones in their classroom.  While attempting to integrate all 10 of these is unrealistic, perhaps one or two could be embedded into your lesson this week.


10 Ideas For Including Cell Phones In Your Class:

1. Poll.  Student respond to online polls or quizzes (www.polleverywhere.com/).
2.  Communicate.  Send your students mass reminders (http://remind101.com/).
3.  Text.  Have students text a short summary of a lecture, a reading, or use them as a"ticket to leave".
4.  Utilities.  Have students use their built in tool (such as their stopwatch, calculator, calendar, reminders, unit converter)  to perform an activity for class.
5.  Read.  Use it to read an article, a current events story or a book (You may not like reading on a phone but the kids are fine with it).
6.  QR Codes.  Experiment with QR codes, into which you can embed text, url, phone numbers, and sms..
7.  Research.  Use a text-messaging search service or an app that allows students to look up a variety of facts.
8.  Dictionary.  Students can benefit from being able to query the definition of a word.  Additionally, students who are English learners can benefit from translation dictionaries.
9.  Voice Recorder.  Use the phones voice recorder to create interviews and conduct questionnaires.
10.  Camera/Video camera.  Use the camera or video camera to demonstrate understanding of a concept.

Classtools

Earlier this year we introduced you to Fakebook, a site that allows individuals to create fake Facebook pages.  Today, we would like you to look at the parent site to the Fakebook program, Classtools.net. 

Would you like to create a scavanger hunt using QR Codes?  Possibly, you would like to have your students create an online review game for your latest chapter.  Perhaps you need a program that randomly selects student's name.  Maybe you're looking for a simple countdown timer.  Perhaps what you really need are diagrams and graphics that you can edit.

All of these, and so much more, can be found on Classtools.net.  This site was created over 10 years ago by a British teacher and it allows users to create free educational games, quizzes, activities and diagrams in seconds!

While the site may not be pretty to look at, it is easy to use and has great resources for students and teachers.

Project Innovate

Overview:

Cellcom is excited to announce the nine high Fox Cities schools that will be participating in the 2011 Project Innovate community voting program. The top vote-getter in Project Innovate will receive $30,000 from Cellcom, exclusively for the purchase of technology. Second place will receive $15,000 for technology and third place will take away $5,000. The remaining six schools will each receive a Motorola Xoom™ tablet.

Participating Schools:

·         Appleton East High School

·         Appleton North High School ·         Appleton West High School

·         Kimberly High School ·         Little Chute High School

·         Neenah High School

·         St. Mary Central High School ·         Wisconsin Connections Academy

·         Xavier High School

Voting Period:

Project Innovate voting begins at 8:00 a.m. (CDT) on October 24, 2011 and ends at 11:59 p.m. (CDT) on November 22, 2011.

Casting a Vote:

To vote, go to Cellcom.com, click on ‘Project Innovate,’ enter your email address and vote for Kimberly High School

Tips for Mobilizing Supporters:

Have each class vote whenever you use a computer lab/COW.

Encourage students to "Share" this using social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube...)

Museum Box

About museumbox..
If you could put a number of items into a box that described your life, what would you include? What do you think would be included if you were a Victorian Servant or Queen Elizabeth I. If you lived during the English Civil War, what items would you include to make a case for, or against, the parliamentarians? And what if you were an abolitionist and wanted to show that slavery was wrong and unnecessary, how would you create your evidence.  

So what does museumbox do?
Museum box provides the tools for you to do just this. It allows you to build up an argument or description of an event, person or historical period by placing items in a virtual box. You can display anything from a text file to a movie. You can also view the museum boxes submitted by other people and comment on the contents.

Can I see examples?
Click HERE to see examples created by KHS students.

Below is a tutorial video?

 

PowerTeacher Mobile

PowerTeacherMobile

With PowerTeacher Mobile, teachers are no longer constrained to their desk or laptop when using the gradebook. 

Now you can record student scores, add new assignments and make observations about student progress from nearly anywhere in the world.

NOTE:  When you download the app it will ask you to "sign in" to PowerTeacher.  Use your regular username and password.  However, instead of having it search for your school you need to complete the following steps:

1. Click on the "Settings" button in the upper right-hand corner.
2. Click on the "Server" button on the left side of your screen.
3. Delete the current "Port Number" and enter 80.
4. Go back to the main screen and you should be all set to find Kimberly High School.

Horizon Report

The internationally recognized series of Horizon Reports is part of a research project established in 2002 that identifies and describes emerging technologies likely to have a large impact over the next five years.

I thought you might find it interesting to see what is predicted to be the "next big thing."


Time-to-Adopt:  One Year or Less

• Electronic Books
• Mobile Devices

 Time-to-Adopt:  Two to Three Years

• Augmented Reality
• Game-Based Learning

Time-to-Adopt:  Four to Five Years

• Gesture-Based Computing
• Learning Analytics

Fakebook

Fakebook

Have students create a fake Facebook page for a famous author, scientist, historical figure, fictional character, renowned chef, business leader, inventor, theorist, mathematician.... the possibilities are endless.

This quick and simple project can be saved and shared with the click of a button.  Click here to see a 90 second tutorial or check out the example below.

View Fullscreen | Create your own