Solid. I can definitely see this coming in handy, not only for giving directions when I am absent, but also for recording lessons for students who are absent, keeping a nice digital record of lessons. I wonder what it would look like to record class daily...? Hmm. Maybe I'll have to try that out next year.
Here's a quick video I made giving instructions on using some different PhET simulators for comparing solid, liquid and gas properties. I like that I can quickly demonstrate some of the features of the video, as well as showing them exactly how to access them from the student save drive.
I thought about writing a snarky comment about not being the next Sal Kahn, but I thought I'd rather give it a positive spin, and hope to be more like Aaron Sams or Brian Bennett (both of whom are pioneers utilizing their own flipped science classes). I am considering doing some flipping next year for general chemistry, and screencast-o-matic would be extremely helpful.
May 21, 2012
May 17, 2012
Diigo
Our 4th tool for the 5TTT journey is diigo, which I have found to be quite excellent! It's a bookmarking tool, but it has lots of great features - easy organization of bookmarks, the ability to share bookmarks, screen capture, highlighting, sticky notes - and its all saved to online and can be accessed anywhere. Here's a page I highlighted and added some sticky notes to. I also took a screenshot of Dhaivyd's blog to play around with a few other features (I love that you can blur!).
Overall, I think diigo is a useful tool. I'm not sure how much I will use the bookmarking (I already have a system of bookmarks set up through chrome) but perhaps if I can get going with them through diigo it will be helpful to be accessed from anywhere rather than just from my computer. I'll have to work on that this summer! I think my favorite feature is the screen capture; it's not perfect - I had some issues with the images moving after selecting them - but it will definitely be helpful for classes as well as for adding stuff to the blog!
Overall, I think diigo is a useful tool. I'm not sure how much I will use the bookmarking (I already have a system of bookmarks set up through chrome) but perhaps if I can get going with them through diigo it will be helpful to be accessed from anywhere rather than just from my computer. I'll have to work on that this summer! I think my favorite feature is the screen capture; it's not perfect - I had some issues with the images moving after selecting them - but it will definitely be helpful for classes as well as for adding stuff to the blog!
May 10, 2012
Google Docs & Forms
With Dhaivyd talking about the end of the 5TTT timeline, I realize that I need to play a bit of catch-up with my updates on my tech tools. Fortunately, I've got a bit of experience with Google Docs, and I've already been playing around with Google Forms.
Tool #2: Google Docs
I've used Google Docs a number of times for student projects. It is quite convenient for students to share their progress with me (as well as each other), to be able to access it easily from outside of class and for me to efficiently leave them feedback. As Colin had also noted, it is much more streamlined for turning projects in without the worry of losing things. Most recently, students put together some research on the different types of energy alternatives to fossil fuels. Here are some examples of student work via Google Docs:
Student Research 1
Student Research 2
Student Presentation
Tool #3: Google Forms
After the science lab demo gone wrong over at MGJH back in December, I have been a part of a district-wide group of science teachers that have been discussing how to modify our policies in order to prevent another incident like that from occurring in our district in the future. One of the things that we decided was that any new demo that a teacher would like to add to their curriculum that involves hazardous (i.e. corrosive, combustible, or volatile) chemicals must approved by your building's CHO (chemical hygiene officer) who then works with the teacher and the other CHOs in the district to approve the demo or deem it not safe for school. As the CHO here at Park Center, I thought a Google Form would be a perfect way for a teacher to easily submit a demo for approval, and also create a simple, digital record of what the demo is in order to quickly share it with other CHOs in the district.
Hazardous Demo Approval Form
For anyone that is not a science teacher, this doesn't have much impact on you. To be perfectly honest, most of the demos that are done in our science classes don't involve any hazardous chemicals, and I would be surprised if there were many more that are added to our curriculum. But if/when there are, I'll be ready!
Tool #2: Google Docs
I've used Google Docs a number of times for student projects. It is quite convenient for students to share their progress with me (as well as each other), to be able to access it easily from outside of class and for me to efficiently leave them feedback. As Colin had also noted, it is much more streamlined for turning projects in without the worry of losing things. Most recently, students put together some research on the different types of energy alternatives to fossil fuels. Here are some examples of student work via Google Docs:
Student Research 1
Student Research 2
Student Presentation
Tool #3: Google Forms
After the science lab demo gone wrong over at MGJH back in December, I have been a part of a district-wide group of science teachers that have been discussing how to modify our policies in order to prevent another incident like that from occurring in our district in the future. One of the things that we decided was that any new demo that a teacher would like to add to their curriculum that involves hazardous (i.e. corrosive, combustible, or volatile) chemicals must approved by your building's CHO (chemical hygiene officer) who then works with the teacher and the other CHOs in the district to approve the demo or deem it not safe for school. As the CHO here at Park Center, I thought a Google Form would be a perfect way for a teacher to easily submit a demo for approval, and also create a simple, digital record of what the demo is in order to quickly share it with other CHOs in the district.
Hazardous Demo Approval Form
For anyone that is not a science teacher, this doesn't have much impact on you. To be perfectly honest, most of the demos that are done in our science classes don't involve any hazardous chemicals, and I would be surprised if there were many more that are added to our curriculum. But if/when there are, I'll be ready!
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