Creatively and Effectively Using Promethean Technology in the 3-5 Classroom

The purpose of this class will be to develop understandings about how to use the visualizer, activstudio software, and Promethean products to increase student understandings and engagement across all content areas. Each class will focus on a different content area and how to most effectively, efficiently, and creatively plan for instruction. In addition, we will develop ways to share our resources in order to learn from one another and cut down on planning time. This class will focus mainly on grade 3-5 content, but could easily be adapted for younger and older students.

Dates: March 3, March 10, March 31, April 7, April 14, April 21
Times: 3:30 – 6:00
Location: Crawford Elementary, Room 41

REGISTRATION

Today I encountered a projector that would only project with a pink hue. Whether it was plugged into a laptop or a visualizer, it was pink. I think what happened is that someone started up the projector using the S-video. That changed the settings automatically so that when you try to just use a VGA, the projector shows a pink hue.

Here’s the info on how to reset a projector to normal.

Menu>Signal>Computer Input>RGB

Here’s a post from the APS Technology Learning Fair committee.

This year, APS will host its first annual Technology Learning Fair. Planning is still underway, however we are looking for a few good people to help with planning and carrying out this event. If you would like to help, please email Shannon Wentworth (scwentworth@aps.k12.co.us) or Gwynn Moore (gmmoore@aps.k12.co.us).

FAQs

What is a Technology Learning Fair? A Technology Learning Fair is very similar to a science fair. Students complete special projects which have a strong emphasis on technology and then gather to share what they have learned and how they created their projects.

Why hold a Technology Learning Fair? Technology is no longer the future of education. It has become an important part of today’s education. Students need to have a well-rounded twenty-first century education which means providing them with access to twenty-first century tools and techniques. A Technology fair helps showcase what our students can do with today’s technology tools. A technology fair is also a way for schools across APS to share their visions and achievements with each other and the community.

When will the Technology Learning Fair be held? The Technology Learning Fair will take place on Thursday, April 17th. Set up will occur from 3:00-5:00 PM. Judging will take place from 5:00-6:00 PM. Entries will be open for public viewing from 5:30-7:00 PM. The Awards ceremony will begin promptly at 7:00 PM.

Where will the Technology Learning Fair be held? Hinkley High School will be the location for the Technology Learning Fair.
Hinkley High School
1250 Chambers Rd.
Aurora, CO 80011
303-340-1500

When are applications due? Student applications will consist of pages 2-4 of the Student Notebook (downloadable from the Technology Learning Fair website http://www.apstech.wikispaces.com). Applications need to be submitted via inner-school mail to either Gwynn Moore at Paris Elementary or Shannon Wentworth at Sixth Avenue Elementary no later than February 29, 2008.

Where can I learn more about the Technology Learning Fair? Click here to learn about the rules of the Technology Learning Fair.

Here is some info that Jay sent us on making sure that staff and students refrain from using markers on electronic whiteboards. Be especially careful to notify subs. One teacher this year had a sub the day his Promethean board was installed. The first thing the Guest Teacher did was to write on the board.

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Here are some suggestions from Promethean Planet’s Forum:

“Here’s what I’ve seen and heard as I travel to schools:

1) drape an actual sheet or some type of cover over the board

2) post bright orange signs on the board with the international sign for “do not” – circle with line through it – use markers on the board

3) have no markers anywhere around the board at all

4) assign a couple kids in each class to immediately tell a substitute teacher not to write on the board

The rest might just be good fortune…”

“If you use a “fitted sheet” the elastic around the corners will hold it on the board.”

Hope this helps, Jay

ActivStudio is a fantastic tool for working with student work. Using a visualizer or camera you can take a picture of student work and then import it into an activstudio flipchart. Once there you can use the tools on the toolbar to have students create, add to, delete from, label, diagram, highlight, etc. For example in science you can snap a picture of a plant for students to diagram using the text and line tools. During writing you can snap a picture of a student’s journal. Then students can use the highlight, lines and text tools to edit the image.

This video demonstrates how to import images from a SPC300 visualizer into activstudio.