Thing 28: Emerging Tech: Scanning the Horizon

My comments and connections to the readings:
"10 technologies that will change the world in the next 10 years" I never thought about how many devices are now connected all the time in my house- phones, computer, Ipad, laptops, DVD player, PS3..  Most I use daily.

School library article - loved the ideas - wish I had a more flexible schedule, but I am a break for teachers so my days are fixed with not much flex time.

Subtext looks very useful.  Thinking about my 6th graders about to read Dragonwings by Yep.  It  will be a challenge for many of them.  If they had access to read it on an Ipad with teacher comments and could put in notes/observations electronically instead of using many posty notes, that might be more engaging for some of the readers who struggle.  I see that it has text to speech - great for struggling readers - see and hear the text at the same time.  I know this feature is very useful when I use it in online databases like World Book Online.

A reoccurring theme seems to be maker spaces in libraries.  I have a lot of questions about this - mostly funding and time - which seems to also be a theme that is reoccurring in schools.  Kids love hands on learning.  I think for it to work in a an elementary setting there would have to be collaboration with the classroom teacher and focused on a topic.  I find when I offer less structured activities such as reading to a stuffed animal to practice fluency for the younger grades, it quickly turns to play time.  Play time is important, but with so many of my students struggling with reading and writing, I would like to see maker spaces focused.  Maybe a project with a writing piece at the end. 

Wish I could have read the infograhic and the SLJ article without giving them my FaceBook info.

I read the article "On teens, their phones & shifting communications landscapes (new from Pew)".  It broke down social media use by race/ethnic group and by income level, but didn't seem to offer any insight as to why there were differences. The issue isn't access to wifi or cell service, so what are the differences attributed to?

Things 17 & 27: DIY – You Pick!

My  third graders were doing a unit on animal research - worms.  We started with Diary of a Worm by Cronin. Discussed fiction vs nonfiction and then moved to nonfiction books about worms and taking notes. I wanted to integrate technology for them.  PowerPoint would be a little challenging for this crowd, so I used Kathy Shrock's site to try and find another kind of  online tool for my students to use.  I found Popplet - a graphic organizer/mind map tool.  It has a free trial version and works on a PC. We used the note sheets they had done the week before and input them into Popplet.  What worked so well for my students was the fact that they could also freehand draw in the program. The program was easy to use and follow with minimal directions and the students did great!  It is very user friendly.  Many times the students get more into changing the fonts and colors rather than their content, and this app had some choices, but not too many to get overwhelmed.  Here is one student's work.  I love the product and it has a school license option.