The Perfect Plan
So What Went Wrong?
Now It's Your Turn
Why share this failure with you? Why not leave the mistakes of my past where no one can see them? I think there is something to be gained in letting you and my students in on my failure.
Coming Together: Isn't it the case that the people with whom we are the closest are also the people who have seen us at our worst. Whether within your family, church, small group, staff or friends, allowing yourself to be vulnerable opens the door to deeper, more meaningful relationships with others. Sharing your failures helps others feel safe to do so as well. Modeling Resiliency: Students need to see what it looks like to bounce back. While we present kids with opportunities to fail every day, we do our best to avoid them for ourselves. We carefully plan everything and then, when something doesn't work, we tend to throw our hands up and blame it on curriculum, technology or a whole host of other things. Whether we intend to or not, we communicate with our students that this is how they should deal with failures or mistakes. Why is this? Why are we afraid to let them see us stumble? We've heard time and time again that children learn more from our actions than our words. Why not intentionally problem solve in front of them and model how to address the challenges they will inevitably face each day? Risk Taking: Simply put, we need to be taking more risks in front of our students. We need to regularly say "Ok, kids. I'm not sure how this is going to turn out. We're trying something new today..." I recognize that this is a counter-cultural idea. As teachers we are hard-wired to find what works, laminate it and then use it again and again until we are forced into a new curriculum or a new grade. It's time to reassess this find-and-keep model. Students are taking risks everyday, let's join them. What new technique, lesson, book, or tech tool can you try with your students the next time you see them? Thoughts from My Second Graders
I used my failure with the Wii Interactive Whiteboard as a lesson on failure with my students. My students seemed to really connect with what I was saying as I shared my struggles. We spent a few moments talking through what we can do when things aren't working or when we feel like we're failing. This is what the class came up with:
Shortly after, I dismissed my students to recess. One young soul caught me on the way out the door to share one more thing that I should add to the poster. "Mr. Helder, you should put 'Mistakes are proof that at least you are trying." She was right. I did need to add that. But we had a problem: I was all out of room on my poster. We talked about our options (i.e. write it really small, put it in the empty space on the right, etc.) and settled on writing it on a new piece of paper and adding it to the bottom. It's not perfect, but the kids solved the problem and they are pretty proud of it.
Bonus: Other Interactive Whiteboard Options
mMy Wii Remote Whiteboard failed. So what's the next best option? I put this question out to a variety of administrators and tech integration folks. Their response was mixed. Many, like myself, don't see how having an interactive whiteboard is that much better than projecting an iPad or computer onto a regular whiteboard. When looking at a device that costs $300 or more, one must ask, are the additional benefits really worth it? Others complained about really expensive interactive whiteboards that had very limiting software or were not as user friendly as they needed to be. Still others expressed real regret in buying hardware that ended up being clunky, glitchy, restrictive and ultimately unused by their staff. Some cautioned that this hardware tends to encourage a "teacher-centered" classroom environment or a "learning happens from the front" model of instruction.
However, if you are set on getting an interactive whiteboard for your school or classroom, there are many options. Of all the hardware solutions out there (and there are a lot of them), I'm drawn to the simplicity and price of the Ipevo IW2 Wireless Interactive Whiteboard System. Some districts near my school have been happy with the devices and they come pretty highly recommended by our local ISD. For $300, it seems to be the best budget-friendly option out there. For more information, click this link or the ad below. If all you're looking to do is control your screen wirelessly, I recommend using an app like Doceri or Splashtop. Each allows you to control your computer's desktop from the screen of an iPad. Both require you to download an app to your iPad and your computer. While they are not free, these apps are full featured and may be all that you really need. Currently, Doceri seems to be the most widely used and best reviewed. I'd love to hear others thoughts as well. What are you using in your school? What's working? What isn't? Any specific models of interactive whiteboards that you would suggest? What can you do with whiteboards that would be hard to do without? Do your prefer Doceri or Splashtop? Let me know by leaving a comment below. Upcoming CSI Webinar: Making the Most of 1 Classroom iPad
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As a camp counselor at Camp Roger, I learned many very valuable lessons about life, about relationships, about my faith, and about kids. I remember being taught to look for opportunities throughout the day to empower kids, even if only in very small ways. We were encouraged to find those things that made "Your life easier and campers' lives better." This philosophy was lived out by choosing special campers to carry my backpack on hikes, letting campers choose what game or adventure we would do next, or simply by letting them decide the best location for tents and the campfire on campout in the woods. Even as a clueless college kid, I saw how powerful it was for our cabin community when I let go and let them. The technology you use in your classroom each day presents you with some of the same opportunities. Let's be honest, even in a 2nd or 3rd grade classroom, more often than not there is a child in the room who understands your hardware or software better than you do. Why not let this be an opportunity for your kids to lead? Many teachers are reluctant, however, to hand over technology responsibilities to their students. There are good reasons for this. It's difficult to let go of control. It's difficult to trust kids with this important work. It's difficult to let others know that we don't know how to do something. It's difficult to learn something new. Basically, its difficult being a student. We need to stop feeling obligated to do things for our students or on our own. At times it may be just "easier that way," but this is short term thinking. Like so much of what we do in education, investing time and energy at the beginning pays huge dividends throughout the year. Empowering kids to help clean or manage devices early in the year can be clunky and time consuming, but only at the beginning. The time we invest in letting them take ownership of their classroom is ultimately worth whatever short term sacrifices of time and energy we have to make earlier in the year. So, where can we start? How can we let go and let them. Here are some ways you can make your students lives better and your life easier with the technology in your classroom.
