Anita Foster

Google Books and Google Custom Search

Today at Smitha we learned about Google Books and Google Custom Search.

To refresh or learn more, please visit The Google Classroom. If you click on presentation and view the presentation, both of these topics are shown in great detail.

To create your own customized Google search engine, visit this link.

Please comment on how you think you will be able to use these resources at home or at school.

 

Google Docs

Today I will be training the staff at Smitha on Google Docs. Google Docs is one of my favorite (if not my very favorite) Google Application. Below is a video on Google Docs and a Presentation on Google Docs. After watching these, please discuss in the comments area how you think you could use Google Docs in the classroom and with your co-workers.

Animoto

Delicious @ Cheatham Hill

Delicious is SWEET!!! This is a great website in the Web 2.0 family that allows you to not only organize your own bookmarks, but it allows you to share and collaborate your bookmarks with others!

Today, I am presenting on Delicious at Cheatham Hill! Below you can download the files, watch the video and find your way through www.delicious.com (formerly del.icio.us, which still works).

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

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.

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.

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 3

This week I would like for you to visit the SMART Board section on Atomic Learning http://movies.atomiclearning.com/k12/smartboard95_pc and view 5 video tutorials from Section C - Editing Notebook Objects. Post a comment in here to let us know what you learned.

Also, I was sent a great resource for SMARTBoard Notebooks for teachers. These have great Notebook activities  and gallery items for your use. http://www1.center.k12.mo.us/Edtech/SB/collections.htm If you find something and use it in your classroom, please share with the group in the comments section. Also, if you come across other great resources, please share with the group!