Welcome!

Technology is not a fad, it is not going away. More information is being created on a daily basis than we can possibly digest. We need to start with small morsels of information and move on to bigger ones, but the important THING is that we start. The more we put off the process of learning something new, the harder it is going to be to learn it.

A few years ago technology training focused on the Microsoft products like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Now, we’ve moved on to other topics such as blogs, wiki’s, Moodle and RSS feeds. What’s it going to be like in two or three years when blogs, wiki’s and Moodle have gone by the wayside for other tools?

We have to adjust how we work and incorporate 21st Century tools into our daily lives. How are you going to make time for your blog? What social networks will you belong to? How are you going to construct your Personal Learning Network to fit your needs?

In this course participants will learn how to use and teach with Web 2.0 technologies. The focus is on implementing the use of Web 2.0 tools within any age or curriculum level without diluting the content and keeping students energized to learn. Participants will use and create lessons organized around the efficient use of twenty-one different technologies. Strategies for classroom management while using technology, integrating technology to enhance curriculum, and assessing student technology work will be covered

This course was inspired by 23 Things from WRESA

Thing 1- Tools of the Trade

Desktops and laptops and iPods...Oh my!

Evolution of Technology in Teaching
Data Projector Anatomy, Care and Feeding
Video Demo of the Epson 83+
Ideas for Projector Use
100 Ideas for Data Projectors and Document Cameras
What is a Document Camera?
How can I use a Web camera if I can't afford a Document Camera?
Extending your desktop with a data projector
Sending a text message to a cell phone from your email




Assignment:
1. Create a Google account here
2. Add a comment to this post describing WHERE you are going to set up your data projector. Will it be on your desk, in the middle of your classroom? Do you have access to a document camera? Then describe HOW you plan on using it so we can share our ideas.
Bonus points:
What non-traditional computer would you like to implement in your classroom and how would you plan to use it?

Thing 2 - Web 2.0

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Web 2.0 is a term describing the trend in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to enhance creativity, information sharing, and, most notably, collaboration among users. These concepts have led to the development and evolution of web-based communities and hosted services, such as social-networking sites, wikis, blogs, and folksonomies.




Assignments:
READ: "A Day in the Life of Web 2.0" by David Warlick. Add a comment to relate how the environment he describes makes you feel.

WATCH: Pay Attention! Comment on your thoughts.


PLAN: Explore these Web 2.0 Tools
Click on the down arrow next to Select tag then click on a Tag (category) that interest you. From the services that appear, select ONE. Research that site for 3 minutes. Add a comment here to describe it and state whether it could be useful to you in your classroom or not?

Thing 3- Blogs

Examples of Blogs in Education

James Logan Courier - high school student journalism
Teaching Learners with Mutiple Special Needs - resources
librarian.net - putting the rarin back in librarian...
Bud the Teacher - about teaching
Hobo Teacher - comical, about teaching
G-Town Talks - from an assistant principal
List of blogs related to education in various categories

Blogs in Plain English


Assignment:

1. Create your own blog at Blogger.com
Videos:
Setting up an account
Google Blogger Settings - Part 1 of 3
Google Blogger Settings - Part 2 of 3
Google Blogger Settings - Part 3 of 3

2. Create your own Blogger (Google Account) with your @sturgisps.org email address
3. Name your Blog something besides 21 Things
4. Email me your blogs URL. I will create a link on this site to everyone's blog
5. Create your first post introducing yourself in a professional manner.
6. Create a second post describing how you could use blogs in your classroom.
6. Add a comment on at least two other people's second posts.

