Hi all you techies and wanna be's. I am in the latter category as this is my first post to a real blog. Not a blog I had hoped I would post to, or planned to post to and didn't, but a real blog. I am just coming off my high from attendance at NCCE and am revelling in all the ideas that are swirling around in my wanna be a tech brain.
Perhaps the most helpful and interesting sessions I attended were Jennifer Gingerich's "Digital Kits for Differentiation and Engagement", presenter Asale Harris, "Making the 21st Century Classroom a Reality" and Karen Fasimpauer's, "Open Educational Resources".
Jennifer showed us how to make a digital toolkit using online resources. She magically weaves the resources into organized media folders. She showed us the best sites to get downloads to make a topic come alive with slids shows, sound, song, streaming video and images. (Photo Story, PowerPoint, IMovie, and Inspiration are some of the star players). Freeplaymusic.com gives you amazing background music, Findsounds.com aids in finding other cool sounds, and even You Tube for cool video clips to enhance any topic. For more information go to web.mac.com/jennifergingerich
Karen Fasimpauer took us a on tour through teaching and learning web tools. She taught how to share remix and learn and do it all without copyright issues. We explored Open licenses http://www.creativecommons.org Open tools like http://www.mediawiki.org, www.openoffice.org, audacity.sourceforge.net Open audio http://www.ccmixter.org, http://www.musopen.com, and Open photo, clip art and vidoe content www.flickr.com/creativecommons, http://www.openphoto.net. For more information visit www.k12opened.com
Asale Harris from Eduscape Learning showed how to use document cameras, interactive white boards or slates and student response tools to make learning interactive and fun.
And if that wasn't enough, I won a free 5 seat license for a year of Elluminate Live! Now all I need to do is learn how to use and give it away to a teacher....Any takers.
Be well and be a techy!
Karen SS
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Looking for the Right Picture?
Google has some great new search features to narrow down the search... choose "more options" and then narrow down by color, type (clipart, line drawing, etc), size.
But the coolest new image search is http://image-swirl.googlelabs.com/ Here's an example search for "brain."
Joice
But the coolest new image search is http://image-swirl.googlelabs.com/ Here's an example search for "brain."
Joice
$250,000 Free Technology
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Librarians - Here's a wiki for you!
On Wednesday NCCE hosted a Teacher Librarian summit. This wiki is the product of that summit. http://NCCETeacherLibrarianSummit.ncce.wikispaces.net
I went to an overview session Friday. Basically, the wiki is designed to help Librarians, School Districts, and state offices of instruction in creation of library curriculum. We're lucky in Montana since such standards already exist, but the conversations were interesting. Colet from MT's OPI presented at the session and I think the summit as well. So collaborate away!
Joice
I went to an overview session Friday. Basically, the wiki is designed to help Librarians, School Districts, and state offices of instruction in creation of library curriculum. We're lucky in Montana since such standards already exist, but the conversations were interesting. Colet from MT's OPI presented at the session and I think the summit as well. So collaborate away!
Joice
Friday, March 5, 2010
Google Chrome
Did you know that Google Chrome is a much faster browser than regular Google? For more fascinating facts from Patrick Crispin, go to netsquirrel.com. He will post his presentations this weekend.
Library of Congress
I'm sure glad I went to one of these sessions! Two presenters had many great teaching tips for using LOC primary sources--especially historic photos. go to loc.gov/teachers to get started.
comic life
we got here in time for the 5 pm (PST) workshops wed pm!! So I rushed up to the ComicLife workshop. A professor from Emporia State U in Kansas thought we might not know where that is, but I do! Two handsome grad students gave a presentation, then there was time for hands on--2 1/2 hours, in fact! More than we needed, but i have and will use their PPT on disc.
By 8 pm PST we were hungry, so a few of us walked down to the wharf--remember all those steps?? We ate at Ivar's, seafood since 1938! Char Henson's daughter, Meadow, walked us up Post Alley and showed us the gum wall (ask me sometime)
A full day!
By 8 pm PST we were hungry, so a few of us walked down to the wharf--remember all those steps?? We ate at Ivar's, seafood since 1938! Char Henson's daughter, Meadow, walked us up Post Alley and showed us the gum wall (ask me sometime)
A full day!
Best thing I heard about.....
Probably the best thing was learning about edu.glogster.com. Sooooooo much better than creating posters the old fashion way. A multimedia poster!
Just make sure that you use the "edu" NOT the "www" :)
Just make sure that you use the "edu" NOT the "www" :)
Easy Animation
I'm going to change my game. Instead taking tons of time to make a movie in class, some kids just don't get it or don't care, and so to differentiate instruction I'm going to use "xtranormal", which is an easy, online animation maker. It's really neat-o.
Power School questions
Can teachers add weekly podcasts by themselves or students onto Power School??
Tweets and the Ubiquitous Student - A study in application
So I am completely oblivious to the twitter community, so I decided to take in this session.
Using social Networking tools as a means to open the lines of communication in a classroom
Chris Haksell is the presenter a teacher from Biose State. Chris started out by talking about some of the tech tools that, like twitter, have a bit of a negative stigma.
Facebook
Can integrate Media
Incorporates social learning
Gets students communicating in a positive manner
Some teachers have gone too far
Youtube
Can be great tool - free database of potentially great videos.
The site provides a place for teachers and students to collaborate with other teachers and students.
However:
Videos can be Violent, provocative,
Where does this fit into the curriculum? - Has the curriculum caught up to the technology?
Example - Chemistry Curriculum - In the beginning, some bad things happened - poison, explosions, burns , etc. Through education, oversight, accountability, and learning, chemistry is still being taught today. Chris talked about how "We can create some change by introducing the validity of the tools we want to use in our classroom." That is, by using these tools in a positive and meaningful way, and teaching students to do so as well, we can integrate these educational tools in a positive way to improve our teaching.
