Al's Favorite Technology Tools

I wanted to make a list of some of my favorite tools I use on a regular basis:

1. Skype


2. Animoto


3. Twitter


4. Google Earth


5. Xtranormal


6. Blogger.com


7. Drop.io


8. Google Docs


9. Picasa


10. Wordle

Over the next few weeks, I will try to give a description of each tool.

BGHS EDU Class

I am not sure how many know that Mrs. Eisenhower at BGHS teaches an EDUcation class to our high school students. I have met with them about three times in the last couple of years and it is one of my favorite things to do. I went to meet with them about helping us at our District Technology Showcase on May 13, 2010 and solicit help to do things like registration and set up. Once I got there we began a discussion about what good teaching looked like. They decided they may want to do a presentation about Engaging versus Non-Engaging lessons. We discussed: animoto, google apps, sharepoint, prezentation, xtranormal, movie making and more. I was encouraged about who could potentially be teaching our kids in just a few short years.

Knowledge Is Power

This makes me think of the Schoolhouse Rock: Knowledge is Power
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3753723

oh the memories: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6lcOSFnhW0

It’s what we know and how we use it that matters.

Flip Camera Video Ideas

I found this on Robert Byrne's Blog site:
http://tinyurl.com/BGISDFlip

Bowling Green City Schools are beginning to utilize the flip cameras in the classroom. They are extremely lightweight and versatile.

Here is a link to create a library for you to store your flip camera videos:
http://tinyurl.com/bgisdflipstorage

The newest flip camera creates videos in mp4v format which is problematic for Windows Movie Maker users. I have created a wiki on how to avoid the conflict in file types, just click here:
http://tinyurl.com/yydluhs


If you want to purchase a camera with your own funds, check out www.digitalwish.com and you can purchase two cameras for one price.

Bowling Green Junior High Training

Thanks for meeting with me today. I know you have a lot of responsibilities and the upcoming assessments are on the horizon. I just want to show you some tools that I have seen other teachers use that could assist you in your classroom. Here are the topics I am talking about today.

www.schooltube.com -- This is a great resource for you to work with students uploading videos to a secure site. As a moderator, you have the ability to approve or deny videos they can upload. A good idea to

How to get started: http://www2.schooltube.com/TeachersandStudents.aspx
How to register: http://www1.schooltube.com/Registration/Default.aspx
How to set up a channel: http://asset5.cdn.schooltube.com/Document/8771218b8c874504a6621d8fffc7e93f
How to moderate: http://asset5.cdn.schooltube.com/Document/f10764b1cff94ab084587fea6206f7ec
How to upload a video: http://portal.b-g.k12.ky.us/Technology/HowTo/Uploading%20Videos%20to%20School%20Tube.aspx or http://www2.schooltube.com/Files/Tabs/Help/Helpful%20Hints_3.pdf

Serving Students with Special Needs

This session was a vendor driven presentation on einstruction materials. I was disappointed because there was minimal discussion on strategies for the classroom. Fortunately, we have all the hardware tools necessary in our district; we need more training and opportunities to share with each other.
This is one that you say. "We are already doing good."

Measuring Student Technology Literacy

Discussion about k-12 student technology literacy with David Couch. The group shared they wanted consistency in what too should be used and how will it be assessed. David Couch shared his philosophy on the matter which included the following questions:
Can we do it?
Could we do it?
Should we do it?
How much is it? Who pays?

He asked the question "Why do we need to look at measuring literacy?" Some discussion included:

• the current data (8th and 12th)

Some of the frustration of measuring this data includes that many states measure technology skills in various ways and levels. A state may rank high nationally but has no real measurment in place, i.e. if you can use a mouse you are proficient. Therefore they look "better" than Kentucky. Another discussion was "Do this federal govt say you should or you shall" The conclusion at this point was that it is a "should" and therefore many are not as driven to push legislature for money to pay for assessment. How is this a part of the program of studies? or CATS testing?

Essentially, there are no reall answers: It could end up not even being assessed....

KySTE 2010 Differentiating Instruction with Targeted Content KET

Wiki address for presentation: http://mooreketresources.wikispaces.com
New KET Encyclomedia Web Address: http://ket.unitedstreaming.com

We need to use the above link for united streaming from now on. This will help with data collection and communication to the legislature so that we can continue to use this tool.

The video collection inside of united streaming is excellent; however, creating the classes and then assigning activities, lessons and other media to the student appears to be problematic due to the many steps it requires to complete the action. I am not sure that teachers will spend the time to make this happen.

A colleague and I were discussing that the persons responsible for creating products must keep the average teacher in mind if we hope to get the most success in implementing into the "real" classroom. It seems everyone wants to get all kinds of "tools" out there, but how about getting quality, student and teacher tools to the stakeholders who need them most.

KySTE 2010

My first session was Not Reality, Actuality by Mr. Keith Barnes

He showed a free tool that mixed reality with virtuality. I found it to be a little sketchy on the educational value. Essentially it was R2D2 come to fruition. A teacher could illuminate a molecule and provide a virtual 3d image. The best application I see educationally would be for students to build a pop-up storybook. From a commercial standpoint you could try on shirts, jewelery, etc and see what it would look like on prior to purchasing. The application I would enjoy using is that it could eventually in a virtual world place a tree in your yard to see what it would look like.
Website to begin: http://www.daevision.com/
http://blogs.bullittschools.org/keithbarnes

Future Blogs

Will Be Shorter.

My curiosity drives my technology

Increasingly in the last few years, my curiosity of how things work and how we can make life more efficient has driven my technology skill development. I have the opportunity to be surrounded by some very talented technology people. It all starts with Monica McCoy: She is the one who insures our schedules are in tack and quizzes on the projects we are working on. Her excitement toward improving each of us ignites my sticktoitivness on all the projects I participate. She is awesome. Sharon Logsdon: she is the coldest woman I know (literally not figuratively, she always has the heater on). Sharon makes me think and keeps me on my toes; her fiery passion on making sure everything works makes me walk with my eyes wide open and watch for potential pitfalls. She is awesome. Steve Kirtley: He is the tall one who ponders and contemplates efficiency all the time. It is so much fun working with him; especially on Monday mornings when he comes and tells tales of how he did a gigapan or went canoeing or hanggliding or kayaking or biking on the weekends, all the things I never do. He is awesome and cool. Jay Morgan: He is one of my former students. The problem is that he doesn't remember having me as a teacher... I must have made quite an impression. Jay's talents are amazing. He speaks a language of technology that only his wife can love; me I just stand in amazement when he speaks. The gsi transliteration that the msi jigawatt defragged while modulating for virtual memory expansion on the bandwidth infrastructure of vpn progressiveness...speaks volumes. He is awesome. and then there was Lee Jordan: THE MAN: Just so you know he had an email address in 1973. The knowledge he possesses is mind boggling. He has more ideas than Hogan's Goat (I don't know where that phrase came from???) I appreciate his drive, wisdom and patience. It is great working with someone who is organized, a characteristic I struggle with...

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