Flickr

What is Flickr? On online photo sharing site. a simple explanation:



How can Flickr be used in the classroom:
* use it in the design of lessons that promote and build visual literacy skills in students.
* use single photographs as writing prompts (either creative or interpretive writing) to using multiple image sets in digital storytelling projects.
* Student users can also contribute to the development of online stories about images, where contributors write storylines in the comment area of each
photograph in a process know as Flicktion.
*photographs can be geotagged, a process that links Flickr imagery with the geographical location of the source of the photo, permitting a visual, geographical study of a particular location or place.
* create virtual field trips and as a source of imagery to improve student presentations.
* use for evaluation and peer feedback by using the comment field.
Anywhere visual images are required, such as presentation, etc.
* Single image analysis
* Visual documentation of student artwork and other school products
* Creation of digital visual portfolios, using the photoset function of Flickr
* Social software applications: how to tag, how to make comments
* Delivery of school/classroom visual information via RSS
* The use of third party Flickr applications to produce classroom products:
a. Motivational posters
b. Magazine Covers
c. Movie Posters
d. Flickr slideshow
e. Mosaic Makers

A great site that educators are sharing their thoughts- Flickr in the Classroom.

Tom's new dog on Flickr:

Online Libraries

Library Thing is a social book site for storing and sharing personal library catalogs and book lists and having opportunity to discuss and share thoughts on books. The potential to set up groups for discussion can allow opportunities for class to discuss books online.

A simple introduction:



Another great site from primary schools is Shelfari. Shelfari is the premier social network for people who love books. Create a virtual shelf to show off your books, see what your friends are reading and discover new books

Children's review on it:

Image Generators

My avatar creation on Doppel Me


A great word generator to create fancy headings for your work! Spell with Flickr

Jelly Muffin Generator


I also like the enormous possibilities in Big Huge Labs- from motivational posters, mosaics, magazines covers, billboards.... Children can concentrate on the concepts and let the tools create cool items.

Examples: Billboard


Mosaic Maker: Cool Pop Art!!

Virtual Worlds

A virtual world is an interactive computer simulation which lets its participants see, hear, use and even modify the simulated objects in a computer-created world. Participants in a successful virtual world have a deep sense of presence in that world. Our children are experiencing computer simulation everywhere- in the games they are playing, to movies, computer sites... There is enormous possibilities to use this stimulation to enhance learning. Virtual world educational environments may not replace real classrooms, but they are becoming integral to the future of education. Educational virtual worlds combine kids' learning activities, imagination, creativity, collaboration, communication and they are a whole lot of fun!

A wonderful virtual world that I use with children is Quest Atlantis. Quest Atlantis (QA) is an international learning and teaching project that uses a 3D multi-user environment to immerse children, ages 9-16, in educational tasks. QA combines strategies used in the commercial gaming environment with lessons from educational research on learning and motivation.
A preview:

iGoogle

iGoogle allows users to personalise their web page so they can have features that they want as easy access. With life's rapidly increasing time demands, it is ideal having everything needed in the one place. There are many gadget that can be added to suit individual needs like maps, notes, weather, news feeds,games, quotes, calendars...... the list is endless.

A powerful feature that I use constantly is the RSS feeds. This allows users to become very efficient at scanning web pages for key terms and information. I have my Google reader as a gadget. This is a powerful tool to use with students as they engage with projects.

Google Books

This was a easy site to navigate and find information. It works just like web search: where a find a book whose content contains a match for your search terms, then by clicking on a book result, you'll are able to see everything from a few short excerpts to the entire book, depending on permissions of the publishers. You also have the opportunity to buy the book if you are interested. Google books also has a search feature within each book that will find selected text. There can be many applications in the classroom if their is a text that supports the inquiry. There is also opportunity to embed books into other sites.

Google Maps

Google Maps' has enormous potentials for educators within the classroom context, from history to geography, social studies, mathematics, english and even economics. Teachers and students can use Google Maps to learn about specific locations and see what they look like from an aerial view; compare their home streets and neighborhoods and study satellite images superimposed on the maps. It provides detailed, highly visual information that allows many opportunities for developing visual literacy and numeracy .

An wonderful feature in Google Maps is the editable features. Teachers and students can create personalized, annotated, customized maps. It also opportunities to add descriptions or instructions. Whether there is an excursion or a need to document a journey, teachers and students can personalise maps by embedding photos, videos, and descriptive text. Teachers and students can also publish, share, and invite others to collaborate on their project. Students and teachers can also embed maps into other sites.


View Brisbane in a larger map

Google Docs

A number of online word processing, spreadsheets and presentations applications have emerged in recent years. They allow a more collaborative approach, where several people can contribute to the same document, edit from anywhere and it is stored in 'cloud' space. In an educational setting it opens up the classroom to allow collaboration and connectedness beyond classroom walls and times.

Google Doc features are:
• Upload from and save to your desktop
• Edit anytime, from anywhere
• allows opportunities to select who can access your documents
• Share changes in real time
• Files are stored securely online
• It's free!




Great article on 7 things you should know about Google Docs.

Useful tips and shortcuts to use with Google Docs