Twitter:
A service - allows us to reach out to a lot of different places. Things can be input to and output from Twitter. The vehicle is SMS messaging. it can go to social networking tools, cell phones, and email. The SMS services limits messages to 140 characters. Twitter is a free service. This can be used as a form of microblogging, and can be used to share information, links, pictures, and short videos. Imagine using this a way to send messages from principals to teachers, or principals to students. They can send a video message to the entire staff. Teachers or students could receive this information on their cell phones, their email, or their Facebook page.
Parents only have to log on once and set up their accounts and never have to do this again. It makes mass communication easy. Teachers wouldn't have to set up the mail lists. They simply have to provide a set of instructions for parents to follow your posts if they choose.
Applications -
Imagine during a field-trip at the zoo. Tweeting to all your students via their cell phone, "The elephant is having a baby, everyone come to the elephants area."
Tweets can be used to communicate curricular needs in a timely manner.The audience can be students, parents, administrators or even members of the community at large. Twitter can be used as a way to increase the communication and connections to all of these audiences.
Tweets can be embedded in a blog, so if parents don't want to receive an email or a text message for absolutely every tweet you send out, they can go to your blog and read them. SMS messaging to mobile phones is by far the most popular.
Classroom Communication
Using social Networking tools as a means to open the lines of communication in a classroom
Chris Haksell is the presenter a teacher from Biose State. Chris started out by talking about some of the tech tools that, like twitter, have a bit of a negative stigma.
Can integrate Media
Incorporates social learning
Gets students communicating in a positive manner
Some teachers have gone too far
Youtube
Can be great tool - free database of potentially great videos.
The site provides a place for teachers and students to collaborate with other teachers and students.
However:
Videos can be Violent, provocative,
Where does this fit into the curriculum? - Has the curriculum caught up to the technology?
Example - Chemistry Curriculum - In the beginning, some bad things happened - poison, explosions, burns , etc. Through education, oversight, accountability, and learning, chemistry is still being taught today. Chris talked about how "We can create some change by introducing the validity of the tools we want to use in our classroom." That is, by using these tools in a positive and meaningful way, and teaching students to do so as well, we can integrate these educational tools in a positive way to improve our teaching.
Twitter:
A service - allows us to reach out to a lot of different places. Things can be input to and output from Twitter. The vehicle is SMS messaging. it can go to social networking tools, cell phones, and email. The SMS services limits messages to 140 characters. Twitter is a free service. This can be used as a form of microblogging, and can be used to share information, links, pictures, and short videos. Imagine using this a way to send messages from principals to teachers, or principals to students. They can send a video message to the entire staff. Teachers or students could receive this information on their cell phones, their email, or their Facebook page.
Parents only have to log on once and set up their accounts and never have to do this again. It makes mass communication easy. Teachers wouldn't have to set up the mail lists. They simply have to provide a set of instructions for parents to follow your posts if they choose.
Applications -
Imagine during a field-trip at the zoo. Tweeting to all your students via their cell phone, "The elephant is having a baby, everyone come to the elephants area."
Tweets can be used to communicate curricular needs in a timely manner.The audience can be students, parents, administrators or even members of the community at large. Twitter can be used as a way to increase the communication and connections to all of these audiences.
Tweets can be embedded in a blog, so if parents don't want to receive an email or a text message for absolutely every tweet you send out, they can go to your blog and read them. SMS messaging to mobile phones is by far the most popular.
Classroom Communication
- Quiz/Test Reminders
- Homework Clarifications
- Corrections to in class mix-ups
- Tutorial videos
- Mobile activities
- Communication from the Administration - school calendar, dress-up days, event information, activity information, evacuation information, systematic announcements, school closures
- meeting reminders
- uniform changes
- wake-up calls on field trips
- field trip communication
- more
OMG, we won!
Jesse Franzen, Marla Unruh and I won a new $1400 Mobi at a presentation in the exhibitors hall. I get it from April 5 to April 23, Jesse gets it from April 25 to May 14th and Marla from then until the end of the year. I haven't won anything this exciting since I won at bingo when I was ten and got an Aunt Jemina tea cozy. Joyce Franzen will get to share, too, when she gets a job in the district.!
They are sending a rep to train us so if you want to join us, let me know.
Charlotte Henson at Bryant
They are sending a rep to train us so if you want to join us, let me know.
Charlotte Henson at Bryant
A random walk through Cyberspace
This session was one done by one of the highlighted speakers, so I decided to check it out. Patrick Crispen took us on a tour of some of his favorite websites - some of which could be really powerful tools in your classroom, and mostly others have absolutely no use whatsoever except maybe to entertain the viewer. I missed the first part of this session, and he didn't get to all of his links, but all of the sites and a brief description will be posted on his website this weekend
www.netsquirrel.com
Here's a few i can remember:
xtra normal - This website creates cartoons from text. You can type in or copy and paste text into a script and have small cartoon characters act out the script. He suggested typing in the back and forth emails in a not-so-nice email conversation. There's something humorous and therapeutic about watching two cartoon squirrels act out the dialogue you just had with the parent who just doesn't seem to want to believe their child didn't deserve an A last quarter.
Wolfram Alpha - This is a really cool website. Basically an online version of an all knowing oracle. It's like an an answer search engine. Pretty Cool
Instant Chan! - Written explanation can't do this site justice. Click on the link, and then (with your volume turned on) click on one of the buttons. You just have to experience this one.
Dropbox - This is a really cool and useful site. This basicall ends the days of jump drives or emailing documents to yourself. This is a free service that allows you to save a file in a special folder on your computer, and the program will automatically save the file onto the web site, and any other computer where you have the dropbox program installed.
Know your Meme - I didn't know what a meme was before this. It's basically a phrase or a video or a challenge that has gone viral. This is a basically an encyclopedia of memes.
