December 2011

As I sit to write this post, I am exhausted with the reading from this week....so much out there about Screen Time, App Gap, the need for physical fitness and of course student testing.  It is hard to get the balance in your child's life - time for sports, time for music lessons, and time to just relax...BALANCE is the key.  No matter what article I read about screen time - the common denominator is  - all screen time needs to be counted.  I am watching the students in fifth grade make wonderful book trailers.  They are spending time looking for the perfect music and effects.  They are also infront of the screen a lot...but the conversations between the students are most interesting and insightful and the evaluation of the work is intense.  How can you not encourage students take time to produce amazing film and video that communicate their knowledge?  But we also know that any elementary students should also be on the playground running and developing motor skills (without the motor skills, how can they manipulate a mouse?)  It almost seems like what came first or what needs to be most important.  The next article talked about app gap....the idea that children with technology are far ahead of the children without.  Schools are doing their best for app gap by having technology available at school and in flexible time and arrangements.  (Rummel Creek library is open before school and during lunch/recess every day.) As if all of the technology is not enough...you also need to make sure your children eat well, get enough sleep and have some type of physical exercise as well as try to get Boy/Girl scouts and religious training all outside of the hours of school.  Bless you parents for trying to get it all done!  No wonder our students are over scheduled and over tired.  Read some of the linked articles above and hopefully you will gleam some information to help your children succeed in life...and possibly not be overwhelmed!

Surving the first week of school

Well, it's Tuesday of the second week of school and I'm still breathing.  Things have been moving fast and furious for these past few days.  If technology would cooperate...things would be great...thank goodness for students that can problem solve and see the forest for the trees.  My lunch bunch is already back and creating movies....so even lunch is loud...which is great!  Except for the fact that I am reading the calendar, it doesn't feel like we ever left...the students and teachers have just picked up where we left off from May.  The schedule is running just like always and I can't seem to get away from school before five....perhaps next week!  But it's great getting back into a routine.  Check out the Rummel Creek Learning Commons page for activities to support the students learning!

iPhone!

I am trying to get into the 21st century personally. I've been pushing all of the technology at RCE...but never did anything at home. After a week in Austin with NO internet, Limited e-mail (inbetween meetings), and NO computers....I decided it was time to come into the technology rich environment at home. My daughter and I have spent the last two hours trying to make the settings work...she's downloaded all kinds of apps...I'm a little behind...too many choices on the settings. The one downside is..I'll probably work 24/7...and I am already nearly there! Life is so fun. Watching my daughter light up as she found more apps to try was fun...We've really changed her this summer....a MacBook Pro and an iPhone! What a change from the dell....here comes grad school!

Last few days before back to full time...hard to believe how fast the summer flew by...feels like I didn't get too much done!

REEP (Rice Education Entrepreneur Program)

Yesterday I spent the day at RICE University listening to some great speakers. Now I have a lot of reading to do. Rick Hess has made me really think about what I am doing....I've got to spend a little more time on his website/blog. We also listened to two technology specialists - I was so glad to see that we are moving in the right way...sometimes you think that you have just joined a FAD...but technology is not just a FAD, but rather a tool to deliver content to students. Just need to make sure that it's not all about the gadgets....I think I'm past that...need to let my brain gel around the information and thoughts I heard...need to stay up to date!!!!

Journey Through the 11 Tools

I am so impressed with the Rummel Creek staff....they are working hard to get to the tools. The best part is watching the teamwork to get them done. I am hoping that we will continue to work as a team to move forward with the students. I think that next year will be an explosion of learning both with and without technology. I just finished writing on blogs...it took me several hours as so many had worked hard these past two days....YEAH!
The questions I am getting now are more on what to do not how to do...which shows tremendous growth. I think the journey is going well...not without a few gliches...but what would a journey be without a few hitches!

PBS Visit

Today I was invited to the Houston PBS station for a luncheon in honor of the Innovative Educator Award -Ann King and I spent a few hours learning and sharing. It was a fun afternoon that included a tour of the TV station and the Radio stations. Sooooo cool. I took tons of photos to share with the students. Although our RCE studio is on a much SMALLER scale, the way we do things is very similar to the real world. At least I know that what I share with the children is correct and goes along with what they would do at at real station.
PBS was wonderful - our discussion was lively and exciting. The luncheon was amazing. The people we met brought us new ideas and things to look in to. It's nice to be a partner with such a knowledgable group of people who are looking out for what they can provide for our students.
My mind is full of new ideas and things to try. I even have a few thoughts for the studio for next year (look out new crew members....we're going upscale!) I wish I had taken notes to remember it all!

