Currently viewing the tag: "staff development"

iTunes U courses that serve as great resources for iPads in the Classroom

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Apps for the Classroom by Arkansas

Apps 101 – from Arkansas

https://itun.es/us/jdihE

This course is a self paced or instructor led professional development training for administrators and classroom teachers. Productivity, creativity, and utility apps for educational use will be the center of discussion in this course. Paid and Free apps for the iPad will be discussed during this session. Apps for content areas will be featured in other courses.

To subscribe to an iTunes U course, click View in iTunes. https://itun.es/us/jdihE

Integrating iPads into the Classroom by Union University

iPads 101 – from Union University

https://itun.es/us/CaPsF

This course is designed to introduce educators at all levels to the iPad, while also helping them understand how to successfully integrate the iPad into teaching and learning environments.  Regardless of your perspective for one-to-one iPad programs, it is probable that you have decided to view this course to become more familiar with how to integrate iPads into your classroom.  Such integration includes two key elements:

  • Training on how to technologically use an iPad
  • Training on how to use an iPad for classroom learning.
To this end, the purpose of this course is twofold and will focus on each of the two aforementioned areas.  Namely, this will include technological skills training (i.e., how to use an iPad) and technology integration training (i.e., how to integrate an iPad into classroom learning).

To subscribe to an iTunes U course, click View in iTunes. https://itun.es/us/CaPsF

Amazing Teacher Tech Class is Blogging for Learning and Reflecting

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Wow am I honored to have been featured on Cat Flippen‘s blog,  Ctrl+Alt+Teach! Rebooting Education with Digitization blog, This story first ran on Feb. 26.  I requested permission to re-post on my blog since it was about my class and my students.

I am speechless, which is quite odd for me!!

I recently received several pingbacks to a number of posts in Ctrl+Alt+Teach. As I am always looking to learn from others, I make an effort to visit the page of every pingback I receive. I was surprised and thrilled to find that six of the pingbacks came from reflection post assignments for the “Technology for Teaching and Learning” course at the Kansas State University College of Education, which is a prime example of a teacher ed tech class that is blogging as a means of learning and sharing.

After a quick Google search, I came across the Wiki for the course, which is incredibly detailed and organized and is almost fully available to the public.  Cyndi Danner-Kuhn (@cyndidannerkuhn), the professor whose website The Ed Tech Place is a must-visit that is full of useful information, not only requires that her students develop their own blogs, but also has a terrific blog herself: Technology Bits, Bites and Nibbles.

According to the DED 318 syllabus, “Technology for Teaching and Learning” is a required course for teacher candidates, including undergraduates. That fact along with the many topics and activities in which the students must learn, participate, and create made me excited to see such a great introductory course for instructional technology beyond just Powerpoint and incorporating social media for PLN building. The course also introduces some essential educational technology tools such as VoiceThread, Google Apps, QR Codes, Creative Commons, screencasting, and response systems that I firmly believe will empower the future teachers in this course to be ahead of the curve when they enter the classroom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many teacher colleges in the country have yet to make this leap, so I applaud Kansas State and @cyndidannerkuhn for this amazing course, especially in their undergrad teacher program. I am personally encouraged to see teacher colleges embracing the realities of the digital educational revolution!

So, I would love to surprise these teacher-students with some traffic to their blogs! If you have a moment, please visit the following (unfortunately, comments are turned off for their blogs):

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this post or have thoughts to contribute, please subscribe to Ctrl+Alt+Teach and connect with me on Twitter.

iPad: Professional Development for Educators

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Professional Development for Educators

Professional Learning Mini-Conference:
Mobile Learning, Curriculum Integration and Best Practices
With support from KSDE

http://professionaldevelopment.altec.org/

On Friday, December 14th, 2012, 9:00a-4:00p, ALTEC will be offering a Mini-Conference focusing on Mobile Learning in the Classroom. Join us for a day of professional learning, networking and conversations at the University of Kansas – School of Education building in Lawrence. Using a Mini-Conference format, this day will engage the K-12 community in sharing “what works” for Mobile Learning in the Classroom. Breakout sessions will be led by teachers, administrators and technology directors from Kansas districts implementing mobile learning solutions. In addition, higher education faculty and industry reps are invited to share in the dialog. Space is limited so register early!!!
Register | Flyer | Hotels | Submit a Proposal

Audience:
Educational technology leaders who are interested in gathering with a group of like- minded individuals to give and get resources, ideas, and support for designing 21st Century mobile learning opportunities for teachers and students. (Teachers, District Leaders, Building Administrators, Technology Directors, Instructional Coaches/Facilitators, etc.)

Location:
University of Kansas – School of Education Building
Joseph R. Pearson Hall
1122 West Campus Road
Lawrence, KS 66045

Tentative Schedule:
8:00 AM Registration / Breakfast Snacks Available
9:00 AM Welcome / Keynote session
10:00 AM Breakout Session 1
11:00 AM Breakout Session 2
11:45 AM Lunch (lunch included with registration)
12:45 PM Breakout Session 3
1:45 PM Breakout Session 4
2:45 PM Breakout Session 5
3:35 PM Closing Session / Door Prizes

Breakout Session Topics include:
Best Practices – Apps, Integration, Deployment
Common Core Standards
21st Century Skills
Productivity Tools and Tips
Creating Books/ePubs
BYOD and 1:1 Policies
…and more!

Making Free Online Classes From YouTube Videos, FREE

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The launch of teachem, a free teaching platform that allows anyone to turn YouTube videos into online classes. This is great tool for universities, teachers, companies, or experts of any kind to share their expertise in their own private school. Below are a few examples of classes that can be created from the platform.
The Presidential Debate
Steve Job’s Standford Commencement
Teachem – Another Way to Comment on Educational Videos

Do you need more ways to stimulate student-teacher discussions about teaching practices, and reflection of their own philosophies of education?

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Paul Rallion has co-authored two books: Middle Schoolin’ and Turning Point. He hold a master’s in education and is a National Board Certified teacher.

Do you need more ways to stimulate student-teacher discussions about teaching practices, and reflection of their own philosophies of education? These books are sure to be of interest to the staff and students of your education program:

1) “Middle Schoolin’, 50 Stories about the Challenges, Humor and Rewards of Teaching,” is based on interactions with students, parents, administrators, and other teachers. We now offer 250 questions (5 for each story) for education courses: www.middleschoolin.com/questions. These questions promote higher level thinking and include references to the works of: Freud, Piaget, Skinner, Vygotsky, Dewey, Freire, etc. and theories such as: constructivism, cognitivism, humanism, behaviorism, etc. The book includes 25 teaching strategies that have worked for us in most situations.

2) “Turning Point, Free Education for the Willing,” is an inspirational story of a middle school student who goes from careless and low-achiever to Valedictorian. Read how the tough events that almost took his life brought him back to change it, as well as his school culture.

Some great discussions and alternatives to handling certain classroom situations can emerge from reading them, hence their value in teachers’ reading groups.

To purchase and preview these books please visit Paul’s website: www.paulrallion.com

On Facebook, please visit, “Like,” and share: Facebook.com/AuthorPaulRallion

A forum to encourage and amplify technology-based moonshot thinking and teamwork.

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A site that invites world class speakers to share their ideas through video lectures. These follow a similar format to TED lectures.

here are three important questions that distinguish a Solve for X talk.

  • Does it highlight a huge problem?
  • Is there a concrete solution that could make a radical impact?
  • Does it explain breakthrough science and technology that could enable this solution?

We hope our Solve for X speakers inspire people to work on solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems. We selected speakers who answered the three Solve for X questions particularly well or are finding a way to drive Solve for X thinking.

Most of the speakers are working hard on making their <x> a reality. Others are giving proposals for moonshot projects but have no current plans to tackle them. Perhaps you and a small team can build on these proposals and make them a reality.

Check it out: http://www.wesolveforx.com/

Do you have any of these Symptoms of Techphobia?

