Music Technology

Here's another FREE online tool for music composition:

www.noteflight.com

I created a little arrangement in about 5 minutes just to see how it works:
http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/fabf0854241c9c6e676232e7ced304f892c1bd19

I'm still trying to figure out how to post a gadget of this piece in my Google site, but I am confident that it is possible.

The Noteflight people were demonstrating at the "Digital Arts" area at NECC.

Some cool resources from NECC

Open Source - Missing Link Session - Wiki http://www.k12opened.com/wiki/index.php/Necc2009A

Open Source Session - Open Educational Resources: Share, Remix, Learn http://www.k12opened.com/wiki/index.php/Necc2009B

K-12 Open Ed Wiki - http://www.k12opened.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

CoSN Open Ed lead by Steve Hargadon http://www.k12opentech.org/

Moodle Hand-outs
http://center.uoregon.edu/ISTE/uploads/NECC2009/KEY_43596739/McPherson_CapitalIdeaUserGuide09Reduced.pdf

ITouch Phone http://www.lesliefisher.com/

ISTE Vision - see Larry's video uner ISTEVISION - Contest and Events channels - Top Rated see PGCPS http://www.istevision.org/index.php

Jing

Iam sitting in a BYOL sessions for JING. I did not realize that it was a free version of Camtasia. It allows the user to creatthe a screen casts of their work on the screen with a voice over. Pretty cool.I have been using Camtasia but his is free so everyone including teachers can use this. These can be embedded into a website, wiki, PowerPoint etc. You can dowload it free at http://www.jingproject.com. There are short screen cast instructions on the website to walk you thought. Very easy, very FREE. Give it a try. You can also capture video.

Carmella

Keynote Debate

Well after a heated debate the final idea seemed to be that schools are not bad, just disorganized. Since our district doesn't have as many technology limitations as other districts , how could we build learning communities that could allow learning to continue past the school day?

I know from my position (MS Technology Integration Teacher) there is a level of frustration of only working my students for less than 25 hours out of a possible 1350 hours in the school year. It feels like just when solid learning is taking place, the students move on. I would love to build an online community that would encourage students to keep creating and sharing.

That brings a second question: What is the right tool? I have debated about creating a Ning, but there are many challenges with that tool and others.

I would love too see your comments on this post!

The Simple Ideas

It seemed like for many of us the Monday sessions really didn't cover a lot of new content. For me the simple ideas were the highlight of the day. Here were the simple ideas that I want to remember in the classrooom.

The 80/20 rule: this is a simple way to assess projects. 80% should be assessed on the content of the project and 20% on the use of the technology tool. I think sometimes I get so wrapped up in the tool that I don't emphasize the content enough. Plus this is easy for students to remember.

You have to inspect what you expect:technology integration is not going to happen by magic. If administration expects teachers to infuse technology then they are going to have inspect how teachers are using technology in the classroom. This idea could easily be applied to feedback for students.

We use video because it's upredictable.: When I heard this my immediate thought was teachers might avoid creating videos in the classroom because it is unpredictable. It does take a whole different style of classroom management to handle video production.

What were the simple ideas that stood out for you?

By the way here are the links that I thought were useful for the day.

Flash Drives

Don't forget!!!!

Pick Up Your Flash Drive

All registered, full conference attendees can pick up their commemorative 2GB conference flashdrive in the Exhibit Hall at the end of Aisle 600 during show hours. You will need to present the ticket included with your badge. (We registered before May 1st!)

Tammy Worcester

A few of us attended the 8:30 am session entitled "Tammy's Favorite Technology Tips, Tricks and Tools in Ballroom B. In the session, she shared some of the sites that she has visited often and some of the ones she would recommend for educational use. I always enjoy her presentations because she offers such practical information. I think that is why she was a hit at PUWT. Afterwards, Ronlyn, Joy and I got our picture taken by her fiance. Thank you Tammy for your continued presence in technology and education!

