Friday, December 19, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Technolgy Updates November 21, 2008
Here are the latest updates from the world of FHS technology
1. SOIN has resolved the problem that was causing grades /assignments to not save.
2. Safari Montage is currently not working on the Mac notebooks. NORT2H, our consortium that is coordinating this site, is in the process of working with Safari Montage to resolve this problem. Safari Montage does work with PCs and Internet Explorer - if there are videos that you would like to be using, I can help you play them. The playlists are still there - even if we don't see them. This problem occurred after Tuesday when NORT2H did some updates. IF you are using it on your PC- it may work, it may not work.
3. We now have a FHS Technology Board. The board is made up of myself, Kim Armstrong, Gayle Dill, Rose Mary Young, Chris Kaminski and Kevin Liptrap. We will be meeting twice monthly and will be working on grant writing, making technology purchasing decisions, providing peer tech support and recognition and evaluating possible new technology for the building. This committee is a part of the FHS Technology Plan that I have developed with Kevin.
4. Chris Kaminski, Gayle Dill and I are a part of the district Website Redesign Committee, We will be working over the next 3 months to create a new, more accessible, more user friendly web page for our district. The new page software also allows multiple users at different authorization levels to edit or upload materials to the page. This is very exciting and I am looking forward to the scheduled rolling out the new page by the end of this school year. To see a sample of the type of site we will be working on developing, check out the Independence School Site -http://www.independence.k12.oh.us/
5. The district is moving toward a paperless environment. Part of this plan is the creation of e-forms. These electronic forms will be available on the e-school mall site - so you will be able to login, access a form and submit it electronically. Examples of the forms that will be available include sick leave , personal leave, conference requests - and any other form that needs some kind of authorization. We are also going to be working on putting our building level forms on the website - these forms would be available to parents and students - and would include field trip and vacation forms, technology acceptable use forms and college visit forms.
6. Chris Kaminski is working on developing the ability to live stream video - this will allow us to put live sporting events on the webpage.
7. The Shared Drives (xserve2/ teachers or students or building forms or copiers), will soon be accessible from home. This will allow you to access documents you have saved at school from home. Something we have been requesting for a long time. The site will be security protected, so you will be able to use it safely not only at home but from public WI-Fi locations. Just a note, if for some reason you can't see your teacher drive on your laptop, if you go to FINDER - then GO - the CONNECT TO SERVER - then pick xserve2 - it will show you all the shared drives - Teacher, Student, Copiers, Building Forms - hi-light the one you want and then hit connect.
8. Just a reminder - the strap on the laptop bags that were provided to you may come unhooked unexpectedly. Mark Kostur is contacting the manufacturer to come up with a solution. In the short term, either remove the strap from your bag, or use duct tape and wrap the hook so it doesn't pop open or use plastic zip ties to connect it to the loop on the bag.
9. Michelle Kocar has begun to plan some technology inservice time for our inservice day at the end of the semester. I am working with her on developing this time - you will have some choices of sessions to attend - more details will follow.
10. More teachers are starting to use the video conferencing capabilities we have. Ryan Graff's Art students are going to be participating in a discussion on art and Apartheid in South Africa. Dave Latkovic has formed a partnership with a teacher at Lorain LVS, Colleen Sliwinski's Anatomy and Physiology students have been participating in a series of live surgery broadcasts from the Cleveland Clinic and Gayle Dill and Janice Baker combined FHS and LFM students to participate in a discussion with a Young Adult author about the creative writing process. We can also host our own activities and search for lesson partners in the broader tech world. If you would like to do a class program like this, or would like to learn more about it - please talk with me - it is easier than it seems.
11. I will be talking with those of you who indicated on my tech survey that you would be interested in being a possible peer mentor. Please don't run away if you see me at your door :)
12. Don't forget to check out the resources and info on my blog http://edtechgirl.blogspot.com
13. Finally - Kevin has created a Principal's blog -which he is going to be updating each week. It is accessible from the FHS homepage on the district or directly from http://fhsliptrap.blogspot.com You can post a comment for Kevin by clicking on the word "comment" at the bottom of the blog posting.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Linda Darling Hammond Collaborative Classrooms
This is a video interview with Seymour Papert.
He is talking about Project Based Learning.
We are looking at ways to continue to be a school of excellence - these two approaches to learning are receiving a lot of attention world wide as our society begins to look at the best way to educate students for the 21st Century.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
FHS Has the Opportunity to Be A Pilot School
Fairview High School has the opportunity to participate in an exciting pilot plan that is being funded by the ODE. This plan will also tie into our Mosaic Project objectives by helping to address the performance and learning of all students in our building. Anne Dance, Kathy Ingersoll, Jenny Parente, Michelle Kocar and I had a chance to attend an informational meeting at the ODE in September. The following is a summary of what we learned at this meeting.
The ODE Plan
To select pilot schools across the state who will help to develop common assessments to be used for 11/12 graders in English, Science and Math. These assessments will be a combination of formative (portfolios, hands- projects) and summative (end of unit ). The purpose is to create assessments that actually measure the kinds of skills we want students to have upon graduation rather than assessments that are based on memorization – but no application. The goal is to move away from OGT style testing. Additionally, the ODE is looking at streamlining indicators by grade level to allow teachers to cover a smaller amount of information at a greater depth. All of this is coming out of the studies being done by Stanford University and Linda Darling Hammond through their Envision Schools model and the feedback that businesses and colleges have provided to the state board of education.(See below)
Ohio State School Board Initiative
To see more on this initiative, visit their website
• Ohio School Board focus on assessment – looking at the difference between memorization and mastery and performance ability
• Education in the global economy committee – looking at connections between the business community and our education system – predicting 21st century skill set- created a top 10 list
1. Critical thinking and problem solving – applied knowledge
2. Mastery of rigorous academic content – literacy and content
3. Innovative and creative thinking – entrepreneur skills
4. Communication skills – oral and written
5. Team learning and interpersonal skills
6. Alignment w/ education and economic development
7. Personal responsibility and work ethic – life long learning and financial literacy
8. Global awareness – culture and language – history economics and geography
9. Communication bridge pre k-13
10. Teacher education and preparation – prof development and support to provide skills for helping with mastery and content development
• The end result was addressing how the current assessment system needed to be changed to meet these 10 objectives
Susan Zelman- State Superintendent
She outlined the ideas behind this pilot program which was created in response to the School Board's initiative.
