Weekend Links for February 8

One of this week's posts, "The 'S' Word" by Erik Hammonds, addresses the issue of streaming content in the classroom.  This installment of Weekend Links offers some resources for learning how to make video and music available offline for classroom use.

12 Great Ways to Download and Convert YouTube Videos for Your Classroom via Tech the Plunge

On YouTube You Can Now Find Free Music to Legally Download and Use via Free Tech for Teachers

Do you use a music service? Here are guides for listening offline via Spotify Premium, Google Play, and Rdio.

Do you have tricks for accessing content without streaming?  If so, please share them in the comments!


And in case you missed them, here are a few more of the latest TCS Tech posts:

International Safer Internet Day by Lavanda Wagenheim

Middle School Does Not Suck by Andrew Maxey

ALEX Lesson Plans

I provide a lot of professional development to others.  I also attend a lot of professional development.  I enjoy learning and love when I can help facilitate the learning of others.  Recently, someone said something to me that made me really think about the methods of professional development that I typically deliver.

I've noticed that when attending tech type PD, STI PD generally rates skill sets for beginners, intermediates, or advanced.  I am going to begin to host my PD sessions the same way.  I do not want teachers to feel like I am assuming that they don't know certain things, but I want those that are struggling to feel like they can safely ask questions and have time to reflect.  I also want our rock stars to be pushed to another level of excellence.

By now you are probably asking yourself as to why the heck I am saying all this.  I do have a point and it IS tied to tech, I swear.

Recently I attended the ALEX Lesson Plan Summit sponsored by the Alabama State Department of Education.  During that session, teachers from across the state were asked to submit lesson plans.  Each lesson went through a very rigorous process of submission.  The lessons we submitted had to be tied to standards, have clear outcomes, and include a technology component.  You may find those lessons here.  You may search by content area, then find your standard, and then find lessons that may help you to teach those standards.

While some of you are experts and may not need any additional lessons, some of you may be like me and like to glean ideas off others.  If you are nervous about integrating technology into your lessons, just take a peek at these for lessons that infuse technology in a very easy way.

Shannon Bogert is a secondary curriculum specialist with the Tuscaloosa City Schools.  Email her at the address mentioned above or connect with her on Twitter (@shannonbogert1).

Submit a Question: Tools for Video Presentations

Through our Submit a Question page, Northridge High School teacher Susan Newell recently asked the following:

What is the best and easiest app or tool students can use to create short video to enhance a research project - i.e. Is Animoto the best? Can a video from Animoto be embedded in a Prezi?

This weekend's links offer resources to help you and your students choose the right tool for video presentations.

The short answer to the last of Ms. Newell's questions is no, an Animoto video cannot be directly embedded into a Prezi.  However, Animoto videos can be shared in a variety of ways.  Users can post their videos to YouTube (and then embed them in a Prezi) or share them via social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

The questions regarding what tools are the best require slightly more complex answers.  When selecting a tool for a job, there are a number of criteria to consider:

Purpose:  What type of video or presentation do you want your students to create?  A how-to? An animation or stop-motion?  A skit or clip of student action?  Some tools are better suited for certain tasks than others, so it's important to keep your overall purpose in mind to select the right one for the job.

Ease of Use:  Unless you're teaching a video production class, the focus of your video project will be on the content and your students' ability to present it effectively, not on the process of video editing itself.  As a result, you're not likely to want to devote much class time to teaching the tool.  Intuitive, easy-to-use resources are the way to go.

Length:  How much "footage" is required for your students to accomplish their objective?  Unless you're willing to pay, some tools will limit the length of the videos you're able to create.

Cost:  Do you need to stick with free options, or are you or your students able to spend a little on apps?  Many tools are completely free, some have free versions with limited features, others require a purchase.

Embed/Share Options:  One of the greatest benefits of offering students opportunities to create digital products is the ability to share those products with an audience outside the walls of your classroom.  Where do you want your students' work to go?  Most online tools have sharing features, so it's important to do a little investigating as you plan your projects to make sure the tools you choose allow you access to the embedding and sharing options you need.   

