March 2009 Blog Posts (259)

AUP

I really liked filling out and making up the AUP rules for computer and internet use in a classroom. I really liked it because it helped me really think of what should and should not be used. It was also a way to help me think like a teacher and actually write rules, I have never had to write rules before. I think that it is a great idea to have rules or even a signed contract for the computer and internet use in your classroom. After reading that article of the sub that got fired, which I… Continue

Added by Erin Freese on March 24, 2009 at 6:35pm — No Comments

Technology Rules For The Classroom

I think it is very important to have guidelines in the classroom for the use of technology. This isn't just to prevent the kids from doing something bad, but it also lets them know that sometimes you accidently go to an inappropriate website and it informs the kids what to do from there. However, sometimes kids can abuse technology and it can be harmful to the other kids in the classroom. For example, a kid can type something mean about another kid and either show it to other kids or they could… Continue

Added by Tammy McGuirk on March 24, 2009 at 6:31pm — 1 Comment

Are we ready?

I thought everyone was as jubilant about technology in the classroom as me. I guess not.

Today, I was discussing, (actually complaining) about the negative comments I keep hearing from fellow teachers about Facebook and other social networks. It seems hard to get through to "doubters" that this "Internet thing" is not a fad, but a reality. Hello! Technology is a part of our students lives. I know this is a fact, because of all of the cell phones I am confiscating from my… Continue

Added by lnicewaner on March 24, 2009 at 4:47pm — No Comments

Student identity issues

We expend a lot of effort to make sure that only student first names and last initials (or sometimes use aliases to avoid even that) online publishing.

However, student first names, last names, and even pictures appear routinely on school web sites as a part of honor rolls, sports team listings, and other extracurricular activities.

Why the discrepancy? And what exactly is the concern with having student first and last names appear online?

Added by Karen Fasimpaur on March 24, 2009 at 4:16pm — No Comments

Classroom AUP

I had to make my own AUP for computer usage in my classroom. We read an article about a teacher who accidentally stumbled upon an adult website during class. Some students saw the adult content and reported back to their parents about what they had seen. Needless to say, the teacher ran into serious trouble, and the jury was willing to charge her with jail time for this accident.

My AUP helped me prepare for such a situation by informing parents of the guidelines in my classroom. For… Continue

Added by Kristin McCloud on March 24, 2009 at 3:52pm — 1 Comment

I HATE the price of textbooks!!!

I hate that my students pay huge prices for textbooks. And when I tell them they can shop around and buy used online often they don't get their book until the semester is half-way through. And the online chapters which are convenient still make me and my students prisoners of the publishers. I'm working on divorcing myself from the publishers. I've had it... I'm through!

Added by Patricia Perbetsky on March 24, 2009 at 2:30pm — 3 Comments

Acceptable Use Policy

This week we had to create acceptable use policies. These are very important to have whenever you are working in a classroom where the children have internet and computer access. I can still remember growing up every year we had this important book that we had to take home and go over with our parents before we were allowed to use the internet at school, it was a long and very detailed acceptable use policies. Many school systems… Continue

Added by Julia Counts on March 24, 2009 at 2:15pm — 3 Comments

Internet Safety Presentation

Join us in the backchannel for a cybersafety presentation Tues. 7:00 p.m. CST. This will be uStreamed at:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/montmartre-cybersafety-2009

Dave

Added by Dave on March 24, 2009 at 1:23pm — 2 Comments

The Filtered Network!

Well, I am still trying to incorporate educational technology into my students' every day lives; however, we are running into trouble with gaining access to the available technology in our labs due to filters put in place by our tech team. VERY FRUSTRATING!! I know the filters are put in place to keep spam and other non-educational material out of our students' reach, but we cannot access the sites we need. My classes were even blocked from online interviews with lawyers, physicians, and… Continue

Added by Tracy Montgomery on March 24, 2009 at 12:38pm — 2 Comments

Remix America Featured on Palm Breeze Café!

Palm Breeze Café was originally founded as an informal resource sharing tool for teachers in Florida. Since 2005, they’ve expanded their reach to include podcasts and a TV broadcast. Their catchphrase, “convenient and flexible education,” underscores their dedication to finding the most user-friendly and innovative tools on the web.

Last week, after coming across our software on the web, the teachers of Palm… Continue

Added by Erika Johansson on March 24, 2009 at 12:17pm — No Comments

Kiwi Commons is happy to announce the beta launch of our website!

Click here to link to our site and get a head start on Internet safety news.

Added by Kiwi Commons on March 24, 2009 at 10:30am — No Comments

6 Ways To Convert PowerPoint To Flash

There are many benefits of converting PowerPoint to Flash, such as greater accessibility, compatibility, smaller file size, sound integration, streaming, secure, email-ready, etc. Here are 6 ways for you to convert PowerPoint presentation to Flash.

Convert PowerPoint to Flash with Wondershare PowerPoint to Flash

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------…

Continue

Added by SunnyY on March 24, 2009 at 5:56am — No Comments

Digital exchange with a child in India

I am searching for a child in India who might do a digital exchange with my son! He is 8 and at school in Manchester, England. His topic this term is India and I wondered if there was an Indian child who might like to talk with him via Skype, or video message or audio or photos or text, to share their experiences of life and culture, and learn about each other's country.

Please reply here or message me if this is of interest!

Thanks

Added by pete whitfield on March 24, 2009 at 2:16am — No Comments

Grant

In trying to figure out what I would spend my money on I realized that $40,000 is a lot of money! I bought so much stuff for my classroom. I'm sure if I would have shopped for sales then I could have had even more money to spend.

Livetext however is frustrating to me... I would have rather done it with a different template.

I did enjoy this assignment. It was good for me to research items for my classroom and see the exact budget for them. Although I'm sure I will never have $40,000… Continue

Added by Casey Boyd on March 23, 2009 at 8:59pm — 1 Comment

Motivation- Be motivated to motivate!

There is nothing more central to learning effectively than these three words: motivation, motivation and motivation. It is a real challenge to motivate your students. As the old saying states it, “you can lead a horse to water- but you can’t make him step in it! “ Nothing is more heart breaking for a teacher than realizing that his students are day dreaming and bored in his class or simply not ready to take a step forward to help himself or herself in the learning process. There are some… Continue

Added by Mohammed Rhalmi on March 23, 2009 at 7:49pm — No Comments

Etude Zero

You write the melody; collaborative music; who'd a thunk:

have fun;
~SP
JS Guitar

Added by Geoff St. Pierre on March 23, 2009 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Ed Tech Company PN Develops Educational Game for Microsoft Surface

UK educational software company RM has released a demo of their game Finguistics. What makes this so interesting is that this educational game is being designed to work on the Microsoft Surface platform.

As you can see in the video, these kids are…

Continue

Added by Derek Baird on March 23, 2009 at 1:35pm — No Comments

Typing - Day 1

Entering Activities: Students will have directions on screen. They will read a sample ORQ and identify the power verbs in part A and B. They will fill out the sections labled “DO” and “WHAT” on their ORQ graphic organizer.

Teaching and Learning: Students who have three revised drafts will begin typing their pieces today. I will teach them the appropriate way to use the laptops and direct them as they work. Students who do not have three drafts completed will be finishing… Continue

Added by Amanda Addison on March 23, 2009 at 1:02pm — 1 Comment

Middle School Field Day

I am interested in doing a middle school (6th-8th grade) field day. Does anyone have any activities that may would work? Any ideas are welcomed and greatly appreciated. THANKS!

Added by Darrell Graham on March 23, 2009 at 12:24pm — No Comments