Friday, February 24, 2012

HearAll Recorder GIVEAWAY!

Have you ever wished you could be cloned? I told a teacher friend the other day that I was going to look into it. Of course, on a teacher's salary I wouldn't be able to afford it even if it was an option. I could really use two of me in the classroom., so when Learning Resources asked me to review their  hearAll Assessment Recorder I got really excited. This recorder allows you to be in two places at once.

The hearAll is ready to use straight out of the box. In fact, I started using it without even reading the instructions! Shhh...... Don't tell my engineer hubby, lol! I did spend a few minutes looking for the battery compartment, only to find it didn't have one. Wow, a teacher's dream: no batteries required! Just plug in the included USB cord to charge from any PC or Mac.
The hearAll can record up to 4 hours of audio, and with 4-omini-directional microphones, the sound quality is excellent!  After recording, you can play back instantly or download for parents or specialist to listen to later.  Even uploading to a student's portfolio is a cinch! The headphone jack certainly makes for quieter listening and a simple right click of the mouse lets you rename the file easily. (See Photo) (MP3 and WAV file compatible)
Another great feature of the hearAll is its simplicity of use. When I showed it to my mother, a first grade teacher, she was confident her youngsters would have it figured out faster than her!


                     





There are so many ways a teacher could use this tech tool in the classroom. I created a Top Five list of classroom uses.

       Top Five Reasons to Buy the hearAll Assessment Recorder
1  Fluency Assessment
At my school we have AR Reading. I use the student's fluency scores to help set the student's goal. I also require 20 minutes of AR reading a night. Of course, you will have students say they are reading each night but haven't even come close to meeting their goal.  I've created a solution to this problem. First, I take a fluency test. Then I give every student and parent a copy of the  word count and fluency calculator I created. Click HERE or on the image for a free copy. Now that I have the hearAll, I will record the fluency test and send it to the parents via email along with the homework requirements and word count chart.


2 Movie Maker MP3 clips
Every year my students create commercials for their business during our Economics Unit. Look and LISTEN to the commercial my student created using the hearAll to record the jingle for her commercial.

3 Podcasting
 It is so easy for students to create a podcast with the hearAll. This could easily be a cooperative group project. Give the students the hearAll and let them create!
4 Readers Theater
 Kids love to listen to a recording of themselves.  Let students read a readers theater script and record it with the hearAll. Then let them play it back. Have them practice several times. This is a great method for improving fluency.
5 Student Portfolios
Whether you like it or not, everything is heading in the technology direction. All of my students have laptops for classroom use, so they complete a lot of work on the computer. I love keeping a digital portfolio of my students and the hearAll will make that even easier now.


Here's the most AWESOME thing about the hearAll: They are also giving one away to a lucky reader of Classroom Magic! 

To enter you must like Learning Resources Fanpage, follow their YouTube channel, (the subscribe button is right beside their name) and fill in the simple entry form BELOW. ( Contest ends on Thursday, March 1st at 10:00 p.m. CT.) Good luck to everyone from Learning Resources and Classroom Magic!


Congratulations, Martha Craft! You are the winner of the hearAll from Learning Resources. They will be contacting you via email sometime this week. Thanks everyone who entered. Stay tuned for another great new product giveaway this week, even better than last week! 





 

35 comments:

  1. Love it! This would be perfect for my class this year.

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    1. Crossing my fingers for you! Thanks for commenting!

      Selina

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  2. Wow! What a great little tool to have in the classroom!
    ~Stephanie

    Teaching in Room 6

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  3. Wow! Such a FANTASTIC tool! I could see using this in so many ways. Thanks for the opportunity!

    Jen
    Runde's Room

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    1. You're welcome, Jen. Thanks for commenting!

      Selina

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  4. This would be great for my kiddos!

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    1. Next year I think I'm going to create a time capsule with a recorded message. Something like a message to my future self. I think the kids will get a kick out of that. Good luck!

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  5. Love this. Great for use in the classroom. Thanks.

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    1. Thanks! I'm fortunate enough to have laptops for each of my students, so I can find tons of ways to use it in the classroom. Good luck!

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  6. COOL, COOL, COOL!!!! This is such a neat tool/toy for classroom!!! :)

    Ann Marie Smith @ Innovative Connections

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    1. Yes, the kids love to hear a recording of themselves. Good luck!

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  7. I would so love this for my classroom! I was lucky once on March 1st (my daughter was born 19 years ago) maybe I could get lucky again on March 1st!

    Sally from ElementaryMatters

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    1. LOL, Sally! I think after 19 years it's your turn again. Sending lots of good luck your way!

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  8. Hi Selina:
    I have five groups going on at once in my classroom during literacy centers while I am trying to teach guided reading. Two groups are doing Book Club discussions, but I can't monitor them very well and still pay attention to my group. This little gadget sounds like a perfect solution. Even if I never listen to the recordings, I am confident their behavior would be better if they thought that I would!
    I want to win a hearAll!

    Kim
    Finding JOY in 6th Grade

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    1. Wow, you do need this! I'm following your blog now. Thanks for entering and good luck!

      Selina

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  9. This looks and sounds great! Thanks for offering it!

    kellybrown28021@gmail.com

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    1. Kelly you need to fill out the short Googldocs form to be entered. Thanks and good luck!

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  10. Always great products from Learning Resources

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    1. Yes, they have great affordable tech tools for the classroom. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

      Selina

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  11. Thank you so much for your generous offer of the prize. What a fabulous gift for my class, or any class who wins.
    Stacy

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    1. You're welcome! BTW, I'm following your blog. I look forward to reading it.

      Selina

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  12. We would enjoy this in my room! Thanks for the offer and the awesome pins!

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    1. Thanks for the comment and compliment! Crossing my fingers and toes for you! Good luck:)

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  13. I love this post! I use timed repeated reading to improve fluency and the kids LOVE it! They are not shy/ashamed to read in front of the group at all. In fact, they always want to read. I also use podcast in the classroom! This is great. I entered the contest, but in case I don't win (I never have luck with contests) i'm pricing them now!

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  14. Since I am using a flipped classroom design, these ideas and this tool would be very user friendly to use! Awesome product!

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    1. Robin,

      What's a flipped classroom design? It is VERY user friendly. Good luck!

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  15. What a great tool for the classroom. I was also thinking you could use it to record our novel as we read it so those that are absent can catch up to us.

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  16. Sounds like a great gadget for the classroom! Thanks!

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  17. This would make my oral assessment superb! Crossing my fingers! I would so use this the help my students set their goals for reading!

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    1. It takes me over an hour to fluency test students. I'm going to have this as station work, so I'm free to work with small groups. Good luck!

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