Chit+chat

Chit chat

 * Have something interesting to share? Ran across a helpful resource? Got a question unrelated to class stuff? Put 'em here!**

//**+++ Please post newest content at the __top__**// 5/11 They are right. Very well done and interesting research. You put your names on some great work...would you mind if I included your e-mails as well when I get the chance to pass it on? (Roger Whaley) 5/10 I concur with Kevin. Nice job on the survey and accompanying Powerpoint! (Cindy Walters) 5/1 Matt, Corey & Dave - just wanted to compliment you on your training effectiveness study. There's alot of useful info in that .ppt. I'll be using some of it to guide the Technology Committee Meeting I have tomorrow morning. Thanks! (Kevin Champney)

3/29 Education week is allowing free access to their online information for Spring Break. You have until April 15 to access the information. Their 10th edition of //[|Technology Counts]// is now online. This includes technology timelines, detailed state reports, and historical views. Hope this is helpful! Becky http://www.edweek.org/ew/toc/2007/03/29/index.html//

For all of you who do tech support: //Introducing the Book: http://www.devilducky.com/media/57946/

2/27 Howdy all. I've kind of been out of the loop for the last week. My apologies for that. I spent the last 10 days in Sweden with a group of my High School students as part of an exchange. They lived with host families and went to school 4 of the 5 weekdays we were there. It was fantastic. I'm a bit out of sorts today having spent 20 hours travelling monday with teenagers, but I'll have some more to report as I get my feet back under me and cross things off of my to do list. The Swedish education culture was remarkebly different than our own. (Kevin Champney)

Helpful sites: I used some of these recently for a grant I wrote (we received $90,000 for a technology package for each of our 14 classrooms) Might be helpful in the upcoming research. (Becky Meyer) http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/techbib.htm http://www.learningpt.org/page.php?pageID=81 http://www.iste.org/ http://thejournal.com/ [|http://www.edfacilities.org/rl/index.cfm#Technology[[http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/techbib.htm]|]]//

Interesting Topics for Future Discussion//: I will delete the educational gaming questions on the "What do we want to know?" page... You can see, however, where my thoughts have been lately. Therefore, I thought I'd move it over to the "Chit chat" page in case others are interesting in discussing the topic. I have become really interested in the topic since I first heard of the idea last summer. However, recently I have been asked to sit on a committee that is responsible for looking at implementing "school within a school" ideas. While we have been looking at ways to meet and integrate standards across disciplines (specifically science and mathematics) through the teaching of robotics at a junior high level, we have been encouraged to think outside of that one example. Our tech coordinator and myself have been discussing the possibilities of using gaming (e.g., Second Life). I know that there are many ideas out there (one of the most interesting ones that I have heard recently is the idea of using Second Life to teach foreign languages in a virtual-immersion environment - I heard about this on a [|Savvy Technologist] podcast this summer). Anyway, I'd be interested in any info/resources that others have. (Matt Robinson) > >> -John: I received a "domain cloaking error" when attempting to follow your link. Is there another way to get to that information? Thanks! (Matt R.) -Matt: that's strange. It works for me. Have you tried just typing it in directly?
 * 1) What are educational games that schools are using and how are teachers using them? (Matt Robinson)
 * 2) What are the new developments in the use of gaming in education? (Matt Robinson)
 * Can (or is) "2nd Life" currently being used in educational environments?
 * Can it be done in a secure network?
 * CI 5323 (Online Learning Communities w/ Aaron Doering) will be using SecondLife for one class session. However, on Tuesday when I tried to log in to SecondWorld, the site was offline for maintenance. How dependent should learning be on these technologies? Should stand by methods be available in case of technical failure? [David Delong-Riviera]
 * The best resource for educators using MUVE's is http://www.simteach.com/ (John Bartucz)
 * There is also an island in SL specifically for educators. If someone wants me to, I can look up the exact coordinates, but it should be pretty easy to find.

I thought this was interesting. This website contains an interesting matrix of technology skill levels and competencies that one state (MA) has developed for ABE instructors: http://alri.org/maltt/abecomps.html (Greg Rien)

I don't know if anyone else uses this, but it's a recent discovery for me [|Librarything] It allows you to create a catalogued books list online. But, there's alot more to it: Once you've added a book, entries are tagged, member ratings are included, books with similar tags are listed, links to online reviews, places to buy the book...all sorts of good stuff. Perfect for a school library or class or someone maintaining a "Recent books I've read" page on their website, like you Scott. If you want an example you can go to [|my school library] page. Check it out! (Kevin Champney)

As an avid Google Maps user, I was surprised to find this great tool that in many ways appears to be even better! Try [|http://maps.live.com.] It is an MSN product. It works much like Google Maps but the quality of the images is much better. There is a button that looks like a group of buildings. It makes the satellite images look incredible. I have been using this with third graders to learn map skills(can't figure out why it's not part of the curriculum.) They have been tracking where their Flat Stanleys go. You can also download an add-on to create 3D maps. I haven't tried this yet, but I'm sure it is impressive. [DaveZukor]
 * Thanks, Dave, for getting this area started! These maps are COOL! [Scott McLeod]
 * I think Google-Earth is supposed to be ultra-high-resolution, as opposed to their online mapping program. You have to download and install GoogleEarth, though
 * I'm familiar with GoogleEarth, but it still uses satellite images. maps.live.com uses surveyor photos from airplanes so the images are crisper and more angled rather than birds eye.