Cleaning Devices: Whether as part of a monthly classroom cleanup or as part of a weekly job schedule, students can effectively use spray cleaner and microfiber rags to clean the devices in your room. In so doing, think of how many germs we can prevent from being transferred through our devices. Plugging In: Do you plug in each device at the end of the day? Why? If my kindergarten daughter can plug a device in at home, then certainly my 2nd graders can do the same thing. Why not expect them to take responsibility for ensuring their devices are charged and ready to be used? Tech for Subs: In a classroom with older kids, why not teach them how to turn on and operate your classroom projector and document camera? This makes sub plans less restrictive and puts power in the hands of the students to be legitimately helpful with guest teachers. Turning Things Off: The likelihood that I remember to turn off my projector at the end of the day is greatly increased if I tell a student they can in charge of the remote at the end of the day. In the same way, letting a student take responsibility for making sure our devices are turned off empowers students and makes my life easier. Software Updates: Once a month, show your kids, step-by-step, how to go into the app store and update all of the apps before they put the devices back at the end of the day. By the next morning, your devices will be up to date and ready to go, and it will save you from having to do it for every device yourself. Finding New Apps: Chances are that your kids may have the same devices at home that you have in the classroom. And, chances are, that they might have some good educational apps or websites to share. Give them the task of finding the next great educational app for your class. Have them convince you why their app should be put on your classroom devices. Reward kids who bring in the best ideas. Closing Down Devices: When you are finished with an iPad or Kindle, show kids how to quickly swipe all of the apps closed. This keeps devices performing at a higher speed and increases their overall battery life. Kid's Choice Awards: There are a million apps out there and, to be honest, most of them aren't good. I started the year with six different basic facts apps and had the kids try all of them. We had a series of votes, and narrowed our apps down to only the classroom favorites. In this way, students are actively engaged in shaping how the technology will be utilized in our room. Deleting Apps: If you do vote to remove apps from the device, show your class how to delete the app as well. This will take 30 seconds, and will keep you from having to delete the same app on every device, one-by-one, on your own. Downloading New Apps: 2-3 times a year, I'll add a few different apps to each device. I'll have a few volunteers stay in with me during recess and I'll show them how to download an app onto one device and then let them loose to download it onto the remaining devices. In one 20-minute recess, we can typically get 5-10 apps downloaded. Then, when the class returns, it's great to let them know that, because of the service of their classmates, we all get to enjoy a new app. Customizing Your Device: Do you need to move apps around on the screen or group them into folders? Do you want to change the background image? Is it time to delete photos from your device to free up memory? These things can all be done quickly and easily with the help of a few volunteers during a snack time or recess. Show them how to do it once and let them do it with the rest. Going in Blind: A good friend of mine, Dan Vos at Holland Christian School, once shared some really great advice about introducing new technologies. Sometimes, the best way to teach a new app or technology is to let them go in blind, figure it out for themselves and then lead a discussion about what works, what doesn't and how we can make the most of the technology in the future. This is something you have to try. It's amazing how mature their suggestions can be - even in second grade. Final ThoughtsLately, I've had some great discussions about project based learning, critical thinking skills, and creating greater depth of knowledge in students. I imagine you've had similar conversations popping up at your school as well. These are great goals, but trying to create a culture where these things occur naturally isn't easy. However, allowing students the privilege and responsibility of creating, maintaining, and facilitating the technology in your classroom may be one step you can take towards accomplishing these lofty goals. Not because it's easier, but because your students can do it if you let them. Take a moment to think about how the students in your room can take control of their learning. Where can you let go and let them? Do you have other ways to make students' lives better and your life easier? How do you empower the kids in your room? Please share in the comments below. Support Classroom TechBookmark This Link: http://amzn.to/29x8QA2
By regularly using this link as your primary way to access Amazon, a portion of all of your purchases will be applied to technology in the classroom at no extra cost to you. This is a simple way to support our class over and over again without much time or effort. Thanks for your help!
