The document summarizes Catherine Ritz's presentation at the MaFLA Fall Conference in October 2012. The presentation aimed to help teachers make their classrooms more tech-friendly by providing resources for classroom management, Web 2.0 student projects, and mobile technology student projects. The agenda covered setting up class websites and management sites, using tools like flashcards, Dropbox, and Twitter for professional development, and exploring options for student voice recordings, digital storytelling, polling and interactive images using apps and websites.

1. PROJECT:
TECHNOLOGY!
Catherine Ritz
MaFLA Fall Conference, 10/2012

2. Learning objectives / agenda
• To make your classroom tech-friendly, giving you
resources to support class management as well as Web
2.0 and Mobile student-centered projects and activities.
• AGENDA:
1. Management
2. Web 2.0 resources for student projects/activities
3. Mobile resources for student projects/activities
Dinner Break & Dessert Break

3. Ice-breaker
• Your name?
• Where you teach & what language you teach?
• What your level of tech comfort is?
• What tech resources are available to you?
• What does technology look like in your classroom?
• Quick Poll:
• Laptop?
• Smart phone?
• Cell phone?
• iPad?

4. Stage 1: Management
• Establish the foundation for a tech-friendly classroom:
• Class website/blog
• Class management site (homework posting, etc.)
• Flashcards
• Work seamlessly from multiple computers
• Stay current in new resources

5. Class website/blog
• Blogger or WordPress
• Rethink your class website
• Create a department website and PUBLICIZE your department!!
• www.blogger.com OR www.wordpress.com

6. Class management
• Wiggio.com
• Like a class FB page w/out the
worry.
• Students join your group and
can post audio/video/
text/questions/polls, etc.
• You can send reminders to
students on assignments
(includes calendar) and can
facilitate group work.

7. Flashcards
• Quizlet.com
• Make (or find already) free
flashcards with audio.
Includes games and can
embed flashcards on a
website.
• Can also make class accounts
and track how students are
using.

8. Multiple computers
• DropBox.com
• Download to every
computer you use and it
looks just like a regular
folder!
• You can share
files/folders easily.

9. Professional development
Personal Learning Networks
• Twitter.com
• The best online professional
development!
• Please follow me
@ritzforeignlang, then see who
I follow, then look for other
teachers. This is not personal, https://docs.google.com/a/arlington.k12.ma.us/present/vie
it’s 100% professional resources w?id=0ASnpJkDhdWidZGY1M3BuZ2RfMzFkaHA3aDlobQ
&hl=en_US&authkey=CNbdw7ID
sharing, asking/answering
questions, helping other
teachers and getting help from
them!

10. Break-out…
• Set up accounts and begin creating sites/pages/etc. for
whatever resource you would like to practice with!

11. Stage 2:
Web 2.0 for student projects/activities
• Enhance your projects/classroom activities with
technology & “publish” them on your class website:
• Fun voice recording
• Digital storytelling
• Timelines
• Comic strips/animations
• Interactive images

12. Kooky voice recording
• Blabberize.com
• Free site where you can upload a
digital photo and make it talk. Very
fun!
• Students email “embed” code or post
on their own blog.
• App equivalent: Babblizer
• Voki.com
• Free site where you make an Avatar
talk. Can record voice or type text
and set accent.
• Students email “embed” code or post
on their own blog.
• No app.

13. Digital storytelling
• StoryBird.com
• Free. Beautiful art to inspire writing!
• Can create class and add
assignments.
• Can “embed” or share.
• StoryJumper.com
• Free. Register, then create digital
books that can be purchased, or can
just share the link!
• Add art from online, or select images
from their databank.

14. Timelines
• TimeToast.com
• Create free timelines with text,
images, and links.
• Can embed on websites or share
link.

15. Comic strips/Animations
• GoAnimate.com
• Animations with voice recording
• StripGenerator.com & ToonDoo.com
• Free comic strip creation

16. Interactive images
with or w/o voice
• SoundCloud.com
• Free recording site designed for musicians.
• Create free account.
• App available.
• Can post sound to Twitter, Facebook, email it
or get “embed” code.
• Can leave comments at timed intervals on
recording.
• ThingLink.com
• Take any image and make it interactive. With
the use of SoundCloud, you can add audio
(and with YouTube, you can add video)!
• Can “embed” on other sites.
• No app.

17. Techie talk: the embed code
• Essentially, something interactive that is posted on another
website. Like a YouTube video you see on any website.
• All you need to know…
• Copy & Paste (don’t mess with anything inside the brackets)
• Use the “HTML” editor on Blogger

18. Break-out…
• Choose one or two resources you would like to use,
create an account and test them out.
• “Embed” your creations in your newly created class
website for practice. (Or email me your “embed” code and
I will post on my website: catherineritz@gmail.com)

19. Stage 3: Mobile-friendly
• Allow cell phones & smart phones in your classroom to
enhance instruction and make it more engaging for your
students.
• Voice recording
• Videos
• Digital storytelling
• Polling
• Clickers

20. Voice recording
• Google Voice
• Set up free account with Gmail. Choose phone
number and link to your phone, then select
“Do Not Disturb.”
• All calls go to your inbox and can be
“embedded” or played online. App available.
• Just like leaving a voice mail for someone!

21. Video cameras
• Videos
• SmartPhone = built-in camera and video camera
• Use the “Splice” app (free) to link multiple scenes together.
• Email video (if small enough) or upload to class YouTube Channel
(you can set the videos to private, so only you can see)

22. Digital Storytelling
• VoiceThread.com
• Free site with restrictions (or
$1 per registration for
department).
• Students create digital
narrations with text or audio.
Teachers and others can
comment.
• Students email “embed” code
or post on their own blog.
• App available.

23. Polling
• Polleverywhere.com
• Free polls, just need a regular cell phone

24. Clickers
• M.socrative.com
• Free site. Use online or with apps (teacher app & student app).
• Create “quizzes” or quick student questions.
• Best with apps when all students have Smart phone.

25. Break out…
• Either set up an account online for a mobile resource
you’d like to test out, or download the app on your Smart
phone and practice.

26. Resources from this workshop
• www.google.com/voice • www.quizlet.com
• www.soundcloud.com • www.wiggio.com
• www.thinglink.com • www.twitter.com
• www.blabberize.com • www.dropbox.com
• www.classparrot.com
• www.voki.com
• www.m.socrative.com
• www.voicethread.com
• www.storybird.com
My sites
• www.storyjumper.com
• www.ritzyfrancais.blogspot.com
• www.goanimate.com • www.ritzyespanol.blogspot.com
• www.stripgenerator.com • www.arlingtonworldlanguages.blo
• www.toondoo.com gstpo.com
• www.blogger.com • www.catherineritz.org
• catherineritz@gmail.com
• www.wordpress.com
• www.timetoast.com
• www.polleverywhere.com