It amazes me how many apps that are available on the iTunes store. When people say "there's an app for that", I think that it is true.
Today I'm going to discuss one app, that while not a social media app, is an app that helps open up the world for students. Dragon Dicate is this app, and it works well.
There are a number of students in our high school that have difficulty reading and writing for a variety of reasons (EAL, ocular motor dysfunction, just can't, etc), so we use Kurzweil and Dragon Dictate to help them achieve success in their learning. Last week, a student spent three days training Dragon Dictate to recognize his speech patterns on a computer. When he was finally able to start using Dragon to write (speak) a paper in a word processor, the computer did not recognize his voice and kept making numerous mistakes. The student got extremely frustrated (as did I). This program was his opportunity to be a contributing member of his class and his chance to complete written assignments, and it did not work at all. He became very frustrated and wanted to quit. Not quite sure what to do, I said, "Hey, there's an app for that" and downloaded Dragon Dictate on the Student Services iPad. No kidding, within 5 minutes of being frustrated, he was dictating into the iPad, and it was writing out his speech with almost 100% accuracy. I'm not sure why this worked better than on the laptop, but it worked. We were then able to email the text to him to put in a word processor for the final editing.
Dragon Dictate is helping this student (and others) feel better about themselves, complete their work, and be productive members of their classes. The app did not require and voice recognition training, and was as simple as tapping the screen to begin. What a great way to support our school's/province's model of inclusion.
Monday, 26 September 2011
iLearn iGuess: Part 2
Posting for Sunday, September 25, 2011
For those of you who text, but don't want to pay to text people out of province or in another country, there's an app that has been a good addition to the iPhone: Kik messenger.
Kik uses wifi, not 3G to work, so you do need a wireless internet connection for it to work. The app works exactly like the text feature of any phone, except a whomever you are texting has to have a Kik account and have the app on their iPhone, iPod, or iPad. You can also use Kik to send written text, pictures, or video.
Texting is free because it works on wifi and, as long as a person has the Kik app, works no matter where you are in the world. My wife uses Kik everyday to stay in touch with her siblings, and it is a good way for us to stay in touch when she's in the States and I am in Manitoba. We used Kik when I was at the Labour Day Classic football game in Regina and she was at home (I just had to be at our hotel or a McDonalds to be able to send/receive messages because of the wifi). Kik is a great way to stay connected.
For those of you who text, but don't want to pay to text people out of province or in another country, there's an app that has been a good addition to the iPhone: Kik messenger.
Kik uses wifi, not 3G to work, so you do need a wireless internet connection for it to work. The app works exactly like the text feature of any phone, except a whomever you are texting has to have a Kik account and have the app on their iPhone, iPod, or iPad. You can also use Kik to send written text, pictures, or video.
Texting is free because it works on wifi and, as long as a person has the Kik app, works no matter where you are in the world. My wife uses Kik everyday to stay in touch with her siblings, and it is a good way for us to stay in touch when she's in the States and I am in Manitoba. We used Kik when I was at the Labour Day Classic football game in Regina and she was at home (I just had to be at our hotel or a McDonalds to be able to send/receive messages because of the wifi). Kik is a great way to stay connected.
iLearn iGuess: Part 1
Blog for Saturday, September 24, 2011.
This week I think I'll focus on Apple and Social Media uses of the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
When my wife and my cell phone plan was finished in June, we decided to get iPhones for a variety of reasons: we wanted to "get with the times", we were already using Google Calendar and wanted a phone that we could sync it to, we had a first generation iPod touch and liked the apps that we could use (Angry Birds, Text Twist, etc), and, due to the nature of our jobs, one of is often at a meeting/conference in Brandon or Winnipeg and we wanted a good way to stay in touch.
One aspect of the iPhone that we discovered was FaceTime. If you've never heard of it it's a video calling feature built into the iPhone/iPod touch/iPad, similar to Skype that uses a wifi connection. We have used FaceTime a lot since getting the phones. In July, I was at BU taking Graduate Scholarly Writing, and my wife and 3 daughters (one a newborn) went and stayed at her parents cabin in Minnesota. We were able to communicate using FaceTime the two weeks we were apart. Some awesome advantages of Facetime: because it uses wifi, there was no cost for my wife using her iPhone in the States, I was able to see her and my daughters everyday (sometimes 2 or 3 times), it is easy to switch the camera to face in front or behind (show people/the room, or show yourself) and it worked very, very well, with no skipping or frozen video.
