Instructional Strategies to Jumpstart Your Teacher Brain

Wednesday, October 28, 2015 No comments

As I was doing my daily PLN on Twitter I came across this great infographic that I just knew I needed to share. It is called "A List Of 50+ Teaching Strategies To Jumpstart Your Teacher Brain". I love this list for face to face as well as online teaching. My gears are going and I am creating a plan of action to utilize these strategies with a technology approach.

Find all the specifics on each strategy by going to: http://www.fortheteachers.org/instructional_strategies/

The Power of Voki in the Classroom - Not Just for the K-12 setting

Friday, October 16, 2015 No comments

One of my favorite go to technology tools is Voki. I love creating my own personalized speaking avatars that I can use to engage learners in the content being taught, but also allow the learner to create their own avatars to explain difficult topics. I have been a user of Voki as an educator and as an educational technology specialist, and educational technology consultant.

As an educational technology consultant I am currently working on a Lunch and Learn Webinar on Voki in Higher Education. I am very excited to present the effectiveness of using Voki in the higher education setting.

As we know 90% of what we retain is from doing (creating) and Voki does an outstanding job of bringing active learning into your classroom to engage and motivate students to want to learn.

So what exactly is Voki you ask?
In a nutshell Voki is an interactive learning tool that allows students and teachers to create avatars to provide evidence of their knowledge and skills.

Teachers can use Voki to launch a new lesson, go over lesson objectives, and disseminate important information. You can also embed your Voki into your learning management system, PowerPoint and other venues.

Students can create avatars to reflect on content taught, teach about a difficult topics, deliver speeches, propaganda techniques, sum up class content, present book reports, vocabulary practice, and much more.

The possibilities are truly endless for using Voki in you classroom! Voki is a great tool for all grade levels including higher education.

Here are some Voki's that my students' created:

http://www.teacherpage.com/mrshernandez/studentvokis.htm

Here is one I created as part of my Online Learning Teaching certification (OLC):

Here is one that I created for my webpage:

Great for teaching topics to students!!

For all the latest and greated on Voki, make sure to follow them their social media sites.

Voki Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/voki

Voki Twitter

https://twitter.com/officialvoki

Voki Google+

https://plus.google.com/118029973133378146892/posts

Voki Pinterest

https://www.pinterest.com/officialvoki/

Increasing Active Learning Yields Big Results Infographic

Teaching with Twitter

Tuesday, October 13, 2015 No comments

Made possible by TeachThought and USC Rossier's

Going Interactive with your Syllabus

Thursday, October 8, 2015 No comments

The thought of writing a syllabus can be...well daunting. To have to think about the whole year in one sitting can be mind boggling. After writing syllabuses for years, I decided it was time to liven things up and make it more of a living document that would encourage students to visit it frequently and reflect on the course goals and objectives. If I am going to invest the time I want to make it useful to all who come in contact with it. I also wanted it to be fun!!

Thanks to the power of Glogster, I created a fully interactive syllabus. I also created a Tellagami to personalize the syllabus even more and utilized web conferencing for virtual office hours. I also enjoy how easy it is to update the syllabus from anywhere with an internet connection.

Since I am a power user of Moodle, I love that I can easily embed my interactive syllabus.

I hope you enjoy it and please let me know if you have any questions at all.

Click on the image below to go to the interactive syllabus.

Another Giveaway to Thank You for Being You!

Thursday, October 1, 2015 No comments

I think it is time for another giveaway as I want to thank you for being you and being such wonderful educators.

Since I am a huge LSU fan, I asked my friend Tabitha with FlapJack Educational Resources if she would make a purple and gold themed classroom pack and what do you know...she did! She is awesome!! Tabitha has agreed to let me give away a classroom decor pack.

You can also win $10 in products from my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.

ENTER TO WIN BELOW!!

Please check out all her wonderful products:
http://www.flapjackeducation.com/
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Flapjack-Educational-Resources
https://www.pinterest.com/tabithacarro/
https://www.facebook.com/flapjackeducationalresources

This is what you will get if you win:

If you're looking for an editable class decor kit with a purple and gold color scheme, this is it! Various printable materials are provided along with many EDITABLE PowerPoint files for you to create just what you need for a matching, beautiful classroom.

The editable resources are great for creating party decorations, too!

Browse other color scheme kits to combine with this one or check out the Ten Colors Editable Class Decor Mega Bundle.

Printable Materials Included:
* Alphabet Posters (8.5" x 11")
* Calendar Squares 1-31 (2.5")
* Circle Numbers 0-35
* Cursive Posters (8.5" x 11")
* Days of the Week Labels
* Hall Passes
* Large Circle Numbers 1-12
* Months of the Year Labels
* Primary Name Plate
* Reward Coupons
* Welcome Banner

EDITABLE PowerPoint Templates:
* Binder Covers (3 designs)
* Binder Spine Templates (1")
* Birthday Calendar Template
* Bookmark Template
* Bulletin Board Display Template
* Bunting 1 Large Triangle Template
* Bunting 2 Flags Template
* Bunting 2 Pointed Flags Template
* Bunting 2 Triangles Template
* Bunting 3 Triangles Template
* Circle 1 Large Template
* Circles 2 Large Template
* Circles 3 Medium Template
* Circles 12 Small Templates (2 designs)
* Gift Tag Templates
* Job Display and Template (for creating more jobs)
* Name Plates Labels Large Template (3 to a page)
* Name Plates Labels Small Template (6 to a page)
* Newsletter Template
* Postcards Templates (4 to a sheet)
* Posters Templates (3 designs)
* Presentation Slides (title slide and text slide - great for open house presentations or morning work assignments)
* Rectangle Labels Templates (12 to a sheet, 3 designs)
* Rectangles 4 Horizontal Template
* Rectangles 4 Vertical Templates
* Rectangles 6 Horizontal Template
* Rectangles 9 Template
* Rectangles 12 Round Label Template
* Squares 12 Small Template (2.5")
* Teacher Calendar Template
* Word Wall Display and Card Templates

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EdShelf Resources

Tuesday, September 8, 2015 No comments

I love getting my EdShelf emails every Monday because I know I will be getting some really great tried and true educational websites that I can use. I am compiling a list below of some of the my recent favorites as well as a few that I have recently found on my own. I hope you enjoy!!

Solvy - is your personal guide to real-life math. It helps users discover the power of math as a tool for solving real-world problems.

PhotoMath - is the world's smartest camera calculator! Just point your camera to a Math problem, and PhotoMath will instantly display the answer. Use it to get help when you're stuck with a problem. Hit the steps button, and see a full step-by-step solution!

GoConqr - is a specifically designed learning tools for your iPhone and iPad that allows you to study on the go. View, play and discover Mind Maps, Flashcards, Quizzes and Notes to help you learn easier. Get that extra learning edge by downloading today.

MysteryScience - is a resource for elementary teachers offering free open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science. The hands-on activity and video clues make it easy to re-create the process of scientific discovery for your students.

WeLearnedIt - is an easy to use project-based learning platform that allows teachers to create and share dynamic assignments, leave meaningful feedback on student work, and allows learners to capture and track their academic growth and achievement over time in digital learning portfolios.

TeachEngineering - is a resource for Standards-aligned engineering lessons and hands-on activities for use in science, engineering, and math classrooms.

Pixabay - is a repository for stunning public domain pictures. Your source for royalty free stock photos and copyright free vector graphics. You can use any Pixabay image without attribution in digital and printed form, even for commercial applications.

Citelighter - is an easy-to-use academic research tool that provides an organizational framework for writing your papers. Citelighter is an intuitive online research platform that enables students and professionals to quickly find and record facts, automatically cite sources, and write better papers/documents.

Suggestions Needed: Your Favorite Apps

Friday, August 7, 2015 No comments

Happy Friday Everyone!! I hope you have had a great week. It is back to school for many of you and I wish you a wonderful school year.

I am working on revising two of my courses that I teach and I would love your input.

1. What are your favorite apps or technology resources for Staying
Productive and Organized?

2. What are your favorite apps or technology resources for Collaborating and Connecting with Students?

You can respond to this post by commenting below or by filling out the google form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13mCBLdU6lhj7tpqnddJkgkFhS15acRoHoN5sMwiQh2o/viewform

Thank you in advance and please know that I appreciate any feedback you can give me.

Special Shout Out to Mike Lee at EdShelf for tweeting the above out for me. I greatly appreciate each of you. You can find the tweet at: https://twitter.com/edshelf/status/629349758293921792

Classroom Decor Pack and $20 in educational products - Win Them Now!

Monday, July 13, 2015 1 comment

One of my favorite bloggers is Tabitha with FlapJack Educational Resources. She makes the most wonderful educational products and is a super nice person.

Since I am a huge LSU fan, I asked Tabitha if she would make a purple and gold themed classroom pack and what do you know...she did! She is awesome!! Tabitha has agreed to let me give away a classroom decor pack. I will also be giving away $20 in items from my TpT store.

Sign up at the bottom of this post = )

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Active Learning Using Padlet

Tuesday, June 30, 2015 No comments

Learning Activity with Assessment Worksheet

Learning Objective(s)

TLW be able to assess prior knowledge using the course and tools within Moodle
TLW be able to develop active learning activities based on Bloom's Taxonomy using Padlet

Learning Activity

The learners will first navigate to the Padlet widget set up in the Moodle course and complete the activity. Then, they will be required to post a sample active learning activity that they can use in their classroom. The active learning activity will need to be specific to the content in which they teach. Next the learners will list (in parenthesis) what level of Bloom’s Taxonomy that the activity meets.

