Sunday, September 6, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Texas Long Range Plan for Technology 2006 – 2020
The key to student success is making sure that students are fully engaged in their education and learning. The use of technology brings the world into the classroom and it also levels the playing field for all students. Distance learning offers all schools the tools they need to assist individual students in a variety of ways. Challenges however present themselves in that technology needs to be integrated seamlessly and aligned with the curriculum. Teachers need to mentor, facilitate, and exhibit flexibility and explore new ideas with technology.
Forney High School has shown a slight decrease in its progress toward reaching Target Tech. In 2006-2007, this campus was rated as Advanced Tech. Over the next two years, the classification for Forney HS decreased to Developing Tech. It appears that these results are consistent with the campus statewide results of a Developing Tech rating.
My recommendation to help foster the advancement from Developing Tech to Advanced Tech for Forney High School would be to assist the administration by providing relevant, hands-on staff development that incorporates a seamless integration of technology. Teachers need to be provided more one on one, just in time training to help them develop engaging technology integrated lessons. Students need tools and support to do new things in new ways. Studies show that educational technology is highly affected by student population, the software design, the role of the educator, and the level of student access to the technology. If everyone has the same goal in mind, student engagement and higher performance, then progress will be inevitable.
Forney High School has shown a slight decrease in its progress toward reaching Target Tech. In 2006-2007, this campus was rated as Advanced Tech. Over the next two years, the classification for Forney HS decreased to Developing Tech. It appears that these results are consistent with the campus statewide results of a Developing Tech rating.
My recommendation to help foster the advancement from Developing Tech to Advanced Tech for Forney High School would be to assist the administration by providing relevant, hands-on staff development that incorporates a seamless integration of technology. Teachers need to be provided more one on one, just in time training to help them develop engaging technology integrated lessons. Students need tools and support to do new things in new ways. Studies show that educational technology is highly affected by student population, the software design, the role of the educator, and the level of student access to the technology. If everyone has the same goal in mind, student engagement and higher performance, then progress will be inevitable.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Google Tips
Google Search
· Backwards Google – great for playing a trick on your co-workers
http://elgoog.rb-hosting.de/index.cgi
· Use as a calculator. Simply type in a problem and hit enter.
· Conversions – Be sure to use the word “in” (1 mi in feet, 1 cup in tablespoons)
Advanced Google Search
· Click the Advanced Search link
· Enter Keyword
· Looking for Power Points? Choose the file type "ppt"
· Search for Jeopardy games by simply adding “jeopardy” to keyword
Google Info
· Works like 411 but in text
· Type 466-453 in your phone and save it as “Google Info”
· Type in any place or person and include city and state to get location and contact
information
· Backwards Google – great for playing a trick on your co-workers
http://elgoog.rb-hosting.de/index.cgi
· Use as a calculator. Simply type in a problem and hit enter.
· Conversions – Be sure to use the word “in” (1 mi in feet, 1 cup in tablespoons)
Advanced Google Search
· Click the Advanced Search link
· Enter Keyword
· Looking for Power Points? Choose the file type "ppt"
· Search for Jeopardy games by simply adding “jeopardy” to keyword
Google Info
· Works like 411 but in text
· Type 466-453 in your phone and save it as “Google Info”
· Type in any place or person and include city and state to get location and contact
information
Technology Tips and Tricks
www.Jamstudio.com
Great site that allows you to record your own music, create background audio for Photo Story, Movie Maker, Power Points, etc…. Even offers an education grant program where each student would be able to have free access. Start writing music today. It’s so simple!!!
www.animoto.com
This is a great site that customizes videos using your pictures and music. They do all the work for you. It’s simple and quick….just upload images, pictures, MP3’s and you have an awesome video in seconds.
www.wordle.net
This site creates ”word clouds” based on the text you type. The more often a word is represented the larger the word will appear in the image. Try giving your students a topic and have them write as many words as possible about that topic and then put all of the words in wordle and see which words were most often represented.
www.vozme.com
Turn text into speech. Type text and it reads what you wrote. Creates MP3’s for PowerPoint’s, Photo Story, Movie Maker, etc…Great for non-readers, proof reading and editing a paper, etc..
www.delicious.com
Social bookmarking allows you to bookmark your favorite websites and share them with others.
www.jingproject.com
Jing allows you to snap a picture of your screen or record video. Great for showing people what you are talking about instead of typing it. You can create your own handouts to share with others, put a picture or video clip in a power point or Photo Story, or simply post on your blog.
www.classtools.net
This is a great site for creating free activities, games and diagrams. Check out the “random name picker”. Use it for states and capitals, math problems, vocabulary, to call on students, etc…
www.vocaroo.com
This is a great voice recording service for creating podcasts, emailing audio, or posting audio on the internet.
www.tinypaste.com
Allows you to type and share text with a large group of people by creating a link instead of having to email each person.
www.magic.pen.fizzlebot.com
A very cool interactive higher order thinking game that allows you to draw objects in order to move a red ball across the screen. Great for science and physics
Great site that allows you to record your own music, create background audio for Photo Story, Movie Maker, Power Points, etc…. Even offers an education grant program where each student would be able to have free access. Start writing music today. It’s so simple!!!
www.animoto.com
This is a great site that customizes videos using your pictures and music. They do all the work for you. It’s simple and quick….just upload images, pictures, MP3’s and you have an awesome video in seconds.
www.wordle.net
This site creates ”word clouds” based on the text you type. The more often a word is represented the larger the word will appear in the image. Try giving your students a topic and have them write as many words as possible about that topic and then put all of the words in wordle and see which words were most often represented.
www.vozme.com
Turn text into speech. Type text and it reads what you wrote. Creates MP3’s for PowerPoint’s, Photo Story, Movie Maker, etc…Great for non-readers, proof reading and editing a paper, etc..
www.delicious.com
Social bookmarking allows you to bookmark your favorite websites and share them with others.
www.jingproject.com
Jing allows you to snap a picture of your screen or record video. Great for showing people what you are talking about instead of typing it. You can create your own handouts to share with others, put a picture or video clip in a power point or Photo Story, or simply post on your blog.
www.classtools.net
This is a great site for creating free activities, games and diagrams. Check out the “random name picker”. Use it for states and capitals, math problems, vocabulary, to call on students, etc…
www.vocaroo.com
This is a great voice recording service for creating podcasts, emailing audio, or posting audio on the internet.
www.tinypaste.com
Allows you to type and share text with a large group of people by creating a link instead of having to email each person.
www.magic.pen.fizzlebot.com
A very cool interactive higher order thinking game that allows you to draw objects in order to move a red ball across the screen. Great for science and physics
Saturday, February 7, 2009
TCEA 2009 - Austin, TX
Wow! What a great conference! This was my first time to attend TCEA. I'm so glad that I was able to be involved in such a great event. It's so awesome to see so many people involved with technology and trying to impact students, teachers, schools, and districts in a variety of ways. I thought that the sessions were great. I did attend a few that I thought would be really good but had to leave to find a different one that would better fit my needs. But overall, I was able to walk away with some great things from each session. I'm going to post some of my favorite links and ideas. Please feel free to share yours as well.
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