Thing 4- RSS Feed Readers

RSS Feed Readers:
Google Reader
Bloglines
NetVibes-step by step directions in Atomic Learning.
Pageflakes

Embedded RSS in your Browser
Internet Explorer 7.0
Mozilla Firefox


RSS in Plain English


Assignments:
1. In Google Reader, subscribe to this Blog and any other of your classmates blogs.
2. In Google Reader, subscribe to one newspaper. (i.e. the Sturgis Journal or Chicago Tribune)
3. Comment here the Pro's and Con's of an RSS Feed Reader

Thing 5 - Educational Bookmarking/Networking

Educational or Social Bookmarking

OK-so it's really called social bookmarking but that might sound a little TOO FUN so we added Educational. Social Bookmarking sites like Delicious and Diigo bring some of the social aspects of Web 2.0 into keeping your bookmarks online (where you can access them anywhere you have Internet). You can network with others and find accounts (people) that save resources that you can find helpful. Why would you ever want to start looking for K-2 math resources when someone has already done it and marked the best ones? For the social bookmarking assignment, you will create a delicious account and bookmark 5 of your favorite resources that you use or could use in your classroom and tag them Thing5. You will also add me to your network. My username/account is gloveles. To get started, view the video below. If you need further help, there are plenty of resources on Delicious to get you started. If you get stuck, don't be afraid to Google, "Getting started with Delicious". You'll get YouTube videos and all kinds of tutorials!


Assignment Part 1:
1. Create a Delicious account, bookmark 5 sites and tag them Thing5 (notice no space between the g and the 5). Add gloveles to your network. Don't be afraid to search in Delicious to find other accounts that you may want to be a fan of or network with folks. Tell me in your blog what you like about Delicious, what you don't like, and how you think this site could be used in education.




Social Networking

The other part of Thing 5 is Social Networking. This is how Middle School and High School kids live and breathe (well, some of them) so it's very important for educators to see why they love it so much. I currently belong to 7 Social networks. I do not recommend this for everyone! Go to Ning and take a quick look at Popular Networks. Then type in a keyword to search for a network (maybe education would work). I am a member of MaculSpace, Moodle Meet, NECC 2008, Classroom 2.0, Ning in Education, Tech Camp for Educators, and Kalamazoo Area Schools Tech Support.

Assignment Part 2: 1)View the video below. 2)Go to Ning and take a quick look at Popular Networks. Join MaculSpace and another network of choice. Once you join, look around, view some discussion forums, see if any groups interest you and interact! 3)Tell me in the comments area what 'other' network you joined. 4)Add another blog entry to discuss Social Networking and whether you see a potential impact on education or your classroom.

Thing 6 - Wiki's

Wiki's

A wiki is a page or collection of Web pages designed to enable anyone who accesses it to contribute or modify content, using a simplified markup language.[1][2] Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites and to power community websites. The collaborative encyclopedia Wikipedia is one of the best-known wikis.[2] Wikis are used in business to provide intranets and Knowledge Management systems. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki)

WATCH THIS

I don't have a particular wiki site that I use or endorse. The first step is to understand and see the power and use of an effective wiki. I have a list of several that I have found very helpful in my job.

Marilyn Western

REMC Toolkit

REMC 11

Wiki's in Education

WetPaint Educ Wiki

Wes Fryer

MISD Wiki Training

Deadliest Catch

Assignment:

1) Blog about Wikis in education and copy your post in the comments section. Be sure to include how you might use one either as an individual or as a group project.

2) You will be broken down into small groups to create a wiki that can benefit your classrooms. The wiki can be by grade level, building, curriculum area, whatever.... If you already can see the potential and want to work alone, that's fine too.

Thing 7 - Video Conferencing with Skype

Skype is a widley used Free software that allows you to talk like you do on a phone conversation, have a video conference in real time from computer to computer, Instant Message and more. As I write this there are 12,672,641 people online in Skye.

Skype has some services for a fee as well such as being able to call Land Lines or cell phones from your computer. This service is available in a pay as you go model or as a fee of $2.95/month for unlimited calls to the US and Canada.

Assignment:

Part 1:

1. Download Skype to your computer.
2. Set up a Skype Account. My Skype name at work is jkosman1005 (My user name plus my phone extension) You may want to have another Skype account for your personal calls.
   
