iPods in the Classroom

http://ipodclassroom.wikispaces.com/

MSC Differentiated Learning No 7

Here are this fortnight's (and last for the term) websites to assist you with differentiating the classroom:-

General
A white paper on staffing from the USA. A very challenging and controversial paper as to how school’s could be staffed in the C21st.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/inside-school-research/2009/08/a_research_group_pitches_a_new_1.html

Will PowerPoint ever die? Not by this site. Heaps of PPT’s created by teachers for your use for free. Regular updates.
http://www.worldofteaching.com/

An impressive website for creating quizzes, surveys, tests etc- http://yacapaca.com/
There are only currently two Australian tests on there, and both relate to music-
http://yacapaca.com/py/teacher/assignment/new/step3/subject/71/0/3670/

Hot Potatoes has been around for a long time and continues to improve. Make a variety of interactive tests and activities here http://hotpot.uvic.ca/

Work in real time with your class. Don’t know how well this would work with large groups, but has potential. Here is an explanation of the site http://scriblink.com/index.jsp?act=about and to start click onto this link here-
http://scriblink.com/ You could also use this on an IWB, with class discussion and then print off a copy for student distribution. Has exciting potential!

A George Lucas sponsored site dealing with education. This video deals with M.I-
http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-immersion-enota-video

Could be useful to staff running multiple social networking sites such as twitter/facebook-
http://seesmic.com/

Music.
Find the lyrics to almost any song here- http://lyricsfly.com/
Royalty free music here- http://soundzabound.com/
A whole heap of music lessons here. A generous site in terms of resources- http://musictheory.net/

English.
Students can create a virtual book online here- http://classtools.net/education-games-php/turningPage/

This site provides videos explaining the pronunciation, meaning and context of specific words in short animated videos- http://www.wordahead.com/Home/tabid/37/Default.aspx

SOSE
Create or play the map games with an IWB here- http://www.umapper.com/

History and film- the inaccuracies of Hollywood.
http://news-info.wustl.edu/tips/page/normal/14418.html

A simulation of what it is like to work in a ‘sweat shop’ is here- www.simsweatshop.com/game/

A geography mapping game to be used on IWB. By playing the game, water is charitably added in the real world- http://www.freepoverty.com/

This site calculates where a person is located on the world’s rich list. Unfortunately the $AUD is not included, but it could provide an opportunity to also work on exchange rates- http://www.globalrichlist.com/

Design a bridge to withstand an earthquake here-
http://eduweb.com/portfolio/bridgetoclassroom/engineeringfor.html


Art.
A site that enables online drawing to occur. Could be useful for IWB- http://www.imaginationcubed.com/
This is an online canvas that maps each stroke from beginning to the end. The examples of some artists here is totally amazing. Check out this example- http://sketchfu.com/drawing/94679-i-threw-a-marble-on-the-rainbow- The website is http://sketchfu.com/

Build your wild self. Great for junior classes http://www.buildyourwildself.com/

Multimedia.
A step by step site for constructing videos for students- http://kidsvid.altec.org/

Maths.
Video guide on Maths problems can be found here- http://www.brightstorm.com/d/math

Percy Parker (no relation) has songs that deal with the Maths Time Tables. Suit Year 7’s and anyone struggling with 7X7- =http://www.percyparker.com/

Again, another site for Yr 7 Maths for use on IWB- http://www.learningclip.co.uk/

Maths Logic games are here-http://www.conceptispuzzles.com/index.aspx?uri=puzzle/calcudoku/rules

Maths worksheets that are free- http://www.ricksmath.com/

Numeracy and Literacy share this website with games for the IWB-
http://www.ictgames.com/
and
compete against other students here at http://www.tutpup.com/

Science
Science comic strips with teacher support are here- http://www.sciencecomics.uwe.ac.uk/

Songs to explain science are here- http://www.acme.com/jef/singing_science/

Junior school science experiments are here- http://www.captaincuriosity.net/

ICT
Scratch is a downloadable program that enables students to create their own games and stories. Here is an explanation of the site- http://info.scratch.mit.edu/About_Scratch

Build your own village; don’t know which area this would fit into-
http://www.bekonscot.co.uk/fun-and-games/virtual-village/

Upload your pic onto a fake magazine- http://www.magmypic.com/

PE
This site requires you to log in but has potential for PE resources-
http://www.sports-media.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage%26Itemid=1

MSC Differentiated No 6

Resources.
Below are this fortnights resources for engaging and/or differentiating your classroom.


