I usually write about technology tools you should try in your classroom and explore with your students. Today I am writing about a tool you should beware. Yik Yak is a location based anonymous social comment phone app. It allows you to post and see the posts of people near your location. Recently it has
DEN Techformation: Emaze
The Amazing Emaze by Janet Hallstrom PowerPoint has always ruled the presentations at my high school. Everyone seems to have a mastery of creating presentations with movies, sound, narrations, animations, and transitions. Wowing the students with PowerPoint is not even possible anymore. Prezi provided a new way for teachers to capture student interest in their
DEN Techformation: BlackBoard CMS for free!
I have been using Black Board with my students for a year now. One major disadvantage of Black Board is you need someone to host it for you. At my school we have a hosted solution. However, not everyone does. Fortunately Black Board introduced Coursesites.com last year. It has grown to 74,000 instructors. It allows you to
DEN Techformation: Web App Builders
I ask myself and others the question “How can we get our students to become produces?” It was just recently published that we will have a space elevator in 10 years. We are on the verge of major advances in all fields of science and technology. It is imperative that our students move from consumers
DEN Techformation: Teaching with Technology Thoughts
I began my teaching career in 1995. Over the past 18 years, I have integrated information technology into my instructional process and curriculum development. I have accomplished this by looking for technology that improved student learning and made me a more effective teacher. My guiding question when evaluating technology has been “What technology will help
DEN Techformation: CrazyTalk
In the world today of video teaching I have often found it difficult to deal with my face out there on the computer screens of thousands of people. I have made videos of just screen shares and my voice in the background, but sometimes there is a lot of static screen and just my voice
DEN Techformation – Summary of The Hour of Code
WOW is my first response to our celebration of Computer Science Education Week. We kicked things off Monday with a short version of the “Hour of Code” Video. Tuesday we had a snow day so with some scheduling adjustments we picked up on Wednesday with our school wide participation in the coding tutorials found on
DEN Techformation – What does a software company look like?
Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to visit AWeber. They are going to take part in our Hour of Code events next week. They have helped us organize several technology companies to come to our school district. These companies will demonstrate what they do and the paths that lead to employment in a technology company. One of the goals
DEN Techformation – Through the Looking Glass
In 2008 “Randy” Pausch died. You may have heard of the last lecture series, Pausch delivered his “Last Lecture”, titled ‘Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams’, at Carnegie Mellon on September 18, 2007. This lecture was modeled after an ongoing series of lectures where top academics are asked to think deeply about what matters to them, and then
DEN Techformation – Scratch
First of all I am taking advantage of my blog by saying “Thank You” to my wonderful wife for all that she does. Today is our wedding anniversery. I love you “Mo Bhean Chéile Álainn” In honor of the Hour of Code coming up (December 9th – 15th) I thought I would devote the