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