TOOLS 4 Tuesday: 1-Page Map Maker & Teacher's Tape

National Geographic’s 1-Page MapMaker 
(in beta or test-version, so may not function perfectly, but still can be a great resource!)

"Customize one-page maps and download, email, print, or share!"

(OR... Use on your SMART Board, just capture the map with your Image Capture tool and use!)

 

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Teacher's Tape
Foam tape for wall hangings, magnetic tape, non-stick tape for shelves, and more! 

As the year begins, classrooms are still taking shape. Why not use an alternative to tape that stays up longer and is safer for most surfaces. I've used this before and found it to be a better option on some wall surfaces. NOT FREE :-( ... but you can get a FREE SAMPLE.

Manic Monday: Online Stopwatch and Timers for ANY Class

"Manic Monday" posts contain information or tips related to time-management, time savers, and organization.

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Check out some of these time tools for time management, learning about telling time, or even about hourly pay rates (... SEE the difference between a $8.00/hour job and a $40.00/hour job). 

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Full Screen Stopwatch: 
http://www.online-stopwatch.com/full-screen-stopwatch/




MANY Other Timers available at:  
http://www.online-stopwatch.com/

Such as...

Full Screen Clock (analog)
(with numbers, Roman numerals, or marks only/no numbers)
TIP: take screen shots of the clocks to use as needed in Notebook files or worksheets, etc.

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< < <  Full Screen Egg-Timer (sand glass)

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Cash Clock (aka- "Time is Money" Clock) (set $ amount per hour)

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< < <  Alarm Clock (minute or hour hand)

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Digital Clock (tired of analog???)

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< < <  Metronome (music teachers rejoice!)

Fun Friday: Back to School Jokes

Friday Fun:
Take some time to relax, have fun, and laugh (possibly even at ourselves!)... 

Here’s one...

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See more at:
Back to School Jokes (from Reader’s Digest)
See them 1 at a time
See them all at once

Thinking Thursday: Brain "Exercise" with Luminosity

"Use it or lose it!" Right?

For kids (students) or adults (teachers, parents, administrators, etc.), Luminosity is a website that has a variety of thinking activities (or games, if you'd rather think of them that way!) You can even sign up for a free account that tracks your prowess over time.

 

Video: Can You Be Their Teacher???

In preparation for the 1st day... An “oldie, but goodie” (from WAY back in Fall 2009) that should be seen by ALL teachers. It’s always a good idea to reflect upon and make sure we are the teacher that our students need. If you’re not, make efforts to become that teacher...

Watch this 2 min. video first, then re-read the text/transcript below from the video.

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You can't be my teacher... 
By Darren Cannell

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From Cannell’s YouTube page:
If you don't know the internet you can't be my teacher, I need someone who knows what I know.  Meet me on the web, at least half way.  Teachers today need to be literate to relate to digital natives.

Text from the video:
Are you going to teach me in a school?
Are you going to make me sit in a desk all day?
Is this what you are going to use to teach me with?
Is this what you are going to use to teach me with? (echo)
Do you know how to use a computer?
Do you know how to use a computer? (echo)
Are you a teacher?
Are you my teacher?
Are you going to teach me using the internet?
Are you going to teach me how to be safe on the internet?
Do you know what goes on on the internet?
Are you sure you are my teacher?
Are you sure you are my teacher? (echo)
Are you going to learn how to use the technology?
I am a digital native.
Do computers scare you?
Are you afraid to use them?
Have you been on facebook?
Have you been on twitter?
Have you been surfing?
Do you even know what is on the internet?
Are you going to be my teacher?
Or just that textbook?
Because I want to know...
what the world has to offer
And if you are not on the internet...
and know nothing about computers.
you can't be my teacher!
I said you can't be my teacher.
Make room for somebody who knows how to use the internet.
Do you think I am going to be ready?
Do you think I am going to be ready?
Do you think you are preparing me for the
 world that I have to live in?
Do you think I am going to be ready?
That's your job!
That's your job! (echo) 

Take 5! Integration Update - May 11, 2011 (Vol.2/#25)

Issue #25

“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!


