admin April 14th, 2010
Upcoming Events
April 16, 2010, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM(Noon) – Online Event
Ellen Paxton is a National Board Certified Teacher and the founder of Professional Learning Board, a MN-based company that offers a variety of online learning. Leveraging her experiences in workforce development, instructional design models, individualized education strategies, elearning, professional development planning, training and trends, Ellen Paxton leads all aspects of online professional development, teaching and learning programs for Professional Learning Board.
Ellen’s presentation will cover “Free and Easy Online Learning Tools”. This will include tips on how to use these tools effectively to design and deliver training.
Cost for this event is $10 for ASTD National and chapter members and $20 for others. Contact Sarah Jeffcoat sarah.jeffcoat@astdhoi.org for additional information. Register online here
Can’t join us? Be sure to download our Free Training and Teaching Toolbar:
For Teachers: http://ProfessionalLearningBoard.OurToolbar.com
For Consultants, Freelancers and Trainers: http://Consultants.OurToolbar.com
Tags: Opportunities, resources, technology
admin April 4th, 2010
It looks like EtherPad (real time document editing) is really going away on April 14th.
Here are some alternatives for folks interested in using real-time collaboration in teaching and learning:
Tags: collaboration, technology, tool
admin March 23rd, 2010
Imagine a complete web authoring system that is extremely easy to use, combines web file management and simple WYSIWYG web page editing capabilities like those found in Microsoft FrontPage, Adobe Dreamweaver and other high end programs. Now make it ideal for non-technical computer users who want to create an attractive, professional-looking web site without needing to know HTML or web coding. Ooh and since we’re dreaming, let’s make it free too.
Now, check out Kompozer.net and learn how to use it with straight forward guidance from Christopher Heng here.
Tags: free, technology, tool
prodev March 10th, 2010
I recently started volunteering twice a week teaching computers at an area high school. We have been doing mostly discussing (not using any machines yet) and I told the students to write down a particular website. To which I was met by a bunch of blank stares. Not one student had a notebook or a writing utensil! I couldn’t believe it! Exasperated, I asked, “Do you have a cell phone?” Most nodded. I said, “Take it out and put this in it.” They all did so except for one who claimed she’d just memorize the site location and another who went to her locker for paper and a pen. I believe that this experience, while way out of my comfort zone, was good for me — I’m still not sure exactly what I learned but do know that it helps me better understand my learners and for that they and I will both benefit.
After several years out of the classroom and much learning in technology I am excited to be headed back working directly with students. The school environment where I will be working has very limited Internet access. Initially I was shocked to learn this and thought “How will I ever help prepare students for the real world if they don’t even have access to the Internet?!”
After much reflection, introspection and a little research I came up with some ideas:
Many desk-top applications including Microsoft Office Suite don’t rely upon the World Wide Web. In fact Open Office http://OpenOffice.org (NO COST) is a great alternative so that students will be able to develop and practice word processing, desktop publishing, spreadsheet and even multi-media presentation skills.
I could put other free and open source technologies onto portable drives and upload these directly, with the school’s permission (and maybe the student’s help) of course, onto the machines. I’m thinking GnuCash http://GnuCash.org (NO COST) is a super alternative to http://QuickBooks.Intuit.com/, Paint http://GetPaint.net (NO COST) is a wonderful Adobe PhotoShop http://Adobe.com replacement and Notepad ++ http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm (NO COST) is a good alternative to Adobe DreamWeaver http://Adobe.com.
Tags: free, open source, resources, teaching, technology, tooinls
prodev February 27th, 2010
Mark Twain said, “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” Throughout our lives we are both teachers and learners. This list of Quick Top Picks is full of ideas and resources for pushing our own learning as well as that of students.
- Study Guides & Strategies (http://www.studygs.net) 267 student guides and strategies with over 100 Adobe Flash exercises and games: topics include learning to learn to test taking; time, project and stress management; reading, writing and problem solving processes.
- Wikibooks (http://en.wikibooks.org) is a Wikimedia community for creating a free library of educational textbooks that anyone can edit.
- HowToons (http://howtoons.com) uses everyday objects to invent toys that can be built. Got a soda bottle? Build a sub for the tub.
- 5Min (http://5min.com) is a one-stop shop for tens of thousands of videos across 20 major instructional, knowledge and lifestyle categories.
- eHow (http://ehow.com) offers 1 million + article and 170,000 videos with instructional solutions that help complete day-to-day tasks and projects. These are written and produced by experts as well as people jwho’ve figured out how to complete a variety of tasks, simple and complex, and are willing to share their knowledge.
- WikiHow (http://wikihow.com) is a How-to Manual that anyone can edit. I hope you enjoy these learning resources.
If you’ve got others, please let us know. In the meantime, I’m off to watch that “How to Fold Hospital Corners” video again.
Tags: comic, free, resource, resources, teachers, teaching, technology, tool, video
admin January 19th, 2009
The newest additions to the Teacher Toolbar include:
StoryBlender
- Blend Studio lets you make your own custom web videos! Use your photos, webcam video and audio, YouTube videos, custom animations, and more!
- Make Me Talk lets you add your voice to photos of your family and friends, politicians, celebrities, animals… whatever!
- E-card Creator but with your photos and webcam videos. Why Send a plain old e-card when you can send a professional-quality video greeting?
- Create and Edit Photos (and Animations too!)
Don’t have the FREE Teacher Toolbar yet? Register and get it here.
Tags: free, resources, technology, tool
