The End of this Blog

Fall 2007 has ended and so has this blog. Here is the link to the Spring 2008 blog.

Week 16 - Final Class

Presentation Schedule for December 11th

Starla R
Jenny W
Jennah M
Emma S
Hannah B
Ryan L

Check out the Pen Pad Wireless Tablet. We will have one to play with on Tuesday night!

GOD'S PROMISE TO YOU AS A TEACHER

Proverbs 2:1 - 11

“My sons (and daughters), if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, Turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,
And if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
And if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
Then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
For he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path.
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.”

RSS Feeds

Amanda mentioned in her presentation that a RSS feed could be added to a blog and those who subscribed to the RSS feed would be alerted when something new was added. Here is some information on RSS Feeds.

A RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed provides for the delivery of updated information from multiple sources to one location. The setting for the blog needs to allow the RSS feature and the recipient needs to use a RSS Reader to collect the updated material. The RSS default for Blogger.com is that "blog feeds" are allowed (see Settings then Site Feed).

The other part of setting up a RSS feed is that you need a place to collect all the blog that you subscribe to. These are called RSS Aggregators or Readers. There are many available but the most common is Bloglines. Google Reader is another option.

Using Bloglines as an example here is how you would set up a RSS Reader.
- Create or log into Bloglines account
- Click on "Feed" tab
- Click on "Add"
- In "Blog or Feed URL" type in URL for the blog you want to add
- If more than one site appears on next page, click in the box of URL you want to add
- You have a number of options: You can create folders. You also have a private or public option
- Click on Subscribe
- On left side of screen you will see the name of the blog that you subscribed to
- Click on name of the blog and you will see the new posts to this blog.

Some Tools & Resources:
Bloglines
Google Reader
It's Really Is Really Simple: RSS for Educators
Add RSS feeds to your Bloglines account (YouTube podcast)

Week 14 - Technology & Teaching - What's Next?

What do you think your classroom will look like in 5 years? In 10 years?

International Collaboration
Student Exchange, Without the Jet Lag: Educational Collaboration in a Virtual World
Global Education on a Dime: A Low Cost Way to Connect
Flat Classroom Project Launch Today

High Tech High Schools
High Tech High
Microsoft's High-Tech High
Three Cities, One New High-Tech High School

Online Schools
Insight School of Washington See Press Release 8/29/2007
Internet Academy/K-12 Online Education

Virtual Teachers & Friends
Virtual Teacher Could Change Distance Learning
Toddlers Embarce Our (Giggling) Robotic Overlords

Cell Phones
From Toy to Tool: Cell Phones in Schools
Cell Phones for Learning

Technology
eBeam - alternative for Interactive White Board - Any white board or surface turns into an interactive board

One Laptop Per Child XO Computer
Give One Get One Program
Explore the XO

Can technology have a role in reducing student drop out rates?
"'Dropout Factory' at Some State Schools" Seattle PI 10/27/2007
22 High Schools Labeled 'Dropout Factories'
"...no more than 60 percent of the students who start as freshmen make it to their senior year."

Access to Technology and Educational Blogs using Bloglines

Week 14th - Technology Leftovers

United Streaming
- See Discovery for user name and password

Google for Educators includes Tools for Your Classroom, Classroom Activities, Classroom Posters and Teacher Community

Google Docs in Plain English (YouTube)
Comparison of Using Google Docs and Conventional Wordprocessing (or Things to do with Google Docs)
Teacher Crib Sheet for Docs
Collaborative Revisions with Google Docs
Article: "Getting Good with Google Docs" (TechLearning, 10/07)
Google Earth Blog

Library Resources
Books, Print Journals & Curriculum Materials
Online Databases - ERIC & Education Research Complete

Other Resources
PowerPoint Templates - See links in Week 13 under Presentation Software Tools
Creating a podcast using Freecorder - Download Freecorder Toolbar - User Guide
Password Safe - create a secure name/password database on your computer

Good Books
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin
- About building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan
Leaving Microsoft to Change the World by John Wood
- Room for Books program
A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers will Rule the Future by Daniel Pink
Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled -- and more miserable than Ever Before by Jean Twenge

