Google Forms X iPod Touch / iPhone

Woo Hoo!  I just made my first self grading quiz using google forms.  Now if I could only get a few iPod Touch for my class to do this all the time.

Click HERE for the quiz. - It is only 3 questions, just as a test.

I have used google forms in the past to make a registration form and to collect data from my students.  I had always thought about using it as a quiz / testing tool, but had no experience using formulas on spread sheets.  I found this screencast that explained step by step how to make the quiz self grading.


I have a class of 16 U.S. History I Honors students that I would like to try to implement this quizzing method with.  Time to write a great grant proposal to get a few iPod Touch for my classroom.

QR Codes X iPod Touch = Bridge from paper to web = IMPOSSIBLE, Oh well.

Unfortunately, I'm a complete moron.  An iPod Touch doesn't have a camera, I don't own one and just assumed it did.  There have been rumors through various media outlets that suspect the 4th generation iPod Touch will have a camera, which means my original idea would work.  But, until an iPod Touch with a camera is released, this plan (and grant proposal) will have to be put on hold.  Oh well...

I learned about QR Codes during the summer and have been trying to figure out how to integrate them into my history class since then. For those who haven't heard of QR Codes yet, think of them as condensed bar codes (like in the grocery store), that can be embedded with any information you want. A QR Code can be easily generated (google search "QR Code Generator") and then the creator can decide what website, youtube video, text, google document...is embedded in the code. The code can then be printed out or placed on a website / blog.  The QR Code above is embedded with this blog's URL.

But how do you extract the information?

Simple. Many cell phones are now being equipped with QR Code readers, and there are a number of programs available (most for free) that can be downloaded to a cell phone. Another alternative is to use an iphone or ipod touch. Both the iphone and ipod touch can be equipped with a number of applications (ranging from free to 1.99) that allow QR Codes to be scanned and extracted. Once scanned by a cell / iphone / ipod touch, the web browser on the device will automatically be pointed to the information embedded in the code.

I am leaning towards implementing QR Codes with the ipod touch because of their built in wi-fi connectivity, which eliminates the need for a web browsing plan needed when using a call phone to scan a code.  All that is needed is a wireless router in a classroom (I know this is easier said than done...I'm trying to figure out how to get one in my room)

Now the important part...

Applications to Teaching:
QR Code Gallery - Fill your classroom with pictures, maps, political cartoons, portraits and works of art, all with tiny QR Codes that point to video, websites, speeches...
QR Code Textbook - The teacher or students could create a virtual textbook by creating content (blogs, websites) or pointing the QR Code to existing content that would enrich the static material on paper.  This has become my project over winter break.  I am going to create a supplemental textbook with the name of the topic and four QR Codes on each page.
QR Code Homework: Have students submit homework through a QR Code.  They could complete the homework on a google doc, publish the doc and then embed the URL in the QR Code.
QR Code Test: Questions on a test can be QR Codes, that when scanned point to questions, that can then be answered on the test.  This method could eliminate cheating because students would have no idea what question their classmate is working on at that time.

QR Code Generators:
http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
http://www.qrstuff.com/


These are just the beginning of the possibilities.  I will create a presentation that includes these four ideas and some new ones...visit back for the new post and presentation!

Iste Siglit Fall Newsletter X embedit.in

Just came across www.embedit.in, which seems like an amazing tool that allows any type of document to be embedded in a website / blog. My first attempt is an article that I recently had in the Iste Siglit Fall Newsletter. Check out the results and start embedding!

Twitter X TweetDeck X MassCue...oops, Edmodo

Colonial Themes via Twitter

Bacon's Rebellion #Mrkulo

Wiimote IWB Presentation for MassCue

Connecting a wiimote to a computer:


Example of a PDF Document with annotations through Jarnal
Lincoln With Annotations

Wiimote IWB Software Websites:
Johnny Lee
Boon Jin's Smoothboard 1.6
Mac Version

Helpful Wiimote Websites:
Wiimote Project
Penteractive IR Pens
WiiTeachers

Iste Siglit Fall Newsletter

The Fall Iste Siglit Newsletter is out and I was fortunate enough to contribute an article about using cell phones in class (page 10-11).  The ideas are similar to my appearance on PRI's The World Technology Podcast from this summer.



