Animoto for Aninille

I really enjoyed putting my Animoto presentation together.  The aesthetics that the website provides makes creating slide shows fun with a very sophisticated end result.  Students can actually use this tool to feature important events, people, places, or concepts.  It is great for bringing out their creativity and it fits right into their niche in the world of technology.  Students at RHI love putting together films and this is one other option that they now can add to their tech. tool belt.  I can also see teachers being less intimidated with creating video slides which will allow them to present a variety of resources to students in order to make learning enjoyable and meaningful.

PLUS:
free accounts available
user friendly
templates are available for use
paid membership isn't too expensive

DELTA:
free accounts have many limitations (time limit on videos, some templates aren't available)
requires internet

Here are my Animoto: http://animoto.com/play/51TV1fYoI0oNGQP76rJseA
                                  http://animoto.com/play/1rmSsG5R2EOgsAYt6MIrsw

Here is my How to Animoto: http://goo.gl/nDFYZy

I'm Not Pimpressed

Although I see the many ways that Pinterest can be used for learning, for me, I don't yet see the big picture.  I spent more time finding things that were irrelevant and useless for the topic I was looking for.  It could be the topic, but to be honest, I wasted a lot of time weeding through all the other junk that were found after my initial search.  I can see Pinterest as a good way for people with hobbies, but right now, I don't see it being very useful for my classes.  Some of the suggestions this website can be used in education is for showing students great quotes or beginning a discussion.  Much of the advantages however have to do with getting the teacher organized rather than an effective tool for incorporating technology for students in English class.  I can see it more for students in Art or Science classes because there are more samples and creative ideas.

PLUS:

a lot of resources
user friendly (mostly)
easy to use
great for hobbies

DELTA:

too many resources that are not relevant
requires internet
needs consistency and optimism to work in the class

Here is my Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/antenille/ms-antenilles-satire-resources/

Here is my How to Pinterest: http://screencast.com/t/oTrgs4ciVl7

Charlie Chaplin's Speech in The Great Dictator

This is a MUST read. The movie was released in 1940, but how true it still is.


Charlie Chaplin final speech in The Great Dictator
I'm sorry but I don't want to be an emperor. That's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible; Jew, Gentile, black men, white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each others' happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men's souls; has barricaded the world with hate; has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge as made us cynical; our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost. The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in man; cries out for universal brotherhood; for the unity of us all.

Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women, and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me, I say "Do not despair." The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.

Soldiers! Don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you; who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel! Who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder! Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men---machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have a love of humanity in your hearts! You don't hate! Only the unloved hate; the unloved and the unnatural.

Soldiers! Don't fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the seventeenth chapter of St. Luke, it’s written “the kingdom of God is within man”, not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people, have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy, let us use that power.

Let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfill their promise. They never will! Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfill that promise! Let us fight to free the world! To do away with national barriers! To do away with greed, with hate and intolerance! Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness.

Soldiers, in the name of democracy, let us all unite!


Here is the clip from the movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcvjoWOwnn4

Wordle for Antenille

When I was first getting started with Wordle, the only purpose I can think of was to put in words or terms.  After reading the other suggestions, I was pleased to see that there are other ways that it can be used.  I am excited to try them out, like the one-word poetry suggestion.  I have to do some research on that.  This is a great way for students to filter out any unnecessary information and focus on the important information in unit lessons.  It is very easy and extreme fast to create.

PLUS
-VERY user friendly
-can be used with ALL ages, including 1st graders
-it is printable
-fun

DELTA
-requires Java
-requires internet
-users are not allowed to create their accounts and have a list of wordles they have created


Here is my Wordle:
http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/7488623/Antenille%27s_2nd_Quarter_Focus_Vocabulary

Here's my How to Wordle: http://screencast.com/t/ltVqGgSTMg8k

ToonDoo is a Will-Do

A few years ago, I learned how to use comics in class through makebeliefscomix.com.  This was introduced to my by Ms. Leila Staffler.  I did use it in my classes several times and my students loved it.  Now, I am once again introduced to another alternative that my students can use.  The one major benefit I think this activity will give to our students is the ability to practice critical thinking.  They are able to use what they know and create their interpretation of it through these cartoons.  They will not know what hit them until it's too late and they have actually learned something!  It is very beneficial for those who visual and kinesthetic learners.

PLUS
-free account
-user friendly
-a lot of different options for characters, backgrounds, talk bubbles, etc.
-different templates to choose from
-fun
-share cartoons for free

DELTA
-with too many different options, students may feel overwhelmed or take too much time to do their cartoons
-requires internet connection

Here is my cartoon: http://www.toondoo.com/cartoon/7072224

Here is my How to TooDoo: http://screencast.com/t/G4CmSNZgsmpg

Blendspace is the Best Place

1. Purpose and Use in the Classroom
I cannot believe I never knew about this site!  It is so unbelievably A W E S O M E!  Students have a myriad of resources to look at in order to better digest unit lessons.  This is so useful for English and I cannot imagine how much greater it will be for Math and Science.  It allows teachers to be more organized and gives students a focus.  It is one of the best ways to differentiate instruction by allowing students to see the same subject in different views.  I am committed to using this!

