Using Google Presentations for a Body Systems Presentation

Mary is using what she learned at the conference to help students create interactive body systems presentations.  Students paired up and got a copy of this template:
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AUDljXwAABVnZGdxdnA0M21fOGZrNmM4ZmRu

They are working together at school and at home in developing their presentations.  Some of the students are using Google Chat as they work from home.  It was an exciting beginning.  Mary collected all the student email addresses and typed them in while the students were starting up, so by the time they opened their computers they had the template.  She encouraged them to just get started and the students caught on right away on how to use the interface.  She found that she needed to give them more specific directions on how to rename their copy of the document.  They loved having "the power" to give Mary limited access to the document!

Google Earth for Educators

At the CLS Technology  Conference I went to a Focus Session called Going Geo with Google Maps and Google Earth. The presenter, Ken Shelton, a history teacher at a middle school in L.A., taught us how to use Google Earth  for creative projects, geography, Social Studies and History (ancient times through present times) and literature.  For example, if students are reading The Grapes of Wrath they can trace the route of the story.  They can also use Google Lit Trips to mark the journeys of famous characters from literature using Google Earth.
Google Earth is a free, downloadable tool anyone can install if they have enough RAM. Ken taught us how to use the various layers on Google Earth.  It was fascinating to view the National Geographic or Discovery Network  videos on one of the layers, to visit ancient ruins, to track Earthquakes, as well as "flying" around the globe to view a place from distant space right down to street level.  I found a tutorial on Google Earth for Educators which you can view here: Google EarthTutorial.
I haven't used Google Earth yet with students but I'm excited at the possibilities!

Reviews of Digital Curriculum

One of the talks I went to was hosted by the California Learning Resource Network.  CLRN is a free clearinghouse of reviews for both free and paid online resources and other digital materials.  They review software, online courses, digital textbooks, websites, tablet apps, and more.

Each review has descriptions, alignment to state standards, alignment to digital literacy and learning standards, and so on.  It looks like a good resource to check before making a major software purchase or for searching for free resources on a particular topic.

Joy's Intro

My first classroom computer was an old Apple which I used with the kids with CD Roms like Math Blaster.  I had one computer in my 2nd grade classroom and everyone wanted to use it, that was back in 1985.  Later, I used computers as word processors but didn't have internet.  In the 90s-2000s, in my personal and professional life, I used computers to look up websites and gather info., send emails, download, edit, print and email my photos.  More recently I joined facebook, which I rarely check.  In the past several years I've taken workshops in Power Point, iLife Suite, Promethian Board, Digital Story-Telling, and attended the CLS Technology Conference.  I learned many exciting skills and applications at the Conference but haven't used any of them with students yet.  I have helped students do research, print pictures, do some film with Flip Cameras, download films and helped do some editing with the help of other students or Deb.  I am developing confidence with much of what I've learned recently and need to put in some time to play and learn.  I admit that a lot of the Tech stuff is like a foreign language to me.  At the conference I was immersed in that foreign language and I began to acquire an understanding.  But just like learning a new language, we begin to understand but cannot yet express.  I am not yet fluent enough to fully comprehend and definitely not fluent enough to teach.  So I am relying on my Personal Network of friends/colleagues to remind me to practice, go slow, try one new thing at a time, and jump in!