Create your own Fireworks with ColAR

With kids that are grown, it can sometimes be a bit of a stretch to explain why you are sitting in the kitchen with a giant box of crayons when your hubby walks in and gives you that look, but with the ColAR App I had the perfect excuse and just in time for the 4th of July!!! ColAR was something I learned about from Leslie Fisher and it looked so cool that I had to try it out for myself.  So, I headed to the ColAR Mix website, 

scrolled down to find the holiday pack,

and printed out a blank coloring sheet with fireworks. 

I opened a fresh pack of Crayons and set to work (all for the sake of evaluating the app, of course).

Within minutes, I was finished coloring and ready to download the ColAR App from iTunes.

I opened the app and held my phone just above the finished page.

The coloring sheet immediately transformed from a 2D picture to a 3D, interactive image.  When I touched the rockets on the screen, they shot off into space and erupted into a beautiful fireworks show. Here's a short video showing the whole process and the fireworks:

ColAR has so many images, surely I can find at least one to use in my classroom:)

Top Take-aways from #ISTE2014

In honor of my recent trip to #ISTE2014, this week's favorite finds post is about all of the great presentations, tech tools, and apps for the classroom. The ISTE exhibit hall was packed with vendors, giveaways, and lots to see, so much so that at times it felt like my head was spinning!

Of all that I saw, I had some definite favorites (you know the kind that have you are already looking for funding resources).  While I understand that different people are looking for different products. my top choices were:

1. The Swivl - It's a audio and video presentation system that follows the person speaking to allow for hands-free/remote-free videoing.  It has picture in picture capabilities making flipping the classroom and videoconferencing a personal experience.
2. The Variquest Perfecta 2400 poster printer - swoon!!!  Seriously!!!  Ever since I visited the Ron Clark Academy and saw the students' life-size pics, I have wanted a printer to print my own photos and posters.  The Variquest printer will do just that and more!  For this teacher who skews a bit crafty at times, the Variquest booth was pure heaven...with their vinyl cutout machines to cold laminators, it was all great.
3. MOOC Studios by iStudio - I had a chance to play in this green screen space complete with backgrounds, video software, and set-up.  It was fun and I can imagine our school's news crew would have a blast in this easy to assemble, portable studio. 

The presentations at #ISTE2014 were fantastic. I had a chance to hear published authors, a science teacher of the year, and even a TEDTalk presenter. I went to sessions featuring topics on which I wanted to learn more.  Some of my favorite presentations and presenters were:

1. I had never heard anyone speak on visual literacy, but I was in for a treat at this session with Dr. Lynell Burmark. Not only was she charming and an excellent presenter, she also shared information that could be applied to any subject and any grade level. She used pictures and videos to relay her message and kept us all engaged with interactive strategies designed to have us infer and share our thoughts in our own words (key skills for the Common Core).  Biggest standout: When eyes take in an image and ears take in words, students recall of information increases by 42% and their ability to transfer the information is raised 89%. Question to self: So, why aren't I using stimulating images in my classroom?
2. Obviously Evernote has changed since I first signed up for it some years ago and thankfully Rob Zdrojewski had stayed with it and shared the ins and outs of the tool. I absolutely had no idea that I could use my camera to store business cards and documents, nor did I truly understand the search features available. All I can say is that I spent at least an hour in my hotel room taking pics of all of my conference goodies and tossing the hard copies. After hearing his presentation, I refused all pieces of paper offered in the exhibitor hall, but captured all of the information I needed with my app. I even asked someone a question and then recorded their audio response using my phone's mic - lol! Kind of in love!!! Since I have been home, I found Postach.io, a blog platform that allows users to blog from within Evernote and simply hit publish when they are done. I am thinking that this might be a clean solution for our English teachers who have wanted their students to blog, but were overwhelmed with the actual implementation.
3. Finally, Al Pajak shared on Flipping the Classroom with flare. While I have shared videos with my students for awhile, I can honestly say that they were no where near the caliber of the videos created by this genius. His were personal, included interaction with the viewer, and were way beyond the expected.  I think what I appreciated most was that it was obvious that the presenter loved doing this for his students. It was easy to get excited, because he was excited.  The biggest question I hear is, "how do you know if the students watch the video?" The presenter embeds his videos in a Google form and includes a question or two that can only be answered after watching the short clip...brilliant!

