Regional technology cadre

Tonight was just the ending to a very busy day for me.  As always I am finding it easier to record my thoughts and ideas here for future reference and worldwide access!

Here are some of my take "aways" from tonight's session:

• Make sure you check out scoop.it to see what magazine topics you can find to help with various topics of interests.  Some people have already compiled articles, but you can create your own.  Also by setting up your out account you will get emailed notifications as to when a new post has been made.
• Much like the "Fruit Machine" (name generator) we have used in the past this session we use "TeamMaker" to randomly develop teams from our list of session participants.  I like the idea of using these random computer generated generators in the classroom occasionally.  It takes the "the teacher hates me" comments out of the picture.  Keep in mind that it is very helpful to have students' names already in a spreadsheet--do this by having students fill out a form for you in google docs!  They do the work--not you!  Then you just cut and paste names into machines....
• Although this will be mentioned later in my "To Do" list there are plenty of free webinars available to professionals in order to continue to grow.  Many of these webinars are also stored for viewing later...although you may not be able to access all content such as the slide shows, audio, etc....  Yet, the couple we looked at tonight seem to have it all!  
• When looking to do digital storytelling here are some best applications for different tools:  
• PC-photostory (free)
• MAC--iMovie
• iPad 2--voicethread (allows you to see picture while do narration), storykit (allows narration over picture...not option to view picture while doing audio); I believe you can do audio or type on either one of these.  
• LESSON IDEAS:  You could send students on scavenger hunt around school taking pictures of examples of 8 simple machines...come back label them and/or record and/or write explanation of the type of machine.  You could look for angles of varying degrees for math or just to create a slide show of different angles and their measures/id. whether acute, obtuse, right.  Perhaps you want to document your experiment results--record video/photos (can you do videos here?) and add explanation as to what is happening...oh, oh, oh....ANN, ANN, ANN...
• Finally, don't forget to look back at previous agendas...there is still so much I need to explore and revisit!  I just can't believe the amount of information out there if only we all had time to sit and look through it and then apply it!  

So, here is the TO DO LIST:

• Help Gail set up a filter for emails so they are sorted by topic/class etc....  Follow Amber's directions posted in her Blog on Dec. 1, 2011.  We will do this after January 23, 2012 during that week one day when I come over.
• While working with Gail we will attempt to get all her novel reading assignments on the ipad for student use.  At this point I am not sure what exactly that will entail.  Perhaps she has some of these assignments in a packet form already and we can begin the process of converting so that each student can download and complete them for this novel.  I hope that we can sit down and look at what she wants to do, identify a tool that works well on iPad to complete it, and then get it ready for use.  Maybe this is something I begin building for her to help with the next large unit of study.  Note:  Don't forget to utilize Google Forms for some of this...double check that if she attaches this invite to Edmodo kids can access and fill in!  Pretty sure it will work!  All responses from forms go directly into a spreadsheet that can be evaluated in real time!
• Gail has asked that I participate in several webinars form the site discussed above.  The ones I will look at doing include:  When it rains, it pours:  cloud storage 101; 20 Free ipad apps educators can't live without!--I am signed up!  11:30 to 12:00.
• I am interested in the following webinars:   Going Google: The Quick Start Guide to Getting Started with Google Tools (Feb 4);  Motivate Readers and Get Connected: Reaching Out to Authors on the Web (feb. 4); Productivity and Collaboration in the Cloud with Google Docs (feb 4); Web Tool Smackdown (feb 4);  Connecting and Collaborating with VoiceThread and Your iPad (feb 7--members only); Let Them Film: Promote Student Ownership in Learning with Video Cameras (feb 12); Get on Track and Stay There with Google Calendar! (feb 12); Using QR Codes to Engage Students(feb 12); Using Quizzes and Games in the iPad Classroom (feb 17).
• Both Ann and Gail would like to quickly figure out how to get documents from the ipad to other resources through either the cloud or dropbox.  I think I will ask Levi to get an account and then have him play with these features with me.  He can be on the ipad or laptop or both to test things out!
• I am really bothered by the fact that we can't insert a table/chart into Pages and then put pictures in the boxes.  We would really like to use this function to record data and observations for the science experiments...what about using Google Docs.--spreadsheet or insert table in word.  ok, I just played with in on the ipad and that may not work either....  Keep exploring.
• We need to put voicethread on iPads soon for video creation--like better than videolicious!  Don't have to worry about timings!  Here you advance slide with recording is done!
• I need to become familiar with iMovie so can help in each of these classes--focus on iPad though for now...looks different on Macbook.
• For Ann's class we ironed out basic details...we visualize a keynote presentation in which the students have a basic template.  Hypothesis will be written on a slide.  Background will be either written or narrated perhaps with visuals on a slide.  Most likely materials list and procedure will be combined through the creation of an iMovie in which they use both video and still shots with audio to explain/show what they did.
• Within Keynote students will insert data charts (transformed data) or tables that answer question/support or refute hypothesis/and will be hyper linked to data table created in Pages (unless better option).  Finally, analysis will most likely be an iMovie in which still shots, video, and audio are all used to explain their results.  Errors, additional questions and such can be bullet-ed on final slide (or incorporated into analysis narrative?)  The assessment pieces here should include both science content/inquiry and NETS.  
• NEW SKILLS:  hyperlinking, iMovie potentially, inserting/creating data table in pages (?)  
• QUESTION:  what data transformations will students need--graphs for growth (meas. height?), observations in nice table to document change (may need to compare and contrast photos), can we find an app that allows us to take a photo of plant and write over the top of it--like with parts or arrows emphasizing observations?
• Question:  how do we take a keynote off the iPad and drop it somewhere else to pick up?  Can we download keynote directly from iPad to Mac through USB?  Will everything have to be emailed still?  If so, can it be opened and saved on Mac since it has Keynote?
• Finally, I need to resend the flier with corrections--save to flash drive and take with me Thursday.