Teaching History through Art

On September 7, 2010, in Art, Geography/Maps, Lesson Plans, Social Studies, Teachers, by Cyndi Danner-Kuhn

Great art speaks powerfully, inspires fresh thinking, and connects us to our past. As a teacher with a degree in art and who is passionate about it, I am excited.

To access the resources, Book and Images,

Resource Book (it is basically a step-by-step guide)

PowerPoint of the Images- scroll to the bottom of the page to access the download link.

Picturing America, an exciting new initiative from the National Endowment for the Humanities, brings masterpieces of American art into classrooms and libraries nationwide. Through this innovative program, students and citizens will gain a deeper appreciation of our country’s history and character through the study and understanding of its art.

The nation’s artistic heritage—our paintings, sculpture, architecture, fine crafts, and photography—offers unique insights into the character, ideals, and aspirations of our country.

Picturing America, a far-reaching new program from the National Endowment for the Humanities in cooperation with the American Library Association, brings this vital heritage to all Americans.

By bringing high-quality reproductions of notable American art into public and private schools, libraries, and communities, Picturing America gives participants the opportunity to learn about our nation’s history and culture in a fresh and engaging way. The program uses art as a catalyst for the study of America—the cultural, political, and historical threads woven into our nation’s fabric over time.

Collectively, the masterpieces in Picturing America, used in conjunction with the Teachers Resource Book and program Web site, help students experience the humanity of history and enhance the teaching and understanding of America’s past.”

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Google Sketchup 8 loos better and easier!

On September 7, 2010, in Apps, Art, Google, Tools, by Cyndi Danner-Kuhn

Google Sketchup has been around for some time now, but I have always found it was a little hard to master, so, I have never really gotten into it.  I am not 100% sure yet, but it is looking like 8 is much better and easier to use.

What’s New in Google SketchUp 8

We’ve stuffed SketchUp 8 full of new and improved features:

Because almost everything is somewhere

Whether you’re designing in context, creating a shadow study or photo-modeling existing structures, SketchUp 8 provides easy access to Google’s huge collection of geographic resources.

  • add-geo-location

    Model geo-location with Google Maps

    We’ve built Maps right into SketchUp. Adding a geo-location to your model is now an elegant, one-app process.

  • color-terrain

    Color imagery and more accurate terrain

    The snapshot you get when you add a geo-location to your model now includes 3D terrain data that’s more accurate, and — for the first time — aerial imagery in color.

  • photo-match-improvements

    Match Photo improvements

    Our Match Photo feature lets you trace one or more photographs to build a model; it’s an incredibly powerful tool. For SketchUp 8, we’ve tweaked some things to make using Match Photo easier than ever.

  • building-maker

    SketchUp, meet Building Maker

    When it comes to modeling existing buildings, it’s hard to beat Google Building Maker for speed and efficiency. We’ve made it simpler to open and refine Building Maker models in SketchUp. Watch a video

    Watch a video about modeling in context with SketchUp 8

More great things about SketchUp 8

We’ve spent months building powerful new tools, fine-tuning functionality and making sure SketchUp 8 continues to be the most intuitive 3D modeler on the planet.

  • solid-tools

    Meet the Solid Tools PRO

    SketchUp Pro 8 includes a powerful new set of tools for additive and subtractive modeling:

    • union
    • Union adds together two or more shapes.
    • intersect
    • Intersect makes a new shape out of the bits that overlap [parts that are common] – while deleting everything else.
    • subtract
    • Subtract turns a shape into a 3D cookie cutter. Use it to slice and dice any other solid.
    • trim
    • Trim tells one shape to take a bite out of the other – without deleting the first shape.
    • split
    • Split makes a new shape out of the bits that overlap – while keeping everything else.

    Watch a video about the Solid Tools

  • scene-thumbs

    Scene Thumbnails

    Wouldn’t it be nice if the Scenes Panel included little image previews of the scenes in your model? Your wish is our command.

  • back-edges

    Back Edges

    Turn these on to see your model’s obscured edges as dashed lines. A great alternative to Wireframe or X-Ray mode when you need to be able to see through your model.

  • angular-dims

    Angular Dimensions in LayOut PRO

    By popular demand, we’ve equipped LayOut 3 with a dedicated tool for creating angular dimensions.

  • push-pull

    Push/Pull pre-selected faces

    Select a face, then push/pull; it works just like the rest of SketchUp’s modification tools. Super handy when you don’t want to change your point of view.

  • volumes

    Calculate volumes

    Entity Info now displays the volume of any solid in your model. Volumes are also included in reports you generate with SketchUp Pro.

