Friday, October 24, 2003
The following two emails were sent on 10/24 as follow up to my visit on 10/25
Message # 1
HI Ladies,
Let's think about how we can build on what we did on Thurs. and what you already know. I showed you how to use PowerPoint in the slide sorter mode to create sequencing, oral story telling, and writing activities. That prompted a lot of ideas from you about how you can use digital cameras for similar authentic activities and for writing prompts. That was great to see!
You also expressed a desire for me to work with you and the children to begin developing Internet search skills, get an idea of how to present technology skills to the students, and to set up a series of similar lessons.
As I take a look at the training you had before I came on board, the technology you a have (and don't have), and the material I have introduced, I see an already full plate. In some cases we are looking for eating utensils so that we can get the food from the plate to the mouths of the students, but that will come. In the meantime, let's think about what we can do with what we have now.
We have the StarW web site. With the FTP problem out of the way, we can begin making better use of it. I put 3DWriter on each of your laptops (oops, portables*), along with a copy of your section of the web site. I'm going to set up a practice area of the website that will mirror the teacher section. Then I'll put together instructions and work with you individually so that you can use that area to develop you editing and uploading skills.
You can use 3DWriter to edit the activities you created and to make new ones that you can upload. As you locate resources off of the resource list, you can create pages that point students to them. You are pretty comfortable with PowerPoint and digital cameras. You have ideas how to create activities to improve sequencing, create writing prompts, promote organization, oral presentation and more. The problem we have is getting what you create from source to the student computers. Again, the web site should be the solution and that lesson is forthcoming. I'll create a File Exchange area of the web site. Once that is done, all you will have to do is upload the PowerPoint, go to the web site using a student computer, right-click on it and download it to the My Documents folder.
Some of you are well along using the Dana's. You've done that without any real help from me.
I think Kidspiration is a fantastic program. But we will have to wait until the systems are reburned to begin actually putting it in the hands of the students. However, that doesn't mean we can't expose them to it and give them an understanding of how it used. We can do that beginning with my next visit. I'll use it with them in the search lesson I'll present. More about that below.
There are other things we've explored, but may not implement with students such as Blogs, yet it helps you build vision and has become a powerful way for me to document our progress. I briefly showed you HotPotato software. We aren't ready for that, but it may well come in down the line. After all, this is a three year grant. If I've done anything wrong up to this point, it's that I've been piling more and more on your plates. I think we have to take what's there and deal with it first before it goes to waste. (Remember all those starving children in Europe.)**
OK, so where do we go from here. Considering the date, I would think that Halloween would be a logical theme for me to explore with the students as a search topic. However, if there is another topic that would meet your needs better, don't hesitate to let me know.
I was thinking that it would be a good topic to use to introduce Kidspiration (or reinforce its use if you've already shown it to some of them). I'll use one of the projectors to brainstorm and build a concept map of Halloween or some other topic of your choosing. Once we have the map built, I can move on to search engines (Yahooligans, Ask Jeeves, and Google).
We can discuss how to create search phrases for Ask Jeeves and search terms and phrases for Yahooligans and Google. We'll talk about using Jeeves and Yahooligans first and Google if unsuccessful. Jeeves and Yahooligans are both kid safe. Google by default is not, but we can set the preferences via the browser and cookies to be strictly filtered. That will make it a powerful and relatively safe back up.
I wouldn't be concerned about accidental exposure to inappropriate material. If you are using the kid safe search engines, setting the preferences in Google, supervising students, and educating them about safe appropriate use, and how to handle accidental access you are doing EVERYTHING that is required by law and MORE than most districts do. If you do that, you are protected under the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and will have created as model for Internet use that stands head and shoulders about the rest.
Along with the searching, I'll show students how to locate, save and cite pictures using Google. Once the systems are reburned we can get into a lesson that will show them (and you) how the pictures can easily be edited to do things like crop them, add text, and paint moustaches on them. We'll have to until the systems are reburned, because I want to use Paint, which is built into Windows, but the version in Windows 98 will only handle .bmp pictures and won't handle Internet pictures well.
