Create a MentorMob playlist

What is MentorMob?

It’s that word ‘curating’ that is popping up again! I found MentorMob, a curating tool,  by chance when surfing the Net and I really like this free tool. This is a great tool which allows one to put together articles, videos and blogs related to a subject of interest in a play list. The end produce has a gorgeous look in my opinion

Examples of MentorMobs

To show you what I mean
1) Take a look at this one on Blended Learning by Anna Conway  http://bit.ly/NNlNDs
It is a mix of items - videos and articles.

Create your own Playlist on MentorMob!

2) Using Technology to maximise instruction by Susan Oxenvad http://bit.ly/zhVvJ4
This one seems to concentrate on blog posts Susan has written.

Create your own Playlist on MentorMob!

3) A collection of curating tools by Susan Oxenvad http://goo.gl/5eJ0s

Create your own Playlist on MentorMob!

Why should one use MentorMob?

This video gives some reasons for using MentorMob:
What is MentorMob? from mentormob on Vimeo.

How to create a MentorMob

Here are my instructions on how to create a MentorMob playlist from Slideshare

How to create a MentorMob playlist from Fiona Beal

This is my created MentorMob playlist - Great tools for teachers by Fiona Beal. I have used only articles and no videos or uploads this time around!

http://bit.ly/PShgAL

Create your own Playlist on MentorMob!

Webinar recording
Still to be added

Classroom uses

           

         *It is great to use for a flipped classroom instruction post.

         *Students can collect articles for the same project in a team and then present to the

          class with a verbal explanation

         *It could allow absent students to catch up with work.

         *Provides further resources on a topic.

         *For language learning one could include reading, writing, listening and speaking resources.

         *You can use a playlist for assessment as well, as there is something called a ‘Popquizz
           that can be added where one can assess if students understood the material.

         *Professional development resources – this is a great way to create teacher training

 material instead of the bulky paper booklets/handouts.

It

Webtools #23: Use Mybrainshark to create online Powerpoints with voice plus more...

Mybrainshark is a place where you can easily create videos from your PowerPoint slides...but not only from PowerPoint slides! You can also add your voice to documents, a series of photos, and even voice over to a video or else the video with its own sounds. It is a fantastic free programme! So open Mybrainshark on http://www.brainshark.com

My first attempt: How to make a Mybrainshark

My first attempt at a Mybrainshark was just to upload a PowerPoint on how to make a Mybrainshark and add voice to it. I just loved how easy it was and how you could read your speaker notes from the PowerPoint on screen as you narrated. 




My second attempt: How to make a blog

In my second attempt I became more ambitious:

a) I added a PowerPoint with voice on how to make a blog (in case you have come to the conclusion that you need your own blog to embed tools as you make them!)

b) After add the PowerPoint I also added a movie with its own voice which was exciting - because that meant I had added two different media.

c) Thirdly I added an attachment which was the PowerPoint I used for the webinar last night. By the way, if you hover your mouse at the top of this page you'll see the attachment - this evening's presentation!  Anyone can download the attachment by just clicking on it. How is that!!! 

Last night's webinar recording

Last night's webinar was a short 15-20 minute presentation on how to make a Mybrainshark. The recording can be located at:
http://meet78641452.adobeconnect.com/p4tdhun88bb/

Classroom uses

*Photo journal of an outing with narration
*Students can present a good project with a great mix of media*Great for a flipped classroom experience – giving instructions via a blog with voice
*If a teacher can’t be in a class that day she can send instructions this way. 
*My brainshark is useful for listening skills lessons where just the podcast section can be used.
*The fact that you can edit everything at any time means it also allows reflection as learners get a chance to produce, present, edit, re-present, re-appraise during a further presentation.

*Students could make a short film as part of a project and add a commentary.  They could, for example, detail information about how the film was made, where it was filmed and why they directed it in a certain way.   The original film needs to have no or minimal sound as voiceover can be added.  Background music can be added 

There must be a whole lot more uses that I haven't yet thought of.

Further reading

1) A quick tour of MyBrainshark video

Use Edmodo or Obami as free interactive classroom management tools

What are Edmodo and Obami? 