  • outer-shell

    Outer Shell

    Automatically generate a shape that completely encloses two or more solids in your model. It’s a little like shrink-wrapping your geometry. Did someone say 3D printing?

  • dwg-lo

    DWG/DXF 2010 PRO

    SketchUp Pro 8 supports the DWG/DXF 2010 format for importing and exporting vector data for your models.

  • dwg-su

    DWG/DXF export in LayOut PRO

    Like to draft in LayOut? With this version, you can share your LayOut 3 drawings as files that any CAD system or 3D modeler (including SketchUp Pro) can open.

  • dashed-lines

    Dashed lines are configurable in LayOut PRO

    Not finding what you need in LayOut’s library of dashed line styles? Now you can adjust things to make your own.

  • precise-move

    Precise Move in LayOut PRO

    We’ve arranged for the center grip on every element to do double duty: In addition to rotation, you can place it wherever you like to establish a custom “snap point” for putting things exactly where you want them.

    Watch a video about improvements we’ve made to drafting in LayOut

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SoundCloud: Creave Commons Music Source

On September 5, 2010, in Music, by Cyndi Danner-Kuhn

SoundCloud – We Move Music:  SoundCloud lets you move music fast & easy. The platform takes the daily hassle out of receiving, sending & distributing music for artists, record labels & other music professionals.  http://soundcloud.com/.  Looking for Creative Commons Music, give SoundCloud a try.

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Recently ranked in the top 10 iPad apps.  Kinda like MobileMe for Google Calendar, but less expensive. MobileMe is $99.00 a year.I use MobileMe, but also use BusyMac for syncing my iCal and Google Cal so I can post of my website.

Supports full editing as well as viewing of shared Google calendars. So if you are a Google Calendar user, you might just love this app, even if it does cost $6.99. http://pocketinformant.com/products_info.php?p_id=pocketinformant_iphone

Pocket Informant® is an integrated calendaring and GTD®-based tasks solution for the iPad. Our purpose is to fuse together best-of-class calendaring with best-of-class tasks into one great solution.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocket-informant-hd-calendar/id380732176?mt=8#

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Do you need reminders? Try Wakerupper

On September 5, 2010, in Apps, General, Help, Tools, by Cyndi Danner-Kuhn

Simple telephone reminders: Wakerupper is the web’s easiest telephone reminder tool. Schedule reminder calls on the web. It couldn’t be simpler.  Use Wakerupper to…

Tick Set a wake-up call at a specific time
Tick Remind yourself of important events
Tick Remember to take medication on time
Tick Escape from a boring date or meeting
Tick Remind child or spouse to do chores
Tick Set reminders for tasks and follow-ups

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Check out these elementary kids podcasting.  Pretty cool!  Do you know of other, add them to Comments.

Bethke Elementary in Timnath, Colorado:

http://www.bethkeelementary.com/kbob-studios.html

Podcasting 10 year olds:
http://www.schooltechnology.org/2010/04/22/podcasting-10-year-olds/

Podcasting Students: The Lazy Way:
http://www.schooltechnology.org/2010/04/23/podcasting-students-the-lazy-way/

Karen’s Mashups-Show 4-Elementary Student Productions:
http://www.k12handhelds.com/mashups/?p=17

Jamestown Elementary:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jamestown-elementary/id81520874

West Salem Elementary Cardinal Casts
http://www.salem.k12.va.us/west/podcasts/index.htm

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Be a part of the excitement!

Saturday, October 2, 2010

The 2nd annual ASSET Educator Institute… EXPERIENCE PBS for PreK, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 Educators and early childhood care providers! 4 Strands… LITERACY… SOCIAL STUDIES… STEM… ARTS… NATIONALLY recognized programming… NATIONALLY researched resources… LOCALLY aligned/standards-based resources. SPACE is LIMITED! TEAMS of staffs encouraged to attend. Professional development hours provided for participation.

http://www.asset.asu.edu/new/experience_pbs.html

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Student filiming in the classroom by Langwitches

On September 3, 2010, in Technology, Tools, Video, by Cyndi Danner-Kuhn

A few Tips & Tricks for Student filming in the Classroom
http://langwitches.org/blog/2010/09/01/a-few-tips-tricks-for-student-filming-in-the-classroom/

With the wonderful small, but high quality, Flip Video cameras (and similar
brands), it has become affordable (around US$ 150) to bring video production
into the classroom.

TO READ the full story, CLICK HERE

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Are you using iWork PAGES instead of MSWord?

