The Connected Classrooms Community

Recently, I posted my introduction on Connected Classrooms last night, and I think you should do the the same.  

From what I am seeing within the community, there seems to be many opportunities for classrooms to connect with reputable organizations and experts through Google Hangouts.  The video below provides a fancy overview of Connected Classrooms concept.  I am excited to see all of the opportunities yet to come from this community.  

Google Hangouts

I like Google Hangouts a billion times, or should I say a Google times, better than other telecommunication tools.  With Google in Education's Connected Classrooms community, we, as Google Apps Schools, now have a place to connect with learning experiences like found with Skype in Education.   Google Hangouts is not as well known as Skype and maybe this is the catalyst for me to start marketing the concept of virtual field trips, classroom connections, and communication with experts through Google Hangouts rather than Skype.  

Joining Connected Classrooms

In order to request to join this community, create a Google+ account (if you are part of my school district let me know that you are interested) and go to the Connected Classroom Community on Google+ in order to request access.  Once you are accepted, write an introduction to the group and make scroll through the posts from other teachers looking to collaborate or organizations hosting events for classrooms to join.  As displayed with the image below you can easily search or filter posts to locate information pertinent to your interests. 

So, Connect Already!

I have a few teachers using Hangouts within my school system, but I want more people tapping into the potential power of Google Hangouts and Google+.  The extra features within Hangouts makes it a great tool for any connected classroom and the Communities with Google+ are definitely worth your time and effort to connect.

Most of my teachers connecting globally are involved in the reading projects.  Let's continue to connect and develop partnerships with experts and reputable organizations through Connected Classrooms.  What connected projects will you initiate? 

Tellagami App

Use the Tellagami app on your iPads or Android device to record and share messages with your students via Twitter, Email, Text message, or through a link on your preferred website.  For my school district, I would suggest making the Gami and sharing it through Edmodo, Moodle, or Blog post.  For the teachers with iPads, I would suggest using a QR code or the Chirp app.

As you can see my Gami below, I used it to provide my students with an writing prompt.  It's a completely generic after-break prompt, but you get the idea of how to use it in the classroom.  Classroom activities for using this tool:

• Greetings
• Class assignments
• Writing prompts
• Short stories
• Reflections
• Exit slips
• Messages to class when out for the day

Sample Message to Students

Sample Message to Teachers

Basic EdTech Tips

Before, During, and After Starting to Use

Of course, I am talking about using Instructional Technologies in the classroom.  This is truly a basic list of tips to be aware of before, during, and after integrating various technologies within the classroom.  Over the summer, I created the following slideshow for EdTech neophytes and I have been adding to these tips randomly.  If you have any additional tips that should be mentioned, leave them within the comments section.  These are just basic tips, but I believe they are worth mentioning.

The 12 Slides for EdTech Users

Created with Haiku Deck, the free presentation app for iPad

The Basic List of Tips

1. Set Specific Learning Goals
2. Teach the Rules & Build Routine
3. Be Present 
4. Allow for exploration
5. Make Students Login 
6. Check Caps Lock
7. Start Small
8. Don't Stop Learning
9. Have a Backup Plan
10. Keep Calm and Carry On
11. Hang in There

GarageBand App Free Today

If you want a great iPad/iPhone app to record student voice or even to create music for the fun of it, download the GarageBand app for free.  I hope it is still free tomorrow morning.  This was a last minute find on Twitter that I wanted to share out for those with iPads or iPhones.  

Even though I paid at least $5 for GarageBand, it was like the Heavens parted and a light shined down on me when I saw the GarageBand app was free today.  GB is a easy-to-use audio recording app with intuitive instruments and microphone effects to provide simple-minded folks (like myself) with professional sounding audio recordings.
Here are some classroom applications for GarageBand

• Record students repeated readings to encourage fluency

• Record students oral presentations to share on a blog

• Record student book talks 

• Record student book reviews

• Record students reading their writing for revision purposes

• Record model examples of student writing to share with whole class

• Record podcasts developed by students and based on their interests

• Record exit slip reflections daily on what was learned in class

• Record model examples of great classroom discussion to share

• Record impromptu classroom events 

• Record the questions on a test

• Record the directions to an activity for students that need a repeat

• Record messages to students or parents and upload to your blog, Moodle, Edmodo, etc.

• Record a problem of the day for students to access online and work on

This list of classroom ideas can just keep going and going and going like the Energizer Bunny.  GarageBand has become an easily overlooked app, but it provides teachers and students with an easy to use tool for audio recording.

Don't forget about Garageband on your MacBooks.  This MacBook app can be used to complete all of the above classroom ideas as well.  How can you utilize this audio recording tool in your classroom?  If you have additional audio recording ideas, list them below in the comments section.

Literacy and EdTech Collaborative

The following presentation was created to demonstrate ideas on how to implement a developmental spelling program to replace or supplement an existing spelling program.  Checkout Sarah Taylor's Literacy Blog for more literacy resources.

My section of the presentation goes over six EdTech ideas for utilizing iPads and MacBook Airs with sound instructional practices.