The following is an excerpt from an eSchool News Special Report on Small-Group Collaboration.
Educators are increasingly seeing the value of having students collaborate in small groups on classroom projects—and whether such projects involve producing a written or multimedia presentation, solving a math problem, or creating a video, technology can facilitate the group process.
With businesses seeking employees able to work in teams and collaborate on projects, more educators are looking for ways to incorporate these skills into the learning process.
"Everyone needs to be able to collaborate in a group, because that’s how things are done in the real world. No one sits alone and works by themselves any more," said Stan Silverman, director of technology-based learning systems at the New York Institute of Technology.
Some educators believe students gain a deeper understanding when they participate in group projects.
Lance Sutton, a teacher at Westview Elementary School in Goose Creek, S.C., said: "When a teacher lectures to them, they forget; when you have kids help design something, they will remember for a lifetime."
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards call for students to "use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others."
Collaborative projects not only help teach content, but also can help students develop 21st-century skills such as communication, time management, teamwork, and facilitation. With this approach, the teacher is seen less like an evaluator and more as a coach, facilitator, and mentor. Teachers today need to know how to mix and match those different roles to maximize learning.
Communication and collaboration are among the key skills necessary for succeeding in school and life, as identified by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, along with such skills as critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, flexibility, and media literacy.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
What is WatchKnow?
Imagine hundreds of thousands of great short videos, and other media, explaining every topic taught to school kids. Imagine them rated and sorted into a giant Directory, making them simple to find. WatchKnow--as in, "You watch, you know"--is a non-profit online community devoted to this goal.
WatchKnow is another source to find video's. It has a nice section on Computers and Technology
This category concerns computers, the use of computer applications, computer programming, the Internet, and other computer-related topics taught in schools. It also concerns computer peripherals and the introduction to the use of such technology as digital cameras and video cameras. Please remember that this is meant to be a resource for school students and should not have information beyond what is actually taught or studied at that level. Also note that the history of technology, invention, and innovation belongs under History, not here.
There are 4 videos in this category and 226 videos in 47 subcategories.
www.watchknow.org
WatchKnow is another source to find video's. It has a nice section on Computers and Technology
This category concerns computers, the use of computer applications, computer programming, the Internet, and other computer-related topics taught in schools. It also concerns computer peripherals and the introduction to the use of such technology as digital cameras and video cameras. Please remember that this is meant to be a resource for school students and should not have information beyond what is actually taught or studied at that level. Also note that the history of technology, invention, and innovation belongs under History, not here.
There are 4 videos in this category and 226 videos in 47 subcategories.
www.watchknow.org
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
CITRIX Student Instructions
Students can access information stored on their (H) or home drives from anywhere they have an internet connection.
You can find a link to the instructions below.
CITRIX INSTRUCTIONS
You can find a link to the instructions below.
CITRIX INSTRUCTIONS
Monday, November 23, 2009
THOUGHTS ON HOW TO MAKE TECHNOLOGY NOT SO OVERWHELMING
I just finished reading and reflecting on an article (What Teachers Need to know about Technology) by a man named Yong Zhao and I took away some very valuable lessons on how not to make the use of technology not seem so overwhelming.
First of all he summarized it quite eloquently when he said that teachers need to “adapt technology instead of adopting it.” We need to be in control of the technology and not let the technology control us. The more depth of understanding we have the better we can use it effectively in our classrooms. The goal is not to learn and memorize the usage of tons of technology but to focus on a few types of technology that are applicable to the teaching you are already doing and that solve a problem for you, not create a new one. Technology should really be absorbed into what you are teaching not be the focus or distract from what you are doing.
Not all problems can be solved by using technology and one of our goals as educators is to identify which problems can be solved by using technology, what technology can be helpful, and how to use the technology in an efficient way to help solve the problem at hand. The more you apply technology into your every day teaching and the more training you receive in different areas that are applicable to the subject areas you teach, the more you will be able to manipulate the technology to meet your needs and not the other way around.
The more I thought about it I began to realize that the goal is not to know every trick in the book when it comes to technology. Let’s face it that would be impossible. But instead to know what tricks are the most helpful to you and your students based on what you teach and how you teach. Knowing a few technology tools inside and out and how they enhance what you are teaching is more valuable than having tons of technology at your fingertips that you don’t use appropriately.
I know that teaching technology in isolation is not always the best use of time. Let’s face it you have so many things to cover in a year that it can make your head spin! But, how many times have you skipped using the word processor with your students during writing because the slow peck, peck, peck on the computer keys really slows them down and actually hinders the flow of the writing process. Have you ever wanted groups to present something in Power Point but found that teaching the technology itself took away from what you wanted your students to focus on?