General Observation

I have read over most of the staff blogs...we are really moving forward with technology. I can't wait until next year to see where we are off to in learning. Things will really take off when the new equipment comes in. I hope the library can make it work until November!

Tool #11

Just completed my test (90%). I had hoped to do better...but that's okay...a few of the questions did not make sense with the choices. I'm glad to finish the tools...just so I can check one thing off of my list for the summer.
1. What are your favorite tools you now have in your personal technology toolbox? Briefly describe a particular activity that you will plan for your students using at least one of these new tools. My favorite tools - probably Wordle..I use it almost every day. I have found so many new things that I use now as I regularly search out "new web 2.0" tools. I spend one day a month just exploring...as too many new tools pop up. My students are always bringing me something new to try. Just as soon as I think I may take a breather...they bring me something new to try.
2. How have you transformed your thinking about the learning that will take place in your classroom? How has your vision for your classroom changed? Are you going to need to make any changes to your classroom to accommodate the 21st Century learner? I have been a proponet of 21st century learning for about 3 years. I entered a contest and my winnings were a book and a on-line course on using 21st century skills...needless to say...I read the book and took the free class and learned a lot. That was the beginning of a journey. Then I participated with PBL summer school which took the 21st century skills I had read about into practice. My library represents 21st learning all day/every day.
3. Were there any unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you? no unexpected outcomes. I am hoping my faculty will embrace this and we can move forward to the 21s century easily and quickly...we have so many teachers already moving this way. I am looking forward to this next school year!

Tool #10

I spend much of my time working on the 9 tenet of digital citizenship. I have a whole page on my school wiki giving background information, videos, and lessons for digital citizenship. I am passionate about my students knowing and being safe on the internet. It is most important that we give them guidelines about appropriateness. Many times what students do is not done to be "bad" but because they don' know it's wrong. We need to guide them.

1. Discuss at least three things you would want to make sure your students understand about being good digital citizens. Students need to respect

2. Share at least one of the resources mentioned above or on the Ed Tech website that you plan to use instructionally.

3. Explain briefly how you would "teach" the idea of digital citizenship to your students.

I love to use the videos on brainpop. Another resource is common sense media. They have great videos and reviews. Easy tech also has some great activities and short video clips for students.

4. Explain briefly how you plan to share the idea of digital citizenship with your parents. I talk with parents often during PTA meetings about digital citizenship. I also send home articles in the school newspaper with information about digital citizenship. The links on my library wiki also provide information on digital citizenship.

Rummel Creek is on the way to teaching digital citizenship to it's entire community.

Tool # 9

This is the fun part - using and integrating the technology...

Why do you think it is important to tie the technology to the objective? Content drives the technology not the other way around. You select the technology to best fit what you are trying to teach to your students. Having multiple choice for what to use makes it work!

Why should we hold students accountable for the stations/centers? Students need to be responsible...if not...they become careless. In the library...its usually not the students that leave things messed up..except for the cables..they are usually very careful to leave notes on cameras they return. They have learned that they need to respect student work saved on various machines as well.

Visit 2 of the applicable links to interactive websites for your content/grade level. Which sites did you like. How could you use them as stations? How can you hold the students accountable for their time in these stations? This does not really apply to the library..however I have created a wiki for the teachers at RCE with interactive websites that can support their classroom curriculum. PBS has some great things as well KHAN Academey and Wolfram alpha. New sites come up everyday...but you have to check things out. Some of the sites have tracking devices...another way is to have students keep a written journal (online of course) that lets you know where they are.

List two to three apps you found for the iPod Touch/iPad that you can use in your classroom. What do you see that station looking like? How can you hold the students accountable for their time in these stations? Just like the computer stations, students need to be able to communicate what they have learned. A checklist will help keep things in check. Two new ones I found deal with graphics that the students can import into other projects. Creative graphics and forreal

What about other ways to use the iPod Touch/iPad? Share another way you can see your students using the device as a station. I have given each teacher an ipod touch with a rockstar. We have downloaded audio books and books from the gutenburg project. This gives teachers a listening/reading stations. The ipads/itouches can also be used for "on demand" research ...whatever whenever...We need to continue to look for uses for these pieces of equipment...i think we have only touched the tip of the iceburg!

