Google Earth Real-time Animations

Remember what you said when you first saw Google Earth and Google Maps, you might have thought they were great to have as a utility. Especially due to the fact that they were updated more often then other options available at the time. Then Google Earth added a 3-D layer to the program that gave you additional features as well as the ability to create points of interest, etc. Then a little over a year ago Google Maps added its Street View option and many people thought that was a great feature while others immediately thought it was creepy.

There is more out there now and it is coming from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Students and faculty there have been able to design and adapt CCTV feeds into animated 3-D representations within the software. Now you will be able to see how heavy traffic is on the highway before you leave the office. Or you could see how many people walk through Central Park on any given day. You could even watch a football game or keep an eye on your child while they are playing in the park down the street.

Oh yes, the "creep factor" red light is going off with loud booming sirens on this one. But hey we live in a voyeuristic world where we have made TV history for highest ratings for shows like "Big Brother" and "Survivor." But I digress...

The official release will not be unveiled at the International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality(ISMAR) in Orlando, Fla. which is held Oct 19-22. Take a look at the video below to get a quick sample of what their new technology.

Video provided by Ga. Institute of Technology

A Chance to Transform

President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan are discussing the need to change the school calendar in an effort to increase the number of instructional hours for students in the U.S.

Earlier this year the president stated, "The challenges of the new century demand more time in the classroom." More time in the classroom or more time learning?

While I agree there is a need to examine ways to make certain our students will be competitive in a global economy, I wonder if sending students to school more or for longer hours is missing an opportunity to really transform the ways we offer education and learning.

This issue has many elements to it, not the least of which would be funding, but for argument's sake I'd like to focus just on the issue of time spent in the physical school vs. time spent learning.

What if we expected more learning outside of schools rather than more time in schools? What if instead of trying reform we made an effort to transform schools. Instead of more of what we are doing, what if we looked at something instead of?

Currently NCVPS offers students in North Carolina the chance to take courses and earn credit online. April Patterson is currently the contact for our district. What would happen if instead of requiring more time in the physical school building, we could provide opportunities to take more learning online and look for ways to provide Internet access to all homes in the U.S. It seems to me this might be a better way of preparing students for the future, while focusing on the digital divide in our country.

I know that there are probably many issues I haven't anticipated, but I wonder if this isn't an opportunity to transform the model of the classroom and take a look at how learning could and should take place in a digital age.

Books at the Mall (National Mall, that is...)

This past weekend, I had the privilege of going, once again, to the National Book Festival in Washington, DC. What did I see? TONS of people and TONS of books! There were several well-known authors on site… Nicholas Sparks, Judy Blume, John Grisham, Walter Mosley, Ken Burns, Steven Kellogg, James Patterson, and Paula Deen – just to name a few.

In addition to the authors, there were countless big name sponsors to promote literacy in education. Although most sponsors were impressive in their literacy messages… The Digital BookMobile caught my eye!

Powered by OverDrive, The Digital BookMobile is quite similar to the bookmobile I remember as a child. It was quite cool to see the bookmobile pull up outside the school with “special” books the library did not have. The bookmobile can still drive up to your school… but, technology now replaces the standard book shelves and displays. According to their website, “the vehicle is equipped with broadband Internet-connected PCs, high-definition monitors, premium sound systems, and a variety of portable media players. Interactive computer stations give visitors an opportunity to search the digital media collection, use supported mobile devices, and sample eBooks, audio books, music, and video from the library.”

Now… if the bookmobile is not scheduled to stop at your school or in your county, what do you do? Simple. You visit the Forsyth County Library website to still gain access to those same eBooks, music and videos! Step by step guidelines and instructions are on the site to give you the ins and outs for getting started.

Take the tour to begin using ebooks in your classroom!

Edutopia: Ten Top Tips for Teaching with New Media

Free resource from Edutopia

Here is a tips list from Edutopia on ways to make the most of the latest technologies and how to bring new media into the classroom. This is a list of practical ways to prepare students for 21st century success.

1. Break the Digital Ice
   a. Scavenger hunts, name games, and other introductory activities help teachers and students get acquainted so they can start building a positive learning community. Give this important classroom tradition a 21st-century makeover by integrating digital tools.
2. Find Your Classroom Experts
   a. Early in the school year, survey your students to find out about their digital smarts. You can take advantage of their technical know-how in the classroom, too, if you know where to look for help.
3. Get Off to a Good Start
   a. Spend some time on self-management strategies now, and your investment will pay off all year long. A wide array of Web tools can help students get better at managing their own learning.
4. Think Globally
   a. By using online resources and new media tools for connecting, you will help your students see themselves as global citizens. One of the fastest ways to expand your students’ horizon is simply to connect your class with students who live somewhere else in the world.
5. Find What You Need
   a. Instead of digging into your own wallet, take advantage of online tools and community resources to find what you need—for nothing. One of the best-known programs is DonorsChoose.org (donorschoose.org), Public school teachers post a specific request on the Web site. Citizen philanthropists choose which requests they want to fund. Kids follow up with thank-you notes. What gets funded? Everything from musical instruments to picture books to classroom technology.
6. Make Meaning from Word Clouds
   a. Encourage lively conversation about words with the help of tools that turn text into visual displays. Wordle (wordle.net) is a free tool that turns a block of text, or simply a list of words, into a cloud pattern. Teachers across subject areas and grade levels are finding good uses for this simple-to-use tool. For example, as a prereading activity, you might use Wordle to highlight key vocabulary.
7. Work Better, Together
   a. Collaboration is a skill your students will need for the future. To help them work better together today, try using collaborative workspaces in the classroom. Google Docs, part of the Google for Educators toolkit (google.com/educators /tools.html), is one example of a secure, online place for managing work in progress. Once you help your students set up free accounts, they’ll be able to access their spreadsheets, documents, and presentations anytime, from any connected computer.
8. Open a Back Channel
   a. Creating a back channel is one strategy for inviting everyone into the conversation. Think of a back channel as a private chat room just for your classroom. Using an instant-messaging tool like iChat or Twitter for microblogging (twitter.com), students can pose questions, make observations while watching a video or student presentation, or share a dissenting viewpoint.
9. Make It Visual
   a. From document cameras to projectors to interactive whiteboards, these technologies make it easier than ever to use visuals to inspire curiosity, generate brainstorming, and engage diverse learners. Across grade levels and subject areas, good visuals help students build background knowledge as they tackle new concepts. You can use images to set the stage for a story set in a remote place or a far-away time. Primary sources from the vast Library of Congress (loc.gov/teachers) archives, for instance, help students “see” the time period for a story set during World War I.
10. Use the Buddy System
    a. Teachers can take advantage of a variety of communication tools to share ideas and strategies with colleagues.
    b. Classroom 2.0 (www.classroom20.com) appeals to both new users of Web 2.0 tools and more experienced practitioners. It’s a good place to throw out a question and get some quick answers.
    c. social-bookmarking tools like Delicious (delicious.com) enable you to organize, comment on, and share noteworthy resources.

To receive a free copy of this great resource go to Edutopia and sign up for free e-newsletters at:
http://www.edutopia.org/edutopia/enews

Did U Know: Einstruction Mobi displays CPS Data

Einstruction offers a new feature if you are using both their Classroom Performance System (CPS) and Mobi Interactive Tablet.

Einstruction offers a 2 inch KWIK view screen on their Mobi that allows you to seamlessly integrate your CPS data. As students answer questions on the response clickers the data is transmitted and displayed on the Mobi KWIK screen.

You want to make sure that the KWIK Tab settings are correct inside the CPS software. In the CPS software click on Settings on the tool bar and then Delivery Options. Click on the KWIK Tab and make sure that all of the selection boxes are checked.

After you have all the settings correct you engage a question session normally then on the Mobi tablet select the Clicker Softkey (third from the Left) and you will now see the data in the KWIK screen.