Cheezeburger - This is a database of funny pictures with captions and thought bubbles. I think this site allows you to create your own captions, but Patrick just showed us funny pictures.
Moodstream - This site allows you to set whatever your mood might happen to be at the time and it creates a musical screensaver-like photo array that compliments your mood. It chooses the impages from something called Getty Images.
www.netsquirrel.com
Here's a few i can remember:
xtra normal - This website creates cartoons from text. You can type in or copy and paste text into a script and have small cartoon characters act out the script. He suggested typing in the back and forth emails in a not-so-nice email conversation. There's something humorous and therapeutic about watching two cartoon squirrels act out the dialogue you just had with the parent who just doesn't seem to want to believe their child didn't deserve an A last quarter.
Wolfram Alpha - This is a really cool website. Basically an online version of an all knowing oracle. It's like an an answer search engine. Pretty Cool
Instant Chan! - Written explanation can't do this site justice. Click on the link, and then (with your volume turned on) click on one of the buttons. You just have to experience this one.
Dropbox - This is a really cool and useful site. This basicall ends the days of jump drives or emailing documents to yourself. This is a free service that allows you to save a file in a special folder on your computer, and the program will automatically save the file onto the web site, and any other computer where you have the dropbox program installed.
Know your Meme - I didn't know what a meme was before this. It's basically a phrase or a video or a challenge that has gone viral. This is a basically an encyclopedia of memes.
Cheezeburger - This is a database of funny pictures with captions and thought bubbles. I think this site allows you to create your own captions, but Patrick just showed us funny pictures.
Moodstream - This site allows you to set whatever your mood might happen to be at the time and it creates a musical screensaver-like photo array that compliments your mood. It chooses the impages from something called Getty Images.
good start to last day
The first session this morning was put on by our own Super Nerd (I say that with the highest regard), Jason Neiffer. The topic at hand was the idea of PAPERLESS CLASSROOMS; a novel idea, to say the least.
As I have the pleasure of working with Neiffer, I was aware of his experiments over the course of this year, but it was interesting hearing the details, successes, failures and so on.
A couple things I learned:
I did write down the link for Neiffer's notes, but I must have made a mistake, because it isn't working. I will get that in later. Check back!
As I have the pleasure of working with Neiffer, I was aware of his experiments over the course of this year, but it was interesting hearing the details, successes, failures and so on.
A couple things I learned:
- PAPERLESS doesn't mean ZERO paper....just an attempt to reduce waste as much as possible
- Note taking is not dead in this paperless environment
- Kids might think idea is strange initially, but ill more than likely adapt and adjust
- While tech is great, there will always be a place for hard-copied material
- Neiffer REALLY, REALLY likes office supplies :-)
I did write down the link for Neiffer's notes, but I must have made a mistake, because it isn't working. I will get that in later. Check back!
Gizmos, Gadgets, and High Tech Toys
So there I was...sitting in Digital Storytelling. But then I caved...I knew the Gizmos class was going on at the same time. I dashed out and into this class--and nerded out to the dozens of useless tech toys out there. By the way, did you know the word "nerd" was coined from none other than Dr. Seuss? True...this book in fact:
Well, after his
acknowledgement of how he is often confused with Philippe Cousteau (check below for those similarities)...he had us turn on our cell phones to text us for about 40 prizes.
Can you tell which is which?
In fact, I just won some sort of drain contraption.
Ok so, pretty much every tool he showed us I would never purchase for the classroom...and not for myself...but it
did entertain me. Here are some of those useless gizmos:
So you know of Twitter...now have Twitter for your dog. Every time your dog barks-get an update.
Need an iPod Dock? Probably don't get this one:
Want to try to look cool while carring your iPod Touch? Then carrying it around like a weapon holster probably won't work:
Finally, do you lose your flash drive often? I guarantee you won't if you get it in the bowling ball style:
Over and out.
-Chelsie
So Many Sessions Promoting Google Apps
Great tools for students. I like how they allow learning to extend beyond the classroom. Especially interested in the power of RSS/Google Reader. Would love to see our district using these free resources!
Keeping Up with the Googlebots
Wow, so many cool things at this session. I really like the "Wonder Wheel" - great visual for students learning to create connections and branch out search titles. Complete a Google Search - choose more options, wonder wheel is towards the bottom of the options that appear on the left of the screen. Check it out!
Joice
Joice
Free and Open Source Tools For Secondary Math
After taking in all the wonders of the web that Tammy Worcester shared in her three sessions yesterday I decided to take in some content area tech stuff. This session is being put on by Jeff Allen, the Director of Educational Technology in the Olympic School District.
Jeff started out by introducing himself an telling us about his background and why he likes technology. He started out by saying,
"Of all of the things that we can control in the learning of students, the quality of the instruction that the kids receive has the greatest impact on the learning students. Technology is a tool that can serve as an amplifier for good instructional pedagogy." Jeff stated that these tools are "like an amplifier with a knob that goes up to 11," A nod to all of the Heavy Metal fans in the room.
Open Source vs. free - What's the difference? - Open source means that the computer code is open to be edited and updated by anyone. Free just means free.
Moodle - Using Moodle to open your classroom. This is something that HSD1 already has and a lot of people already use, so I'm not going to go into this too much.
Math Casts - Math 247 - This site is a site that is a database of "math casts" which are video captures of computer screens where teachers are solving example problems. Another Link he showed was a blog called Patty Papers who work a lot with math casts. A third site he showed up was called brightstorm.com This is another database of math casts that makes their money by selling ACT, SAT and AP prep student guides. But the math casts are free. A lot of these examples are free and have embed codes that can be added into moodle. Jeff then showed everyone how to use Jing to create their own podcasts. One of the attendees also said that a couple of different program that also work: screencast-o-matic and faststone.
