Tech+Integration+PD+Session

=Afterschool PD Sessions: Technology Integration=

With Erika Llewellyn and Laura Solleveld
=Monday, May 10th; Monday, May 17th; Monday, May 24th, 2010=

Session One: Exploring Technology Resources
Explore the sites listed below. Don't forget to add the best ones to your Favorites! __GENERAL__ http://www.quia.com Quia is a district-purchased resource for creating interactive "games" using your own content. You can search for activities created by others to modify or use as-is, or create your own from scratch. Templates are very easy to use, and the activities are great for reviewing vocabulary and content. Perfect for use with a Smartboard! Can also create quizzes and tests for students to take online.

http://www.weebly.com/ Weebly is a free website-creation tool. Easy to use templates make it simple for teachers and students to create their own webpages.

http://www.quizlet.com Quizlet is a quick and easy (and free!) way to create interactive flashcards for your students. Search for sets of flashcards or create your own. Students can study the cards, test themselves, or play interactive games which are perfect for use with the Smartboard.

[|http://www.polleverywhere.com] Polleverywhere is free real time polling site using laptops or text messages.

http://edublogs.org/ http://wordpress.org/ Free blogging websites.

http://www.shelfari.com/ Free interactive bookshelf and book review site.

http://www.slideshare.net/ A free site for uploading PowerPoint or Keynote Slideshows or Word or PDF files. Audio can be added to make webinars.

http://drop.io/ A real-time sharing and collaboration. There is a call in feature that is really cool.

http://www.pageflakes.com/ A free homepage website builder.

http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI08167B.pdf A digital storytelling PDF with resources for creating a story.

http://pixton.com/ A free comic book creator.

http://www.ustream.tv/ Free broadcasting site.

http://www.ietherpad.com/ A real-time collaborating and editing website, similar to Google Docs.

http://camstudio.org/ Free screen capture video recording software for PC users.

http://www.jingproject.com/ Free screen capture video recording software for PC or Mac users.

http://www.mywebspiration.com/home Free online visual thinking, very similar to Inspiration.

http://www.go2web20.net/ Comprehensive collection of web 2.0 sites.

__MATH__ http://www.cut-the-knot.org/Curriculum/index.shtml Cut The Knot has a huge selection of interactive math activities. No account required. Just browse through the list to find an activity that fits your curricular needs.

http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives has dozens of free interactive activities for high school math subjects. No account required.

__SCIENCE__ http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/index.php?cat=Featured_Sims Interactive science simulations from the University of Colorado. Tons of simulations sorted by science area and topic.

http://www.ptable.com/ Interactive Periodic Table. Check out the drop down window at top left - select what happens when you click on an element in the table (see wikipedia definition, a video, or a photo).

http://www.cellsalive.com/ Cells Alive is a great Biology resource. Cool animations all about cells.

http://www.myphysicslab.com/ Physics simulations.

http://education.jlab.org/indexpages/elementgames.php A variety of interactive games and puzzles from the Jefferson Lab.

__ENGLISH__ http://www.readwritethink.org ReadWriteThink is a free website that offers many instructional resources and student interactives. http://www.readwritethink.org/search/?learning_objective=31&resource_type=16 This is a direct link to interactive essay maps.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/index2.htm This is a collection of grammar activities, perfect to use with a whiteboard as a whole class activity or as an individual activity.

http://www.tv411.org/ TV411 is geared toward adult learners but offers some excellent reading, writing, and vocabulary activities that can be used with high school students.

http://www.learnoutloud.com/ This website offers some free mp3 downloads of books and stories. Others require purchase to download, but the site itself is great for differentiation.

http://www.merlot.org/merlot/materials.htm?category=2426 Many resources for Language and Literature.

__SOCIAL STUDIES__ http://history.merlot.org/ This website offers many resources and activities.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/ The BBC website is loaded with resources, videos, and activities.

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/learn.jsp Free educational resources.

__MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES__ http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/ BBC Educational website.

http://www.merlot.org/merlot/index.htm Educational links for all content areas.

http://www.readwritethink.org/ Educational links.

http://www.pbs.org/teachers/ Educational links.

http://tweentribune.com/ Teen news site.

http://www.funtrivia.com/ Many categories of fun trivia.

Session Two: Exploring Smartboards
Setting Up the Equipment
 * Connect Smartboard to laptop with long USB cord
 * Connect laptop and projector as usual
 * Press "Fn" and "F8" if necessary to display your screen through the projector

Configuring the Smartboard
 * Open up Smart Notebook software by either:
 * Clicking on the Smartboard icon on your desktop
 * Clicking on the Smartboard icon on your system tray (bottom of the screen)
 * Clicking on the floating toolbar on the right side of your screen
 * The Welcome center will now open
 * You can orient the board form here, or you can press both the mouse and keyboard buttons on your Smartboard pen tray

Set-up directions and "cheat sheet" for toolbar buttons:

SMART resources: http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Ed+Resource/Teachers+Hub/ Use the link above to access training directly from SMART. Choose "Getting Started" or Enhancing Skills" depending on your comfort/skill level. Watch brief tutorials and download directions for using the Smartboard and Notebook software.

Don't forget to bring curriculum materials next week! You will need them to create activities using the resources from Session One.

Session Three: Using the Resources
Activity Options:
 * TAC Gradebook session with Erika - if you've never used it before, you can see how it works and get your account set up. If you use it and have questions, now's the time to ask!
 * Create curricular activities using the resources from Session One or any other interactive resource you want to pursue.
 * In addition to the sites from Session One, check out this SMART website for great (FREE) teacher-created resources. Search by topic and grade level, download what you like, and project it onto a Smartboard - no hassle!
 * http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Ed+Resource/Lesson+activities/Notebook+Activities/Correlated+Search+us.htm
 * Smartboard practice - set up the cords, configure the board, practice using the pens and toolbars, try out some interactive sites with the board. Whatever you need to get comfortable enough to try it out in your classroom!

Next Steps Form:
 * Complete a Next Steps form to reflect on the information you've learned and determine what other steps you need to take to make the best use of it in your classroom.