North Carolina DEN

The North Carolina Technology in Education Conference web site is open for business. Don’t miss the opportunity for early, I should say, super early registration. You’ll have a real deal if you register by December 4. Now if you don’t have funds by then, don’t worry, you can still get early registration by January 29, 2010. The conference will be in Raleigh March 3-5, 2010 and promises to be well worth the road trip. Featured speakers include Ron Clark, Leslie Fisher, Kevin Honeycutt, Gail Lovely, Kathy Schrock, and Alice Yucht. I know we are all looking forward to our journey to Raleigh this spring.

As we wind down towards the end of the 1^st Quarter -  a point where teachers have somehow have managed to get over the initial speed bump of the new school year, find themselves looking back to reflect on their classes. What worked? What didn’t?  How do you/we make it better?

So what are some tips and treats that have helped you thus far to make it work? Make it better?

As for me, I have found the following tips and treats that have helped me in my classes.

·   “A candle loses none of its light by lighting another candle.” - – Anonymous

Share your knowledge, your ideas; build a community of learners…Strength in numbers. Look to others, give to others, become a twitter, a follower, blogger, etc.

·   Read, research, and be resourceful.

Be open to change, look for new ways, new ideas. Just because “it’s always been done that way” doesn’t mean it has to be done that way.  Step out of the box, out of your area, out of your state.

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/#

http://www.whiteboardblog.co.uk/

http://etoolbox.wikispaces.com/

http://www.teachthechildrenwell.com/

http://www.kathimitchell.com/

http://www.jimmoulton.org/1.html

http://thefilecabinet.pbworks.com/

http://www.smartboards.typepad.com/

http://techyturner.blogspot.com/

·   Learn and introduce a new technology format or media to your assignments and activities.

It’s amazing how this is an exciting treat for the students and helps them to become more engaged in the curriculum.  Change up the routine and surprise them with something new and give them a different alternative.

For example, after completing an unit, typically the students goes back and review all of the vocabulary words and then save it to a word document in their files for their upcoming vocabulary test. In lieu of this, have the students create a Pictionary/BrainyPic format (visual flashcard) from their vocabulary words. Students will use pictures, definition, and use the vocabulary word in a sentence.

http://www.brainyflix.com/flashcards/show/2524 

Oblivious

This bird is completely oblivious to the cat right behind it.

By: crazylaxer1

Flipcams and Snow Leopard

Posted on October 3, 2009 in Hardware, Software by Joe Brennan ”I’ve been getting a few questions from Mac users (including myself) who recently updated to Mac OSX 10.6 wondering what happened to their Flip camcorder accessibility. Turns out it’s just a matter of re-installing the latest Flip software and/or adding Perian to your bag of tricks in order to get the 3ivx codec. Now go on. Make some movies with your students. No excuses. “Thanks Joe, we have just completed updating our 1:1 laptops to 10.6 and have installed Perian too. I included it in the image. I should have included Flip software too. It will be added into our next burn.Adding these three events to our October-Tech-Fest here in our middle school:

1. Brainyflix: deadline Dec. 7
2. eInstruction’s Contest: deadline Nov. 10
3. DOEd-  Video Contest deadline Nov. 2

Just as I was ready to write  a note about this year’s  NCETC, I discover I must be the last person in NC to hear it has been canceled. While still recovering from the news, I had an email from NCDPI with news for all of us looking for an alternative technology  road trip. The Virginia Educational Technology Conference is being held in Richmond October 28-30.  While I have never been to this conference, our friends at DPI may be on to something, at least until our NC conference returns and I know we all hope to see it back next year. In the meantime, if you are interested in a fall conference, you have the link to check out what’s happening at the Virginia Conference.

One of my friend and STAR member Mike Alexander just introduced to a very interesting graphical knowledge engine. Take a look Eyeplorer!!  I have not had enough time to explore all of the applications yet. However, I can see real values in the classroom. So far, I nave found images, websearch, twitter, and facts to go with an abundant listing of relationships to my search topic.  Try it out and let me know what you think.

We had a very productive meeting of the minds at MCNC two weeks ago featuring Hall Davidson.

Watch the video here.

Then check out Hall’s resources.

Also, here are the group notes, ideas and reflections…

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Group 4

Two of my favorite quotes - “I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.”~ Albert Einstein and “The value of education is not the process but the impact. …” ~ Stallman, R., Lessig, R. automatically come to mind when I hear others speak about the impact of the Internet on culture, education, and society.  I feel, if we as educators, administrators, government, and public officals bring back the foucs to the true receipant of this impact - our students, we can rest assure that the “impact” will be a positive and a continuous improvement for us all.

So what kind of impact are you having in your classroom, as a colleague, as a digital citizen? What type of digital footprints are you leaving behind?

To hear more about “Impact of the Internet on culture, education, and society.” Here’s an interview you may be interested in on this subject matter:

Tuesday, September 29th, 5pm Pacific Daylight Time (US):   Steve Hargadon (Founder, Classroom 2.0)interviewed John Seely Brown on the impact of the Internet on culture, education, and society.  http://www.conversations.net/forum/topics/john-seely-brown

First day of Fall 2009 - Northern Hemisphere For the Northern Hemisphere, as in the United States, Canada and most of Europe, Fall begins on September 22, 2009 at 5:18 pm EDT. Fall is also known as autumn - and lasts from the autumnal equinox (September) to the winter solstice (December).In checking my calendar for this coming last full week of September, I noticed a free webinar about H1N1 preparedness. This month our local schools have reported 55 cases of H1N1. I was surprised at this number of cases. What really got my attention what that the first week of September, the schools reported 16 cases. Seven days later–39 cases. Are we taking enough precautions?

Virtual Conference: Saturday, October 24, 2009, 9 AM to 4 PM ETI know this is not until the end of October, but I was able to register online and saved the day on my busy calendar. Join thousands of educators online and in-person as the DEN team goes house to house to explore the many digital treats available to educators today. During this unique professional development event you have the flexibility to attend online or in-person at one of many regional events hosted by the DEN Leadership Councils.The day will feature special presentations from Justin Karkow and Steve Dembo along with a host of other great sessions guaranteed to satisfy your digital sweet tooth. To register for the virtual sessions visit: http://LINKS.discoveryeducation.com/virtualconLast but not least, I have to share a photo of my first grandchild and me: Proud grandparent? Naw…not much. 

Well, it’s back to school time, and you know what that means…  It’s time to share the 2009-2010 webinar schedule! Nearly 100 webinars have been scheduled already and are ready for your registrations.

Cost?  Free.

 For more information and to see a list of days/times…go to http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/blog/2009/09/08/discovery-education-webinars-2009-2010/

You can register for any or all of our webinars through the end of the year right now!  Just click here to register, and you’ll receive reminders as the events get closer.