There are few things more frustrating than doing a simple Google search and coming up with 18,392,584 results. It can be even more aggravating when you want your students to find something, only to discover that they’ve gotten lost in “Internet Land” and wasted an entire class period. The Internet can be overwhelming, but there are MANY things that you AND your students can do to help narrow down Internet search results.

Take some time to watch this video about web search strategies. It is also a great video to show to your students!

Here are some other resources that may help -

• Ashley Knapp (WDPHS Teacher) – Effective Search Strategies Presentation from our 1/13 WDPSD Inservice (Look at Session 3)
• Mike Slowinski’s LibGuide of Google Search tips
• FollowMolly (Molly Schroeder’s) “Google Search Like a SuperHero” presentation
• Google Alerts – set up a google alert to your email every time someone posts your email address, screen name, phone number, name, etc. to the web.

Have a great day!

There has certainly been a “buzz” around the district about “Going Google.” That has left many people wondering…what is this Google Apps stuff, anyway?!?

Check out this video – .

So… now you’re probably wondering…why the switch??? Here are a couple of reasons why many school districts are “Going Google” -

The Tech Talks will have a definite Google focus through the month of February. I’ll hope you’ll join me to learn more about all of the exciting features that Google offers!

Have a great week!

Sample Prompt – create your own best future story as if you are already living as a main character in a story of your best hopes. Nothing can be more fateful than a blank screen that becomes the canvas for someone else to script a life for you. And if you could have the life you wanted to live, what would it be? Write in present tense, first person w/lots of “showing not telling” details! (Create Vision videos, docu-dramas (As if), neuroplasticity.

If you have an opportunity to hear Bernajean speak…be sure to take advantage of it! She is inspirational!

Before you can begin to differentiate, you need to know lots of info about who are dealing with. Before the training, do a registration (KeepCertified or Google Event) so you know who is coming and allows you to target audience.

Methods to differentiate -
1. Content: by skill level (ability to learn new tech skills), difficulty (ease & existing knowledge), and format (learning styles).
2. Process: by instruction method (method of gaining knowledge), time (length and frequency of session, and focus (amount and variety of topics).
3. Product: by knowledge (information they didn’t know before), inspiration (desire and idea of how to apply new info), lesson content (tangible content), and skill (ability to continue applying new knowledge without help

Examples of Training -
1. Summer Academy: Two weeks of hands-on workshop during summer break, 3 hr. sessions w/direct/Inquiry based instruction, lecture/practice, single topic/in-depth, credits are CEU’s/pay. Pros: hands-on, produce lesson material, grouped by skill level. Cons: Summer vacation.
2. Online Course: self paced virtual course covering a variety of tech tools, 8 hours (1 hour/unit), inquiry/cooperative, multimedia format, multiple topics/in-depth, credits via CEU/pay. Pros: hands on, teachers chose units based on interest. Cons: learning online new to most; struggled w/lack of immediate support.
3. Before/After School: brief tech trainings outside of school hours but w/in work day, 30min-1 hour, direct instruction, lecture/multimedia format, focus is tech 101, tech & treats, “Speed Geeking”, CEU Credits. Pro: small commitment, Con: Schedule conflicts.
4. Staff Development Days: short sessions about on-demand topics integrated into mandatory days, 1 hour sessions, direct instruction, lecture format, one topic/brief review or Q&A focus, CEU Credit. Pro: good attendance; Con: wide range of skill level & existing knowledge
5. By Request: staff-initiated or small group, as long as needed, direct instruction, lecture format, one topic focus, no credit. Pro: individualized; Con: multiple teachers w/same question.
6. Mentoring: 1:1 training w/purpose of improving ovall tech skills. 1 hour sessions, weekly/semi-weekly, direct instruction, lecture format, focus varies, no credit. Pro: individualized; Cons: Time consuming for trainers.
7. Self-help: tech support wiki/Atomic learning videos. Inquiry/direct Instruction, format in multimedia texts/screencasts, varied focus. Pros: immediate/individualized answers. Cons: only as effective as the teachers digital literacy skills.
8. User Group: casual gathering of staff interested in a specific topic, 1 hour/quarterly, cooperative instruction, discussion/lecture format, varied focus, no credit. Pro: share experiences w/other teachers; Con: teachers don’t think they are doing anything worth sharing.

Evaluation -
Post-session Survey – What did you learn, what did you like/dislike, was the format effective, suggestions for improvement. (Written surey, google form, discussion, PollEverywhere
Follow-up – Go back to staff at a later date & ask: Are you using what you learned? Do you need more help? What else do you want to learn about?

Great session!

sites.google.com/a/orono.k12.mn.us/stafftech

I am attending the TIES Conference today and tomorrow in Minneapolis. Instead of taking notes for myself, I’ve decided to post them for all to see. They might not be pretty…but they should be a starting point. You can also follow @jswanski on Twitter or #ties11 to keep up with the conference! Here is the TIES website if you are interested – http://ties2011.ties.k12.mn.us

This morning, my first session was about student centered projects. Please visit www.catlintucker.com for more information. Here are my notes:

SESSION 1 – 5 Student Driven Projects that Engage Higher Order Thinking
Online discussions changed the dynamic of her classroom – encourage adaptive expertise, values intellectual play as a skill, provides broader foundation of perspectives, connects personal experiences, improves retention, shifts them from consumers to producers.
collaborizeclassroom.com/resources
catlintucker.com
1. Expert Group Investigations – Give groups a topic, research & discussion, present research (wix.com)
2. Webquests – Embed online resources into LMS, Post info for students to explore/discuss, create a modern example
3. Reciprocal Learning (Math graduation trip example) – Pair students & present w/topic, pair them online to discuss details, produce a video, upload projects (recommends schooltube)
4. Multimedia Mashup – Discuss media in our society then match concepts w/media
5. Challenge BAsed Learning Project (Apple) – ask questions, problem solve, collaborate on real issues, recognize that they have an impact, communicate, leverage tech – group students & present bid idea/theme, brainstorm questions, identify a challenge, resarch, present solution, publish

Admit it…grading papers is your FAVORITE thing to do, right? I didn’t think so. Wouldn’t it be great if the assessments graded themselves? Well…they can!!!

