Creating a Mock Election using Google Forms

I wanted to post about using Google Forms to create a Mock Election for the upcoming election. This is a great way to get your students involved since they are not able to vote yet. I worked with one of my librarians to get the form created and the webpage set up. This has been such an awesome experience!

To learn how to set up a Google Form, check out this article:

http://support.google.com/drive/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=87809

Embed a form in a website or blog

If you'd like to embed your form in a website or blog after you create and save your form, click the More actions drop-down menu at the top of the form, select the Embed option, and paste the URL into your site or blog.

 

My Histro

Hey everyone! I wanted to tell you about My Histro (interactive timeline) as this was brought to my attention from a poster. I thought I would check it out and I am very impressed. I think it would be great to use with your students, so they can have an up close and personal connection with history which includes the use of technology and media. I also love the collaboration aspect of this tool. My Histro also has an App you can download.

http://www.myhistro.com/

From: http://www.myhistro.com/blog/interactive-timelines-for-teachers-and-students
In today's Web 2.0 world, user generated content and collaboration are what drives knowledge and knowledge sharing. The time of passivity and being subjected to what the web has to offer is long gone. Even "interactive" has been replaced by "social". -Enter myHistro- MyHistro focuses on content creation rather than content consumption. Teachers and the students alike can create free interactive timelines in a few easy steps. 

"Studying a timeline" vs "Creating a timeline"

Now teachers have two great ways of using our timelines to engage their students:

1. Teachers can create specific timelines, present them in the class using a projector like they would do with a slide deck or let the students navigate the timeline freely on their own in the computer room. Students will be able to find those same timelines later at home and use them as studying material.
2. Teachers can ask their students to create timelines on a particular subjects as homework. Timelines can also be created with the collaboration of other students. They are a great way of consolidating what has been learned in the class and with them teachers can evaluate the research and writing skills of the student. See this example of timeline created by a student:

eLections...Great Interactive Experience

I have been using eLECTIONS for many years now with students. The kids love it and the educational experience is great. With the elections coming up I thought this would be a wonderful site to blog about.

The grade levels are listed below, but don't be afraid to try it with your kids as I used this with 4th and 5th graders as well.

http://www.ciconline.org/Resource/elections-your-adventure-in-politics

eLECTIONS: Your Adventure in Politics

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Subjects: Civics, Social Studies, Technology
Grade Levels: 6-8, 9-12
Source: Cable in the Classroom

Inspired by the classic board game "The Game of Life," players will role-play their own virtual candidates running for President. The one or two-player game is both genuinely entertaining and genuinely educational - with emphasis on delivering a fun learning experience. Kids can play with parents, students with teachers, users of all ages with a friend, classmate, or with a computer-generated opponent. The latest edition of eLECTIONS also offers a computer-generated Third Party candidate.
eLECTIONS is:

• Accessible: Available for free to anyone with a high-speed internet connection.
• Multi-sensory: Players see, read, hear and interact with multimedia content from CNN Student News, C-SPAN and History™.
• Content Rich: Players explore independently how a presidential campaign works - through a fun and interactive experience.
• Self-directed: Players make the choices that influence the outcome of the game. They continue to learn and explore fundamental election concepts with the "LEARN MORE" content - all at their own pace.

Dippity...Interactive Timeline

Check out this really neat interactive free digital timeline website.  Users can create, share, embed and collaborate on interactive, visually engaging timelines that integrate video, audio, images, text, links, social media, location and timestamps.

Timelines can be an excellent way to add features to a multimedia story, as long as there’s an interesting time element. 

This site is are also good for multimedia journalism classes, as using them can force students to think chronologically about a story outside the narrative writing process

http://www.dipity.com

My Love for Pinterest

I absolutely love Pinterest! I think it is truly amazing and well a bit addicting. If you haven't joined, you have to jump on the bandwagon. I am always pinning great ideas for the classroom, technology integration, and well all kinds of stuff. You can follow me on Pinterest if you would life.

www.pinterest.com/techgirllsu