Google, a word that has become part of everyone's vocabulary. It is a versatile word, acting as a noun and and verb and it has become a versatile tool. As teachers, we are prolific writers. We may not all be best selling authors, but we create thousands of word documents, power point presentations and spread sheets during our careers. These words of ours are stored in a mulitude of locations. Think about it. In your classroom, they are piled on your desk ( at least they are in my room), filed neatly away in cabinets and ring binders and stuffed into book bags and briefcases. They fill our virtual world as well, taking up megs of memory space on our computer hard drives, stored on floppy discs,yes, I know that there are still floppy data discs out there, cds and jump drives. We love to post our words on websites and email them to colleagues. It is not enough to have one copy of our documents. In order to use them in our classroom we print copy after copy to distribute to our students and share with our colleagues. Google is also in the business of searching and organizing words. Millions of websites are searched every minute by people all of the world who are trying to find just the right set of words to answer a question or solve a problem.
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 20, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Learning From A Distance Part 2
Distance Learning 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.
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
Tech 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
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
Website http://fpsdtech.rwlo.org/
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Learning From A Distance
There are a lot of new technology buzzwords flying around schools across our country. One term that you may be familiar with is Distance Learning. It is also used synonymously with Virtual Classroom, Video Conferencing, and Online Classes, even though all of these terms really mean different things.
Distance Learning is really a catch phrase for two new sets of tools teachers can use to expand the walls of our classrooms. The first tool is video conferencing. This allows people from multiple locations to interact with each other using live, real time video and sound. Anyone with video conferencing ability can connect to anyone else with compatible video conferencing ability anywhere in the world - or out of this world as some teachers found out when they video conferenced with astronauts on the International Space Station. The second tool is online or remote classes. Students or teachers can access the course offerings of other districts and colleges by using video conferencing equipment or the internet. We can also offer classes to students outside of our district by these same venues. This blog is about video conferencing. My next blog will take a look at the initiative that has been started by the eTECH Ohio to create a Distance Learning Clearing House of online and DL classes that will be offered by schools throughout the state, for a fee, to students throughout the state.
There are two ways to video conference. The first is by using a webcam. You may have seen these in the store. They are designed to mount on the top of your monitor and capture live images, either pictures or video, with or without sound, that can be viewed by another person immediately or saved and uploaded to the internet. Webcams are also used to create "windows" to other places. By logging into someone else's webcam site, you may be able to watch fish swimming around in the Shed Aquarium in Chicago or see who is walking on the beach in Isle of Palms, South Carolina- something I like to do when I am stressing over technology! A webcam can also be used with interactive communication sites like SKYPE. You can download Skype software and make video conference calls to anyone over the internet, anywhere for free. Skype also has an instant message function. If you want to learn more about it, check out the Skype homepage .
The second way to video conference is by using an IDVL system like Polycom. This is what we have in our Distance Learning Labs in Fairview. The FHS/LFM lab is located in room 214 of the high school. The Gilles Sweet Lab is in the loft of the library. This system allows us to connect with any content provider, school or other location that has a compatible system. Many of these interactions are free. Some content providers , like a museum, might charge a fee, which you can pass on to the students as a "fieldtrip" cost.
The system has three parts.
1. A monitor that allows us to see us and a monitor that allows us to see the remote location we are working with.
2. A camera and microphone system with a remote control. This allows us to not only control the cameras in our lab, but we can also control the camera at the remote location if we need to.
3. A document camera (elmo) that allows us to show the remote location objects, documents and diagrams up close.
The best part of this system is that it is EASY to use! Really, I'm not kidding :)
Our Distance Learning Lab is supported by the staff of the Lorain Distance Learning Consortium. Their website details all the current distance learning opportunities that are available to our district. They also have a listing of teachers and classes who are looking to team teach using the IDVL equipment. Currently I am working with Alison Pettit from Gilles Sweet. My ninth grade science class is partnering with her fourth graders to do virtual science and some real science down in Bain Park. In addition to classroom applications, our IDVL can be used to do staff/ professional development. You can sign up to take classes through area universities for credit. You are also able to participate in the professional development opportunities offered through the Lorain Distance Learning Consortium. Upcoming offerings include using digital storybooking in your classroom and using TeacherTube and other video online resources in your classroom. Kathy Ingersoll, Mark Weidus, Gayle Dill, Laura Hall, Janice Baker, Bryan Weir and I can all help you use the equipment.
