Week 7 Things 16-17

Wiki Wiki! It's not surprising that wikis are named after the Hawaiian word for "quick." Wikis are perfect for fast, collaborative documents and they are spreading like wildfire through our school district. Although I've only used wikispaces, I took the time to browse through pbwiki. However, no matter what wiki platform you choose to use, privacy settings are important. When teaching the students about wikis, an important next step is Internet safety.

Here are some ways I used wikis with my students:

1. Third grade students are part of a folksonomy project where they are coming up with their own tags for books. Often, students search the OPAC for "funny books" and hardly any results are displayed. Students brainstormed tags and use a wiki to add titles as they see necessary. Here it is: http://fosterbooklists.wikispaces.com/

2. Fifth grade students found their favorite author and illustrator web sites and added them to this page: http://fosterlibrary.wikispaces.com/

3. Teachers request books and AV equipment on a wiki too: http://fosterav.wikispaces.com/

(I made all three wikis public for the time being, but will reset the privacy options in a week or so).

P.S. I also posted the tagging project on the PA Curriculum wiki.

Week 7 "Thing" 15

Even though this is only my second year as a school librarian (and makes me a relative "newbie" to the profession), I have been around libraries my whole life. However, libraries are definitely NOT what they used to be! In Michael Stephens' article, he points out six important traits of 2.0 librarians. 2.0 Librarians must: plan for users, embrace 2.0 tools, control "technolust," make good/fast decisions, be a trendspotter, and get content. To me, these are obvious traits, but I don't think many people outside of the profession understand. In these days, school library positions are being cut and librarians are being forced to share buildings. This is the case in my district where we have a librarian who is moving and the position is in jeopardy of not being filled. Each school needs a dedicated librarian who is proficient in these six traits. Embracing technology by being a trendspotter will ultimately help students and teachers have access to the necessary content.

Week 6 "Thing" 14

Technorati is a fun tool to explore (although not to be used with kids...I came across some some inappropriate language!), but it's an easy way to sort through others' posts. I used the OpenID Claim to claim my blog and after doing so, it gave me a rank (like 2,900,000 or something like that!) and an "authority" number. I'm not sure how Technorati decides these numbers, but I guess it'll do (for now!).

To me, tagging has one major flaw: not using a common language--much like subject headings with books. The students in my school always ask for "funny books," but barely any books use "funny"--it's "humorous." I have yet to find an elementary school student to search for "humorous" on their own in the OPAC! As a mini-solution, I had students create their own tags for books at our library: http://fosterbooklists.wikispaces.com/ (This link will probably resurface on the "wiki post.") I transferred these tags into our OPAC, so now first graders can search for "funny" "funne" or "funy" books (the most common misspellings). Tags are opened with a common language.

Of course, I had to search for my name on Technorati and was surprised that only a few of the results were from my own blog!

The challenge was to tag a post in html in Technorati...I'm always up for a challenge, and slowly learning html....Although I do have to wonder why there isn't an easier way to do this...
Technorati Tag: SJLibrary2.0 Did that work? I'll have to double check!

Week 6 "Thing" 13

Del.icio.us really is delicious. Even though my "Bookmarks" bar is still pretty full, I use del.icio.us to create a quick go-to bookmark for sites I come across accidentally or need to come back to later. When someone puts a link out on Twitter or when I see a site worth checking out in a professional resource, I try and add it to my set of bookmarks. I don't have too many saved (because I learned that I don't go back to them if there are too many and if too much time passes....) but the ones I have saved will be worthwhile for me to reference again...ok, maybe not the Jimmy Dean "Sun" commercials...but they are pretty funny, right? :)

I added the del.icio.us badge to my blog, but if you would like to see some of my bookmarks, here ya go: http://del.icio.us/missbelardi

Week 5 "Thing" 12

Ack! I've gotten so behind on my posts! "Analog" life seems to have gotten in the way of my "digital" life! : )

Of course, as an elementary school librarian, Internet safety is an extremely important issue...Once a student forgot to bring in a picture for art class about a jungle animal, so he typed in "jungle animals" on the classroom computer for an image search, and one scantily-clad Amazon-George-of-the-Jungle-looking woman appeared on the first page of photos.

Anyway, Rollyo is an interesting application that could dodge this sort of issue and I'm surprised that this was the first time I've even heard of it. It allows you to designate up to 25 web sites for students to search. I found 12(ish) sites that I would want students to use instead of a generic Google search for basic research.

The next steps would be to create elementary vs. intermediate grade searches (for readability). My only question to sort through is how this tool might be better than NetTrekker...Would it be a supplement in case NetTrekker does not display needed information?

Here's my trial Foster Reference version:

Select Search Engine...Foster ReferenceSearch The Web

Powered by Rollyo

Week 5 Thing 11

I love this list of Web 2.0 winners--for professional use as well as personal use! I already know and use sites like PeerTrainer, Pandora (cusomizable radio), Facebook and and Twitter. However, I had a great time exploring Picnik, Care2, and Cover Pop. I think I liked Cover Pop the best--the image was captivating on it's own, but when you mouse over a book, a full picture comes up along with the info for the book (according to Amazon), such as "Heat" in the attached image. I wish I could create one of these so that upon mouse over, the call number of the book would come up with the cover so students would be able to find it in our library. I might work on that...

School Library 2.0-Week 5 "Thing 10"

Online image generators are addicting! I spent hours searching Google for various image generators like Image Chef, FD Toys, and comic strip generator. I used this image for bookmarks on Valentine's Day and my students also became interested in creating their own. Besides being a fun tool for me, students could use these as a follow up to thematic units, create trading cards/bookmarks, etc. The possibilities are endless! However, one thing to be cautious of is that some of these images are not appropriate for elementary-age students. I would not want them adding text "tatoos" to themselves--online or in person!

My Mothership Called Me Home: Post-PETE&C 2008

I had a lot of time to reflect on PETE&C on the 7 hour drive back from Hershey on Tuesday (it's only a 3.5 hour drive when it's not blizzard-ing on the turnpike!), but it's taken me until today to synthesize it all. 2008 proved to be a different experience than '07. Last year, I went to PETE&C with the goal of taking in as much new information as I could--and I did. I came back slightly overwhelmed with new ideas, tools, and attempted to try them all during the past 12 months. My goals for '08 were to build a stronger network, grow as a professional and take more of an active role in the conference.

My online network came alive in Hershey last weekend. Meeting my Twitter contacts face to face was amazing. We would pass each other in the hallways and introduce ourselves by our Twitter names first. I was also lucky to spend time with those who contribute to my professional development and are role models for me, like having dinner with Joyce Valenza, hanging out with Jen Dorman, "wii-ing" with the DEN crew, debriefings with Steve Dembo (and his family!) and even got to have lunch with David Pogue. I learned so much even through our casual conversations!

I was also able to spend time with Chris Stengel, my Director of Technology and Justin Meyers, the Coordinator of Business Technology in Mt. Lebanon. It's refreshing to know that we share the same vision for our district--that students will develop as 21st century citizens and be smart, safe users of technology. Chris and I presented our Administrator 2.0 Academy was actually(which pretty intimidating to present at this conference) and 3 hours after we got home, Justin had created a Twitter-ish application for our in-network blogs after I told him how cool they were! They are so talented!

I do plan on using a few of the tools I learned about last weekend (like Blabberize, Skype and some digital storytelling apps) but I came back a better professional. I don't know why it insists on snowing every year so we miss the last day of sessions, but I'm already yearning for next year! I said it last year and I'll say it again... PETE&C is like my mothership calling me home!

Steve Dembo's Keynote at PETE&C

"If digital immigrant educators want to teach digital natives, they will have to change." --Marc Prensky

The dynamic Steve Dembo (this is a photo of us on the DEN "excursion" in the Bahamas this summer, not today in Hershey!) started the day with a quick poll: polleverywhere that takes polls using a cell phone. Unfortunately, the crazy Internet in the Hershey Lodge is sub-par (um, is this actually a technology conference?)... He also reminded us that digital natives grow up with these tools while many teachers are digital immigrants and talk tech "with an accent." He also gave some interesting statistics like 28% of children 12-17 have created their own blog.

