Before you send your students out into the WWW to do a search for their next research project--show them how to sort their results by reading level!
Here's a quick video I created to show you how easy it is!
This is an easy way to make sure your students aren't reading something to hard (or too easy!). If you require students to look at certain websites, you might want to evaluate their readability--if students can't read it, they aren't likely to gain much from it!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Free Alternatives to Comic Life
While I think that Comic Life is one of the best comic creators out there, I want to mention some free alternatives you can use if your school doesn't have Comic Life.
Comiqs is a very close alternative to Comic Life. There are a few different templates you can choose from and you can add multiple pages to your comic. There is a photo album available to insert pictures, or you can upload from an online Flickr album or from your computer. You can put a black and white, negative or cartoon effect on your photos, as well. You can then share them to the Comiqs gallery or to your other social networking sites. You can also embed them into websites/blogs.
Marvel Comics also has a free comic creator which you create using the Marvel characters. Obviously you lose a little bit of customization because of the character limitations, but overall it is still a very good comic creator. One of the things I like about the Marvel site is that they have the option to insert "sound effects". Granted, they are not SOUNDS, but they are onomatopoeia words that are designed like they were in the Marvel comics (ex: BOOM, SMASH, BADOOM, etc). That effect really gives it the comic feel. This is a great comic creator if you're willing to use Marvel characters.
Another free comic creator is available from ReadWriteThink. This is a great resource for younger students because of its easy drag-n-drop interface. This is a very simple comic creator which doesn't have the fancy features of the other programs, however it works nicely for younger students, like I mentioned. There isn't an option for sharing/embeding these comics either, but you can always click the print feature and then save it as a pdf or jpg.
Why use comics?
The use of comics might engage some of your learners who aren't the best writers. Comics also make students think critically not only about the text, but also about the pictures and how the two interact. It would be best to show students examples of some good comics before students make their own. I used comics in my classroom as a spelling option--students could create comic strips using their spelling words. There is also a website called Comics in the Classroom that offers many lesson plans for using comics.
Comiqs is a very close alternative to Comic Life. There are a few different templates you can choose from and you can add multiple pages to your comic. There is a photo album available to insert pictures, or you can upload from an online Flickr album or from your computer. You can put a black and white, negative or cartoon effect on your photos, as well. You can then share them to the Comiqs gallery or to your other social networking sites. You can also embed them into websites/blogs.
Marvel Comics also has a free comic creator which you create using the Marvel characters. Obviously you lose a little bit of customization because of the character limitations, but overall it is still a very good comic creator. One of the things I like about the Marvel site is that they have the option to insert "sound effects". Granted, they are not SOUNDS, but they are onomatopoeia words that are designed like they were in the Marvel comics (ex: BOOM, SMASH, BADOOM, etc). That effect really gives it the comic feel. This is a great comic creator if you're willing to use Marvel characters.
Another free comic creator is available from ReadWriteThink. This is a great resource for younger students because of its easy drag-n-drop interface. This is a very simple comic creator which doesn't have the fancy features of the other programs, however it works nicely for younger students, like I mentioned. There isn't an option for sharing/embeding these comics either, but you can always click the print feature and then save it as a pdf or jpg.
Why use comics?
The use of comics might engage some of your learners who aren't the best writers. Comics also make students think critically not only about the text, but also about the pictures and how the two interact. It would be best to show students examples of some good comics before students make their own. I used comics in my classroom as a spelling option--students could create comic strips using their spelling words. There is also a website called Comics in the Classroom that offers many lesson plans for using comics.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Xtranormal & Voki
Xtranormal and Voki are tools designed to do similar things. The idea of the site is that you have an avatar and a background, and then you instruct the avatar what to say and the website makes it into a little movie. However, there are some differences between the two.
First of all, Voki is coming out with an education version, where there won't be ads and more of the options will be available for free. Xtranormal has very limited free options. There are only a handful of characters and backgrounds to choose from if you don't pay.
Xtranormal has a few more directing preferences which Voki doesn't have, and in Xtranormal you can insert two characters into one movie. In Xtrannormal you can have your person make gestures with their arms or face. You can also change camera angles. There is more customization in Xtranormal, as you can also insert music or ambiance into the background. In Voki, however, you can insert your own background, which could be useful. Another useful feature in Voki is that you can insert audio in several different ways: via your computer microphone, telephone, text to speech, or importing an audio file from your computer. This would allow you to create your audio in GarageBand, which lets you put in background music or ambiance.
