Creating E-Portfolios With Web 2.0 Tools
Dr. Helen Barrett has created a list of the best Web 2.0 tools for online portfolio creation. Also included are instructions and examples of sample portfolios using a wiki, Googledoc, Google pages, and a blog.
Sample Organization: Instructor Portfolio
The staff at Penn State University provides a graphic organizer to show the organization plan for an exemplary professional portfolio. See also numerous examples of completed professional portfolios.
Five Reasons Why You Need a Portfolio and Seven Reasons Why It Should Be Online
Michele Martin describes why e-portfolios are highly effective career-building tools, and then explains the nuts and bolts of setting up a professional online portfolio.
San Lorenzo High School Senior Eportfolio Description
San Lorenzo (CA) High School has developed a detailed description of the essential items for a senior portfolio. Also included is an exit portfolio rubric.
Here are samples of exemplary senior portfolios:
Mission (CA) High School Senior Portfolios
Senior Digital Portfolio
Rubric for Electronic Portfolio
Joan Vandervelde of UW-Stout has created a useful rubric to evaluate seven aspects of electronic portfolios.
Tech Tip – Converting Google Presentations to PowerPoints
You can now convert your Google presentations to Microsoft PowerPoint format.
In Google Docs’ file menu choose "Save as PPT" or “Save as PDF”. You can also embed your presentation on a website or blog (Video – 1 minute, 18 seconds)
Summer Courses are Filling Quickly – Don’t Delay
Register online
Participate from your home computer; no travel to campus is required. Select university billing, and no payment is due until summer session begins.
Final Call for Courses Beginning on June 9 and June 11
EDUC 744 958 Teaching Art for Non-Art Teachers
EDUC 744 962 Poverty in Schools
EDUC 744 911 Effective Classroom Management
EDUC 744 924 Inclusion—Strategies and Assistive Technologies for Special Needs/ESL Learners
EDUC 744 940 School Library and Classroom Collaborations
EDUC 761 Collaborative Communities in E-learning
EDUC 763 Instructional Design for E-Learning
EDUC 744 966 Implementing Instructional Technology Innovations
RDGED 704 Young Adult Literature in the Reading Program
RDGED 705 Instructional Techniques for Assisting Students with Reading Difficulties
RDGED 706 Assessment and Evaluation of Reading and Language Development
Additional courses begin on June 16 and June 23.
Review the list of courses including reading in the content areas, teaching with ipods and handheld computers, teaching information literacy with primary sources, bullying in schools, mentoring, educational leadership, teaching English language learners, teaching elementary math and middle school math, teaching writing with the 6-traits, web design, creating digital media (videos), elearning and online teaching, assessment, workforce development, differentiation, building better instruction with technology, Inspiration and Kidspiration.
Labels: Powerpoint, Tech Tips
posted by Karen Franker, Editor @ 5/13/2008 05:43:00 PM
Can You Diigo It?
The TeqSmart staff describes how Diigo can enhance instruction by highlighting sections of Web pages and attaching “sticky note” comments for students to view.
How is Diigo Better?
The Diigo staff has created a useful chart which compares Diigo’s features with those of Del.icio.us.
Why Would Teachers Use Diigo?
Clif Mims has compiled a list of responses from educators to discuss the pro’s and con’s of using Diigo in the classroom.
Streamline It Part I: Diigo or Bust
Ryan Bretag provides a side-by-side comparison of Diigo, Del.icio.us and Zotero as well as an excellent instructional video on using Diigo’s features.
Tech Tip – Capture Screenshots with Jing
Jing is a quick, free and easy tool for capturing screen shots which can then serve as brief training videos. The downloadable Jing software (Windows or Mac) can be placed on your desktop to use as often as needed. Simply select an area of your screen, capture it as an image or record it as a video, and then click Share. Jing places a URL to your images on the clipboard, ready for you to paste in documents, blogs, and emails.
What Our Students Are Saying…
About the Instructional Applications of Digital Photography course:
http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/digitalphoto/index.html
Chuck Domine, technology educator from Kenosha, Wisconsin, said, "Instructional Applications of Digital Photography is a resource rich course. The readings, web resources, and activities were pertinent and up-to-date. I was able to bring into practice elements of the course as they were introduced. It immediately led to a much richer learning environment in the classroom. Applying digital photography as a cross-curriculum strategy can be used to engage students in all content areas.”
