$250,000 Free Technology

CIM Solutions will be giving away $250,000 worth of technology this year. To enter the monthly drawings register on http://www.cimav.com/giveaways/.

Motiving 5th & 6th graders with Programming

This is another session for my Business/Computers hat. notes...

LOGO, Alice

John Newson
Bonnie Brodd
David Miller

Teachers.lakesideschool.org/ms/tech/ncce2010
handouts
powerpoint
downloads


Computer Skills
45 min 1 day/wk
Keyboarding
Email and email etiquette
copyright
Office 2007 basics in Word, Excel and PowerPoint
Programming 5th LOGO and Alice 6th Scratch
support the curriculum so drop what they are learning in computers to help with the other class projects


Introduction to Logo
Walking the Turtle around a square
FD
RT
tape shapes on the floor and walk out the steps
The Challenge draw a house using procedures (walls, roof, door window, not draw, etc)
practice on the smartboard and then individual
Then Challenge draw a face (circles, etc)
add an input and use it in your procedure
Fun with Turtle (change color, width)
Final Project
create a design or drawing of your choice
multiple pen color
different pen widths
multiple turtles
procedures
procedures within procedures

LOGO Terapin upgrade lab license of 20 is $300
10 weeks for unit 45min/week

ALICE - Free
http://www.alice.org
worlds-templates
objects
tools

First Project
Create a new world using the water template
add the island from the gallery
add the shark
position the shark so it looks like it is swimming to the left of the island
create a second world and add three objects

Moving Objects
create a new world using the winter template
add a snowman and snowwoman from the gallery
switch to cars

1 new alice thing each week

SCRATCH

Logo Linear, Text based
Alice Object Oriented Built-in Movements 3D Graphics
Scratch Object Oriented, Open Ended

students go to class website for initial instructions
The Spot
Three before Me

computers on the edge of the classroom
The Spot - minimize distractions (turn off screen, sit on hands) do what they need to to pay attention (independent)
Teachers and students both can use the spot
inside voices (mutual respect finish before stopping)
Three before me (verbally communicate - don't grab mouse)

Scratch Project
An editing recording of yourself reciting your poem using audacity (free for audio editing)
two animated sprites
two backgrounds
1 imported image
3 color-coded block categories
This was based upon the English class memorization of a poem
these are minimums students must stretch themselves

What went Well
collaboration
knowledge sharing
peer review
motivation

Lessons Learned
concept was too abstract for first Scratch project
Did not account for gap between classes

next time give mini-projects first

handouts at MIT website

Tools that complement Scratch
Atomic Learning ($)
Jing
Audacity
Photoshop ($)
Sketchup
Picoboard

Benefits of Programming
Independent learning
collaboration
critical thinking
problem solving
creativity

This would be a great addition to any computer applications class!

Teacher Librarians

Colet Bartow - from Montana OPI is one of the presenters
Steve - President Elect

http://NCCETeacherLibrarianSummit.ncce.wikispaces.net
information from the Summit on Wednesday - this will be streamed video soon :)

Title "Teacher Librarian" to emphasis the Teaching role of the Librarian
Bridge the link between Information and Technology literacy
effective users and producers
Library & Information Technology Program (LIT)
Mission: To ensure that students are effective users and producers of ideas and information.
3 essential functions
1. Information Technology Instruction
2. Reading Advocacy
3. Information Management

Bar on the left is the agenda from the summit

wallwisher - tool to gather ideas
join and contribute to the wiki

Then we broke into groups to discuss what needs to be done to move our libraries forward. This session was very motivating and I came out of the session reinvigorated to move forward. I have some ideas that I would love to incorporate into my library. More later...

