The Unknown Blog-Search - A Question

I have a question. If you have three or four minutes of your life you can spare, please listen to the podcast below and comment.

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iSITS Reflection

Today we had yet another great meeting with the In-School Instructional Technology Support (iSITS) group in which the conversations alone are invaluable, nevermind I got to sit with Mavis and James (pic above). We began the day discussing the divisions "Computer Technology Acceptable use" policy.

This was interesting in our attempt to find "our" place in implementing this document. The first thing I discovered is that we need to, as a division, clarify the network administrators role, for those who have them, versus the iSITS member. The two roles cross over so easily and both are responsible for much. In fact, three of the four "goals and expectations" fall into our laps. I do look forward to implementing this document more effectively after the "filtering training".

I also enjoyed sharing our new tools and strategies. I talked with Gary Ball and a number of others on how to solve some of the bandwidth issues. We came up with a few ides but nothing substantial. This problem goes way beyond our local issues, ie. communitynet.

I did a min-presentation on . This relatively new tool is GREAT for teachers. It has a chat, assignment, calendar, alert and grade system. Students create their own accounts under you, the teacher, and all the work on Edmodo is monitored by the teacher. In general, Edmodo will allow you the teacher to teach in a much more open, engaging and semi-timeless style. More on this can be found on my other blog, EdBlogTips.

All in all a good day. The most important part of meetings like this is getting new ideas, conversing with others and building the strength of our network. All of this we can take back to our staffs and SHARE!!!

The Unknown Blog-search #1

I have been working on a research project with my ELA 10A class for the last three years. At first I used the traditional paper source research / persuasive essay style. Last year, after listening to and discussing with Konrad Glogowski via the , I developed a new, much more engaging project.

I have created a wiki as my unit guide and, although it is still in the works, I thought I would share it and hopefully recieve some feedback. I have included, my first of three planned podcasts. This wiki is designed for both teachers and students use and therefore some re-organizing will be needed.

Comment ... if you dare!

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My New Blog - EdBlogTips

I have been busy, as all teachers are at the beginning of the school year. Year plans, technology instruction for new teachers and those looking to incorporate more, football, organizing, raking ... it goes on. However, something I am very proud of in my busy season is a blog my wife @germannjaime and I have been working on.

EdBlogTips is a educational blog designed for those who do not have the time, interest or confidence to experiment with new technologies in their classroom. Educators can follow are blog posts and try them when they are of interest.

Check it out and let us know what you think. If you have more suggestions please email us at:
edblogtips@gmail.com

My New Pride

I have noticed something of late. Not only do I find myself very busy, I have a new, greater sense of pride and excitement in what I do at work. In my role as in-school technician and network administrator, I have spent a number of hours teaching myself, experimenting, and creating. In my experiments and as my wife would say, playing, have taught a number of incredible skills.

I know use these skills to teach both students and staff, and the odd parent or community member, how to use the new internet. Web 2.0 has changed my teaching, changed my routines in life and given me a new perspective on my career.

Recently, I have been very proud of my staff for their involvement in learning and using new Web 2.0 tools along with new technologies in their teaching. I can't wait for the conversations I have with staff about our school content management website, their class blogs, or pictures and videos they want to make.

Each week I host a "Tech Tips" clinic in which staff, both teaching and non, are invited to learn how to use new web 2.0 tools. Last year there was a real focus on our new school website, which happens to be very wiki-like. This year we are pushing for classroom blogging. Once that is set up we will use our weekly meetings to organize, refresh ideas and share.

This is what brings me my new found pride. I would like to share with you some of my staffs greatest accomplishments so far:

1. School website - Nearly all staff maintaining their own site.

2. Staff Class Blogs

Grade 2

Grade 4

Grade 9

Grade 10

CPT 20
3. My classroom wikis.

IP 10

CPT


I hope that people will follow my colleagues and our students as they embark on this new learning journey. I am very proud of what we have done so far and look forward to doing so much more, with so many more people, so much more often.

I LOVE MY JOB!!!