Technology in Education Symposium for National-Louis University

Yesterday, I was a part of a Technology in Education Symposium for National-Louis University. I received my M.Ed in 2004 in the TIE program. It was and still is an engaging and worthwhile program. The title link will take you to the NLU site for this program if you are interested in learning more in the Technology in Education program NLU offers.

I presented with two other graduates from this program who are champions for the technology in education cause. The three of us shared integrated technology activites and how they are related to curriculum standards as well as the technology standards. I sat in awe listening to my co-presenters. This symposium was organized by a professor who also is my former advisor for the TIE program. What a great event.

What I appreciated most about this time was not only was I a presenter, I was an active participant, too. I learned from questions and comments from the audience, made a few networking connections and met some really nice people.

We all attended the symposium with the same goal; to seek out opportunities to integrate technology into the curriculum for student engagement and enrichment.

I believe that goal was met...

Today's Lunch N' Learn

We are looking at Software for our Lunch and Learn today!!
Looking at the NETS Profiles for K-2 student, using developmentally appropriate multimedia resources (e.g., interactive books, educational software, elementary multimedia encyclopedias) to support learning is a key componant to a 21st technology literate student. Lyon has the opportunity to preview 6 software titles that can be used to support Reading, Math, and the Social Studies curriculums.

Look at how these titles may be best utlized in our learning environment.

Apple Learning Interchange

I have recently begun searching the Apple Learning Interchange as a resource for technology integrated ideas. This is a set of free resources for educators to find media and ideas for classroom activities produced by their peers, by Apple, and by Apple content affiliates like NASA, The Smithsonian, and the George Lucas Educational Foundation. Click the title link and see what this resource has to offer. You can search by tool, age group, curriculum, and application. If you register as a free member, you can upload your own work, share with others, bookmark your favorite projects and collaborate in an online environment. I have posted two projects (Search_Primary K-3) from Lyon in which our students are engaged in blogging during a Social Studies unit and another using iPods in the music classroom.

Logs not Blogs - Teacher2Teacher

Tumblr... Tumblr allows the user to create a log that makes it easier, faster, and more fun to post and share stuff you find or create!

Check out the my log at http://teacher2teacher.tumblr.com/ or click the title above in the title.

Podcasting "commercial"

I am becoming more interested in podcasting. A blog that I read by Tony Vincent - Learning in Hand - introduced his readers to this "commerical for podcasting". As Tony says on his blog "Remember, you don't need an iPod to listen to podcasts. You can listen right in your browser, iTunes, or other portable player. The video, Uncle Seth - You Don't Need an iPod, (posted on YouTube in September 2006) makes that point very clear with a catchy song."

Click on the title of this post to check this video out.

More on the Lunch and Learn March 15

This week's L & L has three different postings - this one and the next two below. Check them out.

Today we will talk about the recent ILTCE Conference and share some information. There will also be a sharing time of another resource recently discovered. Lyon has a trial subscription to Grolier's Animal Encyclopedia and this will be shared with the
L & L group.

For more L& L, check out the other posts. See you Thursday.

3/8 ~ What is Flickr and http://del.icio.us/technology_education

I have created a social bookmarking page at the following address
http://del.icio.us/technology_education

Although it says "social", I am taking advantage of this bookmarking site to share links to activities, resources, lesson plans, and informative articles in the area of technology in education. Each time I visit a site, read an article or learn about a new student resource, I post to my account. Then, anyone who has saved this link as a feed or as a bookmark, the page is updated and I am sharing "globally" my bookmarks. I hope you find this useful.

Flickr is a photo sharing site. I created a Lyon Photo of the Week group in which I post a different picture each week. You can access this library from the Lyon home page.

Here is a webpage all about flickr for you to learn more.
http://homepage.mac.com/charlenechausis/flickr.htm

Lunch and Learn 3/15 - ILTCE Sharing

This is an early post for next week's L & L so that is why it may seem to be "out of order" from the other postings. I was on a blogging roll tonight. :)

For today's Lunch and Learn, we will be sharing our experiences from the ILTCE Conference. Several of our teachers attended the on Thursday. I attended a total of three days. By sharing and collaborating at this month's L&L, it will be as if we all attended the conference. If you did not attend this year, save that thought in the back of your mind to maybe consider it next year!

After our sharing, for those that want to, we can have some work time to look at sites or software that may have been mentioned in the conference presentations.

Oh yes, I am providing two GU after school class opportunities. One is on Comic Life in the Curriculum and the other on iPhoto, iTunes, and Garageband in the classroom. Ask me more about it...check the intranet GU link for registration & dates, too.

