Plumo on the farm

I thought I would put my rubric to good use and evaluate a software title that I would find on my computer at school. Here is my evaluation of Plumo on the farm.

Software Evaluation Rubric: Completed!

I'm so excited to share my software evaluation rubric with you all. Upon reflecting, the entire process was quite empowering. I had never questioned some of the software titles on the computer in my classroom because I never felt qualified to do so. After designing my rubric I can say that I definately know what to look for and how to go about evaluation the program in question. Truthfully, I do like all of the software that is on the computer in my classroom. When I go back next fall there will likely be some new titles. I will be able to evaluate them more objectively now!

Software Evaluation Rubric

I think I've stumbled upon a nice software eval rubric that I could use in jk! I like the fact that it has many of the categories that I already think about when looking at software for my students:-easy setup-overall content-interactive,-appealing-overall feedback

Sorry Peter, I think Zork would receive a Level R if I had to apply this rubric to your game! ;-)

Source

Learn360.com

Have a look at http://www.learn360.com.

It is a web site that offers:

• Hand-selected video clips provide targeted curriculum support.
• Easily accessible from school or home 24/7.
• The only streaming service to offer slide show capability.
• Cutting-edge digitization brings you the best quality streaming media in the classroom and at home.

Source: learn360.com

I know this doesn't fall under a traditional software program but I was intrigued by the last thread about streamed video. Learn360 has loads of different videos for different age groups too. Plus, there is a 30 free trial! Check it out!

Digital Photography and Special Needs Students

Again, another interesting resource explaining the benefits of photography in the special needs classroom. I like how the article explains that the camera helps touch on one of the five senses and can be used to reinforce a concept taught in class. A student who has difficulty in verbalizing can use the camera to take pictures of images. For example, if I were teaching a lesson on shapes I could have the special learner (perhaps with the help of a parent volunteer) take pictures of example shapes found throughout the classroom. Plus, it would be fun! Kids are exposed to cameras at home and on special events; they would just love to use one.

Ideas for digital photography in the kindergarten setting

I found a pretty good link with ideas on how to incorporate digital photography in the classroom. Some of the ideas are not foreign to my class as I have been doing some of the points. In any event, the ideas are for students and teachers too!

Tips for teaching students how to use a digital camera

So the student has a digital camera...now what!?!

I can image many pictures of the floor or out of focus or pictures snapped without any intention. To help my young students make good choices about taking pictures I found the following resource:

Teaching Photography to a 5 year old
-The above site is great as it explains tips to teach things like perspective, light and dark all to a 5 year old...I think I should be able to do this for a 4 year old! ;-)

The right tools for the job

Since we have been discussing digital photography in the classroom I stopped to think how I could adopt in my class. No doubt, there are many uses for a digital camera but, before I begin my digital photo adventure I had better get the right tools that can withstand a kindergarten pounding!
That being said, it would be foolish of me to purchase an expensive Nikon or Canon. There are just too many bells and whistles. I did some searching and reviewing and found the Kid-Tough Fisher Price camera. It costs $70 and can be found at Toys R Us. It is not so expensive that I couldn't get 4 or 5 for the class to share. I may need even fewer. This camera can take a punishment and it is easy for the kids to use. Thinking of some of the small things can go a long way later on!

Anyway, I do have a video commercial that I was able to obtain via Youtube. I was curious how to get a Youtube video and was able to download it via keepvid.com.

Technology for those with Visual Challenges

I'm not sure if this post is a better for the audio learner forum but it occured to me how we can get our visually impaired students to access the computer. This would be the opposite of the spectrum for these discussions. If I were to have a visually impaired student I would definately want him or her to use the computer. I was able to find some pieces of software that would allow for such a task:

1. JAWS - allows the computer to read aloud words displayed on the screen. This is much different than Kurzweil as it lets the visually impaired student navigate Windows and applications.

2. Zoom Text - allows for the student to zoom in on any screen to view enlarged graphics or text.

Source: http://www.2learn.ca

3. I also found a Microsoft resource guide for individuals with vision difficulties and impairments. Catering to the visual learner is an excellent strategy to employ. After all, we want to cater to a diverse group of learning styles. However, we shouldn't leave those who have exceptionalities behind in the dust; they can learn from this method too!http://www.microsoft.com/enable/guides/vision.aspx

Using digital photography in the classroom

I've included a link to a very interesting handout that identifies the various way we could extend lessons to use digital photography. The lessons don't concern themselves with learning how to use the camera per se but learning about the subject. In essense, that is what digital photography helps our students to accomplish; they will learn about the subject in a more engaging method than a textbook. The resource identifies extenstions to math, science, phys ed, etc. to name a few.

OSAPAC

In the threaded discussions we discussed the availability of Adobe resources for the classroom. It was made known that some Adobe resources were purchased and made available by the province. I decided to have a look at the Ontario Software Acquisition Program Advisory Committee (OSAPAC) web site to learn more. I found a listing of software titles available for my class to use in jk. Of course, there are other grade levels too but since we are discussing software resources for the visual learner it would be wide to see what is licensed for our computers to use. It is great that we are sharing resources but I often wonder if we are breaking any copyright laws installing some of the titles on our computers at school. In the case of the titles on OSAPAC, I can tell you with 100% certainty that we can use it and install it on a lab.

Adobe Resources

I suppose a discussion about digital photography in the classroom wouldn't be complete if we did not mention Adobe somehow or somewhere. In any event, Adobe has a collection of k-12 resources that make use of their image editing software. The downside to their applications is that they are so expensive. I remember a colleague of mine in the higher grades complaining that the Adobe titles were too expensive and they didn't have good education discounts (can anyone help me verify this claim?). Anyway, I thought I would share the resource for those of you who have Adobe photoshop or elements installed at your computers at school.

Ideas for using a digital camera in the classroom

I found a pretty decent web site that deals with way to incorporate digital cameras into the classroom. I don't consider myself picture savvy by any sense but I do use the camera a bit in jk to take pictures of the students in an activity or craft.

Irfanview software

I think it would be worthwhile to check out the Irfanview application found on Irfanview. Not only can it open and edit a myriad of different photo files but you can also add sound and make a slide show that could be played online....digital storytime anyone? The great thing is that it is free!