Category Archives: Uncategorized

>>>>>>>>>> Please TAKE SURVEY <<<<<<<<<<

The combination of a clean  desktop, an inspired purpose and Google Forms can make collecting information fun and useful.

1. Give your desktop a makeover.
2. Get inspired by necessity.
3. Create a survey with Google Docs.
4. Place directions, survey and resources on desktop
5. Give students time to get to it.
6. Evaluate the data.
7. Share the results

Here’s a great tutorial on from Kevin Riebau on how to permanently tell your computer which application you want it to use when opening certain files.

An issue that keeps coming up – enough to warrant the production of the following 1min video – is that of files not opening in our preferred program. Many times this is due to upgrading software like Microsoft’s Word ’03 to Word ’07 and Promethean’s ActivStudio to ActivInspire. For example, the issue is that when you click on a .doc file, it doesn’t automatically open in Word ’07 (because .docx files do that initially). The idea is that you want to customize what app your files open in – typically the upgraded software or your preferred program. The following movie will show you how to make your files automatically do this all the time and the process can be applied to any kind of files and their associated prgrams (for instance all audio filetypes .mp3, .aiff, .wav with iTunes).

[kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/OOjuocXOyGg” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]

Do you want to create a web presence in order to enhance communication and collaboration with and between students!? A web presence is a critical element of effectively utilizing netbooks.

Why create a virtual presence on the Internet? Here are two resources to shed some light on why. Check out Tom Fox’s presentation on how dynamic educators at Rangeview Highschool are using the Internet to increase communication and collaboration among students. Or better yet, watch the video below to see student’s opinions on using netbooks in conjunction with a web presence.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/LgoojRaEP1E" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

There are so many possibilities for getting started… epals, ning, moodle & wordpress to name a few. Contact the technology coach nearest you to get started!

WARNING!: Before inviting students to your site, work with them to develop rules, boundaries, procedures and consequences for appropriate and inappropriate behaviour.

Here are some of the differences between epals, ning, moodle and wordpress.

Internet Solution / functions	blog	chat	email or internal email	safety protocols	student authoring	wiki
epals
ning
moodle
wordpress

To get started with epals, send your tech coach this information:

1. What level of lockdown you want to start with? Can students email within the classroom, school, district or world?
2. Students email will be filtered at level 2. You will only have to approve email that may be inappropriate. Specify if you want more or less restriction.
3. What grade are students in?
4. Send students last name and first name. Can be a text file or spreadsheet.
5. Note: You will be sent a username and password as a teacher and an administrator. As a teacher you will be able to communicate with students. As an administrator, you’ll be able to add/remove students and reset passwords.

To get started with Ning, send your tech coach this information:

1. Students will need an email address. Get started with epals (above).
2. Go to www.ning.com and register for a site and get started customizing it.
3. Send students to your site to register and get started

To get started with moodle, send your tech coach this information:

1. Email your technology coach and ask to be set up as a Course Creator in moodle.
2. As a course creator you will be able to add and remove students from your course as needed.
3. Here’s how to get your class started.
4. EPALS:
   Make sure that epals’ “access level” is set to Internet.

   How do I get students registered for Moodle?

   1. • MOODLE:

      Students go to http://apslearning.net/

      • Create new account with
      • epals username
      • epals password
      • epals email address
      • a registration link is sent to the students’ epals account
      • Students go to epals and click on the Moodle registration link.
      • Students go back to apslearning.net to log in

Here’s how to get your class started.

1. Make sure that epals’ “access level” is set to Internet. (Contact tech coach if students don’t have epals accounts.)
2. Students go to http://apslearning.net/
3. Create new account with…
   • epals username
   • epals password
4. epals email address a registration link is sent to the students’ epals account
5. Students go to epals and click on the Moodle registration link.
6. Students go back to apslearning.net to log in

To get started with wordpress, send your tech coach this information:

1. Register here.

Useful tools to use in conjunction with your website.

• Drop Box (www.getdropbox.com)
• Google Docs (https://docs.google.com)
  • Google forms

The GIMP provides students an excellent tool for  creating nonlinguistic representations of concepts. Whether creating diagrams, summarizing hypotheses, or creating graphics to accompany text, the GIMP can “represent.” “GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It works on many operating systems, in many languages.”

Below is a lesson using GIMP. The lesson assumes a basic knowledge in using a search engine, downloading files, organizing files within folders and understanding and using technology systems. The lesson also assumes a well-articulated project. The lesson works best in tandem with written work such as a research paper, report, scientific hypothesis, etc. Through the process of developing this image, students should be reflecting on their written words. The process may help clarify some ideas, causing students to further revise their written work.

TOPIC: Creating nonlinguistic representation of a thesis statement.

AUDIENCE: High School English students

PURPOSE: Students will be able to clarify their thesis into a single nonlinguistic representation.

OBJECTIVES:
APS Secondary writing continuum: Relies on self-reflection and critical evaluation of own writing to ensure effective communication of ideas.
ISTE NETS: 2b. communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.

GOAL: Create a stamp that represents your opinion. For example, “Linux offers students a way to research, create and communicate.”

ASSESSMENT: Using google forms, peers report what they believe their peer’s thesis statement is. If the student’s peer is able to successfully able to predict the thesis statement, the student has passed.

STEPS

Create a non-linguistic representation of your thesis statement.
1. Decide which images you need to express your idea.
2. Choose the sources finding the right images.
3. Locate the images, download them to a folder. Record the location of the image for your bibliography.
4. Consider your images. Choose the images you’ll need and decide how they’ll fit together.
5. Combine the images using GIMP to compose a single image that expresses your main idea.
6. Consider your image. Does it successfully represent your idea? If not, go back to step 1.

EXAMPLES:

VOCABULARY:
toolbox, tool options, image window, layers, brushes, patterns, crop

RESOURCES:

• http://www.atomiclearning.com/k12/en/gimp24pc
  
  • (log in to oneplace and then atomic learning prior to clicking on this link)
• http://docs.gimp.org/2.6/en/

SOURCES:

• Represent Yourself with the GIMP (presentation)
• http://www.aps.k12.co.us/instruct/resources/literacy/secondary.html
• http://www.big6.com/
• http://www.gimp.org
• http://www.iste.org
• http://www.iste.org