Today’s tech snack can be found at the following url: http://dotstorming.com/
What is it and how can I use it in my classroom?
Dotstorming is a simple, web 2.0 tool that lets you create online bulletin boards for brainstorming and allows users to vote on any of the ideas posted. To begin using dotstorming, you just have to create a free account. Creating an account only requires that you input an active email account and create a password. Once you have created an account, you are ready to create your board.
Classroom implications:
Using this tool allows students to formulate their thoughts. In a typical classroom, students are asked questions and are expected to provide answers either verbally or on a worksheet within that class period. The in class responses, therefore, will be very different than those in a board. This encourages individuality, and makes learning more student-centered.
For younger students, create a board and share it via url link. If you are worried about students typing in the url, put the link on a website or lms( learning management system) page. You could also use a url shortener like google url shortener or tinyurl.com. For privacy reasons, have students only use their first names or initials when adding content/comments. Prior to using this tool, also teach students some netiquette rules about what is appropriate language for chat rooms. See below for some resources:
For grades 3-5:
http://www.brainpop.com/technology/computersandinternet/digitaletiquette/
* For grades 5-8:
* http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/hoodmarine-1086694-online-chatting-do-s-and-don-ts/
* For grades 9-12
* http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html
For more ideas on how to use this tool, check out the graphic below: