Her Bluetooth

Technology Break {Spooky Snacks}

2011-10-13T13:24:00.000-07:00

Time to stand and stretch and take a break from that computer!

Aren't these the cutest little Spooky Snacks?

Hope your October is Spooktacular!

Friday's Deep Thought

2011-10-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

source

Happy Friday Y'all!

October "Mann The Mouse" Newsletter

2011-10-06T12:47:00.000-07:00

The GMAs Are Coming!

2011-10-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

Ain't It the Truth?!

2011-09-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

Tech Tips!

2011-08-31T08:06:00.000-07:00

Saw these great tips in a magazine this month and wanted to pass them along!

from Good Houskeeping August 2011

Welcome Back! {Blogs for Communication}

2011-08-12T13:43:00.000-07:00

Hope this first week of school has been a blast for everyone at MCSD! It has been busy-busy for me to say the least!

Lately, I have had a few principals and teachers ask me to help them create a wiki or a "place to post announcements" and other updates. My suggestion to you is, start a blog!

Blogger, a Google product, is a fairly easy program to use, and it is currently not blocked by our district filter. In fact, the Superintendent uses Blogger for her blog.

A blog is a "weB-log" (hence, blog) which is essentially like an online diary/newsletter/whatever-you-want-it-to-be.

If you want to publish announcements, updates, newsletters, etc., that can be accessed by all, or whomever you select, consider using Blogger for that purpose.

MCSDers can contact me for further information & guidance - I am happy to help you!

Infinite Campus Training Tuesday January11th

2011-01-10T16:01:00.000-08:00

Attention MCSD employees planning to attend Infinite Campus training tomorrow!

Infinite Campus Training Update as per A. Snell:

*Building Admin Behavior training for Elementary has been canceled for January 11, 2011.

*Building Coach training for Secondary will be held at Rigdon Technology Academy at 10:00
tomorrow, January 11, 2011.

Reminder: Additional information on Infinite Campus can be found here!

Infinite Campus Kickoff

2010-12-02T14:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I attended the Infinite Campus Kickoff for Administrators. I was excited to hear about the plans laid out for our new SIS rollout. I am especially pleased with the plans for training.

First, 69 hours of "normal" training will be offered for all of the regular SIS users - administrators, counselors, secretaries, attendance clerks, etc. In addition to this, each school will receive special training for 2 school representatives, a Building Coach and a Teacher Coach, who are chosen to be sent to additional trainings and meetings. These 2 people will become the school's SIS experts and will offer onsite training and support during those critical first days of school. Of course you will still have your district support resources as well, but how awesome it will be to have some onsite "specialists"!

The Building Coach and the Teacher Coach will receive a stipend for their time spent in the additional trainings. More specifics and details about this process will be communicated directly to school administrators. Go ahead and be thinking about who your school will choose and please be sure to lookout for upcoming critical emails coming from the SIS Team!

Click here for more information!

Tech-NO Expo for 2010-2011 School Year

2010-10-07T08:08:00.000-07:00

Please be aware, there will not be an MCSD TechnoExpo this year...

Memorandum

RE: MCSD Techno Expo & Professional Learning Conference

This communication is to inform all schools, centers, and interested parties, that the MCSD Techno Expo & Professional Learning Conference will not be held this Year.

This decision was reached after considering feedback from school surveys, and as a result of economic funding cuts currently affecting the schools and vendors.

Sincerely,

Forrest

Dr. Forrest Toelle
Director, Instructional Technology
Division of Information Services
Muscogee County School District
Columbus, GA
706-748-3457

2011 MCSD & GA State Media Festival

2010-10-07T08:04:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Here are the upcoming dates for this year's Media Festival:

March 4, 2011: projects due (turn them in at Hannan Elementary)
March 17,2011: MCSD Media Festival (held at Hannan Elementary)
April 29, 2011: Georgia State Media Festival (this date is still tentative)

Please let me know if I can assist you with your entries!

Upcoming Contests for Students

2010-09-30T21:18:00.000-07:00

Hi  Everyone! I just  wanted to make sure you are aware of several upcoming contests for students.   Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.  Thank you! :)  Kerri

MCSD "Compute the Future" Writing Contest

http://www.mcsdga.net/inside/technology/writing_contest/writing_contest.htm

Student essay contest

Theme: " What is Digital Citizenship? Why is it important that we understand Digital Citizenship and appropriately practice it?"