Images provided by Einstruction

Technology Beyond the Classroom

An advantage to the year-long staff development model is that you have the same participants every session, so there is opportunity to reflect on the prior sessions. This time can be an opportunity to ask questions or share accounts of how the technology was used since we last met.

Today I planned to start off the session reflecting on the September session when we covered RSS and Google Reader. I love RSS and am a big believer in the ways it can be used to make teachers' lives easier. However, RSS can sometimes take some getting used to. Sometimes it takes a while to figure out how best to use it and how to get around in Google Reader. So I wasn't sure what to expect when I asked for teachers to share any stories of how they'd used RSS or Google Reader since our last meeting.

After a few murmured responses a teacher said I taught my husband how to set up his Google Reader account. (laughter) What a great response.

I think too often in the effort to make connections to the curriculum, we forget to connect with the teachers who are people. If educators make connections between the technology and their lives outside the classroom, they'll be more willing and comfortable using the new technology. It's no coincidence some of the better teacher bloggers I've seen recently also have personal blogs they share with their families and friends. If subscribing to RSS feeds to the local paper, sports page or Target encourages checking the Google Reader account, that also has some ideas for teaching, so much the better. I've seen that the teachers who use Skype to communicate with family, then come to Skype workshops are much quicker to put it to use in their classrooms.

It's not about teaching just the technology, it is about giving teachers tools that they are inspired to use in and beyond the classroom.

How to Keep Kids Engaged in Class

Many times teachers are looking for ways to help students focus and stay on task. Here is a list of ten smart ways to increase classroom participation with a short example for each.

1. Start class with a mind warm-up.
   a. Ask students to find the mistakes planted in material written on the board.
2. Use movement to get students focused.
   a. Have students join in simple choreographed physical movement.
3. Teach students how to collaborate before expecting success.
   a. Prior to an activity, create a teamwork rubric with students that reviews descriptions of desired norms and behaviors.
4. Use quickwrites when you want quiet time and student reflection.
   a. Have students do short journal-writing assignments to calm down.
5. Run a tight ship when giving instructions.
   a. Before speaking to the class, require (1) total silence, (2) complete attention, and (3) all five eyeballs on you (two eyes on their face, two eyes on their knees, and the eyeball on their heart).
6. Use a fairness cup to keep students thinking.
   a. As part of classroom management, the teacher should create a supportive environment, where students are encouraged to take risks without fear of being put down or teased, then its easier to use your fairness cup.
7. Use signaling to allow everyone to answer your question.
   a. To ensure that all students are actively thinking, regularly ask questions that every student must prepare at least one answer -- letting them know you expect an answer.
8. Use minimal supervision tasks to squeeze dead time out of regular routines.
   a. While passing out papers, ask students to do a quickwrite or to pair up and quiz each other on vocabulary words.
9. Mix up your teaching styles.
   a. To keep students involved and on their toes, try to move from teacher-centered learning to student-centered active learning, and vice versa.
10. Create teamwork tactics that emphasize accountability.
    a. By insisting that students "ask three before me," you make it clear that they are expected to seek assistance from all members of their team before they turn to you.
    
    

To gain more insight into these tips please read the entire article at Edutopia:http://www.edutopia.org/classroom-student-participation-tips

It's about the Arts: Jazz, Dance,Theatre & More

Several schools in the WSFCS school system offer an impressive list of arts related courses. For example courses offered include Jazz band, dance and theatrical courses beyond the basics. Resources for teachers teaching the art, students participating in the arts and even parents encouraging student participation are available via the Internet. Consider visiting the following website to find historical information, digital media and lesson plans:
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org
http://www.arts.gov/
http://www.tagart.org/
http://www.pbs.org/jazz/
http://www.smithsonianjazz.org/http://
www.neajazzintheschools.org/home.php
To learn more about the Arts Education Foundation for the Arts, visit their website at National Endowment for the Art. To learn more how the information in relevant to the North Carolina curriculum visit the NCDPI website.

Goal One: Read at least thirty minutes a day

If your goal is to read for at least thirty minutes each day, then you may want to consider a digital bookmark. The Mark-my-time-digital bookmark is one such device. Mark-My-time-digital bookmark is an electronic gadget that may be used to alert you that you have completed reading thirty minutes today. You may even consider this device to assist you in keeping a cumulative count of the minutes you have read.

