Prezi

Prezi is my favorite presentation tool.  It is dynamic and non-linear and gives users the ability to incorporate images and video as well as links, documents (pdf, .doc, etc.) and create an animation path for the presentation itself.  Most people have used Microsoft Power Point or even Google Slides, but what Prezi gives you is freedom.  Unlike Power Point, it is a web based program that allows for real-time collaboration.  Google Slides, via Google Drive, is web based and allows for collaboration.  Prezi, in my opinion, ultimately wins out over Slides, because of its non-linear, open canvas feel.

The first time I used Prezi was for a graduate class at Wilkes University in which I had to make one for content I was currently teaching.  I chose to develop a Prezi based upon the Peloponnesian War:

From there, I took my knowledge of the tool to my students.  I tasked them with creating a Prezi based upon the history of ancient Greece.  There was some hesitation by some students and there is a fairly large learning curve to overcome, but ultimately they took to it.  No Prezi is going to to look the same, which is awesome.

Really, the powerful thing about Prezi is the ability for students to collaborate in real-time.  For the aforementioned Greece project, the students shared the link with me so I could monitor their work.  I will say that I did have one rogue student who decided to delete another student's work (a student from the same group).  Why?  Its beyond me.  Other than that, there were no problems.  Most kids really seemed to like it.  How do I know they liked it?  This year in my Guidance A class I gave the students many, many options for creating a summative multimedia project.  Two groups chose to use Prezi.  Its one of the most rewarding feelings to know that they take what you are teaching to heart.

 There are so many possibilities with Prezi.  I will say, however, that the creation of a Prezi should be saved for students in 7th grade and up.  It does require that students create an account and, I believe, it is just a bit too difficult for students in grades lower than 7th.  Elementary teachers can still use it.  I think its fun just being able to stop a presentation, zoom in and out, and check out what's coming next.
Teachers in higher level grades can have their students document the scientific method in science, classify and define shapes in geometry, list events in history, storyboard in English, explain a bodily system in health, and so on and so forth.  If you can't tell, I really love Prezi.  Try it out.

Feel free to comment or email me for any advice or help with Prezi or any other web 2.0 tools.

@jahocking #haven2point0


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Voki

This week I present to you a tool for creating short projects.  Voki is a web 2.0 tool that allows students to present information in a very different way.

Voki is an animated and graphic way to present information in a fun and meaningful way.  This is a Voki:

You can customize the characters face, voice style, and backgrounds amongst other things.  You can even record your voice via microphone or even cell phone by calling the number that they provide you with.  Its hard to deny that it is fun to use.  The students that I have introduced it to really enjoyed it.

So, how have I used this in the classroom?  I have an example on my webpage.  In Guidance A, the 8th graders are studying the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey.  The first chapter basically establishes a general understanding of each of the habits with definitions.  What I did was create a Voki for each of the 7 Habits and call on a student to press play on the smart board.  After listening, students would raise their hand and the student who pressed play would choose a student to identify the habit that the Voki defined.  This would go on through the 7 different Vokis.  I could repeat the exercise over and over, but I feel at 8th grade, that they get it by that point and it would be overkill.  I also introduced this application to my 6th and 7th graders at the end of the marking period and they were tasked with creating senryus (non-nature haikus).

The only catches I notice with Voki are that they require registration and only allow for 30 seconds of content per Voki.  Voki's Terms of Service are child friendly, but, by registering, a user needs to access email to verify the registration.  This presents a logistical problem, especially for middle school and lower.  What I have done in the past is create a single account via gmail, registered for Voki, and gave out the username and password to the students.  This does present logistical problems of its own.  Students could potentially edit or delete other students' works.  Teacher moderation is definitely required for this.  You could possible create 5 gmail accounts/Voki registrations per class and parse the students that way, but that would become cumbersome if you teach many different classes per day.  The 30 second caveat is hard to overcome. A student could create 2 30 second Vokis to make up for 1 minute, but I feel that takes away from the effect of Voki.

I definitely see the potential of using Voki when reviewing vocabulary.  It adds another dimension to terms and definitions that are more graphic than flash cards.  When reviewing states and capitals, a teacher could create an individual Voki for each state and the students could respond by saying the capital.  Similarly, for science, students could identify elemental symbols.  One thing I think would be cool to see would be students creating short poems and putting them in Voki.  The possibilities are endless, but restrained to 30 seconds.

If you have any ideas or questions about Voki, feel free to comment or email me @ hockingj@haven.k12.pa.us or tweet me @jahocking . #haven2point0

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Word Clouds

This week's topic focuses primarily on the manipulation of the building blocks of communication: words.  Word clouds have been around for a while and most of you have probably used them or, at least, heard of them.  And, there are a variety of different websites that generate word clouds in an user-friendly environment.  Best yet, they are FREE! and do not require signup.

Three word cloud generators that I have used are Wordle, Tagxedo, and ABCya.  Each has a bit of a different layout, but the operations are essentially the same.  Simply type or paste text and create.  I personally like to use Tagxedo, but all three are worthwhile.  If you want to create multiple word terms like "Abraham Lincoln," simply insert a tilde ~ between the two words like "Abraham~Lincoln."  The only catch I have noticed while using Wordle and Tagxedo is that, for some reason, they won't work in the browser Google Chrome, so use Firefox.

Aside from been kitschy, neat things, they provide solid educational value.  Some people would think that they are only applicable to vocabulary, but they can do so much more.  If you are teaching your students about music, have them create a word cloud on Tagxedo as a diagnostic tool to see how much they know about it.  For example:

Even the alphabet looks pretty cool (kindergarten? kids could assemble the alphabet in order from the jumble):

For high school, a word cloud can act as an aid in discussing current events like the Affordable Care Act by inserting the www.healthcare.gov URL into the appropriate spot:

Even the media uses word clouds fairly often.

One that I've created for my Personal Law class for Chapter 3 is:

If you want to try out other free-but-registration-required word cloud generators, try Tagul or Image Chef.  They have many other image options, but again, requires students to sign up and check their email for verification.

Another lesson for this week runs in tandem with word clouds.  And, its something that I just discovered.  You may want to create a word cloud, but want to use it on your word wall.  But, 8 1/2 x 11 is not that large.  How do you generate poster-sized images?  Finally, I have a solution.  Its an application that you have to download from the Internet called PosteRazor.  I've tried it out and it works well.  You still have to tape or paste your papers together, but it does the job.

If you want any step-by-step instructions on how to do any of the things that I have shared with you today, feel free to comment or email me at hockingj@haven.k12.pa.us.  If you have a Twitter account, tweet how you've used technology in the classroom by using the hashtag #haven2point0 @jahocking.

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Hello

Hello all!

Welcome to my web log, or blog for short, on implementing and utilizing web-based digital tools to help you improve your digital skills and literacy, engage and motivate students, and generally embrace the Web 2.0 revolution to maximize learning in the 21st Century.  I am by no means an expert, but I am attending Wilkes University to attain a Master's Degree in Instruction Media and I have been learning so many new things that I would be selfish to keep them to myself.  I envision this blog as a forum, because, just like in schools, our own education is an ongoing dialogue that relies upon communication and the sharing of knowledge.  So, feel free to comment, ask questions, or even make suggestions as you wish.  I appreciate you taking your time to view my blog and hope that you will get some new ideas, and, hopefully, I will, too.

Thanks,
Mr. Hocking
@jahocking #haven2point0
hockingj@haven.k12.pa.us
sites.google.com/site/hurricanehocking