LPS Blogging Community

Today I was a part of a panel discussion for technology coordinators. They wanted a variety of viewpoints from people in the classrooms or administrators.The picture shows my laptop with a Google Doc I used to keep track of my thoughts and comments.Budget cuts, inventory, and lack of interest by teachers were high on the list of topics. I was surprised that there was somewhat of an upbeat attitude, dare I say "can do attitude"? Most were willing to do whatever it takes to keep technology in the schools. That might look like reusing existing equipment but trying to find a new use. Ideas also included auditing usage to see if subscriptions or reorders for equipment is necessary. Quite interesting. However, one technology leader suggested that technology not be the first thing to be cut. Demand that another area take the hit...Guess that may not quite go over well with some! Anyway, it was interesting being chosen to represent special education teachers.

See original: NECC - Sunday

Today I was thrilled to spend the whole day at the Discovery Education Network. With the help of my friend Jennifer, I rode the "Metro" train to Silver Springs, Maryland. It took some time to figure out the whole farecard process. I may get the hang of it by the end of the week!The learning opportunities were abundant. Presentations were given by educators who use Discovery products and are able to demonstrate many uses. I am in awe of the capabilities of each product. It is a pleasure to watch presenters show their passion for teaching with the right tools.Which student would not benefit from a teacher who is excited to share new knowledge?My only regret today is that I did not win the big door prize...I so wanted the Mimio system. This is an interactive whiteboard system which does not require a dedicated whiteboard such as a Smartboard or Promethean board. This system uses a magnetic backed "capture bar". It attaches to any whiteboard and uses a specialized infrared pen. Wow. It packs away in a small case and can be carried from room to room!I think this would be a great option for many because there would be no need to bring in another board. Maybe I will win one during the main NECC conference?!? One can dream, can't they?

See original: Day of Discovery

The B&B room is not ready for a while...so, I am in Starbucks people watching. This is a view from my table by the window. I will probably explore in a bit...thinking falafel for lunch is high on my list!

See original: Arrived at NECC

See original: My Blog in Wordle

My ideal teaching job would be in a 4th grade classroom with 25 students in a lower socioeconomic neighborhood with high diversity.  Technology available of course! Outside of content, I would teach “I Can”.  I often hear from other teachers that their students can’t do what my students do because they are ELL or they don’t’ have a computer at home.  I want to show those students that they can! And I want to show those teachers who say they can’t, that they can!

See original: My Ideal Job

Soon I will fly off to my first technology conference. I have the honor of going to Washington DC (also a first...) for a week of priceless learning and connections.There are so many choices for sessions to sign up for. I have to say I have lost some sleep trying to figure out a direction. Since I am a special education teacher I am involved in every curricular area. I would like to find sessions to meet each area. Of course, the techie side of me would like to have some enrichment! I have tried to make every minute count. I have a feeling I will be dead on my feet. I am looking forward to a capitol hill visit with many other educators. I am scheduled to visit the office of U.S. Senator Mike Johanns. Unfortunately, he will be back here in Nebraska on business...I am sure his staff will be just as informative. At the end of the week I would like to tour other sites. The Holocaust Museum is tops on my list.I have to mention that one of the best things happening during my week in DC will be meeting members of my PLN (Professional Learning Network) from Twitter and Plurk. I have officially registered for a "Tweetup" on Monday night. I am pretty sure there is a "Plurkup" planned as well...How amazing to meet many of the people who have become colleagues via the internet!Here is my tentative itinerary for the conference:Saturday-Edublogger Seminar-DEN (Discovery Educator Network) Preconference EventSunday-21st Century Technology Leader Forum (sitting on panel)-Opening ReceptionMonday-Capitol Hill visit prep. session-Chalk House: 3D game for Building Literacy in Middle School-Spreadsheets for Math-Wonderful World of Wikis-Leslie Fisher's Gadget Class-Strategies for Using Blogs and Wikids with SPED students-Video Podcasting-Comic Life-iTouch and iPhones for teaching and learning-Technology in Afterschool ProgramsWednesday-Essential Technology Tools for Struggling Learners-Personal Learning Networks in Second Life-Technology Velcro-Tools that make education stick-Beyond Blogging - WordPress-Promethean Board Teacher Tips-Integrating Technology into Science-After-School Technology Enrichment Program-Moving Mainstream Technologies into the Classroom-LOL @ NECC-Do so Much with an iPod Touch-Closing KeynoteI will most likely be blogging, Tweeting, and Plurking along the way. Wish me luck!

