Gettin' "Goo"ey!

URL (web address) shorteners have always been used primarly to create shorter 140 character comments on Twitter.  Recently, we attended a Google conference, where one presenter continuously moved the audience from one website to the next using shortened URL's, specifically with Google's version: Goo.gl.  Even better, throughout his presentation, he would randomly tell us websites to go to, but would shorten the website's URL with his Goo.gl extension.  

For example, this blog has a really long and challenging (silly on our parts) URL: www.mrhnmrsoshangout.blogspot.com.  WHAT WERE WE THINKING WHEN WE CREATED THAT!?  That is a NIGHTMARE telling students to visit.  

"M....R...H...N...yes, N...NO, not a M...a N..." You get the point.

If we use the Goo.gl shortener website or extension, our website now is assigned the unique URL of: goo.gl/ee7A5.  Much easier.

Back to the original presenter...his presentation go Mrs. Olson and I thinking.  Why are we providing our students with nearly impossible URL's?  Many of them struggle to copy down and then type in long and challenging website addresses.  Why not give them a shortened URL instead?

Thus, our "Goo Wall" was created.  We would place important and frequently used "Goos" on our whiteboard.  Short, easy, and always there.  That said, our "Goo Wall" began taking up valuable real estate. It was copied down, and placed on our back wall cabinets.  We now refer to our "Goo Wall" as "Goos We Use."  

Additionally, since our classroom is fortunate enough to be 1:1 with netbooks, we are able to display messages on the SMARTboard.  The image to the left was what our SMARTboard as students arrived back into the classroom following recess today. 

The following are the "Goos" that we currently use most often or find to be of the most importance.  

Splashtop and Screencasting with the SMARTBoard

Woah!  That title is a mouthful!  My school district provided me with the most simple version (yet) of Splashtop as a "Welcome Back to 2013" present.  It is simple, because there is no configuring IP Addresses (what does that even mean!?).  Just being on the same network, allows for instant device, screen share.  Okay, not that exciting yet?  It will get better (maybe).

Today, being a new year and having to have mutliple resolutions, I began thinking of a few for myself.  One being that I wanted to begin using MORE technology in the classroom as seamless ways to engage learning and facilitating.  This afternoon, it sort of happened, as a result of a student asking for help on her math.

In math, Mrs. Olson and I have been attempting our own version of "Daily 5 Math" (a term I use really loosely), except we have three daily's and not much choice.  Someday, maybe our math class can function just like a normal Daily 5 literacy block...not yet.  We are making it up as we go.  

Anyway, I decided to use "Splashtop" during Math today, because in my review, I wanted to stand behind my students, while modeling how to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions and the opposite.  I have not found a totally useful way, other that show and tell, for students to use Splashtop.  Right now, it is more for me to be up moving and facilitating.  Moving on, one of my students asked for a copy of what I was putting onto the SMARTBoard to study for our upcoming test.

"OF COURSE YOU MAY!" Then it clicked to me.  I could screencast myself while manipulating the SMARTBoard, now that Splashtop was working.  So, I told my student that I could provide her with notes and one better...a recording of me re-teaching the concept.  After school today, I plugged in my headphone/microphone combo (I feel like an airplane pilot when I wear those things), set up my SMARTBoard, and kept my fingers crossed that Screencast-O-Matic (my screencasting website of choice) would work.  In the past, my computer would not download the most up to date java applet....IT DID TODAY (Happy New Year x 2)!

So, to my student, I am excited (and feel sort of nerdy) to present to you "How to Convert Mixed Numbers into Improper Fractions AND Concert Improper Fractions into Mixed Numbers".  Enjoy: