8th Grade

8

Twchat

— TwChat

8-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://twchat.com/ Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

Create a real-time chat room based on a twitter hashtag. Invite users to TwChat to participate in an online presentation without additional programs. Assign others to assist you with moderation. View a list of the Latest Chats and Upcoming Chats. Click "Create own room" to begin. Sign in with Twitter to participate, and then create your first room. Enter the time and schedule for the chat. Tweets appear in the room from all participants. Your tweets appear in the mentor column. Use this tool to follow new Twitter users or block participants.

In the Classroom

Do you use Twitter in the classroom? Use TwChat to create a chat room using a hashtag as invitation. See all tweets related to the hashtag in one place. Consider using a Twitter chat as a collaborative activity to find and share resources about a topic, translate material into/from another language, or understand the meaning behind literary works. Not interested in starting your own chat? Explore the site to discover Twitter chats to match your interests and needs. Find chats that are related to your expertise to learn about issues in the field or to bring a new perspective of that subject area to share with your classes. Find new people with similar interest to follow and build your PLN. Need more information about Twitter? Read more about Twitter at TeachersFirst’s <a href="/spectopics/twitterforteachers.cfm">Twitter for Teachers</a> page.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
Tag(s): communication, PLN, social networking, microblogging, twitter, chat,

Trends24

— Trends24

8-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://www.trends24.in/ Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

Track trending topics and tweets in any country you specify with Trends24. Select a country and view the breakdown of the trending tweets by minutes, hours, or days. Choose between the Timeline breakdown or click on Cloud. Tweet trends show as a word cloud, with the most popular topics showing in a larger font. Click any hashtag name to view the tweets showing for that trend. Are you new to Twitter and hashtags? Find information to help you at TeachersFirst’s <a href="/spectopics/twitterforteachers.cfm">Twitter for Teachers</a> page.

In the Classroom

Use this tool to look at the topics that are trends in the various countries. Compare and contrast the top trends and how they differ from other countries that are neighbors or are far away. This tool is helpful in understanding political or cultural issues that extend worldwide or affect more than one region. Use the trending topics to understand the point of view of various countries. Look at news reports or causes for the change in the trend. Twitter trends could be useful in any subject area but especially useful for current events, civics, health, and economics.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
Tag(s): microblogging, twitter,

Try the Google Yourself

— BackgroundCheck.org

8-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://www.youtern.com/thesavvyintern/index.php/2015/01/30/try-the-google-yourself-challenge-infographic/ Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

Take the "Google Yourself" Challenge to find out what others may learn about you by searching the Internet. This infographic provides information on personal online sharing such as the number of people with phone numbers, birth dates, photos, and other information readily available online. Take the challenge and search for your name on Google to find what personal information you have online. Find what others with your name may have online and may get confused with you. Learn also who may be looking you up on search engines and why this is important to know.

In the Classroom

Share this infographic on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) and discuss with students as part of online safety lessons and digital citizenship. Include this site on your class web page for students and parents to access as a reference. Have students complete the challenge as an informative exercise before completing college applications.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
Tag(s): digital citizenship, internet safety, infographics,

Learn the Netbasics - netsafe

— Netsafe

3-8 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://www.learnthenetbasics.org.nz/ Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

NetBasics offers animated stories that address common risks and issues facing computer users. Topics include phishing, dangerous downloads, password protection, and more. Upon completion of each video episode, view helpful tips and hints for staying safe online. Choose links to "Your Computer Security" or "Protect Your Stuff" to see hints without watching videos.

In the Classroom

View videos and advice together on an interactive whiteboard or projector as part of your Internet safety lessons. Ask students to visit the site and create a multimedia presentation about the information they learn there. Redefine learning and challenge cooperative learning groups to create videos using a tool like Biteable, <a href="/single.cfm?id=18155">reviewed here</a>, about online safety and share them on a site such as TeacherTube, <a href="/single.cfm?id=9419">reviewed here</a>.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
Tag(s): internet safety, cyberbullying, digital citizenship,

Tableau Public

— Tableau Software

8-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://www.tableau.com/public/download Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

Tableau is a free tool that brings data to life. Create and share interactive charts and graphs, stunning maps, live dashboards, and engaging applications in minutes. Publish anywhere on the web. Download Tableau’s software for Windows or Macs and follow directions for installation. View the training videos to learn how to build maps, charts, and share data. Other training videos share how to publish your information using direct links or embed in websites or blogs. Some of the videos are hosted on YouTube. However, our editors didn’t find any video that required Flash. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

In the Classroom

View the training videos together as a class before asking students to use Tableau. Have a few students become "experts" on this software and help others as needed. Create Tableaus for any projects requiring the gathering of data such as research into individual countries, comparison of statistics across states, or compiling poll results. Be sure to check out Tableau’s Gallery for many ideas on using the software.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
Tag(s): data, maps,

DK FindOut

— Dorling Kindersley Limited

-8 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://www.dkfindout.com/us/ Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

Find an answer to your question or great question starters for any conversation here with this free tool! Scroll through a few questions on the home page and click Find Out More to get to the answer. Enter your search terms or question into the search box (I want to find out about...) Scroll down further in the page to view specific topics such as Animals and Nature, Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life, History, Music, Art, and Literature, Math, and more! Scroll down further to find information by category: What’s New, Quizzes, Videos, Galleries, Fun Facts, and My Stuff. Create an account to save information in My Stuff. This tool has an option to sign up for a Teacher account, and coming soon will be the option for a Parent account.

