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

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

 As the last school bus pulls out of the school parking lot for the summer, many dedicated educators have been known to experience spontaneous outbursts that mimic celebrations of winning a National Championship or quiet personal sugar highs. Giggles, howlers, and high-fives are most numerous in the teacher’s parking lot around 3:29 PM. I had a principal one time that encouraged the staff to congregate in the bus parking lot as the students left for the summer. The teachers would form a kick-line and chant the chorus to that song by the artist Steam, that starts with the words–”Nah nah nah nah, hey hey, good-bye“. I do not think our parents would approve of that now. It would be considered taunting or worse.As the desiel exhaust fumes clear from the bus parking lot and the school yard littered with broken pencils and half-chewed lunch room yellow straws dot a well trampled lawn, it is difficult to not feel a little– blue. Blue from all the missed chances to help students learn those math facts, voice-mails parents left nonrespondent, passing guides, retention lists, and the thought that you will not be seeing all the smiling faces from learners that never bored of preparing for their EOGs. However, as an educator, the thoughts of a better year and a few days to refresh our minds work miracles.Celebrate the accomplishments of this school year. Reflect a little and rest a lot. The return of the first bus of a new school year is only days ahead.

Who ever said summer school isn’t fun?  Get ready for your school year with an amazing series of complimentary professional development sessions from the Discovery Educator Network (DEN). The series will run from August 3 through August 27 and will feature sessions on Digital Storytelling, School Leadership, Science and Web 2.0.  All of the sessions for the DEN Summer School Webinar Series begin at 11 AM ET.

 Register today at:Community.DiscoveryEducation.com/Webinar.

Are you looking for something to fill those last days of school or review before the last days of testing?

•  Jeopardy Labs has tons of ready made games or templates to do your own.
• Have some competition among groups by using GPS devices. Hide cashes with questions from any of Discovery Streaming Videos that follow your Standard course of study. Place the videos in you assignments and have them answer the questions before they get the clue to the next cash.
• We all know that students love to use technology. Give them a chance to make some multi media power points using Discovery Streaming sound, video clips and clip art. Watch them make some amazing creations while brushing up on technology skills.

Have a great summer and get geared up for another school year by creating your own presentations for classes next year. (maybe let your students help????)

Hang in there ……just a few days left.

There is no better way to experience the excitement and terror of war than video.

 Enjoy linking literature to history and expanding the minds of your young students .

 Ready for some fun Triva? What world famous chef served as a spy during World War II? Answer

I wanted to share a wonderful resource with all of you.

Many times we find great tools that we just need to share. One such tool that I have been using for several years is a Social Networking tool called delicious.I know odd name …especially odd when you say “I should give you my delicious” (always remind me of Harry Potter….my precious) What does delicious allow you to do?  

• It will allow you to surf the internet and save the URL of sites that you want to explore later.
• You can tag the items that you bookmark with notes ( about the subject matter)
• You can share your favorite sites with co workers, family or friends.
• You will find a great search engine of items that others have found ( usually teachers like yourself)

I think you will find the advantages of using delicious much better than saving to favorites on you PC because you can get access to this anytime anywhere.

If you find something at home you can get access at school ….and if at school you can get it at home, or on the road.

Now to get started…go to http://delicious.com

And fill out the set up for your subscription

 You will need a user name and password.

After that is done you are all set to start surfing……….

And feel free and to start sharing your delicious with others. 

If you ever wanted to interview an astronaut, you need to check out NASA Do It Yourself Podcasts.

NASA is providing video and audio clips and encouraging students to remix their own podcasts. Right now, students can create podcasts on Lab Safety, Newton’s Laws, and Spacesuits.

NASA also publishes a blog devoted to these podcasts.