My Next Classroom Project- Glogster

Free Tools Challenge #8: Go Get Glogged with Glogster: "

This is the 8th post in the “30 days to using the best of the web’s free tools for educators” series. Be sure to subscribe to the Teacher Challenge blog by RSS, like us on facebook, and follow us on twitter to keep up with future challenge posts as they are published.

This guest post is written by the groovy librarian – Glenda Morris.

In today’s education climate it is essential that students acquire the skills to be creators, collaborators, critical thinkers and communicators in the 21st Century. One way to help students achieve those skills is for teachers to offer students a range of digital tools in which to present and share their work. One such tool I have found extremely useful in encouraging students to extend their thinking and be engaged in their learning is through GlogsterEDU.

This post will help you gain the knowledge and skills to use the FREE GlogsterEDU (BASIC) version with students in your classroom or to use the tool to yourself to share information with your students.

Objectives

In this teacher challenge activity you will:

• Be introduced to GlogsterEDU and what a ‘glog’ is.


• Create your own digital poster, or ‘glog’ on a topic of your own choice by inserting a range of multimedia.


• Find Creative Commons licenced images or videos, or use your own images or videos, for embedding into your glog.


• Write a blog post that includes the digital poster, or ‘glog’ you created and share it with the rest of the participants in this Challenge.


• Learn how to embed your glog into your blog.


• Make comment on glogs created by others in this challenge.


• Visit the discussion question for this activity and share your ideas.

Overview of Glogster

GlogsterEDU (the Basic, Free version) is a Web 2.0 tool that allows students, or yourself, to create an online interactive poster/presentation/research on any topic that combines graphics, backgrounds, videos, images, sound, text and hyperlinks. (Please note: adding data (for example, Powerpoint, Word, PDF) to glogs is only available on the Premium, paid version of GlogsterEDU). Importantly the tool encourages students to gather their information, synthesise it, remix it and then create their original presentation. It is an excellent alternative to the traditional classroom poster project by giving it a 21st Century twist (and it’s not messy or bulky). Glogs look absolutely fabulous when students present their work to their peers via the interactive whiteboard. GlogsterEDU is easy to use even for the most novice computer users and, importantly, students love using this program.

GlogsterEDU provides teachers with a safe virtual space where they can manage up to 50 student accounts. Randomly generated usernames and passwords (containing numbers and/or letters) become the students’ logins. However you can, under the manage student accounts tab, edit the nicknames (I suggest first name and maybe initial) and change the passwords. These can then be distributed to students. You can then monitor your students’ progress from your ‘teacher screen’. Students and teacher can share and comment on each other’s creations.

When I introduce this tool (or any other presentation tool) to students I stress the importance of considering carefully all aspects of their multimedia inclusions (backgrounds, video, text, images ect.) on their glog. For example, I ask students how are the background, graphics, text boxes appropriate to the glog’s topic.

Check out this simple, yet comphrenesive GlogsterEDU step-by-step tutorial by Traci Blazosky for setting up your own class glogs.

Alternatively, you can check out Blazoky’s video tutorial here (which is hosted by Glogster). (Please note: the number of student accounts with each teacher account is 50).

Challenge Task

Step 1. Register with GlogsterEDU or sign in (if you already have an account). If registering, make sure you sign up to the FREE Basic Teacher account and complete your details.

Step 2. Go to your Dashboard at the top of the page and start creating your own interactive glog on a topic of your own choice. Use the black tool box to start building you glog and try to incorporate a variety of media, including text, links, images, graphics, audio and video. I suggest starting your glog with choosing a wall (or theme, background) which can always be changed later. Then continue to build your glog and experiment with the variety of tools, layouts, media and fonts.

Save, name and categorise/tag your glog.

IMPORTANT: Save frequently. GlogsterEDU currently has NO autosave like some other Web 2.0 tools. If you want to navigate away from GlogsterEDU, you MUST save BEFORE moving away from the site, otherwise you will LOSE what was not previously saved.