General.
*HOT* The Differentiator.
This website enables teachers to create differentiated tasks based on a range of different. A rather difficult site to describe, best worth looking at to gain an understanding.
http://www.byrdseed.com/differentiator/

*HOT* FUSE
A new DEECD site. Acronym for Find, Use and Share quality Education resources.
https://fuse.education.vic.gov.au/default.aspx

*HOT* Glogster education.
Glogster is in simple terms creating multimedia posters online. Here is an example of one student's work:-
http://environmentalheroes.pbworks.com/Audubon2
As you can see it offers a heap of potential in being able to turn your 20th Century posters into an engaging 21st Century multi media 'poster'.
Glogster has now opened up it’s educational site at http://edu.glogster.com/ There are a number of videos that do open on our network and run through the potential for Glogster in the classroom. Here is another version of a glogster page relating to web 2.0 tools-
http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/
Here is a description of Glogster on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glogster

*HOT* Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is an excellent website relating to a wide range of topics covering science, sport, arts and human perception. Heaps of interactive activities and videos. Perfect for IWB sessions.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/

A blog opinion piece on 14 new directions in education…to agree or disagree? Also contains a number of other provocative references to trends in education.:-
http://ow.ly/jrI0

NSW Country Access Program.
A NSW website supporting regional teachers with many activities built into the site and also with external links.
http://www.cap.nsw.edu.au/default2.htm

Mind Mapping tools for senior students-
http://associatedegree.org/2009/07/27/50-useful-mind-mapping-tools-for-college-students/

This site contains a wealth of tools for teachers- http://www.4teachers.org/

Linked into this site are cool educational games for use on the IWB- http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/
I played some of these games and they are fun!

Scholastic also has opened up its USA site for free. With Amercians gearing up to return to school soon, their site has a heap of resources http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/home.jsp

Other areas.
Science
A PBS supported science website with a wide range of shockwave interactive sites suitable for IWB. Look for the page ‘You try it’.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/
The Exploratorium is an excellent website relating to a wide range of topics covering science, sport, arts and human perception. Heaps of interactive activities and videos. Perfect for IWB sessions.

Science/ Health/ PE
http://www.histology-world.com/
More suited for VCE, has heaps of information relating human anatomy including quizzes and interactive games.

Geography.
Some add ons to Google Earth 5.0.
http://www.planetinaction.com/index.htm

Maths
A pdf here on using concept maps in the classroom http://www.vanides2.com/Publications/NSTA-Science-Scope/UsingConceptMaps-ScienceScope(summer2005).pdf
Maths is fun here http://www.mathisfun.com/
Maths ‘flash cards’ here http://www.thegreatmartinicompany.com/

Multimedia
Submit or view kid friendly videos from around the world http://www.meetmeatthecorner.org/
A range of videos relating to skills, magic, fun etc are here- http://www.activitytv.com/default.aspx
360 degree photos of a range of events are available here http://www.panoramas.dk/

English
http://www.literaturecircles.com/
is a support site for student led discussions about books.

Technology
Lego robots and support resources are here at this wiki-
http://midlink-robotics.wikispaces.com/

Arts
Hundreds of ideas regarding art are here- http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/artsedge.html

Music
A comprehensive site relating to eras of music
http://www.essentialsofmusic.com/

These links are also available on line at http://diffmoos.blogspot.com/

No comments last fortnight so the Freddo’s were happy; see how we go this fortnight for the first three comments get a chocky frog.

MSC Differentiated No 5

MSC Differentiation Email No 5
Monday August 3rd- Monday August 17th.

Links
How do I use these links?
These links are added for use by your students and by yourselves. Many are effective tools for IWB’s or offer engaging activities or reflect students’ multi intelligences.