• Moral responsibility to offer students multiple ways to share what they know
• Our standards need to be clearer, higher and fewer and benchmarked against international best practices
• We are piloting this program with the potential for more investment by the Gates Foundation in Ohio
• International systems do a better job of connecting the state assessment with what actually goes on in the classroom – and involve teachers in creating multiple measures of student performance – and the scoring of these assessments – building on the ability of teachers to improve assessment and learning in the classroom – making students who are college and workforce ready
o SHOULD OHIO PHASE OUT OGT
o SHOULD WE MOVE TOWARD SUBJECT TESTS
o SHOULD WE EMBED PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT
o SHOULD WE HAVA A PROJECT BASED COMPONENT
o SHOULD WE ELIMINATE THE TECH DIVIDE
o CAN WE DEVELOP PROJECT BASED LEARNING
o CAN WE USE TECH TO DEVELOP ASSESSMENT
o CAN WE DEVELOP PORTFOLIOS THAT WILL TRACK WITH STUDENTS
• State evaluating embed performance assessment in 11 and 12 grade in math, science and English
• How do achieve a balance between teacher based assessment and state assessment
Monday, October 13, 2008
Technology Survey
By the way, I created this survey using the new FORMS tool in GOOGLE DOCS. You can create your own surveys or test reviews using this tool - and the results will be tabulated for you and presented in a graphic format - as well as being saved on an excel spreadsheet.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Mac Training Week 2 Notes
On our second day of Mac training we worked with Garage Band, iPhoto and the Apple Learning Institute. We discovered that we have hidden vocal talent on the staff! Please post to this blog and share how you are using your mac tools in class. Kathy Ingersoll is using iChat to connect with students across the world. Pete Maienknecht is going to use the picture book function of iPhoto to do a lesson on the battle of Gettysburg. Kim Armstrong wrote a slope rap and performed it via podcast with her classes - then gave the kids an option to write their own. Dave LeBrun is emailing his tests to the ESL tutor who can open them on her macbook and use the text reader function to read the test to the students. What are you doing?
Click here for the notes from the second session of our Mac Training
Friday, September 12, 2008
Mac Training Week 1 Notes
Link to notes on Mac Training Week 1
Monday, September 8, 2008
Teacher of the Year Stop 4 Ft. Moultrie Sullivan's Island, South Carolina
South Carolina is called the Palmetto State in part because of the fort that is over my left shoulder. Fort Moultrie was first constructed of palmetto logs and was key to the defense of Charleston Harbor during the first British attack during the Revolutionary War. The fiberous palmetto logs were able to absorb the impact of the cannon balls without breaking or splintering. This fort also saw duty during the Civil War and was refitted for coastal defense for the Spanish American War and WWII. A few other interesting side facts about this area. Chief Osceola of the Seminole tribe was imprisoned here and is buried outside the fort-except for his head, which was removed by his doctor at the time of his death and taken to New York City where it eventually was burned in a building fire! Also, this island was used as a pest house during the 1700s and 1800s. Slave ships bound for Charleston would unload their human cargo on Sullivan's Island to quarrantine the living and bury the dead in mass graves. Edgar Allan Poe's short story, The Gold Bug, was written while he was based here as a soldier.
So, how does this stop tie into how to be a great classroom teacher? I think that we can be more like palmetto forts when it comes to absorbing changes that we are presented with during our careers. Through my 20 years of teaching I have had to accomodate changes in special education law, technology, student attitudes and backgrounds, curriculum styles and standardized testing. I have made the transition from a junior high teacher to a middle school teacher to a high school teacher and a technology integration specialist. The only way to absorb these changes and stay at least slightly sane is to find ways to tie the new ideas into you existing knowledge and experience base without scrapping everything and starting over again. This is what has happened at Fort Moultrie, the existing structure incorporated the pieces of the previous forts, building on the solid foundation that was there but adding new defenses and equipment to make the fort more stable and better suited to handle changing weapons technology and warfare tactics.
Sometimes it is hard to see the upside. That is where technology comes in. Teachers can find a wide variety of ideas, help sites and resources on the web that can help them to adjust to changes that they face each year. If you are one of those teachers who needs a little help seeing the positives , you might be interested in checking out the following sites:
Special Education and Inclusion
Dealing with special children in your classroom
Dealing with alternative assessments and monitoring progress of special needs students
Dealing with GT, ADHD and other alphabet letter students
Technology Integration
Using the Mac - basic skills
Distance Learning opportunities for your classroom or professional development
Teacher Resources for Integrating Technology
Ohio Treasure Chest of Tech Resources - by grade and standard
OGT and OAT and Teaching with Standards
OGT Success website includes sample questions and tests as well a data
Tool to align state indicators with curriculum
Creating standards based lessons
Ohio Resource Center of lessons that are standards based
D3A2 Teacher Resource Center - you will need to create an account using your school email address, then you can search the resource center to find standardized based lessons and resources
Diversity in the Classroom
Resource links for dealing with diversity
The Diversity Web
Creating a diversity based curriculum
Teaching Tolerance homepage
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Mini Classes
All classes will be from 2:50- 3:25 in Char’s classroom. Please bring your laptop with you.
