Web 2.0 and Blended Learning

I wanted to pass along some resources in regards to Blended Learning and online resources to implement into the classrooms.  Most of these resources I have used within the blended learning classroom.  The majority  the resources are free and online.  Therefore if you are using the rotational blended learning model these tools can be easily implemented into the content area. 



Blended Learning and Online Resources by Subject Area

• Math
• Are you looking for creative ways to teach the common core in math?  Or are you trying to find new lesson plan ideas?  Check out Share My Lesson for Math. Free online lesson plans and activities for the math classroom that tie right into the math curriculum.  
• StarBucks Mug Project- Students work through a scenario where they have to decided if it is worth buying a mug from StarBucks for $350 and receiving free unlimited coffee or is it cheaper to buy coffee by the cup.  Read more and see examples at this website.  
• Science
• Face Talker... if you or the have an iPad, iPod, or iPhone take a look at this app call Face Talker.  It is a great way to generate messages for the students or for the student to share out a summary of the learning objectives for the day.  Here is a video that explains how to use the free app. 
• Leave voice comments instead of writing out comments.  The next time your students write a science report, have them write the report in Google Docs.  Then use Voice Comments for the students.  Here is a video on how to use Voice Comments
• Social Studies
• Instead of having your students create a power point presentation, have them create a ThingLink.  This website shows an example of an interactive photo and a video to show you how to create a ThingLink for your next project. 
• Instagram, use instagram for a social studies scavenger hunt.  For your next topic that you plan to cover in class, think about how you can use instagram as tool in the classroom.  Here is an example from an English teacher in California that used Instagram with her students.  
• Create animated videos to depict key events in history.  Use this free online resource with the students to generate the animated videos with Go Animate
• Langage Arts
• Do you have students that are ready to go move on with a topic?  Do you have students that need a challenge?  Have them take a MOOC Class.  These are free online classes that anyone can take.  Here is a list of all of the MOOC classes that are starting in January.
• Newsela, if you have not implemented Newsela yet into your classroom, please make it part of your 2014 lesson plans.  This is a great resource and we have seen dramatic growth in nonfiction reading with the students that are using the program in Ohio.  
• Flubaroo, are you tired of grading papers?  Check out this Google App that can be installed onto your next Google Form.  Flubaroo will grade your papers for you.  (You will still have to grade the short answers but Flubaroo will do the rest.)  
• Have the students create a SMORE that explains an upcoming novel or book club.  
• Music
• Vovaroo, allow the students to record their own song, poem, or rap with this free online resource.  No log in required.  
• UJAM, create songs free online
• Incredibox, this is one of my favorite online resources to share out with students.  Students can create music by changing out the outfits of the different characters.  Great way to teach students about beats per measure.  
• Technology
• Infographics-  Have the students create an infographic on data collected in the science or math classroom.  
• Spend Time Coding-  The big push in technology is to get the students to code.  Here is a free class that the students can take to learn how to code during the technology class.   (Hint, have Code Academy as an option for the students to do once they have completed a project in class) 
• Scratch- Another online coding program.  (My eight year old nieces were learning to use this program over break.  It is self explanatory and easy for the students to learn on their own.) 

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