Whatever happened to typing class or keyboarding skills? I think that there is a time and place for the teaching of technology in isolation. Of course, the question is, where do we find the time? Well, that question is a tricky one. I don’t have all the answers but it did get the brain thinking about some things. It really does make you look at technology a little differently and hopefully not feel so overwhelmed by it!
First of all he summarized it quite eloquently when he said that teachers need to “adapt technology instead of adopting it.” We need to be in control of the technology and not let the technology control us. The more depth of understanding we have the better we can use it effectively in our classrooms. The goal is not to learn and memorize the usage of tons of technology but to focus on a few types of technology that are applicable to the teaching you are already doing and that solve a problem for you, not create a new one. Technology should really be absorbed into what you are teaching not be the focus or distract from what you are doing.
Not all problems can be solved by using technology and one of our goals as educators is to identify which problems can be solved by using technology, what technology can be helpful, and how to use the technology in an efficient way to help solve the problem at hand. The more you apply technology into your every day teaching and the more training you receive in different areas that are applicable to the subject areas you teach, the more you will be able to manipulate the technology to meet your needs and not the other way around.
The more I thought about it I began to realize that the goal is not to know every trick in the book when it comes to technology. Let’s face it that would be impossible. But instead to know what tricks are the most helpful to you and your students based on what you teach and how you teach. Knowing a few technology tools inside and out and how they enhance what you are teaching is more valuable than having tons of technology at your fingertips that you don’t use appropriately.
I know that teaching technology in isolation is not always the best use of time. Let’s face it you have so many things to cover in a year that it can make your head spin! But, how many times have you skipped using the word processor with your students during writing because the slow peck, peck, peck on the computer keys really slows them down and actually hinders the flow of the writing process. Have you ever wanted groups to present something in Power Point but found that teaching the technology itself took away from what you wanted your students to focus on?
Whatever happened to typing class or keyboarding skills? I think that there is a time and place for the teaching of technology in isolation. Of course, the question is, where do we find the time? Well, that question is a tricky one. I don’t have all the answers but it did get the brain thinking about some things. It really does make you look at technology a little differently and hopefully not feel so overwhelmed by it!
Keeping Flash Drives Secure
Keeping Flash Drives Secure
My USB flash drives (or thumb drives, flash drives or whatever you may call them!) are really handy, but also really easy to misplace. Is there a way to protect the files if (or when) I lose it?
The good news about USB drives is that you can inexpensively store many gigabytes of files in a small, convenient device; the bad news is you can easily lose that small, convenient device. If you are using your drive for storing any kind of information you don’t want shared all across the world , you need to consider your security options.
If you the files you are keeping on the drive are Microsoft Office files, you can password protect those files so they can only be opened by you or someone else that knows the password. In Office 2007, the Tools button is in the lower left-hand corner of the Save window, and you’ll need to select General Options to enter your desired password.
Now every time the document is opened, it will require entering the password. You need to write down this password – you cannot recover it if you forget it! (I speak from personal experience on this.)
While this works for Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files, it is kind of cumbersome if you have a lot of documents, and you may be storing other kinds of files.
If you plan ahead, you can purchase USB drives that have password security built in (or even fingerpint scanners!). If you search online vendors with the term “secure usb drive,” you will find quite a few options that cost only a few dollars more than a standard drive. (Most seem to be for Windows only, so this may not be a solution for Mac users.)
My USB flash drives (or thumb drives, flash drives or whatever you may call them!) are really handy, but also really easy to misplace. Is there a way to protect the files if (or when) I lose it?
The good news about USB drives is that you can inexpensively store many gigabytes of files in a small, convenient device; the bad news is you can easily lose that small, convenient device. If you are using your drive for storing any kind of information you don’t want shared all across the world , you need to consider your security options.
If you the files you are keeping on the drive are Microsoft Office files, you can password protect those files so they can only be opened by you or someone else that knows the password. In Office 2007, the Tools button is in the lower left-hand corner of the Save window, and you’ll need to select General Options to enter your desired password.
Now every time the document is opened, it will require entering the password. You need to write down this password – you cannot recover it if you forget it! (I speak from personal experience on this.)
While this works for Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files, it is kind of cumbersome if you have a lot of documents, and you may be storing other kinds of files.
If you plan ahead, you can purchase USB drives that have password security built in (or even fingerpint scanners!). If you search online vendors with the term “secure usb drive,” you will find quite a few options that cost only a few dollars more than a standard drive. (Most seem to be for Windows only, so this may not be a solution for Mac users.)