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Hey Teachers,
Do you have any of these Symptoms of Techphobia?
* Do you think technology is TOO expensive?
* Are you afraid of breaking your computer?
* Do you think technology is difficult to learn?
* Have you given up on getting sites unblocked at your school?
* Are you wondering why you should change your traditional teaching methods?
If you answered yes to any of these… then YOU MUST watch this webinar!
View the webinar here–>

The SimpleK12 Team has discovered the best tips, advice, and  webtools proven to CURE Techphobia of all degrees.

And now we’re sharing all of these SECRETS with you (and giving you a free eBook so you can take them all home, too)!

  • When: Anytime – On Demand
  • Who: All are welcome
  • Cost: Free!
  • Hosted by: SimpleK12

Watch your free on demand webinar right now!

Whether you’re Techphobic Tracy or EdTech Eddie, there’s something for you at this webinar, so watch it now.

So if you have any friends or colleagues who are a little Techphobic, INVITE THEM TO THIS WEBINAR so they can see the importance of integrating technology into their classrooms.

This webinar and eBook (32 Tips for the Techphobic Teacher) were designed for Teacher Learning Community members but we’re opening it to the public for FREE.

We know you know someone who is Techphobic…it’s YOUR responsibility to do whatever you can – Drag, Roll, Push them to this Webinar!  Send this to the Techphobics at your school.

Sit back, relax, and learn how to overcome your techphobia today.

http://simplek12.com/tlc/c03414od

Don’t miss your chance to join us for the “No More Excuses! It’s Time To Overcome Your Techphobia!” webinar and receive your FREE copy of “32 Tips for the Techphobic Teacher”.

Everyone is welcome to attend!  Forward this invitation on to all the teachers you know that are interested.
Don’t Delay. Grab Your FREE eBook Today!

See you there!

The SimpleK12 Team
Twitter: @SimpleK12

P.S. Don’t let your techphobia go untreated. It only gets worse!
Cure it once and for all by simply watching this video.

Watch it right now!
http://simplek12.com/tlc/c03414od

Looking for EXCLLENT professional development……

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by Wesley Fryer

Upcoming Wes Fryer Presentations in Oklahoma City (Feb – Mar 2012)

I received an email today from an educator in Oklahoma City interested in attending one of my workshops on technology integration in upcoming weeks. I thought I’d cross-post the information I sent him in case this is of interest to others.

I’m sharing a couple sessions at OTA/Encyclomedia in two weeks in OKC and several at Heartland eLearning at UCO in Edmond in early March. These are all listed on wiki.wesfryer.com. My upcoming OKC-area workshops/presentations are:

OTA/Encyclo-Media (Oklahoma City, OK):

(Remember a Google Spreadsheet version of breakout sessions is available via wfryer.me/ota12)

Heartland eLearning (Edmond, OK):

Also I’m doing a full day iPad Productivity Apps workshop on April 19th in OKC, information and registration details are on iPadwithWes.com.

It’s short notice, but tomorrow evening I’ll be speaking about designing websites with WordPress for mobile platforms like iOS (iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch) as well as Android – basically using free mobile themes. This is free at the monthly OKC WordPress meetup, held at “The Div” in Edmond. More info is on the Oklahoma City WordPress User Group’s MeetUp website. I’m not positive but there’s a good chance this session may be live-streamed free via Ustream. If it is I’ll tweet it out.

If you’re in or around the Oklahoma City area, I hope to see you at one of these upcoming learning events!

If you’re interested in checking my availability for a presentation in your district or for your organization, please contact me via the inquiry form on my Speaking page.

DAILY INSIGHT: Google Docs + collaborative learning teams = win

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By Matt Townsley

Over the past year a half, our staff has deeply engaged in embracing a professional learning community (PLC) philosophy. Our teachers meet approximately twice per month during our 1:00pm student dismissal times for the purpose of collaborating around curriculum alignment, authoring assessments and looking at formative assessment data. Using a “loose-tight” framework, each collaborative learning team is in a different place along the PLC journey based upon their team make-up and students. We are tight in that the teams must focus their work on several questions:

Panoramic Virtual Tour Smithsonain National Museum of Natural History

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The comprehensive virtual tour allows the visitor to take a virtual, self-guided, room-by-room walking tour of the whole museum. The visitor can navigate from room to room either by using a floor map or by following blue arrow links connecting the rooms. Camera icons indicate hotspots where the visitor can get a close-up on a particular object or exhibit panel.

