It's time for you to create your own Blogger blog - take the challenge!

Just the other day I was showing a group how to blog using one of my favourite sites - Blogger.com - when I discovered to my shock that the new interface was now mandatory. No more hiding behind what one was once comfortable with. I then decided to get to know the new interface and made screenshots as I went along. I would really like to share these with you and encourage you to make yourself a blog. A classroom blog is one of the things you can do to transform your class even if the only computer in the class is yours - your laptop!

So, take the challenge and see if my instructions will help you.

Create a blog using Blogger’s updated interface

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Once you have created your blog there will be other questions you will come up with. So the next Slideshare looks at the following questions and provides screenshots:

1.How can people join my blog?

2.How can I add a blogroll to my blog?

3.How can I edit a post I have just written

4.How can I change my background template?

5.How can I set up my comment box?

Blogging questions

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Well, that should keep you occupied for a while, but the end result will be something you can be proud of. If you happen to create a blog using these directions please let me know your blog address!

Wonderful Wordstash

This is a guest post from Lisa Gair who is the Technology teacher at the Rock Academy in Fish Hoek. She originally placed this post on her lovely ICT blog: http://icteducator.blogspot.com/, and since Lisa is a keen SchoolNetter I asked her if I could use her post on the SchoolNet blog. Thank you again Lisa!

A friend recently introduced me to Wordstash.  (The Wordstash website has changed since this blogpost was written and is now found at http://flashcardstash.com/).  It's very easy to sign up for and just as easy to use. I have introduced it to my Grades 4- 7 already and will be introducing it to our Teachers early next month. My desire is that the Teachers will bring their classes into the ICT Centre and allow them to create their lists each week, and the learners will be able to log on at home and either use the site to assist in learning or else create their own lists.

Another thing I enjoy about Wordstash is that it also automatically gives various definitions of the word, and allows you to either choose which definition you would like, or, alternatively, to add your own. In this way, the child is not just learning how to spell a word, they are also learning the definitions of each word.

One also has the choice of adding an image to the word. The site automatically sources images from either Wikipedia or Flickr for the learner to choose from.When playing, they are presented with a variety of games and ways to test their Spelling.

Another way that this site could be used is just for learning definitions. I am thinking specifically of things like in English that one needs to know for language or poetry.

Enjoy!

Add navigation pages to your wiki and write on them!

Submitted by Fiona Beal

Last week I wrote a blogpost and challenged teachers to consider creating a wiki if they don’t already have one. My post was called  ‘Why not create a wiki for your classroom’?  A wiki is a superb calssroom tool, really. Well, if you took the challenge and created a wiki, I have some more fabulous tips for you to spruce it up a bit. 

Add navigation pages

The first thing you could so is add navigation pages on the left hand side to give it that website feel. If you would like to do that I have created a Slideshare that could assist you. It is called ‘How to add navigation pages to your wiki'. Take a look:

How to add navigation pages to your Wikispaces wiki

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How to write on a wiki

Once you have done that you might find that wikis are sometimes tricky to write on. But don’t worry as I have created some information on how to write in a wiki. Let me add this an a Box.Net embed.(I love the way one can so easily upload to Box.net and then got an embed code to put the document on a wiki. 

Well, in the next wiki post that I write I’ll add some information about adding a header and some gadgets to your wiki. Really, for a teacher, a wiki is a MUST in this day and age.

Class Dojo–a fantastic classroom motivational tool

Submitted by Fiona Beal
I have always loved creating a classroom spirit in my classes and one way of doing this is introducing plenty of motivational tools to encourage the learners. I was absolutely delighted recently when I came across this Glogster advertising two teachers' use of a classroom motivational tool called Class Dojo. This is something that would work so well in a primary school classroom. Caitlin Jones and Erin Schudde did a fantastic job of this Glogster, don't you agree? (I wish I could embed it but it is too big). 

http://caitlinjones.edu.glogster.com/class-dojo/

So, inspired by this amazing presentation of Class Dojo, I decided to try it out at http://www.classdojo.com/. I think it is a fantastic innovation. As I tried it out I took screenshots of what I did so have added them here as a slideshow. Why not give Class Dojo a try and see if it works for you?

Classroom Dojo – a class motivational tool

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Why not create a wiki for your classroom?

Submitted by Fiona Beal

Have you ever considered using a wiki in your class? It can be a fabulous classroom tool with a multitude of uses.

What is a wiki?

A wiki is a space on the Web where you can share work and ideas, pictures and links, videos and media — and anything else you can think of. It is like a website but it doesn't require any special knowledge of HTML. Anyone who joins the wiki can write and edit on the wiki which makes it ideal for classroom use. What I like about using a wiki is that it is free and it makes sharing and collaborating on all kinds of content as easy for your students as it is for you.

A great example

Watch how this 2nd grade teacher uses a wiki in her classroom. This is an amazing video and gives a good idea of what a wiki is as well as how it can be used: This is not a YouTube video so click on the video link below the picture to be taken to the viewing site. 

http://www.mistreamnet.com/vidflv.php?who=milearn.connected.wikis.020712
(13 minutes)

Types of wikis

It is amazing to see all the ways that wikis are used by educators. I have gathered some of the ideas together and presented them in the Slideshare.

Types of wikis

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Create your own wiki using Wikispaces

If you think you would like to give a wiki a try, I have created some instruction for you. My favourite wiki platform is Wikispaces. They give educators so many free options and have designed their wikis to be really easy to operate. This Slideshare shows you how to create a wiki using Wikispaces.

How to create a wiki using Wikispaces

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A challenge

Hopefully I have challenged you to give Wikispaces a go. Let me know if you do!

Explore the magic of Microsoft's SongSmith

Microsoft's SongSmith is such a fun free tool to use in the classroom. If you join Microsoft's Partners in Learning Network as an educator you can download and install this programme for free. It is really worth it!

SongSmith generates musical accompaniment to match a singer’s voice. Basically, you choose a musical style and beat from their options, sing into your PC’s microphone, and SongSmith cleverly creates backing music for you. That song can be saved and shared with students, friends and family, posted online, or even used to create your own music videos. I used to use it as a reward session for those students who had completed their required tasks, and it was always a big hit!

Introducing SongSmith

This is one of my favourite videos about Microsoft SongSmith. I find the story a bit cumbersome at times but the video definitely highlights the essence of the programme.

How do you use SongSmith?

Here is a tutorial on how to use SongSmith from the UK Partners in Learning YouTube channel.

 
This is my version of how to install and use SongSmith.

Microsoft's SongSmith and how to use it

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Classroom uses of SongSmith

I have been collecting ideas on how to use SongSmith in the classroom. Here are a few of them.Maybe you have some other ideas to contribute?

Classroom uses of SongSmith

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I am sure you'll find this Microsoft free tool very engaging and very useful especially if you are a teacher. Why not give it a try?