Char’s Tech Mini Class Schedule for the Week of 9/2
9/2 Using My Mac – a beginner session
9/4 Using Microsoft Office 2008 – some helpful hints for Word and PowerPoint
Char’s Tech Mini Class Schedule for the Week of 9/8
9/8 Using Google Docs to collaborate with staff or share documents with students
9/9 Using Google Calendar
9/10 Using Jing to make a narrated presentation you can use in class
9/11 Using the Smartboard in the library classroom ( this class is in the library classroom)
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Setting Up Your Own Blog
For more help, try this site:
http://help.blogger.com/ Help at Blogger.com
Friday, August 22, 2008
Technology Update for August 22, 2008
I am available to help you with technology and curriculum integration 1*-5* period and after school. I will be posting a mini-inservice schedule for the next few weeks on this blog over the weekend, as well as on the bulletin board in the FHS office. These will be short, after school sessions on blogging, using an online quiz generator, new features available in Office 2008, the Distance Learning Lab and SOIN. All of these sessions will be in the A248 lab (as long as the air conditioning is working )
Here is a quick update for all of you on the state of technology in our buildings.
Projector Ghosting
Everyone should be receiving a Line Driver device that you will use with your new notebooks - it must be plugged into an outlet - then your projector adaptor plugs into the end marked "to computer" and your VGA cord (the cable that connects the notebook to the raceway) gets plugged into the end marked "to display device" . On the back side of the driver is a small slide switch marked "normal medium maximum" Slide the switch to "maximum" This device will help clean up the signal your notebook is sending to the projector and should eliminate and ghosting that we were experiencing last year. Please let me or Laura know next Friday if you haven't received a driver yet.
VCR/DVD units
The RCA VCR/DVD units were not replaced over the Summer. They are all going to be replaced with new DVD/Tuner units, but as of this time Mark Kostur does not have a definite timeline for when this is going to occur. The tuner function should still be working on all of the units. I personally would not put any video tapes into the unit - this is the component that is consistently malfunctioning - and it will eat your tape. The only way to get it out is to take the whole unit apart. The district is now subscribing to Safari Montage, a great online "video" source that will allow you to stream videos through your notebook as project them onto your screens. You can also play DVDs through your notebook. (remember, the eject button is the small up arrow with a line under it at the top right of your keyboard)
Sound and Speakers
USCOMM came into the building over the Summer and replaced ALL of the 3.5 stereo mini cable jacks in the ceilings and in the raceways. These are the jacks that look like a headphone plug. IF you still aren't getting any sound or unbalanced sound from your ceiling speakers, please let Laura or I know asap. To prevent static and feedback, do not leave the 3.5 stereo mini cable plugged into the raceway if you are not playing sound through it.
SmartBoard
After next week, there will be a smartboard set up in the Library classroom. You can sign up to use that nice, air conditioned space and do a lesson with the smartboard! I will be offering training on how to use it starting after Labor Day.
Distance Learning Lab
Our distance learning lab is up and running for the new year. I will be spotlighting opportunities you will have to participate in discussion sessions and virtual fieldtrips. I also encourage you to look at the partnership opportunities that are available on the LCDLC website.
This is the resource page http://www.lcdlc.org/resources.htm
This is the calendar of DL opportunities including a bulletin board listing of teachers who are looking for classrooms to collaborate with
http://www.pageflakes.com/LCDLC.Ohio/12258169/
We will also be participating in their DL staff development sessions again this year - a number of you took advantage of this last spring. This is the schedule for the upcoming classes
http://www.lcdlc.org/TechnologyToolbox.htm
I will also be taking another group of teachers to their DL bootcamp training sessions this year - the teachers who went last year learned a lot of new skills and enjoyed the sessions. The sessions this year will be on December 13 and January 31. You must attend both full day sessions. If you are interested in learning more about Distance Learning and would like to be a part of these sessions, let me know.
I will be maintaining the calendar for reserving the DL lab. It will be on Google Docs so you will all have access to it.
Student Responders
There are two sets of student responders that will be available for sign out through the library once we get settled in for the new school year. There will be a full inservice training on them in October, but if you have already used them and would like to start signing them out, see Rose Mary or Julie in the library.
SOIN
As of 10:00am on August 22 – class lists were not loaded into the SOIN system. Mark Kostur is working with Sunita from SOIN to accomplish this. Once the class lists are posted, I will be available to help anyone who needs a refresher on using SOIN or who would like to use SOIN for assignments and grading rather than just attendance. I do have a few resources available to you at http://fpsdtech.rwlo.org in the “how to resources” folder. This folder also has the directions for eschool mall, Aesop and Special Ed Net.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Quick Reference for Mac
Web Resources
Mac 101 – a website designed for PC users who are using Mac for the first time. It includes directions and help sections for all parts of Apple i-Life including i-movie, i-DVD, i-Pictures AND sections on using the Mac platform including how to set up basic functions on Mac, like the “dock” and using the Finder.
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/
Apple Learning Interchange – an Apple sponsored collaborative site for teachers that allows you to create an account, access lesson resources posted by other teachers and add your own.
Basic Equipment
Checking battery life – on the bottom of the notebook near the front left corner, there is an inset button. If you press it, green bars will light up and show you the battery charge status.
Once the notebook is on, there will be a battery icon in the top right corner of your screen which will show you the charge level. Click in to show % or time left on the charge – percentage is more accurate. It is ok to let the battery run down to 10% before plugging in your notebook.
Power Cord – plugs in magnetically on the left side of the notebook near the screen. It has an extender that can be used with it – To use it, you need to slide off the power prong unit from the power pack and slide in the end of the extender.
USB - There are two USB ports on the left side of the notebook
Projector Adaptor – The port for the projector adapter is on the left side of the notebook next to the power adapter
Fire Wire – there is one port for a fire wire cable on the left side of the notebook
Mic and Headphone Jacks – located on the left side of the notebook
Inventory tag – there is red inventory tag on the bottom of your notebook. Use this number whenever you are requesting maintenance or have a problem with your notebook.
Main Desktop Screen
Upper right corner (from left to right )
Home Sync
Time Machine ( lets you back up your hard drive)
Bluetooth active indicator
Airport (wireless access – check status and change servers)
Volume
Battery charge levels
Day and Time
Spotlight – this function allows you to do a search of EVERYTHING you do on this computer – including mail , images, webpages you have in favorites and documents.
Upper left corner (from left to right)
Apple icon
System Preferences
Personal – Appearance,Desktop,Dock,Expose, International, Security, Spotlight - USE THIS SETTING TO CHANGE THE APPEARANCE and LOCATION of your DOCK and to change your WALL PAPER and SCREEN SAVER
Hardware – Bluetooth, CDs/DVDs,Displays,Energy Saver, Keyboard/Mouse,Print/Fax, Sound
Internet and Network - .MAC, Network, Quicktime, Sharing
System – Accounts, Date/Time, Parental Controls, Software Update,Speech, Start Up disk, Time Machine,Universal Access – TIME MACHINE allows you to back up your hard drive to a series of CD roms, a portable hard drive or a large jump drive.
Dock – allows you to change the dock size, location and preferences. The dock is the equivalent of having software shortcuts on your desktop. Little dots will show up next to or under the icons on the dock to let you know that the program is still open and running in the background. To exit a program, you can click on it at the top left of the screen, then select quit or you can hold down Command and Q.
Force Quit – use this instead of control-alt-delete to shut down a program that has frozen or locked up.
Sleep, Restart, Shutdown and Log Out
Finder (also a little square smile face in your dock) Finder only appears when you are looking at your desktop with no other programs open, it will be replaced in the top tool bar by the name of the most recent program you have open on your notebook – for example, Word.
Hardware – shows you the hard drive and any other hardware you have installed
Shared – shows any servers you are connected to
Places
Desktop – shows all things that you have on your desktop
Your computer – will all files and programs that are associated with your login on this laptop
Documents – shows you all documents – just like “my documents” on a pc
Applications – THIS IS THE LIST OF ALL OF YOUR PROGRAMS. You can drag the icons for any program from this list onto your dock so that you have a short cut for it.
Search For - allows you to search most recent work, images, documents - just like FIND on a pc. This is different than the SPOTLIGHT function – which searches all resources and files associated with the notebook.
Mouse – You can use a USB mouse as an add on. The notebook comes with a finger pad and a click bar. To “RIGHT CLICK” on the mouse, hold down the CONTROL key and then click on the BAR.
Hard Drive Icon – Top right corner of the desktop – Clicking on this will open the FINDER and allow you to see Applications (programs) that are available to you.
Window Functions –
Red Dot – closes window
Yellow Dot – minimizes window and it will appear on the far right or bottom of your dock as a little icon
Green Dot – maximizes window in its space – you have to drag the corner of the window if you want it to fill the entire screen.
Connecting to the Internet –
You have the option of using Firefox or Safari. Firefox is a little more user friendly. Try them both and see which one you like.
Firefox – you may want to download the latest edition from the internet. First, open Applications and then drag Firefox to the garbage can on the dock. Second, open Safari on your notebook. Go to http://en-us.www.mozilla.com/en-US/ and click “download firefox free” You will need to click on the picture of firefox that opens on your screen once this starts – then click on the computer picture – downloading looks a little different on the mac than it does on a pc. Restart firefox once you have done this.
Ejecting Disk – there are two ways to eject disk from your notebook. You can drag the icon for the disk into the garbage can on your dock. You can also hit the button at the top right of the keyboard that looks like an up arrow with a line under it.
Shortcuts
“command” replaces “control” on the pc – so any control + letter key will work on the Mac if you use command + letter
command + c copy
command + v paste
command + s save
command + p print
command + b bold
command + x cut
command + a select all
command + k hyperlink
command + option + eject sleep
command + q quit
command + tab toggle back a forth between applications ( ex. Word and safari)
command + shift + 3 screen capture
command + shift + 4 selective screen capture
command + control + eject (top right corner of keyboard) restart machine
command +option + escape use when machine is frozen – like control alt delete
Office 2008
The notebooks are loaded with Office 2008 – which looks and acts a little differently than 2003 or 2007. IT IS IMPORTANT that you go into Word, Powerpoint and Excel for the first time and set your “save” preferences.
To do this – open one of the office components – ex Word.
On the top bar menu you see on the desktop – click on WORD
Now click on PREFERENCES
Now click on SAVE
Now choose SAVE WORD FILES AS - Word 97-2004 .doc
Save
You will need to do this for each of the Office components only once – If you don’t do this – people who do not have Office 2008 will not be able to open your documents.
One other difference you will notice in Word is the FORMATTING PALETTE.
It opens when you open Word – you can also find it at the top of the Word screen labeled as the TOOLBOX icon. This is a floating tool – so you can drag it anywhere you want on the screen. It replaces the toolbar that you are used to seeing at the top of a Word or Powerpoint screen.
Another feature you might like is the Notebook view – Under VIEW, select NOTEBOOK and your document will appear like a spiral notebook – complete with section tabs on the sides, a date and a space for a title.
Clip Art is under INSERT – PICTURE – CliP ART There does seem to be a limited number of clip art items – but you can also access them online and import them as well.
Elements Gallery – Under VIEW select ELEMENTS GALLERY – this will allow you to see pre made templates, SmartArt and WordArt
Fairview Mail – follow these directions to do the initial set up
Click on the MAIL icon in the DOCK
Type in your email and password
INCOMING MAIL SERVER set the following:
IMAP
Your email address
mail.fairview.k12.oh.us
username ( yours)
password (yours)
OUTGOING MAIL SERVER set the following
Server Fairview IMAP
mail.fairview.k12.oh.us
CHECK use authentication
Username (yours)
Password (yours)
Continue
MAILBOX opens –
Under MAIL at the top – select PREFERENCES
Select ACCOUNTS
Select ADVANCED
UNCHECK USE SSL
Select Account Information
Under Fairview IMAP
Select Edit Server list
Select Advanced
UNCHECK SSL box
Close
Once you have set this, it will take a few seconds, but it should find your mail and populate your mailbox.
