Anita Foster

The Google Classroom

I have been working hard to create The Google Classroom for the Georgia Educators Technology Conference (GaETC) next week and for the Florida Educators Technology Conference (FETC) in January. I have the site "complete" for the presentations. I say complete because if you know me, I will probably continue to tweak and add things from time to time.

I don't want this to just be for the presentations, I would like for other educators to benefit from the information. So, please feel free to visit www.thegoogleclassroom.com and see what Google has to offer for classroom teachers.

10 Steps to Taking Great Pictures

This was sent to me by one of the teachers at one of my schools (Thanks Brian). Kodak has a great website to use when you are showing your students how to take pictures for a project. 

The Google Classroom

I have great news! I have been accepted to present at the Florida Educators Technology Conference in January in Orlando. My topic will be the Googled Classroom. I have been working for some time on a Google Site that will host all of my tips, tricks and suggestions. Please feel free to look and use what is on the site, but also...let me know what you think!

The Google Classroom is also linked on the sidebar under my email and website address.

Photo Story 3

Photo Story 3 is now installed on most of the computers in the county. If it is not installed, you can put a workorder in to have it installed. This is a free download for others that would like to download it on their home computers.

You can get images or photos to use from various sites. For this training we will be using FreeFoto because it is FREE.

Photo Story 3 can be used for various projects. The file exports as a Windows Movie file, so it can be viewed using Windows Media Player.

This program is so easy to use. You can make a video using pictures in just a few minutes!

1. Import the images.
2. Add text to the images.
3. Add audio to the slideshow.
4. Export!

If you need some tutorials visit Atomic Learning.

If you would like for me to come and work with your team, this is a great time of year to create an end of the year project.

For step by step instructions you may Download photo_story_3.pdf

You may also see an example (You must have Windows Media Player to view).  Download BrushYourTeeth.wmv

SMARTBoard Class Session 4

We will have the next two weeks as our self-study in order to finish the last week in a face to face class (April 2). So, there is a lot of "homework" but it can be completed in two weeks.

Atomic Learning still has a lot of tutorials we have not touched on... http://movies.atomiclearning.com/k12/smartboard95_pc

Under Section D-G watch at least 4 tutorials from each section. On our last time in class I would like to see a notebook that you have created using the various techniques and tips you have learned during this 10 week period.

Post a comment in this blog to discuss any ideas, thoughts or issues you are having with the SmartBoard.

Interactive Science Website

One of my SMART teachers at Smitha shared a website in our last SMARTBoard class. I thought it was great and I want to share it with others!! http://phet.colorado.edu/new/simulations/index.php This is a science website that allows you to download experiments in java script for the students to use in class. He is using it with his SMARTBoard and his students love it! Thank you Dean!!

del.icio.us Training

del.icio.us is a great tool that anyone can use. It is absolutely FREE (a teacher's favorite word)!! It allows you to save your bookmarks from any computer on the Internet. Share with your students, colleagues and friends. You can even have people in your "Network" that you can share websites with. Let's say your friend in California also teaches the same grade and subject you teach. You can collaborate on websites and share among several teachers so the work of many can be used instead of the work of one!

Another great reason to use del.icio.us is to save time when you find a great resource while you are instructing. Instead of having the students type in a URL that seems five miles long, you can tag it in del.icio.us and they will then go to your account and click on the link.

I have been training at most of my schools on del.icio.us - Every teacher that has the training has said what a time saver this tool will be for their instruction and planning!! I am thrilled that they have enjoyed the training and can take what they have learned and begin implementing it immediately in their classroom. I have attached the handouts for you to use on your own in case you have missed the training. Lauralyn, another TIS, created these handouts for our use!

Download del.icio.us  for pc.pdf
Download del.icio.us tips for pc.pdf
Download del.icio.us for Mac.pdf
Download del.icio.us Tips for Mac.pdf

And in case you are wondering, my del.icio.us account is del.icio.us/alfoster68 

SMARTBoard Class Session 2

This week we will take what we have learned to create a notebook to use in our class. It does not need to be extravagant. Remember it will take time to implement all of the aspects of a SMARTBoard in your classroom.

Visit http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Ed+Resource/Lesson+activities/default.htm to see what type of lesson activities SMART Technology has to offer. Please post a comment in this blog to list some of the favorites you would like to suggest to others.

Visit http://smarttech.com/trainingcenter/tutorials.asp and view the following tutorials.

- Power Point
- The Notebook Software Gallery
- Post a comment on this blog telling something you learned.
- Create a Power Point and use it in a Notebook for your class. This will be shared at our next class.

SMARTBoard Class Session 1

The staff at Smitha have just recieved several SMARTBoards. This blog post is designed for them to use, however anyone that has a SMARTBoard will be able to use this blog as a guide.

Visit the following link to watch a tutorial

http://smarttech.com/trainingcenter/tutorials.asp
-Watch the Touch, Write and Save tutorial
-Watch the Ink Aware tutorial
- Write a comment in this post telling what you learned
-  Create a Notebook using some of the tools you learned about and prepare to share at our next training.

Use the following link to view tutorials on SMARTBoards. http://movies.atomiclearning.com/k12/smartboard

- Watch 4 videos from the Getting Started section
- Watch 5 videos from the Notebook Tools section
- Write a comment in this post telling what you learned
-  Create a Notebook using some of the tools you learned about and prepare to share at our next training.

American Rhetoric - Top 100 Speeches

Today, I was searching for ELA websites and narrowing in on public speaking. I of course did a little googling, but then went to del.icio.us to see what they had bookmarked. I came across this site that has mp3, video and text transcripts of the top 100 speeches in the 20th Century. This is a great resource for teachers teaching public speaking and teachers teaching History!

I bet when these speeches were delivered, the speaker had no idea they would still be important today!

www.americanrhetoric.com/top100speechesall.html

 

They also have speeches from movies at www.americanrhetoric.com/

I would love to see comments on how this is or can be used in the classroom. Share your ideas!!