What book are you reading for thirty minutes a day? To be more specific, what technology related books are you reading? If you think the readers of this blog would benefit from reading your favorite technology focused book, consider sharing the title and a brief description about the book. Books you may also find interesting include the following: Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of Digital Natives written by John Palfrey and Urs Gasser and Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing without Organizations written by Clay Shirky .

Did U Know: Document Cameras

So far we have discussed some differences between Document Cameras (doc cams) and overhead, that they can take pictures like a digital camera and that they can record video like a camcorder. So what else is there to do with a document camera you may ask?

Both the AverVision and Queue software offer a(n) annotation feature that allows you to draw over your projected information, be it print, image or object. So lets take a look at what each software has to offer.

The Queue software from Lumens offers access to its Annotation tools from the link in the toolbar on the right side of the window.

You have 11 options available to you: The Pointer tool, Laser Pointer Tool, Pencil Tool, Text Tool, Draw Line, Draw Ellipse, Draw Rectangle, Eraser Tool, Clear All, Color Choice blocks and Line/Text size adjustment. You want to make sure however that you go back and select the Pointer Tool before you close the Annotation Tools because it keeps the last selected option in memory. So if you have selected the Pencil Tool and you close the Tool box you will still be drawing with the pencil when you click on the screen.

The AverVision software from AverMedia offers direct access to the Annotation tools from the main toolbar. The entire bottom half of the toolbar are your annotation tools.

There are seven options on the toolbar and some that will offer an additional pop-out menu of other available options. Freehand Drawing, Insert Line, Insert Rectangle, Insert Ellipse, Insert Text, Select & Paste and Eraser. If you choose the option of freehand drawing you will have an additional menu of choices like, thickness, color and style.

Both software applications offer you many different ways to identify, create, write, spotlight and make your projected images stand out so that they are out of the ordinary and unique.

Images provided by: AverMedia & Lumens

The Rise of Digital Textbooks

Is your school district ready for digital textbooks as part of 21st century learning? eSchool News looked at two school districts who shared their motivations for a digital textbook program.

Since many textbook companies already provide electronic content along with supplemental and remediation content California is compiling a list of free, open digital textbooks that meet state-approved standards and will be available to high school math and science classes this fall. Just having computers in the classrooms isn’t enough; it’s how those computers are being utilized to enhance the learning for all students, empowering them with new skills.

The cost of purchasing textbooks has continued to rise and because the world is growing and changing as such a rapid pace many textbooks have outdated information by the time schools received them, not to mention the weight of some textbooks. Digital textbooks would cost less and could be easily updated through a single download of new information to the computers. Just as the world around our students is continually growing and changing so should the information digital textbooks would provide to the students. Schools wouldn’t have to wait till the next textbook adoption to provide current, real-world information to all students.

Marion County Public Schools in Florida decided to use digital textbooks as part of a three-year technology plan to provide wireless network access to all secondary schools. The school district also felt that digital texts will help keep the information current. As the world and information changes the digital textbooks could be updated quickly by downloading new information.

To read the entire article please go to eSchool News at:http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=59876

Twitter and Your PLN

In previous posts I've expressed my interest in Twitter and how it can be a tool for growing one's own personal learning network (PLN). I thought this week I'd share just a little bit of how I utilize it.

Twitter is a great way to connect to other smart, innovative, creative people in your field or with similar interests. I think there are some who have given Twitter a try and decided it didn't work for them, probably because they were not connected to the right people. If you connect to users who are only reporting on the state of traffic or what they had for breakfast that day ("life tweeters"), then you probably won't see the value, and if you follow only celebrities or just your family, I doubt you'll get the full benefits. However, if you connect to users who are willing to share ideas and genuine feedback, then Twitter is a great tool for building a potential personal learning network of other users whose ideas and insight you can benefit from.