 

Both Edmodo and Obami are free classroom management tools that help you as a teacher make your classroom into a community. You would use either one or the other. They provide teachers and students with a secure place to post messages, discuss classroom topics, assign and grade classwork, connect and collaborate, share content and educational applications, and access homework, grades, class discussions and notifications.

Classroom uses of Edmodu and Obami

*Both have a user-friendly interface which is easy and simple for all to use
*There are easy-to-use wizards for creating calendars, pages and managing documents
*Teachers can set up and manage small groups for students projects
*Students can post notes, files, links, and discuss.
*Teachers  can post spelling, maths, research and other homework on Edmodo so that  parents can access it
*Students can help each other with homework tasks through using Edmodo
*Reading groups could use Edmodo or Obami to role play characters in the book they are reading.
*Students can ask questions they may feel silly about voicing in the classroom.
*Students can contact the teacher and send messages about homework they might forget to ask during the day.
*Edmodo is useful for project-based learning (see Further Reading post below). This would also be the case for Obami.
*You could post a document, students could download it, complete it and send it back to you, then you could grade it right online. Students could get instant feedback on graded materials.

SchoolNet webinar on Edmodo and Obami

This is the recording for the the webinar that took place on Tuesday August 14th at 6pm. Lisa Gair from The Rock Academy spoke about how she uses Edmodo in her classroom, and Siobhan Louw from Somerset House spoke on how she uses Obami in her classroom. NO: There might be  slight gap in Siobhan’s recording as my internet dropped and I had to log in again. Apologies for that.  Here is the link:
http://meet78641452.adobeconnect.com/p78kokkty1y/

Slideshare on Edmodo

Lisa Gair has kindly allowed me to share the PowerPoint she used with you.

Introduce your class to Edmodo from Schoolnet SA

Further reading
http://blog.edmodo.com/2011/05/27/pbl-edmodo-awesome/
http://edmodoteacherhub.wikispaces.com/Teaching+Strategies

Get organised using a Livebinder

What is a Livebinder?

There is a lovely, free online site you may have heard of called LiveBinders (http://www.livebinders.com/). It is a free online service for teachers that lets them gather, organize and share information. It is like an online 3-ring binder that you can put anything (that is online) into – webpages, PDF, documents, images, or videos. Everything is organized by tab and you can even have subtabs within those tabs. I really wanted to create a Livebinder myself this week, but time ran out. However when I have completed one I’ll let you know. Please let me know if you have created one!

This is what a Livebinder looks like before you open it (Ipads in Schools)

This is what a Livebinder looks like after it has been opened (An Educators Guide To Twitter)

A collection of Livebinders to look at

Livebinders has an amazing selection of Livebinders for you to  explore, all neatly categorised.  Take a look here: p://www.livebinders.com/shelf/featured

How to create a free Livebinder

Step 1: Sign up on their online form

Step 2: You will be taken to your new unnamed binder

Click on Start a new binder.

Step 3: Fill in all the required details

Since I haven't gone any further than this yet, please take alook at this PDF giving a step-by-step tutorial to help you create your first Livebinder.
http://magellantech4u.wikispaces.com/file/view/Creating+a+Live+Binder.pdf

Watch a video tutorial

This tutorial demonstrates the web site LiveBinders. In the tutorial, you will learn how to set up a LiveBinder account, install the LiveBinderIt tool if you wish to, and create a LiveBinder.
Livebinder tutorial



Classroom use of Livebinders

I think a Livebinder can be a really useful classroom tool. Here are some ideas with examples.

