Big Huge Labs

While attending the Presidential Timeline Institute at the Nixon Library last week, I learned about several websites that can help students create fun and interesting projects to display what they know. One of these was Big Huge Labs. There are tons of games and activities, but the three that I found most useful for a high school class were the Motivator, Magazine and Movie Poster apps.

The Motivator allows students to add pictures and text to create a motivational poster. It is an easy way to assess student learning, as are all of these apps. I also plan to use it as an anticipatory set for a unit or maybe a daily warm up. Here is an example that I created.

The Magazine allows students to create a magazine cover with headlines, date and price. Here is one I created to give you an idea of how to use it.

The Movie Poster is very similar, only one is promoting a movie about a particular topic. It takes some critical thinking to decide the title, leading actors, producers, etc.

I plan on trying these in my classroom this year. I think the students will have fun with it! They can be used in any of the social sciences and even for current events. I love programs that are adaptable to a wide range of topics and subjects.

Fakebook

This website allows students to assume the persona of a historical figure and create a Facebook profile for them. They can add profile information such as education, job, date of birth. They can also add friends and hold conversations. It looks just like Facebook and can be a fun way to assess student learning. Here is the link to a Fakebook that I created for Jimmy Carter. Here is a screen grab that shows what it looks like. Click here to visit the website.

Extra Cool Program - Xtranormal

What a fun program for teachers and students alike! I am in the process of making my first video and it is cool. You create a background, add actors, add background noises and then create a dialogue between the two characters. It is a great tool for students to show what they know about a topic as the two cartoon characters carry on a conversation. It is also a great tool for a teacher to engage students in a topic as the students can watch a scene and not just listen to the teacher talk. I encourage you to try it. Here is the link: http://www.xtranormal.com/!

Crazy About Prezi

It is official - I am addicted to Prezi! I heard it described as a PowerPoint on steroids and that person could not be more right. Wow! I have only created 5 so far, but I am hooked!

With Prezi, you do not need to add slides. Everything is done on a single, limitless "canvas." You can import an existing PowerPoints, add images, You Tube videos and text. You can animate things to zoom, rotate and even flip upside down. One of the coolest things I have done is embed a photograph or words so deeply in a picture or in between letters that it is naked to the eye. But when it is zoomed, one can clearly see what is there. Check out this one I made today on Cesar Chavez: http://prezi.com/y6syrsjqliby/copy-of-cesar-chavez/

If you have not tried it out, I urge you to go to prezi.com and check it out! You will soon get hooked as well. There should be a warning label on Prezi that says "Warning - Makes You Lose Track of Time!" Making presentations for class was never so much fun and your students will respond enthusiastically!

A New Community - Edmodo

As part of the Teaching American History grant that I am participating in this year, I have learned about tons of new technologies available to help teachers in the classroom.

One such program that I am currently trying is called Edmodo (http://www.edmodo.com/). It is like Facebook in appearance, but is a secure site that is specifically for teachers and their students. Teachers create a classroom group and students sign up. There is a place for assignments, for discussions and even grading. It is all FREE!!

I decided to pilot the program with my swim team and even though it has only been a couple of weeks, I like how easy it is to use. I can post the meet line up and reminders about practice.

Another cool part of the program is that it has a mobile app that can be downloaded for free and used on both iPhones and Android devices. I know teachers who are using it with middle school students too! Check it out and try it with one of your classes. Next up is my Economics class!