3. Add your Skype name to your Blog in your Settings.
4. Download the Pamela Call recorder from Tools/Do More
   
5. Call and record another person in this class to have a voice conversation.
6. Upload your recorded call to the J drive:/21 Things folder.
   

Part 2:

1. Open Skype from an EEEPC computer and log in to Skype
   
2. Call a friend in this class and share video with them through Skype.

Part 3:

1. Create a Conference Voice Call with at least 3 people

Part 4:

1. Comment on your Blog and here what things you liked and disliked about Skype and how you might use it in your classroom.
   

Thing 8 - Google Docs

Watch these videos.


Google Doc's in Plain English






Using Google Docs without a Gmail address


Assignment:

1. Open Google Docs
2. Open the Document called 21 Things and follow the directions.
3. Comment on your Blog and here what things you liked and disliked about Google Docs and how you might use it in your classroom.
   

Thing 10 - Google Presentations

Log in to Atomic Learning to view Google Presenetation Videos.

http://movies.atomiclearning.com/k12/google_present

Assignment:

1. Get in a group of 3 or 4 people from this class and create a Google presentation with at least 5 slides on one of these topics or a topic of your choosing.
   
   

• Technology Decrease Student Attention Span
• Technology- the Cure All for ADD
• Technology is the Devil
  
  

2. Share your presentation with Gina and Janene
3. Present your topic to the group using Google Presentations.
4. Comment on your Blog and here what things you liked and disliked about Google Presentations and how you might use it in your classroom.

Thing 9 - Google Spreadsheets

Creating a Form in Google Spreadsheets


Sample form


Assignment:

1. Fill in the information on the Shared Spreadsheet called 21 Things Spreadsheet
2. Create your own Google Spreadsheet to collect some sort of data from your classmates
3. Turn it into a form
4. Embed it in your Blog
5. Complete the form on everyone's blog.
6. Comment on your Blog and here what things you liked and disliked about Google Spreadsheets and how you might use it in your classroom.

Thing 11 - Google Sites

Quick tutorial on Google Sites


Assignment: Use your Google Apps User name for SPS Student Email for Google Sites.

1. Create a Site that uses 3 of the 5 types of pages. One page must be a File Cabinet.
2. Comment on your Blog and here what things you liked and disliked about Google Sites and how you might use it in your classroom.

Thing 12 - Google Start Page

Assignment:

1. Add a gadget for Google Docs and two other gadgets to your start page
2. Create at least two tabs
3. Apply a Template to your start page
4. Comment on your Blog and here what things you liked and disliked about Google Start Page and how you might use it in your classroom.

Thing 13 - Google Email with Instant Messaging

Link to Google Email video

Assignment:

Comment on your Blog and here what things you liked and disliked about Google Apps Email, Instant Messaging and the Calendar and how you might use it in your classroom.

Thing 14 - Google Notebook

Assignment:

1. Install Google Notebook
2. Create a notebook and gather at least 5 references on a topic that you are interested in. Share it with Gina and Janene.
3. Comment on your Blog and here what things you liked and disliked about Google Notebook and how you might use it in your classroom.

Thing 15 - Google Earth

Google Earth

If you don't have Google Earth downloaded on your computer, go to the J: drive, look for the folder called Software to download (or something close to that). Then look for the folder that has Google downloads. In this folder, you will see an icon for Google Earth download.

Tutorials
Atomic Learning tutorials

Here are some resources:

Google Earth Lessons
Google Earth Lessons - Univ of Wisconsin
Google Earth Science Lessons

Assignment: Create 4 placemarks in Google Earth that correlate to a lesson or unit that you teach.

Thing 16 - Geocaching

Geocaching

What is geocaching?

Getting started: http://lovinfifth.com/gps/index.html

One of my favorite podcasts/vodcasts is Icenrye Geocaching Videozine.

