Digging Deeper into the Mainstays:

Digging Deeper into the Mainstays:

There are so many web 2.0 tools to use, today, I am evaluating Twitter, Prezi and Symbaloo. I will explore how they can be used in an elementary classroom. If you have any tips or tricks for these websites, please feel free to leave a comment.

Evaluate:

	Cost	Ipads/ chromebooks?	Sign Up?	Ads?	Ease of Use
Twitter	Free	Both – web version and app: while there is an app, it can be used in a browser	Yes	No	simple to use – small learning curve
Prezi	Basic verison is free *no privacy	Web only; there is an app – but only can view and present, not create	Yes	No	Simple -Medium Learning curve
Symbaloo	free	Both – web version and app- while there is an app, it can be used in a browser	Yes	No	simple to use – small learning curve

Twitter:

This is a site I have only ever used as part of my coursework. In technology classes, having a Twitter account is required. However, I find it overwhelming, so I rarely use it for personal use or as a teaching tool. I find that the constant barrage of new tweets too hard to keep up with. So, will my research turn me into a Twitter classroom user? Let’s see how some other educators have used it successfully. As a side note, I would suggest creating a special account for school use. Many of the people I follow include both personal and professional content on their feed.

Can the Genre be used to enhance student learning?:

In Holly Marich’s study of an elementary teacher’s use of twitter she states that studies have shown that Twitter can have educational value at the elementary level. In addition, when teachers use Twitter, it provides the students access to the skills they will need in the future. I also feel that if it is used at the elementary level, it provides ongoing education in digital literacy. It provides an opportunity to review what is or isn’t appropriate etiquette.

How are other educators using it personally and with students?

Before we talk about how educators are using it, it is important to note some tips to ensure student privacy. The teacher in Holly’s study used first names only and did not tag students in pictures. If you want to cover yourself you can also require a release form. Most schools do use such a form, but check to see what it covers. The second tip from the teacher was to create a classroom account. This way you are sure not to confuse any personal items in your feed. Lastly, carefully select the feeds you will follow. Perhaps at first you start simply and only use it with your class. Then perhaps begin to branch out by connecting with another class in your school. Then continue to grow and perhaps you will have pen pals in another country.

I think Twitter helps students to be able to really think about what they want to say. When you only have a few words to use, it can really focus your writing. I like the idea of having students pick one word or phrase to sum up what was learned today. #whatilearned. That could be used in the tweet that is sent out by the teacher. It also helps to reinforce the big idea or concept learned that day. Use Answer Garden to gather the words or phrases the kids think are the main points and use them to create the #hashtags.

In a post by Samantha Miller she created a list of 50 ways to use Twitter in the classroom. Several really got me thinking:

• ·         Live tweet field trips. What a wonderful idea to connect the trip to the classroom. Additionally, students can review it upon their return and recount all that was learned.
• ·         Ask questions. It would make a great platform for kids to write down a question during instruction. The 21^st century parking lot.
• ·         Connect with classrooms. It could be classrooms in your school or in other schools.
• ·         Create challenges: It could be a math problem or riddle, but twitter would be a fun way to engage the students and track answers.

Professionally, at my school, Facebook and Twitter are only used by administration and the Principals of each school. In order for a teacher to have an official school account it must be approved first. It is mostly used as a means of parent communication for special events like snow days and concerts. In addition, at the school level the Principal posts happenings in school through text and pictures. It should be noted that Facebook is a site that is blocked by the school filter, so it is not accessible by students at school. Personally I can see using it more as a PLN tool that connects educators around the world. No need to friend someone in order to get a response. You have access to teachers everywhere.

Prezi

I have only used Prezi one or two times for assignments in a grad class. I have forgotten how interesting this tool is and I can’t believe I haven’t used it more. The way I used it was to make a boring PowerPoint more interesting. The format allows you to include the same information as in a PowerPoint, but it is presented in a more visually stimulating way.

Can the Genre be used to enhance student learning?:

Let’s face it. As teacher’s we need to present a lot of content to our students. Using the same format can get boring for them and us. Using a variety of presentation tools help to keep it interesting for all of us. It can be used in variety of ways to enhance comprehension and as an another tool for students to show what they know. 