Keeping Up with the Googlebots

Dr. Patrick Crispen

netsquirrel.com

look for Google 201 shows the advanced Google features (free presentation)
tinyurl.com/googncce
check out windows tab

In the search....
conversions
weather sea
calculator 2+2 (2*2)/pi*G (gravity)
1 mile in smoots
Capital of Belgium
Population of France
many answers before pressing enter - similar to AskJeeves

More options - search blogs, specific date (last week, etc)
archive.org has archived back to 95 (the evolution of the web)

nearby - local hits based upon IP address
custom location - you choose

wonder wheel - your search term in the middle with spokes of other search terms and the click on another search term and it continues creating wheels - brainstorm search terms, click on web and then search for currently highlight search

timeline - wardrobe malfunction

images from the page - 2-3 pictures from the page and display on the search results
page views - thumbnail of the page prior to loading
fewer shopping sites (more shopping sites)
limit to discussions - Q&A sites (yahoo answers, etc)
images - more options - sizes, face, photo, clipart, line drawing, color
video - time, quality, slide shows, CC, cartoons
image-swirl.googlelabs.com

filter - images and languages built into google
google.com/preferences and click Lock Safe Search - password protected cookie for all google sites (this must be done on each browser) - you know safe search is on if you see balls on your screen
fastflip.googlelabs.com
Google Buzz - social medium center - contact lists and profile are public by default
neutering or disabling Buzz - in preferences to make private or disable altogether
Google Chrome (web browser) - google.com/chrome - best features: security and speed - minimalist approach - each tab a seperate application (one tab goes down - others available)

youtube.com/disco (pandora)- playlist from youtube
youtube.com/html5 (safari 4 and chrome)
feather "lite" version of youtube - reduce latency (beta)
Google Public DNS - Domain Name Servers (code.google.com/speed/public-dns) - use google DNS server to speed up searching DON'T do this on a laptop
Google.com/moderator
function space to zoom (some computers)

autocompleteme.com
googlegoggles (for android)google.com/mobile/goggles take a picture of anything with words and google will search for those words, or take a picture of something (ie golden gate bridge) and search,
images.google.com/hosted/life -
dictionary.google.com pronunciations (audio sometimes), conjugation, related phrases and languages
google.com/support

Google Story video
4 blogs on PowerPoint (squirrelnet) to keep up with google

Last Day

It's Friday, usually that means excitement for the weekend and ready to crash. Today however has mixed emotions, I'm exhausted, but there will be time to sleep on the bus ride home. Right now I just need to be the most absorbant sponge I can be. I'm sad that the conference is almost over...

Used Book Sale

What a great finale to a wonderful day! The Elliot Bay Book store in Seattle has a 60% of Used books sale! Many award winners and honorees.

Good Night!

Microsoft Office 2010

I decided to attend this workshop based on my other hat as a Business/Computer Teacher. Right now our school district runs Office 2003 on all the computers except the HS Business classes - who purchased their own licenses for 2007. I am MS Certified in Excel and Word 2007. So this new version intrigues me - perhaps its a chance for the rest of the school to get caught up and then we'll be back to one version of Office. Perhaps I will be teaching this in a Business class. Maybe I'll need to become certified in these as well. Should be interesting to see how different 2010 is from the the very different 2007. Compatibility is another issue I want to learn more about.

So here are the notes...

PowerPoint will allow embedded video
pretty funny MS2010 trailer on you tube - see if I can find it
http://netsquirrel.com
Next version of Office 14 (they're skipping 13)
No major interface changes - just minor updates (yeah!!!)

2007 Change - make it easier to find things (Top 10 Requests were things MS already did - people just couldn't find it)

Major focus online storage, editing and collaboration
Release unknown - June 15?
7 Different Suites available - no free upgrades

Office Button returns to File - takes away from the document and goes "backstage"
=rand(5) inserts 5 random paragraphs of text
permissions now built in
Print and Print Preview are now combined (hooray!)
Paste Preview
Merge Paste (keeps formatting such as bold, italics but converts to be the same)
Ribbon now in all applications
Ribbon can be customized
Minimize/Maximize ribbon with "smoosh" button

Edit video (to shorten add a few effects)
Text effects replaces WordArt (similar to Excel chart effects)
Screenshots on insert tab - much faster than print screen
Background Removal tool - get rid of background of picture
More SmartArt
Windows Live SkyDrive - 25GB harddrive free - sharing and editing capabilities with limited web version
Simultaneous co-editing on the cloud
Control F - find feature enhanced more like Adobe and Google Books
Broadcast slide show live
Record Slideshow
Animations has its own tab
Equation Editor now in PP
Sections in PP and then close to
Animation Painter



Embed 2007
delete watch v
www.youtube.com/v/filename

Open PowerPoint
Office Button
Options --> Popular turn on Developer Tab --> ok
Developer Tab --> more tools --> add Shockwave ActiveX Control --> ok
Draw box with cursor
Properties

keynote

We're on a brief break so I thought I'd take a minute to write about the keynote session this morning. I really like the message, you can't make a difference.... you DO make a difference. I think this is important for students (and everyone else) to know that it doesn't matter if they want to make a difference or not - every choice makes a difference and impacts everything and everyone. The only question is what kind of difference you want to make.

