Twitter, StoryNory and Google Apps

I know this has been done to death, but everyday I encounter teachers who are not using Twitter, and want to find out more about it.  Personally, I use Twitter as my PLN (Personal Learning Network), and have encountered some of the best and brightest minds in EdTech.  Here is a link to Twitter 101.
I use StoryNory with my Pre-K students during snack.  It reduces their chatter, and they get to listen to a great classic tale.  Natasha and her British accent make these stories come alive for my young students.  They feature classic tales, original work, and are great for ESL/ELL learners!
I love using Google.  More importantly, I love the portability that Google offers.  Julia Stiglitz, who presented at the TCEA Convention on Monday, February 7, 2011 shared this great way to use '50 Ways To Use Google Apps In 50 Minutes'. What a great way to incorporate technology into our classrooms!  (Thanks to EdTechSandyK for the tweet!)

Trying to keep up with it all!

In my efforts to keep blogging about things Educational Technology, and how we can create a better classroom, I'm going to try to blog daily, with links to some of what I consider the 'Best of..' in the EdTech world.  Please feel free to add your comments and let me know what you think!

• Larry Ferlazzo has been teaching and writing about ELL and Parent Engagement, and has several books published.  His website includes his 'Best of...' for finding out about current events, ELL and ESL, Art, History, Science, etc.  His website also highlights a website of the month and website of the year.  He inspires me to be better at what I do for my students and teachers, but what I really want to know is, how does he do this and teach at the same time? For me, maintaining and adding to a website of this magnitude would be a full time job!  Go Larry!
• Mimio  - If you do IWB (Interactive White Board) presentations to anyone, this is a great resource!  I'm a huge Mimio fan, as this is what I believe to be the best way to use an IWB anywhere...no need for specialized IWB's, just use what you have in your room, and away you go.  The website is constantly updated, and Mimio did a much-needed software upgrade several months ago.
• Twitter  - I love Twitter!  I use it primarily to keep up with the latest trends in EdTech.  My favorites to follow are joevans and EdTechSandyK.  But think of all the ways you can use twitter to expand your classroom!  Send a tweet out about your classroom, and ask for responses.  You'll be amazed at how many people, from all walks of life, from everywhere on the planet respond to you.
  
  

My Ed Tech Journey, Sept 10 to Jan 11

Last September, I was blessed to find a position at my school for a second grade teacher. I applied and was accepted.  By January, it was apparent that my gifts lie more in technology than in teaching second grade. My wonderful principal, Angela Kirkpatrick allowed me to exit the classroom, and even found me a position at another school in my district, a position which i love (I'm now a Pre-Kindergarten aide), while I await a position in Technology.
Doing what I've been doing for the past several months has given me a better and new perspective on what it is exactly that teachers do in the classroom, and how i can make them not only better teachers, but better communicators to all their students.  I've also found great support in my PLN (Personal Learning Network) on Twitter.  They constantly amaze me with the new items which are available for my students, and how I can work on integrating them into my new Pre-K classroom.
So, what have I learned recently?

• Life is a highway.  If you can't keep up, or choose to get off at the next exit, you can do that, and hopefully there will be some wonderfully supportive people there to see you through the process, and help you find your gift and your bliss. I know just how fortunate I was when I exited my teaching career.
  
• Remember hating broccoli as a kid, and then finding out as a teenager, that it's your fave vegetable?  I never really considered Pre-K as an alternative. Back in college, I was approached by one of my professors to explore teaching.  I knew then, as I do now, that teaching was not going to be my forte. I knew that if i taught, it would be geared towards adults. This is still true today, but now, I just can't go through the day without getting some of the best hugs in the world from my Pre-K students.  They teach ME so much during the day, I feel like i should be paying them.
• The grass is NEVER really greener on the other side of the fence.  It's just a different shade of green. I still have many hurdles to go through in getting back to technology, but now that I truly understand that this is my gift, I'm never going to turn my back on it.  I will use it to propel myself. my students and my teachers forward.
  

Last Day of Tech Camp '10

Video Conferencing, a/k/a Virtual Field Trips is coming to CCISD!  Sat in on a great seminar held by Region 12, to show us how we can use our equipment to have virtual field trips!  Today, we went to the Mariner's Museum, in Newport News, VA, and learned about ships, the ocean, slave trade, and spices.  Mariner's Museum offers classes with topics in History, Science and Language Arts and can customize the class for grades Kinder through 12th grade.  I'm glad we finally have this resource at CCISD! 

Day Three of Tech Camp, 2010

I taught two classes today, the first being on Mimio.  My objective was to give my teacher-students time with a technical person (me) in a safe environment so that they would feel comfortable in designing their own interactives.  One of the teacher-students presented at the end of class and had a very creative interactive on telling time, which would be appropriate for K-Second Grade. When she posts this to MimioConect, in the CCISD section, I'm going to get all of my teachers, Kinder to Second Grade to have this on their computers. 

My second class was taught with Shannon Conley, TIS from Walker and Stevens.  We taught 'Tips and Tricks from the TIS'.  It consisted of setting up e-mail, setting up groups in e-mail, copyright issues, e-mail etiquette, and some things to know when you are in Office. Good groups, good day, great teachers!

Tomorrow, Shannon Conley and I will be teaching on the Mimio to SMARTBoard Conversion.  This effectively doubles your resources, if you are a Mimio or SMARTBoard user.  It will be a great class!

Tech Camp '10

It's the first day of Tech Camp '10 at CCISD. We are very lucky to have Tammy Worcester (www.tammyworcester.com) as a guest speaker this year. She is very knowledgeable and very funny! If you're a teacher at CCISD, and you didn't come today, please check out the book 'Tammy's Favorite Technology Tips, Tricks and Tools' from your library!