Dembo also discussed how the movements of knowledge, tools and the expert work together for teachers to change in the flattening world, and touched on wikinomics (curriki--a site that encourages teachers to collaborate to write curriculum).

He also reminded us how cool networks like Twitter, Second Life and Ning are and how powerful those learning communities can be if used correctly. It should not be considered work--they are social, learning opportunities.Try hitchhikr to follow along with conferences to "keep up" when you can't be there in person.

Just like Steve said, I'm synthesizing, reflecting and sharing as I write this post (even though they are sketchy notes from while I listened to Steve) and hope that my students will be able to do this as well.

Copyright and Fair Use

Ok, I hang my head in shame because copyright is not something I know a whole lot about. I know it's in my job description, but I just can't seem to get a grip. I seem to put a lot under "fair use" and then not worry about it. That is the wrong thing to do! Here's what I learned (besides the fact that I'm most likely violating copyright without even knowing):

--Copyright gives protection for authors of original works.
--Anything you make is automatically copyrighted.
--Facts and public domain items are not copyrighted.
--You can register your own items for a nominal fee.
--Fair Use allows teachers and students the ability to use materials for educational purposes (not for recreation!). 4 points for fair use:
1. The purpose and character of use for education
2. Nature of the copyrighted work
3. Amount of work used
4. Effect of the use on the market place (Is it impacting finances for the author)

--Copyright Law for Teachers and Librarians (book) to find out what is classified as Fair Use?
--Creative Commons
--Digital Resources have 2 laws: (and this is where I start tuning out because I don't understand everything!)
Digital Millenium Copyright Act (gives rights to libraries for archival purposes)
TEACH Act (had to buy a copy/permission from the author to post & limited to class members only (password protected)

Can use images/video legally by:
-use online databases or another multimedia service (Discovery Ed Streaming)
-flickr (etc.) for creative commons licensing (for educational purposes)
-ask permission to the copyright holder
For free & available music:
www.projectplaylist.com
www.squidoo.com/freesounds
www.royaltyfreemusic.com
www.soundzabound.com

The more I learn about copyright, the more questions I have. Can I use just a portion of a song? Is it 10% of a book you can copy? Can I place images of books on the website? I might try the book I just referenced so I can find the answers...

Skype Me

Erik Wittmer and Amy Musone's session on Skype proved to be a great introduction to Skype. They gave examples of how their students skype each other (or video conference/ make a free phone call) while providing live examples of their classes. Learning about others in their community, promotes technology curriculum, allows for engaging collaboration. Using "white board meeting," students can write/type to each other as well. The team worked with the book "Rules" to tie in to the curriculum. A presenter (the autistic support teacher) skyped both classes and students. One third grader even Skyped into our session to tell about benefits of Skype.

Up to six different connections can go on at one time.
www.ecam.com--a recording device so teachers can see what the kids recorded (for Mac)
www.pamela-systems.com/products

Join the Skype PETEC wiki for teachers to add their user names and grade level and connect with other classes that are Skyping too. petecskypeme.pbwiki.com
Invite key: petec

Web 2.0 Tools Go Elementary

Collaboration and communication between (even the youngest of students) fosters learning from an interactive point of view. Blogging gives students the opportunity for reflection, writing for an audience and a published piece.
Journey North (tulip project)--can log/view when tulips start to bloom-follow them north

Wikispaces will create student accounts (Help+Teachers) help@wikispaces.com
list user names and passwords (don't need email addresses)

Webkinz has opened a world of learning and virtual collaboration. (3 class pets and giving all students user names/passwords)

Eduwiki --to share resources (work smarter, not harder)

