Learning in the Lou

Posted by Guest Blogger-Samantha Whorton After our Unconference 2.0 on Friday I found myself eager to try out some new things. Some of the things I learned include present.me, blogger, Arkive.org, historypin.com, Ifaketext.com, among many more. Present.me is a great tool to use for presentations. Instead of just the regular PowerPoint, you can include videos as well. With PowerPoint, you can input videos, but then you can not see the slideshow. With Present.me you can have a PowerPoint slide on half the screen and a video on the other half to explain the slide. This is beneficial for many reasons such as oral presentations, homework problems, explaining a process, showing examples to the students, etc.  Blogger is a great tool to use for classrooms and also for communication between the students, parents, and teachers. I have had a blog for my classroom for two years, but during the Unconference, I learned a great deal about adding pages, inputting my google calendar, and also...

Here is a great demo created by a teacher on how he uses the Chrome browser.  I am a huge fan of using multiple tabs.

WHAT: Jonathan Kozol , author and educator WHEN &WHERE: Monday September 24,2012 5:30 PM Keynote Address 6:30 PM Meet the Author and Book Signing Free and Open to the Public Loretto Hilton Theatre 130 Edgar Road St.Louis, Missouri 63119 I have read a number of his books and think this will be a unique opportunity to hear what he has to say in person.

Watch this short ignite talk for the answer. What do you think?  Do we have a totally new form of literacy?

In our ELITE 3 classes, we have been discussing how our classrooms have changed over time.  Here are the activity directions: For this activity, we would like you to brainstorm what it would be like to explain the modern classroom to your grandparents.  If you were taking them on a tour, what would they see and hear?  What would students be doing? The teacher?  Create a 5 minute presentation of your choice to share this information. Here are some of the sample projects people have created. Using Glogster.... Using Prezi..... Evolution of the Classroom on Prezi

First, you need to download educreations for the iPad.

The free tickets to this event are slowly disappearing.   Sign up now before it is too late! Why should you sign up for this event?  The number one reason is this is unlike any event you have ever attended.  The sessions are not planned in advance and there is no keynote speaker.  This is more of a conversation around specific topics. I had the best time last year.  Will you join me? (The LiNC team also created a discussion and it was a pretty powerful experience.)

Know that what you do on a daily basis makes a difference. We are changing the world....one child at a time. Thanks for making someone feel special today.  

How to Make Better Teachers Article Getting Started with Blogger DIRECTIONS...Log in to blogger with your google account. Don't have a google account?  Click the  Sign Up  button and follow the prompts. Getting Started How to create a new blog on blogger. Basic settings within blogger. Creating a blog post with blogger. Advanced Blogging Embedding a video on your blog post. Adding an image to your blog post. ELITE 2-Tic Tac Toe Board

Using Diigo to Organize Web Resources Diigo What is social bookmarking?   Check out this video  to learn more. Create an accout with  Diigo.com Step 2: (Optional) Install the Diigo toolbar Additional Tutorials: How to bookmark a site using the Diigo Toolbar Find and Join groups in Diigo Edit a bookmark Find and follow people on diigo How to Create a List in Diigo How to Find Lists in Diigo   What now?

The back of this document will show you how the TV box will work.   This is PDF that illustrates the basic remote functions. By the end of this center you will: understand how the TV box works Equipment Quick Start Guide After viewing the above guide: know how to chnage the TV volume understand how to change the channel know how to change modes (TV, computer, DVD)

FrontRow Audio (blue box) Here you will learn how to operate the audio system in your classroom. By the end of this center you will: understand how to adjust the settings on the FrontRow box know how the neck lanyard microphone works FrontRow Digital Audio Box The Neck Lanyard Microphone   - watch this video from 3:15-4:40 Note: It is very important to keep the overall volume low when using the microphone. Tip: Make sure your TV is ALWAYS turned up to 100%.  Use the blue audio box to adjust the volume level.  If you do not turn the TV up to 100% your blue box tends to shut off after 10 minutes of use.

This center is focused on the Epson Projector.  The following links will teach you the basics on how to operate parts of this projector.  By the end of this center you will: know how to calibrate your board use the tools to annotate the screen (if there is time) know how to use the white board mode Please complete these steps in the order they appear. Calibrate the Projector Calibrating your board is essential to using your pens with your board.   You will need to connect your laptop to the Epson projector in the room for this task. How to calibrate your Epson projector. Easy Interactive Epson Tools These tools will allow you to annotate (draw) directly on your screen.   You do not have to be connected to the projector to complete these tasks. How to find you Easy Interactive Tools Using the Easy Interactive Tools - Pen Easy Interactive Tools - White Board Mode Bonus Videos Additional Tools in Mouse Mode Advanced Epson Tools Importin...

YouTube Videos: This center is focused on the ELMO document camera.  The following links will teach you the basics in becoming a successful ELMO user.   By the end of this center you will: know how to use ImageMate know how to take pictures with the ELMO (if there is time) know how to capture video with the ELMO Please complete these steps in the order they appear. Connecting the ELMO This video will step you through what you should experience when you connect your ELMO to your laptop.  This process should only need to be completed once. Connecting your ELMO to your Windows 7 computer.   (Truman and Concord only!) Connecting your ELMO to your Windows XP computer.   (All other buildings.) Taking Pictures with ImageMate Launch your ImageMate software and follow the steps shown in this video.   Take and alter an image using ImageMate. Tip: Use ImageMate to project what is under the ELMO.  There will be no delay going betw...

I promise....this site is going to blow your mind!  Amazing!!!!  And it's FREE~try it out today. http://www.socrative.com/