This presentation of individual panoramas provides the visitor a list of links to panoramic images of the individual rooms within the museum. These rooms are the same ones available in the comprehensive virtual tour.

http://www.mnh.si.edu/panoramas/#

Twenty Everyday Ways to Model Technology Use for Students

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How to model technology use in the classroom

Veteran teacher Heather Wolpert-Gawron offers 20 tips for using and modeling the use of technology in the classroom. Teachers should involve students in setting up new technology, use digital tools — such as document cameras, videoconferencing and interactive whiteboards — throughout the school day and use tech-inspired vocabulary, even when talking about offline activities, she writes.

Read the full story: Edutopia.org/Heather Walpert-Gawron’s blog

 

Heather Wolpert-Gawron

A ten-year teaching veteran and a California regional Teacher of the Year, Heather Wolpert-Gawron’s musings on educational policy, curriculum design, and daily school life can also be read at www.tweenteacher.com.

The 5 Cs to Developing Your Personal Learning Network

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by Lisa Nielsen, best known as creator of The Innovative Educator blog, is an outspoken and passionate advocate of learning innovatively.  Today she writes about Personal Learning Networks and has one of the best explanations I have seen.

“In the 21st century teachers are no longer the sole imparters of information.  Instead their role shifts to empowering students to learn independently in part by developing personal learning networks in areas of passions, talents, and interests.  Not only are these real-world connections valuable, they enable learning to move from the preparation for life to the living of life by providing individuals with access to learners, leaders and experts around the world bringing together communities, resources and information impossible to access solely from within school walls.”

Read the full story, Click Here

FREE Webinars from Simple K12, great opportunities for teachers

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Don’t miss these free SimpleK12 webinars that are coming up soon…

1)      How to Be A Viral Educator
Date: Thursday, September 8 from 3:30- 4:30 PM Eastern Time, USA
This session will focus on teaching you how to spread messages effectively and leave a positive digital footprint.
Register Now: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/703094890

2)      Lights, Camera, Action! Easily Create Dynamic Video
Presentations
Date: Thursday, September 8 from 5:30- 6:00 PM Eastern Time, USA
Come learn about a free web tool that allows you to turn your PowerPoint slides into dynamic video presentations!
Register Now: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/429701970

3)      How to Avoid the Top Five Time Wasters in Your Classroom
Date: Monday, September 12 from 5:00- 6:00 PM Eastern Time, USA
Explore how to deal with students who are chronically tardy, fail to turn things in on time, and repeatedly forget to put names
on papers.
Register Now: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/252332490

4)      At-Risk Students: What Do I Do Now?
Date: Tuesday, September 13 from 1:00- 2:00 PM Eastern Time, USA
This webinar explains the four types of at-risk students, then delivers the best, ready-to-use interventions to turn around each type of at-risk youngster.
Register Now: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/683343466

5)      EdCamp 101: A Panel Discussion on a New Trend in
Professional Development
Date: Tuesday, September 13 from 5:00- 5:30 PM Eastern Time, USA
Find out more about this new trend in professional development that focuses on teacher-to-teacher collaboration and social learning.
Register Now: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/279350506

6)      Effectively Managing Educational Projects Online
Date: Wednesday, September 14 from 3:30- 4:30 PM Eastern Time, USA
Discover tips for effective collaboration and various free web platforms that support team work on online projects.
Register Now: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/982569042

See you there!
Kimberly
P.S. Don’t forget to register for more upcoming webinars here:
http://simplek12.com/tlc/webinars/

How to use VoiceThread to engage students in lesson content

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Edutopia has this wonderful series of professional development going on for teachers. it is all online at their site and is rich with content and ideas.  This one is about using Voicethread and I challenge you to check it out.

“Curriculum specialist and language-arts teacher Megan Palevich offers a tutorial in a blog post for educators on using the multimedia tool VoiceThread to enhance student lessons. Palevich shares an example in which she used the program to engage students in discussions and reflections related to the study of a novel, offering a way to differentiate instruction while promoting critical thinking.”

