New look, new domain...
Bookmark www.intechgr8.comas this blog will soon have a new address. Since Mobileme will soon be gone (sigh), I am transferring back to Blogger, but keeping my domain- inTECHgr8.com.
A new look and new adventure. This site is under construction as of June 1, 2012. Please check back soon as I continue to post new ways to integrate technology in the classroom.
Literacy ain’t what it used to be. All kidding aside, students in the 21st century classroom learn in an entirely different way. Keeping the digital natives from getting restless is no easy task. Research shows when students are having fun, learning must be taking place. With iPods, smartphones, and social media outlets, students are micro-blogging their fingertips off. Well, if you can’t stop them, join them!
What is Twitter exactly? Watch this video, Twitter in Plain English.
I started using Twitter in 2009. Originally, I just wanted to send text message reminders and helpful website links to my students. @dixontweets became a fast and fun way to keep students (and parents) informed and focused.
After researching how other teachers are tweeting, I found innovative options for using Twitter to encourage literacy or should I say Twitteracy.
Twitteracy Applications
(1) Collaboration- Students can collaborate on projects by using Tweetworks. Tweetworks is a Twitter application that allows threaded conversations.
(2) Word Choice- To quote Shakespeare, “Brevity is soul of wit.” Teachers can have students tweet (in 140 characters or less) character descriptions, plot outlines, and themes of novels to demonstrate comprehension.
(3) Creative Writing- Create a Twitory, Twitter story, where students take turns tweeting, in 140 characters or less, to create an entire story.
So, why Twitter? Why not? Take a look at how other teachers are using Twitter in their classrooms.
Voki is a free web 2.0 tool that allows you to create speaking avatars that can be published to a website, blog, social network, or email.
Vokis have been used in foreign language classes, English & reading classes, and exceptional education classes. It encourages participation in a non-threatening way- plus it's really fun!
You can record your voice by phone or computer microphone. If you are really in a hurry you can just type your message and select from a variety of female or male voices.
...Trying to figure out a way to use Voki on Blackboard for announcements...more info to come.
If you are interested in using Voki and would like a tutorial, click here for a handout.
Already use Voki in your classroom? Please share with us how you use it in your classroom.
