Technology Tools to Engage and Empower Students

As you know a technology tool that engages students is not enough unless the tool allows students to participate in meaningful instruction and learning. The author, Nicola Pino James,  lists 7 characteristics for useful technology tools.  He highlights 4 free examples found on the web. 

1. My Brainshark - allows students to make podcasts or voiceovers to PowerPoint or video presentations
2. PosterMyWall - creates high quality posters that could be used as a culmination of a project
3. Screencast-o-matic - used to create video or record what's happening on screens.  Can be used by both students and teachers.
4. Padlet - students & teachers can post stickty notes on virtual walls.  A good place for collaborative work.

All four examples have links to their websites.  Have you used similiar tool technologies?  What results did you get with your students?  Please comment below.

4 Free Web Tools to Boost Student Engagement.  Nicolas Pino James. 5.2.14.  edupopia http://www.edutopia.org/blog/web-tools-boost-student-engagement-nicolas-pino-james

Teach Attention Behaviors Before Using Technology

This article is important to educators and students as digital tools are incorporated in the learning process.  There are positives and negatives to these devices, i.e., tablets, but the key in maximizing their educational value is to teach students ways to focus their attention.  Digital tools of all kinds are here to stay with new ones not yet invented.  What becomes important is to define their educational purposes and teach students how to avoid negative distractions.  Students will be distract themselves anyway such as engaginbg in a more interesting ap, but that kind of behavior is predictable whether digital tools are a resource or not.  It's up to us to monitor that kind of behavior just as teachers did 50 years ago when only print materials and lectures were resources.

The Future of Tablets in Education:  Potential Vs. Reality of Consuming Media. 5.8.12 Mind/Shift
http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/05/the-future-of-tablets-in-education-potential-vs-reality/

What do you do to focus student attention on the learning purpose of a particular medium, other than paper/print materials?  Share with us.

Interactive Tools for Teaching and Learning

Want some neat tech tools to use in your classes?  Here are some excellent ones that can also be shared with your classroom teachers.  There are dozens of embedded links in this article.  I'm sure you'll find some that suit your purposes.  Great ideas!

Which ones appeal to you?  Try some and share with your colleagues.

Celebrating Interactive Scaffolds. Joyce Valenza  2.17.13.  School Library Journal.
http://blogs.slj.com/neverendingsearch/2013/02/17/celebrating-interactive-scaffolds/