Grockit is an academic study website which allows students to create profiles and track their learning. It has levels for academy learning (grades 6-12), SAT, GRE, LSAT, and GMAT preparation and review.
The academy section has tutoring and practice tests in all areas of mathematics, from algebra I to calculus and probability and statistics, and Language Arts, including analytic response, comprehension, sentence fluency, and conventions.
In addition to computer adaptive testing, where the computer learns your level and adjusts questions to focus on specific skills, Grockit also has online tutoring group sessions, one on one tutoring, and group study sessions.
Grockit also allows for 'game' type study sessions where you are attempting to answer the most questions correctly in a limited amount of time or pits you against other online learners. You can tag questions you answered incorrectly to review why they were answered incorrectly, focus future review sessions on similar question types, and create a practice test of flagged items, eliminating the need to focus on skills already mastered.
Another cool feature is the video tutoring sessions which are available for SAT and GRE review. The related comment board allows for interaction with other students and tutors about material in the tutoring videos.
The community tab allows users to post questions about the various tests and get feedback from other users on the site.
Grockit truly is an all inclusive online learning community.
Check it out here: GROCKIT
Monday, January 10, 2011
Screencast
So I wanted to allow students to access a PowerPoint presentation that they may not have had an opportunity to finish viewing in class. I had created it in kiosk mode, and students were moving through it independently in class, analyzing the images in relation to our novel. Due to the two hour early dismissal, some students did not get to finish.
Screencast is an online site that allows free file hosting, and provides original web addresses for all material uploaded to its site. Some files can be embedded right on the web or blog page, while others, like the PowerPoint, need to be downloaded by the student to access it. Screencast is attached to Jing, which allows for creation of teacher lecture materials and videos that can be hosted and linked, too.
This site simplifies the process of linking materials on my blog. In addition to linking, Screencast also allows teachers to send bulk emails with links to handouts for student use. There is also an RSS feed option that sends notification to students if new media is uploaded.
Check out the link and use of Screencast here.
I am still learning the best ways to use Screencast to meet my needs, and as I go through the blog and try and use it more and more, I'm sure that there will be many ways to use Screencast beyond what I do now. I can't wait to discover all its educational applications.
Here's what others say about the educational uses of Screencast:
Here's a quick list of popular ways in which educators are leveraging the privacy of Screencast.com and how it's easy to get your content from a TechSmith product to Screencast.com where designated people can view it.
Screencast is an online site that allows free file hosting, and provides original web addresses for all material uploaded to its site. Some files can be embedded right on the web or blog page, while others, like the PowerPoint, need to be downloaded by the student to access it. Screencast is attached to Jing, which allows for creation of teacher lecture materials and videos that can be hosted and linked, too.
This site simplifies the process of linking materials on my blog. In addition to linking, Screencast also allows teachers to send bulk emails with links to handouts for student use. There is also an RSS feed option that sends notification to students if new media is uploaded.
Check out the link and use of Screencast here.
I am still learning the best ways to use Screencast to meet my needs, and as I go through the blog and try and use it more and more, I'm sure that there will be many ways to use Screencast beyond what I do now. I can't wait to discover all its educational applications.
Here's what others say about the educational uses of Screencast:
Top Five Ways Educators Use Screencast.com
Here's a quick list of popular ways in which educators are leveraging the privacy of Screencast.com and how it's easy to get your content from a TechSmith product to Screencast.com where designated people can view it. - Host instructional videos and provide links to parents and students. Parents and students can view the videos 24/7.
- Create a MediaRoll that is hosted on the class or school webpage. The MediaRoll is automatically updated when videos are uploaded to the corresponding folder.
- Have students use Jing to explain a concept. These Jing videos or images are shared with just the teacher, the class, or maybe the world. Here's an example: http://mrshedge.squarespace.com/all-videos/.
- Host classroom "lectures" or any type of instruction or presentation with Camtasia Relay. Just record, and Camtasia Relay does all the processing. When the video is done, you're emailed the link to where it's hosted on Screencast.com.
- Host files (attachments) such as PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, and PDFs. Selected people are able to download the materials.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Class Blog
So, I have sold myself on the class blog idea. I have decided to post the class content, discussion questions, extension material, and interesting thoughts on the blog for students to access to extend the classroom beyond the school walls.
Thus far, the biggest hurdle has been getting the students to follow the blog. Although it hasn't been up for a month yet, I am still shocked that I have only gotten seven students to sign on. I know a few other students have accessed the blog, but haven't made it part of their technological world. I am hoping to see this change.
Since there is no guarantee that students have access to internet at home, I feel the need to limit the blog site to a summary of classroom content, and if I post extension material, I don't require kids to know it. Therefore, I don't assess them on it.
