Google Wonder Wheel

Today I am sharing with you one of my favourite Google treasures, the Google Wonder Wheel.  I love the Wonder Wheel because it helps make Google searches less stressful and more valuable - hurray!  With today's searches producing results upwards of 100,000,000 or more the Google Wonder Wheel really is good news!  By definition, the GWW is a wheel display of search terms related to the current searched inquiry. Essentially, it makes searching visual and helps students break down broad concepts into more manageable search terms.



Tips for integrating Google Wonder Wheel into the classroom: For both you and your students, the Google Wonder Wheel is relevant and enables the user to navigate the internet more easily. When doing research, students often start with a very general search term and then struggle to find the specific information they are looking for. With Google Wonder Wheel, students can narrow their search quickly and easily by clicking on the search term or resource that is the most relevant to their inquiry and most likely to be of value.

Here are the steps:
1. Type in your search topic and press search.

2. Scroll down and find Wonder Wheel from the Standard View menu on the left-hand side of your screen.

3. Click on one of the related search terms to narrow your search.

4. Give it a try!

Blabberize

Blabberize is a fun and crazy website that allows you to make your pictures talk.  I mean really talk!  It is quick and easy to use, with instructions that are easy to follow.  I made the blabberize above in about 3 minutes.  Just select and upload a picture, crop it if you wish, place the mouth, record the sound and watch the magic happen.

Tips for integrating Blabberize into the classroom:  Blabberize will immediately captures student interest.  Have students create a Blabberize to demonstrate knowledge and share research information with others in class or on a class website.  Just have the animal, building or map do the talking!  When you are finished, you are given the option to save and make your Blabberize private or public.  Once saved, you can copy the link or embed the code into a website (like I have).  You also have the option of converting your Blabberize to video.  This is a great option if you would like to download the projects onto your computer or copy them to DVD for distribution or sharing. Check out this Blabberize I made on hippopotamuses!

Note:  Users need to log in and create a password.  Another option would be for the teacher to create a log in and have all of the students sign in on one account.

Don't forget to let me know how you are using Blabberize in your classroom by commenting below!

Storyline Online

Storyline Online is an on-line streaming video program featuring Screen Actors Guild Foundation members reading childrens books aloud.  Choose from nearly 25 stories including Stellaluna, A Bad Case of Stripes, Harry the Dirty Dog, and The Polar Express. Then listen to each story read aloud by an actor, such as James Earl Jones, or Melissa Gilbert  (there are even a few actors reading that the students might know like Haylie Duff, Amanda Bynes and Elijah Wood).  Each book includes streaming video of the actor reading the story, optional captioning for students to follow along and downloadable activities and lesson ideas that teachers can use to further student learning in the classroom.

Tips for integrating Storyline Online into the classroom:  Storyline Online immediately captures student interest and would be a great way to share a story with the entire class using a projector connected computer. (Remember that this is an on-line streaming video site, so you must be connected to the internet when viewing the videos.)  Storyline Online would also make a great literacy centre or bookmarked site for students to visit during exploration time in the computer lab.  Also, post a link to this site on your class website or send it home in a newsletter for parents to use at home with their children.

Don't forget to share a comment on how you are using Storyline Online in your classroom!

Welcome to Fox Teaches Tech

Please take a moment ...and I promise it will only be a moment, to complete this simple survey.  My goal for this site is to help simplify the search process and time required for you to find that perfect technology tool or website to compliment the learning in your classroom. The data collected from this survey will help me achieve this goal and develop a framework for this site.  So ...HELP ME, HELP YOU!! ;)  Thank you for your time.


Click here to begin.

Top 7 Internet Safety Sites for Kids

The internet is changing our classrooms!  No longer are we limited by the physical structure of the building we teach in.  Instead the internet has opened up the teaching and learning environment to the rest of the world.  The ability to rapidly communicate and interact with others, inquire and find sources of information about anything, be independent or cooperative, and support higher-order thinking skills through creating and constructing projects such as interactive posters, videos and voicethreads* is exciting, but also requires us as teachers to think about Internet safety.  So, as you head into your classrooms this fall, get to know your students and begin developing your rules and routines, I encourage you to think about Internet safety and what your students need to know.  

My top 7 Internet Safety Sites for Elementary Students are:  

http://pbskids.org/license/

1. PBS Kids, Get Your Web License provides students with a Web Licenses once they have completed a series of questions on a variety of topics related to internet safety. The questions are interactive and provides the students with immediate feedback on their answers, giving them the opportunity to "try again" if a mistake is made.  The Web License is printable and only available once all questions have been answered correctly.

http://home.disney.com.au/activities/surfswellisland/

2. Disney's Surf Swell Island is a quiz-driven adventure game.  Internet safety information is presented to users in a series of games, each featuring well-known Disney characters and focusing on an area of concern; privacy, viruses, or netiquette.  Each game is followed by a mini-quiz reinforcing the area presented in the game.   

http://www.ikeepsafe.org/

3. iKeep Safe is a site that provides teachers with an amazing Internet Safety program covering all of the basics including: keeping children safe online, how to handle cyber-bullying, balancing real life with screen time, and dangerous downloads.

http://www.infinitelearninglab.org/

4. Internet Safety with Professor Garfield is an easy to navigate site (especially when you follow the quick start guide) with printable lessons (available under teacher's materials) on online safety, cyberbullying, fact or opinion and forms of media.  Each lesson includes a watch (video), try (game) and apply (quiz) section.   

http://www.netsmartz.org/index.aspx

5. NetSmartz teaches internet safety with engaging characters, songs, videos and interactive games.  The topics presented include knowing the rules, chat abbreviations, dangers of sharing personal information, viruses, passwords and what makes a good one, and cyber-bullying.  

www.hectorsworld.com

6. Hector's World is a site that helps students stay safe online and learn about digital citizenship.  Hector and his friends are engaging characters that face interesting and challenging situations in order to model the behaviour of good digital citizens.  The topics include Your Personal Information Online, Cyberbullying, and Computer Security.

http://www.covenantworks.com/

7. Internet Safety provides the user with links to many of the sites I have listed above as well as others.  There is information applicable to any grade level and its all in one easy to find location.  Got to love that!