One of my technology goals for the year was to try and use green screens in my classroom. I was blessed to watch David Tchozewski present a session on green screens at MACUL last year. I was both excited to try this fairly simple technology, and I was, admittedly, a little confused how something like this could fit into the year. Was it just a novelty or could it have a purposeful role in the classroom? Let me first show you what I have tried and then follow it up with some reflections.
Willy Wonka Goes High Tech
Each year, I have hosted a Willy Wonka themed Summer Reading Incentive. Students reading 20 minutes each day throughout the summer, fill in "Wonka Bars" and earn their chance to attend a special event at the end of August at school. Part of this event has historically included a photo booth. This year, I decided to do the photo booth with a green screen.
My goal was to have every kid stand in front of the green screen so that I could superimpose a picture of each of them standing in front of a retro photo of the original cast of the first Wonka Movie. The results were great. Here are some pictures from the day: A Super Hero Welcome to the Year
This year I decided on a super hero theme for the start of the year. I thought this would be the perfect time to try out using the video features of this app. I started by setting up a green screen "booth" in my backyard for the flying scene.
I shot a few different flying angles because I wasn't sure how it was going to work out. Later I took some footage at school and then went home and compiled all of the clips together. Here is the end result.
Hello from Mr. Helder from Brandon Helder on Vimeo.
Admittedly, this video is ridiculous. It is not educational. However, I believe that it had an important purpose. More than any other video I have created in the past, there was an outpouring of excitement surrounding this clip. The response from kids and parents alike was very positive, and it was clear that students were even more excited about the year ahead.
2nd Grade Super Powers
Continuing our theme of super heroes, I decided to take a picture of each kid every day for the first week of school. While we were eating lunch in our room, I had the students come up one at a time and pose for a photo. Each one displayed a super power - super speed, super strength, and the ability to fly. We decided to keep these pictures a secret and shared them with the parents on the last day of the week. They turned out great, and it was so fun to see pictures being shared between friends and family on social media. Check some of them out by clicking the thumbnails below.
Tips and Tricks
As I worked with the app, I learned a few things that I think will be helpful to you:
Going Further
So far, I have only really scratched the surface of what this app can do. While I'm curious to see where this will pop up in the year ahead, I do have a few ideas for how you might take this a step further:
Getting Started: Simple Guides for Using Green Screens
The people at DoInk are awesome. I strongly encourage you to follow them on Twitter @DoInkTweets. They post lots of great ideas each day. Feel free to connect with them in the way that works the best for you.
Link to App in AppStore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/green-screen-by-do-ink/id730091131?mt=8 Link to their website: http://www.doink.com Link to their blog: http://blog.doink.com/ Link to their demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekX1mDt6QNY Link to their Pinterest page: https://www.pinterest.com/doink0040/ They were also very generous in sharing some great resources for how to make the most of their app. Also, check out these great tutorials. It's everything you need to know to get started: How to Use Two Videos to make a Green Screen movie + Save to Camera Roll https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izVwOxSV5BA&feature=youtu.be Change image size, position and orientation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLtFZeWewko&feature=youtu.be Crop images, videos and live camera https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UopiTOoA_7s Masking tool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQUUNmd3aco&feature=youtu.be How to Use all Three Layers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4YVqbaWoDU
So What? Why Does This Matter?
I love my 7" Kindle Fires. For the price, they have been unbeatable. However, there were some sacrifices we had to make when using them in the classroom. The HD8 is a big jump forward for a couple of reasons.
