Yes Tech!

 Day of Discovery: Tech or Treat Conference

Saturday, October 24, 2009

8:30 am to 3:15 pm

Registration is now available for the “Day of Discovery: Tech or Treat Conference” at Harper Creek High School (map) in Battle Creek, MI. Click here to register now.

This event is jointly sponsored by the Michigan Association of Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) and the Discovery Education Network (DEN), featuring MACUL’s “Making It Happen” award winner, Andy Mann.  Choose virtual sessions from nationally known speakers and/or face-to-face sessions with experienced technology trainers. There is no cost for the conference. Lunch is provided. All teachers are welcome, although space is limited. SB-CEU’s available. Door prizes provided by Discovery Education and MACUL.

Virtual Sessions by Discovery Education’s National Speakers:

Can I Help You With That?  The Student as Collaborator

Do You Have the Audacity to Podcast?

Thinking Outside the Slide

Putting the Bling in Your Builders

What on Earth is a Gloggle?

Be Nice and Share: Publishing Your Media-Infused Projects

In Person Hands-on Sessions: (subject to change)

The Best Open Source & Free Windows Applications (Andy Mann)

Google Earth: All Over the World and In your Backyard (John Phillips)

Hands-on: Geocaching in the Classroom (Gina Loveless & Pam Shoemaker)

SMART(board) Discovery Streaming (Melissa White)

Thinkfinity: Free Lesson Plans and Educational Resources (Jim Stewart/Karen Lemmons)

Podcasting: Supercharged Writers

Digital Storytelling: Make it Personal

Google Docs: Really, I can do that? (Lisa Wickman)

Get Connected with Social Bookmarking (Melinda Waffle)

Click here to register: https://lrougeux.wufoo.com/forms/den-fall-virtual-conference-battle-creek-mi/

For more information, email Lisa Wickman at: wickmall@haslett.k12.mi.us

I listened in on a Discovery Educator Network webinar this evening.  Steve Dembo shared a website that I find very interesting.  It is whatdoestheinternetthink?  I don’t understand exactly how it works, but it seems to be a search engine of public opinion.  It scours the Internet quickly and will tell you if the term is positive, negative, or indifferent.  I tried it out three times using these terms:  health care reform, taxes, and Flickr.  Could it be accurate?  It would be fun to compare the results over time.  Try it out; think of a few topics in the news of late and see what results you get!

1.  Health Care Reform

2.  Taxes

3.  Flickr

I’m sure you have seen one or more versions of the Did You Know? video.  The original version was created August 06; since then at least three more versions have been made.  The most recent version was released this month; it was created by XPLANE, The Economist, Scott McLeod, Karl Fisch , & Laura Bestler for The Economist’s Media Convergence Forum in October 2009.  Enjoy!

You may enjoy reading about the history of the video, or seeing earlier versions.  If so, visit the Shift Happens! wiki.

Mark your calendar for an awesome day of learning:  Wed., September 23, 2009.  See schedule below and tune in when you can.

9 AM: Back to School Changes in DE streaming          

10 AM: A Day in the Life with DE streaming         

11 AM: Streaming the Solution: DE streaming in the Math Classroom

12 PM: Supporting 21st Century Literacy with DE streaming     

1 PM: Back to School Changes in DE streaming        

2 PM: Dialing in the Digital Compass: DE streaming with Social Studies

3 PM: Multimedia Einsteins: DE streaming with Science

4 PM: Homework Gone Digital

5 PM: A Day in the Life with DE streaming

6 PM: Back to School Changes in DE streaming         

7 PM: Crunching the Numbers – Using the DE Admin Tools to Show Your Success

8 PM: The Discovery Educator Network 2009-2010

Register today!

Kevin Honeycutt is a teacher educator for the Educational Services and Staff Development Association of Central Kansas.  He used to teach art and contnues to bring incrdible creativity into his work.  He wrote and helped produce this video, “I Need My Teachers To Learn.”

I saw this just days after our awesome local technology conference, the Walled Lake Spice it Up Conference.  Feedback from the conference has been overwhelmingly positive.  Lots of new learning took place for sure!

The Walled Lake Consolidated Schools Spice it Up! Technology Conference is on Thursday, August 27, from 8am-3pm. All WL staff are welcome to attend. This annual sharing of best practices in education comes to you as a result of the efforts of dedicated teachers and leaders of educational technology. This year’s presenters come from Walled Lake, Oakland Schools, and the One-to-One Institute. There are 50 session offerings this year!

The conference brochure/schedule of sessions is now available for download:

Electronic handouts will be posted here.

Apply now to present at an upcoming educational technology conference! 

1. Collaborative Tools Conference – Nov 13 at Macomb ISD.  Call for Speakers Application due Sept 28.  http://webtools4learning.org/
2. MACUL Conference – March 11 & 12 in Grand Rapids.  Call for Speakers Application is due Sept 29.  http://www.macul.org

Perks for both:  Free registration and great learning and networking opportunities.

Among other things, I am a Digital Coach for the One-to-One Institute.   I’ll be spending two weeks facilitating professional development with teachers from Coopersville Public Schools, near Grand Rapids, MI.  Today was my first day working with the teachers.  I feel a great responsibility in helping them prepare and get off to a good start.  Lots of time is being spent on PBL and the changing role of the teacher and the students.  I started the day comparing the work required to remodel your kitchen to the work required when starting a one-to-one program (thank you for the idea, Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach!) 

I’m able to put myself in their shoes, as I was there about ten years ago, feeling excited and overwhelmed at the same time.  I’ve learned many things about what makes a one-to-one proram successful over the past ten years, and I’m enjoying sharing stories and lessons learned with the Coopersville teachers.  The reflection process brings me energy and confidence that technology be used as part of much needed school reform.

This is a guest post from education writer Karen Schweitzer. Karen specializes in education technology uses and aids. She also writes about online education for OnlineDegreePrograms.org.  Thanks, Karen!

The web is an excellent place for teachers to learn about integrating technology in the classroom. There are many different podcasts and lectures that have been created specifically for people who want to explore this topic. Here are 15 free podcasts and online lectures that would be useful to almost any 21st century teacher.

The Education Podcast Network – The Education Podcast Network is a great place to find podcasts and online lectures on nearly every topic imaginable. This landmark website brings education podcasts from all over together in one place.

The Teacher’s Podcast – Hosted by Dr. Kathy King and Mark Gura, this teacher podcast features education technology news, views, research, and resources that can be used in the classroom.

TILT – TILT (Teachers Improving Learning with Technology) is a popular video podcast for teachers who want to learn more about technology integration. The vidcast welcomes questions and submissions from other teachers and posts updates regularly.

Teachers Teaching Teachers This education technology podcast was created by teachers for teachers. Episodes include tips on teaching in the 21st century as well as information on tech tools and teaching aids.

NPR Education Podcasts – NPR’s Education Podcasts provide up-to-date news for teachers. Episodes also touch on the different ways teachers are using technology in the classroom.

It’s Elementary – Created for elementary school teachers, this EdTalk podcast covers everything from education technology and teaching aids to learning environments.

Teacher Institute Podcasts – The Exploratorium offers a wonderful collection of Teacher Institute Podcasts. These short, teacher-created podcasts are easy to listen to and full of valuable teaching tips.

ESL Teacher Talk – ESL Teacher Talk is an excellent podcast for ESL and EFL teachers. Episodes include interviews, teaching tips and ideas, games, activities, information on education technology and other useful resources.

The English Teacher John Show This popular podcast for English teachers and learners is hosted by English Teacher John. The podcast is fun to listen to and has listeners in nearly 70 countries.

Educating Educators Lecture – The WGBH hosts this lecture by Dr. Margaret McKenna, who discusses the education and training of teachers. Dr. McKenna also talks about the essential tools teachers need to do their job in the classroom.

K-12 Security Lecture – CERIAS (Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security) provides a series of online audio, video, and text lectures to increase teacher awareness about student privacy and security for K-12 school information systems. The lectures discuss how teachers can keep students and information safe from online threats and vulnerabilities.

Creativity Lecture – In this video lecture, Ken Robinson (TEDTalks) entertains and educates teachers about the importance of nurturing creativity in today’s schools. The lecture is short–lasting only 20 minutes–but it does offer profound food for thought.

SMART Board Lecture – Hosted by YouTube, this short, award-winning lecture discusses teaching with a SMART Board. The lecture is given by a physics teacher but would be useful to any educator who wants to explore the use of SMART Board in the classroom.

Did You Know 2.0 – This silent video lecture is hosted by YouTube and has been watched by more than 3 million people. It offers an amazing collection of facts about education, technology, and careers–a must-see for teachers.

Educational Uses of Technology – This free online video lecture from MIT professor Steven Lerman explores the uses of technology in education. The lecture focuses on learning versus teaching and lasts approximately 15 minutes.