On September 3, 2010, in Apple/MAC, Apps, Tools, by Cyndi Danner-Kuhn

Pages Templates… The laconic and clean-cut Pages Templates 5.2 extends the fourth version’s tradition by offering a comprehensive collection of documents for business and personal use that focus heavily on design quality. Like its predecessor, Pages Templates 5.2 fuses an up-to-date print style with bold lettering, contrasting colors, and tasteful minimalism. But it’s just a bit lighter and fresher…and half of its contents is completely, absolutely new.
Pages Templates 5.2 includes 105 complete templates: 50 from the previous version and 50 brand-new additions. The kit offers a variety of documents, from brochures and photo albums to posters and invitations. Most of the templates include up to 10 different sections, so the package provides an extensive array of 360 layouts to meet your most exclusive needs. Each layout, from the plain refinement of text-only pages to the bold mix of pictures and slogans among the advertisement and photo album templates, features prime design quality which is set apart by attention to detail, high usability, and abundant creativity.

Most of the 105 templates are available in both paper size A4, the standard prevalent in most countries in the world, and US Letter, the most common paper format in the US and Canada. Besides, users of the previous version will notice improved functionality and a significantly boosted level of intuitiveness, which will make every document appreciably easier to adjust according to individualized needs.

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Tired of plain old mail!

On September 2, 2010, in Apple/MAC, Apps, General, by Cyndi Danner-Kuhn

http://www.jumsoft.com/stationery/

Say It All.

Stylish, sharp, and straight to the point. Words are just not that necessary.

It’s in the Details

Once in a while, plain words are just not enough. Like when you’re trying to “wow” a potential client, wish your colleague a happy birthday, or make your friend’s day with the funniest e-mail of them all. That’s when emotions overcome reason, and that’s when your e-mail message just begs for richness. We have something for these little instances to make your everyday lives just a tad fascinating.

Pushing the Boundaries

Mail Stationery 3.0 is a beautiful collection of 100 top-quality templates for Apple Mail, from professional designers who produced not only visually attractive, but also highly functional designs. In addition, most of the templates come with extra color themes or design variations, which will maximize your choice for creative solutions.

And much, much more, Check it out: http://www.jumsoft.com/stationery/

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LEARN IT IN 5: Five minutes that is!!

On September 2, 2010, in General, Lesson Plans, Teachers, Video, by Cyndi Danner-Kuhn

Learn it in 5 is a must see resource for every teacher. It has lesson ideas, video tutorials, visionary apps and loads of tools and content you can access quickly and easily.   This has some real useful content and I am sure you will find something new and innovative to try with your students.

Check it out here.

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Open Culture – The Open Culture app gives you mobile access to educational audio and video collections. Now, you can learn whenever you’re on the go. And it’s all free! Note: This app works with WiFi, not Edge (per Apple’s requirements). All media files open in native iPhone software — iTunes, Safari, the YouTube player, etc. You can learn more about the Open Culture app at www.openculture.com/iphone.  With this app, you can access:

  • Free Audio Books
  • Free University Courses
  • Free Foreign Language Lessons
  • Ideas & Culture Podcasts
  • Music Podcasts (Classical, Jazz, Rock)
  • Science Podcasts
  • University Podcasts
  • Intelligent YouTube Videos
  • Daily Blog Posts from OpenCulture.com

myHomework– a simple and easy to use iPhone application that allows you to keep track of your homework, classes, projects and tests while interacting with a really cool design. myHomework’s design tends to resemble our day to day notebook, the sections are separated by colorful “sticky pads” that marks the page. You can quickly enter your class schedule and use it to differ between homework assignments. myHomework will also notify you when you have late and upcoming assignments by numbering them on your application icon. Late assignments will be marked in red, next day upcoming assignments will be marked in orange, and all other upcoming assignments will be marked in blue. So you can easily identify which homework you definitely need to look into. www.myhomework.rigoneri.com/mac

Free Translator – This application provides an interface to the free Google Translate API for many languages including Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Quick Graph – For math fanatics, this high quality graphing calculator is sure to help out. This calculator has both 2D and 3D capabilities. It can display equations and inequalities, as well as coordinate systems. Sharing features allow you to send or save your results to the library.

Formulus Free – Formulas for Calculus – – Awarded “Best” award from www.iPhoneAppsPlus.com Have you ever needed to know that one math formula that you always forget? Do you spend minutes flipping through your textbook or searching the internet for it? Then you need Formulus Free – Formulas for Calculus!  Formulus Free is the perfect study tool. It is a simple, easy to use, easy to navigate collection of the most important formulas and topics for high school and college students taking Calculus and Differential Equations.  Includes the following subject areas:

  • Calculus
  • Algebra & Geometry
  • Derivatives
  • Graphing
  • Hyperbolics
  • Integrals
  • Limits & Continuity
  • Matrices
  • Series & Sequences
  • Trigonometry
  • Vectors
  • Differential Equations
  • 1st Order Linear Equations
  • 2nd Order Linear Equations
  • Laplace Transforms
    Support for Linear Algebra equations COMING SOON!!!
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by Langwitches ~ August 28th, 2010.