Deadline to submit entries: Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 5:00pm

Fee: None

Prizes include Lenovo netbooks & medals

GMA - Georgia Movie Academy

http://gma.hgetc.org/

Video competition

Students use Movie Maker or other software to create movies

Theme: "The Voices of Georgia" Stories from Our State

Deadline to register: December 3, 2010

Deadline for entries: March 21, 2011

Fee: $50

PROMOTE GA

http://www.gaetcpbl.org/

Website competition

Students use software or Web 2.0 sites, like Google Sites, Wikispaces, Weebly, etc., to create websites

Theme: None

Deadline to register: December 3, 2010

Deadline for entries: March 31, 2011

Fee: $50

The New National Ed Tech Plan

2010-03-10T04:30:00.001-08:00

The New National Ed Tech Plan…Pinch Me

Posted using ShareThis

TechnoExpo 2010

2010-02-02T08:55:00.000-08:00

The 2010 TechnoExpo will be upon us before we know it! Hopefully, schools have been working on projects all along this year and will be ready to celebrate their students' achievements. We have been busy at the MCSD Technology Academy, offering classes all year to support schools in their endeavors.
This year we are excited to include a Professional Learning Conference at the 2010 TechnoExpo. This will be an exciting opportunity for participants to learn more about technology integration in schools.
For more information on the 2010 TechnoExpo and Professional Learning Conference, please Click Here!

Bring Back InTech!

2009-10-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

Several years ago, in our local school district, we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to attend InTech training. These classes were provided in our school labs and in most cases, teachers were able to get substitutes so they could attend the 7 all day sessions.

The overall purpose of this program was to teach educators how to integrate technology in their lessons. The classes provided time for educators to come together with a small group from their school and actually use the technology. It also helped many to become familiar with some basics, such as how to use a mouse, navigate the internet, create folder in Windows, etc.

In those days, not all teachers and administrators were happy about being required to attend. Many felt like it was a waste of time or were simply just not interested. Others were frustrated because of the lack of equipment or access to equipment in their schools.

These days, InTech is no longer required or offered. Also, we now have more technology in the schools than ever.... and guess what.... I honestly feel we need InTech again!

It may be surprising, but we still have many who cannot perform basic functions like navigating the internet, checking their email, etc., without assistance. Sadly, with budget cuts and lack of funds, professional leave is not possible, as it was before.

So now, here we are, with all of the equipment - and more on the way (thanks to a local option sales tax) - and no InTech program or funding for training. This is one of those times when I really wish we could turn back the clock!

If you are interested, you can still access some of the InTech resources here. These activities really were excellent in providing a natural way to integrate technology in all areas of instruction. If you have a chance, try one!

Discussion Boards - Friend or Foe?

2009-10-01T21:21:00.000-07:00

In all of the online courses I have taught or participated in, discussion board work comprises a substantial part of the course grade. Some "scoffers" have said that discussion work can be considered "busy-work" where a student can "fluff" their way through the assignment. In truth, I have found that it really is one of the most difficult tasks for students to complete. I am wondering, why does this usually seem to be the case?

In theory, we want the discussion board to be a meaningful interaction and conversation, as we might have in a regular classroom setting. In reality, we often get students posting responses like, "nice post" or "I agree, good job!"

How can we teach students to talk to each other online?

Certainly, one way is for us to model the example ourselves in our posts and interactions, but how else might we try to encourage authentic engagement? Some teachers setup guidelines like requiring certain word counts, requiring a certain number of posts, asking for students to include citations and questions to other students and the like. Is this really effective? I do know that when I have not presented some guidelines, in hopes that the discussion would just occur naturally, it did not. What I have also found is that often students will badger me to death until I give them some specifics on what to do. Usually what happens when I do give a list of guidelines, students will do just that and not think outside the box. They will limit themselves and their thoughts to those constraints.

I often wonder if one of the reasons students are drawn to following a requirement list is because they don't know each other as they might in a face to face conversation in a traditional classroom setting. It can be hard to talk and discuss with others when you don't feel aware of who is on the other end of the computer. In most courses, there is no real opportunity for meaningless "chit-chat" or "get-to know-you" conversations. I am wondering if some social networking tools, can help to address this need. Might it be easier to discuss those valid course topics when you have a little more background or insight in regards to those you are sharing and interacting with on the discussion board? Could interactions using social networking tools help a student know a little more about their classmates and professors, and whether they are friends or foes?

This is a theory I would like to investigate, but I am not certain what restrictions we have. Can we ask or encourage students to use social networking tools, like Twitter and Facebook, or would we then be forcing another additional requirement on an already demanding curriculum? Also, would we then become in any way responsible or associated with any mishaps like SPAM, inappropriate content, or controversial pictures and topics student post on such venues?