David Pogue, PETE&C Keynote

As a technology critic for the New York Times, David Pogue examined what might happen when "the digital generation grows up." A few things are going to change:
1. Technology--
-----Phone calls over the Internet, like how hopefully Skype will move to cell phones (T-Mobile already has one to replace their land line). Googl cellular (46645) for free directory assistance. Get movie showtimes by pressing "nameofmovie zipcode" (Shrek 15017)
----- Simulscribe--where you can read your voicemail
----- A la Carte TV- Shows will be archived and movies will be downloadable

2. Wireless Everywhere
-----Verizon has a cellular card where you can get online anywhere
-----iPhone (search YouTube for iPhone Shuffle)
-----wifi skype phone

Teachers need to be aware of these emerging technologies and be able to use them on a personal level before implementing them with students in order to to ensure best practice.

At lunch time, the PA DEN Leadership Council was lucky enough to have dinner with him at the Hershey Lodge. It was an honor to be able to connect to him on a personal level and tell him all about the DEN! Attached is a photo, a complete documentation of my red cheeks! : )

pogue@nytimes.com

DEN Pre-Conference

This is not pretty and not insightful, but they are my notes from the sessions I attended at the pre-conference....I'll update more when I get home from Hershey.
Session 1: Digital Storytelling w/Jen Dorman
www.jdorman.wikispaces.com/petec2008


Slide Share—can now slidecast—takes original powerpoint and can merge with an audio file

Slide—create slide shows with thought bubbles

Bubble Share-- can add kid friendly themes

One True Media—can upload many types of media—text, audio, music

Slideroll—can upload right from Flickr (**Make a Flickr group**)
--download right to desktop

Google Presentations—can embed Google Docs

Dandelife—for students to tell their own life story

***swivel.com for embedding data charts


Mapping Tools:
Google Maps—for collaboration on creation & maintenance of maps—can layer media


Mapwing—build, share, explore virtual tours (can embed)

www.makebeliefscomix.com *pretty safe content (can print comic strips) but students can save the their strip as a picture file and then add it to the web

Kerpoof—designed for use in schools (teacher section for lesson plans, etc.)

GMAIL… Enroll students by jakedavis.bridgetbelardi@gmail.com

Gaggle.net (for student email?)


Video:
www.eyespot.com --artists put whole songs online for students to use (watch for inappropriate lyrics)

Photo Editing
Splashup
Picnik
Phixr
FotoFlexer (beautification tools)


Image Manipulation:
www.mrpicassohead.com/create.html
www.befunky.com


SceneCaster
-create and share 3D scenes on the web—create a room/space/people
(have to download an app to use)
-google search engine for 3D objects


Bookr www.pimpampum.net/bookr/
-create storybooks and students add captions to pictures
-upload to flickr?

www.vuvox.com


Scrapblog (can embed)
-students take pictures (on a field trip) and create a scrapbook

voicethread—create content in Kidspiration and have students comment

BubblePLY www.bubbleply.com/demo/apx
(can add subtitles in another language)

Session 2: Green Screen with Lance Rougeux
-layer 1 is the downloaded video
-video 2 is the shot video
--effects, keying, chroma key
Edit effects
Dropper, similarity
Blend is opacity


To get rid of the wall,
Back to effects
Transform
Crop effect


Kathy Schrock’s Video
Import streaming video into premier (on top layer)
Still image on layer 1
(have students take a picture looking at the

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Session 3: Google Earth—Julia Tebbets
www.sewickley.org/~jtebbets/
Click “for teachers’ then “conference handouts”
Tour Plan
--For landmarks
--For habitats (highlight range of animal’s habitat) import
--Explorer path—add placemarks along the voyages
--Google sky—can click the sky and see what you would see in that spot on earth
--under layers, a weather layer
--students all upload placemarks, etc to the K drive --that folder will load into google earth
-make a new folder
TO SAVE:
have students close up their work folder (so they can make sure their placemarks are all in the folder)
--right click that folder and have students save to the server

--Can also right click and “save in “my places”

To edit something on the placemark, right click the folder, right click properties, add

**Call Lance to set up a generic school ID and password for Discovery Streaming

**Go to Julia’s website to get html codes for embedding





Session 4: 50 Ways—The Online Edition
-Taking from Alan Levine’s wiki-- cogdogroo.wikispaces.com/storytools
Blabberize—for animal reports, mouth of a dollar bill,

Jumpcut
-can create a “set” of content for students to search

bubbleshare
-comic maker but can use audio

myplick

DEN Virtual Conference

I spent my Saturday afternoon attending the Discovery Educator Network virtual conference. About 200 other teachers also joined in on the amazing conference. I learned so much while sitting on my couch!

