Bird Bytes
A Monthly Tech Tips Newsletter for WAHS Staff
December 2012 Issue
Want to learn how to use PowerPoint, create a Podcast, or just find technology resources for your curriculum? Maybe you have wanted to be creative and use Web 2.0 tools but were not sure how. Contact Diane Keebler or Joan Preston for individual training or check your email for scheduled professional develoment training sessions. Input on future training session topics is always welcome.
PolyVision Training
Make your PowerPoint presentations interactive!
Come to a drop-in session during a free period to learn new ways of presenting your material and reviewing the basics of the board. An email will follow to sign-up for the training.
December 11 (Tuesday) Drop-in Sessions from 7:30-2:30 in room 2-109
December 12 (Wednesday) After-School from 2:50-3:50 in room 8-109 & 8-110
Upcoming Training in January
Teacher Spotlight
To recognize a member of WAHS's staff that is doing something notable with technology in support of education in the classroom. To share ideas. To inspire.
Mark Emerick enjoys using technology with his ESL students and feels "technology is critical for the future success of the students." Mark most recently had his students read Julius Caesar and wanted to assess his student's understanding of this challenging Shakespeare play. He had his students use a variety of skills from researching information on Julius Caesar to summarizing their found information but wanted a creative way to assess student understanding. He then decided to have students use GarageBand and create a podcast of their summaries. Mark felt this reinforced what students had learned and for English language learners this was an additional way for them to use their speaking and listening skills. According to Mark, "Using technology does take more time but it enhances learning and student productivity. Every day at least one of my classes uses the laptops."
Web-Tool Highlight
What are NETS?
NETS stands for National Education Technology Standards. These standards were written and expanded to include standards for students, teachers, and administrators.
Communication and Collaboration (Student Standard)
- Find this and other standards at http://www.iste.org/standards/
- Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
a. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.
A few examples of how to integrate this standard into your curriculum:
- Students can create a Keynote or PowerPoint Presentation on a specific topic
- Students can create an Avatar for understanding of speech and language skills such as www.voki.com
- Teachers and students can use www.jogtheweb.com to create a comprehensive list of all websites needed for research projects and assignments by organizing them on one website.
- Students can use Emodo to post and blog about a specific topic and collaborate with one another - www.edmodo.com
www.voki.com
Have students create an avatar to assess language skills. Great for lanuage skill learning and ESL classes
www.jogtheweb
www.edmodo.com
This free, password protected site allows students to respond to teacher's posts. Students can also collaborate with one another.
QUICK TECH TIP
To fix projection problems with the MacBooks:
Go to the apple symbol and choose System Preferences.
Then choose Displays and place a checkmark in the box that says, “Show Displays in Menu Bar.”
Close the window and look for a picture of a black display in the upper right corner to the left of the battery symbol.
While your MacBook is plugged in to a projector click on the display icon and choose "Turn on Mirroring."
Contact Diane Keebler or Joan Preston for any technology integration questions or assistance.
Dont forget to check out the TechTips website http://canarytechtips.wikispaces.com/Home for technology ideas, resources, and trouble-shooting.