Here are some links for this month.

http://iltce2007.blogspot.com/
This is the blog that has been created where attendees and conference committee members are "talking"

http://www.il-tce.org/present07/present_index07.asp
This is the site where you can see the title of a workshop and then view what the presenters provided in websites, handouts and pdf’s.

http://www.il-tce.org/home/home.asp
This is the link for the conference home page.

http://chapters.iceberg.org/nice/index.html
This is the website for the Northern Illinois Computing Educators.
"The Northern Illinois Computing Educators Chapter of the Illinois Computing Educators (NICE) provides support to computing professionals involved in education in northern Cook County, Chicago and parts of surrounding counties. NICE encourages the development, growth and use of technology in all facets of the educational process, and extends an invitation to educators to band together to further this process."

Lunch and Learn - 2/08/07

Well, we missed last month and I must apologize...it seemed as if the flu bug of all sorts had gotton to my entire family. Thanks for understanding when I had to cancel. We can talk about how we are going to make it up.

(A blogging admission... I cannot for the life of me, figure out in this version of blogger, how to activate links within posts. Any of the links you see below, please copy and paste them in your address bar to access the page. I will keep trying to figure this out...the blogger help does not seem to be helping at all!)


As for today, I would like to share with you three resources. One is a weblink that I came across again just recently. I had used this a few years back with a Multi-Aged classroom data collection project. I ran across it again when the building Reading Specialist asked me a question about it. It seems that our Psychologist, Dr. Rehfeldt (who happens to partake in these Lunch and Learns) shared it during an awesome class on data collection for district staff members. I would like to see our students again use this tool to organize and make visual "sense" of data collected. Some examples could be classroom favorite sports teams, lunch food preferences, favorite school subjects, favorite holidays, favorite movies and much more! I will be honest, I had to look back in the classroom folder to see how the MA team integrated this tool. Actually, one of those teachers ( Hello, Miss Aronow) has been seen at our Lunch and Learns, too! Here is the link

http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/


I would like to share two software titles that the district has purchased.
The first is Stationary Studio. Are you frustrated with the student use of Word at our grade level? Well, this software will take your word processing worries away. Stationary Studio is an introductory word processor with all of the basics and none of the confusion! You can create customized stationery with appropriate writing line styles, layouts and fonts (including dotted fonts) for students’ handwritten activities. We are going to look at the "quick tour" from this website.
http://www.fablevision.com/stationerystudio/product.htm

Lastly, there is Comic Life... yup, it is just that a comic creating software title.
There are many links to how this can be used in the classroom. My best guess is that your creativity as a teacher will stand out when finding ways to integrate into your curriculum. I am posting the following links for you to see some examples of how Comic Life can and is being used in the classroom curriculum. I have some ideas but they are racing right now in my head...when I organize all of them, we can talk.

From Essential Teacher - http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/secetdoc.asp?CID=1342&DID=6872

From Education World - http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech/tech226.shtml

From informit.com - http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=446796&seqNum=1&rl=1

From Lewis Elementary - http://tim.lauer.name/2006/05/28/comic-life-at-lewis-elementary/

From Country Meadows School - http://www.countrymeadows.district96.k12.il.us/PACE.html (thanks, Judi!)


So, how do these resources meet the NETS for Students?

Here are my thoughts
Profile 2 - . Use a variety of media and technology resources for directed and independent learning activities

Profile 8 - Create developmentally appropriate multimedia products with support from teachers, family members, or student partners

Profile 9 - Use technology resources (e.g., puzzles, logical thinking programs, writing tools, digital cameras, drawing tools) for problem solving, communication, and illustration of thoughts, ideas, and stories.

December 7th - Lunch & Learn

Two new technology applications have come to Lyon School!

KidPix OSX has some great new options...
iLife integration
big screen version
more kid-friendly
enhanced for OS X
politically correct - no more "bomb" explosions
no log in screen / no kidpix song
podcasting capabilities


Tumble Books Library
An online collection of animated, talking picture books, reading comprehension quizzes, educational games, and teacher resources. A special thanks for PTA for purchasing this one year subscription to Tumblebooks.

This L & L will be hands-on. Look at Part 1 & 2 - Choose one in part 1. Hopefully, do the other at another time. Think about part 2... Have FUN! :) We will share near the end of this session!

1. KidPix "assignment"
Log in as a classroom
Open the classroom folder
Drag the "pictures" folder to the iPhoto icon on the dock
"Watch in awe" as the photos become a part of the user iPhoto library
Open KidPix
Import a photo or two into KidPix
What could you do with these pictures? "Create" a student project

2. TumbleBooks "assignment"
Lyon Students icon link
Reading
Tumblebooks
Log in
Find two stories for a curriculum area and read.
Are there any extension activities or games?
How could your students use Tumblebooks as a meaningful and engaging part of their day?


Part II

Look at the NETS...which are these two tools and their engaged use meeting?

1. Use input devices (e.g., mouse, keyboard, remote control) and output devices (e.g., monitor, printer) to successfully operate computers, VCRs, audiotapes, and other technologies.