What do you think?

2009 MCSD Writing Contest

2009-09-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

As you are hopefully aware, this year's MCSD Writing Contest is underway! This year's theme has already generated some excitement:

We have received feedback from many who are asking, "How can we write about this topic when many Web 2.0 tools are "blocked" in the school district?"

Keep in mind, the paper is to be about the classroom of the future. As we all know, many of these tools are currently blocked in the district. Many teachers and students feel very passionate about the need to have access to these resources and so... this is a great opportunity to make a case for the use of Web 2.0 tools! Challenge your students to argue that point in their essays!

Remember, winners receive netbooks! Click here to review the guidelines, template, and scoring rubric.

Submitting entries:

email to contest@mcsdga.net.
All entries must be received by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, October 21, 2009.

Have you shared this opportunity with your students yet?

Don’t, Don’t, Don’t vs. Do, Do, Do - AUP Revision

2009-09-21T18:25:00.000-07:00

I recently re-tweeted a post of this article shared by Evan Abbey, and written by Will Richardson.

Don’t, Don’t, Don’t vs. Do, Do, Do
Recently, I presented at a school on an opening day for teachers where the first thing that greeted everyone on the table in the lobby was an 8-page Acceptable Use Policy

As you may know, MCSD is preparing to revise the AUP. While I know we have to follow the constraints of the law, I hope we can keep some perspective as we decide what to include and what to leave out.

I hope you will make time to read the post linked above as it presents a thought-provoking picture of a situation at one school.

I can't help but wonder, what will our new AUP say about the curriculum in our district? What will it reveal about what we value in instruction?

GA Movie Academy & Promote GA

2009-09-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

Looking for a great opportunity for project-based learning?

Bunny Harris, from the Chattachoochee-Flint RESA will be at the MCSD Instructional Technology Academy, Wednesday, September 23rd, to hold a Kick Off meeting for Georgia Movie Academy and PROMOTE GA. She would like to meet with any interested teachers in the lab at 3:45pm and expects the meeting to last approximately 1 ½ hours.

Don't forget! Any projects your students create and submit for GMA or PROMOTE can also be entered in the 2010 MCSD TechKnow Expo!

The Impending Death of Email?

2009-09-01T06:01:00.000-07:00

Email is going away. Slowly but steadily email is losing its pre-eminent position as the standard means of electronic communication and is being replaced by multiple tools. Click here to read more

I have read several articles lately on the impending "death" of email. I can see why it is coming, but it is so hard to imagine! I suspect as difficult as it may have been for the US Postal Service to imagine days of electronic bill statements, emails, and ecards, coming along to take away much of their business.

In my mind, I still feel like there may be certain circumstances where you just have to have an email, or a global account of some sort. There are so many "accounts" many of us have now with emails, Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking tools - which are quickly being used more for business rather than social - it just seems you need to have one landing point for it all.

It seems that Google Wave is coming along in an effort to meet some of that need. I am excited to see it launch and am curious to see how many aspects of my online madness that it may organize!

MCSD Coming Events!

2009-08-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

The 2009-2010 school year is underway! This year we will again have some exciting ways to engage your students in project-based learning and offer opportunities for winning cool prizes too! Be sure to make a note of these important dates so your students won't get left out! I will be posting more specific details on each event as it is made available to me.

October 21, 2009: Deadline for email submissions of student essays for the technology "Writing Contest"

November 12, 2009: Awards Ceremony in the evening for the technology "Writing Contest" at the Columbus Museum inside the Patrick Theatre

March 31, 2010: Deadline to enter projects to be judged for the TechKnow Expo

April 29, 2010: The TechKnow Expo to be held at the Columbus Civic Center

On Behalf Of... No One!

2009-08-18T18:23:00.000-07:00

Recently, exciting news came from Google stating that when you use your Gmail account to send an email from another email account, the "on behalf of" your Gmail address will not appear! This was great news as it had been quite annoying to have that notification appear and had often deterred many of us from using Gmail for managing multiple email accounts.

Better than this even, Google is stating that:

Instead of using Gmail's servers to send the message, we'll use the servers where your other email address lives. Since Gmail isn't the originating domain, we don't have to include "Sender" info in the header. No more "on behalf of."

This makes me think that there may be a chance we can now use Gmail with our MCSD Email and avoid being spammed. I am going to try this out and will report on my findings. Keep your fingers crossed!

