TinyVox App

I really like TinyVox. It is a free app for your iPhone, iTouch, or iPad. I have TinyVox installed on my iPad. It is a cool little recording device that allows you to record your message and send it out in an email, to Facebook, to Twitter, or to a SoundCloud account.

How could you use it in your math class? My thoughts were to let students record their thoughts about the project you had today, or what they learned in class, or just about any question you ask of them. It could be their ticket out the door. Instead of writing 140 characters or less on Twitter, they can record their thoughts and send it to Twitter. One way to post larger bits of information as your students Twitter. You can also post their TinyVox to your class blog just to change up how students respond to your question or post. I had to create a class SoundCloud account to get the Html, but then it was real easy to embed. The only downfall I found was that ads run across the top of the recorder. But I can live with that.

div>Just download the app, and start recording. Once you are done, you can preview the recording. If you don't like it, just start over. If you do, just click on the tape deck at the top to give your recording a name and send it out. It is that easy. If you have used TinyVox in your classroom, or have thoughts on other ways to use it, let me know. Have you sent your first recording?

Check out my TinyVox:
Viewing via iPad: http://soundcloud.com/gatormath7/tinyvox-in-your-classroom/s-9N6RV

TinyVox in Your Classroom by Gatormath7

NT BOOTCAMP WK 5

Week 5 asked us to start a blog via Edublogs, wordpress or blogspot. I of course have been blogging now for 2 months. I actually set up this blog site over a year ago and thought I would start my journey then. But I got side tracked and found my way back when I was asked be a part of our districts iMath committee again this year. We have great technology colleagues in our district and Chris Nilsson and Chad Jones stopped by to talk technology and iPads with us. I was re introduced to twitter and my tech bug was started again. I decided that I would devote the Chanceinmath2010 blog to technology. What was it and how was I going to use this tech tool in my class. Gatormath7 is my classroom blog site for just my students and I.

I try to post a blog once a week, usually Sunday mornings before church, but not always. You have to find the time and just set it aside. I really like expressing my thoughts about all the great technology that I am learning. I hope that others share their thoughts and advice about the tools they have discovered or used.

Today I gave two 35 min sessions on why you should blog in the classroom at iMath 2011. I gathered all of my material from fellow colleagues and blogs I have read over the last two months. I might have given too much information, but I wanted the participants to be able to sit down and go through the material at their pace. I do think our district needs to offer a blogging 101 for beginners that actually helps teachers set up and create a classroom blog.

I am attaching my presentation here. Take a look, and run through a blog or tutorial. If your not blogging, why not start today?(You need to right click and download in order to view these powerpoints once you open the google doc.) Blogging & iPad presentations, iMath 2011
Here is my wiki for NT BOOTCAMP

NT BOOTCAMP WK 4

Wetoku what? I have to do a live what? A Live Chat! Ok, I was not looking forward to this because I don't like to be videotaped. You know the reasons. My makeup looks bad(but I don't wear any). Is my hair ok. Will I say something dumb? And the list could go on. Thank goodness my colleague and friend, Casey Chapman, agreed to be the other guinea pig in my experiment with Wetoku.
The tool is extremely cool. I have watched Lisa Dabbs(@teachingwithsoul) use Wetoku three times interviewing teachers from across the country. Each week we have had an assignment to do about some tech tool. The first two weeks Lisa used a Voki, which is also neat. But the following weeks we were able to hear first hand from teachers about how they used the technology in their classrooms.
So how does it work? Just go to Wetoku an sign up for your free account. Once you have invited a colleague to join in the Wetoku, your ready to go. They do not need an account. You fill in the title and add the interviewee's name, and your ready to get the URL to send their way. Once they connect to the URL, you will see each other on the screen and can talk with each other before you record. Just click the start button, and you are recording.
When your done, you stop the interview and then you can go to your recordings and copy the link to show to your class, or HTML to embed in your blog.
Now my first interview was great. Casey did a wonderful job answering the questions I asked her about her experience at CAMT 2011, in Grapevine, Texas. The only real problem I could tell was a double voice for Casey. My fault of course. You have a mic on your screen. I believe, when I was not talking, I needed to mute that mic. Thus solving the problem of the double voice. All in all it was a great experience and I can definitely see my students using Wetoku in my class this coming year. If your checking out my blog and you'd like to connect with my students this coming year, send me a tweet @dakretschmer or leave a comment and I'll get back with you. Let's Wetoku together!
CAMT 2011 Wetoku: