Canastota Central School’s Technology Newsletter
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1
WELL CONNECTED!
BACK TO SCHOOL 2012
Inside this issue:
Beginning of the Year Advice from EdSurge from an article by Ben Stern “The enemy of innovation and growth is routine.” Here’s a few suggestions for making this the best school year ever!
Beginning of the Year Advice
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Misc. Tips
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SMART Ideas
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Cloud Storage Comparison
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Check Out These Apps
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Google Knowledge Graph
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Wordia
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All About Wikis
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Ten EdTech Commandments
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Be a Mac Power User
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1. Move beyond the textbook Textbooks are by nature restrictive. The chapter order is an imposition; the information within the book is only as current as the publication date. Liberate yourself from the book! If you don’t have the luxury of foregoing textbooks altogether, supplement them. The first step is to choose a destination for the resources. Edmodo is free, and looks and feels like Facebook but with educationfriendly features like assignment postings, quizzes, due dates, and more. If you’d prefer more customizability you could build a wiki with your students (see page 6). Once you set destination, you can begin to build content. Post a few resources for the beginning of the year, then invite students to contribute material thereafter - an excellent strategy for enriching students' learning. You might have students find interesting websites that relate to class, then they can guide the discussions with their discoveries. Have students rewrite sections of the textbook based on these resources and collect the best submissions in a wiki that becomes a living textbook for your class. You can even invite students to discuss subject-related videos in an Edmodo discussion board, then pick up the discussion in class the next morning as a warm-up.
"There is no end to education. It is not
2. Become an expert in one tool There are an overwhelming number of apps and software for every job. Should I use Diigo, Delicious, or Pinterest to collect my links? Is Photoshop, Gimp or Pixlr the right photo-editing software for me? There really is no single right answer. Pick one class of tools and become an expert in how to use one of the leading tools in that class. Skills from one platform are transferable to the others. You will benefit from learning everything about the tool you choose.
classmates. In class, they can apply their understanding of the reading in creative ways and discuss the essential meaning of the text. The extra time afforded to the students by the meaningful work they did the night before allows them to access the core of the text more effectively.
3. Read about all things education! In the middle of the school year, a good novel sounds much more compelling than a book on education. But books on pedagogical theory can influence your instruction in meaningful and enduring ways. 4. Revisit your homework strategy The essential justification for flipping – that is, utilizing technology to redistribute tasks between homework and classwork to make both more meaningful – can benefit any class. Are there individual activities that you could turn into homework in order to devote more attention to students in class? Is there a tangential class discussion that you want to continue but can't justify doing during precious class time? To flip your class, you can film your lecture, post it to your webpage, and allow your students to ask and answer questions. But you don’t necessarily need to post a lecture on-line to flip your class. Any aspect of your class can be flipped. Ask your students to conduct discussions of a reading assignment on your Edmodo page. Have some students be responsible for posting a discussion question, others for being first responders, and others for posting follow-ups. Every student has to respond to another discussion thread also. Students retain content better when they engage with their
that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning." ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti, Philosopher
5. Make a professional development schedule. Funds are limited in every school and they become increasingly scarce as the school year progresses, so attending conferences is often not an option. To demonstrate your genuine commitment to regular PD, plan to “attend” free webinars, such as those from ASCD or EdWeek, watch Ted talks about education or peruse the Teaching Channel for lesson plan inspiration.
Remember: Your teaching is only as good as your learning. Ben Stern writes the "Because You Asked" column for EdSurge.
WELL CONNECTED!
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A new word cloud generator! http://www.imagechef.com/ic/word_mosaic/
Not for education only‌ http://showmystreet.com/ - Type your address in one number or letter at a time and see where it takes you! http://www.zapaday.com/ - Read tomorrow’s news today. http://www.ebooksread.com/ - Download free ebooks http://www.roomle.com/ - An online planning tool for laying out floor plans, save your plans and even share them on Facebook. http://www.worldometers.info/ - Real time world statistics
Be sure to check out the other cool tools available on Image Chef!
http://www.noexcuselist.com/ - Learn almost anything, for free!
Excel Tip: The ampersand (&), commonly called the "and sign" is used a lot in names of companies as well as in standard text in documents. If you are creating a report in MS Excel you might notice that the ampersand characters will not appear properly if you add them to headers or footers. This is because the ampersand character is used as a "marker" that indicates a special formatting code will follow. So, if you need to use an ampersand, make sure that you double it (i.e., Smith && Smith). Even though you have entered two ampersands, only one will display in your header or footer.
