Almost Here!

Digital Literacy Day is less than a week away. What are you doing with your students for Digital Literacy Day? Do you need some ideas? Go to http://www.digitallearningday.org/ to see some examples, get ideas, and participate in the discussion.

What is Digital Learning Day?

On Digital Learning Day, we are asking everyone, no matter your comfort with technology–teachers, librarians, school leaders, afterschool programs, community groups, parents–to sign up and be counted in this effort by doing the following:

Start a conversation.
Try one new thing.
Showcase your success.

The web site has great suggestions, ideas, lesson plans, links to Toolkits for parents, after-school programs, librarians, teachers, district leaders/administrators, etc. Check it out and plan to try one new thing next Friday, February 1st. Hopefully, you and your students will want to continue beyond the one day!

Digital Learning Day: Resource Round-Up

Twitter: AeaPDOnline
Web Site: www.iowaaea.org

Follow the conversation about the organization/formation of imug (Iowa Moodle Users Group) on Twitter, using the new hashtag, #imug.

Professional Development Online

Many teachers are a fan of Kathy Schrock’s web sites. She continually provides updated information about incorporating technology and Web 2.o tools into the classroom for both students and instructors. So have you seen her new site at http://www.edweb.net/.59bdfa90/, PD in Action?

“This is an online professional learning community (PLC) that presents free webinars, live chats, and online discussions that make is easy to collaborate with fellow educators on the common goal of improving student learning.”

It is a community where educators can come together to virtually discuss, explore, exchange, encourage each other to share ideas, try new strategies and to “infuse appropriate technology in ways that matter and make sense.” When you join this community you will be invited to participate in a once-per-month webinar and live chat session.  I encourage you to check it out.

I just finished listening to a recorded webinar entitled “Resources for Online Tools and Strategies to Support Instruction” with Kathy Schrock.

Description of Webinar:

With the teacher acting as the facilitator in the classroom, there are optimum conditions that need to be present in order for this to occur. This webinar will present some pedagogical models of teaching and learning that can easily meet these conditions and support the use of online tools.

Online tools are not necessarily Web 2.0 tools in the truest sense. Some of the tools covered in this presentation would be considered Web 2.0 tools with their real-time collaboration aspects and revision histories. Other tools presented will be online utilities to meet a specific need or meet a student’s goal.

During this Webinar, you will be introduced to several tools in each of these categories.

• Video editors
• Audio editors
• Image editors
• Word processors
• Cool stuff
• Web page creators
• Podcast creators
• Survey makers
• Media converters
• Mind mappers
• Citation makers

The discussion will focus on why and when you might use each type and the strengths of the tools will be emphasized.

Other links:

Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Everything

Information Literacy

I hope you take some time to check out her resources–and find a way to utilize them in your teaching.

Twitter: AeaPDOnline
Web Site: www.iowaaea.org

Follow the conversation about the organization/formation of imug (Iowa Moodle Users Group) on Twitter, using the new hashtag, #imug.

AEA PD Online Moodle Server Status

The site, moodle.aeapdonline.org is currently down. Technicians are working on restoring it. It will take several hours for the site to become fully functional. Please watch this space for an announcement as to when it is back up and running.

I apologize to all instructors and students for the inconvenience this causes. Please know they are working to bring it back online as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Peggy

Digital Literacy Day is Almost Here!

The countdown to Digital Literacy Day has begun! Digital Literacy Day is February 1, 2012.  What is Digital Learning Day?

“Digital Learning Day is a culminating event in a year-round national awareness campaign to improve teaching and learning for all children. On Digital Learning Day, we are asking everyone – no matter your comfort with technology – teachers, librarians, school leaders, afterschool programs, community groups, parents..” You can go to the web site, http://www.digitallearningday.org/, to find out what events are happening all across the nation to celebrate Digital Literacy Day. You can also sign up to be part of the celebration. So far, 28 states have officially signed up to join the celebration. Registered participants will have a chance to be included in Digital Learning Day activities, receive exclusive tips, content, and promotional materials, and be part of the wave of innovation! Sign up today.

The web site has an abundance of resources, materials, and instructional ideas. You will want to bookmark this web site!

Twitter: AeaPDOnline
Web Site: www.iowaaea.org

Follow the conversation about the organization/formation of imug (Iowa Moodle Users Group) on Twitter, using the new hashtag, #imug.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2012! Hope you had a relaxing, restful holiday break. I view the new year as a  fresh beginning even though it isn’t a new school year. I think it is my chance to begin anew–change things that may not be working the way I want them to and try new things to put a little “life” into the everyday routines. I am not one to do New Year’s resolutions as I always break them shortly after I make them. How about you?

Here are some great Web 2.0 tools to use (from a blog post by Mark Brumley who writes a great educational Technology blog)

5 Tools for Brainstorming

Here are some free tools to use for brainstorming, mindmapping, concept mapping–whatever term you want to use.

Bubbl.us has an easy to use user interface. This is classic concept mapping. Start with a central idea and branch off to other ideas. Connections to other thought bubbles can be easily created or deleted. For text only mindmaps, Bubble.us works great. If you need to add images or videos, check out some of the other tools below.

Mindomo.com includes many more features including a clipart library and the ability to import images from Google images or Flickr as well as video straight from YouTube. The interface looks similar to Office 2007 with a ribbon and tabs for the various tools. Exploring these tabs reveals a large number of options and formatting tools. Mindomo works well if you need more than just text bubbles and has all the power of an installed application.

Wisemapping.com offers a bare bones user interface but includes everything you need to create a mindmap. Start with a main idea and branch from there. You can add icons and adjust the shape and color of your content. Completed maps can be shared or exported as several formats including PDF.

Mindmeister.com is a nice blend of features and usability. Double click anywhere to add content. You can also include icons and images, either your own or from the clipart library. In addition, mindmaps can include notes, links and even attachments. Keep in mind the free version scrolls through ads at the upper right-hand corner and you can only create three maps.

Mind42.com is simple and gets the job done. Like many of the others, start with a main topic and quickly add new nodes. Content can be moved and regrouped by dragging and dropping. Images and links can be included as well.

(Source: http://www.markbrumley.com/2011/07/02/5-free-web-2-0-brainstorming-tools/)

Other Tools Recommended from the same blog: 5 Web 2.0 Image Editors

Have a great holiday! I will be back next year (2012) to continue adding to the Friday Feature series.

Twitter: AeaPDOnline
Web Site: www.iowaaea.org

Follow the conversation about the organization/formation of imug (Iowa Moodle Users Group) on Twitter, using the new hashtag, #imug.