Energize your Classroom with Google Tools

Presenter: Cristin Frodella
website: http://www.google.com/educators:)

The session began with presenters describing the discrepancy between regular Consumer Technology and Educational Technology. Google's goal with Google apps and docs is to bring user satisfaction for Educational Technology, up with user satisfaction for everyday Consumer Technology.

They began talking about the Cloud idea of getting work done. For example, in the past one might have created a document, sent it out to colleagues for review, received multiple versions back with revisions, another version is created and sent out for review again, etc. With the Cloud idea, documents, data, and projects are interchangeable and accessible, now, to everyone.

Google Apps:

• Free for all users
• No advertising for students, staff, faculty
• 6.8 GB (and growing) mail quotas
• 24 hour support

allows you to communicate, collaborate, simplify, and innovate as Google innovates.

Google Docs:

Free, web-based, productivity software. Documents are saved online and can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection. Multiple people can work together on the same document. No need to email documents back and forth. No more "I forgot my work" excuses. Saves automatically on a regular basis. Each change is tracked as a new revision.

This is a platform for collaboration. Students can work together to write, edit, and publish works, easily.

Much of the information in this presentation was aimed at high school or jr. high level classes, but I am already thinking of ways to integrate it into my class. We'll see! TTFN (Ta Ta For Now!)

PS: something must be wrong with the site, because I am currently unable to upload pictures! I'll keep trying and see if I can later on!

Lit2Go: Read Along and Edit Copyright-Free Audio Books

Gordon Worley

Dr. Shannon White

Florida Center for Instructional Technology

Website: http://fcit.usf.edu/

Click the title above for the NECC session information.

I waited outside from 1:35 (I was lucky my last session was so close!) The pic is all of us 96 people waiting for 25 minutes to get in the room for this session!!! :)

handout website: http://homepage.mac.com/worley/necc08/lit2go.pdf

So far I've been in my seat about 6 minutes and already have 2 cd's filled with maps, sounds, and printable pdf's for use in my class! Hey! There's another cd! This one has 3D glasses that came with it!

The first topic for the session is Lit2Go. It is a bunch of free audio books! I am accessing it on ITunes for the audio portion, but the website also has all of the books in PDF format. All the books on Lit2Go can be put directly on IPods!! How exciting! I will be able to put books on the IPods I'm getting through the Community Foundations Grant. The stories and files available are all beyond copyright issues.

Gordon, the presenter then poses the question: So what? So my students can listen to books. Once downloaded on ITunes, I can just drag it and drop in on the desktop to use it in other projects like Audacity or GarageBand. He went on to show how to manipulate files in Audacity.

On the handout website I linked above there are links to sites with free files to download and use! Check them out!

If you have any trouble using any of this technology, they have a "Tech-Ease" site.

Tech-Ease for Macs: http://etc.usf.edu/te_mac

Tech-Ease for Windows: http://etc.usf.edu/te_win

Next Gordon showed a site with free clipart, etc. All of the link information is available on the handout website link above!!!

Well, it's 3:00 and the session is over!

Collaborations Around the Planet: Social Networking for Educational Videoconferencing

Presenter: Janine Lim, Distance Learning Coordinator
Berrien County ISD
Michigan
Websites: http://www.twice.cc/
http://bcisdvcs.wordpress.com/

Click title above for NECC session description.

Janine is presenting using the powerpoint available at this link:
http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dl/necc/CAPspaceNECC2008.ppt

Project:
Read Around the Planet
Verification and Registration Opens Nov. 1
Teacher Registration Opens Dec. 1
Teacher Registration Closes mid Jan
Matches Announced end of Jan
February 23 - March 6

Through the Read Around the Planet came Collaboration Around the Planet (CAPspace).

Janine asked us to create an account on the CAPspace site and while we had that down time, I was talking with the lady next to me, Margie. She mentioned she was the tech integration for the teachers in the Digital Literacy workshop I just attended!! Margie offered to have Kelly, the 1st grade teacher video conference with my class! How cool! I will need polycom video conference equipment, which is very expensive (I'm told) or iChat on a mac. Hopefully we'll be getting the MacBooks in the fall and I'll be able to do this without needing lots of money!!

The next part of the seminar is looking around on the CAPspace site. She showed us how to find "friends", how to find collaborations (which are the video conference projects), and also gave us other websites for finding collaborations. They include:

Global Leap, UK
http://www.global-leap.com/

Internet2 K20 Muse
k20.internet2.edu

Wiki
http://www.collaborativevcs.pbwiki.com/

Well, my next step is to figure out if I can get my hands on some of these tools to participate!! If nothing else I made a great connection to Margie. She offered possibilities like setting up wikis with classes in her district or other activities if I don't get the chance to VC! I'm off to the next session!!!

Digital Literacy in the Elementary Classroom

Presenter:Janice Friesen, Campus Technology Coordinator
Battle Creek Elementary School
Austin, TX
website: http://jfriesen.net
Click title above for NECC session information.



Another packed house for this presentation as well!

There is a Digital Literacy that changes the way one thinks and learns. Kids either have already made the change to digital learning or haven't made the change yet and need us to help them!

A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink-book explaining right brain success in today's digital world.

