004 New ICT one day intensive course idea

I'm considering running a second ICT course for one day. 4 x 90 minutes of sessions.

1. Introduction and Use of Prezi
2. Free online tools, TwinSpace, Google Docs, Blogger, project based learning
3. How to make a video using Windows Live Movie Maker
4. Apps for education, Educreations, Inkling, SimpleMind, and more

I want to have several rooms with computers and internet access so everyone can actually create materials. I honestly don't know how we're going to cram everything in to the time we have. I'll likely adjust the timing. I would like to see everyone make something they can take away and use.

I'm considering posting this in my classroom. Would you?

Questions? Comments? Wish Lists?

003 Use VDownloader to download Youtube videos

If showing something from YouTube in class is critical to your lesson plan, consider using VDownloader to get an offline copy.

This is another reason why I like the English Explorer series from Nowa Era. I can easily find videos about topics in the units so even if I don't have the DVD (I do) for a unit, because all the units are based on real articles from National Geographic, I can always find something online.

Full disclosure: While I have run teacher training workshops for Nowa Era in the past, I did so because I genuinely like their books and my endorsement is unsolicited.

002 Tuesday and Karatasi free flash card app

The first time I stepped into an actual classroom this year was as a student. I'm finally going to learn to speak and write Polish accurately.

I'll be taking my notes and using an open office spreadsheet program to create a set of flash cards to input into my Karatasi (iphone app) free flashcard program.

Here is a link to the tutorial I will use:
http://ashevillescrabble.com/Asheville_Scrabble_Club/Scrabblog/Entries/2011/9/1_Karatasi_Flashcards_for_iPhone_Tutorial_by_Kate_Fukawa-Connelly.html

001 Alpha Monday: First day of school

As it's the first day of school, I want to take the time to thank all the participants who attended my day of teacher training in Interactive last Thursday.

I found a short video promoting a book I would like to use in class as the basis for a motivating vocabulary lesson: http://youtu.be/DJ2T4-rUUcs

It feels good to be back in Warsaw. It was a long and rewarding summer teaching film-making to 9-12 year olds with a fabulous team of teachers and I'm sure you've heard the old chestnut: "East or West, Home is best." and that's how I feel about it too.

What I like best about collecting useful things online is they don't weigh anything and take up zero space.

Educreations and Simple Mind

My most useful apps for IPad.