Daniel Smith, a student from Tokyo, Japan, said, "I really enjoyed the journey through this course. As a full time teacher and family guy, I appreciated the pacing and quantity of work that we did - enough to be challenging, but not so overwhelming that I couldn’t enjoy the process.”
http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/digitalphoto/index.html
Chuck Domine, technology educator from Kenosha, Wisconsin, said, "Instructional Applications of Digital Photography is a resource rich course. The readings, web resources, and activities were pertinent and up-to-date. I was able to bring into practice elements of the course as they were introduced. It immediately led to a much richer learning environment in the classroom. Applying digital photography as a cross-curriculum strategy can be used to engage students in all content areas.”
Daniel Smith, a student from Tokyo, Japan, said, "I really enjoyed the journey through this course. As a full time teacher and family guy, I appreciated the pacing and quantity of work that we did - enough to be challenging, but not so overwhelming that I couldn’t enjoy the process.”
Sign up soon to reserve your spot!
http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/register.shtml
Search/Browse 40 Online Courses Starting in June
Courses will be offered including web design, poverty in schools, methods of teaching art, math, reading and writing, technology integration, classroom management, teaching English Language Learners, autism, differentiation, inclusion, assessment, instructional leadership, mentoring, bullying in schools, school library/media specialists, elearning and online teaching.
Participate from your home computer; no travel to campus is required. Select university billing, and no payment is due until summer session begins.
posted by Karen Franker, Editor @ 4/25/2008 08:42:00 AM
The Common Craft staff members have created an excellent short video to illustrate how Google Docs facilitates collaborative projects.
Google Docs
The Tech Learning staff provides tips on getting the most out of Google Docs and includes examples for collaborative use in the classroom.
Google Docs and Spreadsheets: Collaborating in the Classroom or Library
Christopher Case describes how Google Docs & Spreadsheets has transformed his classroom, and offers tips for veteran users as well as first-timers who want to make the most of these tools.
Teach Collaborative Revision with Google Docs
The Google for Educators site contains helpful articles from Writing magazine with student-friendly tips and revision techniques. Also included is a teacher’s guide with ideas for using Google Docs to create innovative lesson plans about revision.
Google Docs Tutorials
Atomic Learning provides a series of free tutorial mini-movies showing how to use Google Docs’ main features, with special sections on publishing and collaborating.
Tech Tip – PowerPoint Design/Copyright Do’s and Don’ts
Is it legal to copy music from a public library CD into a PowerPoint presentation? What about transferring music from an LP record to an iPod? Alvin Trusty’s humorous video illustrates key points about copyright and effective PowerPoint design.
How to Create a Great PowerPoint Without Breaking the Law (video 44 min. 51 sec.)
How to Create a Great PowerPoint Without Breaking the Law (video 44 min. 51 sec.)
Announcement: Register for Summer Session
Are you looking for graduate courses that support your professional development goals for learning new skills, changing salary lanes, licensure renewal and advanced certification?
The e-learning and online teaching certificate courses and reading teacher certification courses are filling quickly. Sign up soon to reserve your spot!
Are you looking for graduate courses that support your professional development goals for learning new skills, changing salary lanes, licensure renewal and advanced certification?
The e-learning and online teaching certificate courses and reading teacher certification courses are filling quickly. Sign up soon to reserve your spot!
Search/Browse Online Courses Starting in June
Participate from your home computer; no travel to campus is required. Select university billing, and no payment is due until summer session begins.
Labels: Collaboration, Powerpoint, Tech Tips
posted by Karen Franker, Editor @ 4/09/2008 08:01:00 PM
Evaluating the Research Process
Tech Tip: Quick Page Zoom in Internet Explorer 7
Photo Credit
21st Century Literacies
AT&T and UCLA have developed a Website with individual lessons focusing on aspects of essential research skills including questioning, identifying/collecting, evaluating, sensemaking, reflecting/refining, using information and assessing the final product.
21st Century Information Fluency
The staff members at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, including UW-Stout online instructor Dennis O’Connor, have developed free tools, games, and tutorials to help students effectively locate, use and evaluate digital information. Try the excellent “Getting Started” page for “mini lessons” on such topics as “Thinking Outside the Search Box.”
Rubrics to Evaluate Student Research Process Tasks
UW-Stout online instructor Karen Franker has developed two ready-to-use rubrics for students and their instructors to effectively assess the major steps of the research process --planning, gathering, organizing, citing and presenting information.
Research Process Rubric – Elementary
Research Process Rubric – Middle School
Rubric for a Research Project
Joyce Valenza's rubric describes six key areas for efffective assessment of research projects at the senior high and college level -- thesis question/problem, information seeking, analysis, synthesis, documentation and product/process.
Tech Tip – Quick Page Zoom in Internet Explorer 7
Some Web pages contain images and text which are much too small to be easily viewed. Internet Explorer 7’s zoom feature provides a quick way to magnify pages for improved readability.
With your Web page open, look in the lower right hand corner of your screen. You will see a small magnifying glass with a + (plus) sign inside it and the word 100% next to it. If you click on the downward-pointing black triangle, you will get a menu of magnification percentage options. Select any above 100%, and your Web page text is instantly enlarged. You may also reduce the text size below 100% to see more of the page at once.
Announcement:
Summer Registration is Available Now
Are you looking for graduate courses that support your professional development goals for learning new skills, changing salary lanes, licensure renewal and advanced certification?
Dates of Summer Online Courses
Sign up soon to reserve your spot! Select university billing, and no payment is due until the class begins.
What's New for Summer 2008
EDUC 744 967 Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders
EDUC 744 966 Implementing Instructional Technology Innovations
EDUC 744 963 Teaching English Language Learners (ELL) in General Education
EDUC 744 964 Workforce Development: Every Teacher’s Responsibility
EDUC 744 928 Instructional Applications of Digital Photography
Labels: 21st Century Skills, Tech Tips
posted by Karen Franker, Editor @ 3/25/2008 09:52:00 AM
Creative Classroom Uses for Microsoft Excel
Excel Tutorials
The Education World staff has created a selection of tutorials demonstrating innovative uses of Excel 2003, including: seating charts, interactive maps, timelines, interactive crossword puzzles, and self-correcting worksheets.
Microsoft Excel Interactive Projects
The Center for Technology and Teacher Education provides downloadable Excel files and lessons for interactive secondary school projects, including fraction pie, projectile motion, and ratio.
Create a Timeline Using Microsoft Excel
Microsoft’s Education site provides step-by-step instructions for creating various styles of timelines with Excel 2000 and above.
Microsoft Excel Games (Excel 2002 and above)
The Watson School of Education provides downloadable interactive Excel files such as Bingo and self-checking Excel spreadsheets.
Tech Tip – Excel 2003 Speak Text Feature
Microsoft Excel 2003 has a built-in feature to speak aloud the text and numbers in selected cells of a spreadsheet. This is helpful for with special needs students and non-readers. Text is highlighted as it is spoken, so students have a visual cue.
To activate the text-to-speech feature:
1. Select a range of cells in an Excel spreadsheet.
2. From the Tools menu, select Speech and then Show Text To Speech Toolbar.
3. Click the leftmost icon on the toolbar, Speak Cells, or click Speak On Enter (the rightmost icon) to listen upon selecting the cell.
You can choose to have the program read vertically by column, or horizontally by rows.
Announcement
UW-Stout’s Online Master of Science in Education
Beep, beep, beep… 5:30 a.m. Jumped out of bed, showered, dressed… got the kids ready for school, fed them, and the dog, too. Left at 7:30… dropped the kids at school, taught all morning, ate in the cafeteria, froze during recess duty, taught the rest of the day, picked up the kids, drove home, let the dog out, made dinner, ate, helped the kids with their homework, and…
Sound familiar? Wonder how you can find the time to earn a graduate degree with your hectic schedule? You CAN! AND, save yourself commuting time and money.
UW-Stout offers a Master of Science in Education degree, entirely online, which allows you to earn a graduate degree from home on your schedule. UW-Stout’s online degree is convenient, flexible, and from a highly regarded, accredited state university. Cohorts start in the Fall and Spring. If you register for two courses each term, you can earn your degree in only two years!
The UW-Stout team works with you personally to ensure you get exactly what you need, when you need it. UW-Stout’s online Master in Education program just started its seventh cohort in January 2008! The program continues to thrive and grow because of the care of our student support team, the expertise of UW-Stout’s instructors, and the continued success of our students.
