There are so many interesting ways to use QR codes in the classroom and in the library. I'd love to use QR codes as a means for students to view book trailers of newly released books - or to have students create their own reviews.
My QR code takes you to a book trailer for one of my favorite books. Enjoy!
Little Bits
Prior to this week, I had never heard of Little Bits. I started by viewing Ayah Bdeir's TedTalk introducing Little Bits and demonstrating some of the products created by people utilizing them. I could certainly see these resources being accessible in a MakerSpace in a school library and having students products available for other students to interact with. Little Bits could also be used in science classes or in robotics clubs. I also liked Sansing's (2015) idea to use Little Bits as a basis for a coding class.
Google Expeditions - Virtual Reality
I had heard of Google Expeditions before, but hadn't had time to explore it further. I started by viewing the Google Expeditions Video which shows student experiences with Google Expeditions. One of the teachers featured in the video suggests that the students can "travel" to Verona, Italy to see the city feature in Romeo and Juliet. I teach Romeo and Juliet each year, so that idea really spoke to me. I could also see this app being super useful in world history classes. It'd be so cool to be able to really see the places that you're learning about. After checking out the video, I headed over to the website that sells different viewers. It was incredible to see how inexpensive some of the viewers are. I'd love to try to get some in my school in the fall.
Paper Circuitry
After checking out Paper Circuits last week, I'm super excited to interact with them at the Institute. It was really cool to see the project that previous 602 students created. The idea to create a paper circuit book that shows constellations was genius. I think that paper circuits would be really fun to include in a MakerSpace or in science classes.
Sphero Robots
Sphero Robots was another form of technology that I was unfamiliar with until this week. First, I watched the Meet Sphero 2.0 video. Although I thought that Sphero were pretty cool, it wasn't until I watched the Sphero Programming video that I understood how Sphero could be utilized in an educational setting. I would love to see Sphero Robots utilized in a MakerSpace or Coding Club. Also, as I was watching the first video, I noticed a video on Youtube about a BB8 Sphero! I can totally see students who are Star Wars fans getting into that.
MaKey MaKey
MaKey MaKey was a resource that I had heard of, but had never explored. I was immediately impressed by the myriad everyday objects that can be utilized in conjunction with MaKey Makey that were demonstrated in the Introduction Video. This is another resource that would be really fun to utilize in a MakerSpace. I'd love to have student projects on display that library visitors could interact with. I could also see this being used in science classes or labs as an introduction to conducive materials.
Ozobots
After watching the Ozobot How-To video, I have to say that I love the idea of illustrated code as opposed to computer code. Although I managed to complete my hour of code last week, it was kind of frustrating experience. I think that this type of code would be much easier for me to understand, and would have been the perfect resource to use to teach myself the fundamentals. I would definitely utilized Ozobots in a MakerSpace. Also, the Ozobot website includes some really cool lessons that teachers can utilize in their classrooms - love that!
Green Screen
Of course I'm familiar with the idea of a Green Screen, most people who watch the weather segment of any news program are. Though I remember my first real understanding of what a Green Screen was came from watching "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" when I was a kid.
I truly enjoyed Tim Ley's (2017, May 29) blog tutorial Portable Green Screens in the Library. I'd love to work have a class work with librarians to create the green screens, and then have them give reports or book reviews using the screens that they made.
Aurasma
I was excited to see Aurasma on the list of featured technologies for this week. We actually had the opportunity to use Aurasma in one of my English 9 classes last semester. I had students use Aurasma to create book talks as an independent reading project. Although the students enjoyed using Aurasma, we definitely experienced some technical difficulties with regard to the length of videos and linking videos to trigger images.
Memes
One of the history teachers in my building has students create memes to highlight important pieces of U.S. history. They're often hilarious, and allow students to demonstrate their understanding of a given topic in a fun, relevant way.
Although I've seen other teachers utilize memes in the classroom, I haven't. It was really fun to check out Sharon Serano's (2016) featured student memes.
With regard to Aviary - it seems interesting, but I don't have an iPad or iPhone. It'd be great to see an app that works on all devices.
References:
Bdeir, A. (2012, February). Building blocks that blink, beep and teach. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/ayah_bdeir_building_blocks_that_blink_beep_and_teach#t-1215
Google for Education. (2015, May 28). Expeditions: Take your students to places a school bus can't. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlYJdZeA9w4
Ley, T. (2017, May 29). Portable green screens in the library. Retrieved from https://libraryadventuring.blogspot.com/2017/05/portable-green-screens-in-library.html
Ozobot. (2014, December 15). How to: Use your Ozobot bit - part 1. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5d4iXGbIGs
Sansing, C. (2015, February 11). SLJ reviews little bits: These bright, appealing sets encourage tinkers to explore electronics. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com/2015/02/opinion/test-drive/slj-reviews-littlebits-these-bright-appealing-sets-encourage-tinkerers-to-explore-electronics/#_
Serano, S. (2016, December 2). 5 ways to use memes with students. Retrieved from https://www.iste.org/explore/articleDetail?articleid=858
Shidler, B. (2016, February 5). Sphero programming. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V2Xco6GC8E
Silver, J. (2012, May 13). MaKey MaKey: An invention kit for everyone. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfQqh7iCcOU
Sphero. (2013, September 19). Meet Sphero 2.0. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43tctP24Xmo
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