Digital Citizenship and 'Choose Your Own Adventure'

With YouTube's video annotation options, you can create 'Choose Your Own Adventure' type videos.  In the video below, a girl receives a text message from her boyfriend asking for pictures. The viewer then has to decide whether to  "send it" or not send it. The choice that the viewer makes takes him or her to a video that explains the "results" of the choice.


(from my limited testing, the selection of the options 'Yes' or 'No' does not seem to work on a mobile device)

How to use in Education

• Having your age-appropriate students or children watch this video is an excellent way to remind them about making good choices about what they do with images.  This would be a great video to embed into any digital citizenship curriculum.
• Using YouTube Video Annotations, you or your students can easily create a 'choose your own adventure' type series for use in your classroom.  

The Voice of the Active Learner

Are we doing all we can to support the Active Learners and Digital Natives in Medfield?

Check out this 2 minute video below:

FirstClass Tutorial Videos

If you are anything like me, you probably get frustrated at times with FirstClass.  Well, help is now here in the form of FirstClass Tutorial videos.  Open Text has a YouTube channel devoted to learning how to use all the features of FirstClass.   If you are looking to narrow your search of help topics, I strongly recommend this link instead.  So next time you are struggling with FirstClass or want a refresher on how to do something, please take a look at these videos.

One of the questions I get asked a lot is how to add a signature to the bottom of your email.  Check out this 2 minute video to learn how to add that to your emails:

  You can also find these videos in a more organized format on the FirstClass Tutorial page.

500 Free Online Courses

Are you a life-long learner?  Can you afford classes that cost $0?  Are you interested in topics such as Architecture, Art History, Film, Geography, Computer Science, Engineering and many more?

 If so, check out this list of over 500 free online courses from top universities.  Courses are offered via YouTube, iTunes or the web.  Read more about these courses at this blog posting from OpenCulture.com.

Getting Techy with it

Welcome to the inaugural entry of the Medfield Technology Blog.  I am hoping that this will be a valuable resource to keep you updated on what is going on with all things technology related at Blake and at the High School.  Without further ado ..

Medfield Specific News

Voicethread and Glogster

Many of you have expressed interest in using these products this year.  We are in the process of getting school licenses for these products and I hope to have them up and running by next week.  Look for an update in next week's blog or via email.  If you have not done so already, please fill out this short web tools survey and earn a chance at winning an Amazon Gift Certificate.

Web 2.0 Tool of the Week

Each week I will share with you a Web 2.0 tool that is free, easy to learn and can easily be adapted into your classroom.  This week we will look at a newspaper clipping generator.  All you need to do is enter text and click on 'generate' to create your clipping.  Here is an example of what it looks like:

How can you use this in the classroom?

• You can create a newspaper clipping identifying students who did a great job on a quiz, or the class as a whole that did well.  Simply post it on your Epson when they come to class.
• Have students write a newspaper article based on historical events and then send them to this site to publish 

=============================================================

General Technology News

• Did you ever want to be an expert on Google search?  Or at least improve your search skills?  Well you are in luck.  Google is offering a free online class in 'Powersearching'.  Here is the 411 from the Google Site: 

  I have already registered.  Who's with me?  You must register by September 24th.

• Are you a YouTube Guru?  Do you create awesome YouTube videos for your class?  If so, YouTube has launched a 'Star Search' for teachers with expertise in this area.  Find out more information by reading this blog post. 

How do you like the new blog?  What else do you want to see here?  This is a work in progress so all suggestions would be appreciated.  Simply add them in the comments section or email me.