Digital Storytelling session with Steve Dembo (My notes from the session!)
1. Using Discovery Streaming calendars for students to research biographies--includes videos, encyclopedia excerpts, photos, etc. Use Blabbarize to make photos "talk" with your voice and then embed it. (This would be so fun for the 3rd graders to use with their research on a famous American as a follow up to the wax museum! LOVE IT!! :) (Can use Zamzar to convert to a wmv and then import all.

2. Use ToonDo (a comic strip creator) to import your own images and place multiple strips together to make a book. The fifth grade might like to do this as an extension of their digital storytelling projects.

3. Map out events on a timeline with XTimeline and can attach photos, videos, etc.

4. VoiceThread (my favorite!) is another way to import photos and have students add their comments through text and voice.

5. Jumpcut--an easy online digital video editor. Students can work at home if needed.

6. Myplick--Combine with Discovery Streaming's audio database to turn presentations into music videos. Import powerpoint slides and add audio for appropriate transitions between slids. Can be embedded!

**The whole PowerPoint will be posted in the Discovery Educator Network archives. http://cogdogroo.wikispaces.com/StoryTools for all 50 Tools (and more!)

Lance Rougeux presented more 2.0 tools like moonk, using emoticons, and mosaickr.

Again, the Discovery Educator Network exceeded all my expectations! I love DEN!

Week 4 "Thing" 8 and 9

How did I ever live without RSS? Reading blogs is one easy component of professional development that is quick and free. Before I signed up for RSS feeds, checking blogs (I used to read over 50) for new content was time consuming and annoying. Using Bloglines makes the most of my time and now I am able to take 15 minutes (about once a week) to check in with all my favorite blogs. I've been able to get many lesson ideas, resources, links, etc. from the top educational technology leaders and librarians in the world.


As an extra bonus, my school district set up customizable employee portals (home pages) for every teacher so we can add widgets and find feeds that we can use for professional development or for instruction. It automatically opens whenever we log in to one of the district computers. It's been interesting to see teachers use this portal in a variety of ways. Most have embraced it and have tabs and tabs of widgets and feeds. I have pages for professional blogs, library blogs, world news, and local news. I'm definitely lucky to work in a district that is promoting this tool and giving teachers the opportunity to explore new technologies. I'm attaching a screen shot of my MTLSDHome page (it will maximize if you click on it) to show how I learn every day.

Week Three "Thing 7"

It was a tough decision as to what to post for the broad category of "anything tech." Dozens of ideas were swirling through my head! However, just this morning, one of my Twitter contacts sent this link, and it's the obvious choice to discuss.

I had no idea that The Library of Congress had it's own Flickr site (and/or a blog). The Library of Congress blog posted links to it's Flickr site last week where over 3,000 photos are easily accessible. This is a pilot program with two main goals: "If all goes according to plan, the project will help address at least two major challenges: how to ensure better and better access to our collections, and how to ensure that we have the best possible information about those collections for the benefit of researchers and posterity. In many senses, we are looking to enhance our metadata (one of those Web 2.0 buzzwords that 90 percent of our readers could probably explain better than me)."

Wow!! This is what libraries should be (I think). The library is requesting comments and hoping additional resources are shared. The photos are ones that do not have copyright concerns and it only takes five minutes to browse and learn about 10 new things. The photo I decided to add is the opening day of the New York City Public Library (sometime between 1910-1915). Definitely cool!

So, LOC gone 2.0. It's a good thing PA is right behind them!

