Livebinder for WMS

Over the summer I have been working on putting together a Livebinder for the WMS teachers.  Throughout this process I have come to realize that this might not have been the best tool to use to compile all the data necessary for helping teachers during this new school year.  The most difficult part about this is that most of the subtabs ended up being links to the resources rather than a description or application of resources.  Upon reflection I have decided to go back and try to add a Word document to the original Tab that summarizes the subtabs.  The other option would be to include such a document as a subtab.  I have a huge list of things to add to this resource and hope to finish this up over the week.  I don't know if anyone will use this resource...but it is a continual work in progress.  It was really hard to work on this over the summer...but I am fired up to get it done!  If there is something you would like to see here that isn't please let me know and I will work on adding it!

Access Key:  WMStigerscot

What's new for Edmodo?

So, I was going to sit down and compile my Edmodo information but remembered Edmodo is getting a major facelift and I might have to relearn a lot of the new features anyway in order to compile the "how to" for the Livebinder I am creating.  Not only is Edmodo getting a whole new look, but it also will have three major new features:  Discovery, Insights, and Apps!  Yes, I said apps--these will be available for U.S. teachers this fall!

Let's start with the new look:  Here you can see the basic set up.  Within the red circle on the right you will have a quick access to all your notifications.  This will help to let you know who has questions, who has completed what assignments, etc....  In the yellow circle on the top left you will see some new menu tools.

1. Calendar:  This will be transformed into a planner rather than just a monthly calendar.  You will be able to fill in and view weekly assignments and assign badges as progress assessments in order to further map out each unit and what is due for students when.  In addition, you will be able to create a task list in which to help you keep track of your "to do's" as they come up!  
2. Grade Book:  This is evolving as well.  Badges can be used as progress rather than just grades.  It seems that teachers will need to assign different badges for different skills.  For example, a teacher working on multiplication tables with students may have a badge for each number 1x, 2x, 3x, etc....  With the new badges page you can quickly see who has achieved what! (See second picture above.)
3. Library:  I am not sure about this icon...guessing.
4. Folders:  Now you can create folders in which all your units are pre-arranged (can be re-ordered throughout the year) and stored in the classes.  You just check the boxes next to an assignment when you are ready to assign it.  It looks like these assignments will be in your library and you can add the folders to multiple classes--looks like we won't need that dummy class any more and can make all assignments and assessments ahead of time and keep it nice, neat, and organized!
5. Managing Groups:  This seems to also be streamlined.  You will be able to access all small group info on one page...you can also compare data quickly for the whole year or by subject!

NEW FEATURES:

1. Discovery:  This gives you instant access to resources you can use right away.  Now instead of going to the subject community, posting the topic you are teaching, and requesting materials you can just click on this icon and type in the topic you are teaching at the top of the screen.  Instantly you will receive a listing of resources on the that are commonly used and can be added to the library.  On the right you have a list of the teachers you are connected with and the topics they are teaching.  You will also see other teachers that are teaching similar content who you might add as connections, the topics most commonly taught in conjunction with what you are teaching and the topics most commonly taught at this time in the school year to help build possible content connections.  You can also search by topic...they are expanding this library as we speak!
2. Insight:  This is an impressive feature that students will soon have access to...they will be able to use emoticons to tell you how they are felling or doing with a particular assignment or assessment.  They can express things like:  didn't have enough time, didn't study, finding it confusing, difficult, fun, engaging, etc....  Great tool for teachers to get a general feel for how things are going in the classroom.    You also can quickly see who is behind in assignment and who is viewing materials.  (I thought this would be a great tool for Gail and Ann as they flip their classroom!)
3. Apps:  This surprised me a little...but Edmodo is not contracting with apps and building them into Edmodo itself.  Now students can access these apps directly from Edmodo (teacher sets it up--only two available right now) and all work is posted directly to Edmodo and grades are directly connected to Edmodo by student as well.  I don't know if this will solve the lack of a file system on the iPad or not--but it might!  There should be more apps available in the coming months--keep checking it out!

That is all I know so far...here is the video from the last EdmodoCon Conference summarizing the information above!  Enjoy!

P.S.  Be sure to visit the other sessions as well!  Lots of great information!

Spelling City for iPad

For those of you who still do spelling tests...Spelling City is now available for the iPad (and according Heidi-iTouch as well)!  This app allows students to log into their account, search for the teacher generated list, do audio testing, and play practice games as well!  And to top it off--it's free as well!  Music to my ears!  

Here are some of the games available:

inquiry work-samples

Here is another great idea on how to create an inquiry work-sample.
This video was compiled in iMovie, but has still shots from Keynote and pictures from the camera roll.  The Keynote slides were saved as an image and inserted into the Keynote later!  This is a tradition "drops on a penny" lab.  What I would have liked to have seen more of an analysis and build up of the background information, but it is on the right track.

Time lapse photography

I ran across this blog post and revisited time lapse photography...like one reviewer said it would be really nice if you could import old pictures from the camera roll.  However, this blog brought up another idea on how to use this app in the science classroom.  I love the idea of documenting procedures or construction projects especially since engineering is such an integral part of the science inquiry process now.  This building the bridge assignment (or similar engineering feats) could be documented through this process.  Now without an iDevice to play with, I am not sure how this works whether you can set a timer or whether you have to manually take each picture.  My guess is you can do both.  Be sure to check out the blog entry to gather more info and see an example.

EdmodoCon 2012

What a fabulous day of learning...Edmodo put on an online conference today for free!  IT was fab!  I missed about three hours and of course forgot it started 10 ET...missed first hour, picked it up around 8 PT (11 ET).  They covered a wide range of topics...and what's even better is the whole thing will be available for viewing by next week at Edmodocon2012.com.

Be sure to view the keynote speaker since he will discuss the redesign of Edmodo coming out soon....  They already are rolling out apps you can purchase within Edmodo and that will directly upload into Edmodo...I am guessing this is a response to the fact that so many schools are going to iPads and this is the way around the lack of a file system.  Right now there are two apps available for free to play with.  Apparently they will be rolling out more very soon.  (I missed the keynote...can't wait to view!)  Just look for the grid icon next to the search bar!

Each session today also had a group code you could join within Edmodo.  Be sure to look in the "Library" for each group to see the ppt and materials they shared in their presentations!  Here is what I have:

1. Game Based Learning (Hunger Games Activity--#HG2212); Bianca Hewes; Group Code: n71wrm
2. Flipping the Classroom; Tony Edwards (@edlearninglab); Group code:  qe1uod
3. Start off on the right foot; Richard Farmer; Group code:  mn45az
4. Using Edmodo to Enhance Collaboration; Richard Farmer and Jamie Weir; Group Code:  x6g4mg
5. ow5urj
6. Edmodo Apps; Matthew Tobin; Group Code:  hgozjh and 9u4kdi
7. Making PD Fun and Relevent with Edmodo; Hollie Becker; Group Code:  51235u
8. Group Code:  f51bzf
9. Group Code:  guscne
10. Group Code:  MST3K
11. Group Code:  mn45az

Several things came out of these sessions...but the one idea I really like is the idea to start an Edmodo group for my OSTA region members.  I need to reach out to these members soon and begin building a network for us.  I believe this is a great tool to do that!  A group of admins or teachers in district or region is a great idea!  Let's see if I can get it going.