We now use FaceTime with my brother in Alberta, my wife's mom in Brandon, and her sisters in Minnesota. It is a lot easier than having to use a computer/laptop and, because of using wifi, is free.
The student services personnel in our school division each were given iPads (for use with students) this fall, and we have been using FaceTime to talk to each other. My high school counterpart works in Boissevain, and it is nice to be able to have face-to-face conversations. FaceTime is a really neat way for people to stay in touch and work together.
This week I think I'll focus on Apple and Social Media uses of the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
When my wife and my cell phone plan was finished in June, we decided to get iPhones for a variety of reasons: we wanted to "get with the times", we were already using Google Calendar and wanted a phone that we could sync it to, we had a first generation iPod touch and liked the apps that we could use (Angry Birds, Text Twist, etc), and, due to the nature of our jobs, one of is often at a meeting/conference in Brandon or Winnipeg and we wanted a good way to stay in touch.
One aspect of the iPhone that we discovered was FaceTime. If you've never heard of it it's a video calling feature built into the iPhone/iPod touch/iPad, similar to Skype that uses a wifi connection. We have used FaceTime a lot since getting the phones. In July, I was at BU taking Graduate Scholarly Writing, and my wife and 3 daughters (one a newborn) went and stayed at her parents cabin in Minnesota. We were able to communicate using FaceTime the two weeks we were apart. Some awesome advantages of Facetime: because it uses wifi, there was no cost for my wife using her iPhone in the States, I was able to see her and my daughters everyday (sometimes 2 or 3 times), it is easy to switch the camera to face in front or behind (show people/the room, or show yourself) and it worked very, very well, with no skipping or frozen video.
We now use FaceTime with my brother in Alberta, my wife's mom in Brandon, and her sisters in Minnesota. It is a lot easier than having to use a computer/laptop and, because of using wifi, is free.
The student services personnel in our school division each were given iPads (for use with students) this fall, and we have been using FaceTime to talk to each other. My high school counterpart works in Boissevain, and it is nice to be able to have face-to-face conversations. FaceTime is a really neat way for people to stay in touch and work together.
Sunday, 25 September 2011
The Googleverse! Part 7
Today is my last day discussing Google (for now).
Have any of you used Google Reader yet? I hadn't even heard about it until last week. What a cool program. It helps to keep track of what RSS (or other) feeds that you may be following. For example, a click on my Google Reader shows me a link to all of the blogs that I am following for this class, so, instead of going to blogger, I can just go to Google Reader to read them. It makes for a better use of time and helps me be much more organized.
That's all I can blog for now, because I want to start using Google Reader to see everything that it does.
Have any of you used Google Reader yet? I hadn't even heard about it until last week. What a cool program. It helps to keep track of what RSS (or other) feeds that you may be following. For example, a click on my Google Reader shows me a link to all of the blogs that I am following for this class, so, instead of going to blogger, I can just go to Google Reader to read them. It makes for a better use of time and helps me be much more organized.
That's all I can blog for now, because I want to start using Google Reader to see everything that it does.
The Googleverse! Part 6
Blog for Thursday, September 22:
With the ability to take digital pictures with cameras, cell phones, and mobile devices, Google has a program geared at helping people get the most use out of their pictures. There are many ways to share photos online, but Google has created Picasa for sharing and editing photos. This program has many features that make it worthwhile to download or use online.
My family uses Picasa to create web album slideshows to watch. My siblings live all over Canada (from BC to Quebec), and Picasa provides a way for us to share our family photos in a fun and professional looking way.
Photos can even be added to maps to show where you've been and what you did when you were there, and videos can also be shared using Picasa.
Not only can you use Picasa on your computer or online, you can create photo books, collages, and slideshows that can be ordered from online stores or printed from your computer.
Picasa makes editing simple, and can help you fix problems such as red-eye, as well as being able to add special effects to photos. Having spent a lot of time learning how to use Adobe Photoshop, Picasa may not be as powerful, but is ridiculously simple and does not take a lot of time or effort to learn how to use.
