windie


 * [|Prezi] || Prezi is digital presentation software that stands out from most other presentation systems. Rather than an long series of slides it presents the user with a large canvas that shifts and spins based on the design. Learners can present their ideas in a variety of ways from simple zoom and pan to an almost animated like presentation. ||
 * LucidPress || LucidPress brings digital and print publication to the web 2.0 world. A simple and intuitive interface allows users of any age to create professional looking publications that can be printed as flyers, books, or pamphlets. Alternatively the learners can create digital presentations, flyers, or magazines that easily run on a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. The collaboration system in LucidPress lets more than one author to work on each document in real time. Publication of a LucidPress document creates a dedicated minisite for sharing with the world. ||
 * [|Google Drive] || Google Drive stands out as a hub of creativity and collaborative capability. Drive provides each learner with a basic set of digital tools from document editing to presentation slides and spreadsheets. Additional tools for creating forms and drawing software makes Drive a portable office suite that can be accessed from any almost any computer, although it works best inside the Google Chrome browser. These tools alone make Drive useful but it can also connect to a wealth of other online applications such as Powtoon, LucidPress, audio mixing software, and Wevideo to main just a few. All of these apps store the learners projects in their Drive account so that they can be easily accessed from a central location. ||
 * KidBlog || KidBlog is a safe and secure space for students to learn the process and etiquette of blogging. Each student gets his or her own individual blog space that can be read and commented upon by other students. Teachers can set a variety of security features that limit who can see students work. Special permissions allow teachers to co-edit the blog with the student. ||
 * Wikispaces || Collaboration is an important part of work in the 21st century. Wikispaces provides a great space to teach students how to work together in digital project groups so that they can learn this important skill. Wikispaces' simple editing functions and page design make learning to create digital documents easy and fun for younger learners. Teachers can also use Wikispaces to create their classroom website allowing students to work on some of the pages and not others by controlling the editorial rights of the learners. ||
 * Powtoon || Powtoon allows students to create short animated films with text, images, and voice over capabilities. The Cartoon like format of the site is quickly engaging for students of all levels and interface takes very little time to master. Students place words and images on the frames and tell the program where and when they want them to move on or off the screen. Powtoon is a great alternative to boring slide presentations and each saves as a short film that can be posted on a website or shared online. ||
 * Blendspace || Blendspace is one of the best systems to use when teachers want to lead students through a specific set of websites or digital resources. Teachers create spaces that resemble a colorful grid or table, inside each panel is a website link, image, film or a quiz that is connected to the resources. Blendspaces can be used for guided webquest like assignments or as formative or summative assessments. ||
 * Livebinders || Livebinders are three ring binders for the web. The interface even resembles a traditional binder with tabs and subtabs for documents and websites which appear automatically on the binder pages. Livebinders are perfect for teachers who are creating complex assignments with multiple steps and great for keeping students on track by providing them with specific research information. Students can create an use there own binders to curate information or to create digital portfolios of their own. ||
 * Wix || Wix.com is one of the best website creation tools on the internet. The site provides its users with two editors (html5 and flash) that are used to create any type of website the user can imaging. The html5 editor is used for more modern and simple streamlined sites, while the flash editor supports a host of tools that can handle any fantastic ideas for presenting information. Both editors are drag and drop systems that do not require students or teachers to learn special coding. (Unless they want to). Wix websites host so many capabilities and are so simple to use that teachers and students will be a master website builder the first day, but will learn something new every time they return. ||
 * Pinterest || Pinterest was designed to use images to share ideas and information. As it has gown the site has become an almost perfect customizable virtual museum. Students and teachers can create and curate their own virtual tour through science, literature, or history in a matter of minutes. Students can find images online or can use digital cameras or smartphones to create their own images and upload them to there boards. From the board they can share and create collections used with digital storytelling or other projects. ||

Essay Writing

Without Technology Students will research a figure from the past to write a persuasive biography that shows that the individual is a candidate for a Nobel Prize. Each student will select a person from the current unit and look up information in the library to create a biographical portrait of the individual. In class and for homework each student will write a short essay the answers the question "Why does someone deserve to win a Nobel Prize?" The students will peer review each others drafts in class the following day then they will take their essays home and edit their work to create a final draft which will be turned in to the teacher at the end of the week.

With Web 2.0 Students will use computers in the classroom to research a figure from the past to write a persuasive biography that shows that the individual is a candidate for a Nobel Prize. Each student will select a person from the current unit and use a search two engines together information to create a biographical portrait of the individual. Each student will create a Google Document and write a short essay the answers the question "Why does someone deserve to win a Nobel Prize?" The Students will share their Documents with the teacher and at least one other student to collaboratively peer edit the essay through the comments functions. Students will modify the documents and the copy their essays on to their Kidblog page and add appropriate images to their posts. The class will read the final drafts and make comments to create a debate about who they think is the most deserving of the prizes. Finally the class will vote to award Nobel Prizes for each of the official categories.

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