Creative Commons: Flickr

Posted on May 7, 2012 by peyer

We are beginning a project using Google Earth Placemarks that will require you to use photos and videos to enhance your descriptions of geographic locations in other countries Let's take a look at Flickr images.Flickr is an excellent place to find images that are available under the Creative Commons License.  Flickr allows you to embed images in your placemarks and give you proper attribution to the original author.

Creative Common Guidelines for attribution require that you cite the author's screen name(link to the author's profile page), cite the works title (link the name directly to the original work) and name and cite the specific CC license the work is under (link to the lichen on the CC webpage).

Flickr has a dedicated page that helps you easily find images that are listed under the Creative Commons License. If you are using an image from Flickr, all that is required is that the page link back to the original page where the Flickr image is hosted.

Although a newly configured Flickr now provides you with the html code which you can find under "share" this code will not provide you with all three Creative Commons Guidelines, it will only satisfy one.

However, you can use on online tool called ImageCodr to generate code which will meet all the attribution guidelines of Creative Commons as well as Flickr. When using ImageCodr, simply enter in the URL of the picture page (as seen in your browser) you are interested in and ImageCodr.org will generate the ready to use HTML code. It will also display a brief and easy license summary, so you don't get in legal trouble because you missed something.This is what a proper attribution should look like….

Now, grab the html code and paste it into Google Earth's Placemarks window! Have Fun!

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Madame Spatz: Les régions de l’hexagone

Posted on May 4, 2012 by peyer

The Jigsaw Strategy is an efficient way to learn the course material in a cooperative learning style. The jigsaw process encourages listening, engagement, and empathy by giving each member of the group an essential part to play in the academic activity. Group members must work together as a team to accomplish a common goal; each person depends on all the others. No student can succeed completely unless everyone works well together as a team. This "cooperation by design" facilitates interaction among all students in the class, leading them to value each other as contributors to their common task.

The Jigsaw strategy places great emphasis on cooperation and shared responsibility within groups. The success of each group depends on the participation of each individual in completing their task. This means the Jigsaw strategy effectively increases the involvement of each student in the activity.

Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how the Jigsaw Classroom works.

The project

You will be divided into small groups or "home" groups of four or five students each. . Each "Home" Group will be responsible for geo-tagging at least four specific highlights of the region assigned. Each member of the group will be assigned a portion of the project. Each member must research the material pertaining to their section of the project and be prepared to discuss it with their classmates.

For example, as a group, you might decide to tag the area of the Rhine River known as Alsace. Alsace is the Germanic region of France. It is a region lying on the west bank of the river Rhine, between the Rhine and the Vosges mountains. To the north and east, it shares a border with Germany. You will also want to include photos, videos to support your text.

Watch the video below to learn how to create the five highlights of your regions.

Here is a regional map you can use:

http://about-france.com/tourism/regional-map-france.html

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Corkboard.Me

Posted on April 29, 2012 by peyer

To use Corkboard.me you do not have to create an account. Simply go to hello.corkboard.me and click" Create a Free Board". Once your Corkboard.me is created you can copy the URL and share it with your class. Use Corkboard.me to assess your class, share a topic or voice an opinion. The video below will show you how easy it is to use Corkboard.me. One feature of Corkborad.me that is not mentioned in the video below is the picture feature. To place an image on your Corkboard.me, copy the URL of the image you want share, paste it on your sticky note and Corkboard.me does it's thing and the picture appears like magic! Click here to join my Corkboard.me and see a picture of my favorite dog.

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Online Content

Posted on April 27, 2012 by peyer

Many of you should be familiar with the databases  available through the SOMS Library Media Center Resource page. On the right side of the page there is a box titled, Web links. If you click on the Web Links box it will expand and allow you to access all of the databases. Databases permit its user to extract a specific group of disparate facts from within a collection of facts. The databases listed are curated by professionals and are authoriaitive.The usernames and passwords of each database is provided.

