Tag Archives: textbooks

Technology Integrator midyear reflection for the Governor Wentworth School District

This is my mid year reflection for the 2014-2015 school year. It reflects how we are trying to address both teaching and infrastructure challenges.

For the 2014-2015 school year I am continuing to use the same guidelines that are included in the District Technology Plan. The SAMR model of technology integration (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition), the district ICT standards, (I can statements),and Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy. During the fall of 2014, I have continued to meet with media personnel and teachers throughout the district. We have collaborated to implement multimedia projects that enhance student publications. I have provided training for Google Classroom and helped teachers enhance their Blizzard Bags. I have continued to stress the  proper siting of images and materials that are “free to use” on the Internet. I feel that we have made real progress in exposing students to the Creative Commons concept. I am already seeing an increase in the acceptance of CC in the middle school. This is because the students have been introduced to CC in the lower grades. I presented a workshop on Creative Commons at the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference. I also conducted a video making workshop. To face the challenges in technology infrastructure, I have been working with IT to provide solutions that include the increased purchase of Chromebooks, adding RAM to to units that can accept upgrades, establishing criteria for future purchases, and addressing issues of bandwidth. The goal is to provide each student in the district with adequate technology access whenever and wherever it is appropriate. It will also be necessary to provide this quality of access for online testing. The task force is also looking into the feasibility of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). The good news is that bandwidth issues are surfacing because of the acceptance of Google Apps and Internet usage. Now that our staff is showing the ability and willingness to use technology tools, it is important that we provide them with the proper resources. I would like to see staff members taking advantage of online learning opportunities and the task force is looking at internal webinars. I continue to follow many education experts via Twitter, blogs, and curation sites such as “Scoop It.”. I will continue to share ideas using district e-mail and my blog. I continue to be one of the administrators of the district Google Console and I am the webmaster for the middle school. Rebecca Bureau, Jo Williams, and I advised the students who successfully submitted a completed three minute video to the Governor’s “Manufacturing is Fun” film making contest. This is the kind of project that is very gratifying for both the students and the teachers involved. The students were very proud of what they accomplished. We were proud of them. Unfortunately my schedule makes it difficult to keep up with helping students to continue to create the KRMS TV show. I am hoping that perhaps collaboration with Jo Williams and Scott Geiessler may lead to the continuation of this program. In the future I intend to continue to work with teachers and media personnel throughout the district. I am encouraged by the progress that has made made. I see my task as being there to help get beyond the substitution and augmentation levels in the SAMR model. Through collaboration and a willingness to take risks we can all enhance what we are already doing.  We will be able to redefine how we teach using technology, not as a means to an end, but rather as a tool that can enhance powerful student and teacher learning.

 

Google Doc Update-Adjust image Colors and Filters

Click here for my latest Scoop it posts.

Here is a new update for  Google Docs.  You can now adjust image colors and filters.  This was recently introduced to Google Slides and now you can take advantage of this in a Google Drive Document.  Adjust Image Colors and Filters

I post the  awhile back but this is a reminder that Read and Write for Google is a Google Chrome extension.   It is available in the Google Chrome Store .  Once you have installed the trial version, you can register as an educator, and the extension is free.  The yearly subscription is normally $100. The registration is on the upper right hand corner of  of a Drive document.  Listed below are some of the things Google Read and Write can do.  Also check out TextHELP for more information on this useful  extension.

  • Read Aloud with dual-color highlighting
  • Word Prediction
  • Translator
  • Talking and Picture Dictionaries
  • Fact Finder
  • Highlighters and ability to collect highlights
  • Vocabulary Builder to easily create a list of words with text definitions and images
  • Annotations (PDF and ePub)
  • Navigational tools (PDF and ePub)

Enhancements for Google Classroom

How to Create Interactive Collages Using PicMonkey and Thinglink from Richard Byrne

Another great idea from Richard Byrne. His “Free technology for Teachers” website is full of ideas for using free technology in the classroom.

How to Create Interactive Collages Using PicMonkey and Thinglink

More links on my Scoop It

Going to the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference in Manchester New Hampshire  on December 2-4?  Rebecca Bureau and I  will be presenting “Inexpensive Video in the Classroom” on Tuesday December 2. We will also be presenting “Bring Your Students Notebooks into the 21st Century” on Wednesday December 3.  I will also present “Using Creative Commons in & out of the Classroom” on December 3.

Read and Write for Google is Free For Educators

Read and Write for Google is a Google Chrome extension.   It is available in the Google Chrome Store .  Once you have installed the trial version, you can register as an educator, and the extension is free.  The yearly subscription is normally $100. The registration is on the upper right hand corner of  of a Drive document.  Listed below are some of the things Google Read and Write can do.  Also check out TextHELP for more information on this useful  extension.

  • Read Aloud with dual-color highlighting
  • Word Prediction
  • Translator
  • Talking and Picture Dictionaries
  • Fact Finder
  • Highlighters and ability to collect highlights
  • Vocabulary Builder to easily create a list of words with text definitions and images
  • Annotations (PDF and ePub)
  • Navigational tools (PDF and ePub)

Google Search Education

Google Search Education provides Common Core aligned lesson plans for beginner, intermediate, and  advanced Google Search users.  Learning how to interpret and refine searches may well be one of the most important skills that we can master in the 21st Century.  This is the link to the the homepage with very interesting links to multiple resources on Google Searches.     Homepage

 

Check out the “Live Training Videos”.  I found the video on “Believe it or not: Authority and credibility of sources on the web”  particular interesting.  The video “Creative Commons” is critical as everyone should by using creative searches in order to respect copyright  laws.

My Latest curated Scoop It links

What do you want to do? There is a tech tool for that from Educational Technology Guy

This is a great list of apps from “Educational Technology Guy”  based on what you want your students to do.  What do you want to do?  There is a tech tool for that.

 

Latest links on my Scoop It

How to Get a Real Education-Kurt Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut on getting a real education from the Huffington Post. Someone asked an author friend of mine why he bothered to write? Here’s the answer in a letter from Kurt Vonnegut written to a high school . “How to Get a Real Education”

Twitter for Teachers by Erin Klein

It is worth checking out this short YouTube Video on using Twitter for Teachers from Erin Klein of Klienspiration.  Twitter is really a great staff development tool for teachers.  Even if you are not interested in “tweeting” yourself, Twitter offers the opportunity to follow the top people in education and just about every other field for that matter.  I presented on this topic at the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference last year and will do so again.  I consider this to be one of the most useful tools on the Internet. Who would have believed years ago that we could all have a direct connection to the top people in our curriculum areas?

More food for thought on my Scoop It 

 

A Great Blog Post from “Langwitches Blog” on Blogging in Education

Langwitches Blog is one of the best resources for educators on the Internet.  This series of articles is a very complete guide on the aspects of successfully introducing students to blogging. These are the links to the complete series:  Reading, Writing, Student Writing, Commenting, Connecting, Reciprocating,  Consistency and Quality.  Blogging is a great way to meet Common Core standards and this blog gives you what you need to know to get your students started.  Student blogs are also a great addition to student portfolios.

 

My Scoop It links

OpenEd

OpenEd is free and full of resources for education.  You can search for materials by grade level, content and common core standards.  This site is particularly helpful in searching for videos, games, and exercises that align with specific common core standards.

Also check out my latest curated sites on  my Scoop It.  I especially like the “Seven Steps to the Perfect Story” by Transmedia Story Telling for the Digital Age.  “Catamount a North Country Thriller”  is a good example of  overcoming the monster.