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Computer Class with Miss P.
Feb
19
Ohio eTech Conference 2012 (Day Two)
February 19, 2012 | Accessories, Classroom, Instructional Videos, Interests, Teachers | Leave a Comment
On day two of the Ohio eTech Conference that ran 2/13-2/15 at the Columbus, Ohio Convention Center I managed to attend 3 presentations…here is my re-cap of Tuesday’s presentations.
You should know that I inadvertently slept in and made it to the conference by 9:30. I totally missed the keynote speaker, Sascha Meinrath of the New America Foundation. So I wandered through the Exhibitor’s Hall and met some really cool educators. I spent so much time in the Exhibit Hall that I missed “my scheduled” presentation at 10 am (some vendors like to keep you talking) …so I continued to walk around until 11:30 am.
The next presentation that I wanted to see was: From Start To Finish: Creating and Editing Student Videos on the iPad by Eric Siler of WVIZ Public Television in Cleveland, OH.
However, Eric could not be present, so another teacher from Cleveland Public Schools stepped in. While I failed to get his name, I must say that he tried to step-up, but unfortunately, he failed. He started off with a bang, but it ended as swarms of attendees left the room. One of the downfalls was that he did not have an iPad to do any of the demonstrations. Another WVIZ rep tried to help. But only a handful of people stayed.
Why did I stay? Well, I really felt for the guy. He was trying so hard and I could not add to his embarrassment. So I stayed until the presentation ended…12:45.
I was then able to find the next session at 1:15 quickly, I wasn’t going to miss another one, so I stayed close to the meeting room. This presentation was one that I was waiting for: Technology Coordinator Roundtable: Work Smarter, Not harder. Managing a district with a staff of one. Jacob Carmany, from Green Local Schools was discussing how one technology coordinator could easily manage a boatload of computers, smartboards in every classroom, netbooks, and 4 servers. I was enthralled!
First, Jacob talked about using iTalc (I wrote about iTalc in a previous post…here’s a link) which is a computer management
Jacob discussed using Moodle to hold instructional videos for teachers. (great idea—how to videos so that he doesn’t have to run around the school trying to fix every little thing…i.e.: Adding a printer, connecting a SmartBoard, using the tools on the Smartboard, saving a Word document as a .pdf., the list goes on…)
I love this idea…I wish I had thought of it. Fantastic…make mini instructional videos and post them where teachers can find them! Genius!
Jake also introduced me to Ninite. Ninite allows the user to update ANYTHING. The website boasts that it is “The Easiest, Fastest Way to Update or Install Software” YES! Finally…and Ninite automatically says “NO” to toolbars! YES! So I could update each and every computer with a click of a button! COOL! I am seriously considering purchasing the PRO version for my school. Anything that saves me time is all GOOD!
The other website that Jake mentioned was Fogproject. Fogproject is a FREE open-source computer cloning software using Ubuntu. “FOG includes unicast/multicast cloning, memory testing, virus scanning, as well as a client side service used to change the computer’s hostname.” The website offers instructional videos and a download. I requested to join the Fogproject and I am now classified as a USER.
So, thank you Jake Carmody…you have made my life so much easier!
The next session that I attended was YOU can become a school librarian! Meghan Harper, Ph.D., SLIS Assistant Professor from Kent State University gave the group several ways to earn a Master of Library and Information Science all ONLINE. Not that I need another Masters Degree, but I thought, this would be an excellent career choice for after 70…after all, I may not want to teach when I am 70, but I could be a Librarian! And yes, it allows you to be a librarian in schools or Public Libraries.
So, kudos Dr. Harper for showing us how easy it would be to become a librarian.
I ended the day back in the Exhibitor’s Hall. I wanted to go to one more session, but a vendor with Polyvision (eno boards) kept me talking longer than I expected and I missed the last session of the day.
Even though I only attended 3 sessions, I sure learned a great deal today. Something I will be able to use.
Up next…the vendors in the Exhibit Hall!
Feb
15
Ohio eTech Conference 2012 (Day One)
February 15, 2012 | Classroom, Interests, Teachers, Web 2.0 | 2 Comments
So, I just came home from the eTech Ohio Conference in Columbus, Ohio. It ran from 2/13 – 2/15, Below is a re-cap of Monday’s events.
I must say, I think I learned more from the vendors in the exhibit hall, than from the presentations. I will write about a few of the vendors in a post later…But there were a few presentations that were a stand-out!
On the first day, I attended an 8:00 am session on how to “ditch the OS and go straight to the browser” by Anthony A. Luscre. I attached a link to his presentation. Pretty good stuff. But I noticed that I was having an extremely difficult time with the wifi in the building. I tried to tweet about it, but all my tweets were saved as drafts and I started to go through Twitter Withdrawal as I called Verizon to secure my own personal hotspot!
