ICT Tip: Real-life budgeting activities for a math class

This ICT tip could be applied to the following subjects:

Quick overview: Budgeting and savings activities for a “real-life” situation in a math class.

How can this be used in the classroom? If you are looking for a “real-life” situation activity in your math class (or hoping to kick start a Learning Situation) then I may have a useful and easy to use ICT suggestion. Using the Vancity HomeBudget Analysis website (www.tinyurl.com/vancity-homebudget) your students can input their expenses and income and obtain a visual breakdown of all their expenses. For students not currently working, it can also be used to compare potential jobs with different salaries compared to their current expenses, as seen in the screen caputre below:

Anything more? For teachers who want to take things one step further, you may also want to visit the MyCalculators.com “Savings-Investment Calculator” (http://tinyurl.com/6sx68m) website with your students. Using this calculator, your students can see how much of a return they’ll get from depositing regular contributions into their savings account. Variables can be changed such as intrest rate, years to invest, or the frequency of contributions. I should note that while I find this page isn’t very flashy, it gets the point across well. It can be used if you wish to cover more in-depth topics on savings and investments.

ICT Tip: WebMath – A math calculator with a twist!

This ICT tip could be applied to the following subjects:

Quick overview: A website that contains a variety of math calculators which provides a detailed explanation of how each problem was solved.

What does it do? At first glance, the WebMath site may only appear (http://www.webmath.com) to be on-line calculator for different types of math problems. However, the WebMath site does not simply solve equations and spit out an answer… With WebMath, you or your students can punch in any variables you’d like, and then the site will explain how it solved the problem with a VERY detailed explanation. Definitely worth checking out!

How can it be used in the classroom? Weaker students can use this ICT application to punch in different math problems and then get an explanation how the problem is solved. It may help them work through the problems that you may have covered in class but had difficulty following along.

ICT Tip: Dave’s ESL Cafe Idea Cookbook, activities for Literacy students

This ICT tip could be best applied to the following subjects:

Quick overview: Dave’s ESL Cafe Cookbook (http://tinyurl.com/davescafe) features loads of simple activities to use in the classroom for Literacy students that include culture, food, games, music, writing, vocabulary, etc.

How can I use it in the classroom? For each section, there are small activities (or may I even say simple suggestions) to use in classroom. For example, in the section “ice breakers” there are numerous activities that you can use in your classroom on the first day of class and so on.. There’s WAY too many to list here on my Blog, but I highly suggest you check this site out!

P.S. – Dear Mystery teacher at the St-Pius April 7th, 2008 workshop. I did not take down your name for this amazing resource. Please contact me so that I can credit you for this site. Thanks!

ICT Tip: Discover France – Spoken examples of typical French phrases for FSL students

This ICT tip could be best applied to the following subjects:

Quick overview: A website that contains examples of actual spoken French phrases.

What does it do? The Discover France site is great FSL site for students with an English mother tongue. On this site, there are TONS of French phrases for your students to click on and hear a pre-recorded example of the pronunciation. Each phrase is accompanied by a written English translation. Don’t worry about the France part, this site works great for Quebec students too!

How can it be used in the classroom? The Discover France site can be used for oral and written comprehension. There’s also a written English translation for every spoken French phrase. Here are some links for you to try out with your students:

• Dining: http://www.discoverfrance.com/dining.html
• Travel: http://www.discoverfrance.com/transportation.html
• Directions: http://www.discoverfrance.com/directions.html
• Numbers: http://www.discoverfrance.com/money.html
• Biking and walking: http://www.discoverfrance.com/biking.html

ICT Tip: Google Earth

This ICT tip could be applied to the following subjects:

Quick overview: An application that allows your students to zoom, spin, and fly around the planet with real satellite imagery.

What does it do? If you’ve used ever Google Maps in your classroom, then you may really appreciate Google Earth. Google Earth (http://earth.google.com) shares the same satellite data as Google Maps, however your students can use Google Earth to effortlessly zoom, spin, and fly around the planet with real satellite imagery. Some major US cities, such as New York, even include accurate 3D models of actual buildings.

