Nine Reasons to Twitter

It seems the concept of immediate information has resonated throughout the world. For the past three years, I have been promoting and talking about twitter and other avenues for collaboration. I remember vividly setting up my first Twitter account. I was at Parker Bennett Curry Elementary School's library and all I could think about was...would the BGISD Public Relations Director "Leslie Peek" frown on me for setting this account up. She wasn't, she actually embraced the idea and began using it in our district to get immediate information to parents, teachers and students on a variety of events, including: snow cancellations, lock down situations, calendar changes, upcoming meetings and so on. I had no idea three years later, EGYPT and other Middle Eastern countries would be using such a tool to facilitate Revolutions. Crazy times and Crazy tools. I talked to a junior high social studies teacher yesterday and he explained that he has been engaging students in discussions about the effects of social media on the political unrest in the Middle East. My hunch is the students were very engaged in the conversation.

Laura Walker, director of e-learning , from the "fantastic" book : "Web 2.0 for Educators" by Solomon and Schrum shared 9 Reasons to Twitter that I thought were pretty good.

1. Together we're better. Within seconds, parents can be notified about school cancellations or other events. Links, ideas, opininions are at your finger tip.
2. Global or Local: you choose. I like using Hoot Suite and Tweet Deck. Both allow me to organize and categorize who I follow. Sometimes I am interested in what my school twitters are talking about, sometimes educators throughout the country and sometimes just friends who say nothing. I get to choose.
3. Self awareness and reflective practice. I often like reading what good teachers reflect on after they teach a lesson or use some kind of tool. It makes me think...how should I do that.
4. Ideas workshop and sounding board. You know what they say about opinions...everybody has one. Sometimes I disagree, but sometimes I agree. It makes me think more deeply into what I need to share.
5. Newsroom and innovation showcase. Instant news... Enough said.
6. Professional development and critical friends. When I go to professional developments, I can't wait for the break to tweet what I learned or didn't learn.
7. Quality-assured searching. Since you pick who you follow, you will also learn who you can trust to provide good resources.
8. Communicate, communicate, communicate You only get 140 characters, so you h ave to say what you mean and be concise. I wish I could talk that way...
9. Getting with the times has never been so easy. It is easy to set up and easy to read. The cool thing I have found is any teacher can read about a resource or tool and then tell me about it. It makes them so happy to share something they learned.

The 9 main reasons were Laura Walker's thoughts, I summarized with my opinion about what they meant. I suggest going over this with students and or teachers, and always talk about digital citizenship when discussing social media.

Twitter
Tweetdeck
Hootsuite

Website roulette

I am very pleased with our Schoolpointe website and I am very pleased with the way a lot of our teachers are using this tool in their classroom. Here are a few things teachers are doing with it:

• Spanish teacher collaborating with another Spanish teacher in another state and collaborating with her and her students using the built-in blogging feature.
• Elementary school teachers uploading and embedding videos in their websites so parents can view student work. I like this because now the students have a larger audience to see their work; not just the teacher viewing it.
• Video blogs
• Teacher favorites webpages with pictures

Please let me know what your are doing.

Dishman McGinnis

I am in sunny Phoenix Arizona at a conference on a new tool you may be interested in: Digital Nation. I understand there is 2 or 3 inches of snow in KY. Just so you know I am thinking of you guys...

I had a great time sharing some good information with Dishman McGinnis on Jan. 19. I love going to all the schools and appreciate Mr. Wix inviting me. As always, I would be glad to come anytime and hangout with any school.

We began our discussion about the importance of great teaching... then find some technology that helps engage the students in the lesson. I am desperately in the midst of a paradigm shift of accentuating the great teaching first and encouraging teachers to teach...then let's look at a technology tool that helps the student engage and appreciate the objective. Attached is a .pdf of the professional development I shared.

FYI. The file was created in a template from Microsoft Word. It looks great and only takes a couple of clicks to get it.

Click here to learn more about Storybird, Story Jumper, Atomic Learning or Prezi

Why do we do book reports?

I am just going to get this out in the open... I do not enjoy reading for pleasure. I prefer playing basketball, football or golf; the idea of sitting for hours and reading makes me queasy. My apologies to all those who love to read. I enjoy building things or creating projects; at the end of the day, I need a sense of accomplishment. As you can imagine, I had many heartaches growing up in school trying to read a book and then writing a three to eight page paper on what the book meant. Can you say? "Cliff Notes???" I remember reading a book on Earving "Magic" Johnson and one about "The Fonz"; the rest are vapors lost in the wind. Do you think I am the only kid like this? I understand the importance of reading a book and there may be some merit to writing a synopsis about the book, but what is the real reason we want students to read the book? What is the skill we want them to establish? How do we get them interested in reading? How do we motivate them? I know...make them write a paper on it. hmmm, How about make a poster out of construction paper and crayons? hmmmm...(A lot of companies are using construction paper and crayons in their workplace...probably not). or How about this....

Have students use digital projects to make their books come alive. Here are some ideas that could help revamp "book summaries":

1. Students create a storyboard of sequence for their movie trailer
2. Students use "Windows Movie Maker" to create movie trailers to get students excited about their book.
3. Post it on your school website
4. Organize a "movie screening" (bring popcorn)
5. Students should provide: details about the plot, characters and settings to promote their movie.

Other Ideas:
www.storybird.com
www.kerpoof.com (teacher accounts available)
www.xtranormal.com


references:
"A Book Report Your Students Will Love", Keith Ferrell, Dec-Jan. 2010-11, Learning and Leading.

Microsoft Outlook Web Meeting Request

How many times have you emailed someone or had someone email you about an event and then you had to reply and then go back to the calendar and add all the information into your calendar. Stress no more. I have created this short, informative and inspiring video to ease your anxiety and stress. Click below to watch how to create a meeting request in Microsoft Outlook.

http://tinyurl.com/bgisdoutlookmeeting


I was so excited about my last blog...One person commented. Thanks Mom

Google Tips

I found this article about Google Tips and thought you might like it.
Google Tips for the Classroom

Microsoft Office E Book

Here is a great resource for help with Microsoft Office. I liked pages 13 and 14 for someone interested in how and why you work on your design of documents and presentations.

http://www.bgreen.kyschools.us/userfiles/991/Classes/6926/Microsoft%20Office%20EBook.xps