No YouTube? No Problem!

I was placed in the Dufferin-Peel District School Board at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School. Amazing board and such a fantastic school!! However, I reached a road block in the first week of teaching when I told my Associate Teacher I planned to use a YouTube video to get my classes minds on the lesson for that day.

UNFORTUNATELY, the board does not allow access to YouTube on any of the computers in the labs, libraries, or classrooms. So I paused ................................................ what will I do now? I knew I would want/need to use YouTube videos on a regular basis to attract the students via the media.

So, I went home that night and solved the problem! I hope this helps anyone else that fell into the same predicament.

1. Go to YouTube and find your video of choice
2. Click "Share" underneath the video
3. Copy the link that is given
4. Go to Media Converter
5. Click "Enter a Link" and paste your link
6. Hit "Go to Next Step"
7. Pick conversion type (I usually use WMV for videos)
8. CONVERT!

After you've converted the file, save it onto a USB stick and off you go! Your video can be accessed at your school regardless of the YouTube block! YAY! (I did this about 5 times, very useful process to remember!)

*Helpful hint: Sometimes the conversion website may only allow you a certain amount hours of conversion and that's when you switch over to another site and follow a similar process (e.g., Online-Convert)

Motivation at its Best Cont'd!

Wow! Check this out... I don't think an introduction is necessary...



I have always loved Elmo and I absolutely adore this story; I can't wait! Can you?!

Motivation at its Best

Hi there, I'm back!

I thought I would share this inspirational video with my blog viewers. I would also show this video to students (or anyone for that matter). Not only does this video tell the students never to give up, there are concrete examples of our leaders being denied in what they do best. Perserverance and determination prevail as these amazing individuals succeed to the fullest despite their past failures.

Enjoy!

The Future of High School Announcements!

Yesterday, I was at my third observation day at St. Joan of Arc CSS, and wow, it was quite the day. I was extremely sick and truthfully, I really wanted to be in my bed but I was SO happy that I buildt up the energy to go.

Why is that you ask? WELL! I saw the coolest, most futuristic thing I've ever seen! St. Joan of Arc has an AMAZING Communications Technology program where they have 3 incredible video cameras, microphones, and A GREEN SCREEN! Now, seeing this room is one thing... seeing what the students can do with this room was out of this world.

For the morning announcements, Joan of Arc no longer has a face-less student reading off a sheet over the muffled intercom -- no no, they are way too advanced for that! Now they have live TV recordings that each class watches on their Smart boards that was filmed in their Comm-Tech room and reported by the students. It was unreal! The students are using technology to be creative, innovative, and it was extremely effective! (not just because I was in awe, but because the students were also entirely engaged)

Morals of the story:
1. St. Joan of Arc is an amazing school that fosters student-centered learning
2. Technology is the learning of the 21st century and CLEARLY it can do amazing things!

Teachers Teaching Teachers!

INFO: http://edtechtalk.com/live-ttt ON WEDNESDAYS! (9pm Eastern)

The "Teachers Teaching Teachers" chat was so exciting! (Classroom 2.0 - EdTech Talk)
10 teachers from around North America came to chat about education, with no particular topic in mind but plenty of interest. This session began by one teacher, Valerie, expressing her trouble with getting support for implementing technology into her classroom. Their school was fighting just to get computers!! (which I found completely shocking to say the least). Valerie teaches English at an elementary school and wants to implement blogging into her lesson plans but can't because she doesn't get much support by her "conservative district". Computers?! Really?! Is that not a necessity in every school at this point? I was shocked... we moved on...

This got us talking about conservative fears about students stumbling over material they aren't supposted to see. One teacher pointed out the fact that students are using the internet and experiencing this content elsewhere so it makes more sense for them to have the guidance of educators to assist or redirect them. Something she said that I thought was fasinating and extremely truthful was, "the risk in not letting them have access to roam the internet is worse than letting them". So true.

In my opinion, students should be encouraged to explore topics, communicate with others, and be active and independent learners. You can learn an unreal amount from sitting infront of a computer with every bit of knowledge only a click away. I would say the opportunities with the internet compare greatly to that of a ginormous library (and keep in mind, I'm an English major who LOVES literature but I can admit to the array of educational information you can find online).

