Group items tagged

"sources for free images and organizing them in such a way as to help you find what you're looking for. Here are the criteria we've examined: Subjects: Does a site focus on specific genres of images, or is it a mass collection of various image types? High Resolution: Lots of great image resources emerged in the pre-Web 2.0 phase, but it wasn't until bandwidth dramatically increased that allowed for the uploading of much higher resolution images suitable for editing and printing. License: The licenses vary extremely from source to source. Some are listed as Creative Commons (with variations on attribution and availability for commercial use), others are Public Domain, and still others have unique licenses that maintain copyright while allowing users to download or embed photographs. To better understand Creative Commons licenses, check out our post on Images, Copyright, & Creative Commons. Safety: Government sites and many specific subject collections are extremely safe for students to use. But before you start using one of these sites for student blogging, check out our safety note and examine the site to see if you find it appropriate for students. Some sites are terrible for filtering out inappropriate con"

"A good fact-checking site uses neutral wording, provides unbiased sources to support its claims and reliable links, says Frank Baker, author of Media Literacy in the K-12 Classroom and creator of the Media Literacy Clearinghouse. He adds, "Readers should apply the same critical thinking/questioning to fact-check sites." This post offers an annotated list of 10 fact and bias-checking sites that can be shared with students. Here's a rundown of 10 of the top fact- and bias-checking sites to share with your students."

Turn simple photographs into videos using this site. Once you sign up (it's free) you begin by choosing a video template and then adding your pictures from Facebook, Flickr, or your computer. You can set the order of your pictures, add captions to them and add text slides if you wish. Next you add music, either from their library or add your own from your computer. Your last step is to add a video title and any additional text and you're done. Completed videos can be uploaded to You Tube or Facebook and can even be embedded into a website or blog. The site does have a 30 picture maximum but that is long enough for most people.

Turn simple photographs into videos using this site. Once you sign up (it's free) you begin by choosing a video template and then adding your pictures from Facebook, Flickr, or your computer. You can set the order of your pictures, add captions to them and add text slides if you wish. Next you add music, either from their library or add your own from your computer. Your last step is to add a video title and any additional text and you're done. Completed videos can be uploaded to You Tube or Facebook and can even be embedded into a website or blog. The site does have a 30 picture maximum but that is long enough for most people.

A good introduction to how to go about using Google sites in the classroom

A good post from Common Sense Media about where teens are with social media today. The questions "Are teens totally over Facebook? Or are they using it even more than ever? are asked and an answer is attempted. From reports it is evident that there are many and varied social media being used by young people. Teenagers are dividing their attention between a sizeable number of apps and tools. These all allow them to write, share, video-chat, and even shop for the latest trends. The advice is:"You don't need to know the ins and outs of every app and site that's "hot" right now (and frankly, if you did, they wouldn't be trendy anymore). But knowing the basics -- what they are, why they're popular, and what problems can crop up when they're not used responsibly -- can make the difference between a positive and a negative experience for your kid." A few of these media are discussed in light of this.

Online museums and virtual field sites that can be used with students in class.

"This post offers a few resources on guidelines, and then a list of the top sites for open source images that are safe to get pictures from. "

Google site set up to share: Celebrating the Transformation of School Libraries and Computer Labs into a Learning Commons. April, 2015 ~ May 2016. Celebrate, initiate, advocate and create opportunities all year. April, 2015 ~ May 2016 Celebrate, initiate, advocate and create opportunities all year."

Spezify is a visual search engine. It gives related concepts at the top of the page and then finds images, definitions, quotes, symbols and sites related to the specified search. To limit some of the results you can click on the tools icon and take out some of the social networking sites. NOTE: Some of the search results may include 'M' rated content.

This visual encyclopedia is created by the publisher DK. It is new, so somewhat limited but they have plans to grow. I see it as useful for younger students, ESL students and special education students. The site is easy to use and has clear categories. It also offers other sections: What's New?. Videos. Quizzes. Fun Facts. Galleries. Another section called My Space will also be added. Teachers may create an account and access a lesson planner. The DK Online World Desk Reference may also be of interest. You need to create an account to use it which takes seconds to do. This site "explores topics in physical and human geography for every country in the world, and practices critical-thinking skills

"PBS LearningMedia now offers more than 100,000 digital resources, including common core-aligned videos, interactive learning games, and tools for teachers. The site is a partnership between PBS and WGBH Educational Foundation and includes tools to help teachers make storyboards, build lessons, and create quizzes using PBS's digital content. There's also a student view, which teachers can set up so that students can access class materials from their own devices. Many resources are also labeled with standards information so that teachers can determine how a potential lesson might line up with the common core. Though some parts of the site are available only to paid users, the majority are free."

"An annotated list of some free stock photo sites whose images fall under CC0 license."

Character Scrapbook, produced by Scholastic, is a web resource that is a simple to use. It offers a reader's response activity that students can use to analyse any character in a book or story. The template allows them to include details and reflections about a character through text, but it also provides the students with an opportunity to create a visual representation of that character. Once created they can save or print it as a type of scrapbook. . It offers is a simple way to engage students and also offers an opportunity to help them form a deeper understanding of a book's character(s). Character Scrapbook could be utilized with fiction or non-fiction text as an individual, small group and/or even whole class assignment There is a detailed teacher's guide on the Scholastic site that has a detailed how-to as well as lesson extensions.

Character Scrapbook, produced by Scholastic, is a web resource that is a simple to use. It offers a reader's response activity that students can use to analyse any character in a book or story. The template allows them to include details and reflections about a character through text, but it also provides the students with an opportunity to create a visual representation of that character. 6. Ten accomplishments XX achieved. Once created they can save or print it as a type of scrapbook. . It offers is a simple way to engage students and also offers an opportunity to help them form a deeper understanding of a book's character(s). Character Scrapbook could be utilized with fiction or non-fiction text as an individual, small group and/or even whole class assignment There is a detailed teacher's guide on the Scholastic site that has a detailed how-to as well as lesson extensions.

This tool offers free professional looking templates for newsletters, flyers, labels, and resumes. The sites newsletter templates are categorized for education, business, family, holidays, and by month. The templates must be downloaded and are compatible for all versions of Microsoft Word. These templates can also be utilized for a class newspaper, projects or even reports.

This tool offers free professional looking templates for newsletters, flyers, labels, and resumes. The sites newsletter templates are categorized for education, business, family, holidays, and by month. The templates must be downloaded and are compatible for all versions of Microsoft Word. These templates can also be utilized for a class newspaper, projects or even reports.

Video from AITSL site. (Ravenswood Schools for Girls, Sydney) Teachers discussing and showing how they go about encouraging student to develop a specific research skills ie framing the "Right" sort of question. Having the skill to develop good inquiry questions is important to self-learning and critical thinking. The audio is not great but a useful example nonetheless.

Video from AITSL site.

Post listing some great sites that offer music that can be used and shared.

AASL site. This page has links to their definitions and statements. The first is a definition that is the new position statement, "Definition for an Effective School Library Program," published by AASL as guidance for administrators, school boards and school librarians in the implementation of ESSA. It provides the elements of an effective school library program as a fundamental component of college, career and community readiness.

This site offers bckground music that is royalty-free and can be used for creative projects. You can search by mood, speed, genre, and more. Songs must be cited at end of the project as "Title" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) with Creative Commons License.

This site offers a comprehensive, easily searchable, fully-indexed, and freely accessible digital library of historical sources related to the creation, ratification, and amendment of the United States Constitution.