Sturch's Second Grade Stars

Good evening everyone!

Just wanted to take a quick moment and introduce my second blog.....Sturch's Second Grade Stars!  I have been a teacher for 16 great years (but I'm still only 21...hee hee) but this will be my first venture in second grade.  If you have a great sense of humor, come follow me on this journey.  This new blog will be for fellow teachers, students, and parents!  All are welcome here....and there. 

QR Codes

Know what this is? This is the QR code for my blog! Many of us have QR readers installed on our smartphones. Kaywa is a site that gives you the ability to create QR codes for yourself. What is the application for education? Well, that depends on your creativity!

A coworker of mine has created a QR code and posted it on her weekly newsletter. The QR code links parents to her classroom website. I have also seen educators use QR codes to create review sheets for students. You would have to have the available technology for your students, but it creates an interesting twist for students!

Here is a fantastic post from "Free Technology for Teachers" that explains more! Have fun!

http://qrcode.kaywa.com

YouTube SearchOn

I just recently stumbled across an easy way to create videos on YouTube. Visit http://www.youtube.com/searchon and create short videos for your class. It is basically a video of an internet search. You are given six search boxes that connect with Google and you can choose to display a web search, maps, images, etc. When you are satisfied with the content, you can add music, preview and upload your video to YouTube.

How is this relevant for the classroom? Well, first of all, it's fun. It would be a fantastic way to differentiate the process or product for a classroom assignment. It is a great first step for teachers just beginning to integrate technology into the classroom. You can easily add the video to your classroom website or blog! It could even be used as a tool to aid communication with parents.

I'm very sleepy this morning since my crazy puppy woke me up at a ridiculously early time this morning. After my coffee kicks in, I plan to play with the tool more!

Cam Scanner for Android

CamScanner is an app for Android phone users that turns your phone into a document scanner. This tool is a lifesaver! The best part is it's free! Use your phone to take a picture of the document. The app crops and enhances the image. You can save the image as .pdf and email or upload to the Internet. The app also works with Evernote and Dropbox.

Uses for education: Scan documents for absent students and email the documents to parents!
Scan and save professional development flyers. Upload them to Dropbox
and save space in your classroom!

Try CamScanner on your Android phone for free! There are also scanners available for Apple and Blackberry. Just go to your app store and do a quick search. You'll be surprised how quickly you integrate the app into your life!

http://www.appbrain.com/app/camscanner-phone-to-scanner/com.intsig.camscanner

Primary Wall

Here is a great service for elementary teachers and students! Primary Wall! Simply create a URL address and elementary students can visit the wall to write note or message one another. Super kid-friendly and a great use for brainstorming sessions!

Of course, you will want to plan out exactly how you want to implement this in your classroom because students are definitely going to want to write silly notes on it. Clear planning will be the key to success! Here is a short video for you to watch!

Zapd

What is it? Zapd is a free application for iPhone

What does it do? Zapd allows users to create websites on the go from your phone. You can

share images, videos, and/or text. You can even create multiple sites.

Why? You can quickly create a site while on a field trip. If students have their own iTouch or iPhone, they can upload images and text to record their experiences.

Here is a short video hosted by Vimeo that explains the app. Enjoy!

Zapd in 60 Seconds from rocketvox on Vimeo.

Why Integrate Technology?

"I've been doing it this way for a thousand years. I don't need technology."

I've heard this one before. Yes, we do need to integrate technology. Society has changed. Education must change too. In times past, factual based knowledge was necessary. We needed experts in different fields to guide business and education. Now we have Google. Mastery at the factual level just isn't good enough anymore. We need students, adults, workers, and leaders who can think digitally and conceptually. We know students aren't what they used to be. So teachers can not be what they used to be.

"How do you begin?"

Slowly. I like to help teachers begin integrating technology through the creation of blogs, distribution lists, or other outlets for communicating with parents. Let me introduce you to Edmodo.

Edmodo is a social networking/communication site that is perfect for teachers, students, and parents. The site functions similarly to Facebook, so it is easy to use. Teachers can invite parents & students into the site and communicate easily, post assignments, create polls, etc. I would definitely recommend checking this site out.

"Why should I trust you?"

Well, I'm not a "techie". I do not have a degree in Technology. I do have 15 years of experience in education and I'm not afraid of integrating technology into my classroom. I speak the language of technology and education. I hope I can help!