Okay, so here are only a few of the nuggets from my last 24 hours or so on Twitter that I hope will illustrate some of what I think the value can be for educators. A Collection of (mostly elementary)

• Interactive Whiteboard Resources http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=3747 (tweeted by @kjarrett)
• A link for the 10 best and worst cellphone for radiation tweeted by http://tinyurl.com/ntu6xv (tweeted by @PaulaFrey)
• A link to Watch BrainPOP's Sept 11 for free http://is.gd/394fQ (tweeted by @web20classroom)
• A Science teacher I might like the link to this flash-based periodic table http://www.rsc.org/chemsoc/visualelements/PAGES/pertable_fla.htm (tweeted by @web20classroom)
• I enjoyed the link for 5 of the Best Files Converts That Can Make Your Lives Easier http://bit.ly/Mlslk (tweeted by @jessenewhart)
• A link to the article on 5 easy, practical steps toward better digital integration in your classroom http://bit.ly/eZqJz from @edutopia

And honestly I get good ideas and information from Twitter every day. I've written about the blogs I think educators should follow, so its no surprise that most of the same ones are on Twitter. It is an easy way to be connected and benefit from the resources of many.

You can follow the WSFCS Dept of Technology at http://twitter.com/wsfcsdit and WSFCS at http://twitter.com/wsfcs

Viewing the World with an Interactive Globe

There are various methods in which a student may learn about the geography of the world. Students may travel extensively or they may read books about various countries. In geography classes teachers may use globes as visual to teach about world travel, tourism and current events. Image if the globe was interactive and with the touch of a pen you are able to locate a region of the world and hear facts about that country. There is such a globe. Oregon Scientific offers a SmartGlobe, an interactive learning tool, that is designed in the shape of a globe. Students may find the games available on SmartGlobe fun and informative. The facts that students listen to when pointing with the pen may be updated regularly with updates provided on-line. For ideas on how to integrate the use of a SmartGlobe, the included games, facts, maps see the NC Geography standard course of study.

Train, Work, and Learn!

"You've got to train for it and work for it and learn for it." This was what I consider an impressive charge from President Obama Tuesday in his message to America's students. Interesting thing about those words? That not only applies to our 21st century students of today - it applies to us as educators, as well.

Train for it... well, pretty obvious what he means... But, as educators, we have to put the time in to understand that our efforts on a daily basis make us better at what we actually do. Remember the coined phrase "on-the-job-training"? Hopefully, each day, we (on purpose!) get a bit better at what we do. Put into practice what you do know!

Work for it... You have to put your time in, as the old saying goes. Go the extra mile. Step outside the box. Don't expect something different if you're doing the same things to get there... The cliches applicable here are endless, but in reality, there is work involved in moving our classrooms into the here and now. No classroom will become a successful product of 21st century integration overnight. It takes time. The success will come and the results will be evident in your overall student engagement and learning. Day by day, week by week, semester by semester.

Learn for it... That is where technology staff development workshops and courses come into play. Participating in the workshops and online courses we offer gives a good foundation to get things rolling in your classroom. Hopefully, you will leave each workshop inspired to try something different in your classroom with your newly acquired 21st century skills. Learning is who we are as educators - so it should be happening all the time, right?

Want to watch the President's speech or read the script for yourself? Check them both out here...

• Video
• Script

Need a refresher on his views of American education? Here is a recap.

Coloring pages: Creating visual art

Coloring pages are an underestimated resource. However, several parents and teachers alike use them for fun activities. Even more students tend to enjoy coloring them. During the process preschoolers may develop skills, like coloring within the lines. This favorite past-time also lends itself to teachable moments when discussing plants, animals, and when learning the alphabets using relatable objects.

