Tech Tips for Educators

Is your school or class Website stuck in the 1990’s—relying on text, canned clip art and hyperlinks to present your message? How do today’s best school Websites shine with personality and keep users coming back for more?

Extreme Website Makeover: Javascripts, CSS, and Multimedia (PDF file)
As presented at the NECC 2006 conference, veteran educator Annette Lamb provides excellent suggestions and procedures for evaluating your current Website and revitalizing it with multimedia.

Rubric for Classroom Web Pages
Use this handy rubric from UW-Stout to evaluate the effectiveness of your classroom Website.

Explore These Fresh and Fabulous School Sites!

Barbara Bush Elementary (Mesa, Arizona)
Noteworthy for its Virtual Library and inclusion of student multimedia projects.

Byron Community Primary School (Byron Bay, NSW, Australia)
Loads of interactive multimedia elements with high kid appeal.

Landrum Middle School (Houston, Texas)
Extremely attractive and contemporary page design incorporating numerous multimedia elements.

Cherry Creek High School (Greenwood Village, Colorado)
Contains an amazing amount of high-quality content and effective use of rollovers.

Mr. Jaffe’s 5^th/6^th Grade Web Site (Warrington, Pennsylvania)
Excellent content, including student projects and a virtual classroom tour.

Tech Tip – Google Search Modifiers
For a handy chart of modifiers to improve Google search results, go to http://www.google.com/librariancenter/downloads/Tips_Tricks_85x11.pdf (PDF file)

Courses Starting in September 2006

Starting September 18

EDUC744921F
Reading Strategies for the Content Areas
Instructor: Ken Cutts – September 18

RDGED702900C
Seminar: Reading in the Content Areas of K-12
(for students in the 316 Reading Licensure Program)
Instructor: Ken Cutts - September 18

EDUC744955F
Seminar: Facilitating Collaborative Communities
Instructor: Kay Lehmann – September 18

EDUC744929F
Web Design for Educators
Instructor: Jim Erbe -- September 18

EDUC744940F
School Library and Classroom Collaborations
Instructor: Jo Dervan -- September 18

EDUC 744 941F
Mentoring Teachers
Instructor: Phyl Burger -- September 18

Starting September 25

EDUC 744 914F
Methods of Teaching Middle School Math (Grades 4-8)
Instructor: Sara Turansky – September 25

EDUC 744 927F
Emerging Issues for School Library/Media Specialists
Instructor: Mary Alice Anderson -- September 25

EDUC 744 938F
Digital Media and Visual Literacy
Instructor: Ann Bell – September 25

EDUC 744-951F
Seminar: Digital Classroom: Teaching Information Literacy
Instructor: Mary Alice Anderson - September 25

EDUC 744 954F
Seminar: Instructional Leadership
Instructor: Phyl Burger - September 25

RDGED 703 900C
Children’s Literature in the Reading Program
Instructor: Sharron McElmeel September 25

RDGED 704 900C
Young Adult Literature in the Reading Program
Instructor: Sharron McElmeel – September 25

RDGED 705-900C
Instructional Techniques for Assisting Students with
Reading Difficulties
Instructor: Carolyn Horton – September 25

What Our Students Are Saying...

About the Web Design for Educators (Beginning) and the Intermediate Web Design online courses:

“The outcome of this class has exceeded my expectations. Designing a Web page has been a goal of mine for over a year. I was lacking the knowledge to accomplish my goal but now have the knowledge and a finished project!”
~Media Specialist, Beech Grove, Indiana

“I have been thoroughly impressed with the format, organization, presentation, and relevance of the course content. The hours have felt well-spent, the feedback from Jim has been swift and thoughtful, and the pace conducive to people with full-time lives to conduct.”
~Middle School Counselor, Madison, Wisconsin

“I have taken several online classes; this class was superior. The organization was phenomenal and everything was step-by-step. Your feedback was positive, and you set an excellent tone of support for your students. I have recommended your class to several of my colleagues."
~ Teacher, Camp Zama, Japan

Call University of Wisconsin-Stout Online Professional Development (715) 642-0209 if you have questions.
UW-Stout is an "international-student- friendly" program.

How is online learning impacting professional development for today’s educators? What are the benefits of learning online? Is the quality of online instruction equivalent to that of on-campus classes?

Enrollment Numbers at UW-Stout Continue to Climb
The number of students registered in Online Professional Development courses at UW-Stout in 2005-2006 increased 36% over the number registered in 2004-2005.

What’s It Like to Take an Online Class?
Writing for Multimedia & Internet @ Schools, UW-Stout instructor Mary Alice Anderson explains how e-learning is becoming widely-accepted as a viable way to earn graduate credits.

Why Do Students Like Online Learning?
Stephanie Coleman explains the compelling reasons to consider taking an online class, including accessible instructors and the flexibility to participate according to work and child care schedules.

Teaching and Learning Online
Linda Starr describes the characteristics of effective online learners, and shares the online teaching and learning experiences of a group of K-12 educators.

Tech Tip – Store Your Favorite Web Bookmarks Online
When using multiple computers between home and school, it can be a challenge to access Web sites saved on individual computers. Several well-known Web services provide easy online storage and organization of your bookmarks so they can be accessed at any computer. Two good sites to try are: http://www.backflip.com/ and http://del.icio.us/

What’s New for Fall 06

EDUC 744 958F
Teaching Art for Non-Art Teachers
Discover how classroom teachers can create engaging lessons that integrate
art, literature and masterpieces with K-8 curriculum.

RDGED 705
Instructional Techniques For Assisting Students with Reading Difficulties
Explore a variety of practical suggestions for integrating reading, writing and spelling into an effective program for struggling readers and special populations.

EDUC 744 955F
Online Classroom: Creating Collaborative Communities
Experience first-hand how to create and facilitate vibrant online learning communities which encourage motivated, independent learners.

EDUC 744 937F
Learning Applications for the iPod® and Handheld Computers
Energize your teaching by exploring effective instructional practices using podcasts, eBooks, eAudio, and eVideo to meet technology and content standards.

EDUC 744 949F
Instructional Role of Assessment and Data Analysis
Enhance your students' achievements by becoming "assessment-literate" -- learn to make sense of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) data, avoid common data pitfalls, and communicate effectively with stakeholders.

Additional online courses begin in September and October
http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/courses.shtml

What Our Students Are Saying...

About the E-Learning for Educators online course:

"Dennis was a patient facilitator who cares about his students. This class has been an eye-opening growing experience and a foundation for teaching online classes."
~ Corporate Trainer, Franchise Restaurant Company

"I liked the interaction with my classmates from all over the world. What a great experience. That is something from online learning that I did not expect. I had taken other classes online before, but that all involved people from Wisconsin. Some great ideas, information, and perspectives were shared."
~ Technology Coordinator, Pittsville, Wisconsin

"If not for this course, I would never have tried Moodle, blog, wiki, or the survey/quiz programs. Having teammates to work with on assignments made it a lot less threatening."
~ Library Media Specialist, Syracuse, New York

Call University of Wisconsin-Stout Online Professional Development (715) 642-0209 if you have questions.
UW-Stout is an "international-student- friendly" program.