Sunday, July 13, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Tuesday at NECC 2008
Global Collaboration: The morning general session featured an on-stage dialogue between Lestor Holt, NBC news anchor, and Jim Carleton and Mali Bickley (classroom teachers from Ontario Canada).Jim and Mali shared their inspirational story as well as their insights and experiences on how they had integrated curriculum content, technology, and teaching strategies into relevant global projects that motivated their students and inspired parents, administrators and fellow teachers. The International Education and Resource Network (iEARN) played an important role in supporting the teachers and their projects.
Vendors Highlights from the floor:
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 2008 Edition - works with leopard, includes iTunes integration; offline syncing; classroom manager; and brilliant graphics. (It made me want to practice my typing!)
HyperStudio: Creator and software designer, Roger Wagner, presented his new edition of HyperStudio5. This program is back and has been updated with Web 2.0 capabilities including podcasting and webcams. Students can use the familiar “cards” and “stacks” to process and record their learning in a non-linear fashion. The graphics were spectacular and the program includes easy to use media rich tools.
Mycroflex system - The makers of the Proscope (a handheld microscope used in some of our science classes) now offers a budget conscious solution for capturing and viewing scientific objects. The camera and zoom video lens can stand alone or easily adapts to most stereo or compound microscopes. It also includes a flexible mount that provides stable positioning. The images displayed on the demonstration monitor were quite remarkable.
Hal Davidson: Always entertaining, Hal offered a session called “Teaching Spectacularly with the Cell Phone”. He made the point that there are many more cell phones than computers and that almost every student already has one! His presentation focused on features that he felt were most useful in a classroom situation. Many phones today not only capture pictures but also video. Through web-based programs such as Qik, we are now able to broadcast live video from a cell phone. The live feeds can easily be posted on webpages, blogs, or wikis. Cisco’s new IP security webcams, now make it possible to watch a live feed (on a cell phone) from anywhere in the world! By registering for “free” multiple channels - one for each webcam - Davidson showed how to easily switch between the various webcam feeds. Other tools that he demonstrated for cell phones included JOTT, TWITTER, PollEverywhere, and GCast. These tools are ones that you will want to learn more about.
Vendors Highlights from the floor:
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 2008 Edition - works with leopard, includes iTunes integration; offline syncing; classroom manager; and brilliant graphics. (It made me want to practice my typing!)
HyperStudio: Creator and software designer, Roger Wagner, presented his new edition of HyperStudio5. This program is back and has been updated with Web 2.0 capabilities including podcasting and webcams. Students can use the familiar “cards” and “stacks” to process and record their learning in a non-linear fashion. The graphics were spectacular and the program includes easy to use media rich tools.
Mycroflex system - The makers of the Proscope (a handheld microscope used in some of our science classes) now offers a budget conscious solution for capturing and viewing scientific objects. The camera and zoom video lens can stand alone or easily adapts to most stereo or compound microscopes. It also includes a flexible mount that provides stable positioning. The images displayed on the demonstration monitor were quite remarkable.
Hal Davidson: Always entertaining, Hal offered a session called “Teaching Spectacularly with the Cell Phone”. He made the point that there are many more cell phones than computers and that almost every student already has one! His presentation focused on features that he felt were most useful in a classroom situation. Many phones today not only capture pictures but also video. Through web-based programs such as Qik, we are now able to broadcast live video from a cell phone. The live feeds can easily be posted on webpages, blogs, or wikis. Cisco’s new IP security webcams, now make it possible to watch a live feed (on a cell phone) from anywhere in the world! By registering for “free” multiple channels - one for each webcam - Davidson showed how to easily switch between the various webcam feeds. Other tools that he demonstrated for cell phones included JOTT, TWITTER, PollEverywhere, and GCast. These tools are ones that you will want to learn more about.
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