You can also subscribe to websites that have RSS feeds through your mail. For example, If you go to http://edtechgirl.blogspot.com, you will see RSS at the end of the URL bar. IF you click RSS, any updates to my blog will automatically appear in your mailbox as a hyperlink to the new blog entry.
Fairview.k12.oh.us/webmail will still work to access your email - even from your notebook.
Folders for Email – you will need to use the Fairview.k12.oh.us/webmail site to set up folders. Login and then click FOLDERS and then TYPE IN NEW FOLDER NAME – Click CREATE then CLICK REFRESH FOLDER LIST. Now when you go into the MAIL icon on your notebook, you will see the folders you created. To put an email message into the folder, hold down the mouse button and DRAG the email to the folder you have selected – you will be able to see it in MAIL and in the FAIRVIEW.K12.OH.US/WEBMAIL accounts.
Adding addresses to the address book
Your notebook should have a file on the desktop called “staff email directory.csv”, if not, email cshryock@fairview.k12.oh.us and I will send it to you as an attachment.
Click on the Address Book Icon on the Dock
Choose FILE
Click IMPORT
Click TEXT FILE
Choose DESKTOP and Staff email directory
In ADDRESS BOOK LAYOUT for staff email directory select FIRST LAST
Go up to EMAIL WORK
DO NOT IMPORT
GO DOWN TO JOB TITLE and Click IMPORT
Under FILE you can new create a new card (contact) or group
To add names to a group, drag and drop the names from the contact list to the group
Delete group is found in the EDIT function
To import additional addresses from your other accounts, create and export file on the account site, choose CSV as the format –if it only offers you a text option, save it to the desktop as text, open it and do as SAVE AS and change it to .csv – then open it as EXCEL to see what the categories are (last name, first name etc.) because these will have to match what you enter into the ADDRESS BOOK import fields.
Setting up iChat ( the movie camera icon ) This is an instant messenger function that will also work with Google Talk (at home only) and AIM.
Create the account by selecting JABBER
Account name is your login@fairview.k12.oh.us
Password is your district password
To add buddies to communicate with, use the + sign at the bottom left corner. Buddy names are the district mail address – for example cshryock@fairview.k12.oh.us
Use the tool icons at the bottom to pick an option to communicate
A is a text chat
Phone is a voice chat
Camera is a video chat (you can have fun effects with this)
Boxes is a screen share so someone else can see your screen
You can chat with multiple buddies at one time.
Using Wireless Access
The school server network (SSID) is FPSW.
When you go to a Wi-Fi hotspot, like Panera where it is free, when you click on Safari or Firefox a box will open up and show you the available networks and ask you if you want to join – choose the network – if you have multiple choices just click on them until you find one that works.
Some hotels and Wi-Fi locations charge for internet access. You will still get the network list, but in addition it will ask you to type in the password.
Finally, some locations offer internet access but you have to logon to an internet site with the password they provide you.
Backing Up Your Data
You have some options for backing up your work.
Burn to a CD or DVD using –R format disks. To burn a CD, hold down control and the click bar
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Teacher of the Year Stop #3 Brown's Dairy Dock
Click on this link to see the full size presentation or click through the slides below
- Internet for Classrooms resources for Differentiated Instruction
- Eight Lessons Learned About Differentiated Instruction
- Find out your own learning style - or log on and let your students try
- Carol Ann Tomlinson article on differentiation - the be all end all expert on this topic
- ASCD article by Carol Ann Tomlinson about standards based teaching and differentiating
Would you like to learn more about alternative assessment:
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Teacher of the Year Stop #2 Digging Into Education
- Online Professional Development Videos http://www.learner.org/
- Ohio Teachers Continuing Education http://www.ohioteacherscontinuingeducation.com/
- eTech Professional Development http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/os/technology/plan/2004/site/stories/edlite-Columbus.html
Monday, June 16, 2008
Teacher of the Year Stop #1 The Winking Lizard
Stop 1 The Winking Lizard Tavern in Avon,Ohio
After winning the award, I celebrated with my family at the Winking Lizard. We had fun at dinner. Everyone wanted their picture taken with me and my plaque. My family made a lot of sacrifices this year because of the hours I was putting in on the job. I really appreciated all of their support!
In education it is important to celebrate success, whether it is in your classroom, with an individual student, a professional accomplishment or a school accomplishment. I have found that it is so easy to got caught up in the daily tide of activity that I often forget to stop and focus on what went right that day. This coming year I am going to keep a professional journal to help me keep track of what was good about a lesson, a unit, interaction with my peers or with my students, some new idea I had or something new I learned. On those days when I am wondering if I have accomplished anything at all, I can pull out my journal and remember all the good things about being a teacher. On those days when I am sitting at home working on a new lesson or unit, I can open my journal and look back through my brainstorming ideas. Journals can be kept electronically by creating a blog or using Google Docs or in a notebook. If you want to find out more about journaling, try the following links:
http://www.infed.org/research/keeping_a_journal.htm
http://journaling-portal.com/journaling-your-work.php
http://teacher-mentorship.suite101.com/article.cfm/five_minute_activity_for_teachers
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/509381/journal_writing_for_the_new_and_experienced.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/topic/37655/journal_writing.html?cat=4
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
An Apple a Day for Teachers In the 21st Century Classroom
The laptops will come loaded with Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint, Word and Excel. There are some differences in how these programs look in Apple but not on how they perform. Files teachers create on a PC should open on the Mac and vice versa. The laptops will also have wireless capabilities, so they can be used in most locations in the HS/MS complex. There may be deadspots in the HS music wing and in the back of the HS phys. ed. wing. Teachers will also be able to use the built in camera to make video blogs, movies with their students and have visual and audio conferences with other staff members.