Week Three "Thing 6"

I loved having the opportunity to explore some of the Flickr web sites. I used Color Fields to make the yellow/orange collage at the bottom and couldn't help but think of the ways to use it in the classroom. Kindergarten or first grade students could search by color to create a color book or older students could find photos that correspond to a piece of literature or as inspiration to begin a written story. I also tried to use Montager but I couldn't figure out how to make a mosaic of the picture I wanted to. Flickr Toys is much easier to use and has a lot more options. Here is a mosaic I made with Big Huge Labs. It was a little more time consuming than I would have liked, but I think it is a fun collection of some of the things that happen in my library. I will definitely include this image in my upcoming newsletter and blog!

Week Three "Thing 5"

I heart Flickr. When looking for a photo sharing site that was easy to use and easy to share, Flickr was the clear winner. I've had my account for well over a year now and it's had over 2,000 views, mainly from students. I like the embeddable feature so it can be viewed straight from my web site, even though Flickr is blocked within the district and the updated number of views. Parents enjoy looking at photos from the library and surprisingly, the photos with the most hits are those I take outside of school, like at the Steeler game or Christmas morning. The children appreciate the personal connection through the pictures---even the youngest of students who can't read yet.

The photo on the left is one of my favorites on Flickr. When I was a classroom teacher, I had these boys in kindergarten, first and second grade. They are now in fifth grade and like to read more than ever (even if it is "Where's Waldo?"!!!).

Flickr serves all my photo needs!

Week Two "Thing 3 and 4"

Hopefully combining posts 3 and 4 isn't a problem...They just seem to fit together...

Even though I've been the owner of this blog for almost a year, just recently have I contributed to it on a regular basis. I still wonder who actually cares what I have to say, but then I think of all the blogs I read and learn from every day and so I hope SOMEone benefits from it! I especially love to watch the Clustr maps because I never thought people in Europe, Australia, and Asia would stumble upon it!

I just began another blog, The Cybrary, aimed to the audience of parents and teachers (and students) in my building/district. I plan on using it as a resource for them to learn about some of the things we do in class as well as giving updates on educational websites/new technologies. I'll report back to how it's going so far.

I am especially anxious to read everyone else's blog and "hear" their insights to this process. Bloggers unite! : )

It's Not a Stick!

While reading Antoinette Portis' book, "Not a Stick," the first grade students predicted the imagination of the pig in the story. When some of their predictions were not confirmed, they wanted to continue the story and make their own illustrations. The drawing/recording timeline was exactly 15 minutes (the longest part being the scanning...this was their first time using the scanner). Here is their work (notice how they are really practicing reading with expression!):

Week One "Thing" 2

During this self-paced tutorial, the importance of lifelong learning is highlighted. Lifelong learning is the theory that it is never too soon or too late to learn something. Learning is a continuum and can take place in a variety of formats--usually not in a school or classroom!
There are 7.5 (yes, seven and a half!) habits of lifelong learners.
1. Begin with the end in mind
2. Accept responsibility for your own learning
3. View problems as challenges
4. Having confidence in yourself as an effective learner
5. Create your own learning toolbox (books, technology, mentors, etc.)
6. Using Technology to your advantage
7. Teach/Mentor others
7.5 Play!!

I definitely think I do alittle bit of all 7.5 of these habits, although I am heavy on using technology to initiate my own learning. Creating my own learning contract is challenging. One area I need to work on is having an end in mind, but being able to modify ad extend that ending point!

Week One "Thing" 1

School Library Learning 2.0

Recently I found out I was chosen to participate in the PSLA 2.0 team, modeled after the California School Library Learning course. The online tutorial is being piloted by 25(?) librarians from across the state to learn the 23 core "things" that make the best use of the Web 2.0. The program encourages educators to experiment and become familiar with these tools in hopes that they will integrate them with their students and colleagues. All of us are required to post our thoughts and findings each week and I also think that gives us the responsibility to read each other's posts and comment on their findings. I'm looking forward to working with a dynamic group of educators!

A Photo Recap of 2007

Photo highlights from 2007--in school and out!

