It has been quite sometime since I posted on this blog, and for good reason. I have been busy! Over 10 years ago I started this instructional technology site to share my learning from my master’s program at the University of Wyoming and my adventures as an instructional technology director for a school district. Life has thrown a few curves into my life’s plan along the way, but I still find myself in education but at the classroom level. Last summer, I gained new employment teaching world geography at Johnson Junior High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I was able to bring my family back to my home state and to leave the Sand Hills of Nebraska behind after almost a decade living there. My new exploits have brought me from teaching 8th grade American History to 7th grade World Geography, and I have spent most of the year developing a website and learning tools that can be found at http://oxpower.org (http://geosearcher.wordpress.com). I continue to use Quia (http://quia.com) for building most of my tutorials, the old and trusty Content Generator tutorial creator software, and make most of my presentations for students via Prezi (http://prezi.com). The summer, then school year, has flown by with a major move, and getting accustomed to a new school, students, and staff, but I feel right at home in my native state. The fall allowed myself and my family to attend almost every Wyoming Cowboy home football game, and we even caught a basketball game when the Cowboys were at home for the CBI tournament that they eventually won! I recently purchased a new computer (Mac Mini), and have been transferring and setting things up to keep rolling with technology (I shall share my adventures with that soon). So, there is an update for those that care, and for those that may have thought I had fallen of the face of the earth!
Posts Tagged ‘Education’
Who has been blogging for a decade!?!
Posted: May 3, 2017 in Education, Instructional Technology, TechnologyTags: ed tech, Education, Instructional Technology, Technology
Free and Cheap Instructional Technology Resources
Posted: April 8, 2016 in UncategorizedTags: Education, Educational Technology, Instructional Technology, Learning, software, teaching, Technology
I was recently asked for a list of free and cheap instructional technology resources that I have found productive for use on computers. Here is a list in no particular order. I will share an app list (iOS & Android) later…
Hot Potatoes (FREE quiz maker) https://hotpot.uvic.ca/
Quia (Subscription quiz maker) http://quia.com
Kahoot (Online quiz maker) https://getkahoot.com/
WordPress (FREE Web space creator) https://wordpress.com/
Wikispaces (FREE Wiki maker) https://www.wikispaces.com/
PBWorks (FREE Wiki maker) http://www.pbworks.com/
Delicious (FREE bookarkmarking service) http://delicious.com/
Diigo (FREE bookarkmarking service) https://www.diigo.com/
MOODLE (Open Source Learning/Content Management System) https://moodle.org/
GIMP (Open Source Image Editor) https://www.gimp.org/
Inkscape (Open Source graphics software) https://inkscape.org/en/
Open Office (FREE Productivity Suite) https://www.openoffice.org/
Audacity (FREE Audio Editor) http://www.audacityteam.org/
Kompozer (FREE Webpage Creator) http://www.kompozer.net/
Ubuntu (FREE Operating System) http://www.ubuntu.com/
VLC (FREE Media Player) http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html
Blender (FREE Digital Rendering Software) https://www.blender.org/features/
Scratch (FREE Programming Software) https://scratch.mit.edu/
InfranView (FREE Image Graphic Editor) http://www.irfanview.com/
PDFSAM (FREE PDF Manipulator) http://www.pdfsam.org/
Jing (FREE Screenshot/Screencast Software) https://www.techsmith.com/jing.html
WWI Online Games…
Posted: December 14, 2015 in Educational Technology, Gaming, History, Instructional TechnologyTags: Education, Gaming, History, School, WWI
I have shared a few of these WWI online simulations and games before. Enjoy!
Assistive Technology
Posted: July 30, 2015 in UncategorizedTags: assistive technology, Education, Instructional Technology, Technology
There is a great article on assistive technology at Buzz Feed titled – How A Simple Apple Feature Called Switch Control Is Changing Lives
“For years, Christopher Hills’s cerebral palsy made it nearly impossible for him to use a computer. Now he’s editing video on one.”
10 Essential FREE Android Apps…
Posted: June 7, 2015 in Android, Apps, Education, Educational Technology, Instructional TechnologyTags: android, Android apps, apps, Education, StraghtTalk, ZTE
Android apps are plenty, and I have had the past couple of years to decide on what I consider to be the most essential. I am a low end user, purchasing economical devices for classroom use and, in the case of my phone, a StraightTalk ZTE Rapido LTE device. In these situations you don’t have access to much storage space; so, I have narrowed my usage to the following apps (all FREE):
WPS Office (Kingsoft): My go to app for reading and creating documents as needed. Yes, Google Drive is there too, but I really like WPS Office on my devices.
AVG AntiVirus & AVG Cleaner: Great antivirus detection and a cleaner to free up space when I need it.
Camera360: Solid photography app to make your phone camera full featured.
AccuWeather: In the Midwest it is nice to know what is on the horizon. This app provides you with all the information you need.
Chrome: First choice browser.
Dolphin Browser: The browser I use when I need to employ Flash for classroom use.
Amazon Kindle: This is where most of my books are; so, it’s nice to have access on multiple devices.
