Recent Changes

1. What are the documented uses and benefits of this resource?
2. Post a link to at least on one article, essay, or web-based paper that provides classroom examples, best practices, or research about the use of this technology. Include a brief one-paragraph summary of the information contained in the article, essay, or web-based paper.
The main use and benefit from this resource is that it encourages students to become more motivated when writing. Writing is always a difficult subject for students because they struggle having to write a multi-paragraph essay on a topic they may not be interested in. This website allows for students to create their essay in story format by typing it into an "online book" and adding photos to make it more story-like. This allows for students to be more creative and turn writing into a fun and interesting subject.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/home/887175-312/kids_tell_the_first_lady.html.csp -This article provides an example of a student creating a story for the First Lady of the United States. It explains how she created her story and why, and the effects it had.
Courtney
The documented uses for this technology, "Google Docs" is to allow for collaboration among students and teachers, easier creation for assessments, such as papers and presentations, and faster feedback from teachers to students or students to teachers. It is a great resource because it is quick and easy! It is not time consuming and you can use this technology at home if you have access to the internet.
http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/ This website provides internet users with a link to “Google Docs”

Students will need to visit this site and create a free account before use!
Jessica :)
Flashcard Machine was very easy to use. Students will first need to create an account. They will then recieve an e-mail confirmation before being able to do anything else for those definitions..
Students will then need to create a set of terms. I would give students a set of terms. I would instruct them to find definitions of their own and then create slang. For example, the term Alien & Sedition Act students could use "go home & shut up." Since the act was about citizens not speaking out against the government and then immigrants being sent home who did speak out. I would then encourage my students to find images that went along with the term or to create a digital one of their own.
Once on the website, students would be able to enter each term one by and can even leave the defintion blank to come back later. Once the whole set is complete students will save the whole set and add images where appriopriate.
Once done, students can study multiple sets and they can also print if they so choose.

1. What are the documented uses and benefits of this resource?
2. Post a link to at least on one article, essay, or web-based paper that provides classroom examples, best practices, or research about the use of this technology. Include a brief one-paragraph summary of the information contained in the article, essay, or web-based paper.
Document Uses and Benefits:
My resource is using a student book publishing website. The main use and benefit of this website is that it helps students find motivation for writing, and makes this fun and easy for them. Writing is always a hard subject to cover because many students find it boring and difficult to have to write multi-paragraph stories. This website helps ease the writing process and help writing become a more liked subject.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/home/887175-312/kids_tell_the_first_lady.html.csp This website gives an example of how a student used her Tikatok to create a story as well as more information on how to create your own story.
Courtney
The documented uses for this technology, "Google Docs" is to allow for collaboration among students and teachers, easier creation for assessments, such as papers and presentations, and faster feedback from teachers to students or students to teachers. It is a great resource because it is quick and easy! It is not time consuming and you can use this technology at home if you have access to the internet.
http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/ This website provides internet users with a link to “Google Docs”
Katie
http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=6&hid=14&sid=534d493c-fa82-4574-a457-608adcba7722%40sessionmgr15
I found this article on the Walden Library. I sometimes think that flashcards are an old fashioned idea. However, it was nice to read that someone had done research to prove the validity of the use of flashcards and that using an electronic version are better. This article advocated for the items that the Flashcard Machine has. For example, students can add images and sound. Also, students can added sets already created and research other sets of flashcard created by others. This last step can help students with terms they may be having difficulty with.
Flashcard Machine is a 21st Century Technology because it gives students access to information from a various of resource all on one central website. It also takes an old fashioned idea and brings it into the 21st Century with the use of the internet and uploads audio and visual resources.
Marsha
The uses for Fact Monster are first and foremost a wonderful resource for student research. The site serves as an almanac, dictionary, and thesaurus in one easy to use place for students, teachers, and parents. In addition, one of its major benefits is a homework center which helps students with specific homework skills. It is a wonderful and beneficial site because it provides all the resources a student needs for research, presentations, or paper writing into one place. Its games and interactive activities also make this site fun, and we know how important it is to make learning fun!

1. What is it and how do I use it?
2. Provide a description of a specific technology that supports 21st century skills. Include the basic knowledge and steps necessary to begin using this technology.
"Tikatok"- Student books online
This website supports 21st century skills because it encourages students to use technology to further their education. Students are creating their own original stories, or specific ones based on the teacher's assignment, adding their own pictures, and publishing their own stories.
The steps are very basic and simple.
1. Teacher registers for a free account
2. Students create stories online (it shows them exactly where they need to type on each page)
3. Click the button to publish stories - either through print or web.
Courtney
The technology I found and will elaborate on is “Google Docs.” This technology resource allows teachers and students to create and collaborate on assessments and ideas. In order to use this tool you must create a Google account. Then, click on “Google Docs” located in your Gmail Account. Students also have to create a Google account. This technology allows students to create, collaborate, and share PowerPoint presentations, word documents, and so much more. This 21st tool allows teachers and students to work together to create effective measurements of assessment. It allows students to work together to create PowerPoints,word documents, spreadsheets, forms, and drawings. An individual must have basic computer and typing skills to use this technology.
The steps necessary to begin using this technology is as follows:

My resource is using a student book publishing website. The main use and benefit of this website is that it helps students find motivation for writing, and makes this fun and easy for them. Writing is always a hard subject to cover because many students find it boring and difficult to have to write multi-paragraph stories. This website helps ease the writing process and help writing become a more liked subject.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/home/887175-312/kids_tell_the_first_lady.html.csp This website gives an example of how a student used her Tikatok to create a story as well as more information on how to create your own story.
Courtney
The documented uses for this technology, "Google Docs" is to allow for collaboration among students and teachers, easier creation for assessments, such as papers and presentations, and faster feedback from teachers to students or students to teachers. It is a great resource because it is quick and easy! It is not time consuming and you can use this technology at home if you have access to the internet.
http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/ This website provides internet users with a link to “Google Docs”

1. What are the documented uses and benefits of this resource?
2. Post a link to at least on one article, essay, or web-based paper that provides classroom examples, best practices, or research about the use of this technology. Include a brief one-paragraph summary of the information contained in the article, essay, or web-based paper.
Document Uses and Benefits:
My resource is using a student book publishing website. The main use and benefit of this website is that it helps students find motivation for writing, and makes this fun and easy for them. Writing is always a hard subject to cover because many students find it boring and difficult to have to write multi-paragraph stories. This website helps ease the writing process and help writing become a more liked subject.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/home/887175-312/kids_tell_the_first_lady.html.csp This website gives an example of how a student used her Tikatok to create a story as well as more information on how to create your own story.
The documented uses for this technology, "Google Docs" is to allow for collaboration among students and teachers, easier creation for assessments, such as papers and presentations, and faster feedback from teachers to students or students to teachers. It is a great resource because it is quick and easy! It is not time consuming and you can use this technology at home if you have access to the internet.
http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/ This website provides internet users with a link to “Google Docs”

Replacement Ideas:
I have used many forms of technology within my classrooms. I have used gmail accounts where students completed work on the computer and would turn it in through their Gmail account for grading. I have used the Promethean Boards and Activ Slates for students to become more interactive with the lessons. I wanted to research a new idea for this so that I could find new and exciting tools to use in the classroom. I found a website that allows students to create their own books online. They are able to type in their story and include pictures to go with the story. Once they are done, their story can be shared through the web or printed and bound together. It does cost money if students were to try this at home, but there is an option for teachers to register for a free account, and work that each student does on a school computer can be shared through the web for free. This would encourage students to write more because they have a chance to publish their own book, and students are always more excited to do an activity when it is on the computer. Students would still have to use the writing skills they are learning about, but this is a much more entertaining way to practice writing skills than to just write with a paper and pencil! I plan on implementing this into my classroom as soon as possible!
http://www.tikatok.com/classroom
Courtney
Here are a few ideas for replacement ideas:

How might this resource replace outdated elements and/or provide a more engaging and motivating learning experience?
Provide an explanation of the kinds of outmoded practices this technology might replace.
Replacement Ideas:
I have used many forms of technology within my classrooms. I have used gmail accounts where students completed work on the computer and would turn it in through their Gmail account for grading. I have used the Promethean Boards and Activ Slates for students to become more interactive with the lessons. I wanted to research a new idea for this so that I could find new and exciting tools to use in the classroom. I found a website that allows students to create their own books online. They are able to type in their story and include pictures to go with the story. Once they are done, their story can be shared through the web or printed and bound together. It does cost money if students were to try this at home, but there is an option for teachers to register for a free account, and work that each student does on a school computer can be shared through the web for free. This would encourage students to write more because they have a chance to publish their own book, and students are always more excited to do an activity when it is on the computer. Students would still have to use the writing skills they are learning about, but this is a much more entertaining way to practice writing skills than to just write with a paper and pencil! I plan on implementing this into my classroom as soon as possible!
Courtney
Here are a few ideas for replacement ideas:
During my research I came across a couple of great ideas for new replacement ideas using 21st century tools. For example, the first great technology tool I found was a part of Gmail. In order to get to this tool you must type in Google and create an account. This tool is great, however, in order to use this tool you must become a member of Google, which includes e-mail. Once, you created an account you will have access to "Google Docs", which allows students to create, collaborate, and share PowerPoint presentations, word documents, and so much more. The days of needing Microsoft PowerPoint on your computer is over. However, once again, students also have to create an account. After the students created an account they can use their Gmail and Google docs to send their teacher their work. The teacher receives their documents/presentations and can provide feedback to the students, all without even being in the same room! It is a wonderful tool that incorporates the use of technology and can replace outmoded practices of paper and pen communication. It will provide faster feedback to students and allow students to send teachers their work at home. I tried this with my students and they loved it. It captured my student’s attention and provided them the opportunity to create their own work using technology instead of paper and pen!

http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/factmonster/ideas.shtml
This article from Education World provides ideas for using Fact Monster in the classroom. This article primarily focuses on a hunt activity component of Fact Monster. Each week, there are two new hunt activities that include five multiple choice questions on a specific theme. The purpose of these hunt activities are to help students develop research skills, build cultural literacy, practice test-taking skills, and learn to skim for information. This practice is especially important because these are the skills utilized in standardized testing. This article gives ideas on how to incorporate these hunts into your lesson plans. The ideas given are an independent computer learning center, use in your school’s technology center, and finally as a differentiated challenge for gifted students.
Jessica :)

http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=6&hid=14&sid=534d493c-fa82-4574-a457-608adcba7722%40sessionmgr15
Marsha
learning fun! http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/factmonster/ideas.shtml This
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/factmonster/ideas.shtml
This article from