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Tips and Tools for Teachers

• ZooBurst – Online Pop-Up Books – Have students create online pop-up books (up to 10 for a free account). For more detailed information, read this brief article!
    
• ISTE Discount in May for Ed-Tech Resources -  Do you want to use technology more effectively in your classroom, but aren't an ISTE member? Well, this is your lucky month! Use the promo code WFF11 during the month of May to get an ISTE member discount (from 20-50+%) on webinars or books. To go shopping... http://www.iste.org/store.aspx

Ponderings  

Online Presence vs. Resumes? (article here) - Although stretching a little at times, this article brings up some valid points to ponder about our students' (and our?) futures... At the least, it brings to light reasons why students need to know about digital citizenship (responsibility and appropriate behaviors on the Internet): 

5 reasons why your online presence will replace your resume:

1. Social networking use is skyrocketing while email is plummeting 

2. You can’t find jobs traditionally anymore

3. People are managing their careers as entrepreneurs

4. The traditional resume is now virtual and easy to build

5. Job seeker passion has become the deciding factor in employment  

Learning Opportunities

• 1. In-District Professional Development Opportunities

• 2. CATIIE Conference (Creativity And Technology Integration In Innovative Education) @Central Catholic HS, Tuesday, June 14th. A great local ed-tech professional development and networking opportunity. Cost of this daylong conference is $25 (by June 7) and includes continental breakfast, lunch, and a post-conference gathering. On-site registration is $35. The 1st session will start at 9 AM and the conference will conclude at 4 PM. Click HERE for more information. 

 

• 3. INFOhio's 21st Century Learning Commons - 21 Essential Things Online Course: go HERE to begin learning more about 21st Century Skills, Tools, and Strategies to use in your classroom. You can earn CEUs or a graduate credit or just learn on your own for the sake of learning!
  

• 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)

Extreme Ironing

Here’s a good summary WITH videos of this classic, strange, EXTREME hobby. In case you haven't heard of EI,it has to be something of importance since it has it's own Wikipedia page AND Facebook group! What other creative hobby groups can you or your students come up with -- perhaps a little less dangerous, but just as need-fulfilling like ironing?

 
  

Take 5! Integration Update - April 27, 2011 (Vol.2/#24)

Issue #24

“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!


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Tips and Tools for Teachers

• Tool: The Civil War's 150th Anniversary on iTunesU – Check out the 150th anniversary of the Civil War on iTunesU. LOTS of resources! 

From your iTunes, click on the iTunes Store, then at the black bar at along the top edge, click on "iTunesU" to begin your search.
 

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

• 2 Safety Tips for Living in a Techie World! Although it may not seem likely with our recent weather, spring will eventually “spring” in NW Ohio, which is often followed by some less than rationale behaviors. So here are a couple safety pointers/tips for you and or your students, children, family members, and friends...THINK before you use that technology!

1 - Dangers (Possible Realities) of Texting and Driving (VIDEO): This 10-minute video should be watched by anyone who drives... Whether you text or not. The most enlightening part for me was that all it can take is a small word like “OK” or “LOL”. [Thanks to Diane B. for sharing this video!]

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

  
2 - Smart Phone Pics Posted Online Can Show Location -- Do you know your camera’s or smart phone settings? Keep this video in mind and change your camera's settings, if needed!

Ponderings

• Coming Soon... Robot Teachers?!?!? - This goes beyond being “robotic” in your lesson delivery! Look what is coming soon to some schools in South Korea... But as David Thornburg once said, “Any teacher (who) can be replaced by a computer, deserves to be.” (or robot, in this case) [quote ref]
  

  

Learning Opportunities

• 1. REVS' In-District Professional Development Opportunities - upcoming... SMART Board Tips & Tricks, Web 2.0 Create Tools

• 2. INFOhio's 21st Century Learning Commons - Online Course: go HERE to begin learning more about 21st Century Skills and Tools to use in your classroom. Click on the Get Started icon. You can earn up to 45 contact hours (free or pay for) or 1 graduate credit hour.
  

• 3. 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)

Why Didn't I Think of That? - Check out some 'great' inventions or ideas that surely we would have thought of if we had the time... right?

Take 5! Integration Update - April 19, 2011 (Vol.2/#23)

Issue #23

“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!


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Tips and Tools for Teachers

• Grant Resources – Ohio – Dream Sources... Make your classroom dream come true!

• Google Earth Resources (wiki) – A great resource for Google Earth, which can be used in practically every classroom (some with more creativity than others) -- geography, history, social studies, literature tours, virtual street level tours, topography, earth science, space, moon, Mars, sky/stars, and more! Take a look at what Google Earth can do, then see if you have a lesson/objective that this tool can help students learn. Here's the Google Earth Showcase to learn more.

 

Ponderings

• Ed-Tech Quotes (Slideshow by solejea2 ) - Check out this Scribd slideshow... Should make you go "Hmmmmm" a little...
  

  (Hopefully this is not blocked, but if so, try it from home... it's worth it!)

Ed Tech Quote Slideshow

Learning Opportunities

• 1. In-District Professional Development Opportunities
• 2. Cyberbullying, Harassment, and Sexting: What’s a District to Do? April 20, 2011
   at Lucas Co. ESC. More information below... Check REVS email for registration sheet or email Carrie
•  3. 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.

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Cyberbullying, Harassment, and Sexting: What’s a District to Do?
April 20, 2011
4:30-6:30pm (1.5 contact hours)
At Lucas County ESC   
Presented by
Margaret J. Lockhart, Esq.
Cooper & Walinski, LPA

With the increased use of social media and cell phones, bullying has moved from beyond the schoolyard and into students’ homes. Cyberbullies can anonymously and instantaneously disseminate cruel and malicious information or compromising photographs, often leading to tragic results for victims. Parents want schools to take action, but most cyberbullying and sexting takes place off campus. And perpetrators rely on the First Amendment to protect their conduct. This session will explore how school districts can respond to complaints of cyberbullying and sexting without infringing on students’ rights or increasing the district’s risk of liability.

Lucas County Educational Service Center
2275 Collingwood Boulevard
Toledo, Ohio 43620

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

¿uʍop ǝpısdn ƃuıʇıɹʍ ʇnoqɐ noʎ llǝʇ ı pıp ʇɐɥʍ 

 Flipped Text... Do you have a use for this? (other than confusing people) The text is still recognized as text (can change font, size, etc.), but spell check gets VERY confused!! (see images below)

 

 
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Death of the Flip Video Camera

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charles_hudson/5225996344/ 

Cisco Systems bought out Pure Digital (for a mere $590 million) and just this week (less than 2 years later), ended up dumping the Flip line just before their newest Flip camera was expected to go on the market -- a camera that allowed live video uploads via wireless networks. 

Some speculate that Cisco foresaw a shift in the video market away from Flip cams and similar devices toward the increases in mobile devices such as smart phones, iPod Touches, and iPads. But another theory is that Cisco, who also sells high-end video conferencing devices to very large corporations and even some school districts, might want to utilize the Flip’s small, simple, elegant, and high quality video technologies (and even the software) for those ventures... Hmmmmm... Makes one wonder...

Perhaps some day we’ll know the REAL reason to drop such a popular (and would-have-been-popular for at LEAST a year or two more) device... Or maybe we won’t. Either way, there are many upset Flip fans out there — teachers and students being a good portion of those fans!

David Pogue (New York Times) has more here: The Tragic Death of the Flip
... and has David says, "may it rest in pieces"...

