Learn Zillion

This weekend I learned about a new resource called Learn Zillion from a Twitter conversation. Learn Zillion offers asynchronous video lessons organized by the Common Core Standards.  I promise the quality and organization of the lessons will impress you.  

Sample: 
Click here for a math sample. 

The easiest way to use this resource is to assign students to watch these lessons.  However, If you want to assign multiple lessons to students, you may want to create a class. To do this, click on "Dashboard" in the green navigation bar and then on "New Class." Enter in the name of your class such as "Mr.Cougars' Class" or "Algebra--Period 4," and then enter in the full names (or name and first initial) of your students separated by commas. Click "Confirm" to finalize your class--you can always add or edit your class roster later. Each student in your class list will be assigned a unique enrollment code that allows Learn Zillion to match them with your class. You can print out these codes and pass them out to your students so that they can create a new LearnZillion account or enroll in your class using a pre-existing LearnZillion account.  

I hope you can take advantage of this amazing resource!  

ThatQuiz

Have you ever heard the phrase "KISS"?   

"Keep It Simple Silly"  

 That is exactly why I LOVE ThatQuiz. 

ThatQuiz is a FREE testing service for teachers to use with their classes. Multiple choice test and math tests can be administered to students using this website.  All grades are immediately reported to the students.  Teachers receive complete record keeping results, including all grades and wrong answers.

Sample:  

To see a good sample you will need to dive in and take a quiz.  These are the URL's to a few practice Quizzes. 

Fraction Identification: http://www.thatquiz.org/tq/practicetest?tx40o4ky7329

Square Root: http://www.thatquiz.org/tq/practicetest?ty40o4mw7322

Algebra: http://www.thatquiz.org/tq/practicetest?tx40o4qw7329

Geography: http://www.thatquiz.org/tq/practicetest?tx40o50y7325
Cells: http://www.thatquiz.org/tq/practicetest?tx40o4tz7325

Conversions: http://www.thatquiz.org/tq/practicetest?tx40o52w7325

Designing your own quizzes could not be easier!  You can also browse the "Test" page and import quizzes other teachers have created and shared.  Over 300 quizzes ready for your class tomorrow! 

There is that bit of work at the beginning to set up your class.  However, once it is set up all you do is select the quiz and provide your students with the code!  KISS! 

Nearpod

Wow Wow Wow! Have you seen Nearpod? If not, you MUST take a few moments and take a look. Think about your best IWB lesson and take it one step further and you have Nearpod.

Nearpod is an application with online connections that allows a teacher to control interactive content on iPads, iPods, and iPhones. It is a complete school presentation solution eliminating the need for projectors and even a classroom. With Nearpod you can create and control presentations that are transmitted directly to the students devices.

Just think about it....for the first time since slate tablets used in our one room school houses, the teacher no longer has his/her back to their students while presenting.

Sample: 

Would you like to learn more?  Check out these snap guides! 

3D Toad

No matter how much I work with it, technology always amazes me.  Take a look at 3D Toad.  This site is filled with images that we can zoom in to and rotate 360 degrees. The galleries include dissections, animal skeletons, human skeletons, music, geology, TRX workout, coral, yoga, fossils, history, ballet position, chemistry, emergency preparedness, dental program, and computer networking.

When you are in the 3D Toad web site you can hold down the left mouse button to rotate the graphic. To zoom in you simply double click.

Samples: (These are screen shots and will not be 360 degrees.  You will need to visit the web site to find the 360 images.)

Sheep Heart

Rat Skeleton

Human Leg

Guitar Chords 

Geology 

TRX Workout

National Geographic Education

I have very fond memories of climbing up on my daddy's lap and looking through National Geographic magazines. I can still remember how excited I would get when I would see those bright yellow magazines.  I was intrigued when my dad would read me the stories of explorations we could never imagine.

National Geographic has redesigned their education page and it is fantastic.  The site is just in beta and now is the time we need to speak up to tell them what we need.