Jeff also talked about having students make their own math casts and grading each other can be a powerful learning tool. The he talked about using voicethread.com another site that allows students to view a math cast and then create comments about the videos they are watching. This is basically a forum about a video. This site has a lot of potential for creating discourse about mathematics. A teacher could have students critique problem solving skills, look for errors, or create and peer-review the videos.
Flash Applets - Jeff show us the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives. He also showed us a website of simulations on the University of Colorado at Boulder Physics website. These Java applets are down-loadable and can be uploaded onto a moodle site.
We finished the session by looking at a Math Text using something the TEX filter. Apparently by inserting two dollar signs before and after a mathematical expression, you can make your expressions look like something that is created in the equation editor in Microsoft Word.
Example
"$$f(x)=3/(x^2)-12$$" will show up like this -
Then Jeff showed us Geogebra - This is an awesome free and open-source program that is as good or better than Geometer's sketchpad. Students can run this as a java file in their own computers, or can download the program for free and complete assignments on their own computer. I love this program.
The final thing Jeff showed us was something called fooplot. If you go to www.fooplot.com and then add a "/" and a function in the URL bar, plot the function in a web window.
Here's a list of the various links that Jeff showed us during the presentation.
All in all, it was a pretty good session. A lot of other people from the audience contributed to the session with various websites that parallel the sites Jeff showed the group.
MathCasts
Math 247 - Library of Math casts
Patty Papers - A blog about creating math casts
Bright Storm - More Mathcasts.
Virtual Manipulative Sites
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives - Great Site
PhET - CU Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Math Applets
Shodor Interactivate - Lessons with and without Java Applets
Thinkfinity - A great Site that has a ton of lessons with and without java applets
Illuminations weblinks - NCTM sponsored web-based lesson plans
MathTools - a search engine that searches all of the above websites and more. - I love this site.
Geogebra - This website has the free down-loadable Geogebra program and also a pretty good wiki of lesson plans and pre-made files that are great. There aren't very many however, but the ones that I've used are pretty good.
Is download-able a word?
Jeff started out by introducing himself an telling us about his background and why he likes technology. He started out by saying,
"Of all of the things that we can control in the learning of students, the quality of the instruction that the kids receive has the greatest impact on the learning students. Technology is a tool that can serve as an amplifier for good instructional pedagogy." Jeff stated that these tools are "like an amplifier with a knob that goes up to 11," A nod to all of the Heavy Metal fans in the room.
Open Source vs. free - What's the difference? - Open source means that the computer code is open to be edited and updated by anyone. Free just means free.
Moodle - Using Moodle to open your classroom. This is something that HSD1 already has and a lot of people already use, so I'm not going to go into this too much.
Math Casts - Math 247 - This site is a site that is a database of "math casts" which are video captures of computer screens where teachers are solving example problems. Another Link he showed was a blog called Patty Papers who work a lot with math casts. A third site he showed up was called brightstorm.com This is another database of math casts that makes their money by selling ACT, SAT and AP prep student guides. But the math casts are free. A lot of these examples are free and have embed codes that can be added into moodle. Jeff then showed everyone how to use Jing to create their own podcasts. One of the attendees also said that a couple of different program that also work: screencast-o-matic and faststone.
Jeff also talked about having students make their own math casts and grading each other can be a powerful learning tool. The he talked about using voicethread.com another site that allows students to view a math cast and then create comments about the videos they are watching. This is basically a forum about a video. This site has a lot of potential for creating discourse about mathematics. A teacher could have students critique problem solving skills, look for errors, or create and peer-review the videos.
Flash Applets - Jeff show us the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives. He also showed us a website of simulations on the University of Colorado at Boulder Physics website. These Java applets are down-loadable and can be uploaded onto a moodle site.
We finished the session by looking at a Math Text using something the TEX filter. Apparently by inserting two dollar signs before and after a mathematical expression, you can make your expressions look like something that is created in the equation editor in Microsoft Word.
Example
"$$f(x)=3/(x^2)-12$$" will show up like this -
Then Jeff showed us Geogebra - This is an awesome free and open-source program that is as good or better than Geometer's sketchpad. Students can run this as a java file in their own computers, or can download the program for free and complete assignments on their own computer. I love this program.
The final thing Jeff showed us was something called fooplot. If you go to www.fooplot.com and then add a "/" and a function in the URL bar, plot the function in a web window.
Here's a list of the various links that Jeff showed us during the presentation.
All in all, it was a pretty good session. A lot of other people from the audience contributed to the session with various websites that parallel the sites Jeff showed the group.
MathCasts
Math 247 - Library of Math casts
Patty Papers - A blog about creating math casts
Bright Storm - More Mathcasts.
Virtual Manipulative Sites
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives - Great Site
PhET - CU Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Math Applets
Shodor Interactivate - Lessons with and without Java Applets
Thinkfinity - A great Site that has a ton of lessons with and without java applets
Illuminations weblinks - NCTM sponsored web-based lesson plans
MathTools - a search engine that searches all of the above websites and more. - I love this site.
Geogebra - This website has the free down-loadable Geogebra program and also a pretty good wiki of lesson plans and pre-made files that are great. There aren't very many however, but the ones that I've used are pretty good.
Is download-able a word?
Microsoft 2010
Computer Aps teachers rest assured MS 2010 has minimal changes and the new items will be nice improvements. The most obvious change will be the return of the File tab in place of the office button. Print preview and print will be combined. Cool embedding features, an animation painter, locking capabilities (like Acrobat) and Web 2.0 features on the "cloud" (similar to Google Docs). Oh and the ribbon can be customized!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Tammy Worcester is amazing!
Totally amazing array of web 2.0 applications from Tammy Worcester:
- Tammy's page -- it's full of more links and tips than we've listed here. I'm a subscriber.
- tinyURL! -- Ever want to share a link with students, have them type it in, but it's huge? In just a few clicks, you can take that big 'un and turn it into a tiny one.
