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Can Learning Be Transparent?

How many times have you used an image on a webpage, publication, presentation, or a paper and the background of that image messed up your format and appealing display?  Numerous times most likely.

Here are a few tips for finding and obtaining transparent images.

  • Google Image Search with Advanced Features – after browsing for an image, click on TOOLS underneath the search field, select COLOR, then TRANSPARENT. Save the image and use in your file.
  • Google Drawing – background is already transparent, create your image/drawing, then save and download.
  • NoBacks.com – isolated free stock png photos
  • Lunapic – photo editing web app – upload photo, edit/magic wand, click on background, save and download.

For educational purposes, transparent images could be used in PPT’s, Google Slides, student created flip books/videos, PBA’s, interactives, comics, and websites to name a few.

Transparent images are more appealing that’s a fact but it also gives the impression of a skilled user of technology at hand.

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PlayPosit – A Blended Video Model

Students love watching videos and there is so much out there to choose from whether it be YouTube, TeacherTube, or Vimeo. What if you could take a good instructional video and prompt your students for understanding while they are watching it? 

Welcome PlayPosit!  (pronounced play-pause-it)
playposit logo

The delivery process is engaging—maintaining a high state of accountability for students via time-embedded formative assessments. Students benefit from a one-to-one experience, which gives them immediate feedback (correcting misconception in the moment) and also grants them control over their learning by allowing them to move at their own differentiated pace by pausing, rewinding and reviewing the material.

This blended model ranks high for individualized and differentiated instruction.  Sign up for your free account and browse ‘bulbs’ already created by other educators – or easily create your own.

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Online Learning Resources With Curriki

Curriki supports online learning in all major K-12 subject areas with thousands of activities therefore making Curriki a blended learning resource that will work well with Schoology or any other learning management system.  Curriki is OER (Open Educational Resources) which means it will always be a free resource.

Educators from around the world access and contribute to this free and open-ended library of digital resources in efforts to empower educators and engage students in their learning which in turn bridges the educational divide.

Browse the resource library by subject or standard, or browse collections and select specific statements.

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Game Based Learning for Science

Legends of Learning is a game-based platform that offers Life Science, Earth Science, and Physical Science activities that are standards aligned.  This GBL (game-based learning) resource is suitable for elementary and middle school students.
Curriculum focuses on vocabulary, discussion questions,  and concepts for teaching or reinforcing skills.  An example of learning objectives for Life Science at the elementary level are shown below.
Accounts for teachers are free. Playlists can be created and then assigned to the class, groups, or individual students.  Take a look.  This would be a nice resource to use in a blended learning environment.

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Free Course for Making Interactive Maps

Attention Geography and Science teachers!

KQED offers a free 3-part course online for making interactive maps. Learn production techniques and the basics for creating engaging interactive maps.

Module 1 – five lessons on how to make a basic interactive map;
Module 2 – seven lessons about adding layers to maps; and
Module 3 – practice making interactive maps.

The site lays out the number of modules participants need to complete, along with the approximate time commitment for each module. Participants can determine their own pace and complete the modules and course in whatever timeframe works for them. The lessons build on each other, however, so participants do need to complete one module before proceeding to the next. The course concludes with the teacher making a lesson plan that is then shared on the platform. A template helps to guide participants through the lesson-planning process.

Click on Get Started to sign up and begin the course.