When elementary students need to research online I don’t want to set them loose on the World Wide Web. It overwhelms them. And some innocent search terms can turn up some distracting results. But students can search effectively and safely online with a custom search engine and an Internet browser for kids.
A custom search engine can filter unwanted sites and display useful sites. I customized the search engine on this site in about 10 minutes. It uses the power of Google to search the posts on this blog, only this blog. Teachers and students could identify their most useful sites, put them into a custom search engine, embed it on their classroom blog, and use it as their information searching tool. It’s efficient, effective, and safe. Of course, a custom search engine is like using training wheels and some day students will need to learn to filter their own information.
Learn More
Have you seen KidZui? This Internet browser for kids encourages exploration and social networking in a safe setting.
Quick Look at KidZui from Tod Baker on Vimeo.
Taking Action to Keep the Discussion
By · CommentsMore than 400 posts in less than two months. Hundreds of comments.
These numbers reveal the zest grade 4 students have for discussing, inquiring, and sharing on their blog Grade 4@IST. This blog was proving to be a valuable complement to the students’ face-to-face discussions in the classroom. That is, until it was blocked recently by the Great Firewall of China.
Eager to continue their online discussions, four grade 4 students decided to take action. They sent me an email asking for a solution. Here’s my reply.
I am sorry that your blog has been blocked. But I am happy that you are searching for a solution to this problem. It really is just a small bump in the road.
I have an unusual suggestion for you. It’s called Glogster. http://www.glogster.com/edu/
What can you do with Glogster EDU?
- Upload photos, videos, text, audio and more to create a unique online, interactive poster.
- Publish and share your creations and collaborate with other users on joint efforts.
- Integrate it with your Units of Inquiry as well as math, technology, art, music and more.
Take a look for yourself, discuss this with your teachers and parents, and then tell me what you think. It might be just what you need.
If you would like to try Glogster, please allow me to set it up for your class.
Best regards,
Tod Baker
I haven’t received a reply yet. If they decide to give Glogster a try, we have our own free IST K-5 glog that can take up to 200 students. (I set it up in about 10 minutes this morning.) That’s enough to support nearly the entire elementary school. In this educator’s account, students get a safe and secure place to share and discuss their ideas on glogs created with graphics, photos, videos, music, and text.
With its stylish poster looks and walled garden approach, Glogster EDU appears to be an attractive and safe place for students to develop individual ideas and work with others to improve their communication, collaboration, and creative skills. I do wish their glogs could be shared with others outside of our educator’s account. We’ll see how we can work around that, maybe by embedding the glogs in wikis and blogs.
I’m eager to give it a try and see how it compares to Blogger, the blogging platform they used before it was blocked.
More on Glogster
Glogster EDU FAQ
Today’s Bookmarks 05/09/2009
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Asian Region Educational Technology May Update - Annotated
Organisation for the 21st Century Learning @ Hong Kong Conference is progressing well behind the scenes. Some of the original invited speakers have been reconfirmed whilst others have now been replaced.
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There is no doubt that Wes is going to give you a lot to think about both in the keynotes and the follow up sessions that he will share with us.
- Friendly, knowledgable, informative. Can share info about details like mic choices for podcasts and big picture ideas like copy right in the classroom and beyond. - post by todbaker
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Inquiry based learning with technology to laptop programs to cybersafety.
- The three big ones! That’s what I like to learn about. - post by todbaker
- under construction - post by todbaker
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What a lot of people probably don’t know is that then, perhaps as now, laptop vendors knew very little about the needs of teachers and students.
- We can find those that know what we need. There are enough that we can stay away from vendors who don’t know what schools need. - post by todbaker
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Today Bruce has stepped out of this role and now consults in many parts of the world on 1:1 computing.
- Need to sit down with this guy. - post by todbaker
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- Glad I found this. Looks like a great resource for 1-to-1 laptop programs. - post by todbaker
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Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Today’s Bookmarks 05/04/2009
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simplified search engine
will be more attractive to elementary students
Hat tip to @joycevalenza.
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No Child’s Play: KIDO’Z Creates A Kid-Friendly Media Browser - Annotated
KIDO’Z is a pretty nifty Adobe AIR-powered desktop browser app that gives kids a safe and fun environment to play games, watch videos and/or visit pre-approved websites.
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and/or visit pre-approved websites
- Could improve information searching. Often Google displays too many results. It can be overwhelming. - post by todbaker
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What’s nice is that all these settings are taken into account at a content level, so KIDO’Z automatically caters the media it think is most suited for your kid(s) at first launch.
- Could customize by grade level. - post by todbaker
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To use the app, kids won’t need to know how to read or write since obviously the whole UI is quite visual of nature, and very colorful to boot.
- Effective for emerging readers and ELL. - post by todbaker
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Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Add ActivTips to Your iTunes Collection
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I just discovered ActivTips in Promethean Planet. The first video, Revealer Tool, downloaded in just a few minutes. This is one of a collection of podcast videos that focus on using ActivClassroom software.
The link in the photo didn’t work for me, so I manually opened iTunes and entered ActivTips in the search window. It came up right away. I pressed the subscribe button and now I’ll automatically get new podcasts when they are published. All of the videos are right around 3 minutes long.
I watch or listen to most of my podcasts on my way home from work. My podcasts have turned what used to be an unproductive and boring ride home into a enjoyable ride that I can customize with podcasts and songs that fit my mood. They also have given dish washing and other household chores an attractive side.
If you are not using iTunes, I highly recommend that you check out its rich collection of resources. My iPod is now one of the best tools I have for on demand, anytime learning and entertainment. I rarely leave home without it.
