One of the cool things that I picked up was how to use Outlook (the e-mail program), that is wasting space on my computer, as a vocabulary/dictionary area. It was a very simple use of software most of us have installed but aren't using. You simply put your vocabulary word as the last name and the definition in the address section. You could even rename a field to synonym or Antonym and include those with your vocabulary word.
Another cool idea was using Power Point slides to create flash cards. An example of this was Tony's US State, capital and postal code flashcards. Also he created the "Spin to Win" Power Points that were then downloaded to his iPod. This is how he randomly selected the prize that I won in that workshop. Oh yeah, I didn't mention that I won a prize. It is a connector that hooks an iPod, that I don't have, to a computer via USB port. *smile* I showed it to my husband and informed him that now I must go get an iPod to hook it too. Wish me luck on that one. *smile*
Tony also showed us iQuiz Maker. This can be used on my PC, as long as it is not filtered out. If so, I'll be calling the IT Department to unlock it. This is a great way for kids to practice new skills in all subjects. The teacher creates the tests and the answer choices. This is one of those things that I want to share with my team on our wiki. If the 4 of us each make one iQuiz than we can all share them on different days.
Karen Engleman and Patti Weeg, from Wicomico County, shared some great hardware and software that they use in 11 elementary schools. They discussed: TurningPoint, eBeam, Interwrite, Interwrite SchoolPad and a Document Camera. Turning Point is a student response system that works within Power Point. Each child gets a "clicker" that allows them to answer a question that the teach creates to go along with a lesson. "TurningPoint lets every single pupil in the room have their learning needs individually tested and assessed without fear of embarrassment or influence from their peers." eBeam turns any surface into an interactive space. They modeled on a chalkboard with white butcher's paper over it. Interwrite and Interwrite SchoolPad gives the teacher the ability to teach their interactive lessons from anywhere in the classroom. The Document Camera takes the place of an overhead in the classroom. It is used along with a computer and a projector for students to see the manipulative, books and even overheads (with paper under them).
Carrie Lewis's workshop "Vocabulary - What can the PALM do for you?" was also very helpful to me. She also suggested using the contacts program to do vocabulary or sight words. She also used a PALM program called Cells to make a matching activity for vocab. words to their definitions or vocab. words to their synonyms and/or antonyms. I could do the same thing using Excel. The best thing she shared with us was 5 websites to find FREE resources.
For me, I think that Karen Fasimpaur gave me the most ideas to take back to my classroom. Although based on all the Google tools that she suggested she must have stock in Google. *smile* I really liked the iGoogle. It is a lot like Pageflakes but my husband like the fact that it looked like the regular Google homepage. He didn't like the way the Pageflakes looked. Any way, I loved Google SMS. I'm a text messaging person so I tried it right there in the auditorium a couple times. That was GREAT!! I also like to travel and I've added Wikitravel to my Del.icio.us page. Now that is a wiki that I would add my two cents on without any fear. I love to find "great finds" when I'm traveling. So, getting opinions from others in a controlled environment that is free is wonderful. Another Google item that I thought was great was Google Docs. I really like the way that the space looks like a word document and I like the revision control. This is something that I will definitely be using in my classroom. I'm always looking for a new graphic organizer. She suggested Bubbl and Gliffy. I can't wait to see which I like better. What kid doesn't want to see their photos turned into a movie? She suggested using Jumpcut to do this. It look simple enough. At the end of the summer I like to make a movie of the things we did that were captured on photos and turn it into a DVD. This program will make things a little easier. She also discussed the website that Tony spoke of that allows you to download You Tube videos. The website is called vixy.net. This is a really great way to get around a school filter, download it on your computer at home and burn it to disk or put it on your thumb drive. Then you don't need to access You Tube from school. This is very useful to all of us who are dealing with filters.
Finally one of the last things that I got out of the conference was ebooks. Mike Curtis had a session about creating ebooks. We created our own ebooks in that workshop. It was extremely easy to do. I did this at home. I created my book in Microsoft Word, then downloaded Microsoft Reader and then downloaded the Microsoft Reader Add-in to add a reader icon to Microsoft Word toolbar. It saves the file as a ".lit" file. That's your ebook. It is amazing how easy it is. I plan on having kids write their own books, type them in word and I'll transfer them to e-books. We can put our e-books on our wiki and they can blog about them. I'm thrilled about this. On Karen Fasimpaur's k12Handheld website she has a list of free and commercial e-books.
As you can tell, I got a lot out of this conference. I am really glad that I went both days and took advantage of the entire day of workshops. I sure hope that I get an invite to come back next year. This conference along with this class have definitely inspired me to use technology in my classroom in so many different ways. I just hope that I can inspire others to get our school headed on the right technology track and moving forward to CREATE students that will be successful.
Why did I decide to blog about the conference? Well, we did a lot of different workshops and I figure that if I tell about the most important things that I learned then others might learn something new, even if they didn't attend at that workshop. I hope that everyone that reads this will get something new from it.
Issue: Sharing Ideas and Emerging Technology
Jeanell
8 comments:
Jeanell,
I am envious of you, your district may not have the technology that others have, but you have taken it upon yourself to learn and apply your knowledge in other areas of your life. I think this is great.
The conference was a great opportunity to meet others and to network. I think we all benefited in some way from attending.
Good luck and best wishes in your district.
Thanks so much for sharing everything you learned! Although I did attend some of the same workshops as you, I really learned something from you by reading your post on the workshops you went to that I didn't. I was not able to stay all day, so I really enjoyed reading about everything you learned. :)
Keep learning, even if you don’t have the technology in your school now, …..who knows? Keep up with everything and then you are prepared for wherever you may go and whatever may come. I think you have a great attitude.
Have you thought about applying for a MICCA grant to get a palm??? They give grants up to $500 and they are very easy to win. Go to the MICCA page and get the details. I think they are due in October.
Jeanell: From those of us at Gliffy, we hope you like us the best for all your graphic organizing needs! Seriously, thanks for the mention and let us know what you love and need improved after playing with gliffy. Enthusiastic teachers like you make me jealous of today's youth~ Thanks, Debik(at)gliffy(dot)com
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