Educating the First Digital Generation by Paul Harwood and Victor Asal
"Don't Bother me Mom -- I'm Learning": How Computer and Video Games are Preparing Your Kids for 21st Century Success -- and How You Can Help by Marc Prensky

Teacher Standards - How are you doing?
Professional Preparation Performance Profile

Please take a survey using Zoomerang Survey Software

Remember to sign up for your Final Presentation day & order

Week 13 - Presentation Software & Google For Educators

Presentation Software Tools:

PowerPoint (Microsoft)
Keynote (Apple)
Google Docs

Some Resources:
Article: Create Great Classroom Presentations
Article: Google Docs Presentations
Teacher Templates: PowerPoint
Brainy Betty PowerPoint Menu
PowerPoint Games
Interactive: PowerPoint 2003 to PowerPoint 2007 Command Reference Guide

Keynote (Apple) Tutorial

Article: Adding Voice Narration to PowerPoint: Microsoft: “Voice Narration”

Back to School with the Class of Web 2.0: Part 2 Office Applications

Google for Educators
includes: Tools for Your Classroom, Classroom Activities, Classroom Posters and Teacher Community

Google Docs in Plain English (YouTube)
Comparison of Using Google Docs and Conventional Wordprocessing (or Things to do with Google Docs)
Teacher Crib Sheet for Docs
Collaborative Revisions with Google Docs
Article: "Getting Good with Google Docs" (TechLearning, 10/07)

Google Earth Blog

Week 13 - Evaluating Web Sites

Web Page Evaluation
Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask from UC Berkley Library
Evaluation Criteria (Susan Beck, New Mexico State U.)

Class Activity: Look at one of the following web site and evaluate it using the Evaluation Criteria list. Is the web site a credible source of information? Why or why not?

Group 1 Save the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus
Group 2 Moonbeam Enterprises
Group 3 Faked Moon Landings
Group 4 Google Technology
Group 5 History of Fisher Price Airplane

Web-Based Activities

WebQuests
Defined: "A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet..." B. Dodge
The WebQuest Page
Best WebQuests.com
Example: Voices from the Past: An Oral History WebQuest

Virtual Field Trips
Examples: Bodie, California, A Gold Mining Boomtown in the 1800s
Colonial House, A Tour of Life in the Colonial Era

Week 12 - NU Alumni Panel

Class will be held in HSC 200

Our special guests will be:
Jeremy Kowalski, Technician, Information Management Services, Renton School District
Laurie Sween, Education Coordinator, Hope Heart Institute, Seattle
Casey Ward, Science Teacher, Redmond Middle School

Pizza, beverage and dessert will be provided

Bring your questions and be ready for a great time as we dialogue with NU grads who have a great passion for teaching.

Week 11 - SMARTBoard Activities

Today you will present a SMARTBoard activity as required for Assignment #5. Click here to sign up. MIT students and School of Education faculty have been invited to join us.

Monday Night Practice Schedule

TeacherWeb.com

Week 10 - Individual Time with the SMARTBoard

Come at the time you signed up for to practice the activity that you will be presenting in class next week (Assignment #5). Let me know if you would like to have additional time before next week.

Monday Night Practice Schedule

Week 9 - Internet Safety & Cyberbullying

Children’s Internet Protection Act (2000)

Resources: WebSites
CyberSmart – Online Professional Development and Curriculum
Surf Swell Island: Adventures in Internet Safety (Disney)
SafeKids.com SafeTeens.com
Pacer Center's Kids Against Bullying
A Parent’s Guide to Online Safety: Ages & Stages (Mircosoft)

Resources: Articles
"ABC's of Bullying Prevention" by K. Stone (2006)
"As bullies go high-tech, lawmakers say schools should be fighting back" Seattle Times (2007) "Educator's Guide to Cyberbullying: Addressing the Harm Caused by Online Social Cruelty" by N. Willard

Resources: Software & Options
iSAFE - Internet Safety Instruction
iSAFE statistics
Websense – School & Library Internet Filtering Software
iProtectYou – Web Filtering Software
NetNanny – Popular Software for home use
Google Safe
Yahoo SafeSearch

Acceptable Use Policies
K-20 Network Acceptable Use Policy - Sample

In Class Project: Use a "new" search engine or metacrawler (See Class Blog - Week 3) to search for the "Acceptable Use Policy" in the school (or district) where you are doing your observation or at the high school you attended. What does the policy cover? What will be your responsibility as a teacher if you teach in this school district?