- Google Forms -- it's part of Google Docs, which is amazing in itself. Ever want to make survey? This is the way to do it, or have students take an online quiz? you can do it with Google Forms, and it's pretty easy.
- Todays Meet -- want to create a chat that only lasts for a day or maybe a year, this is great.
- Vozme -- type anything you want into the box, and it will turn it into audio. You can then download it and do whatever you like with it. Want to copy and paste a student's paper in here and have them listen to it? No problem.
- imagination cubed -- online paint program, very simple, but effective.
- sketch odopod -- online art making. It records your every brush move and turns that into a movie, so you can watch the art being formed, just like PBS! The gallery of artists, better than I could ever do, is really cool just to watch!
- Jing -- do it, seriously. This is the the one tool I've vowed to take this one and use it. Use it as an amazing screen capture and annotation device, or use it to make annotated movie tutorials for your students. Super easy to boot.
- my avatar editor -- have students create a character or themselves in this easy to use, very wii like avatar editor. Save the picture as a .png and you can put your self onto any picture you like, and a speaking bubble, and you've got a whole new fun way to add yourself into a powerpoint.
- spelling city -- if you know a kid who takes spelling tests, this is really, really cool. I would have loved to have this one as a kid. Type in the words, it makes sentences, quizzes, games, and it's sweet.
- wordle -- type in a passage, and it will visually turn it into a word of art that show the main idea, very cool.
- fur.ly -- ever want to show a handful or a bunch of websites to a student all at once? This tool will take as many websites as you'd like to throw at a student, and turn it into one url. How cool is that?
Vodcasts
Great workshop with the basics of Vodcasting. The presenter, Jamie Yoos from Bellingham, WA uses vodcasts (video podcasts) to deliver instruction to students. He "flips" the day so their homework is to watch the lecture. The next day in class his students can then discuss the materials and ask more in-depth questions or experiment with hands-on projects. He uses Camtasia to create the software and teachertube.com for hosting but also suggested Jing as a free creation software.
Yoos doesn't really worry about student access to the internet because the school library and labs are open late, students also have access at the public library, via cell phones and ipods. He also noted a district in CO has created DVD's of their vodcasts. These steps essentially eliminate technology barriers.
As an AP and Honors teacher his students are no doubt highly motivated. However, Yoos also talked about using this technology for differentiation. For example, if a vodcast is made regarding a science lab, students who watch the vodcast at home can then start right away. Those who don't, can watch the vodcast in the classroom prior to starting the lab. This allows for a staggered start to the lab so the teacher can assist more students. Those who are most motivated have more time to complete hands-on tasks and take the lesson to a deeper level.
Another idea that I liked was vodcasting corrections of math assignments. Then the teacher plays the video at the beginning of class, students follow along checking individual work. Since the video is providing the step-by-step instruction the teacher can go through the class assisting students who are having difficulties. Those students who mastered the lesson and able to keep working with the video.
Yoos said it took about an hour to create a 15 minute vodcast (including the PowerPoint). The key is to remember you're human and perfection is fleeting.
Joice
Yoos doesn't really worry about student access to the internet because the school library and labs are open late, students also have access at the public library, via cell phones and ipods. He also noted a district in CO has created DVD's of their vodcasts. These steps essentially eliminate technology barriers.
As an AP and Honors teacher his students are no doubt highly motivated. However, Yoos also talked about using this technology for differentiation. For example, if a vodcast is made regarding a science lab, students who watch the vodcast at home can then start right away. Those who don't, can watch the vodcast in the classroom prior to starting the lab. This allows for a staggered start to the lab so the teacher can assist more students. Those who are most motivated have more time to complete hands-on tasks and take the lesson to a deeper level.
Another idea that I liked was vodcasting corrections of math assignments. Then the teacher plays the video at the beginning of class, students follow along checking individual work. Since the video is providing the step-by-step instruction the teacher can go through the class assisting students who are having difficulties. Those students who mastered the lesson and able to keep working with the video.
Yoos said it took about an hour to create a 15 minute vodcast (including the PowerPoint). The key is to remember you're human and perfection is fleeting.
Joice
My Day at NCCE
At this point, I am POOPED and ready for dinner. Been at it strong since 8 this morning and have learned some GREAT stuff. Here is a rundown:
- Tammy Worcester knows her technology! Check out www.tammyworcester.com for a list of some totally awesome, time-saving and FREE sites. My favs are as follows:
- vocaroo.com
- evernote.com
- wheresmycellphone.com
- kickyoutube.com (WAY,WAY cool)
- bibme.org
- Phillip Cousteau was pretty interesting. He basically bragged about how sweet his life and job are (don't get me wrong, I like mine too) and railed about how we are killing the Earth (which I agree with). Good times!
- COPYRIGHT LAW......this was kinda confusing, but interesting. I, along with many of you, regularly "borrow" from the infinite resources out there. However, as I learned today, we can be liable for violations as teachers. If we are, it is our butts, not the schools...be careful! Visit www.edtech2020.com for details.
- The Library of Congress has some sweet stuff, primarily pictures, that would be great in American History classes. However, you could apply many of the resources to just about any topic. Go to www.loc.gov/teachers for more....
- LASTLY......Microsoft Office 2010 is on its way!!! From the looks of it (BETA version), it will be quite similar to 2007 for those of you familiar. A few updates include:
- Embedding of video (PowerPoint primarily)
- Even more user-friendly setup
- Lots of web friendly additions
Booooorrrrriiinnngggg sectional.... :)
I just sat through a mighty boring sectional. I took notes, but it was nothing of importance. :) But, the other three sectionals I attended today were EXCELLENT. It is the best day single day of sectionals I have had at an NCCE. Woo hoo!
REMEMBER: I am presenting at 8:30am tomorrow and Mike and I are presenting together at high school. See you there!