Click Here to read more about this story!

The Newspaper Clipping Generator

2009-06-30T20:14:00.000-07:00

Calling all teachers - who like the cutesy! I am sharing this resource, The Newspaper Clipping Generator, which I read about on another blog. It is really neat and would be fun and appropriate for students to use when they are learning to do expository writing activities.
It is also simple to use and quick! I sure wish the article I generated (shown above) was true - oh well I can still hope! :)

Managing Multiple Twitter & Facebook Accounts

2009-06-30T19:53:00.000-07:00

As I have blogged about recently, I have been experimenting with using multiple Twitter accounts for professional and personal purposes. One of the tools I have been using to manage these accounts is called Seesmic Desktop. This application is a free download, and allows you to view and post to multiple Twitter accounts from one screen. You can also view and manage your Facebook status here as well.
While there are many applications out there for this same purpose, this is the first one that I have found that will allow me to do most of the things I want to do from one spot. If you have tips or experiences in using other Twitter/Facebook management applications, please share them in a comment to this thread!

Are you a Gmail Ninja?

2009-06-26T04:43:00.000-07:00

I live and breath by my Gmail (and all of my Google tools). Here is a link to a great resource that highlights some of the best Gmail has to offer you!

Click here to find out not only if you are a Gmail Ninja, but what belt level you are.....Am I A Gmail Ninja?

We have covered many of these features in our Google Classes, and this is a handy little resource to review. Also, remember to check the Google Labs periodically for new and exciting features.

Oh, and be sure to call me "Master" Mann, next time you see me! ;)

Google Reader -Shared Items Widget

2009-06-25T05:25:00.000-07:00

Calling all Google Reader users!

For those of you who don't know, Google Reader is an RSS reader where you can organize many of the "things" you read/check regularly online, from blog posts, to tweets, to online photo albums, to website updates, etc.

I discovered a neat little widget in Google Reader this morning concerning sharing items. In Google Reader, you can click a button to "Share" something you are reading with your friends or designated contacts. These items can be accessed from the "Shared Items" section in Google Reader, or, a weblink. For example, here is a weblink to my Shared Items page.

All of these posting are done for you automatically when you click the "Share" button in Google Reader. Now, Google has created a great widget which will display access to a list of your shared items on your Blogger site. All you have to do is go to your Shared Items page and simply click to "Add a clip" and then click the "Add to Blogger" button. It is that simple! Your blogger layout will immediately open up, "dump" the widget in, and then, you can drag it around to wherever you want it to appear on your blog. (You can also get the HTML code to paste it on any other blog or website too.)

You can see my Shared Items list, here on sidebar this blog - check it out! :)

Social Networking - Keep Tweeting!

2009-06-22T10:33:00.001-07:00

I read a very interesting blog post this morning referencing an article advocating for teachers to use Twitter, especially those of us who teach online. I really have to agree! Just in the small amount of time I have used it with our MCSD ITS group, we have been able to keep up with one another throughout the day as we are all in different locations and directions. Working a shorter contract than the other ITSs, I also continued to keep up with our staff after I left for summer break. Several MCSD entities are Tweeting now, too, for example the school district news is being tweeted here.

The Twitter account I use for Kaplan has also made me aware of various staff development opportunities and allowed me to get to know a few of my colleagues. The CTL Events tweets about the classes and workshops offered, and it reminds me of what is going on each day. I would liek to see our MCSD Instructional Technology Center use a similar strategy next year. Hopefully MCSD will unblock Twitter for employees in the district.

I have also been experimenting more with Facebook this summer. Facebook is blocked at MCSD and is not something I regularly have time to participate in during the school year. I decided to make it one of my little summer projects to get more involved and to test out all of the capabilities (to see what the fuss is all about). I have also been curious as to how and if it can be used for educational purposes.

I must admit, I am enjoying both social networking tools. Am I mainly sharing the mundane day-to-day "junk" that most people surely don't care about... yep! But, somehow it "works" and my friends and family seem interested.

I subscribed to a Twitter app on Facebook which automatically updates my status in both places (Facebook & Twitter). It has worked ok, but I am still struggling with the separation of persoanl and professional accounts. I'll continue to investigate and report more on that later...

Until then... follow me... if you wish! KerriMann or KaplanMann

To Tweet or not to Tweet?

2009-06-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

In my recent experimenting with Twitter, I have come across several questions. One, that I have especially thought about lately, is whether or not to have multiple Twitter accounts.

