Class 4 Tuesday, December 7

First I have something sad to share with all of you. Susan's father passed away in Arizona yesterday. She is there now, but unfortunately she didn't make it in time and he died before she could be with him. I've spoken to her via email and phone and she gave me permission to let you know of her sorrow and she told me that you would be welcome to email her if you would like to. Her email is: sstein1@student.fitchburgstate.edu I know that she'll be in our thoughts and prayers.

I'd like remember and mention Pearl Harbor Day, which is today, and how very grateful we are to anyone among your family and friends who served or is currently serving Our Country. As a young person, I remember that day as our 9/11. It's not so much in our collective minds any more, but that in no way diminishes the sacrifices many of our parents and grandparents made.

Well I've been watching the Weather Channel the past few days, hoping that any snow forecast for the northeast would not affect us. As of now, they're saying (Weather Channel) that we may get a storm this weekend, but on Sunday; not Saturday. Good!

If anything changes, I'll email you or call you. You have my cell if you need to call me. BTW As usual I'll be in the lab as close to 7:00 am on Saturday as I can, but I won't be looking for you till 8:30 am. However you're welcome to come in early if you need to get something done.

Saturday's class will be a work session, followed by a couple of demos as required (i.e. FTP-uploading, etc.), and presentations and evaluations.

Tonight, I'll be showing you some teacher resources and then some portable apps that may help you as you work on your project or in the future. I'll try to do this so you'll be able to access any of the links at your leisure, as usual. I chose to do it this way since the group is small and some of you will not be interested in refraining from your project preparation to view something that wouldn't apply to your particular work. Having a small group and the time to spend with you in that way, is great.

Oh yes, I almost forgot. If you use the blog to track the class tonight, you'll have to remember to refresh your screen after every posting since I'll be adding pieces just as I do in TI.

Let's take a brief look at wikis. Here is Wikipedia's own definition of the term, wiki:

A wiki is a website that allows the easy^[1] creation and editing of any number of interlinked Web pages, using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor, within the browser.^[2][3] Wikis are typically powered by wiki software. Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites, to power community websites, for personal note taking, in corporate intranets, and in knowledge management systems.

Most wikis serve a specific purpose, and off topic material is promptly removed by the user community. Such is the case of the collaborative encyclopedia Wikipedia.^[3] In contrast, open purpose wikis accept all sorts of content without rigid rules as to how the content should be organized.

Ward Cunningham, the developer of the first wiki software, WikiWikiWeb, originally described it as "the simplest online database that could possibly work."^[4] "Wiki" (pronounced [ˈwiki] or [ˈviki]) is a Hawaiian word for "fast".^[5] "Wiki" has been backronymed by some to "What I Know Is".^[6]

and another definition:

from Using Wikis in Education

What is a wiki?

A Wiki can be thought of as a combination of a Web site and a Word document. At its simplest, it can be read just like any other web site, with no access privileges necessary, but its real power lies in the fact that groups can collaboratively work on the content of the site using nothing but a standard web browser. Beyond this ease of editing, the second powerful element of a wiki is its ability to keep track of the history of a document as it is revised. Since users come to one place to edit, the need to keep track of Word files and compile edits is eliminated. Each time a person makes changes to a wiki page, that revision of the content becomes the current version, and an older version is stored. Versions of the document can be compared side-by-side, and edits can be "rolled back" if necessary.

The Wiki is gaining traction in education, as an ideal tool for the increasing amount of collaborative work done by both students and teachers. Students might use a wiki to collaborate on a group report, compile data or share the results of their research, while faculty might use the wiki to collaboratively author the structure and curriculum of a course, and the wiki can then serve as part of each person's course web site (excerpt from my contribution to a Business 2.0 article --Stewart.mader 11:35, 14 Dec 2005 (PST))

Q. How many Wiki people does it take to change a lightbulb?
A. One, but anyone can change it back. -langreiter.com

"The New Writing is online writing: designing web sites, writing weblogs, and creating and managing wikis. New writers are redefining writing online, creating new forms and approaches for new audiences." - English Dept., Bemidji State University

Wikis in Education: Wiki Wiki Teaching-the art of using wikis to teach
http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2005/12/wiki-wiki-teaching-art-of-using-wiki.html

This wiki is dedicated to revealing history regarding women soldiers in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Please be sure to explore to data accessed at the menu sidebar on the left hand side of the hompage. http://victoriaaurorahistoryfairproject.wetpaint.com/

Wiki classroom resources from http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Classroom+Wikis

Here is a list of ideas for what you might like to include on a wiki.