Do you have a favourite site that I missed?  I would love to hear about it. Please share your experiences below.

*more on these later.  But, I linked to my favourite sites for those who are interested. :)

Wordle

Wordle is a tool for generating word clouds from text that you provide.  The words appearing more frequently in the text are given prominence.  Fonts, layouts and colours can be changed on clouds and the images created are yours to print or save.

Tips for integrating Wordle into the classroom:  Wordle would be a great tool to use with students at the beginning of the year to introduce themselves.  They can describe who they are and what they love and let Wordle do the rest.  Check out the example my son and I made above.  Print or post your Wordle's in the hallway or on a class website, for a great (and quick) gallery of student work...just in time for Meet the Teacher night! :)

Below is a slideshow with the how to's or Wordle.  This simple process can be completed in as little as the time it takes to copy and paste or type text into the word box.  Check it out!

Using Wordle In The Classroom

View more presentations from murcha.

Check out the slideshow below for more great ways to use Wordle in your classroom.

38 intersting ways to use Wordle in the classroom

View more presentations from mberner.

Hector's World

http://www.hectorsworld.com/island/index.html

Hector's World is a New Zealand educational initiative targeted at helping 5-11 year olds stay safe online and learn about digital citizenship.  Hector and his friends are engaging characters that live in the magical world of Silicon Deep.  They face interesting and challenging situations in order to model the behaviour of good digital citizens.  The topics include personal information online, cyber-bullying, and computer security and are presented through videos episodes, mp3 music files, puzzles, games, and downloadable storybooks that provide opportunities for students to be safe and ethical users of digital technologies.  

Tips for integrating Hector's World into your classroom:  Begin by taking the 10 minute guided tour for teachers of the site.  This helps with navigating and understanding the layout of the site and all of the different options available for teaching and learning.  Hector's World provides educators with excellent lesson plans (developed for 3 different age levels) on each of the episodes under the topics presented.  The lessons begin with engaging videos that would be great presented to students using a projector or interactive white board.  The downloadable material can be printed and used in the classroom without the need for independent use of a computer.  This is a nice option when computer times are limited.   A resource for planning a Digital Citizenship Week is also available and would be a great addition to SMART Week.  Digital Citizenship certificates can be printed in colour or black and white from the site and posters are available to order from the Netsafe Contact Centre.

Also, take time to install the Hector's World Safety Button on the computers used by students.  Hector's World safety button is a button children can click on to cover the screen with a beautiful underwater scene if something on-screen upsets or worries them.  Send home the parent newsletter provided on the site with information about the button for  parents to install on home computers.  

iKeep Safe

http://www.ikeepsafe.org/

 iKeep Safe is a site that has partnered with D.A.R.E to provide parents and teachers with an amazing Internet Safety program.  This is a well-rounded program, designed for kids ages 4 - 10.  It covers all of the basics including: keeping children safe online, how to handle cyber-bullying, balancing real life with screen time, and dangerous downloads.  Students learn about these concepts through a wide range of tools and along side fun, engaging cartoon characters.  There are videos, printable books, colouring sheets, games, worksheets, discussion guides, and lesson plans available to help teachers communicate the information to students.*  This program is the perfect way to introduce internet safety to students and reinforce it throughout the year.

Tips for integrating iKeep Safe into your classroom:  iKeep Safe is a perfect place to start teaching students about Internet safety.  Watch the Faux Paw cartoons together as a class on a projector connected computer and read and discuss the books.  Teach the lesson by having students complete the free downloadable worksheets or play an interactive game online.  Then send home a family assignment and have the students discuss internet safety with their parents.  Let's get the parents involved and working as hard as we do at keeping their kids safe.  


* these links are just a sample of what is available in each of the categories on the Faux Paw site

Disney's Surf Swell Island

http://home.disney.com.au/activities/surfswellisland/

Disney's Surf Swell Island is a quiz-driven adventure game.  Internet safety information is presented to users in a series of three games, each featuring well-known Disney characters and focusing on an area of concern; privacy, viruses, or netiquette.  Each game is followed by a mini-quiz reinforcing the skills presented in the game.   The site also contains a teacher and parent guide with recommendations for different ways to use the site for Pre-K - Grade 6.

Tips for integrating Disney's Surf Swell Island into your classroom:  Disney's Surf Swell Island would be a  fun way to address the very serious topic of Internet Safety.  This site could be used in a computer lab setting with students working through the games and quizzes at their own pace or in a large group setting on a projector connected computer.

Get Your Web License

http://pbskids.org/license/

PBS Kids, Get Your Web License provides students with a Web License once they have completed the 'road test'.  The 'road test' is a series of questions on a variety of topics related to internet safety.  The topics include meeting people, surf time, passwords, privacy policy and more.  I like this site because it is simple.  There are no advertisements or other links to distract students.  And the quiz is interactive and provides the students with immediate feedback on their answers, giving them the opportunity to "try again" if a mistake is made.  The Web License is printable and only available once all questions have been answered correctly.

Tips for integrating PBS Kids, Get Your Web License into your classroom:  Get Your Web License would be a great way to review internet safety practices with your students.  The quiz could be done in a computer lab setting, with each student or pair or students working through the questions at their own pace or as a whole class on a projector connected computer.