ThatQuiz
ThatQuiz is a FREE site that is very easy use. It has many premade assessments if they fit your needs. You can also create an account and set up your class and your own assessments if that is what you prefer. of ThatQuiz.

Flubaroo
If you are a user of Google Docs, you MUST try Flubaroo! The students would take the assessment through Google Forms, which then automatically populates a Google Spreadsheet. This script is an add-on to the spreadsheet and allows you to easier grade the assessment and even send the results if your students have email. Sound confusing? for a more thorough explanation.

Have a great weekend!

App’s that were mentioned this month:

Toontastic - This app was recommended by handheld expert, Tony Vincent, and it ROCKS! It’s still free right now so get it while you can! (Can you tell I love this app!?)
Preschool University Apps – LOTS of free apps for spelling, phonics, and reading
Wall of Memories – possible for portfolio building?
Pocket Phonics
Kids Match Rhyme
Fun Rhyming
Mad Math Lite
Pop Math

Other items to note -
***Kris Neuens shared this awesome math website…check it out!!!
***The Summer Instructional Technology Academy (SITA) dates are set! Mark your calendars for July 30th through August 2nd. SITA will be held at Bayport High School again this year.

Have a great day!

This week’s Tech Talk is: Overdrive

Overdrive is our library’s new electronic collection, which consists of more than 600 e-books and audio books that can be checked out and downloaded to any computer, Nook, mp3 player, cell phone, iPod, iPad, and Kindle! The best part about it is that West De Pere students and staff will be able to access these library materials from anywhere they have internet access. Please take a look at a quick overview of the site below, and help me spread the word to our students!

Overdrive Info
· Every student/staff member can check out up to two items at a time.
· Items will be automatically returned after the lending period expires.
· Before being able to access e-books and audiobooks, you need to install Adobe Digital Editions and Overdrive Media Console (Both are available for free on the Overdrive website).
· There is a free Overdrive App for iPod Touch, iPad, and iPhone.
· Overdrive is compatible with virtually all devices. Check compatible devices.

Accessing Overdrive
1. Go to your school’s library webpage.
2. Click on “E-Books” to access the Overdrive page.
3. Click “Sign In” in the upper right hand corner of the screen, and enter log-in information (see below).
4. Begin browsing and downloading books to your computer or device.

Overdrive Tips

Student Log-In
Library Card Number – Student ID Number
PIN – Network Password

Software Downloads
Adobe Digital Editions – For E-Books
Overdrive Media Console – For Audio Books

Most Compatible Formats
E-Books – Use EPUB
Audio Books – Use MP3

Return Policy
E-Books – Can be returned any time
Audio Books – Cannot be returned early

Mr. Slowinski is more than happy to answer all of your Overdrive questions, or come into your classroom some day to teach your kids how to use it!  Please contact him with any questions that you may have.

Happy Reading!

This week’s Tech Talk is: Planbook

I almost never recommend a paid website for a Tech Talk, but I have not seen this much excitement from teachers, over a website, in a very long time. From what I’ve heard, the $9.95 yearly fee is a small price to pay when factoring in how much time this site can save you with lesson planning.

Introducing…Planbook! According to their website, you can –

• Develop custom schedule for each class
• View & print lessons by day, week, or class
• Create class templates for any day of the week
• Adjust your lesson schedule with a single click
• allow students to view your plans online
• Share your plans with other teachers
• Easily reuse lessons from one year to the next

Happy lesson planning!

This week’s Tech Talk was: iThings

The last Tech Talk of every month will be dedicated to the “iThings” topic. Here are some things that were mentioned this week -

· Apple recently came out with a new operating system. Check out the new Apple iOS5 Information on their site! The greatest feature (in my opinion, of course), is the iCloud, which means that you no longer need a computer to “sync” your iThings. I also really love that there is a Reminders App – which syncs all of my Outlook tasks to my iPad. I was really struggling to find a good “to-do list” App – and this solves it!

· A couple of educational technology experts have been making the connection with Apps to Bloom’s Taxonomy. Check out these links -
· Dana Darrow’s Connections to Apps & Bloom’s – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6
· Kathy Schrock’s Bloomin’ iPad

· Roxann Nys from CESA 7 has a great iThings wiki page started. Feel free to explore and add to it!

· Other items that were mentioned during the meetings –
· GrasshopperApps (Search in iTunes; lots of customizable apps for primary grades)
· MathDrills (Totally customizable math App w/progress monitoring; Lite version available for trial)
· ShowMe App (Free, Recordable whiteboard app)
· Lakeshore Apps (Phonics Tic-tac-toe, Beginning Sounds, Letter of the Day) are free until December
· Zaggfolio keyboard/cover (For iPad 2 only; I have this one and it is FANTASTIC!!!)