Glogster

Glogster is the techno-version of creating a poster to present in the classroom, but with HUGE benefits!!!! First of all.... no slipping on the crayons or markers that have rolled off the desks and no glue residue on the floor.  Second, parents aren't griping about spending even more money on school supplies, and you don't have to shell out your hard-earned money.

Students research a topic or online, or read a book. or complete an assignment and then use Glogster to create a digital poster.  With the available in-program options and the ability to "grab" anything the students find on the web, Glogster is the perfect Web 2.0 solution to the traditional show-and-tell poster.  The attached example is a "found" glog about 21st century education.  I have developed a glog to use the first day of school and at the back-to-school night we offer for parents.  As one of our first Get-to-Know-You assignments, students will create glogs as a group establishing their team name and mascot that will be displayed around the room for classroom management purposes.  What uses can you think of for a glog?

What is literacy in the 21st century?

Readin', wRitin', and Rithmatic... these are the literacies of the 19th and 20th centuries.  A time reflected by the factory model economy that drove our America to a great world power.  But what about now?  What about today?  Are the students in 2011 destined for the same future as the students from 1911? or 1991 for that matter?  

Literacy in the 21st century is characterized by

• critical thinking and problem solving skills,
• technological fluency, and
• effective oral and written communication.

How are we as teachers supposed to reach these students and teach them the way they learn?  Watch the video that follows and comment with questions you have to get our discussions going!