What Previous Participants are Saying about 21 Things
Spring 2011 Participant Comments
- I cannot tell you how valuable this class is to me! I only wish I had taken it last year so that I could have put my time to better use, by using these skills over the summer months to create all of the materials!
I simply cannot thank you enough for this opportunity!
Nancy Jaskiw, Holton
- Wow! That is one cool resource! (netTrekker’s readability scale) …This resource is so easy to use!!! I wish I would have known about this when I was a teacher. …This is the best way to increase reading levels and ensure comprehension….This will be one of the first resources I share with my staff.
Carol Dawson, Holton - The readability statistics in MS Word is incredibly valuable. I didn’t know about it previous to this assignment…This tool will help me to individualize instruction in a way that will truly assist students in their learning and life.
Sarah Knuth, North Muskegon - I began searching for a site that would help with teaching my mythology unit—either Greek or World. However, what I found is a treasure chest of items I can use in a variety of classes. (ThinkFinity)
Al Schut, West Michigan Christian - I will definitely be returning to Thinkfinity for more resources for me as well as for the teachers in my building. Thinkfinity is such a vast site and has so many resources, not only lessons plans that after spending 3 or 4 hours looking and going from one thing to another I feel like I have only seen the surface of all it has to offer.
Brenda Suttor, Muskegon - I am so anxious to show the classroom teacher this site… (a site found through ThinkFinity.) This site is rich with interactive activities for students…The Smithsonian link provides a great source of information for them, but it’s the audio-links that would be most advantageous….Love it!.
Debra Krispin, Muskegon - I am so anxious to show the classroom teacher this site… (a site found through ThinkFinity.) This site is rich with interactive activities for students…The Smithsonian link provides a great source of information for them, but it’s the audio-links that would be most advantageous….Love it!.
Debra Krispin, Muskegon - Rubistar is an incredible time saver. I have created other rubrics and have spent hours doing so. Dawn Cumings, Career Tech Center
- I am very excited to learn of Discovery Education Streaming for medical careers with real life people talking. This is the next best to having each of the careers come to speak to my class. This video library has real life people talking.
Dawn Cumings, Career Tech Center - I was amazed how easily it was to create the questionnaire (Google Forms) and the ease of sending it by email. The responses came back and I was impressed with all the information and data for each question. This could be very helpful when assessing students or surveying.
Mary Englund, Grand Haven Schools - This site was amazing; learning about Rubistar is a big plus to this class. It looked pretty easy watching you demonstrate it but I think it was easier yet using it.
Mary Englund, Grand Haven Schools - This might be the first class I’ve every taken where I can implement and use what I create in class almost immediately in the classroom.
Matt Vander Velde, Orchardview - This is WONDERFUL!!! ZoomIt will be a great feature that I will definitely be adding to my teaching.
Deb Krispin, Muskegon - The process in completing a movie is fascinating. The story can be very educational or entertaining… I think this was one of the coolest things I have made.
Tim Parker, Muskegon - This tool (ZoomIt) is another reason I’m happy I took this class. I had no idea something this simple existed. I plan on using this often. The countdown timer is also a great extra on the tool. Not to mention the drawing/pointing stuff. I often use my computer to show kids how to write music too and this will just help me keep their attention on the info I need them to focus on the most.
Matt Vander Velde, Orchardview - Every time I learn something new from this class, I can think of several different ways I can use it in my classroom. I really enjoyed learning this section on Screencast O Matic! In fact, when I saw this I knew right away exactly what I wanted to use it for and why I would use it quite frequently.
Bill Goeriche, Muskegon - Educators who do not have a web presence are doing a great injustice to their students. In this day and age, the internet is a major facilitator of information, not just for research, but also for our daily lives. She maintains a blog: http://blogs.monashores.net/browerm/
Shelly Brower, Mona Shores - Holy cow! Was Quizlet easy and quick! Every teachers dream quick, easy, free and useful resources. My mind is spinning with ideas and ways to use this.
Michelle Timmer, Muskegon Heights
Fall 2010 Participant Comments
- I really enjoy telling other teachers about great programs that positively impact student learning. I feel as current as I did when I left college.
