A Look Back: ThingLink

We have been asked by several followers of the The Tech Ninja Blog  to share some of our favorite tools.  We thought that we would share some of our early posts about the tools and why we like them.  You can link to the original post by clicking here.

The next awesome online application I want to post about is called ThingLink.  The following description is from their website, "ThingLink interactive images help students develop 21st century skills and enrich their enthusiasm for learning. Teachers can use ThingLink images as interactive learning modules (ILMs) that activate and inspire students with creative and effective learning experiences. Our Basic (free) account provides teachers and students with the ability to store and tag 50 images at ThingLink.com." I was told about ThingLink by a friend of mine that also happens to be an awesome 2nd grade Teacher.  She did a project with her class on the life cycle of eggs and chicks.  The students created a presentation image using Google Draw and then used ThingLink to link sections of the image to informational sites about the life cycle.  If you want to find out more about her lesson using  ThingLink just visit her blog at http://mrsnolans2ndgradeowlsperch.blogspot.com/2013/03/blog-post.html or hear one of her students talk about it at http://vocaroo.com/i/s0T4JBlYwChk.  

A Look Back: Google Draw

We have been asked by several followers of the The Tech Ninja Blog  to share some of our favorite tools.  We thought that we would share some of our early posts about the tools and why we like them.  You can link to the original post by clicking here.

Greetings fellow techno geeks!  I want to talk a little about Google Draw and how it may be one of the most under utilized features in Google Drive.  The Google Draw application is really user friendly which makes it perfect for K-2 students to use for instruction.  I have already collaborated with several teachers on projects where students use this application to illustrate stories, work math problems, create tessellations, and learn shapes.  The shape tool gives you a drop down menue of shapes that include their geometric title when you hover over them with the mouse.  Shapes can be resized and rotated within the picture plane.   I thought that this would be a great tool for teaching Geometric shapes and angles.  When shapes are rotated a display shows you the degree of the angle that it is rotated.  Another feature I thought was helpful is the scribble line.  This feature allows you simply to use the mouse or track pad to free draw lines and shapes into the picture plane.  Students used this to demonstrate to their teacher how to solve a three digit addition problem and then shared it with her via the share feature within Google Drive.  If you haven't checked out Google Draw go ahead and give it a try.  I think you will find that it can add a little creative spice to your instruction!

Quilt Project Created With Google Draw

The Island of Communication, Collaboration, and Creation (IC3)

In this post I want to talk about a project I am in the process of implementing in our media center. I call it the island of communication, collaboration, and creation (IC3). I discussed this idea with the media coordinator and I asked her if it would be okay to take a section of the library and put a large hexagon table where four to five computers would be placed and used for the sole purpose of collaboration and creation. Not only did I want this spot to be a central location for students to create and collaborate but I also wanted it to be a social hub, a place where students can see other students working in what I like to call A real-world environment. I want students to be curious about what other students are creating. The key word being “CREATING”. This area is also home to our small TV studio, complete with video cameras, lighting, and green screen. Students and teachers are welcome to use this area with the understanding that it must be used for projects where students invent, innovate, deconstruct, reconstruct, and the projects should encourage collaboration between students and or between students and teachers. 

The first group to use the island worked on a project that included lessons in social studies, math, science, reading, as well as digital skills. The students were using language that consisted of vocabulary like: (what if) (my design) (lets think about this) (i don’t think that will work) (hey wait a minute lets try this) (wow I never knew that). I stood by and facilitated and offered support when needed and more than an hour passed by in a flash. The students asked if they had to stop, would they be able to come back and continue tomorrow? IMAGINE if this was what learning was like all the time. So far I am pleased with the space we have created. Hope this inspires all to THINK DIFFERENT and to BE FEARLESS!