Year in Review

Top 07 of 07

The top 7 tools that have changed my teaching and learning in 2007:

7. Student-centered blogs: These have extended student discussions and allowed them to really "show what they know."

6. My document camera: I love this because students can place their work on the camera and teach/share their work with the class. It also changed my oral reading strategies by placing the book on the camera and having students read along. The students are engaged and can participate often. Plus, it has eliminated all of the "I can't see-eee" comments I used to hear so frequently! : )

5. Audacity: Besides student-created book reviews in our district database (look under Foster) the students have developed their own radio show. It's given those students who choose to participate the opportunity to write a script and speak for an audience. I love that it is 100% their creation and their work! I am truly a facilitator and look forward to allowing others to to use their creativity to produce their own work too!

4. Adobe Premiere Elements: Although this program took me awhile to get comfortable with, the students were able to quickly come up with ways to use the green screen to superimpose images behind them. This program brought digital storytelling to a new level. Of course I have to mention the "@ Your Library" video the 2nd graders made in the spring...It might be my favorite work of the year!!

3. Voice Thread: I love Voice Thread. It's easy and gives students the opportunity to extend their work beyond the classroom. With a simple scanning process, student work can be voiced-over for a quick archive of knowledge.

2. Wikispaces: Wikispaces has given my students the opportunity to collaborate on book tagging projects, author studies and a place to store web sites. It also gives the students I tutor a way to communicate with me while practicing writing skills and a creative outlet for writing.

And the number one tool that has changed my teaching and learning is.....
1. Twitter! Duh!! Twitter contributes to my professional development EVERY day. I learn something from Twitter every time I log in. I hope this tool will be around for a very long time!

Senduit

Ok, this is going to be a mini-post with a big payoff... Senduit is a great site to share large files. I used it to send a movie file to Colorado and to send a large Power Point presentation to Japan. Upload the file to the web site and then Senduit stores it and sends a temporary link for forwarding to the receiver. It's best for a quick exchange of large files. Love!

miPhone

It had me at "Hello." Ever since I saw the first iPhone promo, I knew that we were destined to be together.

So, I had been going to visit my future iPhone every now and then in Shadyside and at South Hills Village Mall--just to reinforce my love. Last weekend I decided to stop and visit while doing some last minute Christmas shopping and some magnetic force led me over to the AT&T store to inquire about my current phone plan. After a few small changes, I switched my plan and I now am paying $20 less a month than with my former plan. Of course it doesn't take a math wizard to realize that after 2 years, the phone could almost pay for itself with the new plan... Sooooo, with numbers on my side, I promptly walked right back to my friends at Mac and grabbed the iPhone, a case, and the Protection Plan. A worthy investment.

I think the touch screen is the most impressive feature of the iPhone--it's like a mini SmartBoard that dubs as a phone. It's very intuitive and quickly corrects any miscued tapping. The second best feature is the fact that is pairs well with my car. All I have to do is have the phone on in my car and say, "Call. Mom." and it dials my mom's phone number. Even though any well-equipped blue-tooth phone would do this, it just seems so much more impressive with the iPhone. The immediate access to email, videos, searching, weather, etc., is an information-seeker's dream.

I am now completely connected. I've been able to answer random trivia questions, give up-to-minute sports scores, and text much faster than ever before. This "Junior Baby" is a welcome addition to my professional development and quest for immediate knowledge!!

Digital Storytelling with Kindergarten

As a final activity for our author study of Mo Williams (and before our "field trip" to see him speak at the Carnegie Library this Saturday), the kindergarteners had to write another adventure for Knuffle Bunny. They used the given paper frame to tell a story about what might happen to their Knuffle Bunny.

After telling the story with a picture, we scanned their illustration and students recorded their story using Voice Thread. It was amazing to see that they have such a sense of language and use the same strategies they teach in writing in first grade like having a beginning/middle/end, using dialog and incorporating story elements like "Once upon a time."

Afternoon Kindergarten is just about done:


Morning Kindergarten-Mrs. Heisey's class:


Morning Kindergarten-Miss Stefurak's class: (work in progress)

NetTrekker

Kevin Conner AIU3 and Dawn Crawford, NetTrekker consultant

-Can save searches

-Click + to expand results--games, images, maps/charts, etc.