It was over in time to for me to see the keynote speaker, Dr. Michio Kaku only to run out 20 minutes into it to attend another presentation about using QR codes in the classroom by Michael Roush. This session proved to be more interesting than the first, but I was totally intriqued with what Dr. Kaku was speaking about.
So…note to conference schedulers…try not to schedule any presentations during a keynote speaker!
By this time, it seemed that the wifi was working, but I also had my own Personal Hotspot in case it failed again.
Note to conference people: Wifi would have helped in the Exhibit Hall too! Could have tweeted and emailed like crazy. I did not want to use the “email stations”.
I had some time before my One o’clock session and I jumped into an “Advanced Registration” event. I had tried to register in advance for it, but I guess so many people jumped on the website during the first hour it was “emailed” to me and I was locked out. I am probably going to get in trouble for this, but no one was guarding the door to the event and I just walked in, took an empty seat and got ready to be amazed at how to “Create free websites with Google Sites. The presenter was a “google certified instructor”, but the session was geared for all levels of tech–from newbies to pros, and it moved so slowly. Anyway, the presentation was more geared for secondary or post-secondary instruction rather than elementary. Why? Because Google does not block inappropriate materials and the gadgets are questionable. I won’t even post a link to the site, but if you want to check it out, go right ahead.
Anyway, I left after spending more than an hour in the room and the presenter said something rude as I walked out. Something about “Go ahead and leave…” I didn’t reply. I just walked out.
I ran over to the next session…Students+WiFi+School Bus=Mobile Learning Success! How a school district put wifi in 3 school buses and purchased iPods for the students to use. It was a cool presentation by Catherine Holewinski, Buckeye Valley Local Schools. The title of their project was called: Project Boost (Building Outstanding Online Student Technologies) So much better than the boring Google session.
If you are interested in looking at the eTech Ohio 2012 Guidebook (link to the online version for laptop/desktop)
I was unable to attend any more sessions as I was inspired and fascinated by all of the new technology available to schools and teachers in the Exhibit Hall.
Day Two…To be continued
Feb
7
Installing Android OS to mini netbook (UPDATE)
February 7, 2012 | Accessories, Interests | 1 Comment
Here’s an update for all you Android OS lovers:
As you know, I am part of the YAHOO group for Sylvania Smartbook.
I got an email from one of the members, here is what he wrote:
I’ve been searching many months for a ‘Perfect’ Android 2.2 OS that will run on the Sylvania SYNET7WID. I came across this version (Android Flux NB WMT216.7z) yesterday and installed it. It is GREAT!
Although it would ‘hang’ on the first attempt to install:
1) I removed the SD card (with Script)and forced it to turn off.
2) Then I rebooted WITHOUT the SD card.
3) Wait 1min and turned off again.
4) Then reinserted the SD card and powered up again and the install finished perfectly.
This OS is a GEM. All previous issues are corrected and I haven’t had any problems with it.
Here is the link: http://devio.us/~nextvolume/via_arm/viewtopic.php?id=4&t_id=167&page=1
The download link is on this page. Also, READ the included Document carefully.
Enjoy.
I hope it works for all of YOU!
Good Luck!
Jan
16
What I have been doing over the past month…
January 16, 2012 | Classroom, Instructional Videos, Interests | Leave a Comment
I know, a blog is suppose to be current. Otherwise you lose your audience. Well, audience, I have been busy.
Over Christmas break, I created student accounts in Glogster for 30 8th graders. Only to find that (today-1/16/12) my “premium” subscription ended and if I wanted to keep it, I have to pay for it. Oh, sure, the accounts are stand alones, but I can no longer view what my students are doing. Great! Just Great! Does Glogster know how long it took to create those accounts? Now, I am going to scrap the Glogster idea. My students were not that interested in it anyway, since it is a limited platform.
The other thing that I was doing was creating a generic “Gmail” account for use with Animoto. You see, Animoto allows educators to create 50 accounts for free! That’s right Glogster, free!
So, I created 50 Animoto accounts by adding a + sign to the Gmail account. Example: account+1@gmail.com (That’s not the actual account I used, its just an Example). So, yes, I have set up all of the accounts for 50 students and I plan on using it this week!
With the success of Animoto and Gmail accounts, I went over to Skype and created +1 etc, accounts for students to Skype with other students on the iPads! YEEEEPPP! It worked! Yahoooo. So, now my students can Skype and I can see who logs in to do so.
That’s what I have been doing? What did you do?
Dec
4
My LiveBinders!
December 4, 2011 | Accessories, Classroom, Instructional Videos, Interests, Teachers, Web 2.0 | Leave a Comment
I have made a couple of LiveBinders and now they are all in one place. Two were for requirements for classes that I am taking while pursuing another Master’s Degree. One was the result of reading Dave Kapuler’s Top Ten List, Another was the result of looking extensively for education quotes, and another was a collaboration with Justin Stallings who created several LiveBinders himself!
Enjoy!
Learn by viewing:
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Edutopia
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Edutopia