Below you'll find guidance on some commonly used video creation and presentation tools.  This is definitely not an exhaustive list, but it might provide a place to start when you're ready to create video presentations with your students.

Animoto
For ease of use, it can be tough to beat Animoto.  A gallery of themes and a library of curated music tracks offer a slick final product, and adding in photos, videos, and text is quite simple.  Student feedback, however, suggests that the free version of this tool, which keeps final videos at a brief 30 seconds, can be extremely limiting for some projects.  Additionally, the character limit on each "slide" (40 for titles, 50 for subtitles) may not allow students the space they need for sharing a research project.  Students recommend this tool for quick, teaser-style projects like book trailers.  Here's an example:
 

RQMS Visits the Tennessee Aquarium
 

Vine & Instagram
Because most of our classes don't have access to stand-alone cameras, it's likely that students will be filming their videos on phones or tablets.  If what's needed is a quick demonstration (a step in a science lab, for example), a Vine or Instagram video might be the way to go, particularly since students may already be familiar with these free apps and have accounts.  Here's a side-by-side comparison from Tech Crunch that may help you decide which best meets your students' needs.  Of particular note for classroom use are video length (Instagram = 15 seconds; Vine = 6 seconds), sharing options (Vine = Facebook and Twitter only; Instagram = a few more options including email), and embedding (Instagram = no; Vine = yes).  Here's a Vine created as part of a 6-word memoir activity:





iMovie (for Mac or iOS)
When I surveyed the RQMS Student Tech Leaders about their preferred video creation tools, the landslide winner was iMovie.  Users can play with numerous templates for making video trailers or their own movies, which can then be shared via email and other means or published to sites like YouTube, Vimeo, and Facebook, and the length limitations that must be considered with other tools are non-issues here.  Two things to keep in mind: the app is not free ($4.99 in the app store), and students recommend using the iPad version rather than iPhone, as the extra screen space makes editing easier.


Screencast-o-matic
At some point, you or your students may want to create screencasts (videos of activity happening on your computer screen - a how-to video, for example).  Screencast-o-matic is one of the favorite tools for this job.  It offers a free version with up to fifteen minutes of recording time and publishing options that include YouTube HD and a variety of formats.  One of the best features of this tool, in comparison to other screencasting tools, is that there is no installation required.  A single click can get you and your students started.  Check out the how-to by Bill Selak below:

WeVideo
Since TCS students now have Google accounts through our system's Google Apps for Education domain, WeVideo can be a great option for video creation.  This app, which can be added via the Chrome web store, connects to Google Drive, and offers a variety of themes (including both graphics and music) to get you started.  While the drag-and-drop process makes editing fairly easy for beginners,there are some significant limitations for the free version.  First, you can only export a total of 15 minutes of video for sharing (links for posting on Twitter and Facebook).  Downloads of your video are not an option without upgrading to a paid account, nor is collaboration on video projects (which is a bummer since that's one of the biggest benefits of many Google tools).
  

Google Hangouts on Air

Again, because of the ubiquitous nature of Google tools in our daily lives, Google Hangouts on Air might be a great solution for your video needs.  This tool allows users to broadcast life on Google+ and YouTube, and these broadcasts automatically post to your YouTube channel so that they can be viewed at any time and shared or embedded elsewhere.  Hangouts on Air can be recorded using your computer's built-in webcam, can include multiple participants, and require very little setup.  Keep in mind, though, that our system's Google Apps for Education currently has Google+ disabled.  Since Hangouts are tied in to Google+, these videos must be made using non-TCS Google accounts.  Rock Quarry Middle School currently streams video announcements daily, in addition to broadcasting them over the intercom.  Check out an example below:

Lapse It
Want to create time-lapse videos of events going on in your classroom (building a project, staging a set for a play, setting up for a school celebration, etc)?  Consider Lapse It, available for Android and iOS.  The app is free and allows for sharing via social media, YouTube, and more.  Visit this post at Leyden Techies for some additional usage ideas and an example.


What am I forgetting?  What tools work best with your students?  Share your ideas in the comments section below.

