The Amazing Web 2.0 Projects Book... FREE!

The Amazing Web 2.0 Projects Book — FREE!
http://www.ictineducation.org/web2/ (2 MB file - PDF)
Edited by Terry Freeman (from UK)

• 87 projects.
  
• 10 further resources.
  
• 52 aplications.
  
• 94 contributors.
  
• The benefits of using Web 2.0 applications.
  
• The challenges of using Web 2.0 applications.
  
• How the folk who ran these projects handled the issues...
  
• ... And what they recommend you do if you run them.
  
• What were the learning outcomes? 
• And so much more!!!

Take 5! Integration Update - March 24, 2010 (Vol.1/#6)

Tips and Tools for Teachers 
1) 43 Ways to Use Wordle in the Classroom — Image below was made in Wordle... Using Rossford Schools’ “About Our District” web page text.
http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dhn2vcv5_157dpbsg9c5  — if images don’t show, go to Actions near bottom and download as a PDF or PPT to view it
Wordle – http://www.wordle.net 

 2) Elementary SMART Board Lessons — From Oak Street Elementary (Plattsburgh, NY) - LOTS of lessons by topic; many are interactive websites (not Notebook software), so easy to click on and use immediately
http://plattsburgh.neric.org/oak/smartboard/sciencealpha.htm


Ponderings... Next issue

Learning Opportunities... Next issue


Just for Fun! ;-)
Just in time for Spring Break... For all that free time we’ll have, create some “avatars” of yourself... Part of your new “digital identity”

• Become an M&M — http://www.mms.com/us/becomeanmm  -- Who doesn’t adore those little ones from the TV commercials? 
• My Avatar Editor – http://myavatareditor.com (view at home... Blocked at schools) – Create you’re own custom avatar that resembles a Mii (from Wii fame... Impress... or embarrass your kids!!!) 
• Second Life – http://secondlife.com – (view at home... Blocked at schools) for more advanced techies or those looking for a new, virtual life away from it all

10 Worst Passwords... Exposed!

Quick question... Does the title above make you think twice about your own passwords? If so, especially if you're thinking of your online banking website, you should keep reading... and make changes accordingly!

According to various websites and blogs (not sure of the original source... so someone can help me out here by adding a comment below), here are the 10 worst passwords to use... or at least 10 bad passwords used at the website mentioned in the article:

1. 123456
2. 12345
3. 123456789
4. Password

5. iloveyou

6. princess
*7. rockyou
8. 1234567
9. 12345678
10. abc123

*rockyou is #7 because that was the website that was hacked to reveal all these passwords! 

Here is one full article on this topic for more information -- It's in "print" format for less ads.

Take 5! Integration Update (Vol.1/#5)

Here is your 5th installment of the Take 5! Integration Update.
“Take 5” is now a weekly email 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 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) Spelling City – (ads on pages, but a neat review tool!) -- Thanks to Jen Lewis for suggesting this site! I know many elementary teachers already use this... If not, check it out! Provide an online spelling list with a “Test Me”, “Teach Me”, and “Play a Game” options as well as generates a printable spelling list.  http://www.spellingcity.com  

2) Tag Galaxy – find pictures (in a solar system search format — you have to see it to really understand...)  And click in the lower right corner for the full-screen effect!
http://www.taggalaxy.de/   (Thanks for sharing this site, Kristen Vargo – IH, GL) 

3) Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling – Thinking about having students create a project? How about digital storytelling? Lots of information here to get you started! Email me if you’re interested in a Digital Storytelling summer workshop!http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/index.html

---

Ponderings
Short (or Long) Read 

Brain Rules Book: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Home, Work, and School
I mentioned this book before, but here’s the direct link for the 12 rules, many relating to learning:

http://www.brainrules.net/the-rules  LOTS of videos and information here for FREE!!!
(Download a PDF of the 12 Rules here - http://www.brainrules.net/pdf/12brainrules.pdf ) 

The 12 Brain Rules (by John Medina) 

• Exercise - Rule #1: Exercise boosts brain power.  
• Survival - Rule #2: The human brain evolved, too.  
• Wiring - Rule #3: Every brain is wired differently.  
• Attention - Rule #4: We don’t pay attention to boring things.  
• Short-term memory - Rule #5: Repeat to remember.  
• Long-term memory - Rule #6: Remember to repeat.  
• Sleep - Rule #7: Sleep well, think well.  
• Stress - Rule #8: Stressed brains don’t learn the same way.  
• Sensory integration - Rule #9: Stimulate more of the senses.
• Vision - Rule #10: Vision trumps all other senses.  
• Gender - Rule #11: Male and female brains are different.  
• Exploration - Rule #12: We are powerful and natural explorers.