As you can imagine, the apps and online resources were plentiful at ISTE.  As I have mentioned, I've updated my Evernote app already, but there were a few others that I thought were worth noting:

1. I saw Colar last year, but only loaded it after I got home - just in time for July the 4th celebrations with kiddos.  You are able to download coloring pages and then use the app to bring your drawings to life.
2. Stevie Kline introduced me to the Library of Congress' guides for analyzing primary resources.  The site has guides for teachers and even a digital form for students.  As you look at the resource, you may think...well, so what?  But, she showed an image of students sitting on the floor with a large poster. On the poster paper, the teacher had taped a primary source picture and had written guiding questions.  As students worked in small groups, what they observed depended on their perspective. As we went through a similar activity, I found that I did not necessarily see the clues that others were spotting.  Like me, this could be an activity that some need to practice more than once.
3. All of my tech-y teacher friends in Texas seemed to be pros at using Thinglink (both an app and online tool).  I, on the other hand, wasn't sure how to get started linking images to URLs, videos and texts.  I ran into the founder and got a private lesson and even a sneak peek to the newest feature...Thinglinks inside of videos!  I think that I am going to get a late start on a  Thinglink Summer Teacher Challenge hosted by Susan Oxnevad just to give it a try. 

It was a whirlwind of a trip...full of information, creative energy, connections, and even prizes! So worth it; so fun!

iPad Air: Thank you #splashmath

Made 4 Math: Composition Notebook iPad Cover

I am so excited to be back in the blogosphere again! I've done the easy posts (#MyFavFriday) for the last few weeks and thought that I had better step it up a notch for Monday:) I was inspired by my trip to #ISTE2014 and I wanted to make something both tech-y and school related.  Since nothing says back to school like the familiar sight of the black and white marbled cover composition notebook, I thought that I could transform one to hold my iPad. I found several online videos, shopped for hours looking for just the right supplies and then opted for the easy way... (The easy way also included what looked to be a much more SeCurE WaY for carrying my iPad through the airport, conference sessions, and up and down the sidewalks of Atlanta.  Due to my extreme geekiness, I really didn't want to trust the safety of my digital device to a few ponytail holders. Yikes!)
So here is the easy way:

I found a composition notebook look-a-like at Walmart and scrapbooking goodies from Hobby Lobby,

grabbed my glue gun to attach cork, ribbon, a fuzzy chenille sticker and metal letters,

and voila, I am ready for the ISTE Conference!

5 Things I Learned at ISTE Today

It is Day 2 of #ISTE2014 and my head is already spinning with so much information that I thought I had better take a moment to reflect and write down at least 5 things that really stood out about the day before I went back tomorrow to pack more in:)
So the top 5 things I learned today are:

1. Ron Clark Academy students pray before they begin a presentation.

2. Thinglink is pretty cool (I have seen my Texas tech-y friends use it for a while, but I never quite "got it" until today). It is an app and it's online. The purpose of Thinglink is to allow you to place interactive icons linked to text, URLs, and websites on a static picture OR beginning tomorrow inside a video (like to ask guiding questions or assess understanding). I got to meet the founder today and she gave me a sneak peek!

3. Thanks to Al Pajak, I learned that you can embed a You Tube video inside a Google form. He uses the forms to verify students completed a flipped learning assignment.

4. From QR Code Scavenger Hunts for teachers to the Amazing Race, @AngelynCheatham and @JessicaBranch are taking a fun approach to professional development with the Extreme PD Makeover Edition.  They shared ideas that I will definitely incorporate!

5. It is important to make time to really connect with people. I had the amazing opportunity to talk with some wonderful EdTech Women over dinner tonight. It reminded me that it is always about people. So often at a conference, I get caught up in heading to the next session to hear about the next hot tool and I forget that there is more value in relationships than there can ever be in the next great whatever.  Thank you Sehreen Noor Ali and Margaret Roth for facilitating a fantastic conversation tonight.

Reflection:
      As I read back over my list of 5 things I learned, I think their commonality can be summed up in one word: connection. In some instances, I learned things that helped me connect the dots like that you can embed stuff in a Google Form and I honestly can't wait to try it. In others, I connected with people and with connections to people the learning is limitless. 
     Thank you to all who shared with me today through your conference presentations, your tweets, and your stories.  It was another great day at #ISTE2014!

Exit Tickets and CCSS Resources

Another two great finds this week: one to make and one to fill in the gaps as you transition to the Common Core State Standards.  While pouring over Pinterest this week (a perfect summer activity!!!) I came upon Shannon Reardon's idea for an exit ticket organizer in which students file their responses to two questions that she poses on the interactive whiteboard. If they know it, great! They can file their ticket in the "Got It!" folder. If not, students can choose to place their exit ticket in the "Kind Of", "Almost", or just plain "Nope". 

I love that it makes quick work of seeing who knew or thought that they knew the answers and let's you know where you need to start the next lesson!

