Exemplary Flash Projects
Today’s Topics:
Exemplary Flash Projects
Tech Tip – Quick Thesaurus in Microsoft Word 2003
What is Macromedia Flash, and how can it be used to create engaging Web-based games and simulations? What are some examples of effective educational uses of Flash?
AIM Your Projects With Flash
Annette Lamb has created an outstanding list of “must see” educational Web sites incorporating Macromedia Flash. For evaluative criteria for Flash projects, as well as step-by-step directions for creating simple animations, see also Annette Lamb’s and Larry Johnson’s Flash Quick Start Workshop (PDF file).
Read-Write-Think Student Materials
The ReadWriteThink staff has created an excellent group of literacy activities and lessons incorporating Flash. The interactive Flash tools give students the opportunity to use technology while developing literacy skills.
Edheads – Simple Machines
K-6 science units on levers, pulleys, and inclined planes would be greatly enriched by these clever Flash animations created by Gail Wheatley and the Edheads project team.
Interactive Mathematics Projects
The University of Virginia’s Center for Technology and Teacher Education presents K-12 examples of using Flash to create tools for teaching probability, rational numbers, fractions, and more.
Tech Tip – Quick Thesaurus in Microsoft Word 2003
Do you often search for the perfect synonym, but don’t have a thesaurus at your desk? Word 2003 has a built-in thesaurus which makes it a snap to locate synonyms.
- Right-click on the word in your document for which you’d like some synonyms.
- In the menu which appears, select Synonyms. A list of suggested synonyms appears. If no synonyms appear, select Thesaurus. You will be taken to a thesaurus search window.
- In the thesaurus search window which appears on the right side of your screen, click on the green button with the white arrow to begin the synonym search. A list of suggested synonyms appears.
- To insert one of the synonyms, highlight the word to replace in your document, then right-click next to the desired synonym in the list, and select Insert. The new word now replaces the old.
Courses Starting January and February 2007
Art Courses
Reading/Literacy and Writing Courses
Technology Integration Courses
E-learning and Online Teaching Courses
Differentiating Instruction Courses
Math Courses
Instructional Strategies Courses
School Leadership Courses
School Library/Media Specialist Courses
What Our Students Are Saying...
“What I like about UW-Stout Online Professional Development courses”:
"I was extremely pleased with the flexibility of the online class setup. I had not been exposed to online classes before, and I’m not tech savvy. This class format was convenient and easy to navigate. With working at school and 3 children under the age of 4, I can’t imagine a more workable structure for gaining my masters degree."
~ Teacher, River Valley High School
"I loved the interaction with instructor and classmates. I'd take another online class in a heartbeat."
~ High School 'At Risk' Teacher, Cambridge, Wisconsin
"I really enjoyed collaborating with other professionals. Although I love taking 'in person' classes, this has been really rewarding since it feels like we are teaching each other and learning from each other much more than we would in a traditional classroom setting."
~Guidance Counselor, Hartland, Wisconsin
Call University of Wisconsin-Stout Online Professional Development (715) 642-0209 if you have questions. UW-Stout is an "international-student- friendly" program.
Labels: Tech Tips
posted by Karen Franker, Editor @ 11/26/2006 02:04:00 PM
Engaging Reluctant Readers
Today’s Topics:
Engaging Reluctant Readers
Tech Tip – Pinging a Blog Posting
- How can we inspire our students to become enthusiastic readers?
- What are the most effective strategies to turn struggling readers into successful readers?
- Why do many students choose to avoid reading, even if they have good reading skills?
Motivating the Reluctant Reader
Cathy Puett- Miller provides five effective strategies for motivating reluctant readers at the K-5 level.
Using Non-Fiction to Motivate Reluctant Readers
J. G. Scott describes how non-fiction books can be highly effective in increasing students’ enthusiasm to read and instilling confidence in their ability to learn.
Reaching Reluctant Readers: Tips, Tools and Techniques
Patrick Jones explains why some adolescents choose not to read, and suggest strategies for selecting books which will grab their interest.
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult ReadersThe Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) provides excellent lists of best books for reluctant teen readers. Be sure to take a look at the recently-added 2007 Nominations list!
Tech Tip – Pinging a Blog Posting
A ping is a signal that you can send to the blog-tracking services showing that you have updated your blog with a new posting. The blog services will then update their databases to include the newest version of your blog.
Pinging gives you the opportunity to publicize your blog to a wider audience. If your blog service has an automated pinging system you can usually enable it by going to the options settings. Two other ways of pinging are listed below.
1. Use a service such as Ping-o-matic. Go to their website, type in the URL for your blog, select the desired blog-tracking services to ping, and click Send Pings. This tells the search engines that you've updated.
OR
2. Go to Technorati , set up a free account, and claim your blog. When you update your blog, you can log in to Technorati, click on Blogs, and then click on Update Ping.
Registration for Spring Semester
*** Sign up soon to reserve your spot in a class. Earn graduate credits via online courses that support your professional development goals for licensure renewal and advanced certification. Online registration
Featured Reading Courses
RDGED 702 Reading in the Content Areas of K-12 begins January 29, 2007
Research-based teaching methods, study strategies, and technology focusing on the ability to use language processes (reading, writing, speaking, listening) to learn subject matter across the curriculum.
RDGED 705 Instructional Techniques For Assisting Students with Reading Difficulties begins January 16, 2007
Practical suggestions for integrating reading, writing and spelling into an effective program for struggling readers and special populations including the learning disabled.
What’s New for Spring Semester?
EDUC 744 961 Assessment in a Differentiated Classroom begins Jan. 29, 2007
EDUC 744 958F- Teaching Art for Non-Art Teachers – begins Jan. 16, 2007
EDUC 744 959- Assessment and Evaluation in the Online Classroom – begins Jan. 29, 2007
EDUC 744 949F- Instructional Role of Assessment and Data Analysis – begins Jan. 29, 2007
EDUC 744 937F- Learning Applications for the iPod® and Handheld Computers – begins Feb. 5, 2007
What Our Students Are Saying...
About the Reading Strategies for Content Areas online course:
"Highly informative. The readings and activities were great with the emphasis on relevance and application in the classroom. Learning all of the strategies to apply in content classrooms will enable me to be a much more well-rounded teacher. Having that window into other teachers' classrooms was a learning experience in itself. Sharing in their successes and seeing what worked or didn't work as well was very educational."
~High School Alternative Program Teacher, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
“This course challenges the typical function of content reading and provides strategies to help struggling readers make sense of and engage with their texts. The instructor is a wealth of information, and the strategies have helped improve my own teaching practice.”
~Language Arts 10, Honors English 10, Honors World Literature & History TeacherBaumholder, Germany
“I liked the diversity of students in the class and the interesting and thought provoking discussions. I would recommend that all teachers take this class because it pertains to all grade levels and subject matter.”
~K-3 Title I Reading Teacher, Bruce, Wisconsin
Professional Development Opportunity
Toyota International Teacher Program to Japan
Open to all U.S. teachers in grades 9-12, the Toyota International Teacher Program offers a fully-funded, 11-day professional development experience in Japan from June 22 - July 7, 2007. Participants will travel through Tokyo, Nagoya, and Kyoto and examine the history, education system, environment and industry of Japan. The application deadline is January 8, 2007.
Call University of Wisconsin-Stout Online Professional Development (715) 642-0209 if you have questions. UW-Stout is an "international-student- friendly" program.
posted by Karen Franker, Editor @ 11/05/2006 07:22:00 PM