SummercoreLearning2008

Wordle is a free web site for easily creating beautiful word clouds from text, URLs, RSS feeds or del.icio.us account. They are a great way of visualizing the importance of a particular word in text since the more frequently a word is used the larger it appears in the Wordle.

I uploaded an image from Wordle.  Here’s what I learned to do from the Edublogger:

Once you have created your Wordle you can save it to their Gallery and Wordle provides you the HTML code for embedding it into your blog post. Unfortunately this embeds a thumbnail image (170 pixels by 132 pixels) which is too small to clearly see the words. Dragging this thumbnail to increase size results in an image with blurred text.

One option: on a Mac captures images and save to desktop:

Command+Shift+3 – screencapture of your entire screen.

Command+Shift+4 – Drag the cursor out over the area you want to capture.

Now all you need to do is upload your screenshot and insert the “Full Size” (NOT “medium”) image into your blog post! The “Full Size” image provides the best quality image for viewing the text.

Option #2: Ttake a screenshot of your Wordle using Jing, SnagIT, MWSnap or Skitch (read this edublogger post to learn about screencapture tools).

I tried option one and was mostly successful. ou can see that I did not completely capture the image but I did manage to get the “dock” in the screen capture.  Something to work on… Also, the Wordle should be animated.

Here’s my first attempt at uploading a Wordle into my blog. It was easy to do (create a Wordle, copy the embed code, create a new post, click on HTML, click on code and insert. Problem: the image is too small to see and when I tried to enlarge it with the drag feature, it looks blurry.  So I will consult the Edublogger and try again.

This page has links to Web Resources that can be used for multiple disciplines.  Many of the resources are “Web 2.0″ – interactive, collaborative web services.

Make Your Own Web Site
Want to make a class website?  This one is easy and free:
doodlekit

Alternatives to Microsoft Office
Microsoft is no longer a necessity these days, and this is particularly important for our kids, many of whom won’t have copies of Office to work with at home.  Here are two online versions of office that permit students to work collaboratively on office-type documents:

- Zoho

- GoogleDocs

And here is the “open source” version of MS Office, free for downloading.  It’s actually quite good!
OpenScource

Web Quests
A web quest consists of a well-defined task, steps to accomplish that task, links for research, and a grading rubric, all so that students can work independently/collaboratively on a project that, according to Bernie Dodge, the inventor of web quests “requires higher level thinking, not simply summarizing… including synthesis, analysis, problem-solving, creativity and judgment.”  There are thousands of excellent webquests online in all subject areas.  Many of them, however, need to be adapted to be on target for any given class.  Using one of the free web sites is a great way to set up a web quest. The mother of all web quest databases includes subject and grade level searching, and if that fails, google search– all on the same page.

San Diego City Schools has compiled a list of good web quests

zwebquest is both a library of existing web quests and a free, downloadable tool for making your own.

Online Video
YouTube for Teachers – you can make your own videos and upload them, or just take advantage of other teachers’ work.  Safe place for students!

Hundreds of documentaries free for viewing online or embeding in your web site.  Small downside: there are commercials dropped in randomly (not many, but they’re placed suddenly and nonsensically).

Mind Mapping (think Inspiration)

Game Templates
Every game show imaginable, for use in your classroom

*These tools are courtesy of another “friend” at pbwiki summer camp

At the pbwiki summer camp I am learning about some terrific (free) multimedia resources that will enhance existing lesson plans and create an interactive learning environment. click on the link and not only is there a decription of each tool, there is aslo a vedio demonstration and suggested applications for the classroom.

Sue Waters is an amazing mentor for Web 2.0 learning.  With Google Reader she has compiled an extensive list of edubloggers. Blogs are automatically updated by Google Reader.  I still want to figure out how to add to my blogroll in the sidebar…

I am trying to add to my blogroll using Google Reader. While I haven’t figured it all out yet – and mostly because I get derailed when I find an interesting blog that I have to read.  Since I am a novice with learning 2.0 things, this online self-discovery program encourages the exploration of web 2.0 tools and new technologies, specifically 23 Things. This program was originally developed and launched for the staff at the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County in August 2006, and is available under Creative Commons

23 Learning 2.0 Things

Week 1: Introduction
1. Read this blog & find out about the program.
2. Discover a few pointers from lifelong learners and learn how to nurture your own learning process.

Week 2: Blogging
3. Set up your own blog & add your first post.
4. Begin your Learning 2.0 journey!

Week 3: Photos & Images
5. Explore Flickr and learn about this popular image hosting site.
6. Have some Flickr fun and discover some Flickr mashups & 3rd party sites.
7. Create a blog post about anything technology related that interests you this week.

Week 4: RSS & Newsreaders
8. Learn about RSS feeds and setup your own Bloglines newsreader account.
9. Locate a few useful library related blogs and/or news feeds.

Week 5: Play Week
10. Play around with an online image generator.
11. Take a look at LibraryThing and catalog some of your favorite books.
12. Roll your own search tool with Rollyo.

Week 6: Tagging, Folksonomies & Technorati
13. Learn about tagging and discover a Del.icio.us (a social bookmaking site)
14. Explore Technorati and learn how tags work with blog posts.
15. Read a few perspectives on Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and the future of libraries and blog your thoughts.

Week 7: Wikis
16. Learn about wikis and discover some innovative ways that libraries are using them.
17. Add an entry to the Learning 2.0 SandBox wiki.

Week 8: Online Applications & Tools
18. Take a look at some online productivity (word processing, spreadsheet) tools.
19. Explore any site from the Web 2.0 awards list, play with it and write a blog post about your findings.

Week 9: Podcasts, Video & Downloadable audio
20. Discover YouTube and a few sites that allow users to upload and share videos.
21. Discover some useful search tools for locating podcasts.
22. Take a look at the titles available on NetLibrary and learn how to download audiobooks.

23. Summarize your thoughts about this program on your blog.

* This list of “things” can also be found on the 43Things website. Note: This project is loosely based upon the website 43Things (which allows you to set and track personal goals) and the Stephen Abram article titled 43 Things I (or You) might want to do this year (Information Outlook – Feb 2006).

Mr. Nausbaum’s history site includes maps, games and text about the Age of Exploration.

The Mariner’s Museum includes “Exploration through the Ages” and extensive information about explorers and their voyages from all time periods as well as tools of exploration.

Activities from the Mariner’s Museum.

Age of Exploration Webquest – Which explorer or conqueror had the biggest impact on North American history? Includes activities for group research and presentation as well as links to resources about different explorers and conquerors. Lots of resources for choosing explorers, research, notetaking, organization and deciding upon the “best” explorer.

Discoverers’ Web includes links to all kinds of information about exploration from all over the web.

Exploration Webquest – links to a variety of activities, webquests, and resources about exploration.

Research and Informational sites about many explorers.

Explorers Theme Page – great links and resources and web activities.

Teachers’ Corner Content Reading Strategies

Middle School High Five Program

Reading Quest strategy lessons

Resource Room reading comprehension

Greece k12 scaffolding children’s interaction with text

Readers Toolkit reading workshop content specific instruction

Read Write Think

Literacy.net

Reading Lady

1. Sue Waters’ Mobile Technology In TAFE Wiki

2. Vicki Davis’ Cool Cat Teacher Wiki

3. Russell Stannard’s Teacher Training Videos

No surprise, this valuable information comes from Larry Ferlazzo!