Just like other Google apps, Picasa is free and very easy to use. Once you sign up, Picasa gives you 1 Gb of space for your pictures. Photos can be uploaded or shared with just a click, and you can choose who you share your photos with. You also have the option of searching for photos in Picasa (to use for lesson/worksheets/PowerPoints, etc) and seeing other peoples work. Picasa is a way of socially networking using photos. There is so much to this Googleverse!
With the ability to take digital pictures with cameras, cell phones, and mobile devices, Google has a program geared at helping people get the most use out of their pictures. There are many ways to share photos online, but Google has created Picasa for sharing and editing photos. This program has many features that make it worthwhile to download or use online.
My family uses Picasa to create web album slideshows to watch. My siblings live all over Canada (from BC to Quebec), and Picasa provides a way for us to share our family photos in a fun and professional looking way.
Photos can even be added to maps to show where you've been and what you did when you were there, and videos can also be shared using Picasa.
Not only can you use Picasa on your computer or online, you can create photo books, collages, and slideshows that can be ordered from online stores or printed from your computer.
Picasa makes editing simple, and can help you fix problems such as red-eye, as well as being able to add special effects to photos. Having spent a lot of time learning how to use Adobe Photoshop, Picasa may not be as powerful, but is ridiculously simple and does not take a lot of time or effort to learn how to use.
Just like other Google apps, Picasa is free and very easy to use. Once you sign up, Picasa gives you 1 Gb of space for your pictures. Photos can be uploaded or shared with just a click, and you can choose who you share your photos with. You also have the option of searching for photos in Picasa (to use for lesson/worksheets/PowerPoints, etc) and seeing other peoples work. Picasa is a way of socially networking using photos. There is so much to this Googleverse!
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
The Googleverse! Part Five
Well, today I'm going to write more about the iPhone than Google, but they're related, trust me.
My wife and I both have iPhones that we got this summer. We both use Google calendar to keep track of our schedules. Our phones are synced to both of our Google calendars so that we can keep track of everything that's going on. We can enter information on either our iPhone calendars OR a computer using Gmail and our Google calendars and iPhone calendars all sync together. We also found out that any notes that we make on our iPhones (shopping lists, recipes, etc) can also be synced between our iPhones AND those notes entered on the iPhone also get sent to Gmail and can be accessed there.
It is amazing how easy it is to be connected, whether using a computer or mobile device, like an iPhone. A couple of weeks ago, I went grocery shopping at the Super Wal-Mart in Bottineau (way cheaper than shopping in Brandon), but the grocery list was on my wife's iPhone in Killarney. Well, I found out that my phone had synced with hers, and I actually had the list on it. That was awesome. Way to go Google and iPhone!
My wife and I both have iPhones that we got this summer. We both use Google calendar to keep track of our schedules. Our phones are synced to both of our Google calendars so that we can keep track of everything that's going on. We can enter information on either our iPhone calendars OR a computer using Gmail and our Google calendars and iPhone calendars all sync together. We also found out that any notes that we make on our iPhones (shopping lists, recipes, etc) can also be synced between our iPhones AND those notes entered on the iPhone also get sent to Gmail and can be accessed there.
It is amazing how easy it is to be connected, whether using a computer or mobile device, like an iPhone. A couple of weeks ago, I went grocery shopping at the Super Wal-Mart in Bottineau (way cheaper than shopping in Brandon), but the grocery list was on my wife's iPhone in Killarney. Well, I found out that my phone had synced with hers, and I actually had the list on it. That was awesome. Way to go Google and iPhone!
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
The Googleverse! Part Four
Well, I learned something new today. I discovered Google Sites. Google now offers free web page templates and domains. Instead of a Moodle or a wiki, we have the opportunity to create a website using the simple tools offered by Google.
When I taught Grade 8, I created a webpage using dreamweaver. Not a bad program, but not very intuitive or user-friendly. Google sites appears to be very easy to use and set up. I think I'll have to try this out when I have some free time. My band has been thinking of using the web to share our music and this might be a way to do it. The sample pages look great and all have a unique feel in how they are presented. A plus is that you get to choose who can view your website and have a lot of control over what you create.
I am discovering that the Googleverse is even bigger than I imagined.