As we initiate our research project on our self selected topic and gather information, it is important to verify that information by looking at multiple sources.The Internet is not a library. The Internet connects us with a wealth of information on countless topics contributed by people throughout the world.

We have explored the use of the mnemonic device,  RADCAB earlier this year. You can read more about RADCAB by clicking here. But there are additiopnal ways to help you evaluate the information you find. Let's start by looking at three questions you should  always ask when evaluating any content Who created it? Who founded the organizations websiteand are they an authoratiatve resource? Why did they create it? Was teh website created to raise money or appeal for some sort of financial support? AND When did they create it? Be sure to use several proper tools such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, Sweet Search and Silobreaker to help find and evaluate sources.

findingDulcinea staff writes, "Bear in mind that you should never rely wholly on any one viewpoint, no matter how impeccable the credentials of the people who created it. All scholarly journals and newspapers contain “corrections” sections in which they acknowledge errors in their prior work."

Dulcinea Media released, "Teaching Web Research Skills," a web research tutorial that teaches educators and students essential web research skills. See the press release about the tutorial here.

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Teen Summer Reading Video Challenge

Posted on April 27, 2012 by peyer

 The public libraries are working together for the first time this year in order to grab the attention of  teens and get them reading over the summer.This spring, they are having a Teen Summer Reading Video Challenge!  Below is the url for a Glogster that was created which contains  criteria list/rules, and the entry form for the 2012 South Orangetown Teen Summer Reading Video Challenge. The Glogster is ready to print out and hang or embed into a web page on each of your sites if you would like. If you don't want to embed, but simply link to it, here is the URL:  http://goo.gl/O80fl

Again, this was created using Glogster.com. If you want to print hard copies to hang up, load the page and right click. A print option will then appear on a drop down menu. 

See the challenge in the embeded Glogster below.

 

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Three Words

Posted on April 17, 2012 by peyer

The National Day of Silence is a day of action in which students across the country vow to take a form of silence to call attention to the silencing effect of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in schools.

Founded in 1996, the Day of Silence has become the largest single student-led action towards creating safer schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. From the first-ever Day of Silence at the University of Virginia in 1996, to the organizing efforts in over 8,000 middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities across the country in 2008, its textured history reflects its diversity in both numbers and reach.

Students will use their cell phone to create and share what they think about name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools with a " Your Three Words" video. You just might be surprised just how much you can say in just three words."Your Three Words" is your chance to speak your mind, a handful — and a heartful — at a time.

How much can you say in just three words? Can you express your thoughts, your feelings, your sadness or joy? Could your three words be a celebration of a special event, or a thought on everyday life?

video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

 

 

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Pixorial

Posted on April 2, 2012 by peyer

Pixorial was founded in 2007. Pixorial is a privately held company based in Englewood, Colorado.
As a Library Media Specialist the students I work with vary in their comprehensive understanding of video editors. One of the hardest lessons they learn is that not all video editors are compatible with the video extension they have recorded for their project. Pixorial, regardless of whether their video was captured on their phone, web cam, film, digital or analog media, they can upload the following video file types: avi, .flv, .mov, .mp4, .mpeg, .mpg, .dv and .wmv files…which is AWESOME!

Please NOTE:  If you are working with iMovie be sure to check out these special instructions.

Pixorial was created to liberate the world’s video – to empower people of all ages to share, create and connect with friends and family through video. I will be sharing this browser Based video editor with my students so they can create and share their Pixorial video projects.

 

Video: Blog Post

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National Poetry Month

Posted on March 29, 2012 by peyer

April is National Poetry Month and as always, the FindingDulcinea site pulls through with some awesome Resources for National Poetry Month!!!! FindingDulcinea presents only credible, high-quality and trustworthy Web sites, saving time for the novice and the experienced user alike. FindingDulcinea also reminds us that, 'poetry’s effect is at its fullest when read aloud." Here are a few poems read aloud by their authors.

Here's Shel Silverstein doing a quick duet with Johnny Cash on Silverstein's poetry composition "Boy Named Sue,"

 

My Colleague, Kerri McBride and  I were virtually introduced to Rockland County Poet Laureate,Dan Masterson last year. I am sharing the story Dan shared with Mrs. McBride and me because many times life throws us a curve ball. Just like Dan, you can hit the curve ball out of the park!!!  This is the story Dan shared with us.

"I started writing poetry in 3rd grade, and in late June of that year I foolishly asked my teacher, Sr. Helena, to look at a poem I'd been working on.  She sighed and snatched the poem away from me.  She started reading it but stopped cold.  She growled: "There's an error in the first stanza.  Do you know what a stanza is, Daniel?"  – I looked at the floor and said, "Yes, Sister; I do."  – "Well if you can find the error and correct it, perhaps I'll read the second stanza."  – "No you won't." – "What was that?" – "I said you won't read it because I won't ask you to."  I raced out the door, jumped the schoolyard fence, and landed in my own backyard.  She didn't stop me from writing, but I never showed anyone another poem until I met Professor Whitney at Syracuse University.  I had a hunch he wasn't related to Sister Helena; he helped me along in my career. 

About ten years after graduating from SU, my wife and kids and I were back in Buffalo visiting my mom and dad.  I had just cashed a check at the local bank, and the clerk thanked me by name.  I heard a voice behind me: "Daniel, is that you?"  I turned to see Sister Helena, weathered but still as nasty as an old cigar butt.  "What have you made of yourself?"  And I was able to say:  "Well, I'm a Professor of English, and my first collection of poetry just came out from The University of Illinois."  She grumbled and said: "I'd like to see that, Daniel."  And I said: "Well, you can do that, Sister; it's in better bookstores everywhere"  – and I headed for the door."

Today, in 2012, there are many social media sites that allow us to share our inner most thoughts through poetry, photography, music, video and other digital media.

In Celebration of National Poetry Month, write a poem. Go to the place where you find inspiration such as an open, natural area or park or the venue of your favorite sport such as the track which inspired Dan Masterson when he wrote, STONES.  Allow the place you are experiencing to inspire you to write the poem.

Record the poem using iPadio in the form of a phonecasting. Create a phonecasting account with the service iPadio. Learn how to use iPadio by reading about it in one of my earlier posts.

 
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Memoire

Posted on March 28, 2012 by peyer

As soon as the dust settles after the New York State tests, eighth grade students will begin work on memoires. The unit will be to explore the genre of memoire and each student will write their own account of a significant moment in their lives. The assignment will ask students to answer the unit's essential question "what makes us who we are" by writing about a moment in their lives that shaped them into the people they have become. Applying the technology, You Are Your Words is the perfect way to enhance this unit of study.

The American Heritage® Dictionary invites you to create a self-portrait using your words.The words that tell the world who you are. That make you, you. It's easy to do, whether you decide to link to places like Facebook for words you've already written or write something new specifically for your portrait. Either way, you'll create a unique image that can be shared and saved and will remind everyone that You Are Your Words.

You Are Your Words – American Heritage Dictionary from Lollipop on Vimeo.

What words best define who you are? Write something entirely to express yourself. You need at least 400 words. Cut and paste words from somewhere, like a word document, to reflect who you are. Selecting  a different color and type style will create a different look. To change either or both, simply select from the available options. Your words, your portrait, your choice. You Are Your Words. Have FUN!

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Taking the Mystery Out of CopyRight

Posted on March 28, 2012 by peyer

Taking the mystery out of Copyright is an animated explanation that teaches about copyright and copyright laws. You can view the animated videos by going HERE. From this page you will also be able to find out which standards this resource meets.

Copyright Exposed is a short video of Cop E. Wright telling a group of teens the basics of U.S. Copyright Law.

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