Week 9 - Productivity Software

How-to Articles for Teachers (Tips on using Word, Excel, PowerPoint & other software) by Microsoft
Microsoft Lesson Plans for Students & Teachers
Help and How To: All Microsoft Office Products
2007 Microsoft Office System Courses (free)

Word Processing

Tools:
Word (Microsoft)
Pages (Apple)
Google Docs & Spreadsheets

Some Resources:
Word 2007 Tutorial
Interactive: Word 2003 to Word 2007 Command Reference Guide
Pages Tutorials

Spreadsheets

Tools:
Excel (Microsoft)
Numbers (Apple)
Google Docs

Some resources:
Excel: Excel Basics for Beginners
Article: Excel in the Classroom
Using Spreadsheets in K-12 Classrooms
M & M Graphs Math Lesson
Microsoft Excel Modules (Internet4Classrooms)
Interactive: Excel 2003 to 2007 Command Reference Guide
Numbers Tutorial

Presentation Software

Tools:
PowerPoint (Microsoft)
Keynote (Apple)
Google Docs and Spreadsheets

Some Resources:
Tutorial: Electric Teacher - PowerPoint Tutorials
Article: Create Great Classroom Presentations
Article: Google Docs Presentations
Teacher Templates: PowerPoint
Brainy Betty PowerPoint Menu
PowerPoint Games
Interactive: PowerPoint 2003 to PowerPoint 2007 Command Reference Guide
Keynote Tutorial
Artic

Adding Voice Narration to PowerPoint: Microsoft: “Voice Narration”

Back to School with the Class of Web 2.0: Part 2 Office Applications

Week 8 - K12 Online Conference

The theme of the K12 Online Conference is Playing With Boundaries and runs from October 8th - October 27 with the Preconference Keynote by David Warlick on October 8. The conference schedule is available here and links to each session will be added as they are held.

We will not meet as a class on Tuesday, October 16th. Instead we are going to be part of the K12 Online Conference. Please do the following by our class on Tuesday, October 23rd:

1. "Join the Attendr map". The link is on the left side of the conference web page. You will need to set up an Attendr account by clicking on "add yourself". Add only as much information as you want. I didn't add our class blog to my profile as I didn't want to provide access to your blogs without your permission. Also sign the guest book if you would like to.

2. Listen/watch session of your choice.

3. By class on October 23rd add a post to your blog regarding the K12 Online Conference. Include title and name of presenter(s), a link to the session, along with a summary of the session and a reflection of what you learned.

Week 7 - Inspiration and Kidspiration

Inspiration and Kidspiration are just two of the many software available for classroom use. This software can be used to create a concept map, an idea map and many other mind mapping projects.

Examples & Quick Tours
Kidspiration Example - Social Studies
Kidspiration Quick Tour

Inspiration Example - Language Arts
Inspiration Quick Tour

Sample Projects
Kidspired Tales Collaboration projects using Kidspiration (K-2)
TOGETHER - Exchange Resources for Kidspiration
Teachers Using Inspiration & Kidspiration
Inspiration & Kidspiration: Teacher-Created Projects (University of Wisconsin-Stout)

Lesson Plans & Ideas
TALK: Technology Assisting Literacy Knowledge Kidspiration Inspiration
Kidspiration and Inspiration Lesson Plan Ideas (Fayette County Public Schools - KY)
50 Uses for Inspiration and Kidspiration (University of Wisconsin-Stout)
Inspiration and Kidspiration in the Classroom

Standards
Washington State Standards & Inspiration & Kidspiration
Information & examples are given on how this software supports the Washington EALRS

Other Resources
Using the Kidspiration Activity Wizard
North Canton City Schools Technology Tutorials: Kidspiration
Educators Review Kidspiration 2
Inspiration/Kidspiration Tutorials and PowerPoints
Inspiration Basics
Learning Electric Inspiration Tutorials
Software ReviewsInspiration 8

Inspiration Web Page
List of Training Opportunities
Inspiration & Kidspiration and White Board Support

IN CLASS
Play around with Inspiration or Kidspiration and create a document called "Why I want to be a teacher". Save this in a format that will allow others to open it if they don't have the software on their computer (see below) and use Box.net to add a link on your blog. Add a few comments regarding using this software in your classroom. If you have time create a document that a student in your class might create.