I'm in the process of reorganizing the web site to make it more usable. Nothing will change as far as you teacher section goes, but I'm changing the home page and the resources page. The home page will be changed shortly and will include buttons to Ask Jeeves, Yahooligans and Google.
So the plan for Thurs. will be for a lesson by me and follow up by you in whatever way you feel comfortable. I'm going to send a separate message that will have the subject line of StarW Prep of 10/30, in which I will detail what I would like you to do for me before then.
Take care,
Art
----------------------------------------------------------------------
*Laptop is now a dirty word. It seems that there was a lawsuit against a computer manufacturer by someone who was burned by putting their laptop on their lap. I called tech support about my laptop a few weeks ago and the tech said to me, "Oh, you just used the "L" word. It's not a laptop. It's a portable computer."
**My aunt once told my seven year old nephew to finish his vegetables, because there were children in Europe who were starving and would love to have the food. He replied, "Name one."
Message # 2
Hi Ladies,
One of the things I want to do is to visit each one your student computers and set the Google preferences to Strict Filtering. You can help me out by booting up the when you first come in.
Talk it over and decide what rooms we will use and what times. I don't remember if every room has a pull down screen. If so, any room will do. If not, let try for a rooms with screens. Last time we doubled up classes so that it could be done in four sessions. I assume that's the best way to go again.
Last time I gave a lesson, I used Janine's projector, but we had a problem with cables. I'll bring a long patch cord so that problem is resolved. I'd like to use the projector again, along with the extension cord and power strip. Marilyn, you might want to put extension cord and power strip on your shopping list to go with each projector. (The other week, I left 8 long patch cords with Janine.)
Janine, I forgot that I left a white box of power supplies in your room. You might want to get them to the music teacher to see if any of them can help him out and I'll pick the rest up next week.
The plate is still very full. Actually the table is full and the plate is overflowing. Flowing over the sides as we speak is the follow up you might want to do for this lesson. Already on the table are the ftp instructions, 3DWriter instructions, practicing uploading and managing the site.
I think we have the utensils and skills to deal with the lesson and follow up. We also now have the utensils to deal with ftp, 3DWriter, and managing the web site, but you don't have the skills for that yet. I've shown you a little of that and you may have a sense of what's coming, but I know it was a lot of material in way to short a time to expect you to do things on your own.
In the weeks to come, let's think about continuing with the demo lessons and follow up and then deal with ftp and web site management via 1-on-1 instruction.
Once we have that all in place and the machines are reburned, we can look at using some of the other equipment such as the scanner and video camera. One caveat (question) on the video, I know we are going to use the iMacs and iMovie, but I know that none of the PC's would have the hardware requirements to handle video even if we had the software. My question (to Marilyn) is whether the iMacs have enough to handle things.
Your comments and thoughts are MORE than welcomed.
Art
Message # 1
HI Ladies,
Let's think about how we can build on what we did on Thurs. and what you already know. I showed you how to use PowerPoint in the slide sorter mode to create sequencing, oral story telling, and writing activities. That prompted a lot of ideas from you about how you can use digital cameras for similar authentic activities and for writing prompts. That was great to see!
You also expressed a desire for me to work with you and the children to begin developing Internet search skills, get an idea of how to present technology skills to the students, and to set up a series of similar lessons.
As I take a look at the training you had before I came on board, the technology you a have (and don't have), and the material I have introduced, I see an already full plate. In some cases we are looking for eating utensils so that we can get the food from the plate to the mouths of the students, but that will come. In the meantime, let's think about what we can do with what we have now.
We have the StarW web site. With the FTP problem out of the way, we can begin making better use of it. I put 3DWriter on each of your laptops (oops, portables*), along with a copy of your section of the web site. I'm going to set up a practice area of the website that will mirror the teacher section. Then I'll put together instructions and work with you individually so that you can use that area to develop you editing and uploading skills.