First, the screen on my 7" Kindle Fires has, admittedly, always been smaller than I would prefer. It's fine for little 2nd grade hands, but I find the device to feel tiny when using it. The HD8 has a screen that is much bigger. At eight inches, it is as big as the iPad mini's. This is huge. This jump in screen size really does make these devices more user friendly for older students and adults. The ability to produce (type, draw, create) is greatly increased by this jump in size. Second, the battery life piece is also important. While I have not had a problem with the Kindle Fires dying before the end of the day, I realize that as batteries age, the amount of charge they hold decreases. The longer the battery life is, the longer into the future I will be able to use each device. 12 hours is not needed during a school day, but it might increase the overall lifespan of your device by a couple of years. Lastly, I realize that 8GB will soon be a limiting factor for me. While it is enough for now, I know that the apps we use will continue to get larger and larger until I won't have enough room to add more. 16GB is preferred. Like better battery life, this extra space will inevitably increase the lifespan of each device. So Is It Worth It?
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By regularly using this link as your primary way to access Amazon, a portion of all of your purchases will be applied to technology in the classroom at no extra cost to you. This is a simple way to support our class over and over again without much time or effort. Thanks for your help! Thanks to Kahn Academy, all the Duck Duck Moose Apps for kids are now free. These are great "premium" early childhood educational apps that are worth checking out. Click the links below to find and download them. Click here to access the Apps for Apple Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/.../duck-duck-moose.../id303076298 Click here to access the Apps for Apple Devices: https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Duck%20Duck%20Moose%2C%20Inc.&hl=en Click here to access the Apps for Kindle Devices: http://amzn.to/2bZXFkd Support Classroom TechBookmark This Link: http://amzn.to/29x8QA2 By regularly using this link as your primary way to access Amazon, a portion of all of your purchases will be applied to technology in the classroom at no extra cost to you. This is a simple way to support our class over and over again without much time or effort. Thanks for your help! Teacher Friends, The school year is starting. It's go time. After a summer away from the classroom, we're now up to our eyeballs in bulletin boards, classroom layouts, updating websites and getting ready for open houses. I'm guessing right now you don't need any more tech tips or tricks or deals from me. There's not time for adding anything else. Instead, I'd like to offer some perspective as you jump into your year. This images above was captured this past Easter. Pope Francis spent part of his Holy Week washing the feet of refugees in Europe. I love this image. I have it hanging in my room. Why? Because even though the pope represents a great deal of earthly power, he humbled himself, got on his knees and washed the feet of those in need, or as Christ might have put it, "the least of these." As teachers, isn't this our job too? To jump into the dirt, discomfort and vulnerability of each school day to serve the students in our room. Isn't it our job to push back against structures that place the teacher above the student? Shouldn't we also get on our knees and look eye to eye with each child and to tell them that they are loved, that they belong, and that they too can be washed clean. Take a moment, and read this passage from John 13. Notice the references to teaching in verses 13 and 14. Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet 1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. 5 Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. 6 He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part in me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”10 Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not every one of you.”11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “You are not all clean.” 12 When he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. A good friend of mine has a hand towel prominently displayed in his office. Years ago, his father gave it to him as a reminder and a challenge. A reminder of when Christ washed his disciples feet and a challenge to selflessly serve others in the same way. Perhaps putting a bucket and a towel in your classroom might be just the reminder and challenge you and your students need throughout the year. So, as you start your year, stop for just a moment. Take a deep breath. Pray for God's guidance, protection and grace in the year ahead. Remember that as followers of Christ you are called to serve. Now let's go wash some feet. Taking a BreakBecause you wont have time to read and I won't have time to write, I'm taking a break from posting for the next few weeks. I'll start up again when it feels right. Support Classroom TechBookmark This Link: http://amzn.to/29x8QA2
By regularly using this link as your primary way to access Amazon, a portion of all of your purchases will be applied to technology in the classroom at no extra cost to you. This is a simple way to support our class over and over again without much time or effort. Thanks for your help!
This is the time of year that teachers do a lot of dreaming. We reflect on the successes and failures of the past year and begin building a year that will, hopefully, be just a bit better. It is in this spirit that I would like to share some thoughts about my year ahead. I learned a lot last year and am hoping to make better use of the technology I have in the classroom. Eventually, some time in the middle of the year, I'll take time to reflect on the progress I have made and let you know how things have gone.
