Technology+in+the+CRISS+Classroom

This was shared at the CRISS conference in December as a starting point for our work (some of the info came from the Fall 2008 CRISS Teacher Survey).
 * Technology in the CRISS Classroom **

** Integrating Tech in the CRISS Classroom **

High quality technology integration mirrors the CRISS Principles & Philosophy: Metacognition (Background, Purpose, Active, Organization), Explanation & Modeling, and Teaching for Understanding


 * __ How are teachers using tech in the classroom in ways that match the CRISS P&P? __**

Blogs Wikis Concept Webs Picture Notes Social Networking Texting Photostory Videos PowerPoints Virtual classes Multimedia Presentations Podcasts and Vodcasts Video Streaming

Glogster.com

Many tools available at http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/ - check it out!

Do you know about ** Google's Wonder Wheel **? It is a research tool that helps you focus in on key subtopics. It is buried in Google for some reason... To find it, start at the basic Google search page (just you, Google, and a white box in which to type the topic). Google a term for research (e.g. climate change). Once the results show up, look to the right of the search bar and you should see "Instant is On." Shut it off. Once you do this, a column will appear on the left that includes the Wonder Wheel. Click on that link. It gives you a concept map of related subtopics. Click on one. Watch how it expands the web... absolutely amazing search tool. If only it had been an option when I was teaching research skills to kids... Enjoy!

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 * Picture notes** are a great way to visually represent knowledge. Students need to choose an image or images to represent the **essential** elements of what they have read and learned about. They provide instructional opportunities for teaching about symbols and symbolic meaning. The visual representation also aids recall. Technology provides many alternatives to drawing picture notes. This is especially important for students who feel intimidated by actually drawing. Some technology tools to consider are Animoto, Go Animate, Comic Life, and Bubblr. Photographs or drawings saved as jpegs along with titles are combined with music and animation in [|Animoto]. There are also various comic websites that can be used. [|Go Animate] is a free site. [|Comic Life] requires purchase, but you can download a 30 day free trial. You can use your own pictures and add speech bubbles.=====




 * Summaries:** The website [|Great Summary] has provided a new way to play with the strategy of summarizing. To obtain a summary, you paste the information into a box and specify how many sentences you want your summary to be. You can also paste in a URL to obtain a summary of a website. Press the summarize button, and “Presto” you have your summary. The patent pending algorhythm used to create the summary is unknown, so it provides an opportunity for students to read something, develop their own summary, and then compare/contrast their summary with that created by Great Summary. This provides students with the opportunity to be **metacognitive**. Why did they choose certain things to be included in their summary? It provides students with an opportunity to analyze Great Summary’s work and evaluate how accurate they think it is. Why did Great Summary include the same things … or not? How do both of these summaries (a student generated one and one generated by Great Summary) compare to using a **CRISS template**?


 * [|Quizlet]** is a great website to use for **vocabulary** practice. It creates virtual flashcards and reinforcing games. There have been further enhancements that increase its effectiveness as a learning tool. Using Flickr's Creative Common licensure, images can now be uploaded to be displayed along with the word and its definition. A visual image for a word vastly increases the probability that it will be remembered. Instead of asking students to draw a picture **(Picture Notes)**, they can use quizlet for this aspect as well. This function will be further enhanced when the capability to upload images from your own collection is finalized. I anticipate how excited my students will be when I send them out with a camera to find an image or create an image that will help them remember their vocabulary words that they can view on the quizlet website.Another quizlet enhancement that you can use now is voice activitated games. Voice Scatter allows you to state what word and definition match. Then when they meet, they blow up. My students will love that sound effect! Voice Race asks you to state the correct vocabulary word before the definition and picture (if you have chosen a picture) drops off the track. Stating the word and its definition aloud is another great way to reinforce learning.

[|Diigo] is a bookmark service like Delicious but much more. Once you find an interesting website, bookmark it using Diigo. Then put "post its" on the page for others to see. For example, you can add your own **"stickie"** to clarify the students' **purpose for reading** or have the students state their own **Purpose** before they read. You can ask students to read it and generate "Right There, Think and Search, Author and You or On Your Own" questions **(QAR)**. Students can use the **"sticky note"** feature to add their own thoughts and connections or for "**Read and Say Something**." To use this with students, you should request an educator account. This enables your students to use Diigo and for you to see all the contributions that students make.

[|BookGlutton] is a beta site. Students read a book that they have in their collection and can comment on what they are reading. Others can comment on their comments. It is also possible for students to have an on-line live chat using a different window. Right now this has limited number of free books geared toward students, but it seems to have a lot of good potential. This can be used for **"Sticky Notes"** and "**Read and Say Something**." If educators find the site helpful, please contact the site owners and let them know. Educators influenced [|glogster] to create a moderated site for educators. Maybe we can do the same for BookGlutton. media type="youtube" key="_LbQ5hEjTBg" height="344" width="425"

**__ What technology is available to teachers? __** Internet Limited # computers Digital projector Digital camera Interactive white board Class set of computers Document camera Digital video recording Digital audio recording Digital video broadcasting Clickers **__ What can teachers do when they have access to few computers/other tech? What are the work-arounds? __** **__What can CRISS provide to support tech in the classroom?__** Not all of these will be implemented! Templates for white boards CRISS tips podcasts Strategy tutorial vodcasts CRISS listserv CRISS blog CRISS teacher chat (online) Word Templates Implementation EXAMPLES! Post Level I CRISS/tech training **__ Nota Bene: __** Know the tech environment you’ll be working in (access, software, reliability, tech support) Whenever possible, expand options by accessing free software (Photostory, Audacity, Tux Paint) Incorporate software licenses into grant proposals – include very specific learning goals and avoid asking for hardware unless the grant application specifically allows it.