This is a website created by Jerome Burg from Livermore, California called The Kite Runner.
He created this site called Google Lit Trips to share his innovative approach for teaching literature at Granada High School. Each trip is an interactive multimedia experience created using Google Earth and stored as a KMZ file. He says he found a way to put students right in the back seat of an unfolding journey. Readers can virtually follow along with the character, Amir on his journey back to his native Afghanistan.
To learn more about creating Google Lit Trips go to:
http://www.edutopia.org/google-lit-trips-virtual-literature
Welcome to the Digital Generation
Listen to students talk about how they use technology.
I read a really good article for those of us who are digital immigrants and get overwhelmed with all the Web 2.0 technologies. It is hard to know when and how to use these tools. In this article, the author addresses the issue that teachers should not use technology in the classroom just for the sake of using it. The teacher needs to focus on why the technology is being used. We shouldn't try to become experts in all the tools at once. Pick a tool that is appropriate for a class assignment or project and then run with it. The author expresses the fact that baby steps are essential. The author also suggests that the web is the best place for professional development because it offers an abundant of opportunities for both self-directed education and more structured training.
This is an excellent article by Douglas Cruickshank from Edutopia, especially if you are like me and get overwhelmed with all these technologies. Read this article it puts some perspective on things.
http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-technology-integration-manual
Great blog posting! I especially appreciate the comment about knowing when and how to use these tools effectively. There is so much technology out there that I can see why it is best to keep it simple in the classroom as well, and not overwhelm students with too many bells and whistles. The focus should be on learning the topic at hand, not just being entertained.
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