It has been a great week for technology training at the Marion School District. I am so pumped that so many teachers have come to learn new skills and create new activities for their students. I want to give two special shout-outs to my "Rock Stars".
MHS French teacher, Amanda Rich, has done some outstanding work! Look for "how-to" videos to be posted on Safari Montage and notebooks to be uploaded to SMARTExchange. Her work has such a professional touch to it.
My other Rock Stars are the MES teachers who have come ready to work. They sat by grade level so they could collaborate on the work. They had a plan of topics for the notebooks that needed to be designed and were ready and willing to listen and learn. Great job teachers!
Next week is another full slate ranging from ADMIN Tech to Web 2.0 and Janice Cook's Favorite Things! It should be fun, hope to see you there.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Exciting New Territory
I am so excited that today is finally here! I could not sleep last night and I don't know it that is a good thing or a bad thing. I do work better with a good night's rest.
Why am I so excited? My district level administrators are beginning to utilize SMART Technology! Today, Deputy Superintendent Jeff Altemus is going totally digital with his Tier II training! I am so excited! Way to go Mr. Altemus!
I have collaborated with him to create a Tier II Live Binder rather than duplicate pages and pages of information. Everyone will be given the URL to the binder and they may then access it at any time. Think of the trees we are saving.
In addition, we have created a SMARTNotebook file with SMARTResponse questions about the days presentations!
Our presentation skills may not be too coordinated as we are both very busy at this time of year and have not practiced much, but I am very optimistic that everything will go great.
Next, today begins our 5th year of summer technology workshops for our faculty. I believe I have a record number of teachers registered to attend! Yay!
Today I will be presenting a SMART Content Creation session using color to create hide/reveal or slide activities. The plan if for the teachers to create activities using the techniques they learn. Then I have a surprise for them. We are going to create a video of them describing how they created the activities and post to YouTube and/or TeacherTube and Safari Montage.
This is due to an iPad presentation I attended earlier this spring at our educational co-op. The presenter from Apple challenged everyone to not only be a Content Consumer, but to also be a Content Contributor! Powerful! I hope I can get my teachers to accept this and begin to share not just locally, but nationally and internationally, many of the great lessons they have created.
Why am I so excited? My district level administrators are beginning to utilize SMART Technology! Today, Deputy Superintendent Jeff Altemus is going totally digital with his Tier II training! I am so excited! Way to go Mr. Altemus!
I have collaborated with him to create a Tier II Live Binder rather than duplicate pages and pages of information. Everyone will be given the URL to the binder and they may then access it at any time. Think of the trees we are saving.
In addition, we have created a SMARTNotebook file with SMARTResponse questions about the days presentations!
Our presentation skills may not be too coordinated as we are both very busy at this time of year and have not practiced much, but I am very optimistic that everything will go great.
Next, today begins our 5th year of summer technology workshops for our faculty. I believe I have a record number of teachers registered to attend! Yay!
Today I will be presenting a SMART Content Creation session using color to create hide/reveal or slide activities. The plan if for the teachers to create activities using the techniques they learn. Then I have a surprise for them. We are going to create a video of them describing how they created the activities and post to YouTube and/or TeacherTube and Safari Montage.
This is due to an iPad presentation I attended earlier this spring at our educational co-op. The presenter from Apple challenged everyone to not only be a Content Consumer, but to also be a Content Contributor! Powerful! I hope I can get my teachers to accept this and begin to share not just locally, but nationally and internationally, many of the great lessons they have created.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Content Consumer or Content Contributor...which are you?
I have focused so much on getting my teachers to just utilize SMARTExchange that I really didn't consider the fact that I wasn't encouraging them to become Content Contributors as well. This idea was brought to my attention at an iPad workshop that I attended at the Crowley's Ridge Educational co-op back in April and it really stuck with me.
Teachers have always been great to share resources with one another and with the digital age making this so much easier, it seems as if I see less of that happening at some campuses.
In addition to focusing on training teachers in new software and techniques, I am adding contributing to the global educational community as part of my teaching. Whether it is via SMARTExchange, the teachers personal website or other methods, we need to contribute.
Check out my Glog about Content Contributors
Teachers have always been great to share resources with one another and with the digital age making this so much easier, it seems as if I see less of that happening at some campuses.
In addition to focusing on training teachers in new software and techniques, I am adding contributing to the global educational community as part of my teaching. Whether it is via SMARTExchange, the teachers personal website or other methods, we need to contribute.
Check out my Glog about Content Contributors
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Wonderopolis
Check out Wonderopolis! The widget at the right will take you to their site.
Founded in 1989, Wonderopolis strives to "engage and inspire families in the pursuit of education and learning together."
I don't know how I have missed this one! The videos are fun (blocked by our state filter) so teachers you will need to keepvid them at home,and the content is varied. Check it out!
Founded in 1989, Wonderopolis strives to "engage and inspire families in the pursuit of education and learning together."
I don't know how I have missed this one! The videos are fun (blocked by our state filter) so teachers you will need to keepvid them at home,and the content is varied. Check it out!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Congratulations Marion School District SEE's
We received word last week that 5 MSD faculty members have been named SMART Exemplary Educators by SMART Technologies Inc. This is quite an accomplishment for these ladies.