Alright, on to the next workshop!

Flipping Vodcast

more notes....

Flipping with Vodcasts
Lectures at home via teacher tube so classtime is for questions, guided learning, etc.
Allows students to learn when they are ready (not 7:45 am)
Some will follow schedule and watch vodcast night before
Others will watch the first few minutes of class so they can get caught up
Takes about an hour to get 15 minute lecture - create powerpoint, create video, teacher tube or screencast ($10/mo upgrade) (uses as emergency since teacher tube has delay)

Individuals that are absent can make up lecture and then come for help with questions

Surveymonkey feedback
Classtime – all positive feedback (actively engaged, hands-on, group work, ask questions, teacher knows when students don’t understand)
Outside of class time – homework is to watch the videos – feedback mostly that vodcasts are helpful, but some students think that they don’t have to watch it to do well in class – which may be a learning style (kinesthic vs. visual/audio) since more time is available for hands-on this would benefit these learners too

When Using Vodcasts – unsure if they know what they don’t know – perhaps questions wording, most don’t use vodcasts to review for tests (something that could be improved – review test taking skills)

No home access – public library, school computer lab (cell phone, ipod can be uploaded to itunes MP4s), could put on CD or DVD

Self-initiated differentiation – students are responsible for their own learning and asking questions – more class time for different types of learning
Vodcast of problem sets – and watch while going through the work – then teacher can walk around and help those that do not understand
Application beyond honors and AP – developed for topics that are questioned or confusing more often, have students on different steps – watching the vodcast is the ticket to move further if student has initiative to watch on own they get more classtime to for handson

Teacher tube has slower buffering – many watch the videos late at night when traffic is low – limited file size 100MB huge MP4 file but Avi is too big – due to peer review it takes a day or so to get videos uploaded

Recorded discussion – vs just one person lecture is helpful – explore with a partner
Tackle one unit at a time
English – review paper individually

Used as tutorials, review, absent students, advanced students, students needing more support, homework assistance, showcase your work, showcase student work

Requirements
Time (collaborate – livens things but adds more time)
Forget perfection
Equipment/Software
Screen capture software
Free – Jing & Camstudio (easy)
Pay – Camtasia studio ($200) & snapkast ($70 no editing) & Jing ($20 less limits than free)
Microphone
Tablet ($100)

Hosting Location
Free
Teacher tube
Pay
Screencast

Itunes university?

Produce Vodcast
Organize – PowerPoint, Word, blank page, pictures, video
Record
Edit
Produce
Upload

Tutorials on teachertube

Straight from the Horse's Mouth part 2

After the break.... again, I'll clean this post up later, these are my notes...

Create Pathfinders - background info, definitions, select strategies, key words, activity ideas, websites, databases, software, books/periodicals, audio/video - students can do their own research but sometimes need guidance what to look for - broaden the search, expand the search, narrow the search. explanation of why each source may be helpful (contrast with summary of site) - provide scaffolding - Google Sites to make your own. Annette has 400 already set up - link in prior post.

Social bookmarks (delicious) are great for students to collaborate and add bookmarks to class set. But pathfinder sets up so students are able to learn how to research and contribute successfully to social bookmarks.

Compare and Contrast the usefulness of print and electronic resources. What situations would each be the superior source. Example: phone book, encyclopedia


12 things students need to learn (cross-curriculuar)
identify structure of nonfiction
analyze genre of nonfiction
critique nonfiction
generate and address questions
identify main idea
apply prior knowledge
related, connect, compare
solve problems and draw conclusions
make predictions
use sequence and order
follow instructions
find meanings

side bar with examples on Annette's website.

readwritethink.org

Social Studies - go to British archives and look for documents from/about colonies. Declaration of Independence is different! (ours is revised)

Children's Magazine Guide - list of online magazines
Smithsonian.com - good for reading activities
Highlights are mostly online
Google Book Search - magazines

Scholastic and Earth & Sky, Nasa have great audio

First hand accounts of experiences ---> biography unit

international debate education association: idebate.org - entry points for numerous topic, links, initial arguments, great starting place

Bottom line - spend quality time looking through the enormous display of lessons and materials on Annette's website. She has invested a tremendous amount of time in the website and it an invaluable collection of tools, example lessons and links to materials!