To save in Inspiration: First save as an .isf Then click on "transfer" button and transfer to Word or Apple Works. If you are using a Mac, please save in both Word and Works format so I can view it from your blog.

To save in Kidspiration: When you finish your project "go to writing" and click on "publish". Choose format and save. See note above if you are using a Mac.

Week 7 - Gradebook Software

Web Based: Free
Engrade is web based. A “tour” of the software as well as a “features” page and a page with user comments is available.
Chalksite is web based. An individual subscription is free, however only 5 students are able to have accounts. Subscription options are available.
GradeSource is web based and the free version comes with advertising. Subscription options are available.

Web Based: Free Trial Available
MyGradeBook is web based. A 30 day trial is available. ($49.95 per year)
GradeQuick is available as web based, or for Win or Mac. A 30 day trial is available. (school wide license only)

Web Based and/or Download: Free
Thinkwave (Win) has a free version with limited features. A subscription option with additional features and technical support and a web version are now available. ($35 - 80 per year)
ClassRoom GradeBook (Win) has a free version. A Pro edition is available with additional features. Subscription with 30 day trial

Download: Free Trial Available
Easy Grade Pro (Win or Mac) provides a free download for demonstration purposes, but once twelve or more students or assignments have been added, some of the features are disabled.Subscription options are available. ($48 per year)
Grade Point (Win or Mac) provides an evaluation copy for 30 days. ($26.06 per year)

Other Gradebook Software
Grade Machine, MicroGrade & Web Grader

Using Excel
Create an Electronic Gradebook (Excel 2003)
Managing Grades with Excel 2002
How to Create a Simple Grade Book Using Microsoft Excel 2007

School Management Systems
Software Directory

One Example
PowerSchool

Articles
Million, J. (2000). Get Parents Tuned into Online Gradebooks

K12 Online Conference

K12 Online Conference 2007 "Playing with Boundaries"

Week 6 Group SMART Board

Take a look at the Educator Resources web page, especially the SMART Notebook Software Lesson Activities & State Standards page and select a couple of activities that you would like to play with using the SMART Board. As a group you will probably be able to run through two activities.

Week 5 - Web 2.0 Tools

WEB 2.0 What is it?

PPT Presentation

WIKIS & BLOGS
Wiki Examples - Elementary:
Arbor Heights Elementary School Wiki (Seattle WA)
Our Favourites Graph

Blog & Wiki Examples - Secondary:
7th Grade Math Blog (not current)
Geometry Blog
Aristotle Experiment Wiki - Estancia High School

Wiki Tools:
Wikispaces
pbwiki
JotSpot

PRACTICE: You used a wiki when you signed up for your SMART Board Group and Individual sessions. I have created a new page at http://educ3302web2.wikispaces.com/ Think about how you could use a wiki in your class and play around with some of the features.

Feel free to create your own wikis account in one of the tools listed above.

Resources:
Educational Wikis
"Get Wild About Wikis!" from Education World
Tim Fredricks ELA Teaching Wiki

PODCASTS
Examples:
RadioWillowWeb from Willowdale Elementary School, Omaha, NE
Mabry Online from Marby Middle School, Marietta, GA
Mr. Langhorst's Web Classroom (8th grade American History) from South ValleyJr. High School, Liberty, MO

Tools:
Audicity
Freecorder User Guide
Ourmedia (free podcast hosting)
Media Max (free internet hosting)

PRACTICE: Download Freecorder or Audicity to your computer. Record a message, save it as a mp3 and use box.net or create an account at Ourmedia or MediaMax and add a link to your podcast on your blog. Think about how you could incorporate podcasts into your classroom.

