PE4_Glogster

I went back to Glogster to get some practical experience working with this Web 2.0 tool and I created this Glog.  It has a lot of links to different tools that teachers and students can use to enhance their study of vocabulary.  The practical experience I gained from working on this poster was awesome.  Glogster is a simple, user friendly application that has many interesting and exciting features that are so easy to access.  With such a simple program it is easy to get absorbed in just being creative and trying to produce the best layout, to convey the information in a fun way.  Being able to add links, video and audio to a poster is certainly more interesting than a static poster.  When you check out this poster, notice that I have added links to most of the graphics on the page.  Most of the links go to different places.  The links will take you to the pages that contain the specific tools that I have referenced.  While making this Glog, I also got some practice using some of the graphic editing tools available on Glogster.  That enabled me to add shadows behind some of the graphics to make them stand out more and to change the color of the text.  I hope you enjoy this Glog! I also hope it inspires you to get started on your own Glogs and Glogging with your students.   

BP2_UJAM

I jam, you jam, we all can jam with UJAM.  UJAM is a great resource for teachers who want to incorporate music into their lessons or the media that they create for instruction.  It is a cloud-based application that allows even the most musically challenged person, like myself, to get busy producing fabulous musical scores.   To get started, simply go to http://www.ujam.com/, sign up on the site, listen to the intro and follow the tutorial to be on your way to becoming a recording artist.  Here is how I created my first song:  First, I signed up for the app through my Facebook account.  Then, on the main page, I chose sing a song.   

Next, I imagined I was in the shower to spark the creativity flowing and thought up some words for my song, just off the top of my head.  At the screen that came up next, I chose record and started singing.  I don’t think that I’m a great singer but with the help I got from this program . . . hmm, the results were . . . well, I’ll let you decide.  Check out my recording below: 

When I chose this application as the first Web2.0 tool to review, I had in mind the possibilities of creating custom music for my videos and presentations.  However, after thinking about it for a while, I realized it could be applied in many other ways as well.  My students could create songs by writing individually or collaboratively in groups.  Then, they could record their songs and share them with each other and the class.  The songs could be made to revolve around a theme, a lesson or an activity.  Original songs could be used as mnemonic devices for memorizing formulas, phrases, vocabulary, grammar or anything that needs to be anchored in the long-term memory.  Using music is a fantastic way to incorporate multiple intelligences and learning styles in teaching.  It is also a great way to motivate students.  I had a lot of fun with this activity and I know that I will use UJAM in my classroom.  I hope you will give a try also.  

BP1_Welcome to My Blog

Vector Graphic from http://www.istockphoto.com/

Welcome to my new blog, where I will post information on educational technology that I find and review including, helpful ideas and resources for educators.  This blog will be a place for me to share with all the educationalists/educationists/teachers/instructors/coaches/mentors/lecturers/professors/ etc. who share my love for helping others through teaching.  I invite you to join me on a fantastic adventure.  The latest and greatest twenty-first century tools for dynamic pedagogy are only a blog post away.