Embedded Files
Below is a list of some useful technology websites and some attachments to support instruction. This area is a work in progress, so as you come across effective technology resources or have ideas for integrating technology into your instruction, please let me know!
WordArt is a way to generate “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently or are more significant in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes.
Consider this as well: Have students turn their written essay or original poem into word art. Ask students to determine if the “big” words really capture the “essence” of what they were trying to communicate in the essay or poem. If not, go back and revise it.
Educreations is a whiteboard technology that students can use on an iPad or a computer after setting up an account. Students can create "lessons" to show you what they have learned about something you have taught. For example, students could show you how they diagram a sentence or annotate a text. Students use both drawing tools and voice recording to demonstrate what they know. The product that results can be saved as a URL which can be easily shared by the student and accessed by the teacher. Another similar app (for iPad only) is Show Me. Both Educreations and Show Me have lessons already created and shared on a variety of ELA topics that teachers could use in the classroom.
Glogster.com (online poster or pinboard)
Glogster allows users to create interactive posters, or Glogs. A "Glog", short for "graphics blog", is an interactive multimedia image. It looks like a poster, but readers can interact with the content. The user inserts text, images, photos, audio (MP3), videos, special effects and other elements into their glogs to generate a multimedia online creation.
Prezi is a presentation tool that helps you organize and share your ideas. It is an interactive PowerPoint. Be sure to sign up for the education version so that student work becomes private.
Animoto lets you easily select photos and video clips from internet sites or your own photos then add your words and music to tell a story.
Piclits lets you match beautiful images with carefully selected keywords or your own text to create 12-line texts with pictures to summarize selections or create found poetry. The object is to put the right words in the right place and the right order to capture the essence, story, and meaning of the picture.
Voki enables users to express themselves on the web in their own voice using a talking character [avatar]. You can customize your Voki to look like you or take on the identity of lots of other types of characters… animals, monsters, anime etc. Your Voki can speak with your own voice which is added via microphone or you can choose one of their custom voices.
Using Google earth, create a map to coincide with a novel as your characters travel from place to place.
Symbaloo lets you gather all of your favorite online tools and sites into a webmix about the topics you teach. Symbaloo web mixes can be published and shared with colleagues, students, and parents. Symbaloo can be used by students or teachers to create a personal learning environment.
Schmoop is a great student and teacher resource. Students like it because of its sarcastic lingo and credibility; teachers like it because it offers many great resources including making the CCSS easier to understand.
Padlet is a virtual wall with digital post-its. It has all the benefits of being digital but keeps the simplicity of using a notepad.
Tagxedo is a word cloud generator. With just one click, you can rotate the cloud, modify its colors and font, and also alternate between themes and shapes. You can even upload your own images and have the word cloud assume the shape of the image. It is similar to wordle.
Poll Everywhere allows you to collect real-time data from your students via a smart device, I Pad/pod or laptop.
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