Technology and Learning

SERIOUSLY - I had heard about Google Cardboard about a year ago maybe?  and thought that is pretty cool.  Well, I FINALLY ordered one myself and am OBSESSED with it!!!!  If you have NEVER heard of it or seen it, for $19.99 it's worth the buy!  You simply download the Google Cardboard app, or any other of the tons of virtual reality apps compatible with is (here is a list and yet a few more ) and insert your iPhone or Andriod and you are SET:)!!!  Everything from taking a virtual field trip, to riding a roller coaster, to swimming with sharks, to shooting ducks and zombies.  Really, there are NO limitations to this thing!  Here are a couple of photos of a kiddo using it so you can see what is looks like once it's in use: NOW - to take it a step further - we sat down today and started playing to create our OWN virtual tour of our school - starting in the library.  We used the app Google StreetView and simply followed the directions on the ...

  One of our 4th grade teachers, Mrs. Tonsfeldt, is reading the book I Survived: Joplin Tornado, 2011 by Lauren Tarshis with her class.  She created a Padlet for them to reflect on one of the characters:   What a SUPER easy way to get IMMEDIATE feedback from your kids AND have a compiled list of character traits and opinions. Here's one more that she did TODAY - again just a quick quick check:)  However, SO very interactive, all students have to participate and easy to set up! I know that I have talked about about this website before, but it's SO WORTH mentioning again! Start Padletting:)!! Happy Tuesday, Mrs. I:)

  I have two sons!  At a very young age, they obviously wanted legos.  We started with mega blocks , moved on to duplo blocks , and finally made the transition to real legos .  Now EVERYONE knows the value in a lego - EVEN if you're a parent of a girl.  I mean WHO WOULDN'T love the new Frozen Castle or Cinderella Lego sets available for even the youngest princess:)!! The fine motor skills and creativity they create in children is something that can NOT be taught!!   However, legos are NOT just for homes anymore - legos are becoming (and I might add HAVE been for many years) a HUGE part of the education field as well.  When I was down at the TIES conference before Christmas break, I saw some REALLY neat ways that legos are being used in the classrooms.  I used them when I taught fifth grade as a "creativity" center - kids could come up with a unique car, and then change it to make it run faster, go further, or hold more weight.  They compile...

I can't even begin to tell you ALL the things that I saw and TOTALLY loved at TIES 2015.  Here is a link to ALL the break out sessions and presentations that took place this weekend - A M A Z I N G!! TIES Break Out Sessions Here is a QUICK breakdown of what I attended and what I learned and thought was worth my time:)!! 1. MakerSpace - this seemed to be the "theme" of the conference, or a NEW AND HIP thing, but in all actuality, it has been around for a LONG time, just called things like learning centers, rotations, etc... WITH the exception of allowing KIDS TO EXPLORE and learn through TRIAL AND ERROR, instead of US always giving THEM the answer - THEY FIND THEM:)!!   True definition might be: " creative, DIY spaces where people can gather to create, invent, and learn."  The speaker I listened to, Jen Legatt (who is a media specialist), created a MakerSpace in the media center.  Here is  a list of items that they have: puzzles, bananagrams , legos, puz...