Going Deeper with Kindle Fires
Clean Screens
Green Screens
A Kahoot a Week
I love Kahoot! The level of student engagement Kahoots inspire is difficult to replicate. Now that I have one device for every two children in my room, I have no reason not to Kahoot more often. I think the best course of action would be to sit down and start collecting Kahoots for each content area so that they are ready to go when I need them. I think a goal of one Kahoot a week is realistic. We'll see. For more information on Kahoot, you can read my blog post here.
Coding 2.0
Last year we coded by the seat of our pants and crammed into the end of May all that we could. While I still see myself teaching coding in the 2nd semester, I'd like to slow down and do it better. I'm looking forward to taking advantage of some of the Code.org resources and maybe taking a few trips to the computer lab for some 1 to 1 exploration. For more information on coding, you can read my blog post here.
Student Photographers
Despite the fact that my students had Kindle Fires for months, we never really utilized the cameras as much as I had hoped. I'd love to find ways to have students record their work or collect images as a part of classroom instruction. This increases student engagement and ownership in learning. For more information on taking pictures and video with Kindle Fires, you can read my blog post here.
Make the Most of My Chromecast
I've tried Apple TV. I've tried Kindle Fire Stick. I've chosen to go with Chromecast for the year ahead. I'd like to make the most of this device by:
-Using some Chromecast apps like Math Duel with the class. Hopefully there will be more to come. -Projecting my classroom to the board instead of using the actual devices and having the kids lean in and squint. -Watching videos and listening to music without the Chromecast stuttering like my Apple TV often did. For more information on how to use a Chromecast in the classroom, you can read my blog post here. Still Looking...
Despite my best efforts, there are a few things I'm struggling to find solutions for. If you have any insights or suggestions you could share, please let me know.
Photo Sharing- I'm still trying to find a way to easily share classroom pictures with parents. I've tried Google Photos, Flickr, Cluster, and Weebly and I'm not 100% happy with any of them. I'd love to hear what free or cheap options you might suggest that I use. Typing Software- I'm still looking for some kind of typing app to use with students. I'm not really concerned with them leaving 2nd grade as master typers, but instead am hoping to develop a better sense of keyboard letter placement as they head into 3rd grade. I'm happy to try a website or an app for Amazon or Android. Spell Checking Software- I'd love to know if anyone has a kid-friendly spell checking app. I want to empower the kids to check their own spelling during writing without having to search through hundreds of dictionary pages or bother others. Support Classroom Tech
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By regularly using this link as your primary way to access Amazon, a portion of all of your purchases will be applied to technology in the classroom at no extra cost to you. This is a simple way to support our class over and over again without much time or effort. Thanks for your help!
Today, in the second act of "Getting Great Stuff for Less", we're going to focus on tips for how to get the best deal and pay the lowest price for each purchase you make online. If you haven't already read last week's blog post about how to find the best rated stuff out there, check that out here.
Once you've found the perfect item online and it's time to buy it, the final step is to make sure you're paying as little as possible for it. With just a little effort, and perhaps some patience, you can potentially save hundreds of dollars each year. Now let's save some money! Ebates
You know how if you let a faucet drip long enough, you can fill a bathtub? Ebates is a little like this. After installing the Ebates extension into your internet browser, Ebates can help you save money on most online purchases. Having this extension built right into the toolbar makes saving money ridiculously easy each time you buy. Whenever you are on a site where a discount is available, the little "E" in the top corner flashes, you click a button, and a portion of your purchases are returned to you in a quarterly "Big Fat Check" that is mailed to your house. While most websites give you between 2-5% back, there are other sites that offer up to 12%. The result? At the end of a quarter, my wife and I typically get a check for $15 to $20. Click here to sign up and get an automatic $10 when you start.
CamelCamelCamel
Before you buy something, how do you know what a good price is? Deciphering discounts requires context. 30% off at Kohl's is nothing but 30% off on Apple products is unheard-of. CamelCamelCamel is a great site that allows you to track the price of an item on Amazon as well as see the history of the pricing for that item. Knowing the pricing history on a specific item can not only tell you if the price is at an "all time low," but can also give you a sense of when the item has historically dropped in price. This second part may be helpful if you have time to spare before pulling out your wallet. Check out the image of pricing information for the Kindle fire to see an example of what CamelCamelCamel can offer. You can also set up price alerts to receive notifications for when an item has dipped below a specific price. This can ensure you get the best price before limited quantity items are sold out.