For those teachers who are not familiar with Apple or the Apple tools like Apple Mail, Garage Band, I-Movie and other I-Life Tools and Jabber Chat that will be used next year, there are easy to use Apple Tutorials online at Mac101. These are step by step visual guides to using a Mac written for PC users who are transitioning to the Mac Platform.
Teachers who are familiar with Google Tools (see the April Posting "What's Up Docs") will be able to access Google Tools from their new Mac. They may also want to install the Google Toolbar on their new laptop, keeping in mind that the laptops will be using Mozilla Firefox instead of Internet Explorer as the web browser. One of the nice features of the Google Tool Bar is the Bookmarks option. This allows you to save web "favorites", label and sort them and even share them with others. Just like any of the other Google Tools, the Bookmark feature will travel with you on any computer that you are using, as long as you login to your Google Account. You can also do a Google Search directly from the toolbar without opening the Google homepage.
The technology changes that are being made over the next two years are a part of our district's plan to integrate the national education technology movement called The Twenty First Century Classroom into our curriculum and into the learning environment we are providing to our students.
Keep in mind that even the shiniest apples can have a worm hiding inside. There will be some challenges for all of us in making the transition at the HS/MS from a mostly PC environment to a Mac environment. But, I know that the staff of Fairview High School and Lewis F. Mayer Middle school are certainly up to the challenge. We will be learning together how to live the I-Life in our classrooms. Teachers across the world are using these tools in their classroom lesson plans. Apple also recognizes teachers who are using their technology in new and innovative ways. To read more about this, go to their Distinguished Educator Showcase.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Nettrekker Workshop Notes
7:45-8:00/12:10 - 12:25 Introduction to Nettrekker - create accounts
8:00- 8:30/ 12:25-12:55 Overview of the Nettrekker functions
8:30-9:00/ 12:55- 1:25 Time to experiment with Nettrekker
9:00 - 9:30/1:25- 1:55 Presentation on additional resources available through our
library and through Google Tools
9:30 -10:15/ 1:55- 2:40 Time to try out the tools you have learned about
PowerPoint For Nettrekker Inservice - view it below, or click HERE to go to the powerpoint itself - you can even download it onto your computer if you need to from that site.
Click on students, then library
Student resources – arranged by subjects, testing, careers and additional resources. Gayle is happy to bookmark resource sites that you would like the students to have access to from this site.
General References – where the data bases are listed. They are used more often than non-fiction books. Some are through Infohio , OPLIN and College Link. Some we subscribe to through the district. The data bases are listed in alphabetical order.
Ebsco and Sirs Discoverer are periodicals – Ebsco has a professional journal section. There will be some data base changes for next year – but there will still be the same kinds of information available. You do need a password to access these from HOME. You do not need a password at school.
The Gale Data bases, including Student Resource Center Gold – has professional references as well as student references. We also subscribe to 11 online books including Opposing View Points. You can search all of the resources or pick a single resource within the collection to search.
School Rooms – a new product created by librarians within Ohio. It is arranged by rooms. Each room is broken down by subtopics. You can search at this level by choosing everything or best of the web ( which ties into the infohio data bases and eventually the school’s online catalog) IF you use the explore the room search tree that will open along the left side of the screen, you can narrow down the search and get fewer, more specific hits, on the best of the web options that it shows you.
My blog on Google Docs and other Google Tools is available on this blog site - scroll down to What's Up Docs to read about this and find links to other google tools.
Resource Links for Today's Inservice
- Nettrekker Home Login Page
- Nettrekker Tutorial Videos
- Google Scholar - search journals articles only
- District Web Page
- D3A2 Teacher Resource Page - create a free user account, use your school login as your user name for this page.
- Ohio Resource Center - science, math and language arts
- Teacher's Domain - science and engineering resources including video and interactive lessons, requires free registration ( do show up in Nettrekker Searches)
- Annenberg Foundation - free video resources in all subject areas - requires free registration
- Ohio Treasure Chest - online resources grouped by subject area, state standard and type of activities available on the site.
- Infohio Resources - need our school passwords
Sunday, April 20, 2008
What's Up Docs? Using Google Docs in Your Classroom
Google is now also able to organize and store your words too. And, this is the best part, you can now share your documents, spread sheets and powerpoints with anyone you choose to. This can be your students, teachers in your department, committees you are working with, teams you coach and groups you advise. You can even create new material right on the site. This application is called Google Docs. First, you need to have a free Gmail account, which will allow you to set up a Google Docs account. Once you have a Gmail account, you can create a free Google Docs account. Below is a short powerpoint explaining the basics of Google Docs. The hyperlinks in it are clickable and will take you to the start up page for a google account and for google docs - (as will the links in the preceding paragraph) If you would like to print out the powerpoint or see it enlarged, click HERE.
Our district is also in the process of establishing a Fairview Google Page, which will allow you to access Google Docs using your Fairview login. Our students can use Google Docs to access their work at home or at school. Because it can be used to create word documents, spread sheets and powerpoints on the site, they can also work on assignments even if their home computer doesn't have one of these Windows programs.
Google Docs can function as a Wiki too. This means that anyone that you invite to share a document can also be given the permission to edit that document. This is a great tool for collaborating on a unit plan or a shared assignment. Students can use this feature to put together a group presentation without actually having to meet at someone's home to do it. It can also be used to keep updated lists of supplies, brainstorm ideas or plan an event. Departments can add to lists of useful lesson links on a word document. Administrators can ask teacher to contribute a powerpoint slide for a community presentation. You get the idea.