REMEMBER: I am presenting at 8:30am tomorrow and Mike and I are presenting together at high school. See you there!
Tammy's Technology Timesavers
Chelsie reporting here. My first session of the conference was with Tammy Worcester:
I actually had gone to some of her sessions last year in Portland and loved the bits and pieces of technology tips she shared.
You may just want to save a link to her main profile, but I am going to highlight the top five I liked from this session.
1. Vocaroo
I know we have garage band to record voices...but I thought this was a pretty neat free website to make audio files...and perhaps be friendly than garageband for its simplicity. This site allows you to record yourself for unlimited amount of time. You can then download it, email it to someone, or embed it into a blog.
An idea for use:
Have students record themselves reading. They can send an email/upload to a class blog and have their parents hear them. A cool way to link technology and reading--really would motivate students.
2. Evernote
This is a free website that allows you to make an account to store information. This information can be a website link, pictures, notes, a sound clip and more. The site also allows you to organize it and access it from another device that has internet.
An idea for use:
You run into someone that tells you that you should check out Johnnie's Math Page for great manipulatives for Smartboard use. You have no pen...but you do have a cell phone. If you are like me, there are high chances you forget the name of the site. Text the note to the site and bam--saved. I feel it is similar to Delicious but not limited to just websites.
3. Kick You Tube
This hasn't been a problem for us yet...but maybe someday it will be. Youtube is often blocked at school. There are times though, that you may find an awesome video to enrich a lesson you have for your class. This is a trick to help you take that video and download it to your computer as a file. You just find a video you want and then type the word "kick" before the words youtube in the web address and hit return.
Here is a video I a made to make it a bit more clear (I wanted to play with an free app called Jing for video/picture directions on computers):
4. Stop Watch
Just a neat free tool for having a stop watch or a count down.
I use the Smart Notebook tools normally for this, but if I had a web page up, I could quickly click on my book mark for this and start a count down for cleaning up the room.
5. Fur.ly
This is a free site that allows you to take multiple web pages and link them together. I have trained my first graders to get links off my Delicious account, but this makes it one step easier. For instance, I did a penguin research project (like a web quest) where students used different links to find out information. To go to the different links though, they had to keep going back to Delicious. I could just make one link on Delicious and then link the rest of the sites together. Here is an example I did of the websites I have given you in this blog:
This picture below is a small screen shot of what it looks like. I realize you can't read the text, but the red arrows are where you can click to toggle between the linked-together webpages.
Hope you enjoyed. I know I did.
Signing off.
-Chelsie
Google Apps: Peninsula School District's First Steps and Successes
District Profile:
15 Schools, 9,000 students and 550 teachers
8 elementary, 4 middle schools, 2 high schools, one alternative high school
Tech:
100% wireless public and private
Every classroom has a computer, doc camera, projector
2,000 aging student computers
Steps to success:
Board policy has to change
Can do this with CIPA, COPPA, and FERPA and still be ok
Staff Development does not need to be part of the equation
Always expect change
Implementation-Involve Tech Services
15 Schools, 9,000 students and 550 teachers
8 elementary, 4 middle schools, 2 high schools, one alternative high school
Tech:
100% wireless public and private
Every classroom has a computer, doc camera, projector
2,000 aging student computers
Steps to success:
Board policy has to change
Can do this with CIPA, COPPA, and FERPA and still be ok
Staff Development does not need to be part of the equation
Always expect change
Implementation-Involve Tech Services
- DNS setup necessary (use your primary domain)
- Initial account generation
- Synchronization with existing directory services, ie. Active Directory, LDAP - Includes Group synchronization for use in Google Groups
- Single Sign-On - CAS Central Authentication Service - http://www.jasig.org/cas
- Monitoring of usage with Posting Security Services & Google Analytics
- Custom Setups available through API's provided by Google
- Don't let email kill the conversation when dealing with Tech Services
I hope our district can find a way to do this. It makes so much sense.
Tammy's Favorite Free Website Tools
First, I have to say that I am glad I have a computer in here. I am able to instantly bookmark all the websites she is giving. I cannot do paper/pen notes. I lose them, forget to apply them, can't read my handwriting--especially when you are in a big rush when the speaker is going 90 mph trying to pack you with as much info as possible.
I am just going to insert them in the blog as she goes:
Need an instant chat room? Takes about ten seconds to set up. Ideas for use: An art critique.
2. Jam Studio
Similar to Garage Band, but a free version online. You just can't record your voice. You are able to share the music you create.
A free drawing program similar to Kid Pix. Sharable.
4. Odosketch
Another free drawing program with some different features such as being able to play back a drawing (like a video).
5. Skitch
This program allows you to take a photo of yourself using the built in camera on your computer and then edit it with drawings.
6. Jing
I showed this in a previous post. Great for showing directions on a computer either by a video or a picture. You can insert text, highlight or add arrows.
7. Avatar Maker
Create an avatar similar to the Nintendo Mii. Use for "All about Mii" poems. Perhaps make a transparent background and insert it into a new background (like in a PowerPoint). Maybe make an avatar of a historical figure and insert into a PowerPoint with a fitting background and facts (i.e. Abe in the log cabin).
I already use this site with my class. Great tool to practice spellings words. There are loads of games there too. You can even save lists so they are preloaded and can be accessed on a student's home computer.
I have been using this with my class. You can save any list of words (i.e. student names) and create a short cut to it on your computer. I also have used this for site words on the typewriter feature. The kids love guessing the words and it helps to review our site words.
10. Flip a Coin
We did an interactive activity for a book give away using this site. Everyone stood up and either put their hands on their heads for "heads" of the coin or on their bottoms for "tails". If you guessed wrong, you sat down. Great for working on heads/tails with your students, make a selection, narrow down students etc.