Here's why... my personal, strictly social Twitter account, is where I post silly random quips during the day to interact with my family and friends. Personally, I don't think anyone is interested in those posts but my family and friends, and their interest could still be debated. :)

So, would I then want another "professional" Twitter account where I post updates of what I am doing related to work? The thought of this is rather aggravating because I already have way too much "technical clutter" to keep up with, i.e. several blogs, numerous blog subscriptions in my RSS reader, 10 email accounts, 5 wikis, a Facebook page and a partridge in a pear tree.

We have all heard horror stories of people losing their jobs for things they have posted on their Facebook and MySpace pages. Should that encourage us to keep personal and professional postings separate? We should all make note, though, that anything posted online can be found - even if we think we are keeping it private.

I went ahead and decided to create a "professional" Twitter account to interact with my colleagues at Kaplan University. I am going to experiment with using these 2 accounts for a while and then make a decision as to what to do. To begin with, I am simply going to update my status with what I am doing in regards to Kaplan on this new account. Even though I don't think my Kaplan Colleagues would be particularly interested in the fact that I am sitting in line at Starbucks, like my friends might be (because they would reply and ask me to bring them one), it still may be a way to build a community with co-workers who I only interact with online. For this reason, I may do some off-topic, personal posts on the professional Twitter account later.

What about you? Do any of you have ideas regarding how to handle the personal vs. professional aspects of social networking? If so, I would love to hear/read your comments!

Also, here is a link to a nice review of apps which will manage multiple Twitter accounts.

Tweet Summer!

2009-05-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

As you have probably already heard, Twitter is quickly becoming the latest micro-blogging networking craze. I have been experimenting with ways to use tweeting for work purposes and for fun, with my co-workers and friends. I am finding it is very similar to both the Facebook status feature, and instant messaging.

I am going to explore tools you can use with Twitter, like Tweet Deck and Twitter Fox, over summer vacation.

If you have not investigated Twitter yet, and want to know more about what it is and can be used for, here is a great resource to review: Click here!

Have a Tweet Summer Break!

Microsoft Office Live?....Not Really

2009-04-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

I have recently spent some time reviewing Microsoft Office Live. First, I must confess, I am a Google Girl and have been using Google Docs for a while now. I think this caused a problem for me when I tried reviewing Live, because in my mind, the two products were supposed to be the same/competitive.

After beginning the review process, I quickly found that the two products are in fact very different and really cannot be compared equally at this time. For example, Live is not really even "live", at least not as a Google Doc is. A Google Doc is truly live at all times and can be changed on the fly anytime, anywhere. An Office Live document, can only be edited or changed on a machine with Office installed.

A co-worker recently attended a Microsoft Office Live presentation, and at that seminar, the representatives acknowledged that their product is not developed to the the Google level yet, but they are working on it.
I kept a few scratch notes of my thoughts as I reviewed live, which you can read here: https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pNhUYKqmuY3RStF_cyiYLAg&hl=en

I also visited several sites offering reviews on the products. Here are a few that I found to be quite informative and interesting:
http://bogdan.org.ua/2009/01/24/office-live-workspace-vs-google-docs.html
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2215067/Google-Docs-Vs-Live-Office
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/office_live_workspace_vs_google_docs_feature_by_feature.php
http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/channel-marker/microsoft-office-live-workspace-vs-google-docs-who-will-win/

Technology Expo - Call for Projects!

2009-03-24T10:24:00.000-07:00

We are excited about the upcoming
MCSD Technology Expo
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Columbus Civic Center
4:00 - 8:00 PM

Just as a reminder, all projects need to be submitted for judging by March 31st. We are hearing that vendors are donating some fabulous prizes, so don't get left out!
For more information, visit: http://michellestechtalk.pbwiki.com/MCSD-Tech-Expo

Pay Attention!

2009-01-28T12:13:00.000-08:00

Another POWERFUL video regarding technology in education - definitely worth the watch! I would love to hear your feedback, so please feel free to comment below.

Compute the Future Contest Winners

2008-12-10T07:10:00.000-08:00

Each of the three winners in the "Compute the Future" Writing Contest received a new Dell computer in an awards ceremony at the Columbus Museum Thursday, December 4, 2008.

Elementary School Winner: Ahmad Maddox, Edgewood Elementary School, 1st Grade

Middle School Winner: Adam Ribeiro, Midland Middle School, 8th Grade

High School Winner: Sebastian Bohn, Columbus High School, 10th Grade

Read more about it here! Congratulations to all!

