Activity 7, Cloud Computing

For this week's activity, I chose to create a survey that could potentially be used by my second grade HP Math students.  Our fifth grade did some interesting things with math interviews this year and I would like to do something similar.  This survey would serve as a nice a start.  In addition to math, I can see possibly showing kids how to do this in my Technology classes.  I think students would find it very fun to create their own surveys and link them in their websites.  It will depend on where they are at skill-wise if I try this or not.  However it is used, I think that the "cloud" has many different opportunities for classroom use.   There are many pros as I can see it being a useful tool to embed in a website and allow parents access to share thoughts on things.   And it provides students with a different way to express their thoughts and opinions about various topics.  Some of the cons would include parents who do not have internet access or who do not speak English.  This has been a challenge at our school and could be a challenge for collecting information using an online survey.   But overall, I really like the possibilities that come with Google Docs.

Here is the link:

Math Survey

Activity 6 Second Try!

For Quizlet, I'm giving up on trying to embed it and just providing the link to my flashcards.  Here we go:  

 Learning about the World Wide Web - Click Here!

Activity 6 - Study Aids

For this activity, I decided to create one study aid for my Technology position and one for my HP Math position.

In Technology, we spend a lot of time talking about what the internet is, how to maneuver around while on it, and being safe.  I decided to create flashcards based on some of what we talk about.  I used Quizlet and found it incredibly easy.  The challenge was in embedding it in my blog.  For some reason, I had a number of issues getting Quizlet to confirm my account.  Then it wouldn't let me paste HTML code.  I was able to copy but not paste.   I think I have it figured out though (hopefully) below:

<iframe src="http://quizlet.com/24752582/familiarize/embedv2/" height="410" width="100%" style="border:0;"></iframe>


For HP Math, I chose to make a word cloud using Tagxedo.  This was easy and fun for me.  I can see it having some creative applications for my Technology students.   Kids could create one and embed it in their website.  I think they'd love it!

Activity 5 - Youtube Channel

This week's assignment posed a slight dilemma for me.  Two years ago, I set up my own professional Youtube channel (msjoanwolf) and began posting educational podcasts.  This was before we became a google district with gmail.  I have used this channel a lot, have a number of "followers," and have built a bit of an audience over the past few years.   Since I've already spent a lot of time and effort on this channel, I'm not sure I want to create a new one through gmail.  Youtube will not let you upload the same videos to two different channels so I would have to start over again.   So for this assignment, and at this point, I kept my "old" professional channel and uploaded new videos (below.)

I volunteer at the Raptor Center and have seen some amazing, cool, and yes, educational, things.  This year, I plan to integrate some fun math facts from the Raptor Center into my HP math classes.  The two videos below are of one of our American Bald Eagles enjoying a bath.  The other is a very rare chance to hear a Boreal Owl hooting.  Boreal Owls are not in this area. They are very far north.  So this is something you will not hear in the Twin Cities.  I was excited to catch it on tape one day.


Bald Eagle Taking a Bath


Boreal Owl Saying Hello


These are just links to the videos as I am unable to insert videos while being logged in through gmail.  Long, complicated story that I haven't figured out the answer to yet.  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the videos!

Calling All Webmasters! - Activity 4

What perfect timing this activity was.  Last year, when I worked with 2nd graders in Technology, they created their own websites using their gmail accounts.  Many of them wanted to do more from home and I provided paper "blueprints" for the kids to help them.  The blueprints were step by step screen shots that I took on my computer and then copied with directions for the kids.  They worked well, but as you can imagine - some kids lost them, they didn't work for all of the learning styles of my students, and various other glitches came up.   I wanted to do a screencasting type of tutorial but I was too overwhelmed learning new things in a new position to add this to my list.   But here it is - and it is SO easy!  I used Screen-O-Matic.  

The one that you see below is a tutorial for kids about how to create the homepage of their own website.  I can't wait to put this to use with my second graders this year.   Woo hoo!  Technology, bring it on!  :)