These websites must be in your bookmarks---preferably on your toolbar:
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Friday, November 07, 2008
Resource: ETTC National Science Center
Each district in Georgia is assigned to a local college for educational technology needs. The ETC's provide professional learning in the latest technology instruction, as well as, serve as contract employees for research in technology or to ensure the state is implementing the National Education Technology objective as defined by ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education).One such local ETC with the National Science Center has a wonderful web site packed full of resources, web sites, and information on teaching with the ActivBoards.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Georgia Society of Technology in Education (G-STE)
The Georgia Society of Technology in Education (G-STE) is officially affiliated with ISTE. Jill Hobson, our President, held our annual meeting to share with members the status of our group. The mission of the society is to function as a "voice" in the state. The importance of technology in education is only as effective as the organization and support for it.
Already the ETC's reviewed the school keys for the Georgia GAPS review. Now coming in June, we should see technology integrated with the schools keys so the instructional technologist will be supported with this update. Jill emphasized our group functioning as a voice with the DOE and Ann Ware, the Instructional Technology Director at the DOE is a member.
The goal is to establish a common language with board members and principals so the formative assessment includes instructional technology. This will help all instructional technology specialist to have some advocacy as will move forward as a support group for the differentiation in teaching styles and formative assessment.
We went around the room to see how districts were impacted from the budget cuts. Many said their professional learning was being cut. It seems this is going to be costly cut for district who will have to meet those Georgia GAPS review.
Wendy from Douglas County told me about dimdim.com which is a free video conferencing software online. This will be great for professional learning problems as well.
G-STE needs volunteers. All members are encouraged to contribute with areas of interest. Another goal is to collaborate with each other and share information or knowledge.
Already the ETC's reviewed the school keys for the Georgia GAPS review. Now coming in June, we should see technology integrated with the schools keys so the instructional technologist will be supported with this update. Jill emphasized our group functioning as a voice with the DOE and Ann Ware, the Instructional Technology Director at the DOE is a member.
The goal is to establish a common language with board members and principals so the formative assessment includes instructional technology. This will help all instructional technology specialist to have some advocacy as will move forward as a support group for the differentiation in teaching styles and formative assessment.
We went around the room to see how districts were impacted from the budget cuts. Many said their professional learning was being cut. It seems this is going to be costly cut for district who will have to meet those Georgia GAPS review.
Wendy from Douglas County told me about dimdim.com which is a free video conferencing software online. This will be great for professional learning problems as well.
G-STE needs volunteers. All members are encouraged to contribute with areas of interest. Another goal is to collaborate with each other and share information or knowledge.
Learning with Small Devices
Tony Vincent started working with Palms in the classroom way back at the turn of the century. Now he goes around talking about all small devices and how students and teachers can use them in the classroom. In the GaETC session called I didn't know you could do that with an iPod! concurrent session.Here are some free web sites that Tony recommends we utilize, so the digital file may be played back on an iPod:
- http://www.spokentext.net/ - With this site the user may upload a .pdf, .doc, or any online text and read it. Then the mp3 may be downloaded to the iPod. Take the text and copy/paste it into the Lyrics under the song info in iTunes and while the song it playing on the iPod, the student can read the text.
- http://zamzar.com/ - Use this free site to convert videos from teacher tube or youtube. It is very simple, copy/paste the URL into the field and then tell it what kind of file you would like. Tony says mp4 is the best for the ipod conversion. The user types in the email for a link to the coverted file and the link will be available to you for 24 hours.
- http://www.ipreppress.com/ - This site offers free downloads of books for the iPod.
- http://learninginhand.com/ - Tony's site has several downloads or templates for the iPod that were PowerPoints he exported to images. Tony suggests students create the PowerPoint for common facts like the state capitals, US Presidents, etc.
- http://www.iquizmaker.com/ - This is a free download for Mac users. It will only work on certain iPods. This program could also run on a computer in your classroom.
- Cool Games online - Brain Challenges is on iTunes store.
Tony suggests using the iPod as an external drive. When the iPod is hooked into iTunes, select Enable Disk Mode. Be sure to eject properly, before disconnecting. Carry the $9.95 key chain adaptor for the iPod.
Teachers can save notes in text files for students to put on their iPod. Many text documents are already available for you on ipreppress.com, like the Declaration of Independence.
iWrite is a program, about $30 for students to create stories that you can then download straight to the iPod. Or if you put the assignment on your web site, when users click your file, the iWrite installer will download so the user can see your file.
Some accessories for hiding your iPod: hymnal, Sony Walkman, thong, earbud speakers, and the toilet paper dock station.
Jog the Web
Jog the Web is a web 2.0 tool for pulling together several web sites as a step-by-step presentation of material. Okay, now how do people come up with this stuff! Amazing! If you have several web sites that students need to use the features and then move on, this is the tool for you. The more advanced students or students needing an extension could use Jog the Web to create their research path.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Adding Flash Games
Interactive Whiteboard users should definitely tap into the free web sites offering already created flash game templates. ContentGenerator.net is one such web site.
Georgia Movie Academy
The ETC's in Georgia have taken the Mabry Middle Academy Awards to the next level. Students from all over Georgia are invited to submit a movie based on a theme, which is announced in January, and create a movie by March. The movie must be entirely student created.
Join the "TIE" Network
Even if you are not too comfortable with some of the current technology tools, you should join GPB's "TIE" Technology in Education Network. Just as the acronym suggests TIE is a way to bring all teachers who use technology, together. Apply and submit a lesson and you are in...Teachers can blog, share lessons, share photos, etc. Check it out.
The Ron Clark Academy
Ron Clark, is putting passion in the classroom. Check out Ron Clark's Academy. He is an advocate for technology, but a blend of the right strategies, innovative strategies with the technology. He uses what kids love ---music! to teach.
The man doesn't stop...
He has a list of rules called the Essential 55. Rules for what to do when you bump into someone in the hall. You have to be proactive, especially with the technology. The more specific you can be with the expectation for how you must use technology, the less problems you will have. Oprah is the one who encouraged him to write the book. The money he made from the book is what he used to create The Ron Clark Academy. It is a factory in Jonesboro. They have a tube slide!!! to get from their 2nd story classes to the 1st story classes. You get a sticker! They use the Essential 55 to establish the consistency in the building.
Ron Clark is a firm believer in making every kid know that you like him--even if you don't. To a ballroom full of Georgia teachers, Ron said, we have to stop just lifting up the kids we like. The kids you don't like---they need to know that you like them.
Teachers should find the smartest child in the class and teach all the kids at that level. Technology cannot be the only key. These kids need innovative techniques and teachers that can give it everything they've got.
The man doesn't stop...
He has a list of rules called the Essential 55. Rules for what to do when you bump into someone in the hall. You have to be proactive, especially with the technology. The more specific you can be with the expectation for how you must use technology, the less problems you will have. Oprah is the one who encouraged him to write the book. The money he made from the book is what he used to create The Ron Clark Academy. It is a factory in Jonesboro. They have a tube slide!!! to get from their 2nd story classes to the 1st story classes. You get a sticker! They use the Essential 55 to establish the consistency in the building.
Ron Clark is a firm believer in making every kid know that you like him--even if you don't. To a ballroom full of Georgia teachers, Ron said, we have to stop just lifting up the kids we like. The kids you don't like---they need to know that you like them.
Teachers should find the smartest child in the class and teach all the kids at that level. Technology cannot be the only key. These kids need innovative techniques and teachers that can give it everything they've got.
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