Storybird

Image from flickr.com Some rights reserved by bev.humphrey

Storybird is a collaborative tool that anyone can use to create and share stories.  It is a very easy to use tool. First, you select artwork or search for artwork for your story. Then you drag pictures into your story and type around the picture.

In the classroom, this is a great activity students of all ages can use to strengthen their storytelling skills.  Students can also collaborate on Storybird and share their stories with others.  I think this could be a great ongoing activity in the classroom.  When students complete work, they can always work on creating different stories.

Here is a short video that describes how Storybird works:



To learn more about Storybird, visit these sites:
http://storybird.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad6svo2ndD8&feature=related
http://www.slideshare.net/digitalmaverick/how-to-use-storybird-2087596

Shout

Image from flickr.com Some rights reserved by Alex Dunne

Shout is a program recently launched between the Smithsonian Institution, Microsoft Partners in Learning and Taking IT Global. It is a program designed to let students from schools around the world tackle real-world environmental challenges. Through Shout, students and teachers can connect to experts in the fields that they choose to study.  In the pilot program done by Shout, students tackled the problem of deforestation and are currently in the process of raising funds, building awareness, and creating action campaigns to protect the Asian Pacific rainforests. In the coming months, Shout hopes to expand and enable millions of teachers and students to tackle the issues of land, water, and air through this collaboration process.

To learn more about Shout visit these sites:
http://shoutlearning.org/
http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2010/10/student-sourcing-science-shout-learning.html
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/10/27/new-web-site-combines-project-based-learning-social-responsibility/

Project Red

Image from Picasa Web Albums Courtesy of Zandland

Project RED (Revolutionizing Education) is a national research and advocacy plan.  They conduct research on technology in the classroom throughout the country.  Specifically, they focus on 1:1 classrooms where every student has their own computer.  In measuring the success of these classrooms, researchers look at eleven factors:
1. Disciplinary action
2. Dropout rate
3. Paperwork
4. Paper and copying expenses
5. Teacher attendance
6. High-stakes test scores
7. AP course enrollment
8. College attendance plans
9. Course completion rates (HS only)
10.Dual/joint enrollment in college (HS only)
11.Graduation rates (HS only)

Image from Picasa Web Albums Courtesy of freeitathens

When properly implemented, 1:1 schools outperform non 1:1 schools in both academics and financial measures. Project Red works to encourage the proper use of technology within the classroom. To find out more visit these sites:

http://www.projectred.org/
http://www.projectred.org/uploads/ISTE%202010%20Presentation%20v2.pdf
http://techandlearning.newbay-media.com/resource_center/revolutionizing-education-what-were-learning-technology-transformed-schools
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/06/28/survey-reveals-factors-in-ed-tech-success/

One Laptop Per Child

Image from flickr.com Some rights reserved by Laughing Squid

OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) is a nonprofit organization that provides laptops for children poverty-stricken areas of the world. The laptops that they use are called the XO.  Every child in a classroom gets one and the laptops are theirs to keep.  These laptops come loaded with educational activities and access to the internet.  Their rugged design makes them useable in all climates.  The screens are even designed to be readable in outdoor classrooms!  This is an organization that is purely for advancing the learning of the world's children.

To learn more about this organization, you can go to http://www.laptop.org/en/. To participate and give a laptop (they are $199 apiece) go to amazon.