• Course Syllabus
• Graduation Exam and SAT objectives
• Pictures of your classroom - both with and without students (let me show off their learning environment!)
• Handouts - especially for absent students or ones students lose a lot
• Class Notes (use the class scribe system and have them do this, not you!)
• Links and Resource page
• Calendar - classroom calendar, school calendar, etc.
• Parent's Page - notes, letters, pictures, announcements, etc.
• Extended Lessons - webquests, further research
• Import a Blog (go to Help at top of page to learn how)
• Real World ___ (name of your subject) - I'm starting this on mine - have them answer how what they are learning can be used in the real world
• Link to your blog
• A page about you - introduce yourself
• A page of your writing or your own work --pictures, short story, drawing (scan it ), or something you've created

Google's Site for Wiki creation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Sites

Other Wiki Info:

For teachers new to wikis: http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Classroom+Wikis

This school oriented wiki site uses wikis in various ways. When you look it over, please be patient and remember to view the sidebar. http://leecountyschools.wikispaces.com/Teacher+Wikis

Teacher Librarian http://teacherlibrarianwiki.pbworks.com/

Finally-I created a hypothetical wiki for you guys to look over and get the feel of. I named it The Sawdust Bin and it's aimed at technology students and woodworkers. Its initial pages concern tree species and the lumber produced from them. When you go there to visit the site, you should see three species of trees listed; poplar, sourwood, and oak. Only the oak wiki contains no information .

This is an experiment, so be patient!

Since I gave the world all rights imaginable to my wiki, you should be able to enter and modify entries. I'd like you to locate one piece of information about oak; the tree, its lumber, or products made from it. Please try to locate information that the average person would not be aware of-something not commonly known.

If you look at the entries for poplar and sourwood, you'll see information regarding their range of growth, size, preferable soil type, and leaf or flower characteristics. Please look for something along those lines and enter it into the wiki about oak trees. Please type your full name at the end of the entry.

My Wiki Demo

http://sawdust-bin.wikispaces.com/

This is where I went to construct the above wiki should you wish to construct one yoursellf for your classes: Wiki Space for Educators http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers


For future reference only:

A couple of you are exploring programs not of general interest to the group and we'll deal with those, but most of you will be using a Web authoring program called Nvu, a free portable and surprisingly robust application that will allow you to prepare your project for the Web. The second program some of you might use is Gimp, which is a graphics editing program. It's comparable to Paint Shop Pro and I could call it PhotoShop lite.

Nvu can be downloaded at http://www.thesitewizard.com/gettingstarted/kompozer-tutorial-1.shtml

The newest version is called Kompozer, although for our needs it won't matter how it's been merged with Nvu. This tutorial site looks good and covers some of the basic Web protocols that we spoke of last week.

Gimp as a portable application can be downloaded at http://sourceforge.net/projects/portableapps/files/GIMP%20Portable/GIMP%20Portable%202.6.8/GIMPPortable_2.6.8.paf.exe/download

There is a very elementary tutorial at http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Lite_Quickies/ which happens to address some of the basic ways we need to use Gimp-image modification.

Class 3 1/4 Tuesday November 30

Welcome to the office. I’ve called this class number 3 1/4 since it’s one of makeups. Everyone should be here tonight but only half of you will be online for each of the next two makeup sessions. We’ll all meet together for the last makeup.

Some of you may already have ideas about what you’d like to do as a project. If you do and you’d like to ask me for any help, we can spend some time talking about it especially if you’d like me to do any cyberspace legwork for you. You can also try the private chat feature in TI if you’d like.

If none of the above will work, you can call me. I’m currently operating from the east side of Big Hill in Otisfield, on the west shore of Saturday Pond. The connection (though pretty good all day) can be intermittent so I’ve got both my netbook and my laptop up and running. Umhh…we’ll see and we’ll hope. You must be patient with me if it seems like I’m not responding to you as quickly as you’d like; I may be having technical problems or I may be juggling cutting and pasting with Pvt Chats, etc.

I wanted to cover Access. I’ve prepared some sites for you to explore. Since I have no way of knowing the platforms you’ll be here on tonight or the version of Access that you might have (if any) on your computer, I don’t expect you to do any more than go through the lessons that I’ve posted for you on our blog.

We’ll begin with Access. While you’re going through the files, please be thinking about how you might use it as a vehicle for integrating technology into your curriculum. Of course, you may not choose to do so, and that’s fine. I just ask that you keep an open mind an at least entertain the thought.