Ren Place in High Schools

2008-10-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

On October 28, 2008, we conducted a Ren Learn Training for High Schools. During our class, we used materials and resources linked from: http://herbluetooth.wikispaces.com/Ren+Place.

Hopefully, those of you who attended have had some time to go back and share our discussion with stakeholders at your schools.

We would love to hear some feedback on your progress and on what your school has decided to do (if anything) regarding all or parts of the Ren Place tools.

Please click below to comment on this post and share your thoughts, ideas, etc.

Thanks!

MCSD’s “Compute the Future” Writing Contest

2008-10-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

MCSD’s “Compute the Future” Writing Contest

In celebration of National Technology Learning Month in October, the MCSD Division of Technology Services is sponsoring a technology and writing contest. The contest is open to all students in the Muscogee County School District.

The winning contestants will receive a brand new computer!

This year’s theme: “What role will technology play in shaping the world our students will lead?”

Contest Guidelines
• All entries must be authentic student work that corresponds with the GA Performance Standards for Language Arts. The scoring rubric is online at http://www.mcsdga.net/inside/technology/writing_contest/writing_contest.html .
• Entries must be completed using Microsoft Word in APA format, which includes Times New Roman style font and a double-spaced document with size 12 point font.
• Schools must submit their top 3 entries as Microsoft Word document attachments via email to contest@mcsdga.net

• All entries must be received by 5:00 PM on Friday, November 14.

Prizes
There will be prizes awarded as follows:
· 1 new computer at the Elementary School level
· 1 new computer at the Middle School level
· 1 new computer at the High School level

Judging
Selection of the winning entries will be done by a panel of volunteer community members.

Notification and Awards
The top 5 finalists for each level will be notified on Friday, November 21.
An awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, December 4 at 5:30 PM in the Patrick Theatre at the Columbus Museum.

Questions
If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Obert at 706-329-9452 or 706-569-3777, or by email at mailto:mmobert@mcsdga.net

It's All Too Much!

2008-10-22T08:25:00.000-07:00

Recently, I read Peter Walsh's It's All Too Much. This short book guides readers through cleaning out the clutter in their homes. He points out that in society today, we have too much stuff cluttering our homes, our minds, and our lives. Peter then carefully explains a thought process to go through in evaluating and deciding what is valuable to your life and what is not.

In the last few weeks, I have been wondering if we should also consider a similar method in the educational world. I travel to various schools in our district and attend trainings and meetings with others from around the state as well. There are *so many* new initiatives and programs and projects being pushed out to the schools, educators, and teachers, I am wondering... is it all too much? There are only so many hours in the school day, and so many school days in the school year. At some point, we have got to be realistic about what an educator can actually accomplish, and accomplish effectively.

I really feel that we currently have a great deal of clutter in our educational system. We not only have too much, we are trying to do too much! You get to a point where you cannot do anything well when you are trying to do too much.

I would like to see a stronger effort from the '"powers that be" to work together, carefully review and evaluate these initiatives globally as they come, and really decide if it is going to be valuable (and possible!) for our schools to participate, rather than just blindly implement every new thing that comes across the pipe.

Otherwise, it seems we will end up with way too much ... of nothing!

Project Based Learning Opportunities

2008-09-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

There are several state-level contests and opportunities to encourage project-based learning with students this year. Below, I have listed a few with links to more information and resources for these initiatives.

Georgia Movie Academy Click here!
Student teams create short movies aligned with state standards.

Promote GA Click here!
Student teams develop websites on a content standard.

Georgia Student Media Festival Click here!
Students work either alone or with a team to develop projects using various media.

Look How Far We Have Come!

2008-09-16T06:41:00.000-07:00

This is just a funny video I have seen a few times and was reminded of in a training class this morning. It is especially funny for anyone who has every felt "technologically challenged" or worked to help serve those who are! :-)

NetTrekker

2008-09-09T06:39:00.000-07:00

Recently, MCSD purchased a 3 year subscription to NetTrekker.

NetTrekker is a search engine, guiding users to over 300,000 online resources, aligned with state standards and organized by readability and grade level. Each resource is carefully selected by educators to ensure it is safe, age-appropriate and 100% academically relevant. NetTrekker subscribers can expect an easy-to-use tool for K-12 students and educators in a search environment you can trust!

This week, representatives from each MCSD school and center are being trained. They, along with school ITSs, will re-deliver training on this product to schools.

I would love to hear your comments and feeback as you begin to use this new resource!

Welcome Back!

