North Carolina DEN

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