Website with great resources: www.geocities.com/mrsjacksonsclass

This link contains the presentations and links to websites shown at the session: http://jfriesen.net/NECC2008/

Mark Taylor: Teacher
http://jfriesen.net/NECC2008/mark.htm
eInstruction - Student Response System (SRS)
IR receivers-students get same receiver each time
Mark basically explained how to use this brand of SRS. Twenty-some SRS's were handed out and he did a few example questions. He showed the immediate feedback in graphs and the random student feature. This feature lets you choose a random student and will show you that student's answer right away!

Jon Samuelson:Teacher
http://jfriesen.net/NECC2008/jon.htm
Project Lemonade: Online project using Wiki, Blog, Video and Video Conferencing
Local and distant schools work together using video conferencing/skype.

Book Drive Project: collecting books and school supplies for less fortunate schools

Kelly Manzano:1st Grade Teacher
http://jfriesen.net/NECC2008/kelly.htm
Photo Story-Digital storytelling and portfolios
Kelly showed examples of portfolios and slideshows her class made. She used KidPix with her class to create the visual portion for the slideshows and then added the voice and background music.
Kelly also mentioned a book that was useful to her and her photostory projects. To see this book go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Cameras-Curriculum-Focusing-Learning/dp/0325009546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214522735&sr=1-1

This session was a great culmination of resources and gave lots of good ideas. I am looking forward to clicking around the different sites and seeing what I can use in my classroom! See you at the next session!

Quick and Easy Computer Activities for Kids

Presenter: Tammy Worcester, Instructional Technology Specialist
ESSDACK
1500 e. 11th
Hutchinson, KS 67501
Website: http://www.tammyworcester.com
Click on the title above to see the NECC session description.



Upon entering the presentation room at 8:05am (session begins at 8:30), I find a packed room!! I think I picked a good session!

She dove right in and starting giving examples of activities! So this blog will be more of a list of how to's!

Power Point Activities:

Tall tales:
After writing student's own Tall Tales, they type them in word processing. Change the page to 3 columns then print. After printing, cut apart the columns and tape them end to end to make a real "Tall Tale"!

T-rriffic T-Shirts:
Onto PP change page to Portrait.
At top in Word Art type I'm T-rrific because:
Beneath that type in text box 3 reasons
Print, hot dog fold
Tear small 1/4 circle on top along fold
Tear 7 shape into non-folded side
open to see T Shirt

Healthy Body Person:
Draw rectangle on half of slide
type Building a Healthy Body by:
Draw Smiley face on other half of slide
2nd slide
4 rectangles
2 long
2 shorter
type ways to keep a healthy body in each rectangle
cut apart and glue to make person!

PP as a greeting card generator:
4 slides-portrait
slide 1-
Use word art, create front of card, put words upside down
slide 2- blank
slide 3-picture or clipart
slide 4-inside message
print as handout 4 slides per page

How to Print onto Sticky notes:
File, page setup, width and height 7.5
Type what is wanted on stickynote:
just checking in, a note from.., proofreading checklist
duplicate slide (click on slide in slide sorter and hit ctrl d)
Print page
place sticky notes on top of printed squares
place sheet in printer so it prints correctly!

Fact Flipper:
5 questions and 5 answers on a topic
slide 1-Title and instructions
slide 2-6: questions
slide 7: student names
Slides 8-12: answers
Print as handout 6 slides per page
Cut top page by folding and cutting along the bottom of each slide, then up the sides leaving the top as a hinge
glue first page on top of second

Slide Show:
Sense Poetry-black and white
Happiness through the senses
looks like, smells like, feels like, tastes like, sounds like
print as handout with 6 slides per page

Action buttons:

Short Story with 3 alternate endings:
choose item on slide
action settings
choose appropriate actions


Mouse roll over instead of mouse click
create object
slide show, action settings
action on mouse click or mouse over


Excel Activities:

Pictograph ex. pets:
highlight info click on graph wizard and finish
clip art for pictures to go with graph
click twice (not double click) to choose single bar or graph line
select one picture and double click choose fill effects and choose stack

Algebra Challenge:
blank workbook
math problem, with answer cell turning color if correct!
format menu, conditional formatting
choose color, font, border, etc if answer is correct
may make up to 3 conditions

Power of the Penny:
Do you want a million dollars or a penny that doubles every day for a month.
Column A: Day
Column B: Amount-make column b currency
Amount column: $.01
cell b2: =B2x2
fill down to bottom
use info to pose what if questions!

Riverwalk

I checked in to the conference this afternoon, then took a stroll on the Riverwalk. I've included some pictures I took down there. It's beautiful! So many restaurants and little shops right on the water.
It's been a long day! Up at 2:30 to catch a 6am flight! I'm getting some information together about the sessions tomorrow and will update in the morning! Ciao!

Welcome to San Antonio!

Hi everyone!
I made it! The fights were on time, luggage arrived with plane, I easily got a taxi to the hotel, and was even able to do early check in at 11 instead of waiting until 4! If my exprience for the rest of the conference is anything like it has been so far I'm in for a great time! I should be meeting up with the ladies from EHOVE soon, hopefully! I attached a picture of the view from my hotel window, I'm right across the street from the convention center which is really nice! I'm on the 20th floor, too bad the Riverwalk is on the opposite side of the hotel! I'll be back soon with information about the sessions I'll be attending tomorrow! Have a great Sunday!

Amanda

delicious link

NECC in San Antonio

I will be attending the National Technology conference in San Antonio beginning on Sunday! I can't wait to begin the experience. This will be my first experience at the national level. I have attended Ohio E-Tech for the past two years and am excited to broaden my horizons and see what NECC has to offer!! I hope this old school laptop can keep up down there!!!