Access:

At the following site, you'll find a great multi part lesson on constructing a database: http://www.reviseict.co.uk/lessons/access/index.htm. Please plan on spending 10-15 minutes on each part.

Though comprehensive and well written, it would take more time than we will have here to create any examples. I would like you to go through them, but not actually create the examples. If you become intrigued by Access after viewing the cited files, I am willing to go through them with you as you incorporate them into a final project. After perusing the text, try the 10 multiple choice test at the end. It's pretty good, provides an instant grade, and lets you take it again with revised questions.

For potential Access Ninjas only

http://www.databaselessons.com/
The site is loaded with in-depth information and lessons.

Teachers Net at http://teachers.net/lessons/ has an array of lesson plans, some more detailed than others.
When I did a search for database plans ( http://teachers.net/cgi-bin/search.pl?index=index26.swish-e&metaName=Keywords&yes=details&0=start&query=database), I found the following prospect:

Creating a Database Lesson #2582
(Elementary School)
http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/2582.html

As you leave the building, please plan to look over the next few sites which are centered on Copyright and its variant, Creative Commons. Please look them over before next class. BTW Saturday will be a day when we’ll spend a good deal of our time planning, and working on our projects.

Definition and details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_commons

A Quick Primer: http://www.edutopia.org/creative-commons-k-12-education

Tools for Techs:

http://www.wtvi.com/teks/05_06_articles/creative-commons.html

See you on Saturday

Class 2 for real November 20

Ok, Gang,

Here we go-our second week. At the end of the day (excluding our makeup sessions) we'll be half way home.

First, I'd like to have you set up your blogs so that we automatically get updates fed to us in our email in-boxes. We do a little exploring, testing, and analysis of some of the added features of blogs.

Today, I'd like to cover two programs; Excel and Access. Both of them are robust, complex, and very sophisticated. My goal is to show you potential uses of the programs and not to make you MS Office ninjas. Some of you may not "take to them" (I know that I didn't till I had to teach them, and then YES, I learned to hold them in awe.), or may not have occasion to use them because of what you teach. I would like to show you a number of sites that contain excellent tutorials and lessons. In doing my research, I was able to come up with the best ones that used Excel; I wasn't as lucky with Access. I will continue looking this evening and again early in the morning in the lab (remind me to show you Evernote).

Excel:

I'm going to show you a few sites with tutorials that I'd like you to look at. Please give them a quick initial peruse. Some are cursory; while others are not. Look them over and decide which you'd like to go through. Obviously you should judge your selection on your comfort, skill level and reach potential. Please keep in mind that you should do the one in which you'll learn the most without becoming disagreeable-just kidding because there are now disagreeables in our class. My goal was to locate tutorials dealing with both Excel and pie charts. This is going to be a very pleasant experience for everyone and I'll be helping you along the way.

As you go through them however thorough you may choose, please be thinking of possible ways that you might use the programs to create lessons for your students as well as your class project.

Pay attention though to those that create educational games. You may want to do something similar and I'm willing to help you in and out of the class.

Using graphs to investigate candy color distribution

http://www.microsoft.com/education/candy.mspx


Using Excel to create a chart or graph

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/excel_create_chart.htm


Beginning Excel Lesson: Making your first chart

http://oakdome.com/k5/lesson-plans/excel/index.php


Excel Learning Activity: An M&M Chart

http://oakdome.com/k5/lesson-plans/excel/third-excel-lesson.php

Creating an Interactive Game in Excel

http://pjnicholson.com/excel_game/jigsawgame.html


Access:

Please look these over. Your choice to complete any of the tutorials in their entirety is optional. Access is a program we could all spend 3 courses learning most of its potential. Pay attention though to those that create educational games. You may want to do something similar and I'm willing to help you in and out of the class.

Using a Database Application in the Classroom: Reflection by Julia Smith, Classroom Teacher

http://tiger.towson.edu/~jsmith40/301/database.htm

A Quick Microsoft Access Tutorial

http://www.cwnresearch.com/resources/databases/access/tutorials/access2000/Access2000Tutorial.html


Microsoft Lessons

http://www.reviseict.co.uk/lessons/access/index.htm

Discovery's Puzzlemaker

http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/CrissCrossSetupForm.asp



Creating a Presidents Database (This is a great one, but has a steep learning curve associated with it.)
http://pjnicholson.com/access/accesspresident.htm



Please take a look at some lessons that teachers taking courses here at MEC have created. You may recognize some by their names. To view them go to our directory at: http://cgi.mec.edu/~groves/

The projects that you'll see there vary somewhat in terms of their sophistication, but they all represent a lot of hard work by their authors. While you are looking them over, be open to any ideas that will help you in creating your curriculum project.

