Mr. Mayo finds productive application for Twitter Dee Dum
Posted by mrkotay on Jul 9, 2008
I guess it’s not totally Twitter Dee Dum after all. Seems like Mr. Mayo, a creative middle school teacher in The District, created a clever (and useful) purpose for Twitter.
Ooops! I checked out the Twitter link below. The last entry is 5 months ago. Guess it was a first half of the year project. Anyway, it’s a totally cool idea.
I didn’t write the following article. I forgot where I got it :-( If this turns into a problem for anybody, let me know. I’ll take it down.
Check it out.
TwitterEDU: Many Voices Project
The ManyVoices project, started by Washington D.C. Middle School teacher Mr. Mayo (http://mrmayo.org), is a collaborative story being written by 140 different middle school students across the globe using Twitter.
This is an excellent and creative example of how educators can use technology, like Twitter, to motivate today’s “totally wired” student to be actively engaged in the creative writing process. Kudos to Mr. Mayo!
You can join the ManyVoices project, or why not use Twitter to start your own collaborative writing project with your students?
How to Participate
- ManyVoices Wiki: https://manyvoices.wikispaces.com/
- ManyVoices Twitter: http://twitter.com/manyvoices
- ManyVoices GoogleDoc: http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dc4gcbft_192cnh7jn7h&pli=1
- ManyVoices RSS: http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/11237962.rss
Related Resources & Links
- PBS Teachers on ManyVoices http://www.pbs.org/teachers/learning.now/2007/12/collaborative_writing_140_char_1.html
- NPR Story on ManyVoices: http://www.npr.org/blogs/bryantpark/2007/12/middle_school_kids_write_story.html
- A Global Creative Writing Twittory: http://beyond-school.org/2008/01/08/many-voices-a-global-creative-writing-twittory-for-k-8-worth-joining/
Flickr / Popping Blueberries
Posted by mrkotay on Jul 8, 2008
Flickr is a cool tool. Santa left a flickr for Bonnie Jill this past Christmas.
I know it’s easy to use because Bonnie Jill took her Flickr from the box and began to use it — like — immediately. I haven’t, however, noticed Bonnie Jill using her Flickr since Christmas morning.
That’s unusual because Bonnie Jill always has her digital camera attached to her right eye. Bonnie Jill uses her camera so often you may believe the camera is a large growth on the poor woman’s face. A growth so large that its removal will have to be seen on the Discovery Channels’ Medical Miracles.
Anyway, back to the Flickr. Since I haven’t seen Bonnie Jill using the Flickr, I thought I would “adopt” it. I searched high and low, in and out, around and about, but I can’t find it. Sigh. . . .
So here I sit, popping icy cold blueberries–yummie good–(if English isn’t your native language, sorry for my use of the word “popping.” This is a another topic. I find it so hard to stay focused) and writing about Flickr.
Is that what this is really about?
Regardless, Flickr is a cool tool. Check it out. I’m going to as soon as I find Bonnie Jill’s.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
Cremer, Shawn. “Kindergartners Write Every Day!”. Learning Interchange. June 7, 2008 <http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/galleryfiles/554/poem16.jpg>.
Is it Twitter Tweet or Bitter Sweet?
Posted by mrkotay on Jul 7, 2008
Well, I signed on for a Twitter account, but I don’t know why. I’m a little impulsive. Ask Mrs. Kotay.
Give me a few $$$ and a few minutes. I’m nothing short of astonishing, converting dollars to gadgets and gear at an incredibly rapid pace.
So, what’s Twitter’s point? If I really want someone to know where I am, I’ll call them, or I’ll answer his call. Yes, I don’t always answer my phone, and it doesn’t bother me. The people I truly care about, already know where I am. The rest of you–phhtt. I don’t think I’ll be using Twitter.
Twitter Dee Dee, Twitter Dee Dum–That’s the point.
What new technology have you seen or used? Drop me an email, kiddos. See me in chat (once this gets going), forum?, wiki?
What’s the news on the technological frontier?
What’s going on at mrkotay’s?
Posted by mrkotay on Jun 28, 2008
One more week until summer school ends. Whew. This past week felt infinite, but working with the summer school kiddos got me to thinking how I can continue to communicate with and expose my students to the information needed to help them grow into responsible self-learners.
Moodling, blogging, podcasting, social networking–the possibilities are many, and I think I now have a better understanding for my ADD and ADHD kids. I download one tool that leads me to another that leads me to another . . . .
Initially, I think I’ll try to work with several of these to tutor, show lessons, examples, or perhaps make myself available to help w/homework once or twice a week. We’ll see.
Middle school kiddos can check for lessons on Comm. Arts (grammar, parts of speech, subject / verb agreement), Math for the 6th graders, Pre-Algebra for the 7th graders, and Algebra 1 for the 8th graders.
There’s a little bit for Technology Exploration, too.
I know it’s a little wide, but over time, I think it’ll make for an interesting resource for middle school students. That’s the long-term goal.
Let’s get at it.
Tech Explo Orientation
Posted by mrkotay on Jun 28, 2008
My online class is coming along. There’s Orientation Vocabulary and Orientation Performance Assessments. Check it out Tech Explo. I plan to get all the pdf files loaded before uploading power points for each session.
I can already see that it’s going to be difficult for me to not have my blog mirror my eClass that mirrors a podcast, that mirrors. . . . While I want the different media to weave, I don’t want them to mirror in a different format. I believe that each should offer something unique, not only a different format delivering the same info that’s available elsewhere.
Any ideas out there will really be appreciated. I realize I’m probably spreading this too thin. Focus; I get it. It’s sometimes difficult to zero in. Upstairs I’m clickin’ a mile a minute. Wanna ride a bike? (It’s a joke.)
Four more days of summer school. I’m sooo ready for a break. I need to ride my bike. (No joke.) I’m way behind with cycling. This time last year I was riding Centuries (100 milers for the non-cycling folks). Now, I’m contemplating 25 miles and hope I can make it.
Have I mentioned my new and presently being developed Tech Explo eClass for my Middle School kiddos? Tech Explo
Let me know what you think. Let me know what you don’t think. Oh, did I mention that in August I’ll be going to the Ukraine for week. Third World, mayo and potatoes, mayo and pizza, mayo and mayo, jelly meat, yum yum.
Orientation Performance Assessments
Posted by mrkotay on Jun 28, 2008
Orientation Performance Assessments