Once you have created a Google account, you can also access other Google tools like:
RSS Reader- which allows you to get updates from your favorite news sites all in one place
iGoogle - your own virtual customizable homepage that travels with you where ever you go and lets you pick cool gadgets to include, like weather, news feeds, your calendar page
Blogger - the site that I am using to host this blog
Calendar - which allows you to create multiple calendars online and share them with others
Gmail - which has a chat function that allows you to chat online with other gmail users and also allows you to forward a copy of incoming mail to another account
Custom Search - which allows you to create and save specific Google searches - maybe for a topic you know you need current info on every year or a topic that you cover in your curriculum
Earth - find anyplace in the world, see it in satellite images or in 3-D, create your own pages with embedded pictures of your vacations and more
Picasa - photo management software that also allows you to export photos into Google Earth
SketchUp - create 3-D images and more
If you are interested in learning more about Google Docs or any of these other Google applications, I will be offering after school classes over the next two weeks. I will send emails out to the staff with specific dates and times. If you would like to see more of what Google Docs can do, check out the Google Docs Video Tutorial.
This is a sample of what a PowerPoint slide looks like that I created directly on Google Docs and then published to the web. To go to the website and see it online, click this link WEB view
This is an actual powerpoint that I created in class using my AirLiner (interactive smartpad) to write notes directly onto the website I was using. I could then use the AirLiner tools to capture my screen image and save it. Then I used the smartboard software to save the images as a PowerPoint - which I uploaded onto the Google Docs Site. For this particular lesson, my Avitar (the computer version of me) was acting as a tourguide in the online world of SecondLife. I will be writing more about this in my next blog.
Are you interested in finding out more information on how teachers are using Google Docs in their classrooms? You might want to read the following articles:
TechLearning Dec 2007
Using Google Docs Spreadsheets to Share Data
Shared Classroom Ideas
Using Google Docs for Assessment
I would love to hear your ideas on how you might want to use any of these tools in your classrooms - feel free to create a post to this blog by adding a comment.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Learning From A Distance Part 2
All teachers have a love hate relationship with their classroom space. It is too cold or too hot. There aren't enough outlets, the board is in the wrong place, excitement over new desks, hate the old desks, bulletin board displays that you actually change... all of these things make up the physical space that teachers spend 7 hours a day in. Student learning is also impacted by the classroom space they are in or not in as the case may be. The 19th century classroom was often a one room school where all students, in all grades, were taught by one teacher. The 20th century classrooms were housed in a large building, divided by grade and subject. The 21st Century classroom has no walls and is changing the way we have to think about our classrooms. With Distance Learning technology, a classroom can be anywhere you need it to be.
I am a big fan of the Harry Potter novels. Hogswart, Harry's school, has a magical room that only appears when you really need it. And when it does appear, it takes the shape of whatever kind of room you need, in Harry's case, a place where he can teach a class in defense against the dark arts. The skills Harry needs to teach his fellow students are not covered in the Hogwarts' curriculum, so he creates a class that meets their needs. Distance Learning can provide students and schools with a virtual room of opportunity. Students can attend classes online or by using video conferencing technology.
The following info was taken from eTech Ohio: Distance Learning Clearinghouse
In June 2007, House Bill 119 of the 127th Ohio General Assembly called for the "establishment of a clearinghouse of interactive distance learning courses and other distance learning courses delivered via a computer-based method offered by school districts for sharing with other school districts and community schools."
The eTech Ohio DL Clearinghouse will be a web site bringing together distance education opportunities from Ohio school districts and community schools for Ohio learners. The clearinghouse will be managed and maintained by eTech Ohio with all course content coming from the district level. eTech Ohio will create an electronic catalog system listing the courses available, including detailed information needed by the purchasing school to determine interest. The eTech Ohio DL Clearinghouse is a web-based catalog of distance learning courses and not a virtual school.
School personnel will be able to utilize the eTech Ohio DL Clearinghouse to help expand their course offerings. Districts may also offer distance learning opportunities to help supplement their course offerings and increase the options available to students. In the end, students throughout Ohio will benefit from the sharing of courses.
This bill is the beginning of a shift in how district administrators, teachers and students need to think about structuring the course offerings of a school. Some educators may view this as a threat to staff positions. Others look at it as an opportunity to teach beyond the boundaries of their district. Administrators and guidance counselors will need to adjust the way student schedules are created to accommodate students who are taking a DL class. On the plus side, schools can create new courses that may not have been offered previously due to low enrollment numbers. Now, these courses can be made available, for a fee that will be paid to the hosting district, to any student in the state. Districts can market AP classes or classes taught by highly qualified teachers to other districts in the state that may not have access to these courses. Again, for a fee that will be paid back to the host district. DL also offers teachers the chance to team teach a course with any teacher, anywhere, combining ideas and experience to benefit all of the students involved.
Graduate programs are now available to receive special training in how to be an effective distance learning instructor. Courses cover how to structure an online course, monitor student interaction, coordinate a video conference and integrate DL technology into the curriculum. If you are interested in reading more research on DL or how to apply it in our classrooms, try the following links:
Avon Schools Calendar of Distance Learning Events - these programs that students are participating in through their DL lab
District Learning Centers throughout the US
Article about DL and Second Life - a simulation/networking site that allows colleges, schools, museums and other institutions to provide real time classes and discussions to students who can interact by using avitars. If you would like more info on Second Life, see me, I have an account and can help you learn more about it.
How DL can benefit rural schools
Listing of Virtual Schools
Research About DL applications in Education and the "Real World"
Remember, we have our own room of opportunity - it is in the high school, room 214. In this room, your students can connect to the world. Are you ready to try? See me and I will help you get started.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Technology Update For April 6, 2008
Fairview Mail
Users using Outlook and Outlook Express
Replying to and Receiving emails— there have been some issues with replying to emails or receiving emails once you have configured your email account information for the new Fairview mail address. You can go into Tools, then Email Accounts to check your current settings. You can also check settings under send/receive. Make sure that your account is set to receive mail from the new mail. Fairview.k12.oh.us site.If you have added mail.fairview.k12.oh.us as your receiving and sending account and you are still experiencing problems, then please contact Mark if you are unable to resolve these issues.