How can it be used in a classroom? As a real life ICT suggestion for a Math class, your students can use a “virtual ruler” in Google Earth to calculate distances (KM, miles, etc) between two places with actual satellite data, as seen in the screenshot below. If that sounds interesting, here’s a site that explains how to use the “virtual ruler” function in a classroom: http://tinyurl.com/5hw7oj

Extra information: Google Earth is free, however since it is a desktop application, it must be downloaded and installed locally on your computer. If you do not know how (or have the rights) to install software in your computer lab, you can ask for help from your IT department.

ICT Tip: Using Google Maps in a language class

This ICT tip could be best applied to the following subjects:

Quick overview: A tip for using Google Maps in conjunction with a written novel to enhance the student’s experience of a book.

What does it do? Google Maps (http://maps.google.com) is a website that allows your students to view satellite maps and roads throughout the world.

How can it be used in a classroom? This particular teacher I found on the web (Tom Woodward) uses Google Maps/Earth in conjunction with a novel that the students read in the class. He basically uses Google Earth to point out various important plot points on an actual map. I think it’s a great idea to get your class more interested in a novel they are reading! Be sure to check it out the class map at: http://tinyurl.com/476j4w

An excerpt from the teacher’s website: The novel is Whirligig by Paul Fleischman- very powerful book that’s a quick read. It’s a great novel for this type of project (fiction but almost all real locations). The main character travels to the four corners of the U.S. (on a Greyhound Bus) as an act of atonement for killing a young girl in a DUI accident.

I’ve got the main locations mapped (some real specific information in Chicago) as well as most of the route. It will continue to expand as the students progress through the novel. Now, what makes this useful? I figure you’ve got two options.

1. You use it as a ancillary material to help get the students more involved in the novel. Let them explore the map and get them involved in explaining things and interacting with the information- otherwise it’s just a fancy map.
2. You have the students add the information for the placemarks in Google Earth. Let them decide what is important at each location.

(Original Source, Tom Woodward at http://bionicteaching.com/?p=235)

ICT Tip: Bing Maps – Satellite maps even more detailed than Google

This ICT tip could be applied to the following subjects:

Quick overview: A website that allows your students to view extremely detailed satellite maps.

What does it do? Bing Maps (www.bing.com/maps) is a website that uses Microsoft Live Search Maps technology, similar to Google Maps. However, the amazing thing about Microsoft Live Search Maps is that you can zoom in and see VERY close details of streets and landscapes when you click on the “bird’s eye” view. Instead of just seeing the tops of buildings (as you would with Google) you can actually see the streets in different 3/4 views! However, the “bird’s eye” view function may not available if you are viewing remote areas outside larger cities. To activate the “bird’s eye” view, type in your desired address, and then click where it is indicated by the yellow arrow in the screenshot below:

ICT Tip: Picnik – Adding effects to digital photos

This ICT tip could be best applied to the following subjects:

Quick overview: A website that allows your students to manipulate their digital photos in a fun and easy way.

What does it do? Picnik (http://www.picnik.com) will allow your students to take photos from their digital cameras and then easily enhance them with all sorts of exciting effects. Once they are finished adding effects, your students can download the photos back into their computers.

How can it be used in the classroom? OK, so what’s the pedagogical use? Well, as a former Photoshop teacher I found that my students became much more motivated when manipulating their OWN photos and using them in a project. Perhaps this ICT tool could be used in your classroom to supplement a project. For example, your students may want to enhance their digital photos and then insert them into a PowerPoint, Word, or Photostory presentation… Here’s an example of one photo manipulated with Picnik in only about 5 minutes:

Extra information: I should note that the Picnik site is free to use except for a few extra fancy features where a subscription must be purchased. However, the core functionality of the site (the important stuff) is always free. Be sure to check it out!