Discovery Streaming Closed Caption Files
When you download a Discovery Streaming video that has closed captions, you will also need to download the CC (closed caption) file so that you will be able to see the words scroll at the bottom of the video when it is playing. Closed Captions will assist ELL students, struggling readers and can be used to emphasize grammar and vocabulary.
Instructions on downloading and editing the Closed Caption file can be found here.
Using the Elmo Document Camera to Create Digital Video
This short video, presented by Beth Leidolf (York World Language Teacher), will show you how you can use the Elmo document camera to create digital video or take still camera photos.
Using the Elmo Document Camera to Create Video
By attaching a USB cable from the Elmo document camera to your laptop, digital video files can be created and saved to your desktop or shared with staff and students. The USB cable that came with your document camera is gray. One end will fit into the USB port of your laptop. The other end will fit into the port in the base of the Elmo document camera. If you do not see Elmo software on your computer, please send a tech request to TechHelp@elmhurst205.org
Handout: Elmo Document Camera Setup for Video
Document Cameras in the Classroom
Document cameras are becoming more and more available in classrooms. If you have one available to you and are ready for some new ideas on how to use a document camera in the classroom, check out some of these online resources:
- Document Cameras in the Classroom - 50 favorite Uses
- 100 ways to use a document camera
- How can I use a document camera in the classroom?
Building Fluency with Audacity
All District 205 computers have a program called Audacity. Audacity is a free easy to use digital sound recorder. You will find that it is much easier to use than an old fashioned tape recorder. Students can read passages into your computer and listen to their recording to self assess. If you have not tried Audacity yet, simply open the program and follow these simple steps ... Audacity Basic Training or use a very basic handout to become familiar with the tools.
Once you get the hang of it, you can export your Audacity project as an MP3 file and save to a CD for playback in a CD player. Exporting your files to an MP3 file will also allow you to add sound effects and music. Your students could be creating podcasts to share in no time!
Because Audacity is a free program, you can install it on your home PC and encourage students to install it at home as well! Information on downloading the Audacity program can be found here....
First graders from New York share their first podcast experience.
Edmodo - An online communication tool for you and your students
Edmodo allows for instant communication, as well as, the transfer of files. Prior to using Edmodo in your classroom, please review Internet Safety and Digital Citizenship guidelines appropriate to your grade level.
- A helpful introductory screencast for teachers starting to use Edmodo can be viewed here...
- Example of a homework post
- Information regarding Edmodo from Discovery Education
- Gower Middle School
Kidblog.org Brings Safe Simple Blogging to K-8 students
Kidblog.org is a safe, simple way to have students in grades k-8 experience blogging! Online blogging will increase student engagement and break down classroom walls to share posts and comments
Kidblog.org is a safe, simple way to have students in grades k-8 experience blogging! Online blogging will increase student engagement and break down classroom walls to share posts and comments with others. We encourage to have teachers bring internet safety curriculum to students in this social networking environment.
Examples of Kidblog in action:
- Baker's Blog - Cyberbullying for Teachers and Administrators
- Baker's Bunch - Example of Grade 4 Internet Safety Post
- Room 8 Is Great KidBlog
- Lee Kolbert's Grade 4 Students from Florida:http://kidblog.org/mrskolbertsclass/
- Miss Dunsigers Class, Grade 1 - http://kidblog.org/missdunsigersclass/
Find Sounds Search Engine
Sounds can help clarify some words for ELL students. They can also add to a podcast, digital story or poem and many other student or teacher created projects. Find Sounds search engine will search for terms that you enter and return a variety of audio tracks that can be downloaded and used in your digital work.
Be sure to follow copyright rules when using any type of media.
Power Point Tip
Computers have a number of different fonts available to the various programs that are installed. If you create a PowerPoint on a computer and plan to present on a different machine or share the powerpoint with someone via email, the font you choose may not be the one that shows up!
Once the Power Point is opened on a different computer, your special font may not be available. Instead, a rogue font will show up which might throw your entire presentation off. Presenters have learned, often the hard way, that it is generally best to use a font standard to most machines.
Fonts available to machines that have Office 2007 available are listed here.... http://tinyurl.com/ycc4mbe. If your font is not on the list and you still believe it is necessary to your presenation, you had better embed! Information on embedding fonts can be found here... http://tinyurl.com/nndsa4
Community Clips
Using Community Clips in the classroom is all the rage! Community Clips will create a recording of your computer screen with audio as long as a microphone is available. Think of the possibilities! Record for playback when students who are absent return. Have student record sessions to teach others. Have students summarize at the end of class what they have learned. Review student digital writing in Community Clips and create a digital conference with the student. The ideas on how to use Community Clips are endless!
This Office 2007 Add In is FREE and should be on all student and teacher computers that are running Office 2007. If you do not see the Community Clips Add In when you open Word or any of the other programs of the Office 2007, please contact tech support. At home, you can add the Community Clips Add In from the Microsoft Website - http://communityclips.officelabs.com/download.aspx . The file is saved as a .wmv file for playback in Windows Media Player.
Thinking Critically
Students need to learn how to select reliable websites to use as resources for research projects. These websites will provide a good start to understanding key points to remember when collecting information.
Students need to learn how to select reliable websites to use as resources for research projects. These websites will provide a good start to understanding key points to remember when collecting information.