In the Classroom

DK FindOut features subject-based, curriculum-linked articles that support classroom learning. These resources also contain ideas for projects or homework. Sign up for a Teacher account and have the option to use the Lesson Planner to organize information in the creation of a lesson. Use this site to find answers to popular student questions. Bookmark this site on class computers for students to find answers to questions they may have in class. Place a link to this site on your class web page for students to access when the questions pop up! Use this as an incentive for students to "teach" and share what they understand about the answer to their classmates. They could do this in an impromptu speech, or more formally while modifing their learning with an infographic using a tool such as Easel.ly, <a href="/single.cfm?id=13619">reviewed here</a>, or enhance their learning using a word cloud (graphic) using WordItOut, <a href="/single.cfm?id=10707">reviewed here</a>. Find great question starters for lessons and build an engaging lesson using many of these curricular resources.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
Tag(s): multiplication, division, subtraction, addition, literature, musical notation, writing, space, dinosaurs, plants, animals, earth,

Tracker

— Douglas Brown

8-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices https://physlets.org/tracker/ Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

So what can you do with a tool that is used for analysis of videos? How about tracking the motion of an object across frames, including data on position, velocity, and acceleration? Download this tool for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. Start by obtaining a high speed video using YouTube, a portion of a taped movie on a DVR, or from other video footage. Open the Tracker software and import the video. Find the portion of the video you want to use (frame numbers are given). Click video properties in the lower right. If the video segment is large, change the step size (number of frames looked at each time) to more than one. Set the end frame number. In order to view speed, you need to create a scale for the video. For example, choose an object in the video that you can measure. (Make sure you know how big the object actually is.) Click the tape measure tool, then drag the blue arrow around to define the size of the object. Use the tutorials on the download page to learn to manipulate and analyze the position time graph. Be sure to check out the Tracker Video Tutorials for directions for using Tracker.

In the Classroom

Use this tool to get your student’s attention using a well known video. For example, analyze the speed of blasters in Star Wars or any other movie with awesome effects. Use this tool to track the position, velocity, and/or acceleration of sports, performance of magic tricks, etc. Use this tool for Physics experiments and analysis of the motion.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
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Tag(s): video, forces, motion,

Explore Biology

— Ms. Foglia

8-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://www.explorebiology.com/ Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

Created by a high school biology teacher, this resource is a treasure trove of activities, labs, PowerPoint slides, handouts, and more for teaching biology. Though these resources are for the AP level, they can be altered for use at lower levels, especially the lab activities. Be sure to click the Teachers Corner in the left-hand navigation to find the activities.

In the Classroom

Use these activities and resources for inspiration for your classes. When using portions of a resource, be sure to cite your source and give credit to the author. Be sure to take the time to look at the many items listed including Confounding Terms that feature many words in biology using various root words or Pairs Across the Phyla that looks at differences between organisms. Use the review materials as extra practice for students who are further ahead than the rest of the class. The lab activities are a great addition to other class activities.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
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Tag(s): worksheets, cells, animals, plants, body systems, organisms, organelles,

Netwars

— Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

8-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://www.netwars-project.com Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

Immerse yourself in the all-too-real world of cyber warfare through this interactive documentary. While possibly a bit alarmist, this project tells the story of cyber warfare using several types of media: online video "webdoc," a graphic novel app (device agnostic and free), a fictional eBook/audiobook/paper book, and interview clips from real world experts on cyber security. Unfortunately, the "webdoc" video intro includes an expletive inappropriate for a classroom, so you will want to <b>preview</b> and probably skip the intro if sharing this in a school setting. Check out the Facts section for tips on protecting your own online data and browsing information. Netwars is optimized to work on any device with a modern web browser and an Internet connection. Only the interactive novel has iOS and Android apps

In the Classroom

Use portions of this site with more mature students to spark discussion about the real (or unreal?) threats of cybersecurity. Every week, news stories about data breaches and hacking proliferate. Include this site as one of many current events topics in a government or civics class where you talk about the issues facing both the executive and legislative branches -- as well as the constitutionality of some proposed solutions. In a research unit in English class, include this as a site to be evaluated. Is this a reliable source? Does it show bias? Is the threat portrayed substantiated with facts or is it designed to scare the audience? Have student groups write and create a web tour using a tool such as Screencast-o-matic, <a href="/single.cfm?id=9564">reviewed here</a>, to make an argument about the site and support their points with examples from the site’s visual "text." Challenge gifted students to research other evidence supporting or debunking the facts from this site. Since the site is also available in German, world language teacher may want to share it with more advanced German students for language listening and practice.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
Tag(s): internet safety,

Nautilus

— Nautilus

8-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://nautil.us Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:50 share

How It Works

Explore science through fascinating articles in this episodic monthly magazine. Although you can subscribe for a fee, you can also check out past and current issues online for free. As they describe themselves, "We deliver big-picture science by reporting on a single monthly topic from multiple perspectives." The combined perspectives include, "the sciences, culture and philosophy into a single story told by the world’s leading thinkers and writers." Each Thursday the site publishes a new "chapter" of that month’s thematic issue. Past issue themes include Creativity, Illusions, Genius, Big Bangs, and more. Expect to be fascinated by the many angles. You will want to talk and share about what you learn!

In the Classroom

Share these articles as part of a broad discussion of the role of science in our world, such as during a unit on scientists or careers. Share Nautilus with your gifted or science-focused students to spark interests in scientific fields that are new to them. Assign gifted students to select an article and research it further when they have tested out of regular curriculum. They can share their discoveries as a <a href="/content/edge.cfm?c=16">multimedia presentation </a> or write a blog post about them. Use articles from the magazine as fodder for class debates in English class or pull excerpts to use as writing prompts for informational or expository writing. The reading levels are high school and up, so be sure to partner weaker readers with a more capable reader if using this for class assignments. Check specific reading levels of an article by pasting its url into the Juicy Studio Readability Test, <a href="/single.cfm?id=6986">reviewed here</a>.

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
Tag(s): writing prompts, expository writing, scientists, careers,
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