Class 1 November 13

Welcome to our first class. I hope that you'll find it low stress, enjoyable, and that you'll take much useful information away with you during and after the class.

IMPORTANT: Carefully record all usernames and passwords that you create today (and every day actually) so that you don't find yourself wasting time looking for files that you need!

This blog is going to be one way that we stay in touch, given the fact that most of the classes will take place on line in real time (synchronous) while one session will be asynchronous. An overriding concern of mine has always been the comfort level of my students, since I believe that it has a direct correlation to how readily and enthusiastically the technology will be transferred to the classroom. To that end I will reiterate what we do in the course here and in my office at a virtual professional development center called Tapped In (http://tappedin.org).

Please make sure to check both sites during the week. After we have spoken today, and before our next class, we'll set aside a regular time to perform that checking each week. In asynchronous classes, assignments get viewed by classes over the course of the week-and sometimes in an untimely way that does not allow enough time for thought and responses.

I'm acutely aware of the incredible demands on every classroom teacher. I think that you'll see that in the flexibility of the way in which I conduct my courses. We do need, however, to touch base a couple of times each week, no matter how briefly. In addition, please let me know as soon as necessary if anything I can control, is causing you undue stress.

This morning, we'll do brief introductions, discuss our schedule of classes, trade email addresses, (mine is egroves@comcast.net), visit my office at TappedIn and set up accounts for you there, discuss blogs and set up one for each of you at eBlogger.

Please be patient with our pace whether it be, in your view, too slow or too quick. I'll try individualize it and tailor the material covered to each of you as best I am able.

Please go to http://www.vasudevaservice.com/blog/archive/2008/01/28/how-to-set-up-a-blogger-blog and read some basic directions for setting up your own blog at Google's Blogger site. Then go to blogger.com and set it up. Also take a look at the topic of following a blog automatically at http://www.mamablogga.com/what-are-followers-and-how-do-i-get-them/

Second Caution. IMPORTANT: Carefully record all usernames and passwords that you create today (and every day actually) so that you don't find yourself wasting time looking for files that you need!

Then I'd like you to access our blog again at http://impact-of-technology.blogspot.com/ and sign on as a public follower by clicking on the "Follow" button at the top of my blog page. In that way each time our class blog is updated you'll see the link when you access your own blog.

Next I'd like you (we'll all go there together) tappedin.org. Login as a guest. You'll be asked to give a username for yourself and then to check their user policy. You'll then find yourself in the reception lobby. Look up to your left under the "Reception" link and click on "In this building." At the next screen, locate "4 Tapped In Offices Floor" and click the link to the right. At the next screen, click on the link (upper left) "On This Floor."

Next click on the link "Tapped In: Places" then "Search Rooms" at the next screen. In the next search box type in "ericg" and then look for the blue link to my office. That will take you there. Later when you've set up your own account and reenter my office, you can pull down the "Favorite Places" menu and add my room. That way you'll have quick access each time you go to Tapped In.

Your next assignment is to back out as a "Guest" and go back in and set up a permanent account for yourself. When asked, please list me as a sponsor.

When you get back in as your new self please (no stolen identities please), navigate to my office and set it as a "Favorite Place", sign in on the whiteboard and date your visit. We must discuss two small windows (time) each week that we can at least briefly check both places (our class blog and Tapped In). Please be sure to remind me to iron this out before you leave class today!

Next on the agenda-accessing the syllabus for this course. I've posted it in my office. It will remain there so don't feel the need to print it out. In the spirit of conservation, we'll try to leave as many documents as we can in digital format.

If we have time today please take a look at the following site related to finding educational blogs:

Blog by Carol; 38 Ways to find Edublogs

http://cooper-taylor.com/blog/2009/02/38-ways-to-find-great-edublogs/

Assignment: See if you can locate, what you would consider, two high quality blogs (paydirt) that you would find useful either as a teacher or ones that contain information that you could share with your students. Save them for your blog posting during the week. Remember we're going to set aside two windows of time; one for posting and another for viewing (I'll explain the relevance of two periods in class).

Finally, we need to consider some cautionary guidelines for blogging with our students.

Take a look at the entry entitled Concerns over teen blogging continue, by going to http://www.bloggersblog.com/cgi-bin/bloggersblog.pl?bblog=112505

Blogging with pseudonymous and protecting student identity: http://blogsforlearning.msu.edu/blog/archives/2

Also see the entry, Blogs and Kids-Staying Sake and Having Fun, http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/articles/031606.htm





Eric