OE has removed attachments for you safety – some of you have received this message. You need to email Mark Kostur and ask him for assistance. If you feel comfortable changing settings at an advanced level on your own, the directions on this site might be useful http://support.microsoft.com/kb/829982#top
Using IMAP – it is possible to set up your Outlook account to view your mail on your home computer also. If you are interested in that, see Char or Gayle Dill and they can help you with this.
Users using fairview.k12.oh.us/webmail to access their mail -
Setting up groups—you need to go under “OPTIONS” then select “GROUPS” then select “ADD NEW MEMBERS” Then make sure “ALL ADDRESS BOOKS” is selected and click on “LIST ALL” You can now check off who you would like to include in your group. SCROLL DOWN At the bottom of that screen you will be given the choice to ADD TO EXISTING GROUP or ADD TO NEW GROUP—if you are creating a new group, type the name of the group (for example science department) in the box and click ADD.
Now, when you go to compose mail, you can click on GROUPS and choose which group you would like to send the mail to. You will also be given the choice of TO (which will put all the names in the first bar) CC (which will copy everyone and show all email addresses in the CC bar—but you will need to put your email in the TO bar) or BCC (which will copy everyone without showing their email addresses—you will still need to fill in your address in the TO Bar)
Note—you can’t use the address book to send an email to multiple individuals by just clicking on their addresses — each new address you click just replaces the one already in the TO bar so you either need to type each address out or copy and paste addresses. SO, if there are groups of people you are regularly sending emails to, GROUP is the way to go.
Creating Folders in Fairview Mail – Once you are in your INBOX, click FOLDERS from the top of the page. A separate window will open. Type in the name of the folder you want to create in the first box. Don’t worry about any of the other options it gives you. Then hit CREATE. The new folder won’t show up in the sidebar at the left until you either hit “REFRESH FOLDER LIST” or exit out of the folder window. Now, when you go to your inbox, you can click the box next to an email and choose a folder by using the drop down arrow to the left of the MOVE box to select the folder you want to move the mail to. Once you have selected the folder, click MOVE. The email will change color and a D will appear next to it.
Deleting Mail from the Inbox
Check the mail you want to delete and click “DELETE” it will change colors and a D will appear next to it. The mail will still be available. To make it disappear from the inbox, you must click on EXPUNGE.
Accessing Saved Mail On Your LEECA Account
There is no way easy way to transfer any mail you have saved for documentation purposes easily. It can’t be downloaded or transferred as a block. You have a few options. You can either leave it on the LEECA server and access it from there – all of your old mail ( pre- March 31) is still on there, and your login and password are still valid. Another possibility is to go into your LEECA mail, open the email you want to continue to save and FORWARD IT to your new Fairview mail address. Once it is there, you can put it into a folder and have access to it. Finally, you can open the email on your LEECA account and print it or copy and paste the text into a Word document to save.
Organizing Your Address Book
Click on ADDRESSES and you will see 4 columns. NICKNAME, NAME, EMAIL and INFO. You can choose to sort your address book by any ONE of these columns. To do it alphabetically A-Z, click on the box next to NICKNAME – and it will be Z-A -once it resorts, click on the arrow next to NICKNAME and it will be A-Z. If you would rather sort by job category, click on the box next to INFO and it will sort by jobs, Z-A. Click on the arrow next to INFO and it will now be A-Z.
FHS/LFM Building Technology Updates
Projectors/Speakers – We had an outside engineering firm do an analysis of our speaker and projector systems over the spring break. We are continuing to work on resolving the ghosting and humming issues. If you are still experiencing problems with volume or balance, please let Char know before Thursday.
VCR/DVD units – The RCA model we have installed in our buildings continues to have a higher than acceptable failure rate. We are working with the contractor involved to address this problem. It is important that we have units in our classrooms that we can rely on. If you have an issue with your DVD or VCR player, or your tv tuner stops functioning, please let Char know. Currently, the defective units are being pulled and replaced with a new unit – same make and model.
Remote Controls
We have received a few additional Projector remotes and VCR remotes. If you are missing one and never had one before – please let Char know and she will assign one to you. If you have lost a remote, Char will try to make sure that you get one after making sure that all of the staff have gotten their first one. According to the contractor, they are $80 to replace – so make sure that you put your room number on them and keep them some place that doesn’t have easy student access. They run off of 2 AA batteries.
Phones
Char is able to reset voicemail passwords if yours stops working or you have forgotten it.
Distance Learning Lab
Thanks to the hard work of Jeff Frantz and his staff, our Distance Learning Lab is now ready for students. There are currently chairs and work tables in the space, along with a computer. The equipment is functional and a few teachers are already using it! There will be DL class on using online video as a classroom resource – Focusing on TeacherTube on Thursday, April 10 at 4:00 in room 214 (our new Distance Learning Lab) There will be a class on Digital Storytelling on April 17 , same time and place. These classes our offered to us FREE through the Lorain Distance Learning Consortium.
Student Responders
Our student responder sets are now available for limited use. There will be a training session offered in the next two weeks. Kudos to Kim Armstrong who piloted them in her math classes. The kids loved using them and Kim was able to get some valuable lesson feedback. You do have to download software from the Turning Point Website to use the responders. You want Turning Point 2008 and the Question and Test components.
Channel One Television Monitors
Channel One came into the building over break and removed all of their monitors. We are no longer participating in the Channel One system. We are left with the wall mounting brackets – maybe we could have a contest to see which teacher comes up with the most creative use for their brackets. :)
Char Shryock Technology Integration Specialist FHS
