Live Search Club is a website that teaches how to search the web while playing games.  It has different type of games to play which ask you some questions, if you can answer the question great, if not you can get a hint that leads you to searching the web.  It has a split screen with the game on top and the search on the bottom.  You earn points when you play the game and then can redeem the points for prizes.

You do have to subscribe to the website but you do not have to pay.  There are no ads but it is sponsored by MicroSoft.  There is also one game, Picture This, where you try to “read” the mind of your opponent.  You are both given a topic and some picture.  You click on the picture you think best represents the topic.  You earn points if you and your opponent choose the same picture.  Microsoft then uses this information to order picture in image searches on the web.

I like this site as a reward.  It is educational but allow freedom to choose which game you like.  Students could do this when done with other projects or with extra time.

Besides having students make their own podcast, students can also use podcast on the web for learning.  As a teacher you could have links on your webpage or give students links to podcast on the web that might be helpful to what you are studying.

My son who is 19 listens to podcast every night.  He stated that almost all of his professors in college use podcast of their lectures.  I don’t see why this can’t be used in high school.  I know when my husband was in college he used a tape recorder, this way it is a  podcast.  It would be a good way for students to review at home.  Of course, this would widen the “gap” for those students who do not have access at home.

I am have a hard time finding ones for Algebra, but at National Public Radio there are a lot of podcasts that teachers can use.  One that my son uses is Twit for technology.

One way to use podcasting in the classroom is to have students make podcast about what they have learned.  My daughter used garage band to make a podcast of a song she and another student wrote about Ecuador.  They had the choice of podcast, writing a letter, or making a post card.  This is a creative way to have students who are audio learners to be creative and share what they have learned.

I have found this website:  http://blendededu.com/2008/03/podcasts-and-classroom-use.html which has many uses of podcasting in the classroom.

I have also put a podcast on my Literacy Project web site.

When I have been doing my post, I have been adding pages instead of posts.  This is a problem because when people look at my blog, they have to click on each page to see new post instead of just scrolling down.  Also, if they were to subscribe to my page, I am not sure it would tell them there has been an update because it is a new page not just a new blog.

I cannot find a way to change this easily.  You could delete each page and then completely redo as a post instead of a page.

If you were someone who blogged on many different things, the pages probably would be good.  I can see having a different page for each class as a teacher and then students just blog on their page, but then why not just have a sperate blog for each class or interest?

The following are facts about Mrs. Quintavalla or Mrs. Chantiny.

You need to decide if it is Mrs. Quintavalla, Mrs. Chantiny or both.<

1.  Home town is Bad Axe.

2.  Was a dancer.

3.  Has a son.

4.  Has lived in Germany.

5.  Lived in Brooklyn.

6.  Home town is Bad Axe, and the mascot is a Hatchet.

7.  Likes Country music.

Please respond with what you think!

Hello everyone,

Are you currently using Educational Technology in your classroom?  If so, how?

After all we have learned in these past few months, are you planning on using any new technology this fall in your classroom?  Tell me about it!!!