When I stumbled upon this next jewel, I was actually smack dab in the middle of writing for my second job. As a curriculum writer, I experience quite a workout.  It requires me not only to read the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS), but actually teach them through example problems and modelling and then write assessment items.  All I can say is  that sometimes interpreting the CCSS takes me as much time as actually writing for the lesson.  So, to say the least, I was overjoyed, ecstatic, thrilled beyond belief to find Saginaw Valley's K-12 Connection.  The university partnered with educators to pull together online resources that matched the CCSS.  This week, I used their online pacing guide for 7th grade which was full of relevant links to help fill in the blanks. Awesome resources for more than just math!!!

Voxer and Ted Ed

Happy Friday!  I am so excited to share two technology tools this week.  Both are new to me and have my head spinning with ideas for application AND both originated from summer collaborations (which is why I love making connections through online platforms). My first find...Voxer. I stumbled upon Voxer quite by accident.  When I signed up for a #PTcamp online book study (Beyond the Bakesale: The Essential Guide to Family/School Relationships) with Joe Mazza. I eagerly began searching for details about the book, the study, and the people involved. I heard Joe talking about Voxer on  iPadSammy's Techlandia podcast (okay, I admit...I thought that they kept saying Boxer, Boxer.  I googled and I couldn't figure out what the heck they were talking about that was going to help with a book study.) Voxer has been around awhile.  One of my favorite bloggers, Erin, even wrote a great post about how it can be used in the classroom. How I have missed it, I'm not sure.  I downloaded it, started playing and quickly saw a solution to a problem in our building - emergency notification.  We have tried different walkie talkies for the past several years and none seem to get the job done.  We have cell signal on our phones, but we can't seem to communicate via the school's walkie talkies. Go figure!

Anyway, long story short, enter Voxer, an instant messaging system that I think would be a much easier tool to use in time of emergency.  Truly with a push of the button inside the app, you can send a voice message, photo or video to others on the service.  Even if the recipient's app is not opened, they are notified that you have sent a message.  Love, love, love this!  I would think you would get more info from the sender than you would by text if it were a real emergency or during a classroom disruption.  I am back at work on Monday and I can't wait to try it out.

Second find...Ted Ed.  Being a total geek who absolutely loves learning, I have also signed up for a summer course, an online MOOC on Flipping the Classroom in hopes of flipping PD next year. In the course discussion forum, someone mentioned TedEd. Now, this may be like Voxer in that it has been around a while(not sure), but it is new to me and oh so exciting! Ted Ed allows lessons to be built around any You Tube, Ted Talk, or Ted Ed original video. You can insert directions and info for students prior to viewing, questions and quizzes for after they view it, and so much more!  I've included the video tour so that you see for yourself...now to get IT to unblock You Tube (heavy sigh). Until then, off to find more :D

Events in Instruction and Hands-on Ideas for Math

It has been a while...not because I do not love my blog or school stuff anymore.  Actually, it is quite the opposite.  This year I have had an opportunity to write middle school math curriculum for online learning.  It has been quite an adventure and an excellent way to really begin to understand the Common Core State Standards.  Praise God for LearnZillion and there many models of how they interpreted the new standards.  I highly recommend adding them as a go to place if you are ever confused.  My last full time writing assignment was completed on Sunday and I am eager to catch up on my reading and learning from everyone else.
My first place to hit was Pinterest. which got me excited to share #MyFavFriday.  I am gearing up for the analog Pinterest board  in the teacher workroom and I have found some great additions this week.

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First up, Mia MacMeekin's incredible infographics on Events in Instruction. From ideas for gaining attention to assessing, she provides almost a menu of sorts for over 25 concrete suggestions per topic.  I loved the variety especially for those days when I realize that I am stuck in a rut and need to change it up a bit.  For example, need to gain attention?  Try singing, dancing, watching a video clip, relocating your class to a spot other than your classroom, do a demonstration, ask questions, engage students' senses, make content current, give them a dare or challenge, act out a portion of the content, connect with others via Skype, or invite a guest speaker into your room.  These are definitely worth checking out!!!

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As one who prefers hands-on activities to worksheets, I loved this idea via Sarah Schriefer Dexter for using student desktops to annotate on polygons, coordinate planes, and parallel lines and transversals.  There is something about writing on desks that gets kids engaged.  By adding the colored painter's tape, you could extend this to create comparison charts or graphs (we are working on this for the science portion of the ACT).

Finally, I found Katie Powell's idea for a giant floor graph made from a plastic drop cloth and masking tape.  In her blog post, she describes using it with hot wheel cars in a Cityscape Challenge, but from graphing lines to graphing trig functions, it could be used to get high school students up and moving.