2011aug30les



**Looking Forward: Where Do We Want To Go?**

I think being aware of technology is important. Learning how to use it in the classroom is even better. We can get bogged down, though, in the details of the technology, but what we want to focus on is helping students be better learners in the main areas: literacy, numeracy, social awareness, scientific thinking and understanding, and physical and mental well-being. These things don't change. The question is how can we use technology to support learning in these areas.

Read the article entitled "Is It Okay To Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?". We are going to do a little reading activity. Everyone please read the article and break into groups of 3 or so.


 * 1) Read the article individually. Highlight 2-3 items that stand out to you in some way.
 * 2) In turn, read one of your highlights. Do not comment on the highlight; only read it.
 * 3) One by one, group members will make a comment on the highlight.
 * 4) Do not comment or discuss each person's thoughts on the highlight.
 * 5) Once everyone has had the chance to comment, the reader will share his or her thoughts on the highlight and why it stood out.
 * 6) The next person will read a highlight, comments will be made and the reader will then tell why it stood out. And so on around the table.


 * // Questions, concerns, and comments??? //**


 * On becoming a techno teacher in a small way! **

How to start:
 * Look at what others have done. (It may seem overwhelming, you will get over it)
 * Follow other educators on blogs and in other forms of social media.
 * **Don't be afraid**
 * Start small, but start somewhere.

**Moving to infusion by creating online content with Firstclass** 1. Why a weblog/teacher website? Snowball fight.
 * 1)  on a piece of paper write one idea why a teacher should have a website
 * 2) crumple paper and throw at another fellow teacher
 * 3) continue to throw snowballs as they come to you until at which time you will be asked to stop, uncrumple the snowball and write a new idea and then continue to throw!
 * 4) we will then take a look at the ideas that have come in and solicit the ideas from the snowballs.

Ideas
 * up to date info
 * I heart Wilson - easier to share online resources
 * develop relationships with home and school
 * students/parents access info anywhere
 * to be tech literate
 * to post team schedule
 * expectations
 * simpler for students who miss the day
 * fewer phone calls to handle
 * be organized and current
 * communications tool - modern
 * responsibility of the students

**Establishing a teaching web presence** Learning from example: [] [] [] []

2. FirstClass Weblog pages are created using the FirstClass software. You log into FirstClass and first create a Home Page Folder on your HorizonNet Desktop. (done once) 3. It will be important to follow the steps in the correct sequence when setting up your folder. The overall structure of your FirstClassWeb Page consists of a "Home Page Folder" which must contain a "Home Page". The "HomePage" is the first page that will be displayed when your web page is accessed. The web editor is a wysiwyg (visual editor)  Use the tools from the tool bar and drop down menus to make things fancy. * Any additional pages that are linked to from the "Home Page" will also be contained within the"Home Page Folder". 4. The URL used to access yourweb page will be: hzsd.ca/~firstname.lastname/ eg. Note: Your name should match your email address. 5. Creating links to your personal teaching pages is important. - How can links be promoted? - How can one ensure that content is kept updated? 6. Applying the template design select the web root and choose appearance in the toolbar to select template skin. Do this for each web page type or created folder. 7. Nesting Your Website (allows for multiple pages to be linked off the main navigation). create a webfolder, rename with getinfo (mac) or properties (windows) 8. Other pages Blogs - create a blog, use it for student discussion (new web page --> blog) || 10. Advanced ideas
 * [[image:http://hzsd.ca/~infusionsouth/FOV1-0002AD90/S005291E0.3/11272008_123212_1.gif?src=.PNG width="273" height="79" align="middle" link="@http://hzsd.ca/~infusionsouth/FOV1-0002AD90/S005291E0.3/11272008_123212_1.gif?src=.PNG"]] ||  || create content within this folder like normal and apply an appropriate appearance. ||
 * [[image:http://hzsd.ca/~infusionsouth/FOV1-0002AD90/S005291E0?Action=IBPicture46 width="86" height="89" align="middle" link="@http://hzsd.ca/~infusionsouth/FOV1-0002AD90/S005291E0.1/11272008_122705_0.gif?src=.PNG"]] ||  || Podcasts - simple tool for raw podcast (new web page --> podcast) - can create a podcast in another program and save here as well ||

a. Embed youtube and other web 2.0 content. - copy the embed code from youtube and paste into a page. Select the text, right click and choose **format --> format text --> literal html**

- creating a website in Iweb, coffeecup, or other program that can create tool and copy it into a web folder by dragging and dropping from where you saved the master site on your computer. b. Publishing other firstclass items as web content. sample site: hzsd.ca/~jim.swan Bookmarks  Calendar   Share folder etc. Need more how to's? Check out [|First Class's help] ! 11. When it is time to add more ideas and content to your site! Check out things you may have on your website.


 * Looking for direction and taking it further? **
 * How can I help you do what you want to do? **

There are many websites with resources and tools that you can use for a variety of purposes. There are more and more popping up all the time. Some examples:
 * Kidblog
 * Popplets
 * Storybird
 * Voicethread
 * Prezi
 * Gapminder
 * Scribblemaps
 * Glogster
 * this wiki ... ubershare.wikispaces.com is loaded as well with great teahcing ideas ... browse around!

You can also learn how to work with video as evidence of learning using flip cameras as well as other media.
 * Photo Stories
 * Context Words
 * eBooks
 * Skype Conversations

Another source for ideas is in the work of other educators. For example, //The Super Book of Web Tools for Educators// has many sites and ideas for all levels of teacher.

The key is not so much giving students information, but to train them to use their minds to gather information, evaluate it, and produce evidence of their ability to do so.

I can be available to work with you on infusing technology into your practice. We can approach this in two ways:
 * Co-teaching - I can teach with you, helping incorporate technology as you teach in the classroom.
 * Projects - I can do projects with you that relate to the concepts the students are learning, giving you the opportunity to try the projects while I guide you and the students through.

I will be available for the rest of the afternoon to discuss and help plan whatever you want.

Wikis

 * wdsinfusion.wikispaces.com
 * imperialinfusion.wikispaces.com
 * baronsinfusion.wikispaces.com
 * vcsinfusion.wikispaces.com
 * cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com

Blogs

 * Free Technology for Teachers
 * Langwitches Blog
 * iLearn Technology