11. Wordle
Put in a block of text or a blog url and it will generate a visually appealing word cloud. Ideas: Enter words generated from a class discussion (i.e. on friendship).
12. Storybird
Take art created by others and make up stories to the pictures.
Here is a quick example I did up:
On that note--I am off to the next session!
-Chelsie
Google Magazines
Google's attempt to scan portions of every book out there has spilled over into the magazine world - enter Google Magazines. Great resource for non-fiction reading. Each and every page of the magazines have been scanned and are available for viewing for free. Example - Popular Mechanics from the 1920's - 2005 - completely searchable. Check it out!
Joice
Joice
Digital Kits for Differentiation and Engagement
Presented by: Jennifer Gingerich
htttp://web.mac.com/jennifergingerich
http://jennifergingerich.wikispaces.com
I have heard many people talk about digital kits, but I have not found a clear definition of what a digital kit is and why it is important in my classroom. Let's hope today is the day.
Learn how to collect digital materials that correlate with your curriculum.
Giving kits initially to teachers add interest and leads to more training. A collection of digital material based upon a unit of instruction.
Name folder uniquely--
Oregon Trail Kit-
--Oregon Trail Music
--Oregon Trail Pics
--Oregon Trail Sounds
--Oregon Trail Teacher Materials
Presentation Software-
Give picture that are unnamed so kids have to apply vocabulary concepts to the pictures.
During a video give students a vocab list with words that are listed and some that are not. That way you know how quickly the students where paying attention.
Giving kids the same pictures and vocabulary will give differing results. The kids will make connections with the other pictures.
How to make a digital kit -
Set up specific media folders
Download Files
Copy and Paste Citations
Distribute or Archive
Areas to collect for your digital kit:
Discovery Streaming
Pic4Learning.com
Findsounds.com
freeplaymusic.com
American Memory Collection
NASA Multimedia
Get to know file extensions to know where to put your files.
Why use:
To differentiate the content and instruction and product
To focus on standards and objectives
To make the most of time with technology
To model appropriate material selection
To engage students in the thinking critically about media
To encourage teacher collaboration
"If you build it they will engage"
htttp://web.mac.com/jennifergingerich
http://jennifergingerich.wikispaces.com
I have heard many people talk about digital kits, but I have not found a clear definition of what a digital kit is and why it is important in my classroom. Let's hope today is the day.
Learn how to collect digital materials that correlate with your curriculum.
Giving kits initially to teachers add interest and leads to more training. A collection of digital material based upon a unit of instruction.
Name folder uniquely--
Oregon Trail Kit-
--Oregon Trail Music
--Oregon Trail Pics
--Oregon Trail Sounds
--Oregon Trail Teacher Materials
Presentation Software-
Give picture that are unnamed so kids have to apply vocabulary concepts to the pictures.
During a video give students a vocab list with words that are listed and some that are not. That way you know how quickly the students where paying attention.
Giving kids the same pictures and vocabulary will give differing results. The kids will make connections with the other pictures.
How to make a digital kit -
Set up specific media folders
Download Files
Copy and Paste Citations
Distribute or Archive
Areas to collect for your digital kit:
Discovery Streaming
Pic4Learning.com
Findsounds.com
freeplaymusic.com
American Memory Collection
NASA Multimedia
Get to know file extensions to know where to put your files.
Why use:
To differentiate the content and instruction and product
To focus on standards and objectives
To make the most of time with technology
To model appropriate material selection
To engage students in the thinking critically about media
To encourage teacher collaboration
"If you build it they will engage"
ePortfolios Using Mahara with Randy Orwin (Live Bloggin' at NCCE 2010)
After a okay keynote and a recharge of my digital tools, I am now at Randy Orwin's "ePortfolios Using Mahara."
I have seen Randy speak and teach a number of times, specifically at Moodle Camp in 2007 in Washington. He is an great community leader and I am thrilled to hear him speak today.
Randy is apparently an independent consultant now. Good luck, Brother. :)
Randy's slides are located here. Mahara's site is here.
What is an ePortfolio?
System Requirements
In an actual Mahara site, there are a lot of features and tweaks that look a lot like Moodle, Ning or any other CMS or social networking site. There are extensive tools for modifying a student's public site or a resume or other parts. A student can share files, information, images, and other information on their profile page.
Commentary: What I don't get yet is what I need this or what purpose this serves... waiting...
Mahara uses an industry standard portfolio management so you can export those materials to other portfolio servers.
Mahara can be a great platform for a Dropbox for students; allowing them to put raw files for use from any location later.
Commentary: Okay, the dropbox is brilliant. I'd like to see what the Moodle integration looks like; if it is as seamless as it looks like it COULD be, this could be a great thing...
There is an incredible amount of control on the part of students on who sees content and they can limit or delimit access to their liking.
Interestingly, the student control is absolute: site administrators do not have access to student information without a student choosing to submit or see that information.
Commentary: I think this has a ton of potential, but, I'd really like to see it in action. Does it/can it pull from the cloud? Does it/can it pull information from Moodle? What is the potential here? Lots of questions...
Cross-posted at the Helena Public Schools NCCE 2010 Blog and the Tech-Savvy Teacher Blog.
I have seen Randy speak and teach a number of times, specifically at Moodle Camp in 2007 in Washington. He is an great community leader and I am thrilled to hear him speak today.
Randy is apparently an independent consultant now. Good luck, Brother. :)
Randy's slides are located here. Mahara's site is here.
What is an ePortfolio?
- A portfolio is a collection of work; ePortfolios is a digital collection of work.
- Free, open source
- Developed by the New Zealand government
System Requirements
- Linux is key; you should really run it on a windows server.
- Native to the PostgreSQL database.
In an actual Mahara site, there are a lot of features and tweaks that look a lot like Moodle, Ning or any other CMS or social networking site. There are extensive tools for modifying a student's public site or a resume or other parts. A student can share files, information, images, and other information on their profile page.