Promo Codes
Near the end of almost any online purchase, you might notice a small field on the checkout screen titled Promo Code. In many cases, there are discounts on top of the regular discounts published by a given website, but you need to know a specific code for a lower price. So how does one find the treasure trove of these promotional codes? Short answer, Google. By simply Googling something like "Walgreens Photo promo code" or "Old Navy Promo Code" or "Lowes Promo Code" you'll find that there are a variety of sites with lists of codes you can try. The one I am usually directed towards and use most commonly is RetailMeNot. I find most other sites offer false codes or codes that have expired. RetailMeNot does a good job of publishing the success rate of each code as well as its expiration date . About half of the time, I find I can save an extra 10-20% or more on each purchase. In many cases, there are promotional codes that will, at the very least, get you free or expedited shipping. Try it for yourself, I think you'll be surprised how much you can save.
Timing
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By regularly using this link as your primary way to access Amazon, a portion of all of your purchases will be applied to technology in the classroom at no extra cost to you. This is a simple way to support our class over and over again without much time or effort. Thanks for your help! Finding the Best Stuff
Whether for the classroom or for home, we all make hundreds of product purchases each year. In many cases we've found items that work well, but for many other purchases, we have no idea what to buy or where to start. There are too many options and it's not always clear how to compare things. Which pencil sharpener is built to last? Which sunblock is best for kids? Where can I buy a good mattress for under $1000? What features does this product have that others don't? It's all very confusing, and marketers take advantage of this confusion and profit greatly from it. There's a better way.
Over the next couple of weeks, we'll focus less on technology and more on the "thrifty" end of things. I pride myself in getting a good deal, and, over the years, I've become quite good at it. Frequently, friends, family and colleagues ask me to help them find specific items at a discount online. So, for the next two weeks, we'll focus on getting the most bang for your buck. This week, I'll share my secrets about finding the best products. Next week, I'll tell you how to get the lowest price on the great stuff you find - because you might as well get the best you can for the money you spend. Relying on the advise of experts is the easiest way to find out which product is the best. Review websites are a good place to start. The problem is sorting through all of them. There are a million review sites, but many aren't all that good. Let me make this easy for you. This week, I'll share some of my favorite product review sites- most of which are FREE. I think you'll find them all to be informative as well as quick and easy to use. Homegoods: SweetHome
If you are starting a wedding registry, or need to replace a household item, Sweethome it THE review site for household goods. I love this site for a variety of reasons. First, their research and testing are ridiculously thorough. They rely on experts for advise in each category. Second, they generally narrow the search to end at one "best" product. This makes getting a great "tried and true" product super easy to do. For those not willing to pay the top dollar, there is often a "discount" or "budget" item that will serve you well. Third, their collection of reviews is comprehensive. They have reviews on every thing from tents, to solar panels to interior paint. Finally, they publishwonderful gift guides around the holidays that are really well curated and full of only the best products.