Take 5! Integration Update - April 12, 2011 (Vol.2/#22)

Issue #22

“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

• Webinars on Using the SMART Board (from Teq) – FREE! – Learn on your own! (LOYO): SMART Board webinars from Teq
• (For intermediate to advanced users, I highly suggest the “5 Coolest Things...” webinar!) 
• SMART Notebook 101 Basics 
• SMART Boards and Web 2.0 
• Informal Assessment with SMART Response PE 
• 5 Coolest Things You Can Do On A SMART Board 
• Transparent Background (for PC/Win version)

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• Tip: Planning for a Substitute – (NOTE: Most of these suggestions came from ACTUAL substitute teachers and their experiences in the classroom. See what things can make their day better and your lesson-in-absentia more effective and meaningful for all.)
  These days, many teachers’ lessons have at least some technology element to them. Therefore, when you’re planning for a substitute teacher, here are some things to consider as you best prepare them (and your students) for a day or more without you:
  
  (this is particularly meant for REVS teachers, who most have a SMART Board, but it can apply in other situations as well)
  
• Guest password for substitutes to get onto your computer (or have another teacher, principal, or secretary log in). You can change your log in password for the sub, then change it back, if needed. Or if that’s too much trust, seek a colleague to log the substitute teacher on.
  
• Any other possible passwords they'd need (for computer, websites they will visit, overrides, etc.), be sure to leave that too (or with another teacher, close by)
  
• Include a paper roster of students (even better... One with names AND pictures!)... No more “What’s your name so I can tell the teacher what you did?” “Uh... It’s Butz... Seymour... Yeah, that’s my name!”
  
• If using a SMART Notebook lesson, leave it on the computer AND have a copy on a USB thumb/flash drive that you leave w/ them. If you’re really paranoid and the file is not too large (over 9 MB or so), you may be able to email it to the sub and/or a teaching colleague, just in case).
  
• If using a SMART Notebook lesson, in addition to the electronic file, leave a printed copy (printed in handout format of 3 slides per page on left side and lines down the right side; or 6 per page)... This is handy if there are technological issues, failures, oops-es, etc. You know about Murphy’s Law, right???
  
• Leave the names of a couple students that can assist with the technology if there are concerns...  Most substitutes welcome a helping hand and the students will be happy to help!
  
• Include the phone extension for tech help (if tech help is readily available/on call, like it is here at REVS!), whether that’s the building techs or district level... Email doesn’t help since they may not be able to get online and/or their personal email will probably be blocked by the filters.
  
• Last, but not least, leave the name of a teacher (probably the one mentioned in #1,2 above) who the sub can go to if there are problems. This may seem obvious, but the closest teacher may not be the best one to consult. (NOTE: this came directly from an actual substitute teacher, so obviously not all teachers leave this information!) 

Ponderings 

 

  

Predicted Changes in Education by 2020

• "21 Things That Will Be Obsolete by 2020" -- That's less than 9 years away! Here are some things to consider, such as:
  ... Desks, 

  Language Labs, 

  Homework, 

  High School Algebra I, 

  and Paper (which could be a good thing!)
  
  

Learning Opportunities

• 1. In-District Professional Development Opportunities
• 2. NWO's STEM Education Inquiry Series (at Rossford High School!) - LAST ONE, this Thurs., April 14th (from 5-8pm) 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.
•  3. 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)

 

"What can school do for me?"

This Betty comic (click to see full comic) asks an interesting question to parents and teachers these days... which hopefully all educators can answer!

To Use Bit.ly or Not?

 

Apparently, Gaddafi is the owner of ALL .ly web URL extensions... So if you use URL shorteners like Bit.ly, you are (perhaps unknowingly) indirectly

“The Libyans are well aware of their potential market among English speakers seeking memorable Internet addresses (for the “ly” ending). According to information on Libyan Spider's website, only 38% of .ly domains are registered by Libyans. English-speaking countries have locked up most of the rest, with the U.S., the U.K. and Canada accounting for 43% of the total.”

And if you didn’t know, you’re not alone! Until recently (early April 2011), neither did NATO, FBI, the White House, many members of congress, and even Charlie Sheen (not that he would care).

Here’s the full story here (Wall Street Journal)... And more here (the Atlantic)

 
My advice? Use it SPARING.ly!