Many thanks to the RQMS Student Tech Leaders for offering the student perspective on a few of these video tools!

Want to submit your own question to the TCS Tech blog?  Click here!  Thank you to Susan Newell for being the first to submit a question.


And in case you missed them, check out this week's TCS Tech posts:
Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites - Erik Hammonds
Technology Support: What We Do for You - John York


Laren Hammonds is an 8th grade English teacher at Rock Quarry Middle School.  She's @_clayr_ on Twitter and blogs about her classroom experiences at Game to Learn. 

Weekend Links for November 23

We'll be on hiatus over the Thanksgiving break, enjoying some time with our families and (hopefully) some rest.

If you need reading material while you're hanging out in an airport, waiting for the kitchen timer to ding, or lining up for Black Friday insanity, peruse the links below for some discussion of student voice.

Happy Thanksgiving!  Be safe. Have fun.  In that order, please.

Voice is Cheap by Gary Stager

Fake and Real Student Voice by Dean Shareski

Getting My Grubby Hands Out of My Students' Projects by Russ Goerend

Thoughts On Student Voice by John Spencer


And, in case you missed it...

This week's post by Andrew Maxey: Google Calendar - Organization and Communication

Weekend Links for November 15

We'll try something a little different for this round of weekend links.  As you begin finding content online that makes you reflect on your practice or provides you with helpful ideas and resources, you'll need a way to keep your web reading organized and efficient.  There's a lotta good info out there, folks, and it can get overwhelming.

So, for example, if you've liked any of the bloggers highlighted in our past weekend links, you might want to keep up with what they continue to share.  The tools below offer some assistance.  Check them out, and see what works best for you.

Feedly
After the demise of Google Reader in July 2013, Feedly offered an alternative to folks wanting to use RSS to subscribe to online content.  You can sign in using your Google account info, subscribe to specific content of your choosing, or get started with some recommendations built into the tool.  After that, all the stuff you want to read comes straight to you - no need to spend your time hopping from one site to another.  Please note that Feedly attempted to swap over from requiring Google credentials to using Google+ instead.  As of the writing of this post, it seems as though that substantial mistake has been rolled back due to user feedback.  Here's a quick overview of Feedly from CNET.

Flipboard
Pitching itself as your own personal magazine, Flipboard offers a snazzy look and feel along with a lot of the same functionality of an RSS reader.

Pocket
The tool formerly known as Read It Later allows users to do exactly that.  It's not uncommon (particularly among educators who are incredibly generous in sharing resources) to find yourself swimming in interesting links that you want to explore.  Save them to Pocket, and you can visit them when you have the time.  This app works in your web browser and in tons of apps including Twitter, Feedly, Flipboard, and more.

These are just a few of the options available to support your online reading.  If you have experiences to share with the tools mentioned here or want to share others that work well for you, please post them in the comments below.

Hang Out, Mess Around, and Geek Out at the UA GeoTech Lab

UA GeoTech Lab (photo credit: Allie Sorlie)

As an aspiring archaeologist in middle school and high school, I spent many a sweltering week on the Alabama Museum of Natural History's  summer expeditions, digging along with other campers and archaeologists at sites in both Alabama and Mississippi to uncover bits of our history.  Those experiences helped to shape many of my beliefs about teaching and learning, and because of that I was thrilled to learn that the museum recently opened their GeoTech Lab in Smith Hall on the University of Alabama campus.

Funded through a grant from the MacArthur Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the lab, which officially opened in July 2013, is one of only two of its kind in the southeast.  Allie Sorlie, Education Outreach Coordinator for the museum, says the goal is to give teens access to tech they might not be able to use at home or in their schools.  Their hardware offerings currently include fifteen iPads, seven laptops, and fifteen GPSs used for geocaching and other activities, and students can access many different pieces of software and apps for creating projects.  Access to 3D printers is also available through other sites on campus.