Check out a few reviews for the following items: Water Bottles, Manual Razors, The Best Sunscreen, Lawn Sprinkler, Back to School Supplies, Laptop Backpacks and Travel Coffee Mugs. I should note that Sweethome, like most review sites, is a for profit company. While there are very few direct advertisements, they clearly state on their main page that they earn a portion of all sales directed through the site. While this has the potential to sway reviews, I have not seen any explicit bias. You can find a great description of their process and philosophy here. Tech: CNET and Wirecutter
CNET and Wirecutter are my first choice in finding great reviews on any type of technology. CNET has probably the most comprehensive collection of reviews and videos about consumer electronics. Chances are, if you google your item plus the word "review," CNET will top the list. Wirecutter is the techy brother of Sweethome, so it too narrows down choices to one best option, is ridiculously thorough in its research, and provides great gift guides during the holidays. While CNET does not profit from sales through its site, Wirecutter does. Even though they are completely independent of each other, I've often found that if one site recommends a certain technology, the other will usually do the same. Check out these reviews and see how they compare for yourself:
Streaming Devices on CNET Streaming Devices on Wirecutter Chromebooks on CNET Chromebooks on Wirecutter Smart Thermostats on CNET Smart Thermostats on Wirecutter Big Purchases: Consumer Reports
After some substantial water damage to my home this past spring, my wife and I had to make a variety of large scale purchases. This included appliances, flooring, countertops and cabinetry. Having not purchased many of these things before, we started shopping around and found that comparing these larger purchases from store to store was very difficult. We struggled to compare customer satisfaction, quality, performance and features between stores. Since we were unable to find the information we wanted to concerning the items, we turned to Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports has been around since 1936. They are a household name for good reason. Consumer Reports is a non profit and maintains a level of professionalism and freedom from bias that most other reviews sites cannot. They do very thorough work and publish very reliable ratings on common products. It's worth noting that Consumer Reports is not free. Currently, a one-year subscription will set you back $40. However, if your spending thousands of dollars on appliances, a tv or even a new car, this is a solid investment. I have also heard that many libraries have subscriptions to Consumer Reports. It may be worth asking your local library if they subscribe to the magazine. If so, you may be able to get all of the information you need without shelling out $40 to get it. Everything Else: Amazon Reviews and Consumer Search
Amazon Reviews: Amazon has everything. Not only does Amazon sell everything under the sun, they have the best user review databases in the world. Product reviews written by customers are ranked by how helpful they are. Often the "Most Helpful" reviews provide a concise description of the benefits and drawbacks of each purchase. The zero to five star system can also quickly help streamline your shopping process. It's a safe bet to purchase any product with over 100 people giving it an average of 4.5 or higher. Generally, the higher the number of customer reviews, the safer the purchase. Put another way, a product that has 5 stars but only twelve reviews is likely not as good as a product that has 4 stars and 5,000 reviews. While I'm sure there are exceptions, I've found this to be a safe way to judge the quality of an item. Though you may not always get the best price on Amazon, it's a great place to determine your specific item for purchase.
Consumer Search: Similar to Sweethome, Consumer Search is a great collection of product reviews in a wide variety of categories. What sets Consumer Search apart is their process. Unlike Sweethome, they don't do any of their own testing. Instead, they aggregate product review information from a variety of sites across the web to help decide on the best product. Even better, they tell you in the "Sources" section of each review where they gleaned their information. This allows you to delve deeper into more specialized websites without having to seek them out yourself. For example, in their best lawn mower review, they drew information from Consumer Reports, Sweethome, Popular Mechanics, Home Depot, Lowes, Amazon, Walmart and Sears. Others?
These are my tried and true review sites. Do you have others that you would add to the list? Please let me know in the comments below.
Support Classroom Tech
Bookmark This Link: http://amzn.to/29x8QA2
By regularly using this link as your primary way to access Amazon, a portion of all of your purchases will be applied to technology in the classroom at no extra cost to you. This is a simple way to support our class over and over again without much time or effort. Thanks for your help! Small Camera, Big Impact
One of the most powerful features of the Kindle Fire is it's camera. Often underused or even unused, the camera of the Kindle Fire or iPads can do some pretty important things. Let's get to know how it works, what it can and can't do, and how we might use these cameras in the classroom as part of regular instruction.
Why Share Pictures in the First Place?
Not Great, But Good Enough
Camera Basics
Check out this quick walk through of the Kindle Fire Camera app:
In the Cloud in an Instant
On the Amazon main page, Click "Your Account" and under "Your Library" select "Cloud Drive." You may have to log in with your Amazon username and password. Once completed, you should see recent pictures from your devices. Click "See All."
Here you can view, sort, edit, download and share all of the images from your devices. Assuming all of your devices are registered to your account and that they are all connected to the internet, all of the images collected on the Kindle Fires should come up to your Amazon cloud drive almost instantly. If they aren't, you may need to just refresh the webpage. This immediate collection of group images into one central location is super handy, and having this capability allows teachers and students to do some pretty cools things:
Questions? Feel free to ask by leaving a comment below. To learn how to better utilize Amazon Cloud Drive, Click here then select the video titled "Syncing and the Cloud." Support Classroom Tech!
Bookmark This Link: http://amzn.to/29x8QA2
By regularly using this link as your primary way to access Amazon, a portion of all of your purchases will be applied to technology in the classroom at no extra cost to you. This is a simple way to support our class over and over again without much time or effort. Thanks for your help! |
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