Friday, April 9, 2010
Where have all the teachers gone?
All the SB6 talk has taken a toll on my outlook for work. That isn't good, it will be so difficult to stay focused on tasks at hand and not look into the future. I fear the country is failing the citizens of tomorrow, and the problem is in our backyards. A dedicated educator takes care of the whole child...not just how well they read, or how high they can score on a test. They care if they are unhappy or having trouble with family and friends. They care if the child is moving to yet another foster home, the fifth in one year.They care if the child has enough food to eat over the weekend. They care if the child goes home to an empty house and no one else will be there for hours. A dedicated educator provides shoes, clothing, counseling, empathy, and love and manages to instruct and motivate and instill in their young charges a desire to learn. What will happen to all the dedicated educators?
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
iWeb FAQ
iWeb FAQ - Adding movies and Flash content to iWeb Love it when colleagues share! Thanks Brandon!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Technology Tools and other Stuff
https://sites.google.com/site/mdejrogers/
I recently moved resources from one of my wikis to Google sites. Please take a look and let me know if you find anything useful.
I recently moved resources from one of my wikis to Google sites. Please take a look and let me know if you find anything useful.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Cool Web Resources
I'll be hosting a training on Cool Web Resources March 3, 2010 at the Pasco County Department of Instructional Media office. I've prepared an introduction presentation on Google Docs and have created a Moodle course as well. I experimented with being able to embed a Google presentation into a web page...
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Reflecting on FETC
I spend part of my day 'in the cloud' and other times I am just in a fog!
I did see the new projectors with DLP capability. Bringing 3D to the classroom enhances the learning experience. After dodging asteroids myself, I could picture our kids' interest level would be super high.
Inspiration 9 had a January release. They added the presentation conversion feature and mind maps. With just a click, you are able to convert your visual diagrams into slides for a presentation, an Inspiration viewer (free download) means you can view on any machine, not have to have the app itself.
Applications aren't going away, but they will be used as tools for use in the cloud. When working with Google, for example, you can upload Powerpoint presentations, so folks can still create with programs they are comfortable with. Google Wave increases the collaboration efforts made not only in education, but business too. Google will continue to unveil more. 20% of their employees day is spent on personal work pursuits. Lots of great stuff coming.
The freedom to not being tied to one computer is so nice. I saw more in the line of mobile users and am hoping that supports the need for mobility with our computers in the classroom. AKA eliminate stationary labs. With budget issues haunting us for some time to come, why not let kids bring their own 'tools' to school. We need to be ready, get policy in place, do the background work, and not be in a position of 'catch up'.
With Web2.0 and working in the cloud, we need to examine bandwidth needs for the future. I am so glad we switched our network provider. Things go so much smoother now than they did with the "tower people" aka Trillion. Lots of conversation at FETC from folks concerned that their bandwidth would not meet their needs.
The role of the tech in Pasco is changing. Get ready. We all need to be learning, not only the tools, but how to use them in the classroom.
Word for the future: Integration Specialists! We know the hardware/software and we educate others on appropriate use. I liked when Richard, a Pasco Colleague, said, "you will be standing by the side of the road and eventually forced to move out of the way."
I did see the new projectors with DLP capability. Bringing 3D to the classroom enhances the learning experience. After dodging asteroids myself, I could picture our kids' interest level would be super high.
Inspiration 9 had a January release. They added the presentation conversion feature and mind maps. With just a click, you are able to convert your visual diagrams into slides for a presentation, an Inspiration viewer (free download) means you can view on any machine, not have to have the app itself.
Applications aren't going away, but they will be used as tools for use in the cloud. When working with Google, for example, you can upload Powerpoint presentations, so folks can still create with programs they are comfortable with. Google Wave increases the collaboration efforts made not only in education, but business too. Google will continue to unveil more. 20% of their employees day is spent on personal work pursuits. Lots of great stuff coming.
The freedom to not being tied to one computer is so nice. I saw more in the line of mobile users and am hoping that supports the need for mobility with our computers in the classroom. AKA eliminate stationary labs. With budget issues haunting us for some time to come, why not let kids bring their own 'tools' to school. We need to be ready, get policy in place, do the background work, and not be in a position of 'catch up'.
With Web2.0 and working in the cloud, we need to examine bandwidth needs for the future. I am so glad we switched our network provider. Things go so much smoother now than they did with the "tower people" aka Trillion. Lots of conversation at FETC from folks concerned that their bandwidth would not meet their needs.
The role of the tech in Pasco is changing. Get ready. We all need to be learning, not only the tools, but how to use them in the classroom.
Word for the future: Integration Specialists! We know the hardware/software and we educate others on appropriate use. I liked when Richard, a Pasco Colleague, said, "you will be standing by the side of the road and eventually forced to move out of the way."
Monday, January 18, 2010
Google Teacher Academy Reflection
I was fortunate to be included with those attending the Google Teacher Academy in Boulder, CO August 5, 2009. It was the first time there were 51 participants and not the typical 50. Could I have been that fifty-first person? Fortunate indeed!
The networking opportunities with so many top notch educators and tech specialists was humbling. But we all realized there's 'oodles of Google' to learn! I'd only touched the surface with Gmail, docs, and spreadsheets.
This fast paced training was an unforgettable experience. One that remains with you and causes you to continue to seek out and learn more. Sharing Google with others is a mission in itself, but one easy to do.
Since August, I've searched for ways to integrate Google into my school work day as well as my own everyday life. I encouraged the principal of my school to use Google Calendar for parents this year. It is accessible from our web site. We've used Google Forms to gather data from our staff members on a variety of topics. We will continue to use both.
There are tasks still to accomplish, like creating a Moodle Course on Google tools. Reading the discussion topics from fellow GTA's is a part time job in itself! But it is all worthwhile and although all I meet don't necessarily share my level of enthusiasm I am making progress in the increased use of Google during the school day.
The networking opportunities with so many top notch educators and tech specialists was humbling. But we all realized there's 'oodles of Google' to learn! I'd only touched the surface with Gmail, docs, and spreadsheets.
This fast paced training was an unforgettable experience. One that remains with you and causes you to continue to seek out and learn more. Sharing Google with others is a mission in itself, but one easy to do.
Since August, I've searched for ways to integrate Google into my school work day as well as my own everyday life. I encouraged the principal of my school to use Google Calendar for parents this year. It is accessible from our web site. We've used Google Forms to gather data from our staff members on a variety of topics. We will continue to use both.
There are tasks still to accomplish, like creating a Moodle Course on Google tools. Reading the discussion topics from fellow GTA's is a part time job in itself! But it is all worthwhile and although all I meet don't necessarily share my level of enthusiasm I am making progress in the increased use of Google during the school day.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Gale Delivers
Gale Cengage Learning company provides numerous online resources. There is a wonderful 17 Volume Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia that is an interactive comprehensive animal reference. It is media rich with photos, videos, and real time news which is updated regularly. Take a look and preview a video: http://www.gale.com/wildthings.
Gale has teamed up with the Florida Electronic Library to provide online resources that meet the research needs of the state. If you get the chance surf by and see all that is available to you.
Gale has teamed up with the Florida Electronic Library to provide online resources that meet the research needs of the state. If you get the chance surf by and see all that is available to you.
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