2008-08-12T10:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to everyone! I know we are all busy-busy right now with getting the school year rolling. Much has changed and will be changing with the DOTS this year! I will be posting about some of those changes (as they become official) to help keep you informed.

Internet Dangers and Children

2008-04-16T12:42:00.000-07:00

This post by David Pogue was recently shared with me. It is definitely worth the read- especially if you fear for the safety of your kids as they use the internet. Click here to read it

Are you a Digital Native or a Digital Immigrant?

2008-02-21T10:06:00.000-08:00

Read the article to find out!

Click here to link to the article

Which are you? Why? Post a comment with your response. :-)

Have comments on the "Did You Know?" Video??

2008-02-19T07:10:00.001-08:00

Leave them here!

Web 2.0 Resources

2008-02-13T17:04:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about all of the concern over using online resources and whether or not these resources were aligned to an "industry standard". I have been doing some research to see if there is a published list of industry standards or recommended online resources - which we all now know would be called Web 2.0 resources!

I found a list of recommended resources on the ISTE site. This list is neatly organized by the type of Web 2.0 tool you are seeking. I have copied this list (below) in case the links "die" at some point, we will still be able to see what was there.

One exciting point to note is that we already offer classes on several of these, such as Google Calendar, Photostory 3, Delicious, Blogging, and Flickr. I am still wondering about this topic and want to do further research as we seek to plan our classes using the latest & greatest resources for integration.

Here's the list from the ISTE site:

Explore Resources for Web 2.0

Examples and Tools for Educators

Blogging
*Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.comA really easy-to-use site that allows even non-technical types to start a blog in just three basic steps using a range of templates. Most first-time bloggers use this platform. The site was started in the dotcom boom of 1999 and is now part of Google.
*Class Blogmeister http://classblogmeister.com/David Warlick created this site specifically for classroom educators who want full control over the blogs created by, read by, and used by students. Teachers can evaluate, comment on, and publish students' blogs in a controlled environment.
*Edublogshttp://edublogs.orgAn easy-to-use blog-creation site with customizable templates (themes) for educators, K–12 and college students. Blogs created with it will include links to Chalkface, an assessment tool; to IncSub, dedicated to online projects; and to BlogSavvy, which helps bloggers become better bloggers.

Wikis
*Jotspothttp://www.jotspot.com/learn/Recently purchased by Google, Jotspot has more features than other wiki sites, and is intended for businesses as well as education. Jotspot allows users to create Web-based spreadsheets, calendars, documents, and photo galleries, all without having to know HTML. It also offers varied levels of access from read-only to full editing.
*Pbwiki http://www.pbwiki.com/The site's slogan is "Make a free wiki as easily as a peanut butter sandwich." Educators can use the wiki to create a multi-user Web page or to have students write online collaborative essays or develop PowerPoint presentations.
*Wikispaces http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers/Another site dedicated to educators, it offers sites with three levels of security: public (viewable by all); protected (viewable by all but editable by members only), and private (viewable and editable by members only). It is free to educators.

Social Bookmarking
*Blinklisthttp://www.blinklist.comEducators can create individual lists of recommended sites by tagging bookmarked sites. They can also create and serve as a moderator for a collective Blinklist Space, to which students can contribute recommended sites.
*del.icio.ushttp://del.icio.us/Bookmarking a site is an excellent idea, and using del.icio.us allows people to store and find bookmarks from any computer with Internet access. Using tags helps users organize bookmarks into virtual folders, which is helpful for group research projects.

Photo and Drawing
*Google SketchUphttp://sketchup.google.com This sophisticated drawing tool is ideal for creating three-dimensional models of houses, schools, and other objects in a community for a classroom project and placing them into Google Earth. It offers "real-time" shadow-casting and thousands of predrawn components.
Microsoft Photo Story 3 for Windowshttp://www.microsoft.com/photostoryThis powerful and free download allows users to create super slideshows (with motion, music, and narrative) from just a set of digital photographs. It is an excellent tool for student presentations.
*Tux Painthttp://www.tuxpaint.orgGeared to a younger clientele, Tux Paint provides a colorful, easy-to-use, and fun online drawing application with some relatively sophisticated features such as Magic tools (they create realistic bricks, grass, and mirror images), plus Rubber Stamp, Shape Tool, and more.

Photo Sharing
*Flickrhttp://www.flickr.comAlthough commonly thought of as a place to show off one's prowess as a photographer, Flickr can be very useful for group work. The Organizr feature, for instance, allows individuals to add photos to a group pool. Photos can also be organized by tags, which would make for some collaborative decision-making.

