EdTech @ETHS Volume 1, Issue 6
March 2011
Ed Tech @ETHS Teacher Recognition
Do you know an ETHS teacher doing a great job of integrating technology in the classroom? Whether it is using Google Apps for a project, or taking advantage of the wide range of capabilities of the document camera, ETHS teachers are doing wonderful things with technology on a daily basis. It is time we start recognizing and celebrating many of these achievements. Later this month, we’ll announce the beginning of a video library that will store short clips of teachers using technology at ETHS. In addition, each month a featured teacher will win a $25 gift card for their contribution. If you are interested in participating in this video lesson share in the upcoming weeks, please email me to arrange a date and time.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1
EdTech @ETHS Teacher Recognition
1
Getting Ready for Parent Teacher Conferences
1
Internet Safety
2
Discovery Education’s Quest for Curiosity
2
Featured Posts from Chanatown.net
2
Quick Tech Tip/Ed-Tech Conference Update
2
Next Issue
Getting Ready for Parent Teacher Conferences
The spring round of Parent Teacher Conferences is this week, and below are some refreshers regarding TAC and some general technology tips. Creating TAC Grade Reports for each student or for specific students may be useful to refer to during your conferences. The IPR Grade Absence-Tardy Report allows you to retrieve sortable data on grades, tardies, and absences. Find the instructions for both reports linked on SharePoint here. For more tech tips during conferences, check out my post here.
Internet Safety This past Tuesday, members of the IIT department attended and presented at a PTSA forum titled, “Does My Teenager Need Help?” Joined by other ETHS staff on the panel, Paula, David, and Baccet discussed some current trends in social media, along with a few tips on how to identify and prevent cyber-bullying, and how to be responsible on the Internet. David provided a few Google tips including using Search every now and then to see what results (text, images, videos) are seen when typing in your name. You can also use Google Alerts to receive notification whenever new information is published about your name or any other topic.
EdTech @ETHS 1
DISCOVERY EDUCATION’S QUEST FOR CURIOSITY
Quick Tech Tool:
From DES: Discovery Education’s Quest for Curiosity is a teacher-led, student-focused activity. Students will navigate Discovery Education Streaming digital media resources and find the answers to 10 questions spanning core curricular areas. Along this path they will be exposed to relevant, engaging content tied to your state standards and the common core standards or your provincial standards. 25 prize packs including a Flip Video Camera are up for grabs. Register here for more details
Ed-Tech Conference Update
As a reminder, your Discovery login information is as follows:
Looking for a fun way to replace the popsicle stick random name picker? Try the web app “Random Name/Word Picker” for a quick and fun way to choose a student or play a round of flashcards.
On February 24, David Chan presented on Teacher Websites – What Works, What Doesn’t, What to Do? at the Illinois Computer Educators Conference in St. Charles, IL. Please find a Prezi and links here. In addition, several IIT staff attended the conference and shared their reflections here.
Username: full email address (i.e. chand@eths.k12.il.us) Password: gradebook ID and last name (305chan) For those without gradebook codes please email me for a pass code to create your own account. For more information on how to integrate all of the DES tools, please find relevant posts here.
FEATURED POSTS CHANATOWN.NET
NICE Meeting: Tuesday, 3/15 – New Trier Northfield, 5pm – This is a meeting for the local chapter of ICE. Free and light dinner served at 4:30pm. Register here if interested.
FROM
LINKABLE – ORGANIZE
AND
SHARE
YOUR LINKS WITH EASE
Do you find that you have links and bookmarks on so many different web browsers and wish that you could organize them better? With Linkable, you can easily access and organize all of your links into groups, and separate (personal vs. work) and share them with others in one click. Read more here and check out my growing list of TechStaff links here.
KNOWING WHEN TO BUY NEXT APPLE GADGET
Mini-Grants: Speaking of NICE, the group is offering minigrants for using technology in the classroom. Got a great idea for using iPods, iPads or some other tech tool? Fill out an application here. Due by March 15. 1:1 and Web 2.0 Conference: Saturday, 4/9 – Niles West High School – This is a great local opportunity to see how other area educators are integrating technology in their classroom. More details can be found here.
Next Issue:
YOUR
Apple releases the iPad 2 on Friday, yet rumor has it that iPad 3 will be even better and out later in the year. When is a good time to buy Apple products? Before you say “Never”, check out my post that references a site you can use to best time your purchase. IPAD
Upcoming Meetings and Conferences:
In April, following Spring Break, we’ll focus on using clickers as formative assessment tools, announce the first recognized tech teacher, and start thinking about summer technology workshops. For additional newsletter requests, tech support, comments, or just to say “hello”, please email or call at ext.7366. Thanks for reading.
2 RELEASED
And speaking of the “magical device”, those who can’t get enough of the iPad can find my thoughts on #2 here.
David Chan Technology Integration Specialist
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