Recently I tried out a lovely, free tool in my Grades 8 and 9 classroom - a Linoit board. I wanted the classes to introduce themselves to me using the 3-2-1 method since the period wasn't long enough for everyone to do this verbally. It worked like a charm! We loved it.
A linoit board is a virtual free bulletin board which can be populated with online stickies. These stickies can have resoeurces such as videos, weblinks and images added as well as text. You can organise the board in any way that you want. The board can be public or private and stickies can be moderated before being published by the creator. Only the creator of the board can delete stickies.
How to create a Linoit Board
I showed the class a presentation on how to create a Linoit board in case they wanted tocreate their own at some stage. Here it is.
A tutorial
Here is a great tutorial on using Linoit from YouTube
Classroom uses
1. Great for student discussions – student opinion can be collected http://goo.gl/qcNGK3
2. It is a great way to share resources and links
3. A great way to check for understanding when a topic has been taught.
4. A great place to store personal and class notes
5. A classroom bulletin board—putting up assignments, class announcements, links that are of interest, pictures from class or from projects, etc.
6. Writing responses
7. As a KWL chart using different colours for the categories
8. Analysing a character in Literature or History
9. You could post a video on the board with a task underneath and let the students add their comments on the board. http://linoit.com/users/seburnt/canvases/Job%20Interviews
10. A collaborative birthday greeting
I think I'll be using Linoit boards a lot more in the future.
I am most definitely a Google Chrome fan! I have discovered that it is incredibly useful for students.
At the recent Google in Education Summit in Cape Town there were a number of presentations outlining the usefulness of Google Chrome as a browser option (one of them was given by me!). Not only is it fast and reliable as a browser but it has a unique way of enabling almost everything that you want to do in your browsing session work right from the browser bar - by means of extensions. This is what my browser bar looks like currently and the list is growing.
Another unique feature in Chrome is that the Omnibox can be used for so many different purposes in addition to being the place where the page URL is shown. This is a great time-saving feature for students.
So I thought that it would be a good idea to introduce Chrome to my students showing in particular these two features to start off with. This presentation introduces six useful extensions for students as well as seven useful ways of searching from the Omnibox.
Note: One point to remember is that Google is always improving matters, so nothing remains static. Even extensions are improved and changed. This presentation might already be out of date!
TeachMeets are a great way to be exposed to new webtools that other teachers are using successfully in their classrooms. In South Africa I created a TeachMeet-SouthAfrica wiki to keep a record of these happenings in South Africa wiki http://teachmeet-southafrica.wikispaces.com/. This wiki also gives ideas on one you can start a TeachMeet at your school.
What is a TeachMeet?
A tiny professional development “un-conference” where teachers get together to simply share ideas or lessons using ICT as a tool using different devices. If one cannot attend but would like to share…why not Skype or submit a video which I will present for you.
How long is a TeachMeet?
2 hours is usually a good stretch of time to hold a TeachMeet.
What happens at a TeachMeet?
On sign-up one indicates whether to attend as:
1. Keen Bean – prepare and share a 3 min idea or lesson
2. Enthusiastic Lurker – relax, learn and absorb!
Upcoming TeachMeets
1) East London TeachMeet 15 October 2013
Date: Tuesday 15 October 2013.
Refreshments and networking: 14:30 - 15:00
TeachMeet time: 15:00—17:00
Venue: Stirling Primary, Epsom Road, Stirling, East London
Twitter hashtag: #ELTeachMeet
Note: Sign up for the TeachMeet by Friday 11 October 2013 - Click here,
Contact Claire Dean (claire@stirlingps.co.za)
Sharon Cox (coxs@clarendonprimary.co.za) for any queries.
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2) TeachMeet Durban 16 October 2013
Join this TeachMeet to share ideas and resources and collaborate with other teachers.
Register here to join in for a fun filled evening whether you are a Keen Bean or an Enthusiastic Lurker.
Date: 16 October 2013
Venue: St Mary’s DSG Kloof - Creativity Centre
Time: 18:00 for 18:30
Refreshments Tea and coffee will be served and a cash bar will be available.
Twitter hashtag: #TMDurban
Note: For more details visit their Wiki or follow them on Twitter
Contact llocke@stmarysdsg.co.za, sgordon@stmarysdsg.co.za or
mhartmann@ stmarysdsg.co.za for any queries.
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3) Elkanah House on 2nd November 2013
Date: 2 November 2013
Venue: Elkanah House High School Library Resource Centre
Time: 10:00 – 12:00
Refreshments Tea and coffee will be served
Twitter hashtag: #elkteachmeet