You can use 3DWriter to edit the activities you created and to make new ones that you can upload. As you locate resources off of the resource list, you can create pages that point students to them. You are pretty comfortable with PowerPoint and digital cameras. You have ideas how to create activities to improve sequencing, create writing prompts, promote organization, oral presentation and more. The problem we have is getting what you create from source to the student computers. Again, the web site should be the solution and that lesson is forthcoming. I'll create a File Exchange area of the web site. Once that is done, all you will have to do is upload the PowerPoint, go to the web site using a student computer, right-click on it and download it to the My Documents folder.
Some of you are well along using the Dana's. You've done that without any real help from me.
I think Kidspiration is a fantastic program. But we will have to wait until the systems are reburned to begin actually putting it in the hands of the students. However, that doesn't mean we can't expose them to it and give them an understanding of how it used. We can do that beginning with my next visit. I'll use it with them in the search lesson I'll present. More about that below.
There are other things we've explored, but may not implement with students such as Blogs, yet it helps you build vision and has become a powerful way for me to document our progress. I briefly showed you HotPotato software. We aren't ready for that, but it may well come in down the line. After all, this is a three year grant. If I've done anything wrong up to this point, it's that I've been piling more and more on your plates. I think we have to take what's there and deal with it first before it goes to waste. (Remember all those starving children in Europe.)**
OK, so where do we go from here. Considering the date, I would think that Halloween would be a logical theme for me to explore with the students as a search topic. However, if there is another topic that would meet your needs better, don't hesitate to let me know.
I was thinking that it would be a good topic to use to introduce Kidspiration (or reinforce its use if you've already shown it to some of them). I'll use one of the projectors to brainstorm and build a concept map of Halloween or some other topic of your choosing. Once we have the map built, I can move on to search engines (Yahooligans, Ask Jeeves, and Google).
We can discuss how to create search phrases for Ask Jeeves and search terms and phrases for Yahooligans and Google. We'll talk about using Jeeves and Yahooligans first and Google if unsuccessful. Jeeves and Yahooligans are both kid safe. Google by default is not, but we can set the preferences via the browser and cookies to be strictly filtered. That will make it a powerful and relatively safe back up.
I wouldn't be concerned about accidental exposure to inappropriate material. If you are using the kid safe search engines, setting the preferences in Google, supervising students, and educating them about safe appropriate use, and how to handle accidental access you are doing EVERYTHING that is required by law and MORE than most districts do. If you do that, you are protected under the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and will have created as model for Internet use that stands head and shoulders about the rest.
Along with the searching, I'll show students how to locate, save and cite pictures using Google. Once the systems are reburned we can get into a lesson that will show them (and you) how the pictures can easily be edited to do things like crop them, add text, and paint moustaches on them. We'll have to until the systems are reburned, because I want to use Paint, which is built into Windows, but the version in Windows 98 will only handle .bmp pictures and won't handle Internet pictures well.
I'm in the process of reorganizing the web site to make it more usable. Nothing will change as far as you teacher section goes, but I'm changing the home page and the resources page. The home page will be changed shortly and will include buttons to Ask Jeeves, Yahooligans and Google.
So the plan for Thurs. will be for a lesson by me and follow up by you in whatever way you feel comfortable. I'm going to send a separate message that will have the subject line of StarW Prep of 10/30, in which I will detail what I would like you to do for me before then.
Take care,
Art
----------------------------------------------------------------------
*Laptop is now a dirty word. It seems that there was a lawsuit against a computer manufacturer by someone who was burned by putting their laptop on their lap. I called tech support about my laptop a few weeks ago and the tech said to me, "Oh, you just used the "L" word. It's not a laptop. It's a portable computer."
**My aunt once told my seven year old nephew to finish his vegetables, because there were children in Europe who were starving and would love to have the food. He replied, "Name one."
Message # 2
Hi Ladies,
One of the things I want to do is to visit each one your student computers and set the Google preferences to Strict Filtering. You can help me out by booting up the when you first come in.