To add a link simply copy and paste the URL into the box.

Step 3. You can upload your own videos, audio or images or use Creative Commons Licensed material.

For detailed information on Creative Commons, check out Step 2: Using Creative Commons Images In Posts from the Kick Start Your Blogging Teacher Challenge Activity 5.

Steps 4 & 5. Write a blog post that includes the digital poster, or ‘glog’ you have just created and share it with the rest of the participants in this Challenge. You will need to embed your glog into your blog and adjust the embed size. See Step 2: Embedding Media Into Blog Posts from the Kick Start Your Blogging Teacher Challenge Activity 6.

Add relevant tags to your blog entry #ebshare

Here is a glog I created on the topic of Creative Commons that I completed just before this challenge began.

Step 6. Comment on the blog posts containing the glogs of 4 other participants in this GlogsterEDU Challenge.

Step 7. Discussion Question

In what ways could you, or teachers in your school, use GlogsterEDU in the classroom? Ideas could be specific tasks, subjects and/or year levels.

You might include this as your blog post for this task.

Further Advice

Above: This How To: Glogster poster was created by Tiffany Whitehead from her Librariantiff’s Flickr Photostream.

Glogster In 90 Seconds – A good introduction in 90 seconds to using Glogster.

For more detailed set of instructions for using Glogster check out Kathe Santillo’s Scribd document.

About the Author

I am Glenda Morris, a Teacher Librarian at OLMC, an all-girls secondary school, in Melbourne, Australia. My Groovy Librarian blog is a space where I reflect on my experiments with a range of Web 2.0 technologies and write about my continuing life-long learning journey as a Teacher Librarian. I love exploring the potential use of technology integration in classrooms to enhance student learning and to help teachers facilitate their teaching programs. I am committed to imparting my ICT knowledge and expertise to assist students to acquire the skills to be 21st Century learners. I also love reading (as any good Teacher Librarian would) particularly Supernatural stories.

You can check out my wiki Web2foryou which is a collection of Web 2.0 tools that I originally created for INF506 Social Networking for Information Professionals subject for my Masters of Education (Teacher Librarianship). This wiki will continually be updated with new tools (when time permits).

Prior to completing my Masters of Education (Teacher Librarianship) from Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia, I was a Media Studies and English teacher at an all-boys school.

I am fortunate to be selected to attend the Google Teachers Academy in Sydney on April 20, 2011.

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A Little Monday Morning Inspiration

I hope everyone had a wonderful spring break!  Now that it's time to get back to work, I thought I would share this amazing blog post by Vicki Davis titledMonday Morning Pep Talk for Teachers.  As the last 6 weeks are upon us, it is so important to keep everything in perspective.  This post is a little reminder of why we all became teachers!  We make a difference!  Have a great week :)

Feeling of Accomplishment

   Today I shared an unforgettable moment with my class- watching them view their very own Voicethread with writing,pictures and voice.  As each student's writing appeared on the screen, a huge smile would come across his/her face.  The rest of the class is cheering on each student about what a wonderful job they did on creating a descriptive sentence. 
    This isn't the first time we have shared our writing pieces in class. We share our journal writing everyday in class.  Yet, the attention that each student received today for his/her piece of the Voicethread was priceless!  Each student was truly proud to participate in a project that was sent out for the whole world to see.   Each child experienced a feeling of accomplishment.    I am so proud of them! 

