TEC 591 PLN

My PLN has been going for the past few years now. I follow my superintendent (@canyonsdave) and directors(@scotmccombs and @ddraper) on twitter. My superintendent is extremely tech savvy which is very nice.

My colleagues also use twitter as a means of communicating and collaborating with each other. I don't know where I'd be without it! We are all in different sites, but help each other through email and twitter.

My favorite professional sites to follow are google for educators, Classroom 2.0, Wesley Fryer's site (and also his twitter feeds @wfryer), Kevin Honeycutt (@kevinhoneycutt), and Jaime Casap (@jaimecasap) from Google.

I also have several contacts/colleagues that I communicate and collaborate with from Florida and Texas. I have worked with these individuals in the past, and we still collaborate on presentations. For example, this past spring, we collaborated via skype for a principals' conference. Vicki Allen, who resides in Dallas, is an education advocate for AT&T. She and I modeled effective use of Skype for conferences, trainings, and meetings.

I look forward to continuing to learn more from other professionals through twitter and also blogs.

SMART Response Systems

Previously known as clickers, the SMART Student Response System is a class set of hand-held devices that send student responses to the teacher's computers via radio signal. In this course teachers will learn to create and deliver quizzes, and view results from within SMART Notebook collaborative learning software.

SMART Boards, Wireless Slates and Notebook Software

SMART Boards, Wireless Slates and Notebook Software
The SMART board is an interactive white board with a touch sensitive display that connects to your computer and a digital projector to show your computer image.   In this course teachers will learn to control computer applications directly from the board, write notes in digital ink, and save their work so they can share later.  Teachers will also learn to use the SMART Software, which provides teachers with fantastic tools, and lessons that can be used on the SMART board.

SMART Software Download

May 26, 2011 - Google Earth

Google Earth
Google Earth is a virtual globe, map, and geographic information program.  In this course teachers will learn how to use these three program to enhance their instruction to better student understanding and learning.


Celestia Download
Stellarium Download
Google Earth Download
Google Earth Showcase
Google Earth Gallery

May 19, 2011 - Inspiration and Kidspiration

Inspiration and Kidspiration
Inspiration and Kidspiration are visual learning and thinking software for educators, students and business professionals.  In this course teachers will learn how to use these programs and how they can use these programs with their students to enhance students understanding and learning.


Free Trial Download


Inspiration Examples and Lesson Plans
Kidspiration Examples and Lesson Plans

May 12, 2011 - Tux Paint and Kid Pix

Tux Paint and Kid Pix
Tux Paint is a free and open source graphics editor geared toward young children.  Kid Pix is a drawing program created for children.  In this course teachers will learn how to use the two programs and how they can use these programs with their students to enhance understanding and learning.


Kid Pix Studio in the Elementary Classroom

May 5, 2011 - Scratch

Scratch
Scratch is a free downloadable software and an online website created by MIT where students can make their own interactive games, stories, music and art and SHARE them with one another.  This software has been installed in Canyons Elementary School Productivity Labs.


Scratch Software Download
ScratchEd - teacher resources
Scratch Support

April 28, 2011 - Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel
Excel is a spreadsheet program broken up by rows and columns.  In this course teachers will learn to organize, format and calculate data with formulas

April 14, 2011 - Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Office PowerPoint
PowerPoint is a presentation program. In this course teachers will learn how to create a presentation with text effects, and transitions, animation, voice-over recording, multimedia integration, and built-in themes.


Links from Class
PowerPoint Games
PowerPoint Shows Available for Download
Multimedia resources found on UEN
ITC - Integrating Technology in Curriculum

April 7, 2011 - Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word
Word is a word processing program.  In this course teachers will learn to use Word to collaborate, create professional looking documents and use different templates.

March 31, 2011 - Numbers

Numbers
Numbers is a spreadsheet application for the Mac.  In this course teachers will learn to organize, format and calculate data with formulas.

March 24, 2011 - Keynote

Keynote
Keynote is a presentation software for the Mac.  In this course teachers will learn how to create a presentation with text effects, and transitions, animation, voice-over recording, multimedia integration, and built-in themes.

March 17, 2011 - Pages

Pages
Pages is a word processor for the Mac.  In this course teachers will learn to use the multiple display modes, formatting options, change tracking, graphic tools and templates.

March 10, 2011 - iTunes and iTunes U - Finding Great Content Online

iTunes and iTunes U - Finding Great Content Online
What comes to mind when you think of iTunes? We hope what will come to mind in the future is all of the great free content that is available through iTunes. Yes, there is lots of free content in iTunes in the podcast section. Now if you have iPods, they are great delivery vehicles for this content. However, not having an iPod doesn't have to be a deterrent to using it. You can listen to or view all of the content you download on your computer, and in the case of audio burn it to a cd for listening in cd players. 

March 3, 2011 - iPod Touch/iPad

iPod Touch/iPad
The iPod is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, and Wi-Fi mobile platform designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPad is the first tablet computer developed by Apple Inc. and is somewhere between a smartphone and a laptop computer.

February 24, 2011 - Advanced iMove

Advanced iMovie
This course is for teachers who already know how to do the basics in iMovie such as adding pictures/video, text, music and transitions.  This course will dive deeper into what iMovie can do to enhance video projects.

February 17, 2011 - Basic iMovie

Basic iMovie
This course is an introductory course on how to use iMovie.  iMovie is a video editing software application which allows Mac users to edit their own home movies.

February 10, 2011 - GPS

GPS
GPS stands for Global Positioning System.  GPS units are electronic devices that use transmissions from an array of satellites to aid in navigation and to show precise position, usually on a chart or map.  This class will teach teachers how to use GPS devices and how to use them with their students in the classroom to enhance the curriculum.


Links from Class
GPS in the Classroom
Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site

February 3, 2011 Digital Imaging

Digital Imaging
This course will cover how to capture images so they can be edited, filed, displayed or printed on a computer. Teachers will also learn about storing and organizing digital images.


Getting and Using the Picture
I've Got the Picture, Now What?
iPhoto and Photobooth

Links from Class

• Picasa
• Flikr
• BlueMelon
• Phanfare
• Kodak Gallery
• Shutterfly
• Photo Bucket
• Photoshop.com
• BrightHub (for downloading PhotoBooth effects)
  

January 27, 2011 - Comic Life

Comic Life
Comic Life is a comic desktop publishing computer program developed by Plasq for Mac OS x and Windows.  Teachers in this course will learn how to use the Comic Life to enhance their instruction and curriculum.


Comic Life Download
Comic Life Templates

January 20, 2011 - AverVision Document Camera

AverVision Document Camera
Document cameras are also known as visual presenters, digital overheads, or docucams.  They are real-time image capture devices used for displaying an object to a large audience.  Teachers in this course will learn how to use the document camera to enhance their instruction and curriculum.


Basic Features

• Camera
• PC
• Capture/Delete
• Playback
• Effect
• Freeze
• Focus
• Zoom

Beyond Basics

• Capturing and viewing videos
  The video below was recorded using her document camera.

• Transferring photos from document camera to computer

Links from Class

• AverVision 300AF+ Software Download
• 101 Ways to Use a Document Camera in Class
• Connecting the Document Camera
• Caffeine

January 13, 2011 - AverPens

AverPens
AverPens combine the interactive whiteboard, wireless slate, and student response system features into a mobile, electronic pen that can work from virtually any surface.  Teachers in this course will learn how to use the AverPens to enhance their instruction and curriculum

Links from Class

• Aver+ Software Download
• Aver+ Reference Sheet (for Mac)
• History for Kids