Site of the Week provides links to sites that help teachers successfully integrate technology into the classroom experience. Each week I will highlight a website or online resource that is practical, timely, and most of all, easy to use. You have enough on your plate already, so let me help you find the tools you need to enhance student performance and keep the "digital natives" from getting restless. And please, email me at jbirchfield@harwich.edu with any requests, suggestions, or pleas for instructional technology help.
Thanks for all you do.Sincerely,
Jim BirchfieldInstructional Technology Specialist
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posted Jan 29, 2010 4:44 AM by James Birchfield
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updated Jan 29, 2010 4:49 AM
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The whiteboard reinvented
Visualize, explore, collaborateDabbleboard is an
online collaboration application that’s centered around the whiteboard.
With a new type of drawing interface that's actually easy and fun to
use, Dabbleboard gets out of your way and just lets you draw. Finally
the whiteboard enters the digital age!See some examples of how you can use Dabbleboard in the classroom |
posted Jan 8, 2010 10:57 AM by James Birchfield
This site has some of the most incredible interactive materials I have seen. Any science teacher will love it!
Learn.Genetics delivers educational materials on genetics, bioscience and health topics.
They are designed to be used by students, teachers and members of the public. The materials
meet selected US education standards for science and health. |
posted Dec 23, 2009 4:47 AM by James Birchfield
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updated Dec 23, 2009 4:52 AM
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Watch free technology training videos! Get help and answer your
computer and gadget questions with thousands of video tutorials for
PCs, Macs, and tons of different applications.;) |
posted Dec 11, 2009 8:39 AM by James Birchfield
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updated Dec 11, 2009 8:42 AM
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posted Dec 4, 2009 1:04 PM by James Birchfield
You may not know their names; you may not know their stories -- but they made America.
American history is filled with the stories of influential
innovators, whose ideas and entrepreneurial spirit gave birth to
commercial milestones like the steamboat and cultural touchstones like
the Barbie doll. Twelve of these individuals are profiled in They Made America, a four-part television series from the producers of American Experience.
They Made America examines America's evolution over two
centuries, from the infancy of the country, to its growth as an
industrial power, through its global reach today. |
posted Dec 2, 2009 9:17 AM by James Birchfield
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updated Dec 2, 2009 9:20 AM
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FREE
DIGITAL RESOURCES LINKED TO STANDARDS The Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education has partnered with the WGBH Educational Foundation and WGBY in
Springfield to launch Massachusetts Teachers' Domain (MTD), a localized edition
of Teachers' Domain, an online resource for teachers offering free access to
more than 2,200 classroom-ready media tools.
Teachers' Domain, a nationally used database of digital
resources for educators contains media clips, interactive activities, and
lesson plans. The content is pulled from a variety of sources, including public
television programming, government agencies, museums, libraries, and academic
institutions. These resources are currently being aligned with the
Massachusetts curriculum frameworks.
Over the next two years MTD will expand its collection to
include history, social science and arts resources, all aligned with the
state's curriculum frameworks. Educators will eventually be able to move
seamlessly from MassONE to MTD using a single sign-on. Users will also have
access to professional development courses and training workshops offered by
WGBH, WGBY, and PBS TeacherLine. For more information on the Massachusetts
Teachers Domain, visit www.teachersdomain.org.
If you sign up for a free account using a Massachusetts zip code, you will see
the state version of Teachers' Domain.
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posted Mar 13, 2009 10:28 AM by James Birchfield
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updated Mar 16, 2009 10:48 AM
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Technology Tip of the Week
Helpful Tips and Tricks for using technology in the classroom.
Classroom Posters are always handy to have--even essential--but who has the money to buy those slick posters from the textbook companies? So, instead of blowing precious budget dollars buying overpriced posters, why not just make your own? Sounds good, but where to begin? You may not have thought about Microsoft Excel as anything but a number crunching program, but it has a few hidden features that any classroom teacher can use to make posters, for instance. Sound good? If you want to know how, check out the following TeacherTube video:
Making Posters with Excel
If the video does not play CLICK HERE to view it on TeacherTube
Cool Tools
Check out the latest Cool Tools for use in the classroom. They're free and they're fun to use. Why not try one out today...
FREE Mind Mapping Tools Mind
mapping is a way of taking notes, capturing ideas, exploring concepts
and breaking down information into a more readily understood format.
There are a million and one uses for mind mapping. You can use it to:
- Study for a big exam
- Brainstorm new ideas
- Flesh out what needs to be covered in a project
- Organize writing ideas
- Create powerful graphic organizers for any subject
Here are some free mind mapping applications and web services.
Freemind is one of the most popular free mind mapping applications out there, mainly because it’s in Java and thus cross-platform.
bubble.us is a free web-based mind
mapping application. You can sign up for an account in order to save
your mind maps, but they don’t force you to get an account to start
creating. RecallPlus is
commercial software with a lighter free edition. It combines the
process of mind mapping with flash card memorization techniques, and is
aimed at students who wish to take notes and then test themselves using
them.