Video Conferencing technology is a way to move beyond our traditional classroom space. It is a way to take fieldtrips without having to figure out how to fund the bus. It is a way to expose our students to scientists and poets, to children from other states and other countries, to places they may never have the opportunity to go themselves.
Distance Learning is really a catch phrase for two new sets of tools teachers can use to expand the walls of our classrooms. The first tool is video conferencing. This allows people from multiple locations to interact with each other using live, real time video and sound. Anyone with video conferencing ability can connect to anyone else with compatible video conferencing ability anywhere in the world - or out of this world as some teachers found out when they video conferenced with astronauts on the International Space Station. The second tool is online or remote classes. Students or teachers can access the course offerings of other districts and colleges by using video conferencing equipment or the internet. We can also offer classes to students outside of our district by these same venues. This blog is about video conferencing. My next blog will take a look at the initiative that has been started by the eTECH Ohio to create a Distance Learning Clearing House of online and DL classes that will be offered by schools throughout the state, for a fee, to students throughout the state.
There are two ways to video conference. The first is by using a webcam. You may have seen these in the store. They are designed to mount on the top of your monitor and capture live images, either pictures or video, with or without sound, that can be viewed by another person immediately or saved and uploaded to the internet. Webcams are also used to create "windows" to other places. By logging into someone else's webcam site, you may be able to watch fish swimming around in the Shed Aquarium in Chicago or see who is walking on the beach in Isle of Palms, South Carolina- something I like to do when I am stressing over technology! A webcam can also be used with interactive communication sites like SKYPE. You can download Skype software and make video conference calls to anyone over the internet, anywhere for free. Skype also has an instant message function. If you want to learn more about it, check out the Skype homepage .
The second way to video conference is by using an IDVL system like Polycom. This is what we have in our Distance Learning Labs in Fairview. The FHS/LFM lab is located in room 214 of the high school. The Gilles Sweet Lab is in the loft of the library. This system allows us to connect with any content provider, school or other location that has a compatible system. Many of these interactions are free. Some content providers , like a museum, might charge a fee, which you can pass on to the students as a "fieldtrip" cost.
The system has three parts.
1. A monitor that allows us to see us and a monitor that allows us to see the remote location we are working with.
2. A camera and microphone system with a remote control. This allows us to not only control the cameras in our lab, but we can also control the camera at the remote location if we need to.
3. A document camera (elmo) that allows us to show the remote location objects, documents and diagrams up close.
The best part of this system is that it is EASY to use! Really, I'm not kidding :)
Our Distance Learning Lab is supported by the staff of the Lorain Distance Learning Consortium. Their website details all the current distance learning opportunities that are available to our district. They also have a listing of teachers and classes who are looking to team teach using the IDVL equipment. Currently I am working with Alison Pettit from Gilles Sweet. My ninth grade science class is partnering with her fourth graders to do virtual science and some real science down in Bain Park. In addition to classroom applications, our IDVL can be used to do staff/ professional development. You can sign up to take classes through area universities for credit. You are also able to participate in the professional development opportunities offered through the Lorain Distance Learning Consortium. Upcoming offerings include using digital storybooking in your classroom and using TeacherTube and other video online resources in your classroom. Kathy Ingersoll, Mark Weidus, Gayle Dill, Laura Hall, Janice Baker, Bryan Weir and I can all help you use the equipment.
Video Conferencing technology is a way to move beyond our traditional classroom space. It is a way to take fieldtrips without having to figure out how to fund the bus. It is a way to expose our students to scientists and poets, to children from other states and other countries, to places they may never have the opportunity to go themselves.
If you would like to learn more about our IDVL, please email me or put a note in my mailbox and I will be happy to help you get started. Check out the Lorain Distance Learning Consortium page for lists of opportunities that are available now or for the remainder of the school year.
eTech Ohio Distance Learning Clearing House http://www.etech.ohio.gov/web_services/dlc/index.jsp
Live Webcams you can use with your classes http://www.earthcam.com/
Wikipedia page on webcams http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webcam
How Stuff Works description of webcams http://computer.howstuffworks.com/webcam.htmSkype homepage http://www.skype.com/getconnected/
Lorain Distance Learning Consortium http://www.pageflakes.com/LCDLC.Ohio/12258169/Lorain Distance Learning Consortium professional development calendar http://www.lcdlc.org/TechnologyToolbox.htm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
