Technify+Your+Lessons

Teachers: Here are some way COOL websites you can use with your students to integrate technology into your classrooms!

Purpose- Voki is a free website that allows you to create your own personalized avatar or computer-generated version of a person that can be embedded in a blog, wiki, e-mail or other place on the web. You can use a mic to record messages for your avatar to say!! Just go to the voki website, register as a user, and then begin creating your avatars!
 * 1) [|**www.voki.com**]

Ways to Use a Voki in the Classroom
Helen Otway offers the following suggestions for ways to use a Voki in the classroom.

Source: Helen Otway. January 2008. [|Voki avatars in the classroom].
 * 1) Students can create avatars that are similar in looks or personalities and record a message that tells about themselves.
 * 2) Students can exchange these avatars with e-pals either within their own setting or anywhere in the world.
 * 3) Students can generate questions to ask their avatar e-pals.
 * 4) ESL (English as a Second Language ) students can use the speaking avatars to practice and listen to their speech. They may use the computerised voice first then record their own voice when they feel more comfortable. Writing, reading and pronunciation are all practised.
 * 5) Students can create an avatar that resembles a character from a story, add a setting and give it speech. The speech could be from the story or a creative point of view (POV) from the character on an event.

2. **www.wordle.net** Purpose- Wordle is a website used to create "word clouds". The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can design your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like. Generate clouds using spelling lists, vocabulary words, key points, reflections etc.. You can post them to the wordle gallery and then save to a jpg file for use in word or other applications. Google "wordle uses in the classroom" for several creative projects! My Sample: A few ideas from Rodd Lucier's blog: []

1] Convert a sonnet or [|Shakespearean play;] or children's book ([|Dr. Seuss] anyone?);

2] Paste the contents of an [|online discussion]to coalesce the main ideas;

3] Combine student 'Who Are You?' introductions, or '[|SuperheroTraits]' to develop a class composite;

4] Condense [|survey data]by dumping content of questionnaire responses into the Wordle engine;

5] Combine [|news articles] or [|RSS feeds] on a given topic;

6] Turn an [|essay] into a poster;

7] Combine blog posts over time into a [|simplified represetation] or use it to compare the ideas of [|competing ideas];

8] Use font, colour and arrangement strategies to appropriately represent content;

9] Automate the creation of [|word poetry];

10] As an introduction to a unit or course, combine key words; themes;[| curriculum expectations] to provide learners with a visual overview of content;

11] Convert nutritional content of one's [|weekly diet] or of a group's menu preferences;

12] Condense a [|Wikipedia article] into it's essence;

13] Paste the [|results of a Google search] (Can you guess the keywords I used?);

14] Convert [|social bookmark]tags;

15] Enter keywords from [|weekly weather reports] to obtain a seasonal picture;

16] Distill song lyrics like "[|Stairway to Heaven]";

17] Find out what you've been up to by summarizing [|To-Do lists];

18] Represent the results of a brainstorming session or the [|minutes of a meeting] visually;

19] Show "[|Today in History]" stories in a new way;

20] Convert past or [|current email messages] into a composite of your correspondence;

Ever wanted to dabble in producing podcasts with your students? Audacity is a wonderful, free download which allows you to create and manipulate MP3 files. All you need is a computer, microphone and a quiet place to record! Ok- so you're wondering what a podcast is?? Basically, they are audio productions that can be shared on the web. Use podcasting to spice up book talks, literature circles, historical audio diaries, science experiments, and many more projects. View quality ideas at: [] or check out my podcasts on this wiki! For a great, user-friendly tutorial visit: []
 * 3.** [|**http://audacity.sourceforge.net/**]

4**.http://www.glogster.com/edu/**

What is Glogster EDU? (information from glogster.com)

 * A web 2.0 platform that easily allows users to upload photos, videos, text, audio and more to create a unique online, interactive poster.
 * A new and creative digital outlet for educators to help keep students ENGAGED and make learning more fun!
 * A simple and easy interface designed to introduce basic concepts to students.
 * A series of teamwork mechanisms to allow users to publish and share their creations and to collaborate with other users on joint efforts.
 * A secure, private, safe platform that can be monitored directly by teachers.
 * A valuable learning tool that can be integrated with several core subjects including math, science, history, technology, art, photography, music and more.
 * A tool that fosters advancement of skills as students progress through grade levels.
 * A virtual, digital, educational platform that transcends age, gender, background, subject matter, grade level, school type, location, etc

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Check out this site for easy movie making in the classroom for FREE!! You'll need to fill out a brief application and then create your account. Andrew Marcinek provides a great overview of animoto and product examples from his blog on the site below.

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