2. Use a variety of media and technology resources for directed and independent learning activities.

3. Communicate about technology using developmentally appropriate and accurate terminology.

4. Use developmentally appropriate multimedia resources (e.g., interactive books, educational software, elementary multimedia encyclopedias) to support learning.

5. Work cooperatively and collaboratively with peers, family members, and others when using technology in the classroom.

6. Demonstrate positive social and ethical behaviors when using technology.

7. Practice responsible use of technology systems and software.

8. Create developmentally appropriate multimedia products with support from teachers, family members, or student partners.

9. Use technology resources (e.g., puzzles, logical thinking programs, writing tools, digital cameras, drawing tools) for problem solving, communication, and illustration of thoughts, ideas, and stories.

10. Gather information and communicate with others using telecommunications, with support from teachers, family members, or student partners.

November 9 Lunch and Learn

This past Tuesday, District 34 organized and provided a wonderful opportunity for staff to attend technology in education break out sessions at a Technology Integration Fair. The sessions were presented by not only the Technology Facilitators, but also classroom teachers and staff who integrate technology into their curriculum. Many sessions were tied to the NETS and the District Strategic Plan.

In reflection....

What did you come away with?

Where there any "a-ha" moments?

How can you implement what you learned into your curriculum? If you are not a classroom teacher, did you find that the sessions you attended were beneficial to your responsibilities in the District?

General overall comments?

Thanks for sharing!

October 12 - Lunch and Learn

At our next Lunch and Learn, will be looking at the K-2 Performace Standard 1 and 4. Ambitious, right? Well here is why...

Indicator 1 - Use Input devices and output devices to successfully operate computers, VCR's, and other technologies.

Indicator 4 - Use developmentally appropriate multimedia resources (interactive books, educational software,multimedia encyclopedias) to support learning.

Doesn't it seem that you need to look at Indicator 1 to make sure your students are capable of USING the tools before actually WORKING WITH the technology tools? For Indicator 4, we will be looking at some of our untapped resources, or at least ones we can look to use in different ways to support learning. I am not telling which ones we will be looking at...it is for you to anticipate until then!

I would like to see this group serve as an example of how we should start rethinking our use of technology. Let's look outside of the box and see technology and the lab as tools to support learning and NOT as someplace to go to, schedule, or squeeze in each week. We should try thinking about the best way to have technology be a piece, or a different way of teaching a skill, within the curriculum. For example, if there is a Math lesson on coin exchange that usually takes place in the classroom, try looking to a technology resource to teach and accompany this lesson - for example, an EM Games coin exchange math activity in the lab or on the laptops in your classroom... Just a thought for now.

Please post before next Thursday thinking about Indicators 1 & 4. What do each of these mean to you and for your students? How can they best be integrated?

I have some ideas...how about you?

Technology Plan + Lunch N' Learn = NETS

This afternoon was our first District Technology meeting for the school year. It lasted the full two hours and most of the time was spent discussing the implementation of the Technology Plan. As a Technology Facilitator, I am to see that the staff is re-educated as to the components of this plan with a specific thread to the NETS (see posting below for more on the NETS). I believe that Lyon staff members are aware of the NETS and how important they are when discussing the integration of technology into the curriculum. From this point on, I know that our Lunch N' Learn's will be a great arena for discussion, planning, and creating. I hope that the staff that came for the first session, which was more of a "what will we do" session, will continue to share my enthusiasm and bring more team members along. I am currently working on which NETS we will cover for the 12th. I will post and send an email, too, sharing this information. When we cover a NETS at a Lunch N' Learn, we will brainstorm how our students can be introduced to the indicated skill(s). We will look to see that our technology activities are engaging, rich in content, and skill building. Our conversations and creativity flowing from these Lunch N' Learn's should not end when our hour is over. I hope to continue brainstorming and developing plans throughout the months between our scheduled sessions. Something important to remember is that these indicators within the NETS are to be achieved over a time period of two to three years. The NETS that Lyon focus' on are for the K-2 student. To download a printable NETS sheet for your reflection or organizational purposes, check out the link that Doree and I created for our presentation last year. Copy and Paste -
http://www.glenview34.org/ly/iltec06/resources.html
We did put a lot of time into that site for IL-TCE last year so we hope it still gets some use. (Maybe it will be a Friday Fix focus...thanks Kristen for the suggestion)

There will be many levels of technology introduction, practice and mastery in the building. This is the first exposure to technology for some children and for others, just a continuation of what is provided at home. Let's make sure that the Lyon Technology experience is one of education, application, and celebration (ok, I was stumped on another -ation word..where is Mary and Gary when you need them!) :) :)

Please comment...I would love to hear your thoughts.

Always trying something new...