*Use Livebinders for e-portfolios (Jackie Gerstein)
*Use it for student assignments. (Brandon's puzzle cube)
*Use it for advance preparations for lessons. (Veterans' Day resources)
*Share resources on a topic with other teachers  (Social Media and Web 2.0 Web Sites)
*Collect information on a particular web tool (Wordle)
*Categorise your useful Twitter resources in one place (Professional reading)
*Use it as a subject guide for your students and parents. (Mrs Knight's English class) (Poetry pathfinders) (Grade 4 Social Studies) (Elementary Homeroom)
*Just take a look at all the Livebinders this enthusiastic teacher has created! (2sparkely)
*Livebinders has a whole channel of resources on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/livebinders)

The following two posts gives 20+ superb ways that teachers can use Livebinders in the classroom
http://livebinders.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/10-great-ways-that-educators-are-using-livebinders/
http://livebinders.wordpress.com/2010/07/25/10-more-great-ways-educators-are-using-livebinders/


Read what Livebinders have to say about how teachers can use Livebinders in the classroom:
Livebinders for teachers



Further reading

1) http://livebinders.wordpress.com/2011/04/09/10-great-examples-of-student-project-livebinders/
2) http://livebinders4teachers.pbworks.com/w/page/574743/FrontPage

Use Screencast-o-matic to make superb screencasts

Screencasting is an amazing programme to use if you want to quickly show someone how to do something on the computer. It easily creates a video of what you are doing and saying. These are called screencasts. If you want to create good screencasts without the hassle of downloading and installing any application on your computer then Screencast-O-Matic is the best available tool for the purpose.

Other screencasting applications

I started off using Jing, until I discovered ScreenR. I have written a blogpost on the Schoolnet blog about ScreenR http://schoolnetsa.blogspot.com/2011/10/screencasting-with-screenr-is-so-easy.html. These two programmes allow up to 5 minutes of recording. THEN I discovered Screencastomatic that allows 15 minutes and it is so easy to use. So it is my firm favourite right now.

What exactly is Screencast-o-matic?

Screencast-O-Matic is an online screen recorder that enables you to record and share your screencast with others. You don’t need to install anything as it all happens online. It is cross-browser as well. All you need to make sure about it having Java installed which usually happens automatically these days. You can make sure that you have recommended version of Java installed for your operating system from the Java verification page before you start.

How to record with Screencastomatic in three easy steps

1. Open Screencast-o-matic and start recording

You don’t even need to sign in, but you might get more benefits by signing in. Everything is free. Press ‘Start recording’.

2. Position your recording box

You’ll see that a box outline of dotted lines comes up. This is the control panel of your screencast where you can specify the size of your recording and the microphone volume before you start recording. You can also turn on your webcam to record yourself talking if you wish!   Position this box to the size you want to use.

Once you are happy click the red recording button found on the left bottom corner to get started with your recording. You can press pause when you need to stop and think, and then resume again. Fantastic, right? (By the way you can navigate to another site and you’ll see the box appears there in case that is the site you want to record).

3. Click done and export your video

When you are finished, click the done button and export the video. You can now upload the video to YouTube if you want to. (This might work better if you are logged in – it has always worked for me. You can also embed it in a blog or wiki, and you can just publish it to Screencast-o-matic to use whenever you wish. From this step on you’ll see all sorts of great options.

A video tutorial from YouTube

I found this tutorial on YouTube which seems to explain ow to use Screencast-o-matic very well.  I think she probably used Screencast-o-matic to make the video.

Uses in the classroom

1.    You can make quick videos about anything really. The visual cursor highlights make it easier for your students to follow the video.

2.   You can simply upload the file on YouTube and share the link with your students. This is great if someone is ill at home and you want them to know what is what!

3.   You can record lessons, provide demonstrations, present information to an online class, tell digital stories, and give feedback on student assignments.

4.   You can also create assignments that require students to produce a screencast. Because of its ease of use, Screencast-o-matic requires little or no training to get started.

5.   You can use captions with Screencast-o-matic (haven’t tried it but want to!)

Perhaps you can add ideas to these uses?

My verdict

A fabulous tool, don’t you agree? Try it!

How to create a Twitter hashtag for an event

Twitter is definitely a very important tool for educators in the 21st Century. I have learned SO MUCH from fellow educators via Twitter, and if anyone asks me for my no. 1 website I always say Twitter! 

So, let’s say you want to create a hashtag for an event. This tag will group all the tweets about the same event together. This would then enable people to follow your event quite easily (and I’ll explain how afterwards). 

1. You can just make up your own hashtag for your own event. e.g. #ELEL. Write a message with that hashtag into the place where you compose your tweets. You’ll see it come up in your Twitter feed!