You can check out Google sites at: http://www.google.com/sites/help/intl/en/overview.htmlh
When I taught Grade 8, I created a webpage using dreamweaver. Not a bad program, but not very intuitive or user-friendly. Google sites appears to be very easy to use and set up. I think I'll have to try this out when I have some free time. My band has been thinking of using the web to share our music and this might be a way to do it. The sample pages look great and all have a unique feel in how they are presented. A plus is that you get to choose who can view your website and have a lot of control over what you create.
I am discovering that the Googleverse is even bigger than I imagined.
You can check out Google sites at: http://www.google.com/sites/help/intl/en/overview.htmlh
Monday, 19 September 2011
The Googleverse! Part Three
Over the last few years I have made myself a type of Google Docs guru, teaching staff in our division how to use the various features of Google Docs and how to use it in the classroom.
As a teacher, I have created documents and shared with students, because, as the owner, I can check the revision history of the document to see which students worked on the document, what changes they made, and how much work they contributed. Another HUGE benefit of using Google Docs is the fact that it automatically saves, and there is no need for students to save to the school server, or on a jump drive, or email it to themselves...The document is readily accessible to anyone who has an Internet connection, on any computer, or any mobile device.
Another great feature is that no matter what type of document that is created (word processing, presentation, spreadsheet), it can be downloaded in a number of formats (pdf, Word, Excel, PowerPoint). And, speaking of creating documents, there are thousands (if not more) of templates that can help a student/teacher get started if they are having difficulty.
Google Docs has so many features that make it very worthwhile to use.
As a teacher, I have created documents and shared with students, because, as the owner, I can check the revision history of the document to see which students worked on the document, what changes they made, and how much work they contributed. Another HUGE benefit of using Google Docs is the fact that it automatically saves, and there is no need for students to save to the school server, or on a jump drive, or email it to themselves...The document is readily accessible to anyone who has an Internet connection, on any computer, or any mobile device.
Another great feature is that no matter what type of document that is created (word processing, presentation, spreadsheet), it can be downloaded in a number of formats (pdf, Word, Excel, PowerPoint). And, speaking of creating documents, there are thousands (if not more) of templates that can help a student/teacher get started if they are having difficulty.
Google Docs has so many features that make it very worthwhile to use.
The Googleverse! Part Two
Blog for Sunday, September 18
A cool thing about Gmail is the chat feature. I am able to chat with any of my contacts when they are online without using a different program to do so. Gmail also has the option of voice or video chat. I have used the voice chat when writing IEP goals with one of our division's SLPs. We were able to work on the document together using Microsoft Word from Windows Live and using our Gmail were able to discuss the various goals that we had for 4 different students and, in real-time, add those goals to the IEP. We met today and reviewed this year's IEP goals and were amazed at how good the goals were.
I have also been able to use the text/voice/video chat with classmates for some of my other Graduate Diploma classes. Last spring I was in a class with teachers from Thompson and Winnipeg, and, not only were we able to collaborate together online, we were able to connect as colleagues and friends through hearing and seeing one another. Distance was not a factor in our collaborative work because of the opportunity to use the text/voice/video chat features built into Gmail.
A cool thing about Gmail is the chat feature. I am able to chat with any of my contacts when they are online without using a different program to do so. Gmail also has the option of voice or video chat. I have used the voice chat when writing IEP goals with one of our division's SLPs. We were able to work on the document together using Microsoft Word from Windows Live and using our Gmail were able to discuss the various goals that we had for 4 different students and, in real-time, add those goals to the IEP. We met today and reviewed this year's IEP goals and were amazed at how good the goals were.
I have also been able to use the text/voice/video chat with classmates for some of my other Graduate Diploma classes. Last spring I was in a class with teachers from Thompson and Winnipeg, and, not only were we able to collaborate together online, we were able to connect as colleagues and friends through hearing and seeing one another. Distance was not a factor in our collaborative work because of the opportunity to use the text/voice/video chat features built into Gmail.
The Googleverse! Part One
Blog for Saturday, September 17
So, we are to begin using Google Docs. I suppose this week I will blog about Google and how teachers can use it.