See original: Going to NECC

Ten Ideas for Using iMovie at the Lower Elementary LevelCool Ideas from Springfield Public Schools in IllinoisApple Digies has the following Award CategoriesAward Categories. Many of these can be created using iMovie# Best Group Video# Best Comedy Video# Best Digital Still Image# Best Community Promotional Video# Best Digital Animation# Best Music Composition# Best Digital Still Picture# Best Curriculum Related Video# Informational Video# Open Submission# Digies Logo Design50 Classroom Uses and Tips for iMovie (but there are only 5 :o)Some VERY cool ideas from Laptop Focus Group USD #352 in Goodland, KS1. Students create Public Service Announcements (PSA's)

See original: iMovie Ideas

I was very excited to listen to Dan's message (again :o). This is one of the most powerful reasons I am very excited about my new job next year. For the last 3 years I have been teaching "computer" or "technology" to K-5th graders in a pull out specialist classroom. There has been very little colaborative work between me and the regular classroom teachers. I have a good idea of the concepts they are teaching in class and I have designed "projects" centered around those curricular areas. And that is what I called integration.However, I focused mainly on teaching the software and a key element of technology education was missing from what I was teaching. Making it real. Sure they had a pretty neat project by the time they were done. But because of time we never got to the important part. Now that we created it, how do we present it? How do we share it? Why do we share it? The only audience my students performed for were me and themselves. In many ways we were just mass producing projects. The focus wasn't the content, it was creating the projects.Next year I have the opportunity to work in collaboration with teachers on using technology in the classroom. This brings a fantastic opportunity for the content to be the focus and the technology skill acquired are secondary. They will learn how to use technology how I have learned to use technology. By doing.Having the ability to have the time and an audience will be powerful. Teaching presentations skills with technology as a tool to enhance the presentations will be a huge shift in how I work with students and what I work with them on. Podcasting is one of those things I would like to do.http://www.intelligenic.com/blog/index.php?s=58&x=0&y=0

See original: Kidcast #58 - The Medium Is Not the Message by dschmit

1. Poetry2. Fluency3. Classroom Newscasts (instead of a news letter)4. Kids created newscast5. from Dan Schmidt via twitter: Record young children telling jokes.6. Write and record Seuss type poems.7. Buy Dan Schmidt's books :o) He's a "god"!8. Podcast Wordless picture books.9.  Interviews (prewriting includes researching the person and coming up with questions. Good editing work here, too).10.  a story modeled after _This American Life_ on NPR (my fav)  11.  10-11News: Some students at Grand Island Central Catholic contribute podcasts to our www.gieveryday.compage. We love it! Check it out.12. Others? Please comment to contribute to the list!

See original: PodCast Ideas

1. Cereal Box Biography2. All about me pages3. Dinosaur Fact Sheet4. What I did this summer5. Story of an Explorer6. State Report7. Space/Solar System Report8. Character from literature facts sheet9. Characters, Setting, Plot, etc. visual representation.10. 8 of me. Have students use template R and have students put in 8 pictures of them (perhaps each different having been modified by an outside program or they can make them 8 different ways inside of Comic Life) Then they can add captions about themselves.11. Make a comic with characters, setting and plots. Take photos of students acting out the different scenes.12. from twitter: j_allen "One of our industrial tech teachers used Comic Life for students to create safety posters."13. Poetry about a picture14. Parts of speech describing the picture (nous, verbs, adjectives, etc.)15. Fractured Fairy Tales16 From twitter lllong "One of our foreign language teachers uses Comic Life for vocab"17. From twitter llong "5th graders used it in their Diseases unit in science - good fun!"18. From Facebook: Diane Marie Willadsen: "We created a state symbol page. Students went out and captured pictures then added labels."19. From Facebook Diane Willadsen: "At the end of the year, students created a memory page using pictures of classmates then adding labels saying what they were good at in school."20. Others? Please comment to contribute to the list!

See original: Comic Life Ideas