Jill Vanderwalle, Mona Shores - This 21 Things class is definitely getting me out of my comfort zone. I am finding that I am spending tons of time with ideas, then tons more time figuring out how to execute them.
Amy Stielstra, Mona Shores - After my initial frustration trying to figure out how to navigate through the process of creating a web presence, I found the experience fun and exciting. The ways that a web presence can be used are only limited by ones own creativity.
Beth Pranger, Ravenna - Photo Story 3 was … soooo simple! I was amazed at how quickly I was able to pull together such a fun, uplifting project that my students and their families can enjoy all year long.
Amy Recor, Mona Shores - Digital storytelling has what appear to be nearly limitless applications in the classroom.
Rob Patton, Oakridge - The lesson I am using with my students is a lesson from readwritethink.com. My students LOVED it. Kim Schoepf, Reeths-Puffer
- ZoomIt is a cool little application. This will have an immediate impact on my teaching.
Bryan Merchant, Orchard View - Wow! I love this teaching and presentation tool! (ZoomIt) I can't wait to share this teaching tool with my fellow staff members.
Shari Ralston, Mona Shores - Google Docs really IS the best thing since sliced bread!
Sharri Lane, Muskegon - Creating a survey using Google Forms was incredibly easy! I will definitely continue to use this.
Amy Recor, Mona Shores - The flashcards (Quizlet) are awesome. This class is really helping me with my workload. Thank you. Paulla VanOeveren, Muskegon Heights
- I really like this Quizlet site. It is quick and can be created in a matter of minutes. This site has an endless number of uses.
Christina Ruiz, Muskegon - Google Earth is an AWESOME program! Quizlet is a super neat program! This is exactly what I have been looking for.
Jill Vanderwalle, Mona Shores - The rubric (RubiStar) I was able to create here was nothing short of perfect. I absolutely would have done nothing different even if I typed the whole thing from scratch.
Bryan Merchant, Orchard View - This (Rubistar) is an awesome easy way to create a rubric. I know this is one of the most valuable resources I’ve gained from this class.
Diane VanDyke, Shelby - This must be the greatest program ever invented for educators! (Rubistar) Where was this when I was a classroom teacher? Why don’t more teachers know about this or use this!?
Jill Vanderwalle, Mona Shores - The articles that I can accessed here on this site are totally amazing. I love how I can find professional articles for my field as a science teacher and also so much more. This is the easiest of the citation tools I’ve ever seen. It is true this MEL.org is fantastic. The time this saves is amazing!!! (Michigan Electronic Library)
Paulla Van Oeveren, Muskegon Heights - Now this is what I’m talking about! When considering how to most effectively use my resources when it comes to professional learning networks, sites like this (MACUL Space) are of great interest to me.
Ed Whalen, Mona Shores - I am so glad I learned about ZamZar.
Linda Siscoe, Muskegon
Samples of Teacher Projects
- http://prezi.com/1nkdx7oaoare/how-to-practice/ Prezi (music facts) Brian Merchant, Orchard View (music)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M88UR8JHyTs Digital storytelling (adoption story) Laura Holwerda, Muskegon
- http://blogs.muskegonisd.org/schoepfk/files/2008/02/Super-Saturday-Sale.wmv - Digital Storytelling (Super Saturday Sale with Grandma) Kim Schoeph, Reeths-Puffer
- http://t.co/nekm4RX - Embedded video (Meet My Family) John Swanson, Mona Shores
- http://prezi.com/iimlls4qs_po/going-beyond-black-history-month - Prezi (Black History Month) Cara Taylor, Muskegon
- http://thommensthinkers.weebly.com/uploads/5/7/0/9/5709804/halloween_photo_story.wmv - Weebly and Digital Storytelling (Halloween) upload as a .wmv file Christy Thommen, Walkerville
- http://blogs.monashores.net/recora/files/2010/11/amy-recor-21-things-class-thing-10_2.wmv - Digital Storytelling (Zoophonics) Amy Recor, Mona Shores