The Latest on Digital Teaching

I found an article that's definitely worth reading on incorporating digital technology in the classroom and integrating it in meaningful ways. There are a list of educational sites (e-sites) included. Some I have used, others I want to try. As teachers it is important to incorporate technology in meaningful ways... not just use it because you want to try it... I have gone done that path and then was forced to remind myself... "What's the BIG IDEA, BIG PICTURE  or the FOCUS ACTIVITY?" Sometimes we have a list of fun activities that we want to do - and then we make the curriculum fit the activity... I have learned, because I have made this mistake... to make sure that the activities are in-line with the curriculum outcomes... do the activities sidetrack from the curriculum? Or help the learner arrive at the objectives? Is the activity meaningful and truly connect with what is expected in the curriculum... Anyways... I'm rambling...

Here's the link to the article...
http://www.edweek.org/tsb/articles/2011/04/04/02digital.h04.html

USEFUL SITES...

Below are some the tools that would be quite useful, again I have to remind myself... What actually can be used in the current units I am teaching? What would be fun... but again TRULY ENHANCE LEARNING?

Getting Started With Digital Tools

These websites and apps are popular with tech-savvy teachers who incorporate digital elements into their writing instruction.

Animoto
animoto.com
Select photos, video clips, text, and music, and Animoto will produce a short video—similar to a movie trailer—with the material. From there, users can upload the video to YouTube, Facebook, and other sites. Making 30-second videos is free and teachers can apply for a free Animoto Plus account, giving them access to more features.

Glogster
edu.glogster.com
Students can make interactive posters and collages that combine text, audio, video, animation, data, and other multimedia elements. The platform allows students to collaborate on projects. The basic teacher account, with limited features, is free.

Google Docs
docs.google.com
This free document-sharing program allows users to create, store, and share documents, spreadsheets, and presentations online. Multiple users can work on the same piece at once.

Puppet Pals
apple.com/ipad
This iPad application allows users to create and record their own animated story. Choose characters, a setting, and a title and narrate the story into the microphone while moving the cartoon “puppets” manually. The app with a “Wild West” theme is free, but additional characters and scenes cost extra.

Wikispaces
wikispaces.com
Students create wikis, or collaborative websites that are managed and edited by groups of people, through Wikispaces. Teachers regularly use wikis for group projects. On the K-12 plan for educators, wikis are free and private.

Wallwisher
wallwisher.com
Wallwisher calls itself an “online notice board maker.” Build a “wall,” or Web page, and others can contribute their own short messages, which resemble Post-it Notes and can include videos and images. Teachers use Wallwisher for any number of reasons—to display assignments, generate discussions, review facts, and share links, for example. It’s free and there’s no registration required (which means teachers should be extra vigilant about monitoring what goes up).