Last thing I promise! One teacher bought up his unique way of beginning each class by incorporating technology into his lesson plans. He teaches Photography and he begins each class with Flickr pictures that his students have taken and he has a class conversation about the techniques used in the picture. Amazing way to integrate technology with some positive reinforcement!
P.S. this can be done for English or other topics using  Blogger or other writing tools
P.P.S. I have added this interesting idea and more to my "How to Incorporate Technology into The Classroom" blog, check it out!

How to Incorporate Technology in The Classroom!

I have decided to make a list of ways to initiate Lisa Neale's notion of "blended learning"  and the notion of today's learners in contemporary classrooms. This list will be added to as I gather ideas from my own experiences, my peers, and my instructors.

1. Use audio/videos in the classroom at any time in any subject! (emphasizes instructions/concepts in a relatable manner) -- e.g.,
1. Songs
2. TV Shows
3. Movie Clips
2. Class Website:
1. Outlining a syllabus
2. Class schedule (don't forget birthdays!)
3. Homework assignments (can be assigned online and/or completed online)
4. Class discussions (forums, debates)
5. Post prior lessons for student's that were away (via document, video, audio)
• RESOURCE: Click here to try Google Sites! (Easy and free!!)
3. Smart Boards:
1. Great for posting visual lessons while adding information F2F (face to face) depending on the areas needing clarification
2. Great way to get students up, involved, and interacting with their learning
• RESOURCE: Click here to download Smart Technologies Free Trial
• Check out their Ease of Use video
4. Online Handouts:
1. SAVE PAPER! Use online handouts! (or provide printouts and have them online for students who were away)
5. Live Scribe Pen:
1. Students get the audio and visual lesson at home (great for students that have trouble processing a lot of oral information at once)
• RESOURCE: Click here to check out How the Livescribe Pen works!
6. Blogs (i.e. virtual journal):
1. Practices writing, reading, communication, and self-reflection skills
2. Allows students to express in an informal manner about a topic of their interest
3. Allows teachers to get to know their students further
• RESOURCE: Try Google's Blogger
7. Tie in Flickr, Blogger, Picasa, etc. at the beginning of your lesson
1. During the "Teachers Teaching Teachers" discussion, one teacher said they begin their photography class with Flickr pictures of his students work to initiate discussions on techniques
2. A Language Arts teacher could begin with Blogger (or any writing site) to highlight and praise student writing
• RESOURCE: Flickr, Picasa
8. YouTube!!
1. You can literally show a video on any topic! This keeps students interested, because, let's face it... listening to your voice all class everyday is not very engaging
2. TIP: preview the material at home for appropriate content!
• RESOURCE: Youtube
• If YouTube does not work at your school, check my post titled, "No YouTube? No Problem!
9. Digital Storytelling!
1. Have your students create a comic strip related to a specific topic, theme, or text
• RESOURCE: Bitstrips
2. Another method of integrating comic strip constructing!
• RESOURCE: Pixton for Fun
• RESOURCE: Audacity
4. Bring your visuals to life! Use a photograph and make it as real as can be! (e.g., make your dog talk about his experiences as a dog)
• RESOURCE: Blabberize
5. Online Book Writing! -- "Every child has a story", let them use their creative juices to write their own story based on a topic of your choice
• RESOURCE: TikaTok
Audio Photography (even 60 secs) -- Add sound over top of a visual photograph (this is even a great way to have class introductions -- a short story and a visual to match!)
6. Use your Flikr pictures to tell a story!
• RESOURCES: PechaFlikr, 5 Card Stories 

Professional Learning with Lisa Neale

Last week, Zoe arranged for Lisa Neale to come into our Technology class and discuss the education of the future. That is, an education where technology is not only easily accessible, but also central to student and teacher learning.

Lisa Neale is the one and only Principal of 21st Century Fluencies for the HWDSB. A comment I found particularly interesting was the notion of "blended learning" and how as people, we naturally blend our personal and our professional life, in addition to physical and virtual modes of learning. As a teacher candidate, I (we) cannot ignore the needs of today's learners. To engage today's students we must incorporate technology and the idea of blended learning, which takes place both inside and outside the classroom.