Do you have an Elmo?

ThenElmo document camera now has a slate. The slate is cool in and of itself, functioning as a remote for the document camera, but with the accompanying software, you can write on the screen with interactive board-type pens and highlighters.

The software is so advanced, ELA teachers can split screen and freeze one paper, then display notes or revisions on the other side. All you need to work the ELMO or document camera is a laptop or computer, the slate a screen, and data projector.

The software will also do screen recordings or experiments or revision steps, problem-solving, etc. I'm going to encourage my Science and ELA teachers who already use the document camera to get the slate now. They will not necessarily need an interactive board.

Using Blogs in the Classroom - Still

So if you've been using blogs in the classroom, it is not passé. If fact, it is easier than ever before to keep a website going that is fresh and student-created.

Posterous is free online blogging software where the user can create more than one blog or space on every topic in the classroom. To differentiate, students can post to the blog or space associated with the group in your class, like a book circle based on their reading level or a project based on their interest level.

Vocaroo permit the user to go to a website and record their voice. No need to have an email account -students can send voice capture to a blog. It will show up as a link.

To make this recording into a podcast that will appear in the subscribers iTunes library simple post the link but change the http:// to itps://. When the subscriber clicks on the link from the blog, it will open in their iTunes.

More tips like the above from Tony Vincent @ tonyvme.posterous.com

Jog the Web

I was just combing over my blog (that I haven't posted in for over a year) and found my old entry for Job the Web. I love this site. In previewing the home page, I noticed there are many 'jogs' through 'Professional Learning' land. There's one on differentiation, but it looks more like a PowerPoint to me. Jog the Web is designed for the presenter who have several websites to show his or her audience as a topic is narrowed down.

Let's face it, some days, you have to lecture. This application is a simple jog through your resources. Show the students where you are pulling the information, pull up the book's website, if you have to.

PSAs in Science, Health, and Humanities

I'm working with an awesome teacher at Decatur High School, Jennifer Gonzalez. She is determined to reach every single student in her Psychology class. I love it.

What has inspired me most about this particular project and working with Jennifer is how technology really supports differentiation. The students have a week to create a plan for a Public Service Announcement (15 to 30 seconds of information to change public interest). Collaborating with other students one must agree upon a "parenting topic", determine the target audience, target a goal for the PSA (what is the message), storyboard it, script it, collect images, lay the voice track or film, pull it all together, proof it, provide credits, and export it for viewing.

These students are so engaged and you know what?! If they don't finish the actual product, no big deal, the script, storyboard/idea with psychology theorist facts to support it are enough to earn you a high score on the rubric.

Now we are not saying every group must have a GarageBand podcast, nor must they have a movie. Some are actually choosing to do a PSA flyer in InDesign, which has a higher learning curve. Students are actually making choices based upon the expertise in their group AND every student has something to do. Now the editing day might get a little crazy. We shall see...