How are you using Pixton.com ?

Early in January, I posted about Pixton for schools and how it is now free to all Ontario schools, (just go to Pixton for schools and create an account by picking your school board).  Now that some time has gone by and I've had a chance to create some activities for my students, and play with it a bit, I'm wondering how others are using this great little resource in their classrooms.  I would love to hear from you - feel free to leave a comment here or through social media.

Here's a Pixton.com poster I created as an exemplar for an assignment on Pioneer Life for my class.

Learning about Thinglink!

Just read a fabulous post on a program called Thinglink on a great blog that you should check out called Tech Time with T.  She gives you the basics on what it is and how to use it, including some great links to help you learn how to use it and why.  Click the link - you won't be sorry!

Everyday Superheroes Unit

A Unit using Educational Technology to promote the UN's Sustainability Goals and focusing on small changes students can make to meet these goals.

Image from:

Nino, Florencia Soto. Sustainable Development Goals - United Nations. United Nations Sustainable Development, 17 Aug. 2016, http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/. Accessed 23 Jan. 2017.)

Here is a link to the Unit I created for my Developmental Special Education Class where they created videos, posters and their own Everyday Superhero based on the UN goals.  Please use it, and change it to suit your own classroom needs.  Everyday Superhero Unit.

Here are a few examples of videos my students created for this unit.

Here's a simple one created with TellagamiEdu and iMovie on the importance of the Food Bank:

This first one is on Littering and the second one is on Healthy living, both were created using iMovie:

This one is about donating clothing to Goodwill Industries using TellagamiEDu and iMovie:

Looking for a Unit that gets your students working on creating their own future classroom?  Feel free to use the one I have created and linked here:  Creating an Accessible Classroom at Arthur Voaden SS

This unit talks about Universal Design and uses lots of Educational Technology to get students thinking about their ideal learning environment in a Project-Based Learning Unit.  They create their own blueprint online and use their new found experience with Universal Design and using floor planning technology to create a multi media presentation.

I shared this video in a November posting - but wanted to also include it here with the project it was designed to go with.  Please use all or any of the resources I've shared regarding this project-based learning assignment.

Pixton available to all Ontario's publicly funded schools through OSAPAC!

Ever since the loss of BitStrips for schools, I have been trying to find a comic maker that will take it's place.  Pixton.com looked great - but it had a high price tag!  Now it is available free to all Ontario teachers in publicly funded schools through OSAPAC.  For more details on how to get your classroom account going, check out this link to Pixton for Ontario teachers.   Wondering about Pixton.com?  I've included a few of their videos here to give you a quick look at what it can do.

Basic overview:

Want to know more about Pixton?  I'm still pretty new to it, so check out their YouTube Channel (that's where you will find the videos I embedded and many more) and their Website at Pixton.com.  They are also on Facebook, Twitter ( follow them @Pixton), Pinterest, Google+, etc

I'm looking for input on this topic (please add your comments!):

• " How do we address the problems of accessibility in schools (i.e.. students with assistive learning needs)? "
  
  
  
  Blogging Prompts for Teacher Candidates (ideas). Google Docs, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UkKI2VZnGVfBiiZ70NJryJM9CRFcwpDaLeWFrNWI4BM/edit?hl=en#. Accessed 7 Jan. 2017.

  

Have you heard of Tribes Learning Communities?  Are you thinking about taking the training, but sort of still sitting on the fence?  Here's a video I created with the input of many of my school colleagues to explain why we love using Tribes.  Let me know what you think.  Did it help you decide to take the training or learn more about Tribes Learning Communities?  Please leave a comment on the page and let me know!

Here is a video some colleagues and I made about creating Positive Learning Environments in our classrooms for our in school September Professional Development Day.  Thanks to K. Osterback and D. Goodwyn for their expertise and help with this resource!  We did have a little fun with it!