How are other educators using it personally and with students?

Stephanie Greer has been using Prezi with her first and second grade students. She documented some of her ideas on the website ClikBrik.

• ·         YouTube videos. It allows students to watch the videos without the distractions normally associated with YouTubeUsing   
• ·         Using it as a review tool. Create an assessment that requires thumbs up or thumbs down response. Or get really technically savvy and use another polling tool to capture their responses.

In the textbook, the authors mentioned that in Prezi, one can create a template for students to follow and enter information. What a great time saver. Imagine providing the students with the bones of the project, and they fill in the rest. For the lower elementary students this would be ideal and they would be so proud of their finished project. I always like when websites have an area for educators to share information and learn from each other. Prezi U does just that. Additionally, Prezi has a meeting option which allows for collaboration among student groups or with the teacher. Collaboration is a skill that can get lost with technology use, so having tools that encourage it, is refreshing.

Symbaloo:

This is the tool I have been waiting to review. I have heard about it for many years, but have never personally used it. Symbaloo is essentially a bookmarking tool. It is a website that allows you to create a selection of tools based on a certain topic. To me, this seems like the perfect tool to use at the elementary level. No more wandering off into Google land. Students are focused on the websites chosen by their teachers. Symbaloo is free and does have an EDU account; however, the only difference is that they paid account allows for student accounts. At the elementary level I cannot justify paying for student accounts. I would much rather curate a mix with my students.

Can the Genre be used to enhance student learning?:

Most definitely. We all struggle with internet use and our students. Symbaloo make it easy to direct students to certain websites. This will be a big time saver in student research and also in keeping them on track. I also like that you can embed a Symbaloo into a blog or website. Even more exciting, is that you can curate Symbaloos around a topic. You will have them from year to year. Unfortunately, you will need to keep checking it to be sure the links are still active. This is the only upkeep needed.

How are other educators using it personally and with students?

Mimi Chau wrote a guest post for the Edublogger and noted 11 ways to use Symbaloo in the classroom. Here are a few of my favorites:

• ·         Create mixes for each unit or topic of study. This would make for a great center activity.
• ·         Symbaloo in the Library: As the Librarian at my school, this makes perfect sense. Creating links to research tools, the catalog, copyright free images, and so on. All in one place and easy to access.
• ·         Using it as a school dashboard. I know at my school, we use a variety of websites for learning each day. Because we use iPads, students have simply added the link. But, having them in a more organized manner seems more user friendly.

One tip that was mentioned in our textbook, Untangling the Web: 20 Tools to Power Up Your Teaching, web mixes can be sent home or embedded on your website. What a great way to connect home and school. At the elementary level I can really see this as a tool that can be used for all of the reasons mentioned above.

If you have used any of the tools mentioned above, or have another creative way to use it, please share in the comments.

Bibliography:

Chau, M. (2014). 11 Ways to use Symbaloo in the Classroom. [online] The Edublogger. Available at: https://www.theedublogger.com/2014/04/09/11-ways-to-use-symbaloo-in-the-classroom/ [Accessed 13 May 2018].

Dembo, S. and Bellow, A. (2013). Untangling the Web. 1st ed. Corwin

Greer, S. (2018). Using Prezi in the Early Elementary Classroom. [online] Click Brick. Available at: https://clickbrick.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/using-prezi-in-the-early-elementary-classroom/ [Accessed 13 May 2018].

Marich, H. (2016). Twitter in the Elementary Classroom: A Teacher’s Journey. [online] Ncte.org. Available at: http://www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Resources/Journals/LA/0941-sept2016/LA0941POP.pdf [Accessed 13 May 2018].

Miller, S. (2012). 50 Ways to Use Twitter in the Classroom. [online] TeachHUB. Available at: http://www.teachhub.com/50-ways-use-twitter-classroom [Accessed 13 May 2018].

Settle, Q., Abrams, K. and Baker, L. (2011). Using Prezi in the Classroom. [online] Nactateachers.org. Available at: https://www.nactateachers.org/images/Dec11_2_Using_Prezi_in_the_Classroom.pdf [Accessed 13 May 2018].