Virtual Teachers

Good evening, everyone!  We will be enjoying the thrills of video chatting this week!  This time we will be using Tiny Chat.   The link to our chat room is here...Set up your camera and microphone right away.  You will need to allow Tiny Chat access to your camera and microphone.  Here are some great 'selling' points for Tiny Chat:

• if you are not feeling the love of the webcam tonight you can use your microphone instead
• up to hundreds of folks can view the chat
• up to 12 folks can use their camera during the chat (at one time)
• there's an app for that ~ on Droid & Apple!

Hey there folks!  I really enjoyed your Google Hangouts!  You shared a lot of fantastic information and ideas!  Here are some videos that you may find relevant to the last part of the conversation. 

• Jigsaw
• The Kitchen
• Talent Show
• Cyber Mobbing
• Everyone Think Before You Post
• Think Before You Post Campaign

• Students want their teachers (and parents) to be familiar with the tools they use.  
• Students would really like their teachers to use their tools in the classroom.  They stated that they'd be more engaged, feel that their teachers were interested in them, and believe that the tools they use could really enhance their learning. 
• They find zero value in assemblies, lectures, or programs that teach them to be digitally responsible. Using the other information provided, we deduced that they'd get more value from having strong trusting relationships with their teachers and use technology for learning.
• 57% of them stated that they have been treated unkindly online, and 71% of them consider online unkindness to be cyber bullying.
• 49% admitted to being unkind online.  However, 60% of those students did not consider their actions be cyber bullying.  They said that when they said or did something unkind online that they were 'just joking', it was misinterpreted, or turned into drama.
• When something does happen online, they are overwhelmingly likely to go to their friends than to an adult.  Why?  Because even though they think we know that it happens online, we are truly clueless about what goes on online and are unlikely to do something about it.

• It is fairly simple to create an invite.  Just go to the website and start creating!
• There are a variety of themes to choose from.  I happened to choose the movie projector theme because I thought that it would fit with our Google Hangout this week.  
• It is pretty customizable within the theme.  You can add as many schedules, news feeds, and galleries as you like.  The schedule is also fairly easy to edit.
• If you were using this as a true invite to a party or school event, the typed in location brings attendees to a map so they know how to get there.  
• You can quickly mail the invite out to folks; with or without a message.
• It also allows you to create a QR Code for the invite.  I have TONS of info on QR Codes on this board & these posts.
• You can Tweet, FB, tumblr, text (or whatever your social network pleasure is) the link of the invite to folks.  This allows you to share it with the masses; if you so choose.
• I like the News Feed option.  It allows folks to type in notes and add pictures right there. 
• You can broadcast whatever you type into the news feed.  This is pretty cool because what it sends a little message to everyone who has downloaded it that you posted and they should check it out. (You'll notice that I posted and broadcasted 3 Digital Citizenship posters.)
• You can add a Twitter feed. This is perfect if you are at a large event where some folks are tweeting about it on Twitter.  For me, this would be an easy way to see what everyone is saying at a conference whether they have Twitter or not (I tweet every nugget when I'm at conferences). 
• Creating the schedule was pretty easy.  It is great that you can add little notes in for each part of the schedule.  (Hmmm...I see an elapsed time assessment/activity for kiddos.)
• It doesn't say it, but it looks like you can create multiple schedules for multiple days.  You can add as many schedule pages as you like, so my deduction is that it's possible.  I can absolutely see hosting a class event during the day and evening and having two different schedules posted.  (Hmmm...this may be a fun way to remind parents of conferences.)
• Yapp is on Twitter.  Following them is beneficial because it looks like they tweet out news, updates, and ideas pretty regularly.
• There is an app for both Apple and Droid.
• Oh!  Did I mention that it is FREE?

• In-app creation is currently impossible.  However, you can create online.  I created ours on my iPad in Safari.
• You can only add pictures in the News Feed.  My thinking is that the gallery is an ideal spot for this, but pictures can only be added online.
• There is no way for folks to RSVP.  (Unless I missed something.)  I did however send out a tweet asking Yapp about this.  Hoping to hear back soon.
• The people page / option is a bit confusing to me.  Personally, I think it would make the most sense if the people page was where you could see who was attending, allowing folks to add their name and a quick pic of themselves.  Almost  like a guestbook.  But, it looks like this can only be done online by the person who created the invite.  (I've emailed this suggestion to them.)
• You can only sign in through Facebook.  I really don't like having a lot of things connected to my Facebook page.  I like to control my own username, passwords, emails, etc.  I'm thinking this may make it a bit tricky to use in the classroom, but it looks like once you are signed in you are signed in.
• You can only open the invite in the Yapp app.  If you don't have a smartphone, or tablet powered by Apple or Google Play you can't view it.  

This week's PowerPoint to guide us through class. Resources galore!