Ms. Taylor's Classroom Website

cross-posted at Ms. Taylor's third grade class blog

My classroom website is now active on the web! Please check it out and let me know what you think. My goal in creating this website for my classroom was to have it serve as a tool for communication and collaboration. I also see it being a space to share our classroom's educational experiences with the world, and a place for my students to access learning resources and activities. The website features:

• pages for each academic area with related website links
• links to google calendars for Alsup IB school, each academic area, and homework
• a clustr map to track visitors
• a page where Global Learner lesson plans will be posted
• photo gallery that utilizes embedded Picasa slide shows
• and more!
  

I used ideas from Jeff's website and many great links that Andrew has posted on Central's website. Thank you both! And thanks to Dave for helping me edit Html on my site to allow me to embed the clustr map and Picasa slide show! Any ideas on how I could improve the site?

Welcome to our school video

This is the cutest video ever! This year I'm working with the "Welcome Team" at the high school. This would be a great idea to use here to introduce new students to the people and places they need to know. Are there any high school teachers that want to help?

Central Elementary Technology Program Website

(This post is cross-listed at Central Elementary's Technology Blog)

I've created a Technology Program page for Central Elementary School. The page can be found on Central's main website under the 'Programs' tab. I've uploaded my created lessons, research papers, and links pertaining to educational technology. Feel free to use any lessons or ideas, read research topics, and engage in the tech blog. There will be a section for student-created work as the school year goes along, and students and instructors will update blog topics and links. Please check out the site and leave some comments for improvements.

Mr. Lewis' Fourth Grade Class Website up and running!

Here it is.... Exciting right?

(This is cross-posted on Mr. Lewis' World Learners blog)

I have all of the structure in place that I think I will need when the school year begins:

• I was able to create a direct link to my Google calendar so that parents will be able to see what is going on throughout the year. I can update on Google calendar and it will automatically update on the website. I don’t know if there is a way to wrap text so that some of my entries, like “Back to School Night”, aren’t cut off.
• I am planning on updating the “What’s Happening” page in addition to sending the updates home as a hard copy.
• I used many of the links that Andrew has on his Central website for kid’s links, I thought they were great. Thank you Andrew…
• I would really like to record the first few stories as podcasts and post them on the website next, with the intent of having students do that throughout the year. I am also planning on having students post their writing throughout the year on a classroom blog. Students could also react to each other’s writing as well. I haven’t quite worked out how that is going to look yet.

This is my first crack at creating a website, so any suggestions would be appreciated.

Jeff

Box.net - Online Storage and File Sharing

Box.net makes it easy to get your files from anywhere you have an internet connection. Once you've uploaded your files to Box, you can also share them with anyone, or just keep them safe for as long as you want. The free personal account allows for 1GB of storage. This may be a way for students to store and share files for your classes. It has many features including a widget that can be posted on your blog as I have done with this post. Do you see any applications for you and your students?

Making of an Expert

The July-August issue of the Harvard Business Review includes an article titled "The Making of an Expert". The authors (Ericsson, Prietula, and Cokely) discuss scientific research that shows experts are developed through years of dedicated practice and coaching, not simply born into their expertise. Ordinary practice is not sufficient to become an expert. Instead, to reach the highest levels in your field you must reach to expand your abilities that are outside your comfort zone and you must do this in a continuous and disciplined manner. They state that becoming an expert is a long road (at least a decade) and requires guidance.

Photo Credit (http://flickr.com/photos/phauly/35555985/)

How does this translate to education? More specifically, how does this translate to teaching with technology in the new world system? If you were challenged to be an expert what would it be in?

I challenge each Global Learner to identify the area of teaching and learning that they will be an expert in. If that area does not include some integrated technology try to add some. What will your area of expertise be?

How to embed Windows Media Player in Powerpoint

Finally, here is a screen capture of how to embed Windows Media Player in a Powerpoint presentation so that you can pause the video during the slideshow. This allows you to check for understanding during a presentation.

I used CamStudio for the screen capture and I set the video acceleration to zero in WMP so that it would play during the screen capture. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4gRhWNBxoM