 

2. Notify others that you have this hashtag via Twitter and so your hashtag is borne! Note that you will have to write in it every couple of days or it will disappear and you will have to start from scratch. 

 

3. Every time you want to add a tweet about the event you created, you simply write your tweet as normal but add the hashtag afterwards. 

How to read your list of tweets in that hashtag

I would suggest two things here:

1. Install Tweetdeck on your computer (http://www.tweetdeck.com/).. This will enable you to add as many columns as you like, including your hashtag column.  I do this all the time – work from Tweetdeck instead of working from Twitter. These are all the different columns – you can hav as many or as few as you like.

For more details on using Tweetdeck I have written a comprehensive post about it:
http://schoolnetsa.blogspot.com/2012/03/why-not-install-and-use-tweetdeck-for.html

2. The other application is totally web-based and that is Tweetchat

The best application for following a twitter chat is Tweetchat. (http://tweetchat.com.) What you would do at an event that you are actually tweeting at – open Tweetchat, type in your hashtag and all the hashtags from that event appear. After that you just tweet in this application and you don’t have to add the hashtag each time.

Here is a screenshot of our #edchatsa chat that took place last night. I used Tweetchat to follow the event. http://schoolnetsa.blogspot.com/2012/07/30-days-of-web-tools-day-7-use.html

 

This particular hashtag #edchatsa has now become a means of conversation and passing on information daily. 

Other ways of findng your hashtag

In Google ask for search Twitter.com and it will take you to twitter search. Type in your hashtag and all the tweets will appear. However this won’t enable you to respond unfortunately.

 

 

Well, next time you have an event happening, try to create a Twitter hashtag!

Picasa, Photopeach and other photo sharing sites

Nowadays there are so many different and amazing things you can do with your photographs online. You can store them, create gorgous slideshows, among other things. In this post I am going to outline sites for the following:
1) Sites for uploading photos to the Internet for storage
2) A search engine for royalty free photos
3) A talking photo site
4) A site for making large classroom posters
5) Sites for creating lovely slideshows

Take a look at this Slideshare for ideas:


  

Have fun with your photos using some of these photosharing sites from Fiona Beal

Classroom uses for photos (ideas taken from the Photopeach website)

• Library: Introduce new upcoming books with the image of the covers by a librarian; promote library actions; create book trailers
• For second language class / ESL class: Vocabulary with pictures / vocabulary quiz; Storytelling / story creation; Work with grammar content
• Assistive technology class: Support reading and writing for students with disabilities
• Technology class: Show students and staff how to use computer applications
• Kindergarten: Mothers day and Fathers day slideshow to share with the parents; travels of "Billy Shakesbear"
• Tutorial for students / Introduction of the curriculum content
• End of year slideshow
• As an assessment tool
• “20 things about me”
• Slideshow about the rights for the children
• International exchange between schools
• Teachers’ training
• For presentations at conference

Further reading

http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Photos+%26+Images

Use Spiderscribe to create a more advanced mindmap

I also like to use Spiderscribe to mindmap as you can do so much more with it than with bubbl.us. With Spiderscribe you can easily make a very engaging attractive mindmap:
*you can add a text note, and even include active weblinks
*you can add photos,
*you can attach Word documents or PDFs
*you can attach maps
*you can attach calendar events. Below you can see more clearly the five elements you can add. Spiderscribe can  be accessed at  http://www.spiderscribe.net.  

Below you can see what a Spiderscribe mindmap could look like. You can add a lot more colour than is shown here. This image is taken from Richard Byrne's post on Spiderscribe.  It shows the five different items now added to the mindmap. Spiderscribe also easily allows  collaboration between students.  

Here is a YouTube video tutorial that seems to explain how to create a Spiderscribe mindmap quite well.




Sharing a Spiderscribe mindmap

Under the word Share, choose your sharing options and email the person you want to collaborate with.


Mindmapping in the classroom

1. Spiderscribe especially is great to use in subjects like History or Geography because the students can make concept maps and add pictures, word documents plus organise the map in such a way that it can be remembered easily.