First of all, if I were in the classroom, I would have all of my students have a Gmail account as a way for the class to be connected. In fact, I have helped some of my "resource" students and their EAs set up Gmail accounts so that we can communicate. Using the email helps keep us all aware of what is happening: upcoming field trips, activities, and even what meals are being served by the cafeteria.
We have also discussed using Google calendar and syncing all of our devices to that calendar (iPods, cell phones, iPhones) so that we know when there are scheduled days off, etc. My wife and I both use Google calendar with our separate accounts and have shared our calendars with each other. I am a resource teachers and she is an SLP in our school division, and this has helped keep our lives somewhat sane. This year she is on maternity leave, and appreciates knowing where where I am going to be and when. A class would function really well if the class shared a Google calendar with all assignments and important dates on it. No more need for agendas, and parents would have the opportunity to access the calendar, too.
So, we are to begin using Google Docs. I suppose this week I will blog about Google and how teachers can use it.
First of all, if I were in the classroom, I would have all of my students have a Gmail account as a way for the class to be connected. In fact, I have helped some of my "resource" students and their EAs set up Gmail accounts so that we can communicate. Using the email helps keep us all aware of what is happening: upcoming field trips, activities, and even what meals are being served by the cafeteria.
We have also discussed using Google calendar and syncing all of our devices to that calendar (iPods, cell phones, iPhones) so that we know when there are scheduled days off, etc. My wife and I both use Google calendar with our separate accounts and have shared our calendars with each other. I am a resource teachers and she is an SLP in our school division, and this has helped keep our lives somewhat sane. This year she is on maternity leave, and appreciates knowing where where I am going to be and when. A class would function really well if the class shared a Google calendar with all assignments and important dates on it. No more need for agendas, and parents would have the opportunity to access the calendar, too.
Friday, 16 September 2011
A blogging we will go
After reading the course outline more carefully, I have realized that this blog is intended to be about social media in education. So, after thinking about this, I have decided to spend each week of this course focusing this blog on one type of social media and how it applies to education. So far I have thought of blogging, Skype, facebook, Twitter, mySpace, texting, iPod/iPad apps, and Youtube. If you have any other suggestions, please let me know.
My hope is that by the end of each week I will have covered many aspects of each of these applications and how they can be used to improve education for teachers, students, parents, and any other participants in education.
My hope is that by the end of each week I will have covered many aspects of each of these applications and how they can be used to improve education for teachers, students, parents, and any other participants in education.
Thursday, 15 September 2011
Digital Immigrant
Well, I think that it is safe to say that I am a digital immigrant. I am doing my best to stay on top of technology, but it changes so fast. When I bought a new cell phone a few years ago, I didn't even have a texting plan, because I thought that texting was a fad and would quickly fade. I soon realized that was a mistake because everyone that I know texts much more than using email. So, this summer, my wife and I both got iPhones with free texting, and we use that feature all of the time.
Now that I have found out about how easy it is to text, I am beginning to wonder how cell phones could be used in the classroom. I suppose I need to do some research. Yesterday I discovered how to use a cell phones to survey people and have instant feedback on a computer. I wonder what today will bring.
Now that I have found out about how easy it is to text, I am beginning to wonder how cell phones could be used in the classroom. I suppose I need to do some research. Yesterday I discovered how to use a cell phones to survey people and have instant feedback on a computer. I wonder what today will bring.
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Connected
What a world we live in. My wife's sister plays volleyball at an American university, but is too far away for us to go to her games. So, we are able to use the internet to watch her games live and view live stats for each of her games. Our desktop computer is hooked up to our TV, which we use as the monitor, so we don't have to crowd around a small laptop/monitor to watch. It is so cool to be able to watch the game, view the score, and keep track of all of the game statistics; it is almost like we are there. My wife is then able to text her sister and discuss the game (using Kik) because the volleyball team's van is equipped with wi-fi.
We also use Skype a lot because all of our siblings live all over Canada and the US. My parents do not have the internet, so everytime that they are over, we Skype family so that they have the opportunity to see each other face-to-face. Even though they see each other once or twice a year in person, our girls actually know their cousins because of Skype; they even play "Barbies" together.
The internet has provided ways for us to connect in ways that were hard to imagine in the past and has helped to make our families closer because of the instant and face-to-face communication that we are able to have.
