California Animoto

My Animoto Video

Los Feliz School of the Arts

To My Friends at Los Feliz School of the Arts:
Here are some of the sites and information I shared with you on April 10, 2012.  I must express my sincere appreciation to you for your kindness and willingness to let me share some of the technology tools I have used.  I look forward to another meeting in the future.  Let's get some of our classes to SKYPE with each other.

• Response Card Resources:  http://alstechtime.blogspot.com/2012/01/turning-point-tools.html
• Go Animate:   http://alstechtime.blogspot.com/2012/02/british-boy-allen-talks-about.html
• Animoto Education - great tool to turn pictures into videos
• Prezi for Education - great tool for student presentations
• Storybird - great tool for allowing students to create stories.
• My School Website:  

Websites Suggested By BGISD Teachers and a Smackdown

Cool Site Suggested by Janet M. - https://www.teachingchannel.org/

Good model to user for teacher professional development and flipped classroom

Cool Reading Site by Allison S and Hannah O - http://storylineonline.net/
Famous actors like Ernest Borgnine, James Earl Jones and Betty White read to children.  Very Very Cool.

Check out these cool tools Dishman McGinnis teachers shared at a School Smackdown.  If you would like me to facilitate a smackdown at your school, just get your Principal to give me a time.
Dishman McGinnis Teachers Cool Tools

Wow... My Head Hurts

I am in a Technology Resource Teacher meeting at GRREC today and here are some of the websites I found pretty cool today.  There is so much to learn and so much I must teach...  How can I show you guys and impress the importance of using technology in the classroom.

1. http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/ A great place to make screen capture videos
2. http://www.mathtrain.com/ 
3. https://twitter.com/#!/search-home  A place to show the benefits of Twitter
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKR_qPYmJEk   A snake Dissection
5. http://www.youtube.com/create  A place to create presentations in video

Bowling Green High School SWAT

We are proud of all of our students, but we should be especially happy with what the S.W.A.T. (Students Working to Advance Technology) has been doing at BGHS.  Drew Fulkerson - Math Teacher and Jay Morgan - BGISD Technician/Network Administrator have partnered to teach a class this year.  It has been very enjoyable seeing how the students have bonded on multiple project based learning activities.  The students have been very proactive and have been empowered to take on many "real-world" roles to achieve great success.  One project they have just completed gives refurbished computers to families in our district.  The video from WNKY is quite impressive.  I also like how Jay Morgan "the techy" has enjoyed teaching. 

Microsoft Ribbon Hero 2

Microsoft Office Lab has designed a very neat tool called Ribbon Hero 2.  This game simulation has been pushed to computers in our district.  Here is a nice little youtube video that explains the add on.  Basically, it teachers students and teachers tips and tricks to use Microsoft Office products.  It would be a great tool for computer lab teachers and/or when students have time to explore and improve using Microsoft Office.  As always you can also use www.atomiclearning.com for more intensive learning opportunities.

What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate

In my educational experiences I have learned a few things:

1. Don't make the custodian your enemy
2. Don't make the secretary mad
3. Care about your students
4. And the better you communicate with your colleagues, administrators, parents and students the better off your will be in the long run.

It is unfortunate that even in a world full of texting, facebook, twitter, skype and more; we still have a hard time communicating with each other.  Let's focus on positive communication and not failing to communicate.

• Be Kind To Students, Parents and Colleagues
• Listen To Other Educators
• Practice Patience
• Don't Jump To Conclusion
• Stop Having Ulterior Motives