2. For English classes this can be used to summarise a novel, or create notes on something they are studying. 

3. This is a great way to collect information for a project as well and also to collaborate on projects. 

4. In Language classes students can brainstorm and outline a story they are planning to write

A challenge

*Please try out one of these tools and if you create something do share it with us.
*Please also add any other ideas you may have for using a mindmap in class.

Use Bubbl.us to create simple mindmaps

Why mindmap?

Mindmapping is a great thinking tool. It has been suggested that this visual technique can improve learning and study efficiency up to 15% over conventional note-taking. It is also a very popular planning technique and definitely something one should introduce in every classroom.  It is a great way to brainstorm and generate ideas. 

Use bubbl.us to mindmap

What I like about bubbl.us is that it is a simple non-elaborate mindmapping tool that is easy to catch on to, and is useful for a younger class.  It can be accessed at https://bubbl.us/.  This is what a completed bubbl.us mindmap might look like. It has an attractive colourful look. 

A big plus about using this tool with younger classes is that they don't have to sign up. The mondmaps can also be exported as images such as JPEGS. Students  start with an idea and flesh it out by inserting ideas into bubbles. The bubbles can then be connected and color coded giving a visual representation of the connections between ideas.

This YouTube video seems to explain how to use bubbl.us quite well I think. 

How to share a bubbl.us mindmap

You can visit bubbl.us and without even signing up start creating lovely mind maps— but if you want to enable saving, sharing, and other cross-session features you'll need to sign up. 


a) If you have your students making a mindmap without signing in, then simply export the mindmap as an image and share it by email.
b) If you want to collaborate or share in any other way you'll need to sign in. 
 and then get the contact address of someone else who has a bubbl.us account, and find and use the sharing button. 

c) One can share the mind-map in a blog, wiki or website by getting the embed code (which is found in the drop down arrow under the Sharingbutton).

d) Bubbl.us also allows multiple users to interact and collaborate with the map itself. This is called mind-map sharing. To do this click on  Sheets > Sharing (top right hand corner of the screen.) Choose the mindmap you want to share and add it to a contact’s account. Mind-maps may only be shared with bubbl us 'friends': that is, the persons you want to share your mind-map with must also have a bubbl us account.

Collaborators can have different permissions assigned to them: 

*Read Only, which allows viewing but no editing,
*Edit, which allows full editing control, including re-naming of your mind-map.

(It would probably be wise to save a copy of your mindmap somewhere else before you allow collaborators to start working on it!)

 Please have a go using bubbl.us to create a simple but collaborative mindmap! 

Use Pen.io to create a quick page with a URL

Pen.io is an interesting application for making a quick page with a URL. (Whatever you do in Google Docs will also be given a web URL but this is a much quicker method.)

1. Go to http://www.pen.io/. You will notice a straightforward page with a code in the left box entitled ‘Page name'. The code remains as the URL of your new page.

2. Give your page a password and then click on ‘Create new page’. You’ll be taken to the page where you can start writing.

3. Give your page a title and write your message. You can drag on=ver a picture from your store of pictures. It will just get a text name until you save.

4. Once you click on Save the picture appears.

5. There are various other things you can do with this tool. On the right you can change the background and add photos in a more formal manner. Below you can embed the file into a blog or wiki.  

You can also promote your page by tweeting it, pinning it (in Pinterest) or sending it to Facebook. How easy is that! I am sure this tool could be useful at times in a classroom setting which has technology.

Use Tube chop to cut clips out of YouTube videos

Do you sometimes you wish you could cut a funny or interesting part out of a YouTube video and make a little clip to share with your class?  Well, you can with Tube Chop!

1. Open http://www.tubechop.com/

2. Type in the URL of the video you want or the name of the video to chop and press Search. I put in ‘Gotta Share’ for one of my favourite videos.  The original video URL for this video is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soAk3F0wX9s

3. Set the beginning of the clip and then click the pink line when you get to the end of the clip.

4. Choose Chop it and you will be given a new link and embed code for your clip, as follows http://www.tubechop.com/watch/459414

Amazing! This is a quick and easy way to make video clips.

Further reading

17 free YouTube tools every teacher should know about