: Tech-Treat : MadLibs Game Time

: URL : http://www.madlibs.com/category/funstuff/?g=madlibs

: Description : The MadLibs Official Website offers an interactive word game. Enjoy adding your input to these selections from Madlibs for President and American Idol Madlibs!

Key features include:

• Very easy to use. Students can begin playing right away.
• The full game (versus the widget above) allows students to enter text by clicking on a word or by typing a word into the text field.

Great for Students:

• Fun way to learn and express themselves.
• Develop expressive language skills.
• Encourage creative writing.

: Classroom Integration Ideas : MadLibs Game Time is an online, interactive tool that can be easily integrated into any language and writing curriculum. Engage students in a MadLib creative writing exercise that will facilitate development in expressive language skills and creative writing.

: Tech-Treat Tips & Tricks :

Tip 1: Insert words by typing into the text field or by clicking on one of the “falling” words.

Tip 2: Allow students to print their work to display and/or share with their fellow classmates.

: URL : http://www.terraclues.com/

: Description : This interactive web site combines the power of Google Maps with the Google search engine to create truly interest-grabbing Scavenger Hunts called TerraClues. You have access to a multitude of already-made hunts that integrate with your current curriculum, or you can create your own TerraClues scavenger hunt to fit your particular classroom needs. Students learn not only about maps and curriculum content, but they also develop critical research skills by learning how to use a search engine. Additionally, TerraClues For Schools [http://www.terraclues.com/teachers/Default.aspx] has been specifically designed for teachers to use in the classroom as a teaching aid.

Key features include:

• Very easy to use. Students can begin playing right away
• Access hunts geared towards your curriculum requirements
• Create private classrooms and choose what hunts your students can play
• Create your own hunts
• Share the hunts you create with other teachers
• Talk to other teachers in the forums.

Great for Students:

• Fun way to learn.
• Solve problems and teach students how to find information on the internet.
• Search the world and learn about new places.
• Learn about a variety of cultures.

: Classroom Integration Ideas : TerraClues is an online, interactive tool that can be easily integrated into any curriculum area you teach. Create a TerraClues scavenger hunt that will engage students in developing critical research skills while simultaneously learning about historical landmarks, world geography, places in history, literary character (book) trips, explore the locations of rare plants and/or endangered animals, geographic landforms, and much more. The possibilities are only limited by the extent of your imagination and creativity.

: Tech-Treat Tips & Tricks :

Tip 1: Try the Tutorial Hunt to see how TerraClues works and how it might fit into your classroom curriculum needs!

Tip 2: Get your older students to create a hunt for younger students, or have groups of students create hunts based on a curriculum unit to share with the rest of the class as a review.

The K-12 Online Conference 2008 officially starts today. It is two-week conference that hosts four sessions per day. It features remarkable presenters with a wide variety of stimulating topics. And the best part… It is totally FREE!

You can access the sessions according to your own time schedule. Presentations will remain available for at least a year, so if you don’t have time now in the midst of Progress Reports , you can watch them later this year.

K-12 Online Conference 2008

Conference Website: http://k12onlineconference.org/

Full Conference Schedule: http://k12onlineconference.org/docs/k12online2008schedule.html

I’ve highlighted a few of the sessions being featured throughout the conference below: (All sessions can be accessed after the date/time listed for your viewing & learning pleasure.)

Never Too Young
Presenter: Sharon Betts
Date/Time: Wednesday, October 22 @ 8:00 AM EST (12:00 PM GMT)

We Like Our Blogging Buddies: The Write Stuff with Blogging Mentors
Presenters: Kathy Cassidy and Patrick Lewis
Date/Time: Thursday, October 23 @ 8:00 AM EST (12:00 PM GMT)

Web 2.0 Tools to Amplify Elementary Students’ Creativity and Initiative
Presenter: Jackie Gerstein
Date/Time: Friday, October 24 @ 8:00 AM EST (12:00 PM GMT)

Games in Education
Presenter: Sylvia Martinez
Date/Time: Monday, October 27 @ 8:00 AM EST (12:00 PM GMT)

Pushing the Limits: Web 2.0 and 21st Century Learning
Presenter: Aimee Stoffel
Date/Time: Wednesday, October 29 @ 8:00 AM EST (12:00 PM GMT)

Connecting Classrooms Across Continents: Planning and Implementing Globally Collaborative ProjectsPresenters: Kim Cofino and Jen Wagner
Date/Time: Wednesday, October 29 @ 8:00 AM EST (12:00 PM GMT)

Parental Engagement in the 21st Century – Leveraging web 2.0 tools to engage parents in non-traditional ways
Presenters: Lorna Costantini and Matt Montagne
Date/Time: Friday, October 31 @ 8:00 AM EST (12:00 PM GMT)