Tool #8

Management - this will be interesting for the teachers...I have been trying to manage all of the equipment in the school for the past few years. Even with sign ups and "guidelines" things don't happen like I plan. I am glad that they will have specific storage facilities for the equipment. The videos gave some good pointers and things to think about. We will have to work together to keep the equipment in good working order and teachers will have to learn to respect others teachers and their classroom management systems.

In the library next year...things will be much more regulated as more equipment will be available on the campus, students will be more responsible for what they borrow. We did not loose much...but as we triple or more the amount of cables, cords, and equipment...we will have to find a way to keep everything straight and in working order.

Tool #7

I have worked with teachers to accomplish getting out of our school This next school year I think this will explode as we work with the Oliver Foundation, Fuel to Play 60 and other national level programs. As a librarian, I work with the teachers to support their needs. I help them to find the sources and people to work with rather than scripting my own lesson. I joined e-pals as a way to meet students at other campuses that are similar to ours. So far we have not matched up...but hopefully next year will be better.

Skype gives us a chance to get outside of our campus. One of the things I will share more with teachers next year are sites that offer free skype visits - including "skype an author". There are tons of resources out there...you just need to step out and contact them!

Tool #6

I have diigo, twitter, skype, wallwisher..etc accounts. I actually use many of these already on a daily basis. I use poll everywhere more with my church group...because they are middle schoolers and they love to use their cell phones! After sitting in the November learning conference this last week...I added an RCE Library Twitter account. It seems more fitting that my twitter account be about the library rather than my life (which is boring!) I'll be able to share quickly with parents and staff (hopefully) a new app or website that supports their learning.

Wallwisher has been a lifesaver for meetings. I post things for a week prior to a meeting on my wall for the week. The list of stickies keep me on task when we meet. The student that was invited to come to the Novemeber Learning conference had a great idea to make a wallwisher for announcements /questions for the community of RCE. I think that is great. It's an easy way for people to communicate. We'll just have to make sure that someone moderates it.

http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/rummelcreekelem.

My biggest problem is keeping up with all of the different accounts. The list continues to grow as once a month I scour for new things to use! Web 2.0 has a life of it's own!!!!

Tool #5

I spend much of my day creating wordles for various things. My newest try has been trying to master Prezi. I was glad to see that Atomic learning has a nice tutorials on using it.

The list of tools with the links to the tutorial videos was great. It will be a page that I link back to in the future.

I have passwords on most of my accounts from years ago...I finally started a sheet as some ask for numbers/letters/ etc.

The hardest thing has been when you have to come up with a user name and it has to be unique. I gave my staff a sheet to help them record anything...it also includes a box to put in "ideas" of how to use the tool. I have a bad habit of weekly doing a search for new tools...I've found some good ones over the years....it's become almost an addiction. The one thing I have learned through these various on-line courses over the past 3-5 years...don't get stagnant...nearly every day something new pops up...you have to be a learner for life!

I have enjoyed reading my staffs' entries...I think that RCE will be rocking and rolling next year...they have so many ideas on how to use these tools!!!!

Tool #4

I am one of those kicking and screaming going to Google Apps...but on Saturday...I spent several hours creating documents for my family and my Sunday School Class...and where did I go...google Docs...Why did I go there...ease of sharing. There are still some things that I can do better in Office...but...I am seeing how Google docs will make it easier to work as a team and to share things. As librarians we are using the sites...and I am seeing how that works almost too well.

Even Apple is on "the cloud" now. I must admit...having everything at my fingertips no matter what computer or what city I am in is nice. I also like the idea that it doesn't matter what type of device I'm on...I'm becoming a convert!!!!

Tool #3

Video - in the years since I did 23 things, the amount of GOOD video has exploded. I now regularly scan YouTube, School Tube and Teacher Tube for videos to share with students. Why recreate the wheel when there is so much good stuff out there? My tech team spends a lot of time "viewing" and "discussing" video clips as we learn to create our own video. The best way to learn is to look at samples. We have learned a lot by studying others. RCE now has a "channel" on School Tube so that we can post our own videos. It's important to teach students good digital citizenship and good skills as they learn to make and post videos. Just as there are some GREAT videos...there is also a lot of junk!

As I am always looking for things to make a difference in student's lives...I was shown this clip...I think every parent should see it. Too Much Information. I've also posted it on the Technology Wiki for sharing with students and parents easily. (http://rcetechnology.pbworks.com)

Tool #2 -

I have written on every blog for Rummel Creek at this time...except for the few I can not get into. Over the past few years, I have about 20 blogs that I follow regularly....in fact sometimes I feel that I spend way too much time reading others work...I'm still working on being brave enough to post on some of the sites, I feel like I am such a "nobody" that my comments would not be important; however...I love to read what others have posted.
My blogs to parents are improving as I try to use a blog to instruct and share information with parents and community members. I am still a very private person and putting my thoughts on the web is difficult. My personality doesn't come across and my poor grammar is definitely exposed. I'm still working on it!