Ok- even though this is not going to be a part of my L & L right now, I have come across some neat "stuff" in other blogs that I read. First is the free Wiki spaces for teachers and then the use of Flickr, an online storage and photo album. I wanted to share with staff because these tools are being seen more and more in the classrooms and on classroom webpages.

Wiki's - I placed the Wiki link under links on the right. If you are interested in getting your own free Wiki for educational purposes, click the badge near the bottom right. Wiki's, in a simple explanation, are online documents that can be edited by multiple users, in some cases public users and in others, private. If you want to try out the Wiki I started, please comment with an email and I will "invite" you. Not sure about it so far but we will see.

Flickr has potential! I am more likely to take this photo tool further. Again, if you click the badge for Flickr you will be directed to the Flickr page. If you choose the link at the bottom of the badge, I think it says, what is this, you will view photos that I tested and uploaded.

I would love to hear your comments/experiences with either.

Welcome to our First Lunch & Learn

Today you will be introduced to our Lunch & Learn blog and we will talk about how our sessions are going to run. I am very excited about this time as it will truly be a learning and sharing experience for us all!

Here is what we will do today -

What are the NETS? Anyone....Anyone...

Why look at the NETS?

How can we make sure that we are approaching the NETS with open-mindedness and not fearing them as "just another thing to do"?

How can we, in our teams, in small groups, or as a building address these standards?

Please comment on any of all of the above by choosing "comment" at the bottom of the entry.

By the way, this is a private blog - I did not open it up to the public so the only way to get to this blog is to know the address.

A short Tech Plan/NETS history and update...

At a recent Technology Facilitator meeting, it was discussed how each of our buildings were going to re-introduce the technology plan to our teachers and staff. We also considered how to bring the NETS back to the surface. Two years ago, a log or record keeping book was created for my data collection project. I wanted to see the progression of our K-2 students throughout the year in regards to the performance indicators set by the NETS project. For the record, our students did very well and were either at the reinforcement level or mastery level. I believe that keeping that log or record book kept these standards in perspective and teachers were comfortable seeing what great integration projects we were doing and where they fell into the range of technology skills and abilities. This year, I would like to see teachers REFLECT more on these activities verses always recording in a data collection book. Our school technology team will be working all year to collaborate and share with each other ways to integrate technology into the curriculum. Here is the link to our district technology plan
https://www.glenview34.org/staff/intranet/certstaffrsrcs/
technology/Technology_Plan_Short_Form.pdf

Our Mission
We will remain at the forefront of technology integration and the development of technological literacy
across our learning community in order to meet the needs of a constantly evolving world.

In collaboration with parents and the community, the Glenview Public Schools are committed to providing
progressive and productive technologies for educators and for students as we prepare them to become
lifelong learners and responsible decision makers in a changing society. We value technology as a tool
for its ability to facilitate communication and enhance the learning of all students within and beyond the
classroom walls

National Education Technology Standards

Thanks to http://cnets.iste.org/index.shtml International Society Technology Education National Education Technology Standards Project for this posting....

The technology foundation standards for students are divided into six broad categories. Standards within each category are to be introduced, reinforced, and mastered by students. These categories provide a framework for linking performance indicators within the Profiles for Technology Literate Students to the standards. Teachers can use these standards and profiles as guidelines for planning technology-based activities in which students achieve success in learning, communication, and life skills.

In District 34, these standards have been adopted and are a part of our Technology Plan.

Here are the six broad categories…


1.Basic operations and concepts
2.Social, ethical, and human issues
3.Technology productivity tools
4.Technology communications tools
5.Technology research tools
6.Technology problem-solving and decision-making tools


What do you think these mean? Where do you see our students (K-2) fitting into these categories? Do you have any ideas how to assure these are being introduced, reinfroced, and mastered by students?

Think about these.....

Which of the above categories do each of these fit into?


*Use input devices (e.g., mouse, keyboard, remote control) and output devices (e.g., monitor, printer) to successfully operate computers, VCRs, audiotapes, and other technologies.


*Use a variety of media and technology resources for directed and independent learning activities.


*Communicate about technology using developmentally appropriate and accurate terminology.


*Use developmentally appropriate multimedia resources (e.g., interactive books, educational software, elementary multimedia encyclopedias) to support learning.


*Work cooperatively and collaboratively with peers, family members, and others when using technology in the classroom.


*Demonstrate positive social and ethical behaviors when using technology.

*Practice responsible use of technology systems and software.


*Create developmentally appropriate multimedia products with support from teachers, family members, or student partners.

*Use technology resources (e.g., puzzles, logical thinking programs, writing tools, digital cameras, drawing tools) for problem solving, communication, and illustration of thoughts, ideas, and stories.

*Gather information and communicate with others using telecommunications, with support from teachers, family members, or student partners.

For a .pdf of the grade level indicators - http://cnets.iste.org/docs/NETS_S-Profiles.pdf