Point to Ponder...
Which of these rules will you share with your students? 

Learning Opportunities 

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

2) Kristie Hughes, NWOCA Educational Technologist (March and April visits) - Sign up here: http://training.nwoca.org/hughes 

MARCH (Confirmed)
Thursday, March 18 (EP, JH, HS) 

Wednesday, March 24 (IH, GL) 

APRIL (Confirmed)
Wednesday, April 7 (EP, JH, HS)                
Wednesday, April 14 (IH, GL)

---

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: Tater People – In honor of St. Patrick’s Day (Irish potatoes & all...) Which one(s) are you? http://www.frontiernet.net/~shelby304/specials/sweettators/  

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FW: Take 5! Integration Update - Sharing Successes! (Vol.1/#4)

Here is your 4th installment of the Take 5! Integration Update. “Take 5” monthly emails contain information related to teaching and learning for today and beyond... This week is a special edition on “Sharing Your Successes.”

Sharing Your Successes!
-- Here are a few examples of the many integration activities, lessons, and assessments from across the district...

EP

• A 3rd grade teacher updates her class website before each math, science, and social studies unit with  a few websites with games or information that go along with the unit.  If the students complete any of the games at home they can print their score sheet and return it for a prize.
  
• A 4th grade teacher uploaded most of the OAT tests from the past onto the CPS system (student response or “clickers”) and uses them for review, which the kids love.
  
• The 5th and 6th grade gifted students use Excel to create matrix charts, which help them to organize their information to solve logic problems. The students also use HyperStudio to create multimedia presentations for their independent study projects.
  

GL

• A 5th grade math class used a Wii game system to assist them with a math lesson on graphing; students collected data while playing various sports games (e.g.- bowling pins knocked over; baseball distance hit, etc.) and then made appropriate graphs to chart their performance.
• Two sixth grade teachers are using netbooks for many of their 6th grade lessons, including file sharing through network folders in order to save printing/paper costs and recorded audio files to explain concepts as well as for fluency activities. 
• One 6th grade teacher is also using SMART Board’s Notebook software recorder to create videos of lessons and have students view the lessons in centers. 
• The computer club has been using Google docs. They are writing short scripts for video projects and expressed interest in working on them from home. She set up an account and students can access their work from any computer. She can also communicate with them, give them feedback and suggestions from any computer, anytime. Not all students participate from home, but works great for those who do. 

IH

• The library media specialist had 5th grade students use a wiki (simplified web page) to summarize U.S. state information for a social studies research lesson; the students could quickly view other students’ work/states as well and many were excited to create their “first web page”!
  
• Lots more is going on at IH, but apparently they are too shy to share... ;-)
  

JH

• Cheerleaders are using Ning to keep track of upcoming events, discussions, and pictures.
  
• ELA teachers are having students use Inspiration for their research reports — to organize and plan their writing in diagram and outline formats.
  
• History classes are using Glogster for history reports; she saves a bunch of pictures for the students to pick from (saving time), then they create a poster based on their research and pictures from the choices available.
  
• For ELA, teachers entered old OAT questions into SurveyMonkey (online surveys) and the kids take the “tests” online, providing percentages and graphs of how each student answered, including incorrect answers (showing misconceptions). The kids get INSTANT feedback on how they did and can also compare their answers (extended responses are the best to compare!)  to others -- all answers are anonymous.
  

HS

• Several HS teachers are using Ning sites as a learning resource for students to use outside of the classroom. Some things they use it for include video recordings of their lessons, additional videos of related content, discussion boards to prep for an upcoming in-class discussion or continue one started in class, or to post additional links to files or websites that relate to the current learning outcomes and assignments.
  
• Lots more is going on at the HS too, but apparently they are too shy to share as well!
  

District / Multiple buildings

• Elementary reading specialists created Word forms to improve their assessment documentation, making it quicker to complete each one and easier to interpret since they are the same across the district.
  
• The Choral Director uses several technologies on a regular basis: YouTube performances as models of performance for students in grades 8-12; a multi-track hard disk recorder and a multi-disc burner to create learning media for all students; a digital sequencer to help create accompaniments for his performances; and a piece of software call "The Amazing Slowdowner" from Ronimusic.com to help create learning media for some of his students
  

Windows XP - Split Screen for 2+ Programs

If you are a Windows/PC user who frequently works between two or more programs (ex. - Word and Excel; web browser and PowerPoint), then this tip might come in handy to make both windows quickly viewable side-by-side -- like the image above.