The lab operates under the principles of HOMAGO.  The term, which stands for "Hanging out, messing around, geeking out," refers to spaces and learning activities that allow for flexibility, hands-on experimentation, collaboration, and tinkering in areas of personal interest.  Because of this philosophy, much of the lab's time is spent in open sessions, during which students can work on projects of their own choosing.  Mentors - UA students in fields such as engineering, geography, and environmental science - are available for support and can offer guidance and expertise with the available tools.

Right now the lab hosts open sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-6pm.  However, starting in the spring, open labs will be available each Thursday, plus the coordinators will add formal workshops every Saturday.  Check out the schedule below for some of the spring workshop offerings:

Game Shop on January 11:  

Learn how to code your own video game

3D Creations on January 25:

Learn how to use Google Sketch-Up to create your own 3D printable object

Digital Design on February 15:  

Learn how to design in Photoshop and Illustrator and enter your ideas for a GeoTech Lab logo into their logo contest

Headstart for College on March 1:

Learn Excel, PowerPoint, Prezi, and other programs that will help give you a headstart for college

My Global Position on March 15:

Learn how to use GPS units through geocaching, and create story maps of where you have been

Want to use some of the GeoTech Lab's equipment and expertise for a lesson or project?  Contact Allie Sorlie to schedule a pop-up lab, and the lab will come to you!  See the information below to get started.

Allie Sorlie - Education Outreach Coordinator

(205) 348-6383

acsorlie@bama.ua.edu

Laren Hammonds is an 8th grade English teacher at Rock Quarry Middle School.  She's @_clayr_ on Twitter and blogs about her classroom experiences at Game to Learn. 

Weekend Links for November 8

See the links below for a round-up of posts to enjoy over the long weekend.  Happy Veterans Day!

Google Chrome Presentation from TechCon 2013 via Leyden Techies (I particularly love the subtitle: Prepare to live in your browser)

Everything That's Wrong with Traditional Grading in One Table via Dangerously Irrelevant (check out the comments here, too)

The Power of One-on-One Conversations About Learning by Edna Sackson

How to Privately Share Media from Your iPad via Google Drive via Free Tech for Teachers

Academic Teaching Doesn't Prepare Students for Life by Shelley Wright for Powerful Learning Practice

How I Talk to My High School Students About the Internet by David Cutler via The Atlantic

True Confessions of a Former Technophobe

When I started reflecting my use of technology during instruction I thought about the types of technology I use, the cool websites I have taught the students use, and my favorite - Edmodo. I realized though that before I could get into explaining and highlighting the different tools I used I need to first discuss why I didn't use technology in my classroom. And that was a mixture of pride and fear.

I am not a "tech guru."  For several years, I went without using  all of the cool resources I had available because I didn't want to admit I didn't know how, and I was afraid of not having it work and looking silly in front of my students. As I began to realize that my kids were really missing out on some great opportunities for learning, I had to be brave.  I had to figure out the technology.

For me, that meant asking questions, finding a patient person who could show me a few things, playing around a lot, and then doing what I do best...teaching others how to use the things I had discovered. I began by using the video tutorials on the websites I was using or even using YouTube videos to figure out things I was unsure about. I also found a co-worker who was great at instructional technology and I would ask questions and work with her and her classes collaboratively in order soak in all of the technology I could. When I found new resources I spent time to make demo versions of what I wanted my students to make. I was able to anticipate the questions they had or possible glitches that might occur. Then, when I felt comfortable, I would share with other teachers in my department or in my building my newly gained skill.  This would prepare me even more and help me to feel even more comfortable with the new software, website, or tool.

By no means did I turn into a "tech guru" (true confession: I had to watch a You Tube video on how to copy and paste on my new Mac Book last month), but I am more comfortable and have more confidence so that my pride and fear will no longer be stumbling blocks to using instructional technology.

If you find yourself hesitant about trying something new, I encourage you to ask questions, find someone who will patiently guide you, play around with it, and then teach it to others. Take advantage of all the amazing resources that we have available.

And if you happen to be a "tech guru" and it comes naturally to you? Take the time to help answer the questions of someone more hesitant. Maybe even partner with them on a collaborative project. Our students will surely benefit from the time you take, and the hesitant teacher will be thankful for the support.