Video
*EyeSpothttp://www.eyespot.comThe site's slogan is "Movie Making For all Of Us," and it adheres to that slogan by providing easy-to-use editing tools for producing sophisticated finished products. The site advocates sharing by posting finished films to blogs, and allows users to view such posted films.
*YouTubehttp://www.youtube.comPurchased by Google in 2006, this video-display and sharing site has become the most popular of the group. It is the place to be seen. Unlike some others, it is used for storing and displaying videos only and offers no editing capabilities.

Web-based Word Processing
*ajaxWritehttp://www.ajaxwrite.comThe two big advantages are that the program can read and create MS Word files, and it has the look and feel of MS Word, making it more intuitive and eliminating the need to learn a new program. Files can be saved to a computer or server. The program requires Mozilla Firefox browser, which is available as a free download from Mozilla.
*Zoho Writerhttp://zohowriter.comAs the site says, "Access, edit, share documents from anywhere." The program accepts a wide range of file formats, including PDF, RTF, and even HTML. It also offers support for multiple languages, a significant advantage for ELL classes.

Web-based Spreadsheets
*Numblerhttp://numbler.comA big advantage of Numbler is its similarity to the look and feel of MS Excel. Multiple users can work with a spreadsheet, view changes in real time, discuss changes, and edit the master. Users can import data from and export data to desktop spreadsheet applications.

Presentation Tools
*Microsoft photo Story 3 for Windows.This powerful and free download allows users to create super slideshows with motion, music, and narrative from a set of digital photographs. It is an excellent tool for student presentations.
*SlideSharehttp://www.slideshare.netTeachers may create a mini-lesson slideshow to explain or enhance a concept, and student teams may create their presentations and post them. Presentations are accessible from any computer, and users are able to post comments.

Search Tools
*Technoratihttp://www.technorati.comThis tool specializes in searching through the 57+ million blogs out there, and also highlights the videos to which many blogs are currently pointing at any one moment.

Task Management
*Google Notebookhttp://www.google.com/notebook/ No more laborious and frustrating copying and pasting from Web pages to a Word or Excel file! This new tool allows users to clip and save text, images, and other Web data to one or more Notebooks without leaving the site. The notebooks are accessible from any computer with access to the Web. They can be organized and edited, and they can be made either public or private.
*Ta-da Lists http://www.tadalist.com/Offers the option of sharing lists with the world or just with a few people. Educators can maintain a list of lists to determine the status of various projects in a particular class. One unusual feature - a dot before each list indicates progress or lack of same. The larger the dot the more is left to do on that particular list.

Online Calendars
*Google Calendar.This free online shareable calendar service allows users to add events and invitations effortlessly or share with others. Teachers can set up calendars for each class and include information about class topics and descriptions for each session, activity, assignment deadlines, test and quiz dates, etc. It can also be useful for managing group projects.

Task Management
*Ta-da Listshttp://www.tadalist.comOffers the option of sharing lists with the world or just with a few people. Educators can maintain a list of lists to determine the status of various projects in a particular class. One unusual feature – a dot before each list indicates progress or lack of same. The larger the dot the more is left to do on that particular list.

Mapping
*Google Earthhttp://earth.google.com This mapping product combines satellite imagery from around the globe with Google search capabilities. Its navigational features allow users to explore the world and gather geographical information by zooming in from space to street level views. It offers tools for measuring, drawing, saving, printing, and GPS device support. Teachers can use Google Earth to get students excited about geography, economics, and demographics.

*selected resources taken from "Web 2.0: New Tools, New Schools" by Gwen Solomon and Lynne Schrum. To purchase this book, visit the ISTE Bookstore

IBM Thinkpad Technical Garb

2008-02-13T12:09:00.000-08:00

I am not sure who witnessed or was involved in trying to solve my laptop display issue, but it is now corrected.

I finally figured out what to do and I thought I would pass this along because I had never noticed the “tool” I had to use before and it may be helpful to those of you who have the ATI Graphics Card.

The problem was that when I docked my laptop it shrank the display and I could not make it return to a full screen. It could not be corrected with re-setting the display resolutions (right click on desktop, etc.), nor did it help to update the video driver. Everyone was stumped (including our techs).

Today, I discovered from START-PROGRAMS there is a Catalyst Control Center where you can go to adjust your display settings and most importantly RESTORE FACTORY DEFAULTS!!!

It is a shame I have suffered and strained my eyes for so long now when the answer was right there all along.