instagrok: A Pathway to Understanding Thoroughly and Intuitively

(Originally posted March 9, 2015 on Greenwood 50's Technology Leaders and Coaches in Action! blog at: http://kidblog.org/stls/823673c8-64ee-4e47-81b0-aca3e1d5b807/instagrok-a-pathway-to-understanding-thoroughly-and-intuitively/ )
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As the media specialist in an elementary school of inquiry, it shouldn't be shocking to learn that the question I am asked most by teachers is in regards to good, educational, kid-safe search engines and tools for web-based research projects.

Since promoting the integration of technology in classroom curriculum and easing that integration for teachers are both goals of mine as School Technology Leader, I have been searching for good research tools that are user-friendly, reliable, and authoritative in sourcing.  When I found one that met each of those criteria - plus was intuitive and interactive - I knew I was on to something that could really be of benefit to my students and teachers.



instaGrok is an interactive search engine for educational use that not only retrieves reliable information, but helps students to develop better searching skills by presenting the information in a visual, concept mind-mapping format that allows students to see a number of searching options and then narrow those options until they pinpoint the information they need from quality, educational websites - .edu and .org sites.  Results also include photo and video content from PBS, BBC, Discovery, etc.



instaGrok is free and can be used online or through iPad and Android apps.  Users can use the research tool without registering or they may register a free account to customize searches and share concept maps.  Teachers can also purchase classroom accounts that allow them to track student progress, make and collect assignments, journal, and much more.  So... students and teachers can use instaGrok as a quick research option from the web interface or iPad/Android apps without accounts, or they can take full advantage of it's capabilities and register student and/or classroom accounts for more intensive use.  The possibilities for it's use are numerous.



Because of its interactivity and concept mapping interface, instaGrok works well for both beginning researchers as well as middle and high school students.  The limits are set only by their searches.  For example: if you search instaGrok for information on WWII, your search results will return a concept map with the WWII heading in the center and all related subjects in surrounding connected concept circles.  If you narrow that search to "weaponry", the concept map will branch off into another circle group showing results specific to weaponry used in WWII.  Each colored tab can be clicked to reveal key facts, websites, videos, images, and concepts. Plus, there is an additional section for notes.



The depth of the search is controlled by the keyword relations as well as a sliding difficulty setting in the top left corner of the search engine.  Beginning researchers may only need the overview information returned in a single keyword search.  With the difficulty level set to the far left, the returned results will be more general and simple to understand information.  More advanced researchers can move the difficulty level as needed and also narrow more and contrast their original keyword search to another keyword search, creating multiple circular concept maps highlighting results containing information specific to the relation of those keywords.

As with most technology, the best way to understand instaGrok is to use it.  Give it a try by clicking here.  I think you'll easily understand how advantageous this search engine can be for both beginning and/or struggling researchers as well as those who are a little more advanced in their searching skills.  I personally love the interactivity and intuitiveness of it.

For more ideas on how you can use instaGrok in your classroom, see the video here:

Christmas With the Storybots

(Originally posted December 18, 2014 on Greenwood 50's Technology Leaders and Coaches In Action! blog at: http://kidblog.org/stls/823673c8-64ee-4e47-81b0-aca3e1d5b807/christmas-with-the-storybots/ )
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The week before winter break is always more than just a little hectic.  My strategy for containing some of that chaos in the library  was to provide a technology based activity that was creative, engaging, and most importantly, fun.  It is the holidays, after all!  When I found the StoryBots Christmas app, I knew I'd found the tool I needed to accomplish my goal and get in some extra technology practice while having a lot of holiday fun.  And fun, it was... (Think amusing kid selfies atop oddly animated cartoon bodies.)



StoryBots is a Web 2.0 tool and iPad app that allows the user to become part of a ready-made video or story.  I used the technology in a collaborative and cooperative lesson that had students working together in groups of 4-5 to create and cast their group videos.  Working as a group, they had to cooperatively take their own or each other's photo and then individually manipulate them into the space for the face on the app.  Then they had to collaboratively cast the video by choosing who would be which character.



I completed this lesson this week with every grade level, kindergarten through fifth grade, with the exception of first grade, which I did not have because of special activities.  The kindergartners required a bit more hands-on assistance at first, but quickly picked up the art of taking their own photo and placing it appropriately.  With the help of the kindergarten assistants, I walked them through the first round of videos, instructing them on using the app/iPad camera to take their photos and then using two fingers to pinch and manipulate their photo into the correct place.  I was thrilled to see that with the time they had left after finishing and viewing their first video, they were taking their own photos and casting a second video all by themselves.  Their ability to pick up technology is always so amazing to me.



The only drawback wasn't really a drawback at all, but actually a positive.  StoryBots is a KidSafe app/tool from JibJab Bros. and as so, requires an email login.  I simply set up my own account and then logged the iPads the students would be using on with my account.  We used no more than 8 iPads in each class, 4-5 students per iPad, so the process wasn't as daunting as it sounds.  The positive part was that because each group was using the same account (mine), every photo head synced to each iPad, which allowed students to see their classmates photos as well as their own.  It also allowed me to go in and pull faces from each class to create a video to share with each of their classroom teachers, introducing the app while showing them what their students had been doing in the media center this week.  Needless to say, the videos were a huge success with students and quite a hit with their teachers as well.  Overall, it was a very fun holiday activity that required students to work cooperatively in groups and practice and/or add to their technology skills.