The first thing I can see is that they have aligned their content to the national standards.  They have included tons of multi-media to meet the needs of our 21st century learners. Their interactive maps are perfect for our interactive white boards.

The site is broken down into several categories.

Teaching Resource
The teaching resources include lesson plans, activities, and downloadable and printable worksheets.

The first lesson I looked at was called "Geography of a Pencil: How is the world connected to the pencil you hold in your hand?"

The objectives included

• identify component parts of a pencil
• recognize major producing countries of pencil materials on a map
• create maps of trade and transport networks
• discuss global trade and identify factors that affect it

Now, how cool would that be on the first day of school? 

Reference and News

The Reference and News section is a place where students and teachers can go when researching.   The middle section includes bright, colorful news stories.  Along the right side of the page you will find a "glossary quick find" and an "encyclopedia quick find". 

Mapping

The site shines on the mapping tab. (We would expect no less.)  

We will find

• printable maps
• featured maps
• map making kits
• satellite imagery
• map maker interactive
• mapping activities
• learning about maps

The map activity I looked at was "Make a Contour Map".  Students make dimensional clay mountains and then use them to make a contour map.  The activity included a complete lesson plan  and all of the resources. 

    Media
The media tab includes video and the beautiful still photography that National Geographic is know for.
There is also illustrations and comics. The great thing about this section is that student questions (and answers) are included.

Collections
The collections tab seems to be a teachers dream.  The people of National Geographic Education have done all of your research for you. They have found the best resources for a variety of topics.  They are all nicely categorized by grade level.

I believe that National Geographic Education has worked very hard on this amazing site and it will be an unbelievable resource for all of us.  Remember, this is a beta site and they are asking for our input. 


Bonus: You can sign up for educators newsletters here. 

InstaGrok

I am SO excited to tell you what I have found. 

Take a look at the new search engine instaGrok! 

WOW!

The first thing I saw when I started to investigate the site was their definition of who they were. "We believe that learning should be fun! So we are dedicated to building innovative technology to enable engaging, safe and personalized learning." Learning, fun and technology in the same breath? What is there NOT to love?

The first thing students will see is the search box. The people of instaGrok have made this very student friendly by asking the question "What would you like to learn about?"




After a student types in their subject they are presented with several exciting options! Let me show you by searching "solar system."


Visual Graph






The visual graph reminds me of Google's Wonder Wheel. You can quickly drill down your results by clicking on any of the sub-categories.



(I can hear those visual learners yelling "yahoo"!)


On the right side of the page you are presented with several other options including...

Key Facts





Additional Websites





Videos





Images

WOW!

IMPRESSIVE?

WAIT......You have not seen the best parts yet! 

Look at this! 

Quizzes

instaGrok produces quizzes based on student's research activity and skill level!




Skill Level

Learners can use this slider to toggle your search results from beginner to expert. At the expert level you will get a more defined search of the topic, while the beginner level is a much broader scope.

Now, if you are not doing flips you need to have someone take your pulse! 

Guess What? 

IT GETS BETTER! 

Students who sign up for an account are able to keep a journal of their search results and pin topics they wish to save. 

Cool? 

Guess What?

IT GETS EVEN BETTER!  HANG ON!

instaGrok offers FREE teacher accounts where we can, wait for it, TRACK OUR STUDENT'S PROGRESS! 

We are able to:

• see a students browsing history (Are they using the correct search terms?)
• view and leave comments in their journals
• see their quiz results

The student-teacher connection is set up using a class code you set at the time of registration.  You can read more about teacher accounts here. 

WOW!

IT GETS BETTER! 

It is my understanding that the people of instaGrok will come to your classroom and massage your feet while your students are researching!  (Not really, just seeing if you were still reading!)  :) 

Tripline

I believe that maps are a fundamental teaching tool. “Where” makes the lesson real and puts it into context. I have found a site that presents students with a "blank" digital map and the sky is the limit on how we can use them. Take a look at Tripline.

Sample:

Lewis and Clark


The Life of Anne Frank

 
Using Tripline, it is ridiculously easy to create photo enhanced, interactive maps. FUN