SignUp Genius

SignUp Genius is a great web 2.0 tool that allows you to sign up for parties and volunteers.  We have used this program several times with a lot of success!  It is a great way to communicate and organize events when you want to speak to several people at the same time.  Once participants schedule either a time or what they will bring for a party, others will be notified via e-mail and the website is updated to avoid duplications.

SignUp Genius Screen Shot 

http://www.signupgenius.com/ 

Jan 25 - Robert Burns Day

Kirsty Pattison, Director of Education at the Burns Museum in Alloway, Scotland, shared a presentation using Skype with Sun Valley Elementary.  Students learned about where Robert Burns lived, Brig a Doon (bridge over the river Doon), his poetry, and how he supported America during their war with England. 

Our presentation began with Andrea Jones, Pipe Major with Loch Norman Pipe Band, playing the bagpipes.  This was quickly followed by a lively performance of Loch Lomond by our music department and five fourth grade students.  Later, fifth grade students recited the poem The Sair Finger by Walter Wingate and the song Ye Banks and Braces O'Bonnie Doon by Robert Burns.  After Ms. Pattison’s presentation, students left hearing the bagpipes by Ms. Jones.

Our cafeteria gave the students a “taste of Scotland” by preparing a Scottish lunch of Shepherd’s Pie, steamed cabbage, and scones.  Art, Music, Spanish, and our Media Center also prepared students for the Robert Burns program today by integrating lessons.

This entire presentation was preformed for our 5th grade team in our media center and shared school wide using our broadcast channel.  

A few screen shots of our Robert Burns Celebration.

ePals

I am very new to the international school arena (e.g. pen pals, etc.).  Recently our school system has required all schools to become more globally aware.  Using our system’s “Global Schools Criteria” sheet, schools are ranked on their level of global awareness.  The points range from 25 to 75 or more.  It is our school’s goal to become an International School which means we must earn more than 75 points on this scale.  One of the criteria involves our school procuring different international sister schools.  I have to admit, this whole process has really made me think hard about how to do such a thing.  At first I tried good “old fashioned” contacts which resulted in good interviews but left us high and dry with finding different sister schools.  This process continued until I came across ePals. 

ePals is a great portal for international schools to meet, develop lesson plans, or simply just get to know people from around the world.  They encourage using the ePals e-mail that is very secure and monitors for inappropriate material.  You can also simply write letters back and forth.  Our school’s goal is to use e-mail and Skype whenever we get the chance. 

If you are interested in ePals, they can be located at:  http://www.epals.com/

ePals: Global Community Home Page

Epals tutorial 2

Sing with Olive

Sing with Olive sold by: Swag Soft LLP has designed an educational App that will help children explore nursery rhymes and “fix” language-related problems they come across in a fun a musical way.  Designed by the writers of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Dora the Explorer your child is bound to have fun manipulating this exciting App that work on:  iPhone, iPad, iPod, and iPhones. This App only costs $0.99 for iPod and iPhone.  An HD version is available for iPad for $2.99. To view in iTunes and purchase go to:  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sing-with-olive/id394351677?mt=8#.

Kindergarten NCSCOS:  2.02 Demonstrate familiarity with a variety of types of books and selections (e.g., picture books, caption books, short informational texts, nursery rhymes, word plays/finger plays, puppet plays, reenactments of familiar stories).

http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/languagearts/scos/2004/15gradek

iPhone Screenshots

Information and photos:  http://www.lunchboxreviews.com/app/sing-with-olive

Video Links:

Part 1/2 Letter C Olive and the Rhyme Rescue Crew 

Part 2/2 Letter C Olive and the Rhyme Rescue Crew

Do you know the differenece between digital literacy and ICT?

“Literacy includes the ability to read and interpret media (text, sound, images), to reproduce data and images through digital manipulation, and to evaluate and apply new knowledge gained from digital environments.”  (Educause Quarterly)

“When people think of the term ‘literacy,’ what generally springs to mind is reading and writing, speaking and listening . . . Similarly, the term ‘text’ is beginning to be understood as any form of expression or communication in fixed and tangible form[s].” (Digital and Media Literacy a Plan of Action pp. 16-17)

Information Communications Technology focuses on “materials” (e.g. software, hardware, and Internet).  (Frontline: Digital Nation)

Digital literacy is more of a verb whereas ICT is more of a noun.  ICT takes a human to make netiquette decisions when collaborating using web 2.0 tools that are quickly evolving into web 3.0 environments or Semantic Web.  Whatever the case, humans are the final decision makers and that is where digital literacy comes in.    

ICT supports digital literacy by providing 21^st Century resources to stakeholders who want to expand and explore their forms of expression and communication skills.

ICT directly impacts all content areas in our NCSCOS by empowering students with resources that they find interesting while expanding their expression and communication skills.  This becomes clearer as you notice the shift from print to non-print and production/presentation resources typically found in classrooms across the country.  (http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/)  This is also evident as you view the “21^st Century Tools” in the ICT Literacy Maps.

Digital literacy does not replace information literacy.  Digital literacy is a subset of information literacy.  Digital may be web-based, video or audio-based where informational can be from anywhere.  Some educators may prefer the term “digital” to information because it may sound more in tuned with 21^st Century standards.  For example, “[t]o fulfill the promise of digital citizenship, Americans must acquire multimedia communication skills.”  One or two educators cannot champion this movement.  It requires full participation by all stakeholders.  (Digital and Media Literacy a Plan of Action p. vii) 

Digital literacy and ICT are important for teachers and students because, “[t]o be effective in the 21st century, citizens and workers must be able to exhibit a range of functional and critical thinking skills related to information, media and technology.” (Partnership for 21^st Century Skills)