Looking for “Experts” to Help Us Learn With Perspectives About Christopher Columbus

A new school year has started for us here in the Northern Hemisphere. We are off to a fantastic start. I am working with our 5th grade teacher and class on their Christopher Columbus Social Studies unit.

Cristobal Colon

We are looking to involve students in researching the historic figure from different perspectives in order to put together a more accurate view of the “hero-fied” persona he has been portrayed as in many textbooks in the USA.

To find out more, check out the full story, CLICK HERE

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Twitter does it again, Cybrary Man has a great site I follow him on Twitter (http://twitter.com/cybraryman1/) and he also shares great learning and resourcs.  Today must be Will Richardson (http://twitter.com/willrich45) birthday and Cybrary Man has put together a really interesting page that could easily lead kids down  the resarch road, check it out at
http://cybraryman.com/happybirthday.html

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I have been thinking about this for some time now and at ISTE Conference in Denver in late June I pre-ordered the  new book RETOOL Your School; The Educators Essentail Guide to Google’s Free Power Apps.” It arrive a week or so ago, as usual, I flipped through it, got excited, then was off to something else that needed doing.  Today, I really sat down and took a good look at the book.  I was enthralled with Chapter 1, How Google Transformed a School.  OK, so I am hooked now.  Actually, I think Hook, Line and Sinker would be more accurate. 

http://www.isteconnects.org/2010/08/08/retool-your-school-with-free-google-apps/

Collaborative means that students work together, view each others’ work, and/or are included in all class conversations. There are so many ways to share information and enable collaboration these days, it only makes sense to include them in my pre-service technology class.  Remember, my students are all going to classrooms teachers very soon.

I have not done a ton with collaborative projects and such in my class because the minute I bring up collaborative projects, the whining begins and I usually buckle under pressure.  Well not this semester!  I have been researching ways to collaborate and here are a few ideas.

Do you have suggestions or ideas for collaboration and collaborative type projects I  might try with these soon to be teachers.

  1. Google Docs: (http://docs.google.com) I have used it off and on for this or that, but haven’t really gotten invested in Google Docs. I think the new shared folder feature in Google Docs could be quite useful. I am really swamped with email and worry I might miss something important from a student, I am thinking I could create a shared folder for each class and it might keep me more organized.  It is even possible add folders within a shared folder. I plan to use Google Docs for creating online forms/surveys, maybe even a way to take attendance.  I am in a 1:1 laptop situation, so that might work.  We do a peer review of their portfolio website, I think this might make that task much easier.  Just need to figure out exactly how to set it up!!
  2. WallWisher: (http://www.wallwisher.com) I been seeing lots and lots of teachers using WallWisher lately, I think I could use it for discussing key concepts and ideas, then I will embed the “wall” my the course page for that week of my website. Looks easy and is a great way to share thoughts and view them in an interactive environment.  I think my students might just really get into this.
  3. Twitter: (http://twitter.com/cyndidannerkuhn) I have been using Twitter for quite a long while now and I love it. For me, Twitter is my professional development every day when it is convenient for me.  But I have discovered that convincing my pre-service teachers that Twitter is useful has been a huge struggle, so, I am looking for ideas of how I can “turn on” these education majors to the power of Twitter. Yesterday in day one of class, I mentioned Twitter and there was a huge growl from the class, and it was clear they were not excited and dreading it.   HELP, ideas please……
  4. Delicious: (http://delicious.com/cyndidannerkuhn) I have been using delicious for years and couldn’t get along without it.  But my personal delicious site is a bit of a mess these days. I do lots of professional development workshops and am constantly demonstrating how to use it.  I just created one especially for my Honors section of my tech class that will be using iPads  http://www.delicious.com/coeksuipad. I told my students to tag anything relevant to our iPad experiment in our class.  I think maybe I need to make a delicious feed for  my regular sections of DED 318 that is not iPad specific and have all of them (160+ students) tagging sites to it?  In the past I have had each student create their own delicious account, which I may still do toward the end, but maybe a collaborative one would be more effective in the long run.  It might do a better job of getting the point across.
  5. Google Reader: (http://reader.google.com) I have a Google reader account and it is useful, but I just read about Google Reader “bundles”.”  They can subscribe to just one feed with all the blogs I suggest or even that they suggest.  I have to think about this one some more and do a little more research before I jump in neck deep.  I tend to jump before I look, get me in hot water sometimes.
  6. My Blog: Technology Bites, Bytes & Nibbles: (http://www.technologybitsbytesnibbles.info/) If I can get them to subscribe, I really hate to require it, it needs to be a choice. But if they do subscribe or I include it in the Google Reader Bundle, they will receive daily (well I miss a day now & then) with resources and new technology stuff I find.  This is another way for students to stay informed.
  7. Podcast: I think it is time I have a podcast.  We just got a server with Podcast Producer and I am so excited.  Not that I could not have created podcasts before, but now, I am more motivated, everything I have learned about Podcast Producer just makes the entire process seem so much easier.