Tips for Teaching Digital Citizenship While we shouldn't stop teaching children how to say "please" and "thank you," and bullies still exist in the face-to-face world, it is vital that we treat online safety and digital citizenship with the same amount of seriousness and attention. 1. Include lessons on dealing with cyberbullies in curricula. Do not just focus on face-to-face bullies, be aware of how social networks and online networks geared toward children work. 2. Spread awareness of the built-in tools that social networks have for dealing with trolls (those who post inflammatory or, at least, off-topic messages in an online community) and flaming (hostile and insulting interaction among internet users). 3. Help young people become aware of their "digital footprints." Unlike words on the playground, words exchanged in virtual spaces are permanent. Each time you take your students
online, spend time reviewing digital citizenship and internet safety. 4.
Look for teachable moments. Listen for moments and instances of either cyberbullying or "mean girls"-type chatter.
5.
Rethink your approach to teaching social skills to your students. We need to educate ourselves so we can better educate and support our students as they navigate the virtual playgrounds of 21st century childhood.
If adults are not equipped with the know-how of blocking, reporting spam, reporting abuse, and not "feeding the trolls," then our children have no one to go to for help. From T.H.E. Journal Insider
The
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Tips for a SMARTer classroom!
“Science games for kids, interactive science resources and activities for your SMARTBoard, PC or Mac. Learn about light, variation, magnets, springs, earth, sun and moon, changing states, materials, life cycles, habitats, mini beasts and our body with these great educational kids games.”
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/ks2science.html#lcycles5b Anatomy Arcade makes basic human anatomy come ALIVE through flash games, interactives and videos. http://www.anatomyarcade.com/
SMART Notebook 11 - Here’s a few of the updates you’ll see: Using the new toolbar- Notebook 11 introduces a new toolbar that organizes buttons into panels and makes some previously obscure features more visible. When you click one of the buttons in the Tools panel, the Contextual panel appears. The buttons in the Contextual panel enable you to create and format objects using the selected tool. Displaying Full Screen view page borders-Before you display a page in Full Screen view, select View>Full Screen Page Border, and then the appropriate aspect ratio for your interactive product. A blue line appears, indicating the portion of the page that will appear in Full Screen view without scrolling. This feature is useful when you’re creating content that you want to present in Full Screen view. Using the Activity Builder-The Activity Builder enables you to create matching activities, sorting activities, labeling activities, games and more using your own content. Using the Activity Builder, you define one object on the page as an activity object. You then define which objects on the page will be accepted and which will be rejected when you drag the objects over the activity object. Resetting pages-In previous versions of SMART Notebook , you could clear all objects or all digital ink objects from a page. In SMART Notebook 11, you can also reset a page to the state it was in when it was last saved and before you made changes to it. Filling digital ink drawings-In addition to filling shapes, regular polygons and irregular polygons, you can now fill areas enclosed by digital ink using the Fill tool. Controlling fading of digital ink-When you write or draw digital ink using the Magic Pen tool, the digital ink fades after a few seconds. You can now set the number of seconds before the digital ink fades. In addition, you can now set digital ink you write or draw with the Pens tool to fade after a specified number of seconds. Recording sounds-In previous versions of SMART Notebook, you could add sound files to objects. Now, you can also record sounds in using a computer microphone, and then add those sounds to objects. Grouping and ungrouping objects with gestures-You can now group and ungroup objects using the group gesture.
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A Comparison of Web Storage Products
From www.commonsensemedia.org
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lecturetools/id521133554?mt=8 - LectureTools is a student response system that also allows students to take notes linked with the slides and videos presented in class, answer instructor generated questions and pose questions to the instructor. All notes, questions and activities are instantly synchronized with the LectureTools web application. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/inclass/id374986430?mt=8# - “No matter how complex your school schedule is, inClass will help you keep track of all your courses. Not only that, but it will help you keep track of your tasks by reminding you that one is due soon, that way you have no excuse to not do your homework. On top of everything inClass will help you take notes way more efficiently than ever before. Video notes, audio notes, photo notes! You name it! Just take out your iPhone or iPod Touch and start taking notes. inClass will even know which class you are in!� http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/side-by-side-dropbox-support/id386528623? mt=8 Side by Side is a multiple-window reader/browser with offline reading and note taking capabilities. It turns the iPad into multiple resizable reading devices working in parallel.