Writing Resources

  

     As I have previously shared with you, Twitter has become the most amazing professional development tool for me.  Every Monday night there is a 4th grade chat on Twitter where all teachers come to share ideas on a particular topic.  Tonight's topic was something that has been on my mind ever since we received our MEAP scores- writing.   This year I have tried a variety of new tools using technology in our writing.  Two of our favorites tools in class have been Kidblogs and Edmodo.  There is something about writing to an audience and getting positive feedback!  They also love the connections they have made with other students.  My PLN on Twitter also had so many wonderful new ideas to share about writing that I simply just could not go without passing them along to you!  Thank you so much #4th chat!  If you are in need of some new ideas, or simply a "fresh approach" to a topic, please check these sites out!  You can also check out the #4th chat wiki for more ideas.
30 Ideas for Teaching Writing - A variety of ideas to approach writing topics
Poetry Writing with Jack Prelutsky  - My students love his poems!
Paragraph a Week      -Variety of topics to choose from
Empowering Writers - Resource for Struggling Writers
Writing Fun  -   Using Text Organizers- Great student examples on site!
ReadWriteThink-  So many ideas on all types of  writing!   This is an invaluable resource!

Skype In The Classroom

Many of you know that I have had the opportunity to connect with several classrooms and authors over the past few months via Skype. With each event, our learning community becomes more enriched! Students are engaged and involved in each moment! Our Skype visit is only the beginning of our relationship to the classroom or author. We continue to connect through blogging about our experiences and our curriculum. We are collaborating with others in ways that we simply could not do without the use of technology. Students are receiving positive comments and connections on student blogs from other authors, teachers, and students from around the world. For each connection we make, another connection opportunity appears. Our classroom community has gone from Lambertville, MI to Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Alabama, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Delaware, California, Colorado, Missouri, Australia, Scotland, and China in just three months! I am still working on the possibilty to connect my classroom to China via Skype with the 12 hour time difference. I hope that each and every student has the opportunity to travel to each one of these locations in their future. However, the power of connecting to these students, teachers, and authors right now to extend the power of their learning experience is priceless! I hope every student gets the opportunity to connect with others around the world. I must warn you, it is very contagious! Once you start Skype in your classroom, you will find that the doors open to a world of possibilities. If you would like to learn more about Skype in the Classroom, Check out this great post by Steven Anderson. He has some great ideas to show you how you can get started today!

Blogging About The Web 2.0 Connected Classroom: Skype In The Classroom

Video Writing Prompts

Have you ever thought of using a video prompt for your writing? Teach Hub.com is a great site that provides video prompts along with suggestions on how to use them according to your grade level!  Spice things up and give it a try!  

3 Steps to Creating Your Personal Learning Network (PLN)

I cannot begin to tell you how much it has meant to me this year to build my personal/professional learning network. The information I have received along with the colleagues I have connected with throughout the world have been invaluable. I highly recommend to start creating your PLN. This post by Social Networking for Schools - Edmodo by Betsy Whalen discusses how you can begin today!

3 Steps to Creating Your Personal Learning Network (PLN): "
Your PLN is the network of educators and colleagues you connect with online to share resources, ideas and experiences. Creating a strong PLN takes time and focus but is a critical step for professional growth. The first steps to creating a PLN on Edmodo are easy – and will get you on your way to developing a deep network of professional connections and peers with whom you can share ideas and experiences:

1. Connect with Other Educators. Use the “Search teachers” function on the right side of the screen to find colleagues and educators you’ve met at conferences and professional development events. Connecting with them allows you to send direct messages and share content to each others’ libraries.

2. Join Subject Area and Publisher Communities: From Australian educators sharing their lessons on “Catcher in the Rye” to others sharing their portfolios as they prepare for the National Board exams, the subject area communities are a valuable resource for gathering professional feedback from your peers.

3. Participate in Conference Communities – even if you can’t make it to the conference!: Whether you plan to attend ISTE in Philadelphia in June and want some pre-conference inspiration, or if you can’t quite swing the ticket to Florida for FETC in January but are hoping to participate from home, joining the conference communities provides access to concurrent session materials, peer feedback on sessions, and updates on events and things to look for at conferences. We often announce new conference communities on the blog, so be sure to keep a lookout for new – they are a great opportunity to meet like-minded educators to add to your PLN!

Bonus Step: Stay connected on Facebook/Twitter and the Blog: The best way to keep learning is to keep connected with events and trends in education technology. Stay up to date on Edmodo events by “liking” our page on Facebook and following Edmodo on Twitter .


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