While I see this as a great tool to use to share daily pictures with parents, I'm not sure how my elementary age students could use this. After a long Marco Polo (my new favorite app) with my team at school, they shared with me that they find more of their great teaching ideas from Instagram.
My name on Instagram is Pamster30 and the picture below is the first one I figured out how to post myself. Forgive me that it is a picture of the daughter who was trying to help me. It somehow seemed appropriate.
Screen cast O'Matic
To figure out Screencast O'Matic, I first watched a couple of YouTube videos. Once I started playing with it, it was so easy to use. I created a video for my second graders to watch to use with our upcoming book study on Gail Gibbons nonfiction books. I demonstrated how to get into and use PebbleGo.
https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cFeZ0xDa7D
This may be my new go to! I love the idea of having these videos available on an iPad. I could create videos of things like how to do a station and the kids could readily have access to them. I can also see using this with parents to explain how I want school work done or how to use certain programs with their children.
I did try to play with Jing, but my laptop is issued from the school district so I was unable to download the program. I watched a couple of YouTube user videos and I like that you can select specific images and use just them rather that capture the whole screen. I may ask tech to override the security so that I can play with it more.
Flipagram - username Pamster30 https://flipagram.com/pamster30#_=_
I'm also going to have fun with this app. I'd love to see this used for quick book talks! A student could grab an iPad and in a few minutes record a book talk that could be shared with the whole school. The ability to add music, text, and special effects would definitely make this fun to use. I'd also love to see my little ones use it to create a Busy Bee of the Week video that could be on our FB page. Yes, I made a pathetic video of my cat and used a Rick Springfield song, but I'm old and lame according to my kids. Give me a little more time and I'll do something really great.
I really enjoyed reading your post- you are so funny! I love that you are finding so many new apps to use and have found new purposes for. I had only used Instagram in the past, so this blog was a major learning experience for me as well. It sounds like it was a challenging and fun experience for you- it is great that your daughter was able to help you figure it all out. Yay for teenagers! Good luck on your further exploring of the apps!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that you involved your daughter! As a first year librarian, there have been times that I had no clue how to use certain technology tools. I have a group of 5th graders that are my helpers. It's always amazing to see when the student becomes the teacher! I love screencasts too! Those videos are relatively easy to make and are so helpful! I have made about four this year for teachers/students, and it makes things a lot easier. Great blog!
ReplyDeleteI could totally relate with your struggles on using new apps. I like your idea of using Screencasts to communicate better with parents because it will give them a good visual.
ReplyDeleteYour screencast is fabulous! I am completely going to do something VERY similar with my students as we begin our end of the year Research reading/writing/Social studies unit! We use Pebblego also for that one. I LOVE the idea of having to only say it ONE TIME!
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