Carrie Jones is a reading coach at University Place Elementary School.  Connect with her on Twitter, where she's @carriekeyjones.

Weekend Links for November 1

Happy November!  Here are some links to chew on over the weekend:

Sign up for the 2014 Global Read Aloud - Learn more about the GRA here.

Calendly - Conveniently Schedule Meetings Through Google Calendar via Free Technology for Teachers

The Immense Complexity of Dynamic Conversations by Kristen Swanson

We've Got Extra Funds! Let's Buy Test-Taking Devices! via Dangerously Irrelevant

Stop Trying to Figure Out If Screentime Is Good for Students by Lisa Nielsen

Michael Wesch: How the Internet Has Changed Us via The Vancouver Sun


And, in case you missed them, check out this week's posts here on the TCS Tech blog:

Pros and Cons of Using Livebinders as a Digital Archiving Tool for Student Work by Lavanda Wagenheim

Malware: What It Is and Why You Have It by Erik Hammonds

Weekend Links for October 18

Check out the links below to find some of this week's best strategies and conversations.

As always, if you like what you see, give the blogger a follow, hit them up on Twitter, or post a comment sharing your thoughts.

Whose Learning Target by Russ Goerend

Learning Trends vs. Permanent Disruptors via Edutopia

Blogs and Connected Educators by Tom Whitby

For Teachers, Wired Classrooms Pose New Management Concerns via Education Week

Starting a Class, School, or District Twitter Account via SimpleK12


Last week's Friday Links available here.  Have a great weekend!

Weekend Links

In celebration of Connected Educator Month, we're kicking off a new feature on the blog.  Each weekend we'll post a set of links, bringing some of our favorite ideas, handiest resources, and most thought-provoking discussions straight to you.

There are tons of excellent blogs out there, which can be both awesome and overwhelming.  Check in here each week for a thoughtfully curated list that brings you the best of the best.

Like what you see when you visit a link?  Leave the blogger a comment sharing your thoughts, connect with them on Twitter, or subscribe to their site using a news reader like Feedly.

The Digital Networked Textbook: Is It Any Different by Dan Meyer

Ignore the Advice by John Spencer

United Streaming and Opposing Views via iPaddiction

Ideas to Strengthen Your Readers Workshop by Pernille Ripp

Automate All the Things: How to Get Started with IFTTT by Taylor Hatmaker for ReadWriteWeb

Laren Hammonds is an 8th grade English teacher at Rock Quarry Middle School.  She's @_clayr_ on Twitter and blogs about her classroom experiences at Game to Learn. 

Use Online Curators to Find Great Content

When choosing content for my class to read, watch, and listen to, I've found it useful to think of myself as a curator. A great curator finds the most interesting and relevant material for a specific event and works to present it in a way that engages an audience. As teachers, we effectively curate multiple events for unique audiences five days a week for an entire school year. Textbooks are crucial, but we need more.

Fortunately, the vast amount of free educational material available on the Internet has made classroom curation much easier. Unfortunately, however, the sheer amount of content available can feel so overwhelming that you just might miss that one clip, infographic, chart, or lecture that will both engage your students and meet their specific educational needs.

This is where online education curators come in, and among them Open Culture reigns supreme. Open Culture touts itself as "The best free cultural & educational media on the web," and the claim is not far off. The first time you visit the site, look at the "Essentials" section in the upper right and spend a while exploring. Regardless of what you teach, chances are that the diligent, thoughtful folks at Open Culture have at some point found one or more free online resources that can take your lessons to the next level. Once you manage to pull yourself away from the Essential collections, check the post tags further down the page to narrow your search (I recommend the iPad tag, which I have only scratched the surface on.)

So the next time you fire up your browser to search for a video explaining how people spoke in Shakespeare's time, an infographic about relationships between scientific processes, an interactive timeline for understanding important historical events, or examples of how innovators use math to change the world every single day, don't go it alone; check out a curator!

Christopher Watson teaches 8th grade language arts at Eastwood Middle School.  Connect with him on Twitter, where he goes by @schoolpivot, or check out his blog.