Example: 3-2-1 Atoms and Molecules (Comprehension)

Learners should develop activities that are not directly discussed within the course (discussions, choice, feedback, videos) and apply their content to the activity. In order for a learner to receive exemplar in creativity, learners should create activities that are available on the “Sample Activities” pdf (available in the Moodle course) or from outside resources. Learners can receive developed in creativity if they use an activity within the course (discussions, choice, feedback, videos), but change the activity so that it is not exactly the same as the ones posted.

This activity is the foundation to the project the learners will complete in week 4 of the course.

The web 2.0 tool Padlet has been set up for groups in Moodle. The learners will only see the Padlet that represents the cohort group they are in. The purpose of this is to make the posts easier to read and pull ideas from. The Bloom’s Taxonomy levels pdf is available to the learners in the Moodle course.

All learners will have access to each cohort groups Padlet after the closing of the assignment.

Appropriateness for Learners and Objectives: The activity allows users to develop and create active learning activities that they can apply in their own classroom. The main focus of this activity is for the learners to use prior knowledge, content, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and creativity to create their activities. The visual representation of Padlet is like a corkboard where learners can post ideas. The learners are using what they have acquired in the course to complete this activity.

Appropriateness for the technology: Padlet is a web 2.0 tools that is web based and can be accessed through www.padlet.com or embedded in an LMS.

The initial demonstration of the tool (Padlet) will be available as a “how to” guide and video for learners who are not familiar with the tool.

After the closing of the activity, the Padlets will be made available to all learners within the course (pdf).

Padlet meets the ISTE standard “Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity”, where teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.

The web 2.0 activity Padlet:

a. Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness

b. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources

c. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes

The tool used for this activity, could be used for face to face, online, hybrid, or flipped classroom environments.

Other uses of the tool in this assessment are:

Padlet offers an exceptional opportunity for learners to brainstorm, collaborate, and group ideas. Learners can use Padlet to brainstorm ideas for writing, explore lines of inquiry, collect research, for grouping ideas, and collaborating on group projects.

The Learning Activity padlet can be found by going to: http://padlet.com/LSUITS/fpq0ygrs6g

Assessment Tool and Procedure

Learners will be assessed using a rubric which focuses on Text Communication, Completion, Creativity and Overall Quality. Learners can receive Exemplar, Developed, and Limited in four areas depending on the depth of the assignment created.

Rubric for Padlet Active Learning Activity

	Exemplar 3	Developed 2	Limited 0
Text Communication (active learning example with integrated content – how it will be used in your course)	text VERY clearly and effectively communicates and explains the activity	text SOMEWHAT clearly and effectively communicates and explains the activity	text DOES NOT clearly and effectively communicate and explain the activity
Completion (active learning example with integrated content; followed by level of Bloom’s taxonomy in parenthesis behind activity title) 3-2-1 Atoms and Molecules (Comprehension)	Activity was completed as instructed	Activity was partially completed as instructed	Activity was not completed as instructed
Creativity	Completely unique and one of a kind with content included (created an active learning activity not listed in the course)	Somewhat unique with content included (used an active learning activity in the course)	Not unique no content included or did not complete (used an active learning activity in the course, but did not include how it could be used in their content area)
Overall Quality	Highest Quality – Could be used as a class example	Good Quality – Could use revisions and more creativity	Inadequate – Needs to be revisited and redone to meet the requirements for the assignment

Active Learning Activity - The Face to Face and Online Classroom

Friday, June 19, 2015 No comments

As many know I am a very big proponent for Active Learning in the classroom as I believe it builds life long learners and students who truly feel a sense of community in their classroom.

I am working on a Lunch and Learn Online series at LSU in which one of the courses is Active Learning Activities in the Classroom. I am very excited about this new endeavor and how it will impact instruction in the Higher Education setting.

I wanted to share a great Active Learning activity that can used in a face to face and online classroom. I have built this activity into the Online course I am creating.

You can use it in a database, discussion forum or have the students submit as an assignment.

As a database entry or discussion it reads like this:

CASH Out requires students to reflect on a reading passage, article, video, presentation, module (week of study) using four guiding questions:

1. What did you learn about the topic? (Cognitive)

2. How did you react to the topic? (Affective)

3. What surprised you about the topic? (Surprise)

4. What idea or topic was helpful to you? (Help)

I have linked the Cash Out document (I turned it into a fillable form). This document can be filled out by the student and submitted as an assignment or filled out and attached to a post in a discussion form.

This can be used in a face to face classroom as an Exit Slip to leave class.

Below are some images from the Online class in Moodle I am creating as part of my OLC (Online Teaching Certification).