Check out all the details: Edutopia.org/Lisa M. Dabbs’ blog

 

Teaching Ideas: Awesome website for teachers

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I received an email this morning from the creator, Mark Warner, of  Teaching Ideas. Mark is a teacher in the UK.  I just checked Teaching Ideas out and WOW, what a wealth of resources. I am sharing this on my blog and with my students next week in class.

I am so amazed how teachers are able to share on the web these days.  I think about when I began teaching back in 1975 (yes, I am that old) and felt all alone, and spent a ton of money on resources, books and stuff.  Now, with the Internet, it is mostly at our fingertips and even free much of the time.  How nice it that!  My pre-service teachers have no concept of how lucky they are.

Do you have resource, a blog or website you could share, please add to comments.

Hi Cyndi,
I’ve just come across your blog and signed up to your RSS feed so that I can keep updated with all the great sites / resources you share there. Thank you. I’m a teacher in the UK with a few sites of my own.

  • Teaching Ideas – http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/ – Has thousands of free lesson ideas and resources that teachers can use in their classrooms.
  • Teaching News – http://www.teachingnews.co.uk/ – Discover the latest UK education news, along with links to recommended sites and resources.
  • Teaching Videos – http://www.teachingvideos.co.uk/ – A gallery of thousands of educational videos, all organised by subject and topic.
  • Teaching Photos – http://www.teachingphotos.co.uk/ – Find inspiration for your classroom displays / bulletin boards by browsing through hundreds of photographs which have all been contributed by teachers.
  • Welcome to the Web – http://www.w2tw.co.uk – An interactive Internet tutorial for children which is used by thousands of pupils around the world on a daily basis.

I have a few others too – everything is listed at http://www.teachingwebsites.co.uk/ if you’d like to find out more :-)

Mark Warner
Teaching Ideas – www.teachingideas.co.uk
Teaching Websites – www.teachingwebsites.co.uk
Join us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/TeachingIdeas

UpComing workshops in Kansas

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Are you looking for a workshop for professional points or college credit, take a look at the offerings coming up through ESSDACK

 

 

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Brad Flickinger is doing a series on School Technology Myths. He is only on #3 but I am betting the list could be long.

# 3 is  Putting student’s work online is too dangerous.

“This one is not so much a myth, but rather an exaggeration. Yes, there is danger anytime a young student is online. However, the web is just so different than it was a few years ago when most of our online “rules” were thought of. We made rules like “never put anything online” before sites like Facebook even existed. The reality is that everything is online, privacy is being redefined, and the thought of our students not learning how to responsibly post content online has turned out to be the scariest part of all.

FACT — Our young students are going to post content online, with or without us, so isn’t it is up to use to teach them how to do it correctly and safely?”

Read the full story and the related stories, Click Here

  1. School Technology Myth #2: Young Students Can’t
  2. A Myth about Young Students Using Technology
  3. Blog Series – Common Misconceptions Technology Integration (Michael Zimmer)

Upcoming Google Apps for Education Professional Development Webinars

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We are using the Google Apps for Education in my pre-service class this semester and many, many schools have moved to using them too.  The fact that they are basically good and free is enough reason for most schools.  So here is a list of FREE  Webinars coming up they are offering.  If you can participate live, they record them for later viewing.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Creating a classroom site in Google Sites
This webinar will show you how to create a website that gives teachers and students the chance to easily collaborate and communicate.
Register

Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Transitioning to Google Apps
This webinar will cover how to transition Docs, Sites, Calendar, and many other Google services into an Apps domain account.
Register

Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Introduction to Spreadsheets in Google Apps
This webinar will show you the basics of collecting and using data in interesting and helpful ways.
Register

Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Using Google Apps for Digital Storytelling Projects
This webinar will focus on demonstrating how to integrate Google Apps tools to support the digital storytelling process: from researching, gathering, and sharing materials, creating storyboards, editing audio, and final display.
Register

You can also access archived webinars in our Google Apps for Education Resource Center.

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