Beep, beep, beep… 5:30 a.m. Jumped out of bed, showered, dressed… got the kids ready for school, fed them, and the dog, too. Left at 7:30… dropped the kids at school, taught all morning, ate in the cafeteria, froze during recess duty, taught the rest of the day, picked up the kids, drove home, let the dog out, made dinner, ate, helped the kids with their homework, and…
Sound familiar? Wonder how you can find the time to earn a graduate degree with your hectic schedule? You CAN! AND, save yourself commuting time and money.
UW-Stout offers a Master of Science in Education degree, entirely online, which allows you to earn a graduate degree from home on your schedule. UW-Stout’s online degree is convenient, flexible, and from a highly regarded, accredited state university. Cohorts start in the Fall and Spring. If you register for two courses each term, you can earn your degree in only two years!
The UW-Stout team works with you personally to ensure you get exactly what you need, when you need it. UW-Stout’s online Master in Education program just started its seventh cohort in January 2008! The program continues to thrive and grow because of the care of our student support team, the expertise of UW-Stout’s instructors, and the continued success of our students.
Visit: www.uwstout.edu/programs/mse/online or contact Amy Patrick, gullixsona@uwstout.edu or 715.232.2253, to find out more about this exciting opportunity to earn your Master’s degree in Education online!
Labels: Tech Tips
posted by Karen Franker, Editor @ 2/15/2008 11:44:00 AM
Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling
This site created by Bernard Robin is a terrific “must see” resource for learning how to create digital stories with students of all ages. The site includes step-by-step instructions, examples and several downloadable PowerPoint presentations on digital storytelling.
Seven Steps to Create a DigiTales Story
Bernajean Porter has created a visual layout of how to create a 3 -5 minute digital video, including extensive information on recommended software, links to tutorials and a storyboard template.
Digital Storytelling
Mark Nichols has gathered some of the best digital storytelling resources for educators on the Web, including characteristics of effective stories and links to award-winning projects.
Digital Storytelling Rubric (pdf file)
Educational technologist Dean Tomita has created an effective rubric for evaluating group digital storytelling projects.
A New Life, a New Home: Intermediate Social Studies Digital Story Project
(2:23; requires QuickTime; may be slow to load at times)
Fourth-sixth grade students at Scarsdale Public School use narration, music and digital photos to tell the stories of U.S. immigrants. Includes a full project description, learner outcomes, and additional resources. This project is a terrific example of the integration of research with technology to produce a meaningful and powerful digital story.
Tech Tip – Create Photo Collages Online
Looking for a way to help students create quick digital photo essays?
Try StainedGlass Collage, a free online tool which takes your uploaded photos and creates attractive stained-glass style collages. Collages may be downloaded, printed, emailed or imported into PowerPoint.
Directions are simple:
To add photos or create a new collage, click on My Photos.
To view or modify saved collages click My Collages.
This site created by Bernard Robin is a terrific “must see” resource for learning how to create digital stories with students of all ages. The site includes step-by-step instructions, examples and several downloadable PowerPoint presentations on digital storytelling.
Seven Steps to Create a DigiTales Story
Bernajean Porter has created a visual layout of how to create a 3 -5 minute digital video, including extensive information on recommended software, links to tutorials and a storyboard template.
Digital Storytelling
Mark Nichols has gathered some of the best digital storytelling resources for educators on the Web, including characteristics of effective stories and links to award-winning projects.
Digital Storytelling Rubric (pdf file)
Educational technologist Dean Tomita has created an effective rubric for evaluating group digital storytelling projects.
A New Life, a New Home: Intermediate Social Studies Digital Story Project
(2:23; requires QuickTime; may be slow to load at times)
Fourth-sixth grade students at Scarsdale Public School use narration, music and digital photos to tell the stories of U.S. immigrants. Includes a full project description, learner outcomes, and additional resources. This project is a terrific example of the integration of research with technology to produce a meaningful and powerful digital story.
Tech Tip – Create Photo Collages Online
Looking for a way to help students create quick digital photo essays?
Try StainedGlass Collage, a free online tool which takes your uploaded photos and creates attractive stained-glass style collages. Collages may be downloaded, printed, emailed or imported into PowerPoint.
Directions are simple:
To add photos or create a new collage, click on My Photos.
