JB Tech Info - Coursera + Shortcut Cheat Sheet + Christmas Updates

Around the Net:

Coursera - Is a website that offers free courses from many top Unversities from around the world.  Best of all it's FREE.  These are college level courses, but are a great way to expand your mind and the mind of your students.  This is a great opportunity for students to try out college material for free.
"The website provides free online courses in the fields of Computer Science; Healthcare, Medicine, and Biology; Society, Networks, and Information; Humanities and Social Science; Mathematics and Statistics; and Economic, Finance, and Business" - Coursera.org
https://www.coursera.org/

Tip:
Shortcut Cheat Sheet for PC and Mac

Graphic from Lifehacker.com article: Back to the Basics: Learn to Use Keyboard Shortcuts Like a Ninja

Tech Updates:

Over the break we will be updating the rest of the Ubuntu Linux netbooks with the latest version of Ubermix.  Also we'll be doing a Wireless Survey.  This will help us deploy additional WiFi Access Points in the best locations, with less guessing.  This will help evolve our WiFi network from a maximum coverage with the least amount of AP's to a high density/maximum availability WiFi network. Certain areas will get an additional AP over the break, due to poor coverage.  Particularly the basement at Lee HSMS.

Monthly Tech Integration Idea: December 2012

Hop on over to my blog if you want to check out my monthly tech integration idea prompt!  This month my post is about using the Elf on the Shelf in your classroom!

Source: triadmomsonmain.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Rebel U {Virtual Edition} - 2013

------

This a post in a series about Rebel U {Virtual Edition} 2013.

------

This school year, the Technology & Media Department was granted another professional development day.  In August, we held our Rebel U event, which was structured similarly to that of larger conferences (a keynote address, breakout sessions, in-house and guest speakers, etc.).  One of the great things about this day is that it provides teachers with an opportunity to share things with one another about what they are doing in their classrooms.  I also know that many teachers walk away overwhelmed with all of the new tools they have learned about and excited to implement them in their classroom.

The purpose of this upcoming day is to build upon the things learned, and since implemented, from our fall Rebel U day.  The outcome of building upon those things learned about in the fall is to have everyone establish a web presence in the form of a website.  This website will be representative of you and your classroom and serve as a central communication tool.  This day will provide teachers with an opportunity to take what they have been working on in their class, show it off, and provide a central location for resources.

The presentations for the breakout sessions are based on some of the "Things" from the 21Things4Teachers program.  As teachers are working on developing their websites, they will be meeting National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T).  These standards not only help teachers develop their own skills, but also encourage them to utilize technology as a tool in their classroom to promote student achievement.  In addition, this district-provided technology professional development day will be aligned to the teacher evaluation framework.

We are updating our website as we plan this day, so feel free to see what we have planned so far by clicking here!

JB Tech Info - Khan Academy + RebelNet Tips

Around the Net:










Khan Academy for iPad/iPhone

Khan Academy is a great website with a huge library of educational videos.  The iPad app allows you to view and save videos to your iPad for later viewing.  If you create an account it will even save your progress.  Plus it's FREE.


Khan Academy Website
Khan Academy in Apple App Store


Tip:

You can update stored RebelNet passwords under Account > Password Mgr.  Remember to click the Update Stored Passwords after you make any changes.


Tech Update:

Added a link for Discovery Education under Staff Resources in RebelNet.  The link will also save your username and password just like Infinite Campus.

JB Tech Info - Zite + Keyboard Shortcuts + Tech Updates

Around the Net:


Zite is an app for your tablet or phone.  This works on Android and iOS devices (iPad/iPhone/iPod).  It will take a topic such as e-learning or technology or gardening and builds a custom magazine for you to read.  It takes news articles from all over the internet on each topic and puts them in your hands.  If the article isn't something you like or not related you can vote it down or up if it's something you like.  This is a great way to get information from sources you would never otherwise find.

Search for Zite in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store

Tip:

Can't find where to print?
Use this shortcut: Ctrl + P or Command + P on Mac

Have a bunch of windows open and want to get back to the desktop quickly?
Use this shortcut: Windows Key + D

Can't read the text?
Use this shortcut: Ctrl+(+ or - keys) or Command+(+ or - keys) on Mac

Tech Update:

Soon to begin pushing out the latest Java Update and later Adobe Flash.  For some you may have ran into the issue where Firefox disabled Java due to it being behind a version.  Most will noticed it, because the Gradebook in Infinite Campus' uses a Java plugin.  This update should automatically install itself on Windows computers.

Important:
This update will cause the computer to take a long time to login/startup, this is because it is installing software.  Please do not shut the computer off and be patient!

2012 12 Days of #EdTech Cheer is Here!

For the past couple of years, I have published my own "12 Days of EdTech Cheer" as a way of sharing resources and ideas for integrating technology into classroom instruction or professional use.  I am continuing the sharing this year with my 2012 12 Days of EdTech Cheer.  I would like to really encourage you to participate in this year's "challenge."  The challenge is to simply establish a place to put your "stuff" online (website, blog, wiki, etc.) and then post content to it.  The activities and resources listed on each day are meant to simply be a guide for helping you create content (especially if you are new to posting online).  To view the 2012 12 Days of EdTech Cheer, click here or on the image below.

If you are participating in this challenge, feel free to pick a day, two, or ten to participate in - whatever works best for you and your classroom!  I have followed along with my own challenge and have included links to my implementation on each day.  Do not feel as though you have to follow the order that I have, but logistically Day 1 and Day 2 should be completed before the rest of the days.

I am sending this out now with the thought that some people might want to plan ahead with their classroom implementation.  There is no set day to begin or end - this is a work at your own pace online professional development opportunity.  If you are looking to fit your 12 Days of EdTech Cheer on the calendar, you could use the following schedule:

• Day 1 - December 3 ("A Challenge to Follow Me")
• Day 2 - December 4 ("A Place to Put my Stuff")
• Day 3 - December 5 ("A Fun Sledding Activity")
• Day 4 - December 6 ("A Tour Around the World with Me")
• Day 5 - December 7 ("A Book with Four Activities")
• Day 6 - December 10 ("A Way to Create Electronic Newsletters")
• Day 7 - December 11 ("A Focus on Vocabulary")
• Day 8 - December 12 ("A Different Way to Tell a Story")
• Day 9 - December 13 ("Methods for Assessing Students")
• Day 10 - December 14 ("Some Very (P)interesting Activities")
• Day 11 - December 17 ("A Handful of Learning Activities")
• Day 12 - December 18 ("Twelve Fun Online Tools")

GLPS Teachers:  This online professional development opportunity was not only aligned with the Teacher Evaluation Framework (alignment found here), but if you participate in even one day, it will help you prepare for our second day of district-provided technology professional development which will be held in mid-January.  Our Technology & Media Team strives to not only provide you with hardware and network support, but also effective curriculum support in utilizing technology tools in your classroom.  Hopefully this opportunity will provide opportunities to try something new and use technology in the process!

Service Learning Grant brings new iPads into the district

Both Kindergarten and Fifth Grade teachers received iPads from the the KISD for service learning grants each grade level is participating in. The hard work of the grant writing has payed off for both of these grade level teams. With both groups eager begin using their new devices they are finally in the hands of the teachers.  Although the setup process did not go as smoothly as planned today we have worked out the kinks and the teachers are starting to setup and use their iPads.

I checked out the apple website and found some helpful information for anyone who is not familiar with using iPads and needs help (hint, hint). The first one I found here is an iPad user guide that covers almost everything you’ll ever need to know about using the iPad. The next one here is more of tutorial of what to do when an app is not working properly or not responding.

Enjoy