2010 eTech Ohio Conference (Suggested Resources)

The following Rossford teachers attended the eTech Conference in early February. Listed are some of their favorite tools and/or lesson ideas for using technology in the classroom.
======================================
Miki Hodge – HS English
Big Ideas (or “Lightbulb Moments”)  
•    Social bookmark, iCyte:  http://www.icyte.com
•    Make websites, Springnote:  http://springnote.com/en/
•    Reference manager, Noodle Tools: http://www.noodletools.com/
•    Wonder Wheel: http://www.googlewonderwheel.com/

Favorite Tools/Activities   
•    Vocab activity, Wordle – http://wordle.net
•    Help with searching info, Boolify - http://www.boolify.org
•    Cell phone info (free) - Goog411 - http://www.google.com/goog411/
•    Lots of useful items for lesson plans at Library of Congress - http://www.loc.gov

======================================

Kathy Brassell – JH Social Studies
Big Ideas (or “Lightbulb Moments”)  
•    Use of iPod Touch for schools (many educational apps) – Info/samples here - http://www.apple.com/education/teachers-professors/mobile-learning.html
•    Students using content to produce webcasts (http://www.dynamicclassroom.com)
•    Virtual museums (still in the planning stages at OSU, but we got to play with the samples!)

Favorite Tools/Activities   
•    http://www.yodio.com (record voices from cell phone for podcasting or other things)
•    http://www.photopeach.com  (slideshow)
•    http://www.slideboom.com  (create slideshows)
•    http://www.timetoast.com  (make a timeline)

======================================

Renee Abke – JH Science
I went to a couple of session on Google and the applications that are available through Google.  I was very excited about these sessions.  They talked about some of the things Google can do such as: 
•    Google docs – http://docs.google.com     
•    Google calendar – http://calendar.google.com
•    Google earth – http://earth.google.com

======================================

Sue Swartz – JH Social Studies
Big Ideas (or “Lightbulb Moments”)  
•    http://topwebucationsites.blogspot.com (great list/access to links-highlight and click on blue arrow)
•    Skype - http://www.skype.com - can't wait to use this! Video or voice chats/conferencing
•    Go2Web20 - http://www.go2web20.net/ (amazing web application index)
•    Time Toast - http://www.timetoast.com (create timelines)
•    Bighugelabs.com - http://bighugelabs.com/ (using pics/photos; purchase products)

Favorite Tools/Activities   
•    For Skype - Edu Skypers Phonebook - http://skypeintheclassroom.wordpress.com
•    Audacity – http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ (free audio editor and recorder)
•    Drop Box - https://www.dropbox.com/ (upload and share files)
•    Renaissance Responders - http://www.renlearn.com/2Know/responder.aspx (dreaming for a class set of assessment tools!)

======================================

Kristen Vargo – IH/GL
•    Brain Pop Exclusive Offer – http://www.brainpop.com/go/etech2010
>>>Each building can have a building subscription to Bran Pop for one month as long as you sign up before February 27th.
•    http://www.misterteacher.com – flash files for your computer – He is a 5th grade math, science and SS teacher who creates flash files for you to be able to input into your SMART Notebook files.  Really simple but cool!!
•    http://www.tinyurl.com/dnjphq - Oh My Google
•    http://www.tinyurl.com/mjucqk - The emerging technology game – web 2.0 free resources (click on “Show All” to see the presentation slides/tools)
•    There is a CNN student news podcast on iTunes – similar to Channel 1
•    Logitech Web Camera – software allows you to become an avatar, you can read a story looking like a dinosaur, bear or alien.
•    Digital Story Telling – Microsoft Photo Story 3, Kid Pix
•    Animoto – http://www.animoto.com
•    http://topwebucationsites.blogspot.com – too much here to even talk about
•    National Geographic Podcast
•    Cool text – http://cooltext.com - Word art without having to use Microsoft Word
•    http://workshopresources.wikispaces.com/2010+eTech - review games

======================================

Deb Reiter – GL
Cheryl Cronbaugh's website -- http://ncoccideas.weebly.com/etech-2010.html
This link gives you ideas for free software that can help you make lessons interesting by putting in audio and video.

http://www.visuwords.com/ 
     This is an online graphical dictionary, mostly for upper grades.

http://www.vickiblackwell.com
     This site gives you ideas for the classroom.

http://www.readplease.com
    Text-to-speech software

The VITAL Lab at Ohio University
     http://vital.cs.ohiou.edu     Go under the software menu (Flash & STEAMiE modules)
     This is a science virtual lab where your students can go to learn about different science standards.

FRONTLINE: Digital Nation (PBS)

Digital Nation: Life on the Virtual Frontier

Watch the entire 90 minute show online (aired February 2010) as well as the supplementary videos under the LEARNING tab. 

All of that plus the podcast and comments below the video clips... from experts and the general public... are enough for a semester course in 21st century learning!

Take 5 - Vol. 1, Issue 3

Here is your 3rd installment of the Take 5! Integration Update.
“Take 5” monthly emails contain information for you related to teaching and learning for today and beyond...

Take just 5 minutes (or less) to look over these resources and see what might be helpful for your and/or your students. Better yet, set aside at least 15 minutes a week to focus on finding resources and ideas that will improve student learning and prepare them for their future!

=========================================================
Tips and Tools for Teachers

1) Free PDF Staff (music), Graph paper, and Sudoku Files - http://www.pdfpad.com/
And direct links to their Storyboard pages (they take a while to load... So use these)
    - http://www.pdfpad.com/storyboards/pdf/1-1.pdf
    - http://www.pdfpad.com/storyboards/pdf/4-3.pdf

2) Online Timers (w/ alarm sounds) - http://www.online-stopwatch.com (ads on page, but lots of timers to choose from); Great for use with SMART Boards or without! 

3) Yearly and Monthly Calendars (Excel templates)
Did you know Excel could do this? Check these out... Free for your own personal/educational use (no web use). Just ignore all the ads links!
http://www.vertex42.com/ExcelTemplates/yearly-calendar.html
http://www.vertex42.com/calendars/

4) News for Kids, Tween, Students (“News for Kids and News by Kids”) -- Thanks to Beth Cramer (GL) for this one!
http://tweentribune.com/

Ponderings – speaking of reading...

Short (or Long) Read (but HIGHLY suggested!!!)

• Partnership for 21st Century Skills – Ohio recently joined this group and we will soon see these skills being integrated into future content standards

• --> Summary of 21st C. Skills - http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=254&Itemid=120
• --> MILE Guide – Summary of “Milestones for Improving Learning & Education” - http://intersection4learning.blogspot.com/2009/11/21st-century-skills-mile-guide.html

Point to Ponder...
How are you already incorporating these skills and knowledge? What area(s) can you integrate next?

Learning Opportunities
1. REVS’ trainings and workshops calendar (February sessions) - http://ed-tech-integration.pbworks.com/Workshops

2. Atomic Learning – online video tutorials on popular software tools such as Office 2007 (Word, PowerPt, Excel), Discovery/United Streaming, Audacity, Google tools, iMovie, Inspiration, Kidspiration, SMART Board Notebook, VoiceThread, and much more! - http://www.atomiclearning.com/
Contact me or your building tech rep for the login/password. You can use it anywhere (home or school)!

Just for Fun!
A NEW section for a little comic relief... And for those of you creative types who can find a way to make a lesson out of this stuff! Here you go:

Truck Spills.com - http://www.truckspills.com/ -- We’ve all seen them, but not quite like this... Scary what is in those things... And that it sometimes ends up all over the road!
(NOTE: some spills are not “fun” or “funny” but it’s interesting to see what travels our roadways...)