-Narrow Your Subject

-Can use promethean planet resouces even without a promethean board

-Dictionary key for students to be able to click on any word and linked to the definition. Can also link to translations.

-Read aloud button to have the web pages read to you--can change the speed of the read aloud voice

-can change web pages to Spanish/different languages

-use Google Earth to create virtual tours--make a saved search (save in a folder--be specific with file folder name)...

-utilize NetTrekker training materials

crm.nettrekker.com/training/pennsylvania **

Includes Power Points (1hr or 3hr), how to get the "Ken Burns" effect, etc.,

-EarthTrekker--use NetTrekker resources to upload and hyperlink to Google Earth

-if you are in IU3, create a new account--can get in touch with Kevin Conner if user name/password is forgotten...or can create a new account

Three Rivers Educational Technology Conference

Over 150 educators and district technology directors attended the Three Rivers Educational Technology Conference yesterday at the Regional Alliance Learning Center in Cranberry. The venue was beautiful, the sessions were practical and the casual discussions were insightful.

Discovery's own Lance Rouguex was the dynamic keynote speaker. Complete with a Steelers tie and jersey, he focused on second-language learners--not students trying to learn English, but teachers who must learn text talk of students and the ed tech lingo that continues to change. We tried to "translate" some emoticons like 3:-o is a cow and <) as pizza. Who knew there were so many! Check out transl8it.com to change lingo to "plain English!"

To learn a new language, teachers need time, professional development, and an IEP. : ) Lance's IEP included a list of 5 suggestions for educators trying to weave their way though texting and new lingo:
1. Read Lauren Myracle books--ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r
2. Read blogs once a week to stay on top of current technologies
3. Become familiar with Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators-blogs, lists and resources
4. Participate in free online professional development-the DEN webinars are easy to attend
(Lance reminded the group of the upcoming webinar with Daniel Pink, author of "A Whole New Mind," on December 12.)
5. Finally, when worse comes to worse, AAK (Ask a Kid!).

You can check out his notes and the whole presentation here.

Despite the craziness of paper work within the district, it was a day well-spent with other STAR DEN members, some of the PA Leadership Council and others who are equally passionate about educational technology.


Here are some of my sketchy notes from the breakout sessions.

Digital Storytelling
Peter Scott
Resources here

http://www.moonk.com/ slideshow, video, or jukebox view for sharing stories
-can upload pix or video (This was actually from Lance, too.)

4 Phases of digital storytelling
(PhotoStory3 was used as a platform)
1. Preparation-define purpose, create a storyboard, collect and store media in a central location (use AFI story board)
http://www.clusty.com/ as a search engine
http://www.answers.com/
http://www.airset.com/--similar to Google Groups
http://www.pics4learning.com/ --pix for educational use

2. Development—editing media, import to tool, arrange, organize, record narrations
http://docs.google.com/
Approx 150 word for element.

3. Customization—customize slides, special effects, wrap-up

4. Culmination—present, teacher evaluation, self-appraisal, publish
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/ --create rubrics (can save as an url)
http://story.e2bn.net/index.php



Weblog Literacy
http://www.charlesyoungs.com/
click on media
Class blog n. a collaborative blog of teacher and students designed to evoke and extend study and discussion of a class

Check for understanding
Clarify
Extend
Re-teach

-authentic audience fo peer for writing
-all-inclusive, inter-class dialogue
-media and use standards and enttiquette protocols
-Analysis-Synthesis-Evaluation of texts
Asynchronous Dialogue Process of BLogging—chart
Communication Respect Focus
-as homework assignment-use broad prompts that interest students
-use online art exhibits

Introduce, insert, interpret—better research and collaboration skills

Assessment
Focus
Text support
Research
Critical thinking
Perception

Students using rhetorical questions for the group
Inviting conversation—“I don’t know how others were feeling”


netTrekker
(See next post) I just took notes on the blog while I was in the session!