Both Xtranormal and Voki give you the change to publish your video and share it via web link. Voki gives you the option to embed it in a website or send it to a mobile phone or e-mail. On Xtranormal you can upload your video to YouTube.
Xtranormal also has a downloadable program called State which gives you more options. It is only available for Windows.
Uses in education:
Voki and Xtranormal provides a fun way to give class directions or explain a new assignment. I would like to see students creating their own to explain a concept. In Xtranormal you can put in two characters and have them have a conversation. It would be cool to see students using it to have a debate about an issue.
Here's an example of an Xtranormal about Thanksgiving:
And here's a Voki used in a Spanish class. (scroll to the bottom)
A Voki tutorial:
And an Xtranormal tutorial:
First of all, Voki is coming out with an education version, where there won't be ads and more of the options will be available for free. Xtranormal has very limited free options. There are only a handful of characters and backgrounds to choose from if you don't pay.
Xtranormal has a few more directing preferences which Voki doesn't have, and in Xtranormal you can insert two characters into one movie. In Xtrannormal you can have your person make gestures with their arms or face. You can also change camera angles. There is more customization in Xtranormal, as you can also insert music or ambiance into the background. In Voki, however, you can insert your own background, which could be useful. Another useful feature in Voki is that you can insert audio in several different ways: via your computer microphone, telephone, text to speech, or importing an audio file from your computer. This would allow you to create your audio in GarageBand, which lets you put in background music or ambiance.
Both Xtranormal and Voki give you the change to publish your video and share it via web link. Voki gives you the option to embed it in a website or send it to a mobile phone or e-mail. On Xtranormal you can upload your video to YouTube.
Xtranormal also has a downloadable program called State which gives you more options. It is only available for Windows.
Uses in education:
Voki and Xtranormal provides a fun way to give class directions or explain a new assignment. I would like to see students creating their own to explain a concept. In Xtranormal you can put in two characters and have them have a conversation. It would be cool to see students using it to have a debate about an issue.
Here's an example of an Xtranormal about Thanksgiving:
And here's a Voki used in a Spanish class. (scroll to the bottom)
A Voki tutorial:
And an Xtranormal tutorial:
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Technology Symbaloo
http://www.symbaloo.com/shared/AAAABlvXQV0AA42ACnZjvQ==
Here's the link to all of the technology tools that we have talked about at CC as a staff. Let me know if there are other things you'd like to see!
Here's the link to all of the technology tools that we have talked about at CC as a staff. Let me know if there are other things you'd like to see!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Toodledo--Easy To-Do Lists!
Toodledo is a website that allows you to create to do lists. The nice features of the website are:
This would be a great tool for students who need help prioritizing homework or other daily tasks. If needed, students could print off their lists and carry them around, or it could be synced to their cell phone or iPod. Teachers can create an account and help students set it up. There isn't a way to create a teacher account, because it isn't designed for schools, but if the teacher manages the account they would know the password (if you need extra accountability).
Setting up a Toodledo account is easy & free--check it out!
- prioritizing your list
- assign certain tasks to other people
- lists can be shared
- use due dates
- get text message reminders sent to your cell phone or e-mail reminders to your inbox
- apps avaliable on Andriod and iPhone
- sync with iCal
- put on your iGoogle homepage
- print into small booklet
This would be a great tool for students who need help prioritizing homework or other daily tasks. If needed, students could print off their lists and carry them around, or it could be synced to their cell phone or iPod. Teachers can create an account and help students set it up. There isn't a way to create a teacher account, because it isn't designed for schools, but if the teacher manages the account they would know the password (if you need extra accountability).
Setting up a Toodledo account is easy & free--check it out!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Scholastic StudyJams
Scholastic StudyJams is a website that has animated videos, slideshows, and karaoke jams regarding math & science subjects. You can search for a video, watch it, and then take a test about it.
In the math category, there are concepts from numbers up to geometry & problem solving. In science, the topics range from plants and animals up to scientific inquiry.
In the math category, there are concepts from numbers up to geometry & problem solving. In science, the topics range from plants and animals up to scientific inquiry.
Creating a Customized Google Search Engine
If you want students to do research, but only want them to search through certain (safe, age-appropriate) websites, then creating a customized Google search will help you do that!
Here's a quick video I created to show you how...
Here's a quick video I created to show you how...
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