Infographics

Infographics

Description of the tool:

Infographics are information made with graphics. They can be posters, postcards, documents, or flyers. Infographics are a way to get information across using pictures instead of just words. They are a great way to get people's attention when people don't want to read a lot of information. Infographics catch the reader's eye, gives them the information, and then helps the reader process the information. There are a lot of ways to create infographics. Infographics have a lot of purposes too, not just for education. 

Pedagogical use:

You can create infographics to help get a point across to students. If students need a reminder, they can look at the infographic to help them remember how to do something. Infographics can help you get a point across to the parents. If you want to share information about your class in a catchy, fun way, infographics can help. Parents will look at the pictures and get necessary information at the same time. Students can analyze an infographic and then create their own.

In my classroom, I plan on using infographics to help students remember information. For example, one of the first lessons my students have in Math is rounding. I created an infographic showing students how to round to the nearest ten. I would also show students videos and have them practice the concept. Students can look at the infographic for a second chance. The other thing I would use infographics for are to have the students present information. Students can have fun creating posters about a topic of their choosing. When the students are doing creating the infographic, they can share the infographic with their classmates. The classmates would give feedback and analyze it. Students could have fun creating the infographic, and they get to do a project that requires them to be creative. 

Example of infographic using Canva

Heading for blog using Canva

Location of the tool:

https://www.canva.com/ is the one I used. There are many more websites depending on what type of infographic you would like to create. 

Cost associated with the tool:

For Canva, the tool is free if you use your own pictures. If you choose to use a picture from Canva, it is one dollar per picture and you have 24 hours to edit your picture. When you hit finish, Canva will tell you how much you owe. 

Why you want to learn this tool:

You can create any type of infographic that you would like. Infographics are a great way to relate information to your students through images. Canva allows you to use their templates, or you can create your own. I really like how I can import my own pictures. Any type of information you want students to remember with images can be created with an infographic. Infographics do not take a long time to create and they are great to show students information in a fun, creative way. 

Students can also create infographics to present information instead of using paper and pencil. If you teach your students how to create infographics, you will be teaching them a skill they can use for the rest of their life.

Sources:

 Amazingly simple graphic design. (n.d.). Retrieved July 25, 2015, from http://www.canva.com 

 ISTE Standards. (2015). Retrieved July 22, 2015, from http://www.iste.org/standards4

Okland, S. (2014, July 7). Infographics. Retrieved July 25, 2015.

ISTE Standards:

Students:

1. Creativity and innovation
1. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
2. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression
3. Use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues
4. N/A
2. Communication and collaboration
1. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media
2. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats
3. N/A
4. Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems
3. Research and information fluency
1. Plan strategies to guide inquiry
2. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media
3. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks
4. Process data and report results
4. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making
1. Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation
2. Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project
3. Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions
4. Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions
5. Digital citizenship
1. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology
2. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity
3. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning
4. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship
6. Technology operations and concepts
1. Understand and use technology systems
2. Select and use applications effectively and productively
3. Troubleshoot systems and applications
4. Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies

 Teachers:

1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity
1. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
2. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
3. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes
4. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environment
2. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments
1. Design or adapt learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
2. Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
3. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources
4. Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments, aligned with content and technology standards, and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching
3. Model digital age work and learning
1. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations
2. Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation
3. Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats
4. Model and facilitate effective use of emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning
4. Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility
1. Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources
2. Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources
3. Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interaction related to the use of technology and information
4. N/A
5. Engage in professional growth and leadership
1. N/A
2. Exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others
3. N/A
4. Contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community

Google Earth

Using Google Earth in the Classroom

Description:

Google Earth is a program ran through Google. It is accessible on computers or Ipads. If you use Google Earth on an Ipad, you are able to see places, businesses, panoramio photos, oceans, roads, and 3D buildings. You can also see Google Earth Gallery, My Maps, and Maps Engine. Now on the Ipad you can go to street view by placing the orange person on a road. You then get a 360 view of the area around you while standing on the road. 

While using the computer program, you can travel to the sky, moon, mars, and of course Earth. You can choose which you want to visit. When traveling to Mars, you can see the path the Mars rover has taken. The computer program has a lot of the same features of the Ipad, but you can do a lot more on the computer program. The computer program does not run on Chromebooks. Chromebooks give you the same things as an Ipad. On the computer, there are a lot of layers you can dig through.

Please note, I am going to discuss the basics of Google Earth. However, I will put a video in this post describing everything Google Earth can do. I still have more to learn about Google Earth as Google is constantly updating their apps. 

Pedagogical use:

Google Earth is a great tool for geography. Students can view different landforms as well as view the Oceans, lakes, and rivers. Students can also use Google Earth to explore the stars, moon, and Mars. Students can create field trips from around the world to share with the class. Students can also show you where their house is (my students' favorite thing to do!). When you are talking about a place in class, you can show students where the place is in Google Earth. Since Google Earth is connect to Google Maps, you can have students travel around the world. Many students will never get the chance to see outside their backyard. However, Google Earth allows them to travel around the world without leaving the classroom. 