I learned something NEW today!

I know that many of you have been frusted learning how to manuever through a blog. Today I took a class in Atomic Learning....and found all kinds of short videos to help you do everything in a blog. You can view as much or as little as you'd like...they are just a little more detailed than the ones on 11 Tools...and they cover specific things such as embedding a video, making your settings...and you only need to view what you need to get your through....
When you click on the links below...you will be taken to a log in screen. Use your "regular" SBISD log in to gain access to the videos. As you watch the videos a log will be created which will give you additional staff development. Use these as you see the need...they helped me a whole bunch ...I am always learning!

• Blogging Workshop


• 
  
  
  
  • A. Blogging Basics
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • What is a blog?
    
    
    • What is the difference between a blog and a Web site? pt. 1
    
    
    • What is the difference between a blog and a Web site? pt. 2
    
    
    • Using Blogs as Educators pt. 1
    
    
    • Using Blogs as Educators pt. 2
    
    
    • Hosting your blog pt. 1
    
    
    • Hosting your blog pt. 2
    
    
    • Hosting your blog pt. 3
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  • B. Creating a Blogger Blog
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • Navigating the Blogger home page pt. 1
    
    
    • Navigating the Blogger home page pt. 2
    
    
    • Creating a blog account pt. 1
    
    
    • Creating a blog account pt. 2
    
    
    • Creating a blog account pt. 3
    
    
    • Introducing the Blogger Dashboard pt. 1
    
    
    • Introducing the Blogger Dashboard pt. 2
    
    
    • Logging in and out of Blogger
    
    
    • Changing your password
    
    
    • Creating an additional blog
    
    
    • Deleting a blog
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  • C. Using Blogger Help
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • Accessing Blogger's online help
    
    
    • Using Blogger Help articles
    
    
    • Searching Blogger's Help articles
    
    
    • Using the Blogger Help forum pt. 1
    
    
    • Using the Blogger Help forum pt. 2
    
    
    • Posting in the Blogger Help forum
    
    
    • Using Blogger Buzz
    
    
    • Accessing more video tutorials
    
    
    • How to contact support
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  • D. Configuring Basic Blog Settings
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • Configuring basic Blog settings pt. 1
    
    
    • Configuring basic Blog settings pt. 2
    
    
    • Configuring basic Blog settings pt. 3
    
    
    • Configuring Publishing settings
    
    
    • Configuring Formatting settings pt. 1
    
    
    • Configuring Formatting settings pt. 2
    
    
    • Managing your user profile pt. 1
    
    
    • Managing your user profile pt. 2
    
    
    • Managing your user profile pt. 3
    
    
    • Browsing other user profiles
    
    
    • Following other blogs
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  • E. Authoring Your First Blog Post
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • Using the Post Editor pt. 1
    
    
    • Using the Post Editor pt. 2
    
    
    • Using the Post Editor pt. 3
    
    
    • Saving draft posts pt. 1
    
    
    • Saving draft posts pt. 2
    
    
    • Using Mail-to-Blogger pt. 1
    
    
    • Using Mail-to-Blogger pt. 2
    
    
    • Enabling your mobile device
    
    
    • Using Blog Send
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  • F. Formatting and Editing Your Posts
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • Filtering post views pt. 1
    
    
    • Filtering post views pt. 2
    
    
    • Filtering post views pt. 3
    
    
    • Formatting posts with the Post Editor toolbar pt. 1
    
    
    • Formatting posts with the Post Editor toolbar pt. 2
    
    
    • Formatting posts with the Post Editor toolbar pt. 3
    
    
    • Using HTML formatting pt. 1
    
    
    • Using HTML formatting pt. 2
    
    
    • Deleting posts
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  • G. Using Hyperlinks
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • Adding hyperlinks using the toolbar pt. 1
    
    
    • Adding hyperlinks using the toolbar pt. 2
    
    
    • Adding hyperlinks using HTML pt. 1
    
    
    • Adding hyperlinks using HTML pt. 2
    
    
    • Adding hyperlinks using HTML pt. 3
    
    
    • Adding Mail to links on your blog pt. 1
    
    
    • Adding Mail to links on your blog pt. 2
    
    
    • Editing hyperlinks
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  • H. Posting Images and Video
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • Using images on Blogger pt. 1
    