Facebook: Allows me to connect with family and friends.
Jewels 2: My favorite handheld game. Infinity mode is the best.
Walmart: Savings Catcher saves me money each time I go to the store.
“The Ghost Army”
Posted: April 22, 2015 in UncategorizedTags: Education, History, Learning, Social Studies, teaching
Interesting World War II article at The Morning News on a WWII secret unit the “waged war and fakery” as a weapon… The Ghost Army
The Android Tablet Saga Continues…
Posted: April 10, 2015 in UncategorizedTags: android, DOPO, edtech, Education, Instructional Technology, Learning, tablets, teaching, Technology
As I shared some time ago, I have been embedding DOPO Android tablets into the learning process in my classroom. My students and I have been utilizing the devices this school year without any major bumps in the road. One was dropped and met its end, but the rest of the tablets have weathered heavy use. One thing I miss is access to Flash; so, I installed the Dolphin and FlashFox browsers as a solution to run some of my Flash based resources (I do have alternative HTML versions as a work around too). Yes, these browsers utilize the last version of Flash to run on Android (11…), but I’m not too concerned about a security risk as we spend most of our time in the walled garden of my classroom website. Many of my students also use their own devices (a few tablets and mostly phones) to access my online resources. I also reworked my classroom site, that runs via WordPress, with a more mobile friendly theme. So, what will the new school year bring? A continued effort in personally financed and low end tech that can follow me anywhere…
“A Smarter Way to Teach the Teachers”
Posted: April 8, 2015 in UncategorizedTags: Education, inservice, plc, professional development
Great article on professional development for teachers: A Smarter Way to Teach the Teachers
“The Vietnam War Like You’ve Never Seen it Before…”
Posted: March 22, 2015 in Education, History, Learning, Social Studies, TeachingTags: Education, History, Learning, Social Studies, teaching, Vietnam
Interesting article at CNN.com on the propaganda art of the Vietnam War. Great teaching resource for this time period… (See link below)
Art of war: Propaganda posters paint a different picture of Vietnam
Raspberry Pi 2
Posted: March 8, 2015 in Educational Technology, Instructional TechnologyTags: computing, Education, raspberry pi, Technology
“Toys as Teaching Machines”
Posted: January 14, 2015 in Education, Educational Technology, History, Innovation, Instructional Technology, LearningTags: Education, Educational Technology, Instructional Technology
The Creation Continuum Revisted…
Posted: January 5, 2015 in Creativity, Differentiated Instruction, digital storytelling, Education, Educational Technology, Instructional Technology, Learning, project based learning, Technology, Technology IntegrationTags: creativity, differentiated instruction, Education, Instructional Technology, project based learning, Technology
A few years ago, while I served as an instructional technology director for a school district, I proposed the creation continuum after researching project based learning. The following link to my Prezi is an updated version of the presentation I shared on the subject…
More DOPO tablets on the way – Low cost tech in the classroom…
Posted: November 30, 2014 in Education, Educational Technology, Instructional Technology, Tablet, Technology, Technology IntegrationTags: DOPO, edtech, Education, Educational Technology, Instructional Technology, Learning, tablets, teaching, Technology
This is an update to my low end stab at furnishing my classroom with devices for student use (see other post here – Low end tech: a solution?).
Along with several old laptops I have been utilizing some DOPO Android tablets that have served very well. I was able to restore one device that was out of commision and that enabled me to utilize 8 of these tablets for a few months. After a tragic drop of one of the devices a couple of weeks ago (an accident), I was back to 7 DOPO tablets. Walmart had a good deal on these devices (upgraded versions for $39.99 each); so, I used some birthday money to order 5 more. These devices have been stellar in meeting the needs of my students. I have added cases for each and that has been a good investment in protecting the devices from day to day wear and tear.
I have had to adjust some of the tutorials (QUIA and ExamView activities – see weekly Agendas) that I create on a regular basis in order to bypass the lack of Flash availability on the Android devices. The old laptops are holding up well, and Ubuntu has been a refreshing answer to the old Windows machines. The Macs run well with OS 10.4+ and meet the needs of everything that is required for learning. The Android devices, particularly the DOPO tablets, in addition to students being able to use their own phones and a few other devices via a BYOD network is allowing access for all students on a daily basis.
I have set up a separate Gmail account to manage the Android devices that I will begin using once the new tablets arrive this week. I load each droid with the minimal browser and a few apps that enhance the classroom experience. Power management is achieved via several power strips, and I am looking for an improved storage system, but we are making do with what we have. Each of my students have a Google account via the school district that they can utilize as needed; so, my students are equipped with all the tools they need to be productive and to create on a regular basis (See our recent infographics projects).
The better solution would be if I didn’t have to pay for and support it all myself, but I have found a way for my students to be engaged, to learn, to remediate, and to be enriched on a regular basis. If you are looking for a low cost device that is sturdy, reliable, and engaging I highly recommend DOPO tablets as a positive addition to your learning environment.
H I T - Hokanson's Instructional Technology 