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Improved Search Results With Google Knowledge Graph Knowledge Graph display is a recent addition to Google's search engine. It provides structured and detailed information about the search topic, in addition to a list of links to other sites. The goal is that users would be able to use this information to resolve their query without having to navigate to other sites and assemble the information themselves. When you search for things, people, or places that Google knows about, use the Knowledge Graph to enhance your search results. Find the right thing - The words you search with can often have more than one meaning. With the Knowledge Graph you can understand the difference, and narrow your results to find just the answers you're looking for. Get the best summary - See key facts about your search with the most useful and interesting information for that particular topic, based on the questions other people have asked. Go deeper and broader - Make unexpected discoveries and explore a topic more deeply with a springboard of information at your fingertips. What you find may surprise you! The technical stuff: When a person performs a Google search, conventional results are based on algorithms that look for matches with the terms rather than the meaning of the information entered into the search box. Google's algorithms first refer to data from past searches to determine which words in the query string are most likely to be important (based on how often they have been used by previous searchers). Next, software accesses a list of Web pages known to contain information related to those terms—known as reverse indexes. Finally, another calculation is used to rank the results shown to the searcher. With luck, what they're looking for will be found somewhere in those pages. Google's new approach, made possible through the Knowledge Graph, is to try to interpret what a person is asking about in a much more sophisticated way and directly retrieve relevant information. This feature is available on desktop, tablet and your smartphone.
Wordia is a free games-based learning platform - built on the foundations of a dictionary - that blends word-based learning games with interactive video vocabulary. Wordia encourages students to learn through play - building subject ‘Word Banks’ as they compete with classmates and other schools in a fun, competition-led, learning environment. http://www.wordia.com/
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A Wiki is a combination of a web site and a Word document. At its simplest, it can be read just like any other web site, but its real power lies in the collaboration possibilities.
All About
Here is a list of some of the most important features that make Wikis a powerful learning tool:
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Wikis are easy to create and do not require any special tech skills. They have very student-friendly interfaces. They can be accessed anywhere you have an internet connection. Anyone (with permissions) can edit a wiki. Wikis are instantaneous so there is no need to wait for a new edition or update Geographical borders are deleted and students from all around the world can collaborate and work on the same document. The Wiki software keeps track of every edit made and it is a simple process to revert back to a previous version of an article. Wikis widen access to the power of web publishing to non-technical users. Most of the Wiki hosting platforms are free.
Here are some points to keep in mind while using Wikis in your classroom :
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Dedicate a class period to just walking your students around the different features and get them to do some sample posting before you go live. Teach them about copyright issues. Provide the reasons you are creating the Wiki and make it clear it is for learning. Talk to them about the benefits they will receive from using a Wiki. Create a classroom FAQ page that students can refer back to. Create a poll or do a kind of voting to choose the name for your wiki.
Here are some suggested ideas on how you can leverage the power of Wikis to your classroom teaching and learning:
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You can share documents, media, and PDF files on your wiki. Wikis can be used as a portal for all your lessons. Using the discussion feature in Wikis, you can connect with your students and provide extra help. Expand your teaching beyond the classroom walls.
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Make it a class project to collaboratively write a reference book that others can use. Post assignments and study guides. Get your class to create summary pages on every unit they learn. Encourage students to share links and other helpful pieces of information on your wiki. Allow students to make drafts on the wiki and invite others to comment. Assign portfolio pages to each of your students and allow them to display and discuss their work. Use your wiki for peer editing. Wikis are a great way to get feedback from your students. Ask them to post comments on wiki pages. Use Wikis to track projects, allowing students to see which tasks have been completed and which have not. Create a news outlet on your wiki. Create an achievement page where parents can log in to see what their kids have accomplished.
Create your wiki here: Wikispaces.com
Ten EdTech Commandments 1. Thou shalt not be afraid - Using technology in the classroom can be daunting. It is always tempting to stick to tried and tested lesson plans and faithful old textbooks. But the benefits to be gained from introducing technology into the classroom far outweigh the risks! The opportunities to engage students with online games, interactive quizzes, videos and more are endless, so take the plunge and don’t let your fear stop you from exploring rich educational pastures now. 2. Thou shalt share with thy neighbor - The world of education technology is constantly evolving, and new programs and resources are arriving on the scene every day. One of the best parts of getting into e-learning is the network of wonderful educators online who are ready to share tips and introduce you to fantastic new sites. Try tapping into the brilliant information available on Twitter and make sure you reciprocate by sharing any great resources you find! 3. Thou shalt use many devices - Once you’ve started to explore the world of education technology, don’t stop there! Try moving on to different devices and find new methods of using your favorite websites- from iPads and apps to projectors and laptops, there are hundreds of different ways to access e-learning. 4. Thou shalt take safety precautions - The internet is a gateway to a wonderful new world of opportunities, but it also opens the door to some risks and dangers in the form of cyber bullying and Internet fraud. Make sure students are closely supervised at all times. There are lots of great websites available for exactly this purpose, where you can share online with your students in a safe, educational environment. 