Take 5! Integration Update - January 20, 2011 (Vol.2/#14)

Issue #14

“Take 5” is a weekly update containing information 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 15-30 minutes a week (yes, that's been increased from last year!) to focus on finding resources and ideas that will improve student learning and prepare them for their future!


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

Tips and Tools for Teachers 

• Create Animations with Do Ink – Have students animate a scientific process, narrate a story, or review math problems... or whatever else you or they think of! There's even a "Bazaar" that houses images or "Props" you can use... many are free, but some are for a fee.

• Mac Tip: Screen Capture Image – I've been using the keyboard keys (Apple or Command + Shift + 4) to select an image or screen shot of various things to show teachers something, make a graphic for a test, worksheet, or project sample, or even to use on a web page. (NOTE: You can also use these keys... "Apple or Command + Shift + 3" to take a full shot of the entire page). These processes are nice, but each time, it will create a Picture file on your desktop. If you know you won't need to save that screen shot for later, consider this tip from Apple themselves -- it allows you to just Copy, then Paste the screen shot! Yeah!!! (Just add a 4th key, the Control key... Control+Command+Shift+3 (or 4)

• Productivity Tip: Switch Quickly Between Programs – on a Mac or Windows PC, you can quickly switch between programs by using 2 keys and cycle through all open programs to quickly get to the one you want. 
• On Windows/PC - press Alt+Tab (hold down Alt, then press Tab key once or several times to cycle through, letting go on the one you want) - VIDEO of this
• On Mac - press Command(or Apple)+Tab (hold down Command, then press Tab key once or several times to cycle through, letting go on the one you want)

Ponderings

• Math Rap Videos - Teachers at Westerville South near Columbus, OH are trying a different spin on some HS math lessons through the creation of rap songs. See the article and news video or view some their videos
  
  

  • Teach Me How to Factor
  • Getting Triggy Wit It 

Learning Opportunities

• 1. Ohio FreeTech Conference (hosted by SmartEd Services) - It's FREE and held in "Toledo" (Sandusky) (Jan. 25 & 26), Cincinnati (Feb. 2 & 3), Columbus (Feb. 9 & 10), and Cleveland (Feb. 17 & 18). Ashland grad credit is also offered. See the sessions HERE.
• 2. Apply for National Board Certification by Jan 31st - Go HERE
  
• 3. NWO's STEM Education Inquiry Series (at Rossford High School!) - Thurs., February 17th - a low-cost, local opportunity for elementary teachers and JH/HS science, math, and technology teachers offered 7 times from September 23 - April 14, 2011.
•  4. In the right margin of this blog, enter your email to receive future postings into your email Inbox (Take 5s and more!) -- plan on 1-3 posts per week.

;-) Just for Fun! (and a little learning, perhaps)

• Educational Jargon - NBCT Roxanna Elden recently wrote a post on EdWeek that may enlighten some to our world. At the very least, may make us all think carefully about the words we use and the true intention of those words. Here's the article: 5 Words and Phrases that Sound Different to Teachers and a few highlights:  

--> "Failure is not an option": Actually, failure IS an option...
--> "Paradigm Shift"... Here are some moments in history that might be appropriately described as paradigm shifts:
• "Lo and behold, Copernicus, you might just be right about the whole 'Earth orbiting the sun' thing. Sorry I called you a heretic. No hard, feelings, right?"