We also use Skype a lot because all of our siblings live all over Canada and the US. My parents do not have the internet, so everytime that they are over, we Skype family so that they have the opportunity to see each other face-to-face. Even though they see each other once or twice a year in person, our girls actually know their cousins because of Skype; they even play "Barbies" together.
The internet has provided ways for us to connect in ways that were hard to imagine in the past and has helped to make our families closer because of the instant and face-to-face communication that we are able to have.
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
My wife and I share a facebook account. That's right, we don't have individual accounts. I really have difficulty with facebook. Many of our facebook "friends" post things on their wall that nobody really cares about (I hope). Do we really need to know that they're going shopping? Don't get me wrong, facebook has many good uses, but sometimes I think that people spend too much time posting and less time thinking about what they want to post.
On the flip side, next summer is my 20th high school reunion, and I was contacted via facebook. I now have made contact with many of my high school friends that I haven't spoken to in years. It is fun using social media to connect and plan this event. What I don't like is that once I "friended" one of the guys that I graduated with is that I now have invites from strippers to be their friends. Being a happily married man, I'm not sure how much that I want to get to know "Cocoa Bunny". I suppose using social media requires caution with how you share information and who you share it with.
On the flip side, next summer is my 20th high school reunion, and I was contacted via facebook. I now have made contact with many of my high school friends that I haven't spoken to in years. It is fun using social media to connect and plan this event. What I don't like is that once I "friended" one of the guys that I graduated with is that I now have invites from strippers to be their friends. Being a happily married man, I'm not sure how much that I want to get to know "Cocoa Bunny". I suppose using social media requires caution with how you share information and who you share it with.
Monday, 12 September 2011
First Blog
Well, here I am writing my first blog for course 07:775, ICT for Teachers. As this is the first of many, I suppose I should describe myself a little bit and my experience with computers.
I am starting my sixteenth year as a teacher. Thirteen of those years were spent teaching middle years, and I have taught ELA, math, science, social studies, phys. ed., computers, band, and even did a stint teaching Kindergarten music. The last three years I have been a high school resource teacher. I started out my career teaching at Mikisew Middle School in Cross Lake, then moved to Gretna to teach grades 6, 7, and 8, and have been at Killarney the last ten years.
When I got my first job (1996), I was hired to teach grades 9 and 10 ELA, but, when I got to Cross Lake, found out I was the grade 5-8 computer teacher. Having never had a computer, nor any interest in computers, this was quite a challenge. After my forced immersion into technology, I realized that I actually enjoyed learning about computers and how they could be used in education. When I was hired at Gretna Elementary, part of the job was included being the grades 5-8 computer teacher as well as being the tech leader/troubleshooter for the school. At Killarney, I once again taught computers, but, instead of as a separate class, included technology as part of the core subjects. I am currently a member of the Killarney School tech team and am spending a lot of time educating my colleagues about how technology can be used to support students with learning exceptionalities.
I have used Skype and gmail, but have not really taken advantage of "Social Media" personally or professionally and look forward to what this class has to offer.
I am starting my sixteenth year as a teacher. Thirteen of those years were spent teaching middle years, and I have taught ELA, math, science, social studies, phys. ed., computers, band, and even did a stint teaching Kindergarten music. The last three years I have been a high school resource teacher. I started out my career teaching at Mikisew Middle School in Cross Lake, then moved to Gretna to teach grades 6, 7, and 8, and have been at Killarney the last ten years.
When I got my first job (1996), I was hired to teach grades 9 and 10 ELA, but, when I got to Cross Lake, found out I was the grade 5-8 computer teacher. Having never had a computer, nor any interest in computers, this was quite a challenge. After my forced immersion into technology, I realized that I actually enjoyed learning about computers and how they could be used in education. When I was hired at Gretna Elementary, part of the job was included being the grades 5-8 computer teacher as well as being the tech leader/troubleshooter for the school. At Killarney, I once again taught computers, but, instead of as a separate class, included technology as part of the core subjects. I am currently a member of the Killarney School tech team and am spending a lot of time educating my colleagues about how technology can be used to support students with learning exceptionalities.
I have used Skype and gmail, but have not really taken advantage of "Social Media" personally or professionally and look forward to what this class has to offer.
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