Commentary: What I don't get yet is what I need this or what purpose this serves... waiting...
Mahara uses an industry standard portfolio management so you can export those materials to other portfolio servers.
Mahara can be a great platform for a Dropbox for students; allowing them to put raw files for use from any location later.
Commentary: Okay, the dropbox is brilliant. I'd like to see what the Moodle integration looks like; if it is as seamless as it looks like it COULD be, this could be a great thing...
There is an incredible amount of control on the part of students on who sees content and they can limit or delimit access to their liking.
Interestingly, the student control is absolute: site administrators do not have access to student information without a student choosing to submit or see that information.
Commentary: I think this has a ton of potential, but, I'd really like to see it in action. Does it/can it pull from the cloud? Does it/can it pull information from Moodle? What is the potential here? Lots of questions...
Cross-posted at the Helena Public Schools NCCE 2010 Blog and the Tech-Savvy Teacher Blog.
Blow your mind
Google "GE augmented reality". You need a webcam and to print a page, and then OMG! You'll see.
Philippe Cousteau Keynote
Discovery Education presents Philippe Cousteau (grandson of Jacque Cousteau) as the opening keynote speaker at NCCE 2010. Opened with a great reference to the original Gameboy and the screen magnifier. Classic.
He goes on to talk about environmentalism and our role as teachers. Talks about some of the problems of off-shore drilling. Pollution, asthma, and death. Little dreary now.
Interesting fact by Philippe: There are more goldfish related injuries then shark deaths per year. Goldfish be on notice.
Cuts to clips from Ocean's Deadlist http://bit.ly/c3wg9M This is Philippe Cousteau's television show. Again.....grim. Seeing some tough stuff about what human are doing to the Ocean. Side note: This was the show that Steve Irwin was killed on. http://bit.ly/91vSmn
Philippe has moved on to the them of change. Talking about government. Problems we have with obesity, and diabetes in America. Waiting for the happy turn.
"All of our choices have consequences"
The happy turn never came but he said some nice things about teachers in general.
Definitely a thought provoking keynote. Different keynote then what NCCE has had in the past. What did you think attendees?
Why the Apple Store Rock Redux
Well NCCE 2010 has kicked off, but before I get blogging on content from the conference I wanted to share my experience at the Apple Store yesterday. A few weeks ago I got a "Service Battery" warning on my Mac. I could have gone through there tech support but I wanted to try out the Genius Bar at the Apple Store in Seattle. So Wed morning Neif and I headed out to give it a try. We were greeted when we got in by a friendly Apple staff member and I was immediately given an appointment time. About 5 min later I was sitting at the Genius Bar with Larry and he was diagnosing my problem. 10 min later I was on my way with a new battery. Apple Store....you rock, now build one in Montana. :^)
Moodle Under the Hood with Jeff Patterson (Live Blogging at NCCE 2010)
Good morning Seattle! Mike and I are kickin' it at NCCE 2010 in Seattle, Washington at "Moodle Under the Hood" with Great Falls Public Schools (Great Falls, Montana... my home town and our closest neighbor).
I will take notes below, with my own comments in ALL CAPS (I loves me the screamin').
Jeff's notes are here.
Moodle: When
Moodle: Steps for Implementation
Cross-posted at the Helena Public Schools NCCE 2010 Blog and the Tech-Savvy Teacher Blog.
I will take notes below, with my own comments in ALL CAPS (I loves me the screamin').
Jeff's notes are here.
Moodle: When
- Secondary was most interested in pushing Moodle.
- Initial 5-12 offering; but willing to go down to as low as 2nd grade.
- Adopt rate was fast; need to scale hardware two times.
- Registered users near 5000.
Moodle: Steps for Implementation
- Costs: NOT free... hardware, infrastructure, licenses, backup/recovery strategy, configuration time, help desk volume, resolution of student issues, training cycles for tech and teaching staff (JEFF COULDN'T BE MORE RIGHT ON HERE; SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE TRAINING COSTS).
- Sponsors: need a sponsor for the agenda to get Moodle up and running. Curriculum director and secondary leaders critical to implementation. Superintendent on board; grassroots teacher sponsors need to be on board as well. Absolutely must get teachers on board; not necessarily your geeky teachers, but, your teacher leaders. Support usually means money.
- Getting Started: Don't use a Windows server... it is a recipe for disaster (AMEN BROTHER). Learn Linux... it will save you time and problems.
- Users: Must support individual students in Moodle; be sure to set up a individual accounts. (YUP... :) )
- Taxonomy: Predefine categories; define Professional Development or Staff category; Come up with a class naming convention; let teachers build their own classes; don't force them through a process.
- Train
- Prepare: Think about messaging (Great Falls built functionality to allow teachers to see messaging); scaling scaling scaling; test your backup and restore; make sure to have a backup lesson plan (ALSO VERY GOOD ADVICE).
Cross-posted at the Helena Public Schools NCCE 2010 Blog and the Tech-Savvy Teacher Blog.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
need Inspiration?
Don't have Inspiration to create graphic organizers? Try out Webspiration! It's online, same format, perhaps not all the features, but it's totally worth a look!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
a little early
I'm totally excited for this professional experience! I don't know if someone forgot to check, but I just looked it up and Starbucks doesn't open until 5:30. The bus pulls out at 5. Those numbers just don't match up. :)
Welcome to the Helena Public School NCCE 2010 Blog!
Welcome to the 2010 HPS NCCE Blog! Check back here for information from sessions, reflections and other thoughts from Helena Public School teachers and administrators as we journey to the 2010 NCCE Conference in Seattle. Ole!
24 hours and counting!
So.....packed and ready to go! The party bus leaves at 5am tomorrow and I am jacked! I plan on sleeping and reading (The Stand), so the ride will be a breeze. Woohoo!
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