Digital Storytelling

I created a story on storybird.  I used it as an intro to life science.  I thought using already made images would be helpful but I struggled with making it relevent to my class units.  I think I will give Zooburst a try after looking at Linda's story board as I can see using it in that way to be helpful in my class.  This could be helpful when I have students write a book to help explain what they have learned in different units.  Again for that I think that it may be easier for students to do that with the Zooburst where they can add their own images that relate to the topic.  http://storybird.com/books/welcome-to-life-science/

Pimp My Presentation

For this activity I decided to make a popplet.  It was very easy to use but I think that I would like the ability to also reuse some of the bubbles that I made as I review content with students.  I also wish I could make it look like a web to help show many of the connections with the cell structures that I was talking about.  I like the ability to color code to help show some of the connections.  I have a link to my Popplet below. 
Honestly I like making presentations better in smart software, prezi, and PowerPoint.  Maybe that is just because I am getting old.
Cell Popplet

I looked at glogster as well.  I think I would like this for having the students use as I like to let them draw and make many mini posters during the year and this would give them lots of creative freedom  with adding content and save on paper!! :) 

Blog Bling

The video I chose was a reading of "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss.  I picked this video because with the ecology unit I have the students read the story and watch the "old" video.  Adding this link to a blog would allow some of my students who miss the day of the reading and video to still be able to hear it and get caught up as we do a large project based on the story. 

I have added three new gadgets to my page, followers, Discovery news and daily fun quotes.  The Discovery news I really like as I have my students do a science current event and those that are having a hard time finding one could use this from my blog.  The other two gadgets were just for fun. 

I think that using a blog in my classroom could be helpful with posting assignments we are working on and answering common questions that pop up.  This would limit the number of times that I would have to answer the same question. 

Some of the other bolging layouts that look like they would be helpful are Edmodo and Schoology.  It would be interesting to be able to allow students to respond to each others questions and to add what they are thinking about different topics.  It could also be used for digital turning in of assignments and reduce the amount of paper.