Mindomo is another mind
mapping web app with both a free account option and a commercial one.
It allows you to share your mind maps with others, and also embed them
into your web pages.
Mind42 is a totally free mind
mapping web app. The interface is a good one, and it has some excellent
features such as easy navigation for large mind maps with zoom and
birdview. You can also link branches to other sites and see a preview
when you rollover the link.
Vym (View Your Mind) is an application for Mac OS X and various Linux distributions.
WiseMapping is another web
app for mind mapping which requires no browser plug-ins at all, which
is fantastic when you don’t know which computers you’ll be using in a
given day. There is no commercial account option; everything is free
and unlimited.
PersonalBrain is a cross-platform application. It’s a commercial application, but a lighter free edition is on offer.
Site of the Week
Looking for a way to use technology in the classroom, but you're not sure where to begin?
Teacher Tube is YouTube for educators. It's a great way to bring educational video into the classroom for free. Here's a description of the service from the TecherTube website "Our goal is to provide an online community for
sharing instructional videos. We seek to fill a need for a more
educationally focused, safe venue for teachers, schools, and home
learners. It is a site to provide anytime, anywhere professional
development with teachers teaching teachers. As well, it is a site
where teachers can post videos designed for students to view in order
to learn a concept or skill."
With TeacherTube, community members can:
- Upload, tag and share videos worldwide.
- Upload Support Files to attach your educational Actvities, Assessments,
Lesson Plans, Notes, and Other file formats to your video.
- Browse hundreds of videos uploaded by community members.
- Find, join and create video groups to connect with people who
have similar interests.
- Customize the experience by subscribing to member videos, saving
favorites, and creating playlists.
- Integrate TeacherTube videos on websites using video embeds or
APIs.
- Make
videos public or private - users can elect to broadcast their videos
publicly or share them privately with those they invite.
Most
importantly, TeacherTube community members are a major part of the
evolution of the site. Members are encouraged to not only upload
educationally relevant videos, but also to make constructive comments
and use the rating system to show appreciation for videos of value to
one as an educator or learner. Users also have the ability to preserve
the integrity of the site by flagging inappropriate videos. TeacherTube
staff review flagged sites and will remove any inappropriate posts.
With more collegial commentary and discussion through messaging and
responses, the quality of this resource will only increase.
Check out the latest in Digital Student Portfolios at Harwich High School. Click here to see it.
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posted Feb 27, 2009 6:12 AM by James Birchfield
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updated Mar 5, 2009 5:14 PM
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Technology Tip of the Week
Helpful Tips and Tricks for using technology in the classroom.
Feeling woozy about trying to keep up with using technology in the classroom? Well, you're probably not alone. Many veteran teachers feel intimidated by technology and often make excuses to rationalize not using new tech tools. Like it or not, the world is moving ahead technologically and our students are at the forefront of this movement. If we do not use the new tools that our students are familiar with, then are we not doing them a disservice? Whether or not you agree with this idea it might just help to read the following article to see how some veteran educators make the leap into the world of technology in the classroom.
Cool Tools
Check out the latest Cool Tools for use in the classroom. They're free and they're fun to use. Why not try one out today...
What is Glogster.com?
- Mix graphics, photos, videos, music and text into slick Glogs.
Why Glogster for education?
- Glogster is also a perfect web 2.0 tool for your learning and your WIKIs
- Glogster provides master-accounts for teachers integrating all student accounts. Click for detailed info.
- Register your class and try education 2.0 now. EDU accounts are PRIVATE.
Hmm...Classroom projects, anyone?
Hot Topics and Issues
Web 2.0 What exactly is Web 2.0 anyway? Was there ever a Web 1.0? The easiest way to describe Web 2.0 is to call it the Read/Write Web (English teachers should like that). It just means that instead of one person managing all of the content on a website (like this one), many people participate in collaboration to create the content--think Wikipedia, Facebook, YouTube, etc.. The exciting (and sometimes scary) thing about this from an educational viewpoint is that knowledge is no longer in the control of an elite few, but opened up to the world. Knowledge is being shared and created like never before. I know some of you may be grinding your teeth over the accuracy of much of the information out there, but there is no denying, or stopping, this phenomenon of mass collaboration. Therefore, as educators we must adapt to this change by teaching students how to seek out valid, useful sources of information. We will have to recognize, and accept that we may no longer be the primary source of knowledge for our students, but rather guides who can help them navigate the sea of information available today. Feeling spooked by all of this? You're not alone. There are some fantastic resources available that are created for educators by educators. Classroom 2.0 is a social network for educators and great place to start. Check it out and see that teachers are not disposable, but still indispensable.
Click Here for Classroom 2.0
Site of the Week
Looking for a way to use technology in the classroom, but you're not sure where to begin?
Music Teachers (and others)! Now, it's your turn. Smithsonian Global Sound has an incredible website that promotes cultural understanding through music. Tools for Teaching provides ideas and resources for educators to
inspire their use of music from around the world. Information about
these sounds and the cultures that create them are a valuable resource
to courses in history, geography, language arts, social studies, visual
arts-and of course music and dance.
