Digital Eyes

Check out some of the new features in the Lesson Activity Toolkit 2.0. http://trailsoptional.wordpress.com/2009/05/21/smart-notebook-flash-activities-in-the-lesson-activity-toolkit-2-0/

In the third interview in the series, I interviewed Danielle Miller, third grade teacher at Birchview. Danielle used podcasting as a way to publish her students' research on animals. Danielle talked with me about how podcasting was a great tool for motivating her students. Sharing their work with a global audience helped them become more careful about their writing and their reading! To listen to the podcasts, click here: http://digitaleyesblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/test2.pdfmiller/journey-north-podcasts/ If you have something to share that you are doing in your classroom, please contact me!

As a teacher, I have always looked forward to summer for so many reasons. Of course, I always loved the relaxation of summer, sleeping in, traveling, going to the beach with the kids. I truly believe it is this relaxing time that helps us get ready for the upcoming year. Our new students deserve our best, and our best requires that we have time away to rejuvenate and come back relaxed and reenergized. I also look forward to summer as a time to reflect on my past year. What worked? What didn't? What did I hope to try but never got around to? What do I hope to do next year? I hope that in the relaxation and reflection of the summer, you all join me in reflecting on how education is changing and how we can move forward this fall in addressing the new needs of our students. To that end, there are many opportunities this summer to learn and explore this. There is the Summer Tech Institute in August and the Assessment Summit in June. There are many great book study groups that center aro...

This is the second in a series of podcasts about ways in which teachers are using technology in their classroom. Hopefully these podcasts spark ideas for you as well. In this podcast, I am interviewing Alex Papp, 3rd grade teacher at Plymouth Creek. He is using Voicethread as a tool for students to review books and share them with classmates. They are also having ongoing discussions about the books using Voicethread. Have a listen! If you are interested in sharing what you are doing in your classroom, contact me to set up a time! Alex was also nice enough to record a short video demonstrating how his students are using Voicethread. alexinterview

I have recently come across the website www.awesomestories.com. This is a great site that links you and your students to primary sources related to a wide variety of topics. An author writes a summary story about an event which gives your students more information about the event. But within the story links are embedded to primary sources. It is a great way to help your students access primary source information. It includes text, images, videos, sound clips, slideshows, and even lesson plans. Check it out at: http://www.awesomestories.com

Once the "what" is decided, the "how" always follows. We must not make the "how" an excuse for not facing and accepting the "what." Quote by Pearl Buck I recently came across this quote. It struck a chord with me. How often do we give up on a great idea, because we disagree on the "how."?

This is hopefully the start of a series of interviews with some of the amazing teachers I work with. I hope that hearing how others are using technology in their classroom will spark some ideas for you as well. If you interested in being interviewed, please contact me to set up a time. In the first interview, I spoke with Carrie Ehrlich, a 3rd grade teacher at Oakwood Elementary School. She wrote a grant last year for two iPod Touches and has been using them with her students in a variety of ways. Click here to listen:  carrieinterview2 Image from: http://files.lesterchan.net/images/apple/ipod_touch.jpg