Just an Observation

I noticed that the way I view information has been evolving right before my eyes.  We all know that when the internet first started out that it changed the way we viewed information.  I remember as a kid looking through the volumes of Encyclopedias that Mom and Dad purchased from the Encyclopedia salesman.  I thought it was awesome to see the amount of information in those books.  When websites first appeared it seemed to be pretty much the same information that was in the books only difference was it had a digital format and could be searched for more efficiently.  Later websites got more visually attractive with interesting animations and cool graphics.  Today information seems almost alive.  Some sites are interactive, linked, and constantly changing.  For example if you wanted to learn about tornados a search might lead you to a site that offers a vast range of information that would include text, sound, video, interactive activities, and opportunities to collaborate with Scientist, Storm chasers, and Meteorologist.  My encyclopedia could never do this.  I am still amazed by the evolution of information and the impact that it has had on society.  I hope that every Teacher, Student, Administrator, or anyone who wants to learn understands how powerful this new form of information is.  I never dreamed that I would be able to write an article that could be read around the world...yet here it is.  Just an observation:)

Don’t forget that besides from just following the blog you can like us on Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Thetechninjablog/111528315703424, follow us on Twitter @Tech_Ninja_Blog  and now subscribe to our YouTube channel  http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYzFJ-VbCBBNKqu5sWH8KDg. 

ThingLink

The next awesome online application I want to post about is called ThingLink.  The following description is from their website, "ThingLink interactive images help students develop 21st century skills and enrich their enthusiasm for learning. Teachers can use ThingLink images as interactive learning modules (ILMs) that activate and inspire students with creative and effective learning experiences. Our Basic (free) account provides teachers and students with the ability to store and tag 50 images at ThingLink.com." I was told about ThingLink by a friend of mine that also happens to be an awesome 2nd grade Teacher.  She did a project with her class on the life cycle of eggs and chicks.  The students created a presentation image using Google Draw and then used ThingLink to link sections of the image to informational sites about the life cycle.  If you want to find out more about her lesson using  ThingLink just visit her blog at http://mrsnolans2ndgradeowlsperch.blogspot.com/2013/03/blog-post.html or hear one of her students talk about it at http://vocaroo.com/i/s0T4JBlYwChk.  

Don’t forget that besides from just following the blog you can like us on Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Thetechninjablog/111528315703424, follow us on Twitter @Tech_Ninja_Blog  and now subscribe to our YouTube channel  http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYzFJ-VbCBBNKqu5sWH8KDg. 

Leap Motion

Ok, so I was super excited because I was all set to order two the leap motions yesterday for students to use.  I went to the leapmotion.com and they changed the website.  I started poking around looking at the new content, and I found out that the leap motion is going to be app based.  Now I can't tell you if this will be a good thing or a bad thing, and I won't until I get my hands on one to try out.  However, this did stop me from pre-ordering them.  I thought that it would be like using a wireless mouse and would work with everything, but if it won't?  Will we need to pay for apps?  Questions I wish I had the answer too.  I think that I will go ahead and contact them to see if I can get answers before its release, because regardless of what happens, this will be an important technology step that will be undertaken and I foresee them selling out.  I was just disappoint that they may not fit my needs.

Don’t forget that besides from just following the blog you can like us on Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Thetechninjablog/111528315703424, follow us on Twitter @Tech_Ninja_Blog  and now subscribe to our YouTube channel  http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYzFJ-VbCBBNKqu5sWH8KDg. 

Google Draw

Greetings fellow techno geeks!  I want to talk a little about Google Draw and how it may be one of the most under utilized features in Google Drive.  The Google Draw application is really user friendly which makes it perfect for K-2 students to use for instruction.  I have already collaborated with several teachers on projects where students use this application to illustrate stories, work math problems, create tessellations, and learn shapes.  The shape tool gives you a drop down menue of shapes that include their geometric title when you hover over them with the mouse.  Shapes can be resized and rotated within the picture plane.   I thought that this would be a great tool for teaching Geometric shapes and angles.  When shapes are rotated a display shows you the degree of the angle that it is rotated.  Another feature I thought was helpful is the scribble line.  This feature allows you simply to use the mouse or track pad to free draw lines and shapes into the picture plane.  Students used this to demonstrate to their teacher how to solve a three digit addition problem and then shared it with her via the share feature within Google Drive.  If you haven't checked out Google Draw go ahead and give it a try.  I think you will find that it can add a little creative spice to your instruction!

Quilt Project Created With Google Draw

Thin Air

Ok everyone this post is going to be a short one so pay attention.  I just took a look at the website Displair.com and I was geeking out big time.  The Displair system is a way to view a totally physically interactive display in the air.  As amazed as I was I found it difficult to find the practicality in this new technology in reference to the classroom.  I am sure that once I let this concept of manipulating imagery in thin air that some ideas will come to me, but for now go check out the website and get ya geek on.