Connecting wth students through modern media.

I'm always trying to find ways to connect economics with the every day lives of my students. With that in mind I made this video to show the first day of class that uses commercials, tv show clips and movie clips to introduce some of the basic points of economics. To make this video I used imovie.

My own thing

Since I hope to continue this blog, I thought I might as well start right away. Here is the Prezi I created to use with my first econ lecture. I'm still revising and adding, but I think it looks pretty good so far.

Economics Made Simple on Prezi

One more Thing

Even though I knew about many of the "things" in this class, I appreciated the time to really explore them to see how I could use them in my classes. For example, I set up a basic google reader account awhile ago, but I never added many feeds beyond a few of my friends blogs. Now, I love going on Google reader to see the cool blog posts delivered straight to me. I've even begun using instapaper to deliver the posts I want to read to my Kindle. This is one "thing" that I think has become a permanent part of my routine. Flickr and creative commons were also very significant things to learn about. I have already begun using flickr more often and have found it so easy to search for creative common photos and then to attribute them when I use them in a post or lecture. Hopefully, I will be using Web 2.0 weekly in my classroom. Most of this will be accomplished through my Moodle, but I also plan on using quizlet, voicethread and flickr, just to name a few. I would also like to keep up this blog as a place to record my experiences using technology in the classroom this year. This might help other people who are going through the same process, plus I can use it as evidence in my next PDA evaluation.

Thing 23: NIng

In exploring the classroom 2.0 network on Ning, I found that it was nice to have such a large community of like minded educators. As I began to explore I really liked the subgroups that were more specific within the network. I found groups that were focused on using cellphones in the classroom, those that discussed the use of Google Apps, etc. I think that pretty much every technology application for the classroom was covered. I definitely see myself going back to this site when I need help with web 2.0 in my classroom. I would love to have a Mesquite HS Ning network. Each class could have a group set up and students could communicate with each other about classes and assignments. Too bad we can't have something similar set up with Moodle. I would live for them to have a common landing page that showed all the classes they were in and combined all the calendars into one.

Thing 22: Facebook and MySpace

My Facebook profile Why should we know how social networking works? Just read this: "In India, a study conducted by job search engine provider CareerBuilder India found that more than seven out of every 10 (73 per cent) employers used social networking sites to research candidates’ backgrounds. Another 15 per cent planned to start using social networking sites for screening." link to article Our students need to know that they are creating a digital footprint that cannot be erased. It is important that they learn how to behave responsibly. The article I linked to above that states that 73% of employers use social networking sites to screen candidates wasn't the only one that said that. That number seems high considering the short amount of time these sites have existed, but when I think about it, I do the same time. I google pretty much anyone I do business with. I do see ways that social networking could be used in an educational way. For example, I know of an AP Macroeconomics teacher who has formed a AP Macroeconomics study page on facebook. For 24 hours before the exam, he and other teachers answers students' macroeconomics questions in real-time.

Thing 7B: More Words of Wisdom from Google Reader

I found a great quick post on the Free Technology for Teachers website. It was a short video post about creating videos instead of written sub notes. What a great idea! I could so easily do that on my Mac with photobooth. As Bryne explains, when you make a video like this, the kids can't say that the sub "forgot" to tell them to turn something in or to do part of the assignment. He even posted a sample video a few days later.

Thing 21: More Google

The first tool I played around with wast the custom Google search engine. I created a search engine that my students can use on their monetary policy projects. I think it will be great to limit their results so that they aren't overwhelmed with the volume of information out there.

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I also created a personal calendar. I like that you can set up different calendars with different settings. I think I would like to create one with my classes and then invite them through their Google Apps accounts. It would be a great way to keep them updated with due dates. The link to the personal calendar I created is here.

Thing 20: Google Docs

To be fair, this wasn't my first introduction to Google Docs. I found it myself about a year ago because I was trying to find a free alternative to Microsoft Word. Then I took a tech class though MISD and learned that Google Docs is more than just a free alternative to Microsoft Word. The collaborative aspect of Google Doc is what reallly makes it special. There are a million ways to use Google Docs in the classroom. One idea is to upload assignments so that students can never say the dog ate their homework again. Another is to have them work together on group presentations using the presentation tool. If I were still an English teacher I would especially be using it for peer revision and writer workshops. I can also see using the form tool to create quizzes and as a way to get student feedback.

Thing 19: VoiceThread

My first impression of voice thread is that its is another really cool web2.0 tool but I wasn't completely sold on using it professionally pr privately. Then I started exploring it more and I became more and more impressed and I am now thinking of more ways I could use it in class and in my private life. I loved the sample voicethread of the old family picture and having everyone talk about their memories of what was going on. I would love to have my extended family do something like that. Once I found out that it is possible for a small fee to download a movie of a voice thread, I became even more interested in that possibility. Although, I have no idea if my older relatives could grasp the concept. I am considering using it in my classroom as well, however, I feel like I am adding so many new tools to my curriculum, I may quickly overwhelm my students. Plus, who knows how many days I'll actually be able to reserve in the computer lab this year. I really wish I had even 3-4 computers in the classroom. Then I could have students take turns at the beginning of class for a week or so to comment on a voicethread. Then we could watch the final result as a class. I guess I could have them work on it at home. I'll have to think on that some more.