So far, the biggest benefit of the blog has been for students who can't make it to the class. I have a student on Home & Hospital instruction, and the blog has allowed him to keep up to date with what is going on with the class even though he cannot attend personally. This will help make his transition back to class easier.
I do have to say that integrating the blog into my daily routine has been relatively simple. I already create a digital agenda for each class, so it only required a few extra minutes to copy and paste it into a post. The extension questions and materials were also digital, and copy and paste quickly put them on the site, too.
Check out my blog here:
http://englishtales2010.blogspot.com
Thus far, the biggest hurdle has been getting the students to follow the blog. Although it hasn't been up for a month yet, I am still shocked that I have only gotten seven students to sign on. I know a few other students have accessed the blog, but haven't made it part of their technological world. I am hoping to see this change.
Since there is no guarantee that students have access to internet at home, I feel the need to limit the blog site to a summary of classroom content, and if I post extension material, I don't require kids to know it. Therefore, I don't assess them on it.
So far, the biggest benefit of the blog has been for students who can't make it to the class. I have a student on Home & Hospital instruction, and the blog has allowed him to keep up to date with what is going on with the class even though he cannot attend personally. This will help make his transition back to class easier.
I do have to say that integrating the blog into my daily routine has been relatively simple. I already create a digital agenda for each class, so it only required a few extra minutes to copy and paste it into a post. The extension questions and materials were also digital, and copy and paste quickly put them on the site, too.
Check out my blog here:
http://englishtales2010.blogspot.com
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Word It Out
Word clouds are the new thing. You see them all the time on the sides of articles and other web pages. Ever want to create your own? Now you can.
Word It Out allows you to create custom word clouds, and then do things with them. Want to put it on a mug or a shirt? You can. Wanna place it on your web page or blog? You can.
I am fascinated by this for an application for my English class. This program allows you to take text from anywhere -- a chapter from a novel, a primary source document, or a vocabulary and definition list -- and will make a word web out of it. Why might this be cool? Let's see...
How about create a word web for a chapter of a novel we are reading and use it as a quiz? Students would have to pick four or five words from the web and explain why they are important for the chapter and the novel.
Same could apply for a primary document. Take the Declaration of Independence. Have kids explain why words were placed in the web and the concepts that those words represent from the document.
How about as a study aid for vocabulary? Webs could be created with words and their definitions, and students would need to match the words together. Or how about antonyms? or synonyms? Endless possibilities.
What would you do with a word cloud?
Check out the one I made for the first chapter of Fahrenheit 451:
Word It Out allows you to create custom word clouds, and then do things with them. Want to put it on a mug or a shirt? You can. Wanna place it on your web page or blog? You can.
I am fascinated by this for an application for my English class. This program allows you to take text from anywhere -- a chapter from a novel, a primary source document, or a vocabulary and definition list -- and will make a word web out of it. Why might this be cool? Let's see...
How about create a word web for a chapter of a novel we are reading and use it as a quiz? Students would have to pick four or five words from the web and explain why they are important for the chapter and the novel.
Same could apply for a primary document. Take the Declaration of Independence. Have kids explain why words were placed in the web and the concepts that those words represent from the document.
How about as a study aid for vocabulary? Webs could be created with words and their definitions, and students would need to match the words together. Or how about antonyms? or synonyms? Endless possibilities.
What would you do with a word cloud?
Check out the one I made for the first chapter of Fahrenheit 451:
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Figment: A Writer's Community
When designer Jacob Lewis created Figment.com, he was hoping to create a new social network, a new Facebook, for teen writers. It didn't work out that way, but became a pretty cool site where students could post, read, and respond to original writing.
And maybe that budding young author can find a publisher.
That's right, a few publishing houses have signed on to the site to hunt out fresh young talent. So it's an opportunity for more than just getting peers to look at student writing. Professionals may be too.
The site provides a wealth of educational possibilities. Finding an authentic medium for publication is often difficult for student writers. This site provides that 'real world' experience. In addition, there are many built in options to allow for commentary and critical feedback, from easy 'how did this writing make you feel?' radial buttons, to comment boxes, to whole review options.
I have recently offered my kids the current contest from figment as an extra credit opportunity. I will see how they use the site and how well the contest piques their interest. We shall see.
Check out the current contest here.
I am also looking forward to trying this site out with my students by having them 'publish' their personal narrative assignments. It will be interesting to see what feedback the students get from not only their peers here at school, but other writers from around the world.
Check out this article from the New York Times about the inception and development of Figment.com.
And then, check out Figment. com!
And maybe that budding young author can find a publisher.
