********************************************************************************** Welcome to the SBISD 11 Tools for the 21st Century Learner online professional development program and blog. Currently this program is limited to campus groups and by invitation-only. You should have received information from the SBISD Educational Technology Department regarding your participation in this program. The program has been developed to aid you, a SBISD educator, in learning about emerging technologies that will help you transform your classroom into a learning center for the 21st century students that walk through your door. You will be receiving new classroom technology to use with these tools. The program is contained in this blog and you will work through a series of activities centered around 11 web 2.0 technologies or "tools." You will use links to information on the Internet, video demonstrations, and samples to learn about the 11 tools. You will then be asked to create samples of your own to practice the technology skills involved and to discuss how these technologies will assist you in working with your students in your transformed classroom. As you move through this program, always consider how these tools would fit in your teaching assignment(s) and how you plan to incorporate these tools into teaching and learning. Please view the following 2 videos to get an overview of what a 21st century learner looks like and what a transformed learning environment should look like.
Listed below are 11 tools that you can use in a variety of ways, either individually or in combinations, to bring about change in the way the students in your classroom demonstrate learning. Click on the Tool # and start adding to your toolbox! Tool 1: Creating a blog and registering with the learning community. Tool 2: Building a community of learners and sharing knowledge through comments. Tool 3: Using image generators and mashups. Tool 4: Using cool Google tools to share information. Tool 5: Tagging information. Tool 6: Creating wikis to store and share information. Tool 7: Creating digital stories. Tool 8: Using video resources. Tool 9: Sharing information through Jing & Skype. Tool 10: Exploring Mobile Technology and Apps Tool 11: Practicing good digital citizenship After 11 Tools Reflection At the end of all these activities, you will have an opportunity to reflect on what you have learned and share thoughts and ideas about how this professional development will help bring about change in your classroom. P.S. You can select the Tool links from the side bar on the right as well as this post.
Having students write in blogs (online journals) is a good way for them to share their knowledge with others outside of the classroom. Blogs allow students to have a wider and more authentic audience for their ideas. To quote David Warwick of 2¢ Worth, "students become information artisans instead of merely information consumers."
You will use a blog to record your reactions to the various 11 Tools activities and to post ideas and samples of the tools that you will bring to your classroom for your students to use in learning.
For your Tool #1 Assignment:There are 4 things you need complete for the Tool 1 activity:
- SET UP YOUR BLOG.
- CREATE AN AVATAR
- WRITE A BRIEF POST ABOUT GETTING STARTED
- REGISTER YOUR BLOG with the 11 Tools for 21st Century Learners project management.
1. SET UP YOUR BLOG
1. If you have little experience with blogs, view this video from the Common Craft guy Lee Lefever that explains what a blog is.
2. View these slides for an overview of the key parts of a blog.
Parts of a Blog
Dashboard of a Blog
Post Box of a Blog
3. Because SBISD is going to start using many Google products, these activities will include many of the same items. Therefore, Blogger is the blogging software of choice for 11 Tools.
If you do not already have one, create a Google account and then go to Blogger to set up your blog.
If you already have a Google account, then proceed to Blogger.
4. Blogger has a step-by-step guide for setting up your blog.
5. Things to c