Thing 18: You Tube

It was nice to have an official purpose and excuse for browsing through YouTube. I found lots of random, funny and helpful videos. TeacherTube wasn't nearly as much fun, but I guess that is to be expected. I have used YouTube in the past for my classes. You can often find short clips to emphasis certain economic principles. Sometimes I have used zamzar.com to convert the videos so I don't have to worry about the internet going down at school and ruining my lesson plan. This year I also plan to upload a few tutorials I have made to YouTube so that i can embed them in my Moodle site. Students won't be able to see them from school computers but they will be able to see them at home. PS Let me go on a tangent for a moment and say that I hope that at some point Mesquite ISD will decide to unblock certain sites like YouTube at the high school level. I know that there is a lot of inappropriate content on youtube, but students can access youtube on their internet enabled smartphones anyway. In the same way students have consequences for bringing a inappropriate magazine to school, there should be consequences for accessing an inappropriate video from school whether it is on an iphone or a school computer. The truth us, we can't block every bad thing on the internet. It changes too fast. By the time they are in high school, we need to be teaching these students how to appropriately use the internet in a school or work environment.

Thing 17: Podcasting

Since I have been listening to podcasts on my Ipod for several years, this activity wasn't much of a stretch for me. I have several podcasts that I listen to on a regular basis, including This American Life, Car Talk, and the Jay and Jack Lost podcast (before Lost went off the air). In my classes, I have brought in several NPR podcasts for my students to listen to. I have also begun recording some of my AP lectures as podcasts so that when students are absent, they still hear what I covered in class. I hope to eventually have all of my lectures recorded. I haven't had my students make podcasts yet but I plan to do that next year.

Thing 16: The Library Thing

I did spend some time exploring The Library Thing, but I have been a member of a similar site, Goodreads for a while, and I think I like that site a little better. It may just be because I already am connected with friends on Goodreads, but I also think that Goodreads is a little more user friendly. It connects me to all my Facebook friends who are on the site. It also had all the social aspects that Library Thing has such as groups, recommendations, discussions, etc. I probably won't use either site in the classroom for my class, although if I still taught English, I could see some great uses for the site.

Thing 15: Delicious Bookmarking

I have several computers that I work on regularly, desktop at school, desktop at home, my laptop, etc. On every computer, even on various browsers on each computer, I have different sites bookmarked. I often find myself trying to google sites because I can't find a bookmark that I know I have "somewhere." I had heard of delicious and other social bookmarking sites, but I thought it would be cumbersome. I thought I would have to do to the delicious site and sign in every time I wanted to bookmark something or to find a bookmark. After playing around with Delicious, I find that it has a plugin that is built into the browser, and that adding and finding links couldn't be simpler. Professionally, I can see using links to share with colleagues, and I can see adding an RSS feed for a specific tag to my Moodle site. I will have to play around with the possibilities. My delicious bookmarks are here if you want to check them out.

Thing 7A: More yummy feeds from Google Reader

I found a great tip on the Free Technology for Teachers website. It is about how to make in-classroom video viewing better. Basically, the teacher sets up a back channel discussion on Todays Meet and has the student post their ideas and questions as the video is playing. Of course, without computers in the classroom, I won't be able to do this anytime soon, but maybe there is a way to use the class response clickers to work in a similar way.

Thing 14: Quizlet

I tried out Quizlet, which is a great tool for creating flashcards to learn vocabulary. Beyond the simple flashcard tool, there are some great features that Quizlet offers beyond the 3 by 5 index cards I grew up using. First, as you create the cards, you are given a choice to use dictionary or user created definitions to just write in your own. I made a quick sample set for my economics class and was able to use the provided definitions almost every time. It was a great time saver. One your card are made, there are some even better features. First, you can study by reviewing the cards, then you can even test yourself or play games with the words. You can do this on the site, embed the cards onto your own website, link to them through your twitter or facebook account or even use them with several iphone apps. You can also find cards others have made, join groups, and comment on sets. It is this social aspect that really takes vocab to the next level.

Thing 13: Mashed!

As you can see from my last few posts, I've been having fun doing the mashup/ generator thing. I think it is so much fun! The Spell with Flickr site is easy to use. All I had to do is enter the text I wanted spelled out and then copy the embed code for my site. I could even click on individual letters if I wanted something different. Image Chef had a lot to choose from, I can see myself going back there to come up with cool graphics for my presentations. I think my favorite, however, was Talking Photo. It is pretty much similar to Blabberize, but it has prerecorded sound. I can see having a lot of fun with this in class. The only drawback is that the kids would get so into making cool images that they might lose track of what ever the assignment is. But if I could give them a time limit, it might work.

Bond... James Bond

Created with PQ Talking Photo photo by Erik Veland

If asking nicely doesn't work...

created by Image Chef

Economics in one sentence

Created with Spell with Flickr

Thing 12: Online Slideshows

Photo credits: Top Japanese 10,000 note by Ivan Walsh Money! by TracyO Money Money Money Moooooney by Ahmed Rabea Euros by Will Spaetzel I chose to create a quick slide show of various currencies from around the world. I liked how easy it was to create a slide show at slide.com. IT was especially nice that they have legal options for including music.

Thing 11: Photosharing with Flickr

Photo by Ahmed Rabea I had a fun time exploring Flickr for thing 11. I chose money as my theme and found lots of pictures of money from around the world. I love how easy it is to search through creative commons pictures and download them. I also used the spell with pictures app to create an economics banner for my moodle page. I have several projects planned for next year (assuming I can get into the computer lab) that involve the use of pictures. One project will be for my students to create Prezis and I think that Flickr will be a great resource them. I just need to make sure that I teach them how to attribute their sources.