Intel
Intel continues to add more exciting classroom resources to their website.
http://www.intel.com/cd/corporate/education/apac/eng/au/teach/teach3/383847.htm

Collecta
Is a real time search engine that draws information from Web 2.0 sites such as Twitter, blogs and the like. Launched just recently it offers much potential for users looking for the most up to date references from around Web 2.0.
http://collecta.com/

Humantites-Maths/Statistics.
http://www.gapminder.org/downloads/
Gapminder works to increase understanding of statistics and other information about social, economic and environmental development at local, national and global levels. ‘Dollar Street’ download offers some sobering images of what life is like on $1 per day in Africa.

History
http://www.historywiz.com/index.html
Numerous pages of primary sources and images from a wide range of eras.

Museum Box http://museumbox.e2bn.org/index.php
This site provides the tools for you to build up an argument or description of an event, person or historical period by placing items in a virtual box. What items, for example, would you put in a box to describe your life; the life of a Victorian Servant or Roman soldier; or to show that slavery was wrong and unnecessary? You can display anything from a text file to a movie. You can also view and comment on the museum boxes submitted by others

Art
http://www.artisancam.org.uk/pages/activities/zone/index.php
A range of online games and activities relating to art and photography. Could have potential in a number of subjects in particular the page relating to comics
http://www.artisancam.org.uk/flashapps/superactioncomicmaker/index.php?PHPSESSID=bd504af6ced601e9cadd9e2a043880a8

http://bighugelabs.com/
Tons of cool tools here. Have students create their own motivational posters, dvd-cd covers, ‘Warholesque’ pictures.

Image manipulation tools
http://www.dumpr.net/
Has a range of tools that enable images to be manipulated in many different ways. A good site for making presentations look anything but standard.

Business Studies
A Californian jelly bean factory has created an online virtual field trip of their factory.
http://www.jellybelly.com/Virtual_Tour/virtual_tour.aspx

Science
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/
A range of online experiments that use the shockwave platform.

Within this site is a simple explanation of tectonics that could be useful for Science and Geography-
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/tectonics/#

A range of famous scientists can be found here-
http://www.clovisusd.k12.ca.us/learn/subjectlinks/science/famous.htm

English
Get students to design their own trading cards based on their own imaginative stories
http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/trading_cards/

PowerPoint games
A number of templates for creating classroom quizzes/home group activities based on popular tv quiz shows. http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/PPT-games/

Text into speech
http://vozme.com/index.php?lang=en Type in text and turn into voice and save as an mp3. Also look closely at the additional links that enable web speech activation. A similar program is here http://www.readthewords.com/


BookR
Students (or yourselves) can create online books about any topic. Here is the archive of examples http://www.pimpampum.net/bookr/archive.php
To create your own bookr click here http://www.pimpampum.net/bookr/

Looking for collaborative projects outside of Australia? Check out this site-
http://onlineproj4tchrs.ning.com/

Geography
A game role play situation where students have the opportunity to reduce the effects of disaster. http://www.stopdisastersgame.org/en/home.html
Strongly recommended that you familiarise yourself with the game before having students start it. The games range from easy to difficult.

Google Earth
Has it’s own blog that has heaps of ideas about using Google Earth in your classroom. Google Earth 5.0 download now has the capacity to take you to the moon and see a simulation of the Apollo 11 Landing site. This blog contains lots of information regarding Google Earth-
http://gearthblog.com/

Music
A website that deals with educational rap songs for a range of CPA’s.
http://www.educationalrap.com/music
Here is a textual example of maths rap relating to fractions and decimals-
http://www.educationalrap.com/115/fractions-and-decimals.html
Albums are not free, but can be purchased via iTunes at US$. The Maths album via iTunes comes with PDF lesson support and is advertised on the website at $US 19.00.