Resources:
EPN: Education Podcast Network
Podcasting
Podcasting Tools
"iPod, upod" by G. Butterfield, 2007
“Make Your Voice Heard: Creating a Podcast is Easier than you Think” by J. Branzburg, 2006
“Podcasting 101: How educators can use this technology” by M. Dionne, 2006
“Podcasting” Vincent, T, 2006

PHOTOS & IMAGES
Examples:
Elementary Art Group
Jane Goodall's Camp (Created by a 3rd Grader)
Lewis Elementary School

Tools:
Flickr
Picasa
Photobucket
YouTube (Video)
Microsoft Photo Story

PRACTICE: Create a Flickr account or download Picasa to your computer. Create a album that you can post to the web using pictures that you brought to class or that you take with a digital camera. To upload pictures to Picasa web album you will need to log in using your Google account. Think about how you could use Flickr or Picasa in your classroom. Have some fun with Flickr Mashups.

Resources:
FlickrEdu: The Promise of Social Networks by D. Baird, 2005
My Friend Flickr by A. Standen, 2007
Flickr Photo Sharing U Tech Tips on YouTube
Picasa in the Classroom
Flickr Mashups- Spell with Flickr -Trading Card Maker - Flickr Sukoko
Also see list at Flickr Tools and Flickr Bits

GOOGLE
Examples & Tools:
Google for Educators: Tools for your Classroom
*Google Earth
-Google Earth Lessons
-Embedding Google My Maps
-Explore Your Earth
Google Co-op
Google Cheat Sheet
Google for Educators: A Three Hour Tour - A Workshop for K-12 Educators by K. Jarrett

PRACTICE: Download Google Earth and check out it's features. See Classroom Activities or Google Earth Lessons for ideas. Check out other Google tools such as Calendar, SketchUp or Google Co-op.


IMAGE GENERATORS
Tools:
Cool Text Graphics Generators
Generator Blog - "Blog about software that creates software"
FD's Flickr Toys - "Producers of fine toys and amusements for your digital photographs"

PRACTICE: Have fun using one or more of these web sites. Think about how you could use image generators in the classroom.

RSS & NEWSREADERS
DEF: Delivery of regularly updated information over the web

Tools: Bloglines

EXERCISE: Find two or three blogs or websites that you look at on a regular basis (see list on Class Blog). Create a bloglines account and add your selected blogs/sites.

Week 5 - More Web 2.0 Tools

Social Bookmarking
Blinklist.com - "For all the web sites you want to get back to... "
del.icio.us
-"Simply del.icio.us: Online Social Bookmarking" by D. Muir
-"5 Things you Need to Know before using del.icio.us" by R. Newburn
Furl - "Your personal web file"
Stumbleupon - "Discover new sites"

Online Storage
Box.net - Web based file access and sharing
Media Max - "Best online storage on the web"

Web Start Pages
Pageflakes - "Personalize your homepage..."

Online Applications
Chat Creator - "Add chat to your site"
Map Builder.net - "...tag locations on a map and publish it on your own site"
Zoho Creator - "Create online database applications in minutes"

Free Internet Calls
Gmail
Skype

Create Personal Search Engine
Google Co-op - "Create your own search engine"
Rollyo - "Roll your own search engine"

Visual Sharing
Gliffy - "Draw and share diagrams on the web"
Skrbl - "The complete web whiteboard"

Office 2.0
Google Docs & Spreadsheets
Zoho Office Suite

LibraryThing - "Catalog your books online"
TaDa Lists - "Simple, sharable to-do lists"
AssignADay - "Teacher-created calendars to manage classes and assignments"

Other Resources
Web 2.0 Tools by Kathy Schrock
Shedding Lite on Web 2.0 by Kathy Schrock
Web 2.0 Ideas for Educators: A Guide to RSS and More by Quentin D'Souza (753KB)
The Best Web 2.0 Software for 2006

Week 4 Introduction to the SMART Board

Software
Overview of Version 9.7
Download Version 9.7
For Windows -- download from link on Eagle
For Macs -- download from link on Eagle

Training
Teacher's Hub
Training Center for Mac Users
Training Center for Window Users
2 Minute Tutorials
Notebook Software Activity Guide - Designing Lesson Activites

Lesson Activities
Educator Resources
SMART Notebook Software Lesson Activities & State Standards

Articles & Other Resources
Primary Interactive Whiteboard Resources
Interactive Whiteboard Resources
schoolzone – Interactive whiteboards
Interactive Whiteboards in the Classroom
Outsmarting the SMART Board