Check out the latest free district offerings for Professional Development.
FREE Online Video Tutorials for just about any software program you can think of!
Watch a video about HES students discovering a local Observatory.
Click here to see it.
COMING SOON!
See what students are doing with Project-Based Learning.
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posted Feb 10, 2009 12:25 PM by James Birchfield
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updated Feb 13, 2009 12:40 PM
]
Technology Tip of the Week
Helpful Tips and Tricks for using technology in the classroom.
PowerPoint is dead? Well, maybe not dead, but definitely morphing into other forms. There's been a lot of talk lately about how everyone is sick of PowerPoint, but what alternatives do teachers and students have to the venerable presentation program? Well, thanks to the clever inventions of Web 2.0 programmers, there are some great new tools available for--you guessed it--FREE! Here's one that you can start using right away. It's a digital storytelling kit called Animoto. It lets you combine images, music, and voice-over/narratives to create sophisticated video presentations online that can be downloaded and/or embedded in other programs. It just may be the end of the dreaded PowerPoint shows that you've seen a thousand times. Try it out in your classroom and see.
Hot Topics and Issues
Web 2.0 What exactly is Web 2.0 anyway? Was there ever a Web 1.0? The easiest way to describe Web 2.0 is to call it the Read/Write Web (English teachers should like that). It just means that instead of one person managing all of the content on a website (like this one), many people participate in collaboration to create the content--think Wikipedia, Facebook, YouTube, etc.. The exciting (and sometimes scary) thing about this from an educational viewpoint is that knowledge is no longer in the control of an elite few, but opened up to the world. Knowledge is being shared and created like never before. I know some of you may be grinding your teeth over the accuracy of much of the information out there, but there is no denying, or stopping, this phenomenon of mass collaboration. Therefore, as educators we must adapt to this change by teaching students how to seek out valid, useful sources of information. We will have to recognize, and accept that we may no longer be the primary source of knowledge for our students, but rather guides who can help them navigate the sea of information available today. Feeling spooked by all of this? You're not alone. There are some fantastic resources available that are created for educators by educators. Classroom 2.0 is a social network for educators and great place to start. Check it out and see that teachers are not disposable, but still indispensable.
Site of the Week
Looking for a way to use technology in the classroom, but you're not sure where to begin?Science Teachers! Now, it's your turn. Discovery Education has a site that will "engage and amaze your
students. Here you'll find videos, tools and revealing hands-on
activities for students in grades 4 through 6 to help reinvent your
science class. New, original experiments with intuitive directions,
materials lists and home extensions." Get started today.
Check out the latest free district offerings for Professional Development.FREE Online Video Tutorials for just about any software program you can think of!
Watch a group of second graders talk to their classmates on the other side of the planet.
Click here to find out how they did it.
COMING SOON! See what students are doing with Project-Based Learning. |
posted Jan 30, 2009 7:24 AM by James Birchfield
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updated Jan 30, 2009 9:57 AM
]
Technology Tip of the Week
Helpful Tips and Tricks for using technology in the classroom.
Looking for an easy way
to create your Jeopardy style Flash game for the classroom? Try this cool tool called, Peril, at Teachopolis.org. Works great on a Smartboard!
Just go to the Arcade Page of Teachopolis and create an account. Then log in and click "New Assignment" to make your own Flash game.
Hot Topics and Issues
Internet Safety. What's the biggest threat to online safety for kids? No, it's not the adult cyber-predator trolling the online waters for unsuspecting victims to reel in. What, then? Believe it or not, it's the kids themselves! That's right, Cyberbullying is the biggest threat to a child's online safety. It used to be gossip among friends or maybe a nasty phone call, but now with the omnipresent internet and cell phone, kids have the ability to send all kinds of nasty messages instantly. To find out more about Cyberbullying take a look at Childnet International. Childnet also sponsors a project called, Digizen, which has some free films on cyberbullying available. See them here.
 
Site of the Week
Looking for a way to use technology in the classroom, but you're not sure where to begin?This week's feature is actually a booklet titled Exploring New Territories: Technology Resources for Struggling Students and Students with Disabilities. It is a document that is absolutely LOADED with links to sites and online resources. Every teacher, no matter what grade level or subject, can find something useful in this booklet. It was prepared by David Davis for the Florida Dept. of Education and presented at a major technology conference. It is beautifully designed and provides a wealth of resources for use with exceptional students. Thanks to Kathy Schrock for sharing the link. If you want the main FDLRS site CLICK HERE
Check out the latest free district offerings for Professional Development.FREE Online Video Tutorials for just about any software program you can think of!
Two 4th grade teachers engage students in sophisticated online research and collaborative/cooperative learning using a COW...
Click here to find out how they did it.
COMING SOON! See what students are doing with Project-Based Learning. |
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Siemens Science Day
