Hashtags - How Do They Work?

Here is something I found off of Pinterest. I want to learn more about #Hashtags too!!! Can someone please tell me how they work?

Source: edtechmagazine.com via Kristin on Pinterest

Pinterest in Education

I admit, I have really not been much of a fan of Pinterest.  I have some friends, however, that seem to be addicted to it!  I guess whenever I don't know a lot about a particular platform of social media, I tend to shy away from it until I can't stand it any longer!!!  It's the curiosity that kills the cat!  My goal over the next few months is to try Pinterest out and collaborate with others about all the cool things that teachers (all over the world) are doing!  I've decided that I'd follow:
Kathy Schrock
Vicki Davis
Ted Ed News
ISTE
Kristin Rynteson

There are a whole lot of other people that you can follow at: The 20 Best Pinterest Boards About Education Technology!  Be sure and check them out!!!

QR Codes

Mrs. Trevino's 2nd Grade Blog

After reading, 7 Fun Ways to Use QR Codes In Education, I learned that there is so much more interaction I could do in my classroom using our iTouches and iPad devices. Here are some of the ideas that the article provided

1. Worksheets ~ Create a 3 – In – A Row worksheets for students to play with another student. 

2. Scavenger Hunts ~ Post codes around the school have student solve problems and find the correct answers. 

3. Pass It ~ You can create several problems on one worksheet, cut them and play Pass It. Each student/group solves a problem and them pass it to the next student/group. 

4. Contact Information for Parents and Students ~ Post in classroom for students and parents to obtain phone number, email address, class website, etc. 

5. Notes ~ Such an easy way to post notes and great for students to always have access to them at all times. 

6. Assignments ~ Post Homework assignments in codes for students to scan before leaving class. 

7. Hints/Tutorials to assist on problems ~ Use when students are solving problems. They can scan the code when they are having trouble or need help.

The article also suggested this QR Generator.  It was easy and I liked how I could place images on it... Made things look a interesting!Who would have ever thought that QR Codes stood for "Quick Response Codes?"  It makes total sense!!!  I am thinking that this next year, I'll create several that easily connect the kids with different "databases" that our district supplies so that they can easily complete their research on birds...  

I can also see myself using this for other things that help me "Flip My Classroom."

Why Use Twitter?

As a mother of 3 and full time teacher - getting regular work done, on top of being a "mom" can be tricky. After reading, The Beginner’s Guide To Twitter, I feel more motivated now to explore using Twitter this summer! It seems that during the school year, it gets to be hard to juggle time for professional growth. Here are just a few reasons in a nut shell...

Because the social media tool will let you grow your personal learning network into a worldwide force able to mold your lessons and classroom projects into efficient uses of time that enhance learning for your students. Simply put, you’ll get more ideas on how to teach XYZ subject, how to deliver exit slips, how to meet other teachers with similar interests, how to get the most out of your next professional development, and much more.

This I have already been doing on a novice level. I interact with just a few educators that help me tear down my walls and speak to experts around the world. By using Twitter, we can set up meetings and share neat content!

Twitter has blossomed into a social media tool that lets parents keep tabs on just about anyone and anything. That means it’s pretty easy for parents to see what their children are tweeting from school, who they’re having conversations with, and what they’re thinking about. In this age of over-sharing online, the openness of Twitter is a good thing for parents.

I haven't yet had the opportunity to explore this with my personal children, but I have noticed a huge trend in the number of adolescent aged children - young adults using this platform more than Facebook. I do follow my nieces and some of cousins - who all happened to be up North. So, I am wondering if this is more of a Northern trend...

But where Twitter really shines is connecting students with the outside world. They’re given a chance to collaborate and learn online from the comfort of their own smartphone.

"Visual" from Pinterest

For younger students, there are better, more controlled tools out there that connect students in a safer manner. (Edmodo, Pinterest, and other sites that don’t have as much direct communication between people who may not have the best intentions toward younger students – to put it nicely).

Edmodo seems to be working within our set school district. I found it a little more challenging to break down the walls and create groups to the "outside." However, with a quick email, the IT department helped get my class to join a collaborative study on the Bald Eagle. That was very cool! I haven't explored Pinterest expect to communicate with a select few - as I'm overwhelmed with the "pins". A few times I was also surprised to learn how I personally could use Pinterest to lead my classroom discussion on inferencing!

ZooBurst

Sweet Class!

Social Media & Education

After reading, #SXSWedu: Bill Gates calls for more connected educators by Melissa Greenwood, I have to agree with a few things that were stated by Bill Gates:

“The fact that these platforms let you categorize and talk about what your challenges are and sort of reach out to experts anywhere in the country who will be able to give you examples of what works with that type of student, it’s really breaking down that isolation in a really strong way,” Gates told attendees.
“What’s born out in the data is that there is a set of teachers who are absolutely phenomenal, and it’s interesting to me how little study has been done of videotaping and talking with them — understanding what they do well,” he said.
“Obviously as we learn more about that, and we do need to learn more about that, either we need to have them as the lecturer or capturing those ideas and having teachers watch those and learn from them and be evaluated on those characteristics. That will raise the quality of the profession as a whole.”

A few years ago, I was named Technology Teacher of the Year for Region IV.    One of the prerequisites of "winning" was that I agreed to have a lesson of mine video taped for future trainings.   I don't know if they ever used it - it would be interesting to watch now that I have "grown" so much more with technology.  Anyway, the lesson incorporated the use of technology with a video platform called Vidyo, with some ornithologists from Arizona State University.  Vidyo allowed us to connect with several different locations - much like that of the way Google Hangouts & Skype.  I think the quality was a lot better and back then - the capabilities of multiple "hookups" were expensive.  During our lesson, we back channeled our questions with the use of Today's Meet.  The learning was authentic and powerful and I am so fortunate to have randomly called a number of off a Google search and have them return our call with a vested interested in making a difference in this world. With so much technology out there - it is crazy to know what to use and when.  To be able to communicate live, is so much more powerful than tweeting or posting to Facebook - especially at the elementary level...   

I still speak to my friends at ASU and will be "hooking up" with them again soon with the use of Vidyo with my class.

and... The winner is....

District Service Awards and Teacher of the Year!

I am SO proud of Luke for getting up on stage and saying such sweet words about me! And, I wish I was just as calm and relaxed as Luke was for my speech...