To view or modify saved collages click My Collages.
Final Call for Courses Beginning on January 30 and February 4
Meet your professional development goals for learning new skills, changing salary lanes, licensure renewal and advanced certification.
The following classes still have a few openings:
Courses Beginning on January 30
EDUC 761 Collaborative Communities in E-learning
EDUC 744 917 Inspiration and Kidspiration: K-12 Strategies to Build Study Skills and Comprehension
Courses Beginning on February 4
EDUC 744 937 Learning Applications for iPod and Handheld Computer
EDUC 744 949 Assessment for Learning
EDUC 763 Instructional Design for E-Learning
RDGED 706 Assessment and Evaluation of Reading and Language Development
EDUC 744 954 Instructional Leadership Skills
REGISTER ONLINE TO RESERVE A SPOT
http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/register.shtml
Payment plan option available.
Labels: Digital photography, Tech Tips
posted by Karen Franker, Editor @ 1/22/2008 08:04:00 PM
Experts’ Top Ten E-Learning Tools for Teaching & Professional DevelopmentTech Tip: 162 Tips and Tricks for Working with E-learning Tools
Photo Credit
Top 100 Tools for Learning 2007
In July 2007 Jane Hart, head of the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies in Somerset, England asked 64 e-learning experts to list their top 10 productivity and teaching tools. A free PDF download version lists the tools by type and gives key information about each one.
The top ten most frequently mentioned on 2008 lists by other teachers, instructional designers and online learning specialists are:
Skype – host IM chat, conference and international calls
Del.icio.us - store, tag and share bookmarks online, valuable resource for finding others’ favorite sites
GoogleDocs - write documents to share, store, present and access from anywhere via the web (no more emailing drafts); import docs from MS Office and Open Office
Google Reader - aggregate and read all your news and blog feeds in this free web-based reader
Audacity- record podcasts and edit audio files
Google Search – research topics with this highly-regarded and powerful Web searching tool
Camtasia - record your computer screen to create training videos or screencasts
Articulate – create tutorials and quizzes with three tools – Presenter converts PowerPoints to Flash tutorials with narration, Engage adds interactivity, and Quizmaker creates Flash-based tests and surveys
Captivate - create flash cards and interactive simulations for self-paced online learning
SnagIt - capture, edit and print screen images and make a video of on-screen actions
Tech Tip – 162 Tips and Tricks for Working with E-Learning Tools
The eLearning Guild provides an excellent free downloadable e-book of favorite tips for using e-learning software. Tips were compiled by surveying 122 eLearning Guild members in the areas of:
Rapid e-Learning tools
Simulation tools
Media tools
Combining and deploying authoring tools
Announcement:
Final Call for Courses Starting January 28-30
Sign up today to provide time for assigning your user name and university email account and ordering your textbook.
Courses Beginning on January 28
EDUC 744 958 Teaching Art for Non-Art Teachers
EDUC 744 957 Differentiation in the Classroom
EDUC 744 914 Methods of Teaching Middle School Math (Grades 4-8)
EDUC 744 920 Teaching Writing with the 6-Traits
EDUC 744 911 Effective Classroom Management
EDUC 744 925 Bullying in Schools
EDUC 744 928 Instructional Applications of Digital Photography
EDUC 744 938 Digital Media and Visual Literacy
EDUC 744 964 Workforce Development: Every Teacher’s Responsibility
EDUC 760 932 E-learning for Educators
Courses beginning on January 29
EDUC 744 963 Teaching English Language Learners (ELL) in General Education
EDUC 744 927 Innovations and Opportunities for Media Specialists
RDGED 705 Instructional Techniques for Assisting Students with Reading Difficulties
RDGED 702 Reading in the Content Areas K-12
EDUC 744 951 Teaching Information Literacy
EDUC 744 941 Mentoring Teachers
Courses Beginning on January 30
EDUC 761 Collaborative Communities in E-learning
RDGED 703 Children’s Literature in the Reading Program
RDGED 704 Young Adult Literature in the Reading Program
EDUC 744 917 Inspiration and Kidspiration: K-12 Strategies to Build Study Skills and Comprehension.
REGISTER ONLINE
http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/register.shtml
Labels: e-learning, Online Teaching, Tech Tips
posted by Karen Franker, Editor @ 1/12/2008 08:58:00 PM