Straight from the Horse's Mouth

Notes from the workshop: I will clean these up later, but just wanted to take notes here.

Straight from the Horse's Mouth by Annette Lamb

Reader's Rock link is a wiki space that allows users to make suggestions. She uses pebbles, stones and boulders rather than identify grade level to not alienate students not at grade level. Mountains are teacher resources. Annette Lamb moderates the wiki.

Example in the elementary level there are nonfiction e-books that could be examples for "books" the students create using PowerPoint or another medium.

Students spend a lot of time reading fiction. In contrast adults read mostly non-fiction. Developing non-fiction reading skills is an important skill for students to learn for lifelong usage.

Website structure is an important concept to teach. Navigation bars, ads vs. content, create an analogy between book structure and website structure. What is the equivalent of the table of contents, what is different? Locating audio support such as read a loud features and podcasts. Instructions from the web - rewrite or complete an activity from internet directions.

Downloads - identify file type (pdf, etc) how to read those? Mouse over and decide if link is a download or a webpage direction.

Directories - zip code search are a great way to teach the concept of databases.

Compare various sites such as scholastic and cnn - how are they organized - how are they different?

Government sites - highly structured but how? Table of contents, internal links inside article, headings

Concept map - just like reading print materials. Kidspiration is a tool to make these. webspiration free online version

"Truth is subject to opinion, perspective and time." Pro-smoking, anti-smoking - what types of organization would have various viewpoints. Make sure topic will require critical thinking with various viewpoints. Factcheck.org

Explore a topic is difficult for students since it doesn't have a beginning/middle/end. Multiple perspectives online, print foundation for further research, hands-on (collaboration, presentation, discussion). Preferable to combine print and electronic resources.

5 finger rule - 1 finger for every word they don't understand - after 5 words it would make sense to find a different source since the current page is above level

To learn new things you have to have questions.

books.google.com - attempting to scan every book out there under the US Copyright Law Google believes they can upload 10% if all books. Some publishers are then permitting certain sections to control this. Benefits: zoom, page through, use for background information. If searching, include the word "juvenile" for books for young people. Search can be clunky so preview search terms or provide direct links. This is a work in progress. Hundreds of magazines (popular mechanics) - Guiness Book of World Records - advanced search to search within - invention unit - google patents

Do you model nonfiction reading? A passion for it? Boys tend to be drawn to nonfiction - by not modeling it we are missing a chance to develop passion for reading.

4 to Explore - give students 4 background or foundation sources to start with. Good beginning research places - successful reading, generate questions, images, appeal visuals, charts, graphs, diagrams, varied images.

DK books has a website with clipart. Great place to limit picture searching by topic. Focus student search, reduce search time for clipart. Google: DK clipart

Look for audio and video enhancement. Breaks up reading text and increases engagement.

Few ads and distractions, limited scrolling - no blinking or animation. Very difficult for some students to read with those distractions. Education and government sites are often good for these features.

Go to publishers of texts you don't use - get free teacher guides and get another perspective on teaching strategies. Leveled reading sites - Annette has several examples - same page with several versions with different reading levels.

Start with award winning "Orbis Pictus Award" NCTE
look at National Associations for reading lists - often have chapters and teaching resources

www.google.com/patents research sports equipment, etc later have students develop the newest patent primary source documents

NCCE Conference

Wake up 4:00 am, bus pulls out of the middle school minutes before 5:00. Stopover in Missoula and some unknown WA town for meals and now we are in SEATTLE, WA!!!

I'm using a workshop MacBook (which are unfamiliar to me) just before we get started to record this. I'll be in a workshop from 5-8 titled "Straight from the Horse's Mouth: Nonfiction, Technology and Information Fluent Thinkers."

This is a big place and the vendors area is packed. It should be a great few days of learning!