To "undo" it, just use the Maximize button in each window.

(Thanks to Sue Swartz-JH for mentioning it!)

Great... Shorter Days?

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

From Yahoo News: According to a NASA scientist... the 7th largest quake ever "should have shortened the length of an Earth day by 1.26 milliseconds, according to research scientist Richard Gross at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA"

Shorter, perhaps, but most of us won't notice -- still makes a great, attention-getting headline!!!

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...)

SMART Board Elementary Math

GET HANDOUT HERE
Presented at the NWO Inquiry Series

January / February 2010

Resources – Find SMART Board Lessons and Activities (or math lessons you can use on the SMART Board)

Math Lessons – links (Oak Street Elementary – Plattsburgh, NY)            http://plattsburgh.neric.org/oak/smartboard/math.htm
 
Teacher’s Guide – Interactive SMART Board lessons            http://www.theteachersguide.com/InteractiveSitesMathSmartBoard.htm
 
SMART Exchange – Share your lessons, find others (over 5,000 mathematics lessons)

            http://exchange.smarttech.com/index.html

Wichita Public Schools SMART Notebook Lessons (click on Math or other subjects)

            http://technology.usd259.org/resources/whiteboards/smart-lessons/elementary_lessons.html

Aegom – SMART Board Lessons (6 free; building licenses for K-6 or Jr. High math)

            http://www.aegom.com/notebook.htm

Rockingham Public Schools (K- 5 lessons – SMART Board and more….)

            http://www.rockingham.k12.va.us/resources/elementary/soltechintegration.htm

SMART Board Lounge (lots of ads, but some good resources)

            http://www.smartboardlounge.com/
------------------------------------------------------------

PBS Interactive Whiteboard Games

            http://pbskids.org/whiteboard/

Interactive Websites for SMART Board

http://www.theteachersguide.com/InteractiveSitesMathSmartBoard.htm

Great Sites for Using SMART Board (K-3)

http://www.juliethompson.com/SMART.html 

Lizard Point – java web based quizzes (Math, geography, “buy it”)

http://www.lizardpoint.com

http://www.lizardpoint.com/fun/index.html

Various Lessons – East Carter School

http://www.ecarter.k12.mo.us/dept/elementary/fourthgrade/ccrites/etipslesson1.html

Online Timers - http://www.online-stopwatch.com/

-----------------------------------------------------

GET THE ELEMENTARY MATH 
NOTEBOOK SAMPLE FILE >>> HERE

What’s on the Elementary Math Notebook File:

2.     Timer

3.     Abacus

4.     Calculator

5.     Acute/Obtuse Triangle (INTERACTIVE by Skoool)

6.     Angle Types (INTERACTIVE  by Skoool)

7.     Balance

8.     Bucket & Spade (INTERACTIVE – by Sherston)

9.     Charlie Chimp’s Big Modeling Party (INTERACTIVE – by Sherston)

10.   Clocks

11.   Coordinates ((INTERACTIVE – by Skoool)

12.   Rolling Dice & Talking numbers

13.   Elf Tales: Tidying the Books (INTERACTIVE – by Sherston)

14.   Flash Cards

15.   Coin Flip

16.   Fractions, Decimals, Percentages (INTERACTIVE – by Daydream Education)

17.   Hundred Square

18.   Mathematical Toolkit (INTERACTIVE – by Skoool)

19.   Multiple Dice – choose #/color

20.   Packaging Explorer (3-D Shapes) - (INTERACTIVE – by eGadget Factory)

21.   Planes of Symmetry (INTERACTIVE – by Skoool)

22.   Powers

23.   Powers Practice (“Snap”)

24.   Algebraic Fractions (INTERACTIVE – by Skoool)

25.   360° Protractor – Make angles

26.   180° Protractor – Make angles

27.   Pythagoras’ Theorem (INTERACTIVE – by Skoool)

28.   Compass – make a circle

29.   Ruler – measures & output value

30.   Video – walking a maze

31.   Spinner – 1-12 colors; text or not

32.   Symmetry (INTERACTIVE – by Daydream Education)

33.   Teddy Bears’ Picnic: Walk in the Woods (INTERACTIVE – by Sherston)

34.   Thermometer