Here is the list of sites she shared:
http://www.tammyworcester.com/Tammys_Favorite_Tips,_Tricks,_%26_Tools/Web_Tools.html

She also presented at The Renaissance Hotel in the afternoon. This particular session was on Google tools. Although we already use quite a few of the tools, there were still juicy tidbits of information she shared. She also has a new book out entitled "Google Tools for Teaching and Learning". It's full of good information and tips.

NECC Opening Session

We are sitting in the session now. The opening was the Electric Company from PBS entertaining. Then the new president of ISTE spoke and they recognized MICCA and VSTE for being the leads for this conference. We are now listening to the Keynote speaker.

Cool Website

Check out this website http://iconnectilearn.ning.com/

PGCPS Table

Noriene and I went to the Convention Center tonight to set-up for the PGCPS table. We met Debbie Sullivan there from HR. She set up the PGCPS backdrops and put the table cover on and made things looks great. Noriene and I set-up our stand to promote the Powering Up Conference. Stop by and see the booth outside room 146a. We have free pens, markers and candy. Don't forget to get "goodies" from the vendors that we can give away at our conference. Bring the "goodies" to the booth and store under the table in the plastic container. Use our booth as a place to catch-up to PGCPS folks and a place to meet people. Brenda Makle and Ceci Aikens will man the booth on Monday and Tuesday and Jeanne and Betty will do Wednesday so stop by and say hello.

Discovery Educator Network Pre-NECC Event

Renee and I attended an early event in the NECC schedule sponsored by Discovery Education. DEN events are always great for a number of reasons: the learning, the presenters, and the other teachers that share what they are doing in the classroom.

The day's sessions started with "Director's Cut" which highlighted Windows MovieMaker, Photostory 3, and Animoto.com. Even though both of us had used the products before it was interesting to see how DE Streaming can be used in all three tools. DE doesn't mind educators using clips in other tools as long as it is used in the classroom. If it is used in a web-based tool like Animoto or Glogster it needs to be private or password-protected.

Both of us LOVED Brad Fountain's presentation on comic-based tools in the classroom. He started with Comic Life which many of us have already used or would like to use in the classroom (hint,hint Barbara L. ;-)). Extranormal.com (we heard that there might be an edu version coming soon)was shown along with GoAnimate.com and Pixton.com. GoAnimate.com has a lot of cool personalization features, but did come with a warning that students shouldn't be allowed to browse the gallery.

Of course if I am at a DEN event, I have to see Steve Dembo present. If you have never seen him it is worth checking him out at NECC. He finds the coolest sites and his presentations really get you pumped about using technology in the classroom. Here is the Top 10 Web 2.o tools he showed in his presentation. The Let Me Google That For You was worth the price of admission (the price was free, but you get my point.) Livestream.com has a lot of potential in the classroom for students to create their own news broadcast.

There was so much more, but I am trying to summarize.

NECC

Thanks Carmella! I'm so excited about attending NECC this year and will begin tomorrow with a workshop from 12:30-3:30 - Tammy's Favorite Technology Tips, Tricks and Tools. Hopefully I can also take a few minutes and go to the welcome from 2-3:45. Took the Metro downtown yesterday with my husband - green line from Branch Ave. stuff bags - very convenient! Tomorrow, since traffic will be lighter, I plan on driving to compare trip length, etc. Thanks for setting this up and I look forward to reading the posts.

Getting Ready for NECC

I have posted Activities and phone numbers for PGCPS going to NECC in Google Docs. Go to your PGCPS email and to DOCS and search for NECC to review the documents. Today I am finishing up our display to promote our regional conference POWERING UP WITH TECHNOLOGY in November. See you in DC.

Getting Ready for NECC

This is a place for the PGCPS group and others to Blog about NECC 2009. Our group was getting ready for NECC on Thursday at the Powering Up With Technology (PUWT) meeting. People were talking about how to use a SMART TRIP card for parking and Metro. This was a lesson on Metro riding. One of the topics was about how to report Metro fares for reimbursement since we don't have receipts. We are having a booth at NECC and we will be promoting PUWT to the locals. Hopefully we will have a new group of people who will be interested in this local conference in November.