Monday, October 19, 2009
Insert a Picture/Clip Art in Office 2007
Pictures and clip art can be inserted or copied into a document from many different sources, including downloaded from a clip art Web site provider, copied from a Web page, or inserted from a file where you save pictures.
Insert a picture from a file
1. Click where you want to insert the picture.
2. On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click Picture.
3. Locate the picture that you want to insert.
4. Double-click the picture that you want to insert.
Insert clip art
1. On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click Clip Art.
2. In the Clip Art task pane, in the Search for text box, type a word or phrase that describes the clip art that you want, or type in all or some of the file name of the clip art.
3. To narrow your search, do one or both of the following:
* To limit the search results to a specific collection of clip art, in the Search in box, click the arrow and select the collection you want to search.
* To limit the search results to clip art, click the arrow in the Results should be box and select the check box next to Clip Art.
* In the Clip Art task pane, you can also search for photographs, movies, and sounds. To include any of those media types, select the check boxes next to them.
4. Click Go.
5. In the list of results, click the clip art to insert it.
Insert a picture from a file
1. Click where you want to insert the picture.
2. On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click Picture.
3. Locate the picture that you want to insert.
4. Double-click the picture that you want to insert.
Insert clip art
1. On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click Clip Art.
2. In the Clip Art task pane, in the Search for text box, type a word or phrase that describes the clip art that you want, or type in all or some of the file name of the clip art.
3. To narrow your search, do one or both of the following:
* To limit the search results to a specific collection of clip art, in the Search in box, click the arrow and select the collection you want to search.
* To limit the search results to clip art, click the arrow in the Results should be box and select the check box next to Clip Art.
* In the Clip Art task pane, you can also search for photographs, movies, and sounds. To include any of those media types, select the check boxes next to them.
4. Click Go.
5. In the list of results, click the clip art to insert it.
10 Most Dangerous Things Users Do Online
The Staff of Dark Reading
The following is our list of "The Ten Most Dangerous Things Users Do Online," along with some explanation of some the risks — and solutions — associated with each. This list was generated directly from input they received from IT people.
Stick this up on your class bulletin board. If it keeps one user from making a big mistake, then we’ll have done our job.
1. Clicking on email attachments from unknown senders
2. Installing unauthorized applications
3. Turning off or disabling automated security tools
4. Opening HTML or plain-text messages from unknown senders
5. Surfing gambling, porn, or other legally-risky sites
6. Giving out passwords
Despite years of IT warnings to the contrary, about one in three people still write down their computer passwords somewhere near the machine, either on a piece of paper or in a text file on a PC.
7. Random surfing of unknown, untrusted Websites
8. Attaching to an unknown, untrustworthy WiFi network
There's nothing more soothing than a good cup of java and a free WiFi connection at your local coffee shop. But watch that guy at the booth next door — he may be hacking into your laptop over that very same WiFi link.
The only way to ensure that you won't get hacked via WiFi is to disable the wireless card altogether while they work from public places.
9. Filling out Web scripts, forms, or registration pages
" Users are more likely to get hacked if they use the same username and password for most every site they visit — a habit that puts their personal data in jeopardy.
10. Participating in chat rooms or social networking sites
"You should assume that anything you post to a social networking site is public."
The following is our list of "The Ten Most Dangerous Things Users Do Online," along with some explanation of some the risks — and solutions — associated with each. This list was generated directly from input they received from IT people.
Stick this up on your class bulletin board. If it keeps one user from making a big mistake, then we’ll have done our job.
1. Clicking on email attachments from unknown senders
2. Installing unauthorized applications
3. Turning off or disabling automated security tools
4. Opening HTML or plain-text messages from unknown senders
5. Surfing gambling, porn, or other legally-risky sites
6. Giving out passwords
Despite years of IT warnings to the contrary, about one in three people still write down their computer passwords somewhere near the machine, either on a piece of paper or in a text file on a PC.
7. Random surfing of unknown, untrusted Websites
8. Attaching to an unknown, untrustworthy WiFi network
There's nothing more soothing than a good cup of java and a free WiFi connection at your local coffee shop. But watch that guy at the booth next door — he may be hacking into your laptop over that very same WiFi link.
The only way to ensure that you won't get hacked via WiFi is to disable the wireless card altogether while they work from public places.
9. Filling out Web scripts, forms, or registration pages
" Users are more likely to get hacked if they use the same username and password for most every site they visit — a habit that puts their personal data in jeopardy.
10. Participating in chat rooms or social networking sites
"You should assume that anything you post to a social networking site is public."
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