Maths
The Maths tool chest would suit the junior levels especially on an IWB. A range of different Maths exercises can be found here:-
http://macmillanmh.com/math/mathtoolchest/mtc_online/
Decimal squares has a wide range of interactive maths games-
http://www.decimalsquares.com/dsGames/
And a site that has a lot of Maths interactive IWB or workbook activities can be found here:-
http://www.mathebook.net/

and if you still don’t get where technology is taking us try this site for yourself with heaps of up to date information on Web2.0 and other trends
http://mashable.com/

MSC Differentation No 4

GENERAL SITES-
An interesting article and activities for adult learners in the work place and M.I are available here http://ow.ly/15HFcg

PEEL- Project for enhancing effective learning
PEEL has been around for many years now. Their website is at http://www.peelweb.org/ We have a number of PEEL seeds books with classroom ideas for differentiated learning available in the library. Their annual conference is coming up on Monday August 24th and 25th. Details are on the website.

Quizlet enables teachers to create online flash cards for students to complete. A wide range of examples are available at their website, with a wide range of Maths examples. http://quizlet.com/

NASA-EClips contains numerous mini video clips on a range of science, engineering, technological and maths subjects. http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/nasaeclips/index.html

Display boards.
Needing fresh ideas for classroom noticeboards in your CPA? This site has hundreds of examples from around the world http://www.displayphotos.co.uk/main.php?g2_itemId=25
An example of an Ancient Egyptian board is here http://www.displayphotos.co.uk/main.php?g2_itemId=446
You could have students photo and upload the images to the site.

Simply Box
An interesting way of gathering and sharing information gathered from different websites. Create boxes for students or have them create them for you. http://simplybox.com/index/education

CPA SPECIFIC
ART
Applying M.I in the Art classroom is here http://www.happychild.org.uk/acc/tpr/features/0206sams.htm

This site enables a variety of functions that can be applied to photographs-
http://www.picture2life.com/


ENGLISH
http://www.spellingcity.com/
is a fun based site that offers students the opportunity to learn online spelling words. Contains online spelling puzzles and printable worksheets.

SOSE/History
Use primary sources to create multimedia stories http://www.primaryaccess.org/

Make timelines on the web about any topic. Can be shared and added to:-
http://www.ourstory.com/

P.E
www.kinovea.org/en/ is free software that enables you to film and analyse athlete’s physical actions.

SCIENCE
www.siemensscienceday.com/ a wealth of science tools for use here in Year 7.

A virtual microscope is found here http://virtual.itg.uiuc.edu/

MATHS
http://labyrinth.thinkport.org/www/educators/about/game.php is an online interactive game for students. Maybe too involved, but worth a look.

http://www.plu.edu/~heathdj/java/
A wide range of applications for serious Maths students.

THE ENVIRONMENT
A new updated green website at ‘Discovery’ with lesson plans, videos, puzzles and extension tasks.
www.thinkgreen.com/teachers

Differentation and ICT

This site http://www.theapple.com/benefits/articles/8484-using-technology-to-differentiate-instruction has a number of sites that deal with differentation using ICT. Worth a look.

No3 MSC Differentiation Update

No3 MSC Update

It’s a busy time of the term with reports so I have shortened down this fortnight’s weblinks. Hopefully they will provide you with some ideas for your differentiated classroom next semester!



The Best Practice site presents 8 pieces of the puzzle that together enable the creation of a differentiated classroom. Each piece contains best practices/instructional approaches that encourage the development of active, engaged, student-centered classrooms. Over 25 best practices are highlighted.

http://www.saskschools.ca/curr_content/bestpractice/



Curriki is an online environment created to support the development and free distribution of world-class educational materials to anyone who needs them. This site is a combination of 'curriculum' and 'wiki' which is the technology we're using to make education universally accessible.

http://www.curriki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Main/



Edmodo is an education alternative to twitter and is located at http://www.edmodo.com/

Their website promotes a ‘safe and private’ alternative from twitter. Has exciting potential to capitalise on the growth of twitter without the hassle of inappropriate material-contacts.



Ideas to inspire is a collection of collaborative presentations, which offer a large number of ideas for engaging lesson activities. They are the result of the collaboration of teachers from all around the world. http://www.ideastoinspire.co.uk/



Literacy tool- Wordle is a tool for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like.You can print them out, or save them to the Wordle gallery to share with your friends. http://www.wordle.net/

diffMOOS

The first post. diffMOOS is about Differentiation at MSC.
More to follow....