So for now, those are a few of my goals for my  Technology for Teaching and Learning class of  soon to be teachers this fall.  I guess time will tell how many of them are successful.  I would appreciate any advice or suggestions you might have.

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by Michael Zimmer , The Pursuit of Technology Integration Happiness

I tried to abbreviate this post and send you to right off to Michael’s blog, but for the life of me, I could not do it justice. So, here it is in full with a link at the end to Michael’s site where you can comment. I hate to copy completely, but…..so my apologies to Michael…….and Thank you for some excellent ideas.

1. Standard Homework Assignment: Create a poster board over a book/person/event.
Technology Alternative: Create a Glog using Glogster for Education

2. Standard Homework Assignment: Find an article about a certain topic (Current Event maybe) and bring into class with a write up discussing the content
Technology Alternative: Have students find that article online and post a link to it on a blog or wallwisher wall discussing the content.  Share the blog/wall in class the following day.

3. Standard Homework Assignment: Complete the questions from a certain section or chapter review in your textbook.
Technology Alternative: Create a Back Channel Chat using a site like TitanPad and discuss the questions from the book at a certain time that night.

4. Standard Homework Assignment (Math): Do a certain number of problems from your book and bring them in to check for correctness
Technology Alternative: Use a site like Twiddla and provide a whiteboard area for students to collaboratively work together on the problems.

5. Standard Homework Assignment: Complete a worksheet and turn in to the teacher the following day
Technology Alternative: Create the worksheet and make it available to students online (Use a Word to PDF converter or on a Mac>Print>PDF).  Have students search the Internet for the answers and provide a link to the source for where they found the answer.

6. Standard Homework Assignment: Read a poem/story/section of a book and be prepared to discuss in class the next day
Technology Alternative: Read a poem/story/section of a book and create a blog or Twitter account for students to discuss the night they read it.  Then share the comments on the blog with students to facilitate the discussion in class the next day.  It also provides a way to grade them for participating in the reading.  If they do a blog response, they get a grade, if not, they don’t.

7. Standard Homework Assignment: Write a Poem.
Technology Alternative: Use a site like PicLits and write the poem using an image as inspiration.  Email the completed poem to the teacher.  Share in class.

What Technology Alternatives do you have for the Standard Homework Assignment?  Feel free to comment on Michael Zimmers Blog, Click Here

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Last year one of the best ads released during the SuperBowl was this simple ad by Google.  Shortly after the release of this video, Google asked you to make your own search stories. Simply go to http://www.youtube.com/searchstories and start creating your story. This could be a great way to teach students search skills. Give students a start and end point.  For Example, Jeff Utecht, of The Thinking Stick blog has many great ideas. For example, rocks for the start and volcanoes for the end.  Then the student does the research and brings the two together.

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On August 17, 2010, in Education Issues, News, by Cyndi Danner-Kuhn

Higher-ed students, faculty can legally ‘rip’ portions of DVDs for use in media studies
By Meris Stansbury, Associate Editor

A new ruling from the U.S. Copyright Office will affect how higher-education students and teachers can use digital material in the classroom, thanks to the efforts a university professor who says that increasing students’ digital literacy is a responsibility educators can’t afford to brush off.
The change is part of a new interpretation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), a U.S. copyright law that criminalizes production and dissemination of software, devices, or services intended to circumvent the digital rights management (DRM) technology that controls access to copyrighted works. The U.S. Copyright Office, a branch of the Library of Congress that meets to discuss exemptions every three years, oversees management of the DMCA.

To read the full story, CLICK HERE

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TeachTechie.com. This is a cool little site.  There are resources for many content areas.  Check it out.  It is clear it was created by a teacher using iWeb on a Mac.  Nicely done, simple and full of resources. http://www.teachtechy.com

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