The internet provides teachers’ access to several coloring page websites in which a good number of them are free. One such website, Crayola offers coloring pages with lesson plans. In the classroom teachers of K-2 students may find this website as well as the ones listed below useful when teaching visual arts.

http://pbskids.org/coloring/
http://www.coloring-pages-kids.com/
http://familyfun.go.com/printables/coloring-pages/
http://www.fisher-price.com/us/fun/coloring/

Adding Response Pads To Your CPS Set

You may have a set (32) of CPS response pads in your classroom. However, if you have more than 32 students in one class, you will need to add more clickers. As I said in an earlier blog, the use of this response system in your classroom allows you to understand how much your students know or don’t know about the subject covered in class. You can even use the clickers to review before or after the test. You can have your students take the test using the remotes, eliminating the need for scantron sheets. However, if you have a class that is larger than 32 students, someone has to enter their answers on a sheet of paper (boohoo). Studies have shown that the instant feedback that students receive from these response systems help them learn much better. So, how do you add response pads to your set to increase the number to fit your largest class size? Well I’m glad you asked that question because that is what my blog is about. You will not find this in the help menu of the CPS software.

There are basically two main things that you have to do in order to see the extra response pads, clickers or remotes as they are sometimes called. The first is to change the channel that the extra remotes use to communicate with the RF receiver. They have to use the same channel of course that your set is using. The next thing you have to do is to change the remotes ID number. So for example, if the remote you have stolen or borrowed is number 31, you will need to make it number 33.

So let’s start. Let’s say you have already entered your classes and students. Some of your classes are larger than 32 of course. Open the CPS software and choose “Delivery Options” from the settings menu. Click the “Feedback Grid” tab. Move the slider from 32 to 64 under “Number of Pads for Question Preview”. Now take one of your response pads and (with the power off) press both the left and right arrow keys together. Then very quickly press the + - key. This will show you the channel your clickers are working on. Let’s say for this example it is channel 19. Now take one of the response pads you want to add to your set. Again, press both the left and right arrow keys together (with the power off). Immediately press the + - key. This again will show you what channel the other set is working on. Enter your channel number (19) and press send. The next screen will ask for the address. This is the clicker number. You are adding to your existing set of 32, so enter the number 33 and press send. Press send again to turn the display off. Do this for the rest of the response pads you want to add to your set. You can add more than 450 additional clickers to your set, but I’m sure you wouldn’t want that many students in your class! Remember, that’s 900 more parents as well! I would also write the number you assigned each of the additional response pads either on a piece of tape or by using a labeler so you don’t get confused which response pad is which. Plus you might want to return the clicker to the original owner.

So that’s it. It’s a very quick process. In basically two steps, entering the channel number and the clicker number (for each response pad) you will increase your set from 32 to 500. Enjoy and go paperless. The students will benefit tremendously!

Voicethread, Even Better

I think Voicethread is great. I don't know that I've seen a better tool that can be used by all levels of students for any subject. I'm continually amazed at some of the great ways educators and students have used this web-based tool. And now (pause for dramatic effect) it has a few more cool features.

At the end of August, Voicethread announced it had added media from the New York Public Library . In addition to the option to upload this new media from Voicethread, there is also a separate site for the library content at http://nypl.voicethread.com/. I have included the voicethread that gives an overview of this feature below.

You also may choose to create copies of your voicethreads; useful if you'd like to create a copy for each class to comment on or for backing up a current voicethread before editing. Although there are different options for accounts in Voicethread, all of these additions are part of the free version. If you haven't looked at Voicethread, its well worth checking out.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Today's blog post is inspired by a book I am currently reading... Laurie Richlin's "Blueprint for Learning". What caught my eye, instantly, was a simple, yet very thought-provoking sentence. "Every action we take as instructors is based on our expectation that our students will be able to change something that they know, feel, or can do." Wow!

As an instructor of teachers (and a former instructor of students) I can say that it is indeed true that our actions do speak louder than words. What are we saying to our students based on what we do and how we teach? We use all the 21st Century Learning buzzwords like engage, create, collaborate, design, etc. etc. But, what are we literally "doing" in our classrooms that physically show the meanings of those words and what it actually looks like to incorporate 21st century skills into the class... daily.

This post should cause some reflection... which then hopefully leads to inspiration... which should then lead to action. The ball is in your court. Let your actions show you are on board with technology not because you know the buzzwords, but because you believe it can truly change something a student knows, feels, or can do.