Along with myself, the faculty members are Lisa Ford, Tamika Jordan, Marcia Lane, and Ginny Lawrence. I am so proud of these teachers for their outstanding work with SMART products. They took what I taught them and ran with it! Good Job SEE's!
Along with myself, the faculty members are Lisa Ford, Tamika Jordan, Marcia Lane, and Ginny Lawrence. I am so proud of these teachers for their outstanding work with SMART products. They took what I taught them and ran with it! Good Job SEE's!
Amazing and Overwhelmed
Educational technology is expanding and changing so rapidly I think my head is spinning! Everytime I think I have a handle on a new skill or product, here comes another. I get so excited, I think my teachers think I am totally crazy. Hopefully I can contain some of that enthusiasm long enough to think and make these new skills relevant and "do-able" for my classroom teachers.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Hello Sunshine Where have you Been!
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of taking 4 of my secondary math teachers to the Video Reality Trade Show in Conway, AR. We had a nice drive over and back and enjoyed the beautiful sunny day. After the past 2-3 days, the sun was a welcomed sight.
At the trade show, we listened to several presentations on the new SMART 800 series board, Notebook 10.7, and SMARTResponse. Our district has 100 % of it's academic spaces equipped with SMARTBoards. Our next project is to begin placing SMARTResponse and Document Cameras in classrooms. Our teachers and students both love SMART!
At the trade show, we listened to several presentations on the new SMART 800 series board, Notebook 10.7, and SMARTResponse. Our district has 100 % of it's academic spaces equipped with SMARTBoards. Our next project is to begin placing SMARTResponse and Document Cameras in classrooms. Our teachers and students both love SMART!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Rain, Rain, Go Away
Once again, the weather forecasters were correct when they predicted strong winds, tornados, and heavy rain. We definitely got the heavy rain part here.
Marion Schools were closed today due to flooding on our quad area. I don't think any of our buildings were damaged, but we did have a few leaks. The morning news said we got between 4-6" last night. I believe it. It was raining this morning so I didn't go check my rain gauge. Today has just been rain, rain, and more rain. I can't wait to go see the mighty Mississippi this afternoon. They are predicting it will crest at around 45' next week. This will be one of the highest marks in history. I just hope the levee holds!
Marion Schools were closed today due to flooding on our quad area. I don't think any of our buildings were damaged, but we did have a few leaks. The morning news said we got between 4-6" last night. I believe it. It was raining this morning so I didn't go check my rain gauge. Today has just been rain, rain, and more rain. I can't wait to go see the mighty Mississippi this afternoon. They are predicting it will crest at around 45' next week. This will be one of the highest marks in history. I just hope the levee holds!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
msdadmin blog project
As expected, there were skeptics in the crowd yesterday. However, I think most of the group appreciated the opportunity to have the freedom to complete this task at their own pace.
This morning there were two who had joined the blog, one had actually commented.
I must be patient, they will come around. (keep repeating that)
This morning there were two who had joined the blog, one had actually commented.
I must be patient, they will come around. (keep repeating that)
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
New Project Continued
Monday is the big day. I unveil my new project to the entire District Administration Team! I'm excited but also a bit scared.
Here's the project that I was charged with developing.
I am very much a hand's on person, so I really wanted to get them involved in this project rather than hiring someone to come talk, or purchasing a CD/DVD to watch, or a book to read.
So, I developed a blog! http://www.msdadmin.blogspot.com/. The task is for the administrators to simply read and comment weekly for one month in the blog. I will post articles each Monday for them to read. In addition, they may start a new thread of their own and receive technology credit!
We have teachers blogging, students blogging, so why not the administrators? Hopefully this project will develop into more than a one month assignment. I hope that they will see the benefit of blogging and will develop their own blog either for their teachers, parents, students, ...or why not all three?
Here's the project that I was charged with developing.
"Come up with...something that our administrators can do to earn 3 hours of staff development credit." Granted it is the middle of April and this must be completed before June 1.
So, I developed a blog! http://www.msdadmin.blogspot.com/. The task is for the administrators to simply read and comment weekly for one month in the blog. I will post articles each Monday for them to read. In addition, they may start a new thread of their own and receive technology credit!
We have teachers blogging, students blogging, so why not the administrators? Hopefully this project will develop into more than a one month assignment. I hope that they will see the benefit of blogging and will develop their own blog either for their teachers, parents, students, ...or why not all three?
Thursday, April 14, 2011
New Project
I have gone from being terribly upset because I was asked to do a project that I felt I had no background for or contacts or ideas or anything remotely qualifying me for the task to being totally excited about my brainstorming session (with myself) and the parental involvement project I am now developing for our administrative team (wow, that's one long sentence) Hopefully they will embrace this project and will feel that they have not only gained parental involvement knowledge, but also technology skill. More to come later as the project develops.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Spring
Spring will arrive in Arkansas...one of these days! I love the winter weather, but enough already. My daffodils are blooming and I'm still wearing coats and scarves.
Now that blogger is open in the district, I hopefully will be more current in my posts. Summer technology workshops are being planned along with our ISTE trip this summer to Philadelphia. I have never been there so I am excited to visit and take in all the history that will be present everywhere.
Now that blogger is open in the district, I hopefully will be more current in my posts. Summer technology workshops are being planned along with our ISTE trip this summer to Philadelphia. I have never been there so I am excited to visit and take in all the history that will be present everywhere.
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