Talk it over and decide what rooms we will use and what times. I don't remember if every room has a pull down screen. If so, any room will do. If not, let try for a rooms with screens. Last time we doubled up classes so that it could be done in four sessions. I assume that's the best way to go again.
Last time I gave a lesson, I used Janine's projector, but we had a problem with cables. I'll bring a long patch cord so that problem is resolved. I'd like to use the projector again, along with the extension cord and power strip. Marilyn, you might want to put extension cord and power strip on your shopping list to go with each projector. (The other week, I left 8 long patch cords with Janine.)
Janine, I forgot that I left a white box of power supplies in your room. You might want to get them to the music teacher to see if any of them can help him out and I'll pick the rest up next week.
The plate is still very full. Actually the table is full and the plate is overflowing. Flowing over the sides as we speak is the follow up you might want to do for this lesson. Already on the table are the ftp instructions, 3DWriter instructions, practicing uploading and managing the site.
I think we have the utensils and skills to deal with the lesson and follow up. We also now have the utensils to deal with ftp, 3DWriter, and managing the web site, but you don't have the skills for that yet. I've shown you a little of that and you may have a sense of what's coming, but I know it was a lot of material in way to short a time to expect you to do things on your own.
In the weeks to come, let's think about continuing with the demo lessons and follow up and then deal with ftp and web site management via 1-on-1 instruction.
Once we have that all in place and the machines are reburned, we can look at using some of the other equipment such as the scanner and video camera. One caveat (question) on the video, I know we are going to use the iMacs and iMovie, but I know that none of the PC's would have the hardware requirements to handle video even if we had the software. My question (to Marilyn) is whether the iMacs have enough to handle things.
Your comments and thoughts are MORE than welcomed.
Art
Sunday, October 19, 2003
I just sent the following message to the StarW mailing list:
I have a few thoughts about this Thurs. Please have your laptops available. I'd like to try to install 3DWriter on the. While we can upload and manage the web site until they open the firewall at the central office, I can still load a copy on your laptops and you can create and test activities.
I also have an idea about how we can deal with printing problems and the problem of moving files from computer until they burn new systems on your computers and set up a shared location for saving files. When I come in I'm going to "try" to set Janine's desktop computer as a intranet server that can be accessed by all of the computers in all of your rooms. It will be a way to store files in a central location.
Let's plan to meet for a part of your prep periods so I can let you know if I was successful and to do some advanced planning. If I'm successful, I'll preview the process for you. We can also discuss some ideas for some mini-lessons, kid safe search engines, such as searching techniques, and some creative uses for Powerpoint in reading, writing, higher order skills, and other areas. (This is not your father's Powerpoint). As far as the kidsafe searches go, I think you are all probably familiar with Yahooligans, but I'm not sure you are familiar with Ask Jeeves for Kids or how to configure your browsers to make Google a kidsafe search engine.
See you all on Thurs.
Art
I have a few thoughts about this Thurs. Please have your laptops available. I'd like to try to install 3DWriter on the. While we can upload and manage the web site until they open the firewall at the central office, I can still load a copy on your laptops and you can create and test activities.
I also have an idea about how we can deal with printing problems and the problem of moving files from computer until they burn new systems on your computers and set up a shared location for saving files. When I come in I'm going to "try" to set Janine's desktop computer as a intranet server that can be accessed by all of the computers in all of your rooms. It will be a way to store files in a central location.
Let's plan to meet for a part of your prep periods so I can let you know if I was successful and to do some advanced planning. If I'm successful, I'll preview the process for you. We can also discuss some ideas for some mini-lessons, kid safe search engines, such as searching techniques, and some creative uses for Powerpoint in reading, writing, higher order skills, and other areas. (This is not your father's Powerpoint). As far as the kidsafe searches go, I think you are all probably familiar with Yahooligans, but I'm not sure you are familiar with Ask Jeeves for Kids or how to configure your browsers to make Google a kidsafe search engine.
See you all on Thurs.
Art