That's right, a few publishing houses have signed on to the site to hunt out fresh young talent. So it's an opportunity for more than just getting peers to look at student writing. Professionals may be too.
The site provides a wealth of educational possibilities. Finding an authentic medium for publication is often difficult for student writers. This site provides that 'real world' experience. In addition, there are many built in options to allow for commentary and critical feedback, from easy 'how did this writing make you feel?' radial buttons, to comment boxes, to whole review options.
I have recently offered my kids the current contest from figment as an extra credit opportunity. I will see how they use the site and how well the contest piques their interest. We shall see.
Check out the current contest here.
I am also looking forward to trying this site out with my students by having them 'publish' their personal narrative assignments. It will be interesting to see what feedback the students get from not only their peers here at school, but other writers from around the world.
Check out this article from the New York Times about the inception and development of Figment.com.
And then, check out Figment. com!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Free Rice
Continuing with the vocabulary idea, FreeRice.com is an amazing site that not only teaches students new words, but also feeds the hungry through the UN World Food Program. Study vocabulary and help end world hunger at the same time!
I have used this site in the classroom to encourage students to prepare for the state assessments, the PSAT, and the SAT. It is a learning game, which means that the words get harder each time you get an answer correct. By creating a login, you can track your progress and compare your abilities to other members of the site.
Teachers can create a classroom group and let students face off against each other to earn rice and learn vocabulary. The students really get into it to see who is the "wordiest".
The site also quizzes on other topics than English vocabulary. You can feed the hungry and quiz yourself on art by identifying artists of famous paintings, chemistry symbols, geography where you identify countries on a map, and more.
And Leslie, this one has Spanish vocabulary!! You can have your kids practice with this site, even if they can't get on Visuwords!
Check it out here:
http://www.freerice.com/
I have used this site in the classroom to encourage students to prepare for the state assessments, the PSAT, and the SAT. It is a learning game, which means that the words get harder each time you get an answer correct. By creating a login, you can track your progress and compare your abilities to other members of the site.
Teachers can create a classroom group and let students face off against each other to earn rice and learn vocabulary. The students really get into it to see who is the "wordiest".
The site also quizzes on other topics than English vocabulary. You can feed the hungry and quiz yourself on art by identifying artists of famous paintings, chemistry symbols, geography where you identify countries on a map, and more.
And Leslie, this one has Spanish vocabulary!! You can have your kids practice with this site, even if they can't get on Visuwords!
Check it out here:
http://www.freerice.com/
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Visuwords
This is a cool website that graphically shows connections between word definitions, derivations, and relationships. You can type in a word and have the graphic show the relationships, or if you have the time and inclination, hit the random button to get interesting word derivations and learn something new.
By double clicking your mouse over the different elements in the graphic, additional information pops up to elaborate on the words and related words. Color coding helps learners see the relationships between the words.
A cool way for students to find definitions of words in liu of dictionary.com.
I used this in my classroom having students define words related to our year long curriculum such as archetype, tragedy, comedy, romance, hero, courage, challenge, and fate. Having the students then write about the web that appeared and the connections between the words supported by the web allowed them to internalize the vocabulary.
From the site:
Visuwords™ online graphical dictionary — Look up words to find their meanings and associations with other words and concepts. Produce diagrams reminiscent of a neural net. Learn how words associate.
Enter words into the search box to look them up or double-click a node to expand the tree. Click and drag the background to pan around and use the mouse wheel to zoom. Hover over nodes to see the definition and click and drag individual nodes to move them around to help clarify connections.
Visuword. Check it out.
http://www.visuwords.com/
By double clicking your mouse over the different elements in the graphic, additional information pops up to elaborate on the words and related words. Color coding helps learners see the relationships between the words.
A cool way for students to find definitions of words in liu of dictionary.com.
I used this in my classroom having students define words related to our year long curriculum such as archetype, tragedy, comedy, romance, hero, courage, challenge, and fate. Having the students then write about the web that appeared and the connections between the words supported by the web allowed them to internalize the vocabulary.
From the site:
Visuwords™ online graphical dictionary — Look up words to find their meanings and associations with other words and concepts. Produce diagrams reminiscent of a neural net. Learn how words associate.
Enter words into the search box to look them up or double-click a node to expand the tree. Click and drag the background to pan around and use the mouse wheel to zoom. Hover over nodes to see the definition and click and drag individual nodes to move them around to help clarify connections.
- It's a dictionary! It's a thesaurus!
- Great for writers, journalists, students, teachers, and artists.
- The online dictionary is available wherever there’s an internet connection.
- No membership required.
Visuword. Check it out.
http://www.visuwords.com/
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Greetings Friends
So here is where I will post my rambles on technology and such that we can all ruminate on over the course of the semester. Let your brain go...
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