Symba-what?

Today’s post is written by guest author, Cindy Brock.  Cindy is a Technology Coordinator in Memphis, TN who writes her own blog, Tech Tips for Teachers.  Check it out and enjoy her post about something I know you’ll love – Symbaloo.

Our classrooms all have laptop carts and I've been looking for a way to organize sites our students use on a regular basis. Through the power of twitter, I found Symbaloo.  Symbaloo is a simple start page that allows you to organize and access favorite sites on one page. It has a great look for kids (as well as adults). Symbaloo allows you to create various webmixes, so I created one for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades as well as a subject area for the main subjects. Our school uses Google Apps, so using Google Sites, I create a home page for each grade level. I made that page include the webmix with more general sites (our school homepage, AR, IXL, etc.) I then created a Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Keyboarding, and Just for Fun site for each grade level. Click here to see our 2nd grade example.

Symbaloo is very user friendly. You can increase or decrease the size of your webmix. You can personalize the icons for each individual square. You can add or delete sites on your webmix any time. You can also embed it in another site, email the link to anyone, keep it private, or share with the world.

I have shared this with our teachers and they are excited about how easy it will be for their students to access web sites. We also plan on sharing the google site for each grade level with parents so they can make it their homepage on home computers.

Symbaloo is free, but there are paid accounts as well.  Check it out! I think you will be pleased.

View out today’s video to learn more:

Thanks, Cindy!

Technorati Tags: symbaloo

Spicy Nodes

I bet you read that title as Spicy Noodles and thought I posted on the wrong blog.  Unfortunately this is not a great recipe for something yummy but this is a great post about another great 21st Century tool and it will add a bit of pep to your lesson.  The tool is SpicyNodes and it takes the “ugh” out of concept maps.
SpicyNodes is another great management tool that allows users to organize visually and by category. What makes SpicyNodes better than what you see above is the ability to link each node to media such as text, links and photos.  Social Studies teachers can bring history to life as students link their nodes to the actual footage discussed in class.  Math teachers can use SpicyNodes to create algorithms.  The possibilities are endless.  However, if you need a shot of inspiration visit the site’s education page. Here’s today’s video to tell you more: 

Finally, for those of you who navigated to TTWIT seeking spicy noodles, here is a recipe for you.  Let me know how it turns out.

READER RESPONSE: Please post the link to your SpicyNode here.

Technorati Tags: spicynodes,aasl

3-Ring Binders are for Wimps

Yesterday I brought you Evernote.  Today’s tool will help you group and classify the information you found and share the sources with others.  I can already see the wheels turning because you are one of those awesome educators not afraid of cooperative groups.  Your students are so lucky to have you.  Next week I want you to consider using adding LiveBinders to your ever-growing line-up Web 2.0 tools.

Here’s a 90 second video that explains the wonder of LiveBinders:

The LiveBinder community is vast and there are many resources for teachers:

• LiveBinders Education
• LiveBinders Wiki for Teachers
• Twitter feed
• LiveBinders blog
• Google the term and you’ll find so much more.

READER RESPONSE: Now that you’ve experienced LiveBinders, try it for yourself.  When you do, post your link in the COMMENTS section for others and share your greatness.

Never Forget Again

Do you know what drives me crazy about secondary students?  It’s their inability to organize. I believe our expectations of students need to be raised. It is time to go beyond stuffing their notes in an overloaded Trapper Keeper (Do they still make those?) and move toward the tools in their pockets.

This week we will delve into managing and organizing information.  You will find that the five tools shared this week will not only benefit the munchkins but you, your family and friends. The best thing about the tools is that they are easily accessible on both your laptop and phone. 
Today’s tool was introduced to me a few weeks ago by my colleague, Jeremy.  He asked if I ever heard of Evernote and from that point on it’s as if this little app started to storm through the world of education.  Evernote allow users to organize their thoughts, notes and sites from a variety of sources such as your ideas, things you heard, see in passing, websites, store PDFs and more.  The great thing about Evernote is that it is available on every format imaginable: Mac, PC, Android Market, iTunes, etc.  This allows your ‘notes’ to be where’ever’ you need them.  Cool, right? Evernote is your personal assistant and one that never needs a potty break of a day off. 

With Evernote you will never forget a lesson plan idea that strikes you in the oddest of places like using the song you heard in Zumba in your classroom.  Here’s my challenge to you, educators: Ask your students to pull out their Smartphones in class and download the app the next time you have a research assignment.  Show them how Evernote can help them share their tools with their group.  The goal of utilizing Web 2.0 tools in the classroom is to turn 21st Century students into 21st Century innovators.  It is vital to put the tools in their hands now so it will become a part of their college and professional lives.
Stay tuned for a lesson on how Jeremy shares his Evernotes with his fellow teachers.  Until then, check out Ron’s Evernote tips on Tumblr.
READER RESPONSE: How will you use Evernote?

Zooburst

As we lounge around and commemorate Labor Day with BBQ and beer, I invite you to consider one last Digital Storytelling tool to add to your dynamic curriculum.  This week consider adding a pop of wow with Zooburst.  Zooburst adds a new dimension to storytelling by adding a 3-D component. 

Zooburts also offers a huge library of clip art to help your students get their point across.  If a Zooburst photo does not fancy your charge, no problem, have her upload her own picture.  Students adore adding their own image in an assignment.  Zooburts allows them to personalize their 3D story which will make everyone take notice on presentation day.

I want to end Digital Storytelling tools by encouraging teachers of all content to think outside the box.  These tools are not just for the English classroom.  Math teachers, have students explain how to solve problems.  Social Studies educators, retell an event in history.  Foreign language teachers, I cannot think of a better tool for students to put their newly learned words into practice.  Visit the Zooburst gallery for more ideas or even add one of the stories to your lesson. Digital Storytelling is a great way to escape from the ordinary.  Keep your students guessing what may happen next in your class and watch their attentiveness soar.

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