2. Advantages
Very user friendly
Autosaves
Options to see other lessons that other teachers have created
Different search engines are directly linked to Blendspace to make searching for resources so SIMPLE, not to mention a TIME SAVER
Different template options
Free Account that can like to Google (saves time with needing to create a new account)

3. Disadvantages
Requires a reliable internet connection to edit and access

I LOVE IT!

Here is my Blendspace lesson: http://blnds.co/1d0xDF5
Here is the my How to Blendspace screencast: http://screencast.com/t/SdBCV1TZKE

Workin' With Wikispaces

When I was first introduced to Wikispaces, it was in one of McRel's Professional Development sessions in 2010.  We were shown a video of the basic concept of wikis (you know, the one about getting ready for camping).  I thought it was a great tool to use in class, especially if a group is editing a paper or putting together a project.  My obstacles were arduous though.  Students did not have laptops yet.  The internet service at the school was very unreliable.  Teachers did not get an in depth training on how to integrate technology in the classroom.  Teachers did not how to manage the different products suggested.  I can go on and on.  For the few teachers who embraced the change, ideas waltzed in and out of their heads and in some cases, used them in class.  For the others who were resistant to the movement of "Technology in the Classroom," a form of amnesia apparently developed in their brains and forgot all about the training afterwards.  However, for the majority, the problem was that they wanted to integrate, but were hesitant, afraid, or too intimidated to do so.
I digress.  Jane Hill of McRel first made it possible for me to actually use Wikispaces in 2011 with the Striving Readers/ELL Cohort.  By getting my feet wet, I realized that it was not difficult to navigate.  It was easy to manage.  It was very useful.  I learned so many strategies, techniques, and gained new tools from other teachers throughout the CNMI.  The issue came in when the vision of the Wiki began to dim.  With everything else that teachers needed to do, they did not participate enough and as a result, it became idle.  The tool itself is awesome and builds integration and cooperation with students.  If consistency is not practiced enough, the effectiveness of the tool will be compromised.  In addition, without internet, it is impossible for it to be accessed.  I think Wiki is one of those things that needs to be approached with QFIC.

Here is my wikispaces page: http://mrssantosrhs.wikispaces.com/

Here is the screencast for the How to Wikispace: http://screencast.com/t/BBGp85PCzr

Sewing Knowledge with VoiceThread

When I heard the term "VoiceThread," I thought that I would be expecting an application that only allowed me to record my voice giving instructions or comments.  I did not expect that I would have to go through all the steps I did to create a presentation.  In the end, it was worth it.  I can definitely see myself using VoiceThread in my classes, especially in Distance Education.

PLUS

This tool is another great alternative for students to do presentations.  The best thing about it is that unlike Jing (which I love by the way), it allows for more audio recording time and even allows the commentator to record him-/herself while giving the comment.  It gives presenters and commentators the opportunity for more in depth discussion on a topic.

DELTA

A downside that I see with VoiceThread is again that it requires an internet connection.  In our school system, the internet is very unreliable.  In my experience, students who have created Prezis delay class time because of the fluctuating internet connection to load their presentations.  I anticipate the same happening with VoiceThread.


Click here for your "How to" on VoiceThread: http://goo.gl/K94V1t
Here is the link to my Voicethread: http://goo.gl/SjKGRz

Peelin' the Prezi

For years, Microsoft has dominated the world of digital presentations.  In 2010-11, students in the CNMI were included in the One Laptop per Child Initiative.  Microsoft Office is too costly for the school system to purchase for roughly 2,000 students (maybe more).  Instead, students were introduced to the free service by OpenOffice.  This program also provides students with word processing, spreadsheet, and even presentation software called OpenOffice Impress.  Although it is free, functions and variety is limited.  A new era has arrived in digital presentation.  Prezi makes Microsoft PowerPoint look almost feeble and outdated.  But that's just my opinion.

PLUS

In the world of digital natives, it is only natural that they be taught to use technology for good and that they be taught that technology is not just a tool for gossiping, bullying, and spying.  With Prezi, students will be given an additional tool to develop 21st Century Skills.  Even students (and teachers like myself) who do not have a creative bone in their bodies can create a presentation that glows with quality and innovation.  Prezi is easy to navigate and user-friendly.  Students will be given the opportunity to evaluate a different tool for creating presentations for their classes.

DELTA

There are a few issues with Prezi that the average PowerPoint user could get points for.  Unlike PowerPoint, once a Prezi theme is selected, font cannot be changed.  In addition, it requires internet access to view, edit, and publish.  Without internet, it is rendered idle, unfinished, and useless.

Please click on the link for information on how to create a Prezi: http://goo.gl/G1h8Rr
Please click on the link to view my Prezi: http://goo.gl/ZFdMSC