Tech+Archives

=Welcome to our Technology PD Page!=
 * April, 2010**

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I recently visited another school district similar in size to us. At the front and center of each classroom is a fairly new, 3M overhead transparency overhead projector. Many teachers appear to have a nice desktop computer at their desk, there were multimedia projectors in a majority of the classrooms, but very few being used, and a document camera or two in the science rooms. With the exception of laptops and multimedia projectors in most 4-12 classrooms, this was a snapshot of the technology in our buildings last year. I thought about how commonplace and essential the multimedia projector, document camera and laptop have become a part of your classrooms and teaching – and how one could walk through a building at any given point and witness this! I also thought about the implementation of the SMART technologies many have embraced, and things such as the use of iPods and the multiple software applications you have learned about this past year and now use regularly.======

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I have also been fortunate to judge and be a part of statewide student technology fairs (over 500 students throughout the state will have participated in these throughout this week). The projects I judged, and the products I have read about from other fairs have been amazing! These are K-12 technology projects students enter in a variety of categories —and what has been the eye-opening experience for me is that many of these projects were projects students are doing on their own time outside of the school day – not a part of a classroom assignment. Video production. . . graphic design. . . web page creation. . . podcasting. . . these are just a few examples of the categories students were entering their projects in. The journey lies in continuing to find ways to incorporate the commonplace technology students are using everyday outside of school to engage them in the learning process while they are at school.======

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It has been a truly enjoyable experience to read about and to assist some of you in implementing new technologies into your classrooms and teaching. The collaboration and idea sharing has been great to read on the technology wiki! I look forward to the road ahead of us as we continue to not only move forward in terms of hardware and devices, but also in the implementation of more technology into our classrooms and district as a part of the learning process. This is where taking the road less traveled, and forging ahead, will make all the difference. (~It is here that I must give Robert Frost credit for the inspiration~)======

Fifteen years ago (February 27, 1995) this opinion article was published in Newsweek:
 * February, 2010**

Fifteen years ago I was a junior in college. I remember thinking it was so great that I could find information on a computer using Gopher to develop lessons and complete assignments. Remember earlier in the year when I threw out most technology that exists today has only happened in the last fifteen years? Go back in time, read the article. Post a reaction on the discussion page. I look forward to reading your thoughts!

Hard to believe, but another new year is upon us! With a new year often comes that time of reflection -- and the time to decide what you will resolve to change or improve upon. Diet. . . exercise. . . finances. . . more me time. . . more family time. . . -- many of the common resolutions people make in their personal lives. As a professional and educator -- what was your resolution for change/improvement this year? Specifically, what new technology skill(s) do you want to learn, and are there things you would like to use in your classroom? We are living in ever changing times -- and personally I think these are revolutionary times not only in life experiences, but by presenting great opportunities in education. We are not limited to the confines of a building or classroom for education to happen. Our students realize this, and live in a world where learning, interacting and creating are all in a day's "work". We are constantly faced with ever changing times. Read[| here] about 15 Gadgets That Changed Everything this Decade. I also enjoyed this [|link]: 21 Things That Became Obsolete This Decade.
 * January, 2010**

Not sure where to start? Read the November blog about the Top 100 Tools for Learning. Are there things there you could use or want to learn about? I downloaded Skype over one of the snow days and plan to become familiar with it. Our fears often keep us from trying these things. Sometimes things may not work perfectly the first time -- but by working through the pitfalls comes the true learning process. Remember - The only real failure in life is the failure to try. I look forward to hearing from you, your attempts (and success -- share them on the discussion board), and your resolutions.


 * November, 2009**

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Compiled yearly for the past three years, this site invites learning professionals to contribute their Top 10 Tools lists to help compile the annual Top 100 Tools for Learning. What I found exciting as I read this -- we are on the right track! Thinking about the technology PD we are offering this year, and the Top Tools list -- we have them covered! Obviously, there is much more to learn. And there many things on the list that several of us already use (email, Twitter, Facebook, Firefox, Wikipedia, Word to name a few). But what a great start on our path to connecting to the digital world.======

**Among the top 100:**

 * ======Googledocs/GoogleApps======
 * ======Wikis======
 * ======Ning======
 * ======Blogs======
 * ======Powerpoint======
 * ======iTunes/iTunes U======
 * ======GarageBand======
 * ======YouTube/TeacherTube======
 * ======iMovie======
 * ======//and although iPhoto specifically is not listed// . . . . there are photo storage/sharing/creation sites that do the same thing======

On the main page of the website there is a slideshow presentation you can watch that gives a description of each of the 100 Tools (we will learn about Slideshare, one of the tools and a way to share slideshows with others). There is also a chart underneath that will give you information regarding platform (Mac and/or PC) as well as cost (many of these items are free!). There are many great things on that site that are free and that I have used at various times. Wordle (wordle.net) is one of my favorites. Awesome classroom application to make word clouds on anything imaginable. Tried a flip video camera? Take a look sometime. This is the world our students, children, grandchildren, etc. are growing up in. And one we are striving to survive in. Oh, and I still think anything invented after the age of 35 is still new and exciting and revolutionary and I could probably get a career in it! (Think of the first quote I posted -- see below.)

I have enjoyed reading the interaction taking place on the discussions page (have you thought of ways you could use this in the classroom ?), and have been excited to read the application of our first session in the classrooms. Our students are receiving many benefits from this, and are experiencing first hand application of the world they are growing up in and the one we are preparing them to be a part of. Keep up the good work, and don't be afraid to try new things. **"Change is good. You go first."** Go first, and let me know what you find!

= = Luddite by Degrees 1) Anything that is in the world when you're born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works. 2) Anything that's invented between when you're 15 and 35 is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it. 3) Anything invented after you're 35 is again the natural order of things --- Douglas Adams
 * September, 2009**

A colleague uses the above quote as his signature in email correspondence. I can't help but smile when I read this on several accounts. One, I question whether or not I will really stop finding everything new and exciting and revolutionary within the next two months (LOL). Two, I think about the comparison of the "pre 15" and "post 35" view of everything is normal and it's just the way things work. I don't know about you, but I am not sure I view the world and all it's norms the same way my children do, let alone most of the student body. So that's the purpose of this--closing the digital gap and co-existing in the digital world with the natives -- that social networking Web 2.0 world in which we are no longer isolated, but in which we can collaborate and share our ideas and learn from one another **//-////- anywhere, anytime!//** How cool is that?

There may be growing pains and things we have to tweak along the way. . . but **"//if all possible objections must first be overcome, nothing good will ever be accomplished.//"**