Purchasing New Programs

As educators we are constantly looking at new and "better" ways to educate our students.  Sometimes we overlook many details when we are in the middle of that process.  It is our responsibility to make good choices when we have so much at stake.
Here is a guideline we put together for consideration when you want to purchase new programs for your school.

Guidelines For Investing In New Software for Bowling Green City Schools

1.     What is the instructional value?

2.     Does it address Core Content or Program of Studies?

3.     Is it teacher friendly?

4.     Is it student friendly?

5.     Will it compliment another program or is it a totally new type of software?

6.     What are the specifications for the program?

7.     Will it be web-based? Will it be bandwidth intensive?

8.     Are there updates and upgrades available?

9.     Do we have the infrastructure to support the program so that it will run efficiently?

10.  Have I contacted Technology Department (Lee Jordan)

11.   Where is the program installed? (work station, server or web-based)?

12.    If we purchase this program; what program(s) can we remove?

13.   Will training be provided by the company or the district?

14.     How much is the initial cost of the program?

15.     Are there maintenance and support costs required?

16.      Who will pay for this software?

British Boy Allen Talks About Technology

Below is a Go Animate video I made for you by simply typing in text.  Great idea for students and teachers to create engaging presentations.  This one talks a bit about Edmodo.  Make teaching fun for your students...they deserve it.


GoAnimate.com: Edmodo for BG Schools by AllenMartin

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Ranting Like Nancy Grace

Recently, I worked with a student (who was NOT in BGISD), who was working on a project for a social studies class in 9th grade.  The 9th grader was to create a poster board about a country.  The student cut out pictures from the internet, drew a flag, and used rubber cement to paste the pictures and letters on the poster board.  Here is my rant:

1. It took an enormous amount of time to cut the pictures, letters and then glue the paper on the poster board.
2. Rubber cement was all over the student and his work area
3. The student did not have any real interest in the project and just wanted to get it over with.
4. I could not recognize any real 21st Century Skills utilized in the project
5. I hope this student does not get a job cutting out paper and gluing it on a poster board.
6. It appeared there was little opportunity for any creativity.
7. This student had a macbook, ipad, ipod touch, dell pc, toshiba laptop, hd video camera, and a plethora of web 2.0 sites at his disposal, but used scissors, markers and rubber cement.
8. I have not noticed any doctor, lawyer, judge, plant manager, accountant, banker, nurse, fireman, policeman, radiologist, and so on who has recently cut out paper and glued things together.  My bad...doctors are using "glue" to seal cuts and such...

So, that is my Nancy Grace rant.  Here is the thing:

• The National Education Technology Standards for Students can be found at this site.
• Communication and Collaboration
• Creativity and Innovation
• Research and Information
• Critical Thinking
• Digital Citizenship
• Technology Operations
• We are preparing students to be successful in the workforce; not only to "live" for the test.
• We have at our fingertips almost anything we can dream.  "Star Trek" concepts are here.
• At the very least give students options when creating projects.
• Project-Based Learning should have an acceptable window to complete the task and there should be some freedom in how the project is designed.

I am sure this will create some disagreement...That is ok.  My job is to share ideas and get teachers and students to take chances with using technology.  The World is changing; we have to adapt and be leaders in how technology can help engage students.

Please make some comments.  Would love to hear your thoughts.  

Snipping Tool

The Snipping tool is a feature inside of windows 7.  It allows you to capture entire screen or capture portions of your screen.  You can use this tool to save images, copy images and make annotations on a captured image. 


 Check out my video.

SchoolPointe tips and the Snipping Tool

Many of you are using your SchoolPointe website in a wonderful way.  Teachers are sharing assignments, calendar events, and classroom files with students,teachers and parents.  I realize "time" for teachers is very valuable, but now that I have a son in high school I realize the importance of digital communication with the teacher is more necessary than ever before.  Here are a few ideas of how to use your website:

1. Place due dates for assignments and advertise tests well in advance so that students can begin preparing.
2. Upload classroom resource files like:  powerpoint or word documents so that students can view them on their smart phones, access on the internet at home or print out at home (saving the school district money)
3. Embed student projects on your website like:  glogster posters, storybird stories, prezis or animoto videos.
4. Sharing work online allows parents, grandparents and others to see the work the students have created. The students then have an audience for their work.
5. Share valuable information about yourself so that other stakeholders can have an insight into you as a teacher.
6. I like posting all my trainings online so that the website links I use are viewable anytime the learner needs them.  This allows the learner to listen more during my presentations and they have opportunity later to review the websites.
7. You can also upload as many videos and files as you like to SchoolPointe!!!  This can free up your network storage and allow you access to files anywhere with internet connectivity.

Here is a short video on a few tips and tricks I thought you might find useful while working with SchoolPointe:

 Click Here for the SchoolPointe How To Video

Turning Point Tools

Currently we have 93 sets of Turning Point Response card systems in our district.  Use Turning Technologies' student response systems for formative assessment and frequent progress monitoring in order to promote data driven differentiated instruction and to meet the learning needs of each of your students.  This technology is the ideal tool to implement educational and pedagogical best practices effectively.  Here are several ways we can use it at BGISD:

1. Turning Point Anywhere:  This tool allows you to gather input using almost any tool you have in your lessons.  Examples include:  word documents, excel documents, websites, interwrite workspace and more.  Great tool to get started and have immediate success.
2. Turning Point 2008:  TurningPoint allows you to author and poll interactive slides natively in PowerPoint with a minimal learning curve. Tutorials include settings, creating slides, inserting objects, running presentations, enhancing presentations, and more.
3. Polling Support and BrainPop:  This tool works with the popular Brainpop website and allows students to take a quiz from BrainPop and record a grade instantly.
4. ResponseWare:  Using responseware allows students and teachers to share presentations using smart phones and internet presentation models. 

 

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS SITE

Tools for You

Schoolpointe - our district website.

All teachers have been encouraged to use this valuable tool.  Your website should provide a valuable opportunity for positive communication with our parents and students, and serve as that one place students can go to find information pertinent to your classroom.  As a parent, I appreciate teachers who allow my son to download documents, provide calendars for assignments and provide resources at a glance so learning can continue at home.  Here are some thoughts I would like to share about using a classroom website:

• calendars and assignment details are available 24/7
• assignments can be submitted to schoolpointe
• unlimited documents, links and videos can be uploaded to schoolpointe
• folders containing lesson materials such as:  powerpoints or documents can be hidden or shared
• web links can be displayed and organized so students do not have to waste time searching through websites which may not be useful
• student projects such as:  animoto, storybird, prezi, glogster and videos can be embedded so that parents and grandparents can view their projects

If you are not using your classroom website or have not updated it recently; today would be a great day!