Click HERE for a pdf version of the newsletter.

Triptico "Plot It" X American Revolution

Today was a great class in room 65.  While preparing to write a paper about the responsibility & causes of the American Revolution, I distributed a list of 30 events that had been covered in the unit.  For homework, students explained each event and plotted the event on a chart (seen below).  The next day, using Triptico's "Plot It" and a Wiimote IWB, I had students come to the board, grab the idea and drag it to where they thought it should go on the chart.  Each student had to defend their decision.  The best part of the activity was hearing the reaction of the class as each idea was placed by a classmate.  There were shouts of agreement, frustration and disagreement from the crowd.  The class was packed with discussion and was very fast moving...teaching doesn't get any better than this.

Here is what the final chart ended up looking like.  It doesn't do justice to the interaction the activity created!

Along the X axis: British Responsibility, Colonists Responsibility
Along the Y axis: Caused Revolution, Did not cause Revolution

Edmodo X Google Docs

I have been using Edmodo for a few weeks (after a disastrous attempt at using twitter) and the feedback has been nothing but positive, there have been no technical issues and I just like the layout of the platform.

My U.S. History I Honors students are going to be writing papers, using Google Docs, about the causes and responsibility of the American Revolution.  I have been using Google Docs for a few years, but always found it time consuming because I would look through all of the student documents when they were writing.  By adding Edmodo to the equation, students can now ask for help, ask me to look at their document, post questions to the class and collaborate via a backchannel discussion with the entire class, while they are writing their paper.  I can't wait to see the discussion and  results.

Triptico Plot IT X Causes of the American Revolution X Wiimote IWB

Being named "The History 2.0 Classroom", I figured I should have some history specific examples of technology integration...here goes.

Tripitico offers great interactive web tools, one of my favorites is Triptico Plot It.  I used this tool as a graphic organizer for a paper my U.S. History I Honors class is going to write about the causes of the American Revolution.

As seen in the picture below, along the X axis there is "colonists responsibility" & "British responsibility", along the Y axis is "caused revolution" & "did not cause revolution".  The purpose of using Plot It, is to create class discussion based on more than the factual information, but a higher order discussion based on interpretation, analysis and synthesis of small ideas into bigger ones.

The discussion was active, students debated their points of view and could not often settle on a decision, which is exactly what I was hoping for.  As a graphic organizer, they can now easily and visually identify what topics they will cover in their paper and they have a visual representation of their thesis statement.

This application works best of course with an interactive whiteboard...mine being the wiimote version.

*A list of 30 terms, people, events & ideas were included in the class discussion, which took two days.*

Annotation Madness!

Masscue is coming up in a few weeks, which means I really need to tighten up my two sessions (wiimote iwb & twitter / tweetdeck).

To bulk up the Wiimote IWB session I have been looking into various screen annotation programs and have come across a few that I like.

1. Jarnal - I like this one the best because the annotations made "stick" to the document and aren't simply a layer on top of the screen.  PDF files can be opened as a new background in Jarnal (or picture files), can then be written on and then the notations can be saved for future reference.  If all of your files are stored as word documents they must be converted to PDF in order to be opened up as a background in Jarnal.
Math Application: Open up a new background of graph paper & use a IWB program to graph equations.
Elementary School Application: Open the lined paper background to have students work on handwriting.

2.  ScreenMarker - This is a great option for making notations right onto your desktop, or any other type of document.  The only shortfall is that the notations don't "stick" to a multi page document as it is scrolled through.  However, it is very easy to use with a limited toolbar of options: pen, line, square, circle, eraser.

3. Annotate Pro - Another viable option, but the trial period only lasts 30 days...

4. Virtual Board - Similar to ScreenMarker, but with a number of increased options.  The only downfall, VirtualBoard essentially freezes your computer once the file is opened.  Therefore, you can't navigate from one program to the next with virtualboard running, which is possible when using screenmarker.