When students give a state or country report, students can take you to certain spots using Google Earth. Students can also show the landforms, bodies of water, and major cities located in the state our country. 

Google Earth is a tool where you and students need to explore to learn. The more you explore, the more you will learn about Google Earth. 

Pedagogical Uses for Google Earth

Science Education Resource Center. (2013, June 26).Why Teach With Google Earth? Retrieved July 23, 2015, from http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/library/google_earth/why.html

Examples of Google Earth:

Google Earth star start

Mars start

Moon start 

Google Earth start page

Google Earth start on Ipad

Google Earth ipad view of North Dakota 

Google Earth ipad view of Stratosphere in Vegas

Google road view on Ipad

Location of the tool:

https://www.google.com/earth/

https://www.google.com/earth/learn/

https://www.google.com/earth/learn/beginner.html

https://www.google.com/earth/learn/advanced.html

https://www.google.com/earth/learn/3dbuildings.html

Cost of tool:

Google Earth is free for the computer and the Ipad. There is no cost of having this tool.

Why you want to use Google Earth:

The uses for Google Earth are endless. You can use this as a fun tool in your classroom and to enhance your lessons. I love that students can go to places they would normally not have the chance to visit. It's not the same as actually experiencing the sights. However, students are given the chance to explore outside their community through technology. Under location of the tool are Google websites where you can learn more about how to use Google Earth. Google Earth is constantly being updated through satellites and Google Maps so the information is never the same. 

Google Earth is a great way to incorporate geography into your lessons and engage students at the same time. Students will have fun getting to explore different places using technology.

Sources:

 Earth. (2015). Retrieved July 23, 2015, from https://www.google.com/earth/ 

 Earth. (2015). Retrieved July 23, 2015, from https://www.google.com/earth/learn/beginner.html

Earth. (2015). Retrieved July 23,2015, from https://www.google.com/earth/learn/advanced.html

Earth. (2015). Retrieved July 23, 2015, from https://www.google.com/earth/learn/3dbuildings.html

ISTE Standards. (2015). Retrieved July 22, 2015, from http://www.iste.org/standards4
Science Education Resource Center. (2013, June 26).Why Teach With Google Earth? Retrieved July 23, 2015, from http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/library/google_earth/why.html

ISTE Standards:

Teacher:

1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity
1. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
2. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
3. N/A
4. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environment
2. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments
1. N/A
2. Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
3. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources
4. N/A
3. Model digital age work and learning
1. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations
2. Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation
3. Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats
4. Model and facilitate effective use of emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning
4. Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility
1. Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources
2. Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources
3. Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interaction related to the use of technology and information
4. Develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital age communication and collaboration tools
5. Engage in professional growth and leadership
1. Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning
2. Exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others
3. Evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning
4. N/A

Students:

1. Creativity and innovation
1. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
2. N/A
3. Use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues
4. Identify trends and forecast possibilities
2. Communication and collaboration
1. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media
2. N/A
3. N/A
4. Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems
3. Research and information fluency
1. Plan strategies to guide inquiry
2. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media
3. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks
4. Process data and report results
4. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making
1. Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation
2. Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project
3. Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions
4. Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions
5. Digital citizenship
1. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology
2. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity
3. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning
4. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship
6. Technology operations and concepts
1. Understand and use technology systems
2. Select and use applications effectively and productively
3. Troubleshoot systems and applications
4. Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies

Ipads

Ipads in Education

Description of tool:

Ipads are used in technology for many reasons. Ipads can be used for an assessment by you. You can test the students on their fluency, comprehension, or reading ability. You can also have students use the numerous education apps found on the app store. A lot of apps are free; you just have to dig for the ones you want. AppsGoneFree is a great way to find apps that are free for the day or week. It is also helpful to follow users on Twitter that are familiar with Ipads. The tweeters can suggest apps that may be good for education. 

I personally use Ipads in my classroom for IXL which is a practice program for Math and Language Arts. My students also use Ipads for apps to practice their spelling words. I use Spelling City. I have used Ipads in the past for Google Earth and Google Maps. The students LOVE finding their homes and walking on their streets. In previous years, students could earn free time on the Ipads. They played games that were educational or school appropriate. I would love to expand the use of Ipads and include QR codes and reading apps.

Pedagogical use:

There are numerous uses for Ipads. First, you can use Ipads to check for students' reading comprehension, accuracy, and retell ability using an app. You can also give quizzes to the students using Ipads. You have the ability to see exactly what your students are doing on their Ipad using an app called Classkick. You can also assign them problems to do on their Ipad and watch them as they do it. Students can use Ipads to work on Math, Science, Social Studies, or Language Arts. Students can also go on a photo scavenger hunt or use Ipads to go to websites using QR codes. The uses of Ipads for students are endless. 