To get started, you need a login to geocaching.com. There is also a Michigan contingent of geocachers at MIGO.

Assignment:

1)Get a geocaching login.

2)Find caches in the Sturgis area and be sure to include at least 2 in your blog.

3)Participate in the geocaching activity.

4) Add an entry to your blog about Thing 16 - geocaching

Thing 17 - Online sharing of Photo's and Images

Online Photo Sharing in Plain English


The three online sites mentioned in the video are here: Flickr (connected to Yahoo! accounts), Webshots, and PhotoBucket
Please don't think that these are the only ones available or the best for your needs! I have a Flicker Pro account. The Pro Account has a pricetag of $25 a year. I used the free version until just htis past summer. Now I have the Pro version so that I can upload many more photos in my spare time (yeah right!). I kow that Picasa (free download and phot editor) has Albums and has now added a Web version to store photos online. Another reason I have photos online is to make it easier to share photos. I used to take pictures and then send them to family members as attachments. My parents have dial-up and it would take forever for some of them to download. By sending them to my Flickr account, there is no downloading and they get to see the picture much faster and easier.

If time allows, I will be sharing one of my favorite online photo editing sites called Picnik and one of my favorite image creators called Image Chef. If you have a favorite photo editing or storing site, please share with all of us in the comments section of this post.

Assignment: 1.)Find at least one difference between two of the Photo-sharing sites. Get an account at one (Flickr prefered if you don't have an account). Upload at least 2 photos and then share them with the course instructors.
2.)Blog about how you might use a photo sharing site in your classroom or for a lesson.

Thing 18 - Online Video and Unitedstreaming

Online Video Streaming with Discovery Education Streaming

One of the most widely used and under-utilized tools to integrate technology into the classroom is video stremaing. The process is fairly easy and your district pays for you to have an account. It's also pretty easy to find content related to your curriculum. Today you will be visiting Discovery Education Streaming (formerly called Unitedstreaming). You wil also learn about how easy it is to connect with other educators by becoming part of the Discovery Educator Network. You can even get your students accounts! Just ask!

Assignment: 1.)Login to Discovery Streaming and begin searching for video segments that fit your curriculum. If you don't have a login, then ask Gina for the correct Passcode for your building. 2.) Explore the Professional Development section of Discovery Streaming. Is there a webinar of interest? Maybe a handout in the Trainer's Toolkit? 3.) Mark 3 video segments under My Content so that you can go back to find them easier at another time. 4.) Blog about what you learned or found.

Thing 19 - Digital Storytelling

Digital Storytelling

There are numerous ways to implement Digital Storytelling into your classroom. A lot of it depends on your resources and level of comfort with the resources. We will explore PhotoStory and VoiceThread for digital storytelling. One is a free download if you are running at least Windows XP and the other is completely web-based. Gather some ideas that will excite your students and begin to create your own Digital Story!


Assignment: 1.) Create a digital story that includes at least 5 pictures. Share your story with the class. 2.) Brainstorm the steps you will need to take to implement this into your classroom. 3.) Explain your brainstorming in your blog.

Thing 20 - Podcasting

Podcasting In Plain English


Assignment:
1. Create your own podcast by using Audacity to record your voice. Upload it to your school website or another Podcasting site like Podomatic.

2. Subscribe to 2 of your classmates Podcasts.

In the comments tell us why you like/dislike podcasts and also list the url of your podcast and whose podcsts you subscribed to.

Thing 21 - Moodle

Moodle in the Classroom Demo




Assignment:
Add these modules to your Moodle.
Assignment
Forum
Journal
Add a document as a resource
Add a link to a website as a resource.

Course Review

This will not be graded.
Please leave a comment on what you liked most about the class; what we could have done better and anything else that might help us improve on this class. We have thick skin so don't be afraid to point out the weaknesses. That's where we learn most.

Please feel free to email us your comments if you would rather they be kept private.