5. Thou shalt mix it up - It can be easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of e-learning resources available, so some teachers who are new to education technology become quickly used to using just one or two familiar websites. Try not to let yourself get into a rut of using only a few resources – one of the best parts of e-learning is leaving your comfort zone and discovering new ideas! 6. Thou shalt not keep secrets - Don’t keep your e-learning to yourself! Some of the most successful schools share e-learning platforms and protocols across departments and grade levels. Keeping your fellow teachers up-to-date with your techniques creates more effective collaboration and enhances everyone’s instruction. 7. Thou shalt practice and prepare - If you still feel apprehensive about integrating technology, remember the old adage that practice makes perfect. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t explore the websites thoroughly yourself prior to the lesson, and run through the quizzes or presentations you intend to use with your students until you feel confident using all the features of a program. 8. Thou shalt keep careful records - There is nothing more frustrating than using a terrific website one day and not being able to remember the web address when you want to come back to later. It’s easy to click through links from page to page and forget how you ended up on a particular site! So why not keep a database of your favorite sites so you never lose track of the best resources? Online bookmarking sites like Diigo and Delicious are particularly useful for this as they allow you to access your links from anywhere and on any device. 9. Thou shalt support thy students - Remember that not all students have the same level of technical know-how, especially if you are using tools like iPads or working on operating systems that some pupils might not have experienced before. A common mistake in this Facebook world is to assume that the social networking generation can use computers before they can walk – don’t forget that some students may need extra support and might be embarrassed about having to ask for it. 10. Thou shalt integrate thy technology in the classroom - Anybody can find good websites, but it takes a truly skillful teacher to properly integrate them into their lessons. Try to really combine your teaching techniques by teaching about something in class and then using an online resource to test students’ knowledge so that the different aspects of the lesson fit well together. from www.factuslearning.com
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Options for the Visually Challenged CURSOR SIZE - Often the cursor is not large enough to see exactly where it is on your screen. To increase the visual size of the cursor go to System Preferences / Universal Access / Mouse. The bottom of the panel has "For difficulties ..." with a slider to change the visual size of the cursor. The black tip of the visual cursor is where you are clicking when you click; for large cursor sizes the white area is not the sensitive point. INSTANT OPTION - Most applications running in your Apple computer have an instantaneous zoom capability that increases the size of the text in your active window. Simply press the Command key and tap the + key repeatedly. Command and – will decrease the size. SMOOTH ZOOM - The Command and + combination increases the active window display in fixed magnification steps. You can smoothly zoom your entire display using the Apple Mouse, Apple's Magic Mouse or the track pad of your computer. The maximum magnification greatly exceeds that of the Instant option above. The Apple Mouse has a scroll wheel that controls magnification. The other two devices use two-finger gestures to control magnification. Activate smooth zooming by clicking the Options button in System Preferences / Universal Access / Seeing. Towards the bottom of the window choose the "Only when ..." radio button to control screen image motion. Then select the check box "Use scroll wheel ..." and decide which modifier key to use. You can use the Command key, but you can use Control, Option or combinations. Click Done and quit System Preferences. INCREMENTAL ZOOM - Another method to zoom the full display is available in the System Preferences / Universal Access / Seeing panel's Zoom section. Turn incremental Zoom on (or off) with the On / Off radio buttons or the Option, Command and 8 keys. Once activated, change magnification by depressing the Command and Option key and tapping the + or – keys. Click on the Options button. Two slider controls are available. Adjust Maximum Zoom slider increases the amount of magnification each time you use Command, Option and + to zoom in. The Minimum Zoom slider controls step size when zooming out. As in Smooth Zoom above, select the radio button in "When zoomed ..." area to control screen motion as your cursor moves. Another check box in the Seeing panel is "Zoom in ...". Selecting this creates a rectangular magnifying glass you slide around on your display. The magnification is controlled by choices in the Options window. TALK TO ME - Apple also has text to voice services as part of the operating system if magnification of the visual information isn't sufficient. System Preferences / Universal Access / Seeing's panel offers up Voice Over. Voice Over is a text to speech application that will speak text from your display to you. The Voice Over Utility has extensive controls to make Voice Over a valuable aide.
iPad and iPhone Keyboard Shortcuts
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Double tap the Space bar to end a sentence and begin a new sentence. Double tap the Shift key in order to turn on caps lock. Tap once to unlock. Tap on the “.?123” key, hold, and drag to the desired character or numeral and release to enter the character or numeral and return to the alphabetic keyboard. Tap and hold a letter on the keyboard to enable accented versions of that letter. Tapping and holding on text brings up common options. Tap select to select a word. Use left/right arrow keys to extend options, including bold/italics/underline as well as define to get a definition. In Safari, if you know the domain of the web site you are trying to navigate to, you can type that in, such as “wikipedia” without the “www” or “.com” and Safari will take you there. In Safari, when entering an address in the address bar, tap and hold the “.com” key to get access to .net, .org, .edu options
Fine Adjustments to Volume and Brightness You can use the F-keys on your keyboard (sometimes with the FN key) to adjust volume and brightness. But did you know that you can hold down Option and Shift while doing that to move in smaller increments?