Pedagogical Use for Ipads

 Holland, B. (2013, July 11). IPads: From Pedagogical Crutch to Education Innovation. Retrieved July 23, 2015, from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/ipads-pedagogical-crutch-education-innovation-beth-holland

Long, J. (2013, June 11). Why use ipads in education? Retrieved July 23, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=26&v=f_6TcE4-65E

Plan for Ipad use in classroom for the year:

Students will use Ipads to:

• go on a QR code scavenger hunt
• to practice their math skills we have been working on in class using Front Row and IXL
• to practice their Language Arts skills we have learned in class using IXL
• to find locations using Google Maps
• find locations using Google Earth
• read news articles daily from News-O-Matic
• create videos using various apps
• create presentations using various apps
• create project using various apps

My plan for how I will use Ipads will change throughout the year. I am always learning about new apps and I love trying out new things in my classroom.

Apps for Bloom's Taxonomy

 Darrow, D. (2011, October 25). K-5 iPad Apps According to Bloom's Taxonomy. Retrieved July 23, 2015, from http://www.edutopia.org/ipad-apps-elementary-blooms-taxonomy-diane-darrow 

Ipad Projects for Students

 Bosch, K. (2013, March 19). Easy iPad Projects for Elementary Students. Retrieved July 23, 2015, from http://www.slideshare.net/kbosch/easy-ipad-projects-for-elementary-students 

Location of tool:

You can find apps for Ipads at the Apple App Store. https://itunes.apple.com/us/genre/ios/id36?mt=8

Cost of tool:

The cost of apps vary. A lot of apps are free for the lite version. If you want the full version, you will have to pay for it. IXL costs the school money for a license. You will also have to have an Ipad in order to use Ipads in the classroom. It pays to follow tweeters on Twitter who use Ipads in their classroom. The tweeters can give you ideas on where to find great apps. I am constantly learning about new apps to use in my classroom due to developers always coming out with new apps. 

Why you want to use Ipads in your classroom:

Ipads are great to use in a classroom. The students fully enjoy getting their hands on an Ipad. Students, in my classroom, are more engaged when they have some form of technology in their hands. However, there needs to be a balance. If I constantly used Ipads all day long, the Ipads would lose their sparkle. Students use Ipads for maybe an hour in my classroom a day. It all depends on the activity I want them to do and how engaged they will be in the activity. If students start to lose focus on the task using the Ipad, I know it is time to move on to the next activity. 

Ipads are a useful tool to help engage students using technology. There are millions of apps that you can use depending on what you want to do. Students are growing up with technology and Ipads are a great way to incorporate that technology piece into your classroom. However, remember that there needs to be a balance. Students should not be using Ipads all day long. Even in one-to-one classrooms, students should be doing activities without the Ipad or computer. Having a balance between technology and instruction can help students more than just using the Ipad or computer all day long, 

Sources:

Bosch, K. (2013, March 19). Easy iPad Projects for Elementary Students. Retrieved July 23, 2015, from http://www.slideshare.net/kbosch/easy-ipad-projects-for-elementary-students 

Darrow, D. (2011, October 25). K-5 iPad Apps According to Bloom's Taxonomy. Retrieved July 23, 2015, from http://www.edutopia.org/ipad-apps-elementary-blooms-taxonomy-diane-darrow 

Holland, B. (2013, July 11). IPads: From Pedagogical Crutch to Education Innovation. Retrieved July 23, 2015, from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/ipads-pedagogical-crutch-education-innovation-beth-holland

ISTE Standards. (2015). Retrieved July 22, 2015, from http://www.iste.org/standards

Long, J. (2013, June 11). Why use ipads in education? Retrieved July 23, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=26&v=f_6TcE4-65E

ISTE Standards:

Students: 

1. Creativity and innovation
1. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
2. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression
3. Use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues
4. N/A
2. Communication and collaboration
1. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media
2. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats
3. N/A
4. Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems
3. Research and information fluency
1. Plan strategies to guide inquiry
2. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media
3. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks
4. Process data and report results
4. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making
1. Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation
2. Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project
3. Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions
4. Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions
5. Digital citizenship
1. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology
2. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity
3. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning
4. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship
6. Technology operations and concepts
1. Understand and use technology systems
2. Select and use applications effectively and productively
3. Troubleshoot systems and applications
4. Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies

Teachers:

1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity
1. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
2. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
3. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes
4. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environment
2. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments
1. Design or adapt learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
2. Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
3. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources
4. Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments, aligned with content and technology standards, and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching
3. Model digital age work and learning
1. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations
2. Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation
3. Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats
4. Model and facilitate effective use of emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning
4. Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility
1. Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources
2. Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources
3. Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interaction related to the use of technology and information
4. N/A
5. Engage in professional growth and leadership
1. Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning
2. Exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others