Bloom's Digital Taxonomy

Teacher's were asked to read the article:  Use any Web 2.0 Tool an any level of Bloom's Taxonomy.
They then explored a Bloom's DIGITAL Taxonomy Pyramid with a variety of clickable Web 2.0 Tools.  Below are some notes that teachers jotted down using the Wallwisher web site.  Take a look.

Below are a couple web sites related to Open Education Resources where you can download materials for FREE and use for FREE on your own or with/by students related to:

Textbooks
Training Materials
Activities & Labs
Full Course
to name a few.

All subject areas, grade levels, and media formats are covered along with relationships to the Common Core, Pre-College Courses, Open Textbooks, Classroom Management, and Career and Technical Education.

This would provide those online opportunities for students that need MORE at any level of learning.

Listed are a couple examples.
http://www.ck12.org/flexbook/book/6204
http://www.jamesbrennan.org/algebra/
http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/index.html
http://constitutioncenter.org/lincoln/
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/10/30/a-tale-of-two-wars/
http://www.trumanlibrary.org/1948.htm

Thanks for taking a look, Brandon.

http://www.oercommons.org/
http://oerconsortium.org/

BCLUW 1:1 Visit

I visited BCLUW in Conrad on Thursday, March 29 to see how year 3 of having a 1:1 laptop program was going and how it compared to our year 2 of having a 1:1 laptop program.  It was awesome to see how the teachers are incorporating technology into their curriculum with their students learning and it was awesome to see that we are progressing at the right pace and on the right track to integrate technology into the student's curriculum and to make the teachers feel technology as just a tool and nothing more.  It was good to hear that phrased at the meeting that:

Technology is just a tool
Technology is an enhancement not a crutch
Good teachers are still going to be good teachers, with or without, technology

Of course we could always be doing more, doing it differently but so could everything else, to be done more to be done differently.

We are getting there (with technology)

Final agenda for the H-D District Tech Committee - March, 8, 2012

Well our first try, back on February 23, for the H-D District Tech Committee meeting did not work out due to weather.  So our second try for the H-D District Tech Committee meeting is going to take place on Thursday, March 8, 2012.  Below is the final timeline for the committee members and presenters.  Should be a good day.

12:30-1:05 - Lunch Provided
12:50-1:05 - Introductions (while we eat lunch)
1:05-1:35 - Technology Activity
1:35-1:45 - Tech Presenter - 6th Math & Reading/7th Math & Science
1:45-1:45 - Tech Department Information
1:55-2:05 - Tech Presenter - 1st Grade
2:05-2:10 - H-D Technology Survey/Research Information
2:10-2:15 - Break
2:15-2:35 - Tech Presenter - 4th-8th Grade Technology
2:35-2:40 - Times are Changing Video
2:40-2:50 - Tech Presenter - 4yr old Preschool
2:50-3:00 - Development of School Fusion page requirements; how are we doing?
3:00-3:10 - Tech Presenter - Family & Consumer Science
3:10-3:20 - Tech Presenter - 5th Grade
3:20-3:45 - Conclusion/Thoughts

H-D District Tech Committee Meeting

The Hampton-Dumont District Tech Committee Meeting is just around the corner with ideas flowing galore and presenters from the various H-D schools getting ideas ready to showcase to the Tech Committee.  This year we are very interested in seeing how teachers throughout all of the H-D schools are integrating technology into their curriculum, using technology to benefit them as educators, and their students using technology to benefit them as learners.  Listed below is a tentative agenda on the information we are wanting to showcase and have showcased to members and presenters at the H-D District Tech Committee.

12:30-1:15 - Lunch Provided
1:00-1:15 - Introductions (while we eat lunch)
1:15-1:45 - Technology Activity/Break
1:45-1:55 - Tech Presenter
1:55-2:05 - Tech Department Information
2:05-2:15 - Tech Presenter
2:15-2:20 - H-D Technology Survey/Research Information
2:20-2:40 - Tech Presenter
2:40-2:45 - Shift Happens Video/Break
2:45-2:55 - Tech Presenter
2:55-3:05 - SchoolFusion
3:05-3:15 - Tech Presenter
3:15-3:25 - Tech Presenter
3:25-3:30 - Conclusion/Thoughts

Findings at the AEA 267 InfoTech Advisory Board Meeting

I learned about TrueFlix (very similar to BookFlix but for 3rd-5th graders) yesterday at an AEA 267 meeting.  I have played around with it a little bit, but it is affiliated with AEA267 and uses the same AEA267 Username and Password assigned to each building.  It is not on the www.iowaaeaonline.orgweb site as not all AEAs in the state subscribe to it yet.  Take a look around, see if it would work for you, a couple students or all your students and if you think it might be beneficial add as a link to your SchoolFusion page(s).

I also learned about neibors.lib.overdrive.com for your AudioBook and/or eBook needs through the public libraries.  When you get to the web site, click on the Quick Reference Guide on the left hand side for more information, but essentially if you have a public library card you have access to download free audiobooks to be played on your computer or mp3 devices and access to download free ebooks for your ebook devices such as Kindle, Nook, iPad and more.

Lastly I learned that AEA267 will be offering, hopefully before May, a new online print center so we are able to order larger prints and more graphical prints over the internet, just like you would order something online through Amazon.com.  You can place your order, upload your order, track your order and create an order to be printed and then shipped to you instead of having to fill out a form each time and email it along with your attachments.  

Also Iowa AEA PD Online is looking for more online instructors to teach classes online to other teaching professionals needing certification or graduate credit hours.  If you feel this is something you are interested in check out the Iowa AEA PD online link above.

Findings at the AEA 267 Technology Integrationist Meeting

Findings at the AEA 267 Technology Integrationist Meeting shows that Hampton-Dumont, compared to other schools, has some technology areas to improve on, but is excelling in many areas of technology that we should feel accomplished about, yet wanting to further achieve more.

Areas to Improve on
Using software, applications, online tools to promote student learning, K-12
Using Google Forms for formative and summative assessments including Semester Tests to try and make testing a more paperless environment
Exploring the possibility of iPads
1:1 Laptop Classroom Management
Returning students documents paperlessly (Google Docs Collections is a possibility)

Areas we are Excelling
Teachers use of technology through Tech PDs
Teachers showcasing their use of technology through Tech PDs
Uses of Bulldog Byte in classrooms and outside of classrooms
Using the 1:1 Laptops
Turning in student documents through SchoolFusion

Technology Instructional Rounds

Starting next week I am going to make some more Technology Instructional rounds, as the 2nd semester is beginning at the HS and MS on Monday.  I am hoping to get into most of the classrooms for 10-12 minutes to gain a better idea of what the students are learning, what the teachers are teaching, and how technology can better enhance/differentiate the learning and teaching in the classrooms to provide a well-rounded education for all participants.

My hope is to gather a least 1 piece of information from each class to be able to build upon and look into to better provide technology ideas to the teachers and students.

We will see what happens and what I can gain from listening to the teachers, watching the students and seeing what items on their walls will better help me understand their curriculum.

3 Technology Resolutions for 2012

A few things to try out with Technology for the 2012 year and the rest of the 2011-2012 school year.

Find or be an edtech mentor/friend with another educator at your school.
     You most likely have a mentor/friend that you converse with related to teaching and learning.  Use that same mentor/fried or find another mentor/friend that you feel comfortable using technology with to be a edtech mentor/fried when you need help or support with technology personally and/or with students.

Try Twitter (really!)  www.twitter.com
     I have been user twitter for the past year, without even personally posting a comment, and have gained numerous ideas and thoughts related to technology and a variety of educational topics.
Try searching and following #edtech or #edchat when you setup a Free account.


Join a Professional EdTech Network
     I have recently done this but have not explored it enough.  Very similar to how local Professional Learning Networks (PLNs) might be setup between you and your colleagues, try joining an online Professional EdTech Network to receive emails or notifications with ideas and content related to your interests.  Below are some to look into.
www.iste.org
www.edupln.org 


Thoughts and ideas gathered from: http://www.guide2digitallearning.com/blog_jim_vanides/3_edtech_tips_resolutions_2012

Tech&Learning Web Sites - 2011

Listed below are 2011 web site reviews from Tech & Learning broken down into educational categories.  If you have time to take a look at just 1 that is better than nothing.

iPad Resources
A Catalog of iPad Apps for Teachers and Students » 
Top 10 iPad Tips & Tricks »
iPads, iPod Touches, and iPhones as Assistive Technology in Education »
Back-to-School Apps for Teachers »
Involve, Prepare, Apply, and Develop: iPads in the Classroom »

Video, Clip Art, Images Resources
Top 10 Sites for Images and Clip Art »
Top 10 Alternatives to YouTube » 
Photo Ops: 10 Innovative Ways to Use Visual Media »
Top 10 Sites for Video Editing »

Teacher Resources
Top 100 Sites of 2011 »
Top 10 Sites for Educational Games »
Top 25 Web 2.0 Sites for Education »
Web Tools that Every Educator Should Have in the Bag » 
Top 10 Sites for Educational Resources »
Top 10 Self Help Sites for Technology »
Upgrade your KWL Chart to the 21st Century »


Student Resources
A Math Hater’s Five Fave Math Resources »

Digital Storytelling Tools »

E-textbooks made available offline »

Top 10 Sites for Creating Word Clouds »