    
    • Using images on Blogger pt. 2
    
    
    • Posting an image from your computer pt. 1
    
    
    • Posting an image from your computer pt. 2
    
    
    • Posting an image from the Web pt. 1
    
    
    • Posting an image from the Web pt. 2
    
    
    • Finding copyright free images on the Web
    
    
    • Protecting privacy
    
    
    • Embedding videos pt. 1
    
    
    • Embedding videos pt. 2
    
    
    • Embedding videos pt. 3
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  • I. Managing Comments
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • Configuring Comment options pt. 1
    
    
    • Configuring Comment options pt. 2
    
    
    • Configuring Comment options pt. 3
    
    
    • Configuring Comment options pt. 4
    
    
    • Leaving a comment pt. 1
    
    
    • Leaving a comment pt. 2
    
    
    • Enabling comment moderation pt. 1
    
    
    • Enabling comment moderation pt. 2
    
    
    • Enabling comment moderation pt. 3
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  • J. Managing Blog Archiving
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • Archiving basics
    
    
    • Configuring Archive options
    
    
    • Understanding permalinks pt. 1
    
    
    • Understanding permalinks pt. 2
    
    
    • Searching Blog archives pt. 1
    
    
    • Searching Blog archives pt. 2
    
    
    • Archive tips and tricks pt. 1
    
    
    • Archive tips and tricks pt. 2
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  • K. Syndicating Your Blog
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • Understanding site feeds
    
    
    • Configuring your site feed
    
    
    • Using feed readers pt. 1
    
    
    • Using feed readers pt. 2
    
    
    • Using FeedBurner feeds
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  • L. Team Blogging
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • Understanding team blogging
    
    
    • Creating a team blog pt. 1
    
    
    • Creating a team blog pt. 2
    
    
    • Posting to a team blog pt. 1
    
    
    • Posting to a team blog pt. 2
    
    
    • Administering a team blog
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  • M. Customizing Blogger
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • Choosing a new template
    
    
    • Using a third-party template pt. 1
    
    
    • Using a third-party template pt. 2
    
    
    • Customizing your template pt. 1
    
    
    • Customizing your template pt. 2
    
    
    • Using the Blogger Template Designer pt. 1
    
    
    • Using the Blogger Template Designer pt. 2
    
    
    • Using the Blogger Template Designer pt. 3
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  • N. Customizing the Sidebar
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • Customizing your sidebar
    
    
    • Managing Sidebar options
    
    
    • Editing items in the sidebar
    
    
    • Creating a blogroll pt. 1
    
    
    • Creating a blogroll pt. 2
    
    
    • Customizing the header and footer
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  • O. Monetizing Your Blogger Blog
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • Earning money on your blog pt. 1
    
    
    • Earning money on your blog pt. 2
    
    
    • Setting up AdSense on a blog pt. 1
    
    
    • Setting up AdSense on a blog pt. 2
    
    
    • Setting up AdSense on a blog pt. 3
    
    
    • Setting up Amazon Associates pt. 1
    
    
    • Setting up Amazon Associates pt. 2
    
    
    • Setting up Amazon Associates pt. 3
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  
  • P. Additional Resources for Educators
  
  
  • 
    
    
    
    • Using Blogger as educators
    
    
    • Useful Web sites for help with Blogger
    
    
    • Innovative blogs in education pt. 1
    
    
    • Innovative blogs in education pt. 2
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

Tool #1

My blog is created....because my students gave me the name for my blog...I want to keep it. Posted a voki and I'm ready to go. One of the things I want to really work on this time is using TAGS....something I have not done often. It is my goal to always put in one or two tags.

Monday And Things Look Better

Today I was able to post on nearly every site. Need to get a few more posted. Looking at a new day gives me a fresh look....so glad that things are going smoother and a few more teachers have logged in.

Now I need to get on to doing some of my 11 tools....

Frustration

I just spent several hours setting up my reader for ease to keep up with the 11 tools...so far..no links...and then when I tried to post on the other sites....I was unable to post. Need to send an e-mail for teachers to check their settings...that might make a difference.
I hope that the teachers don't experience the frustation that I am having now......hopefully we can get things worked out through e-mail!

Need to do my own 11 tools!

11 Tools

I am excited about embarking on the 11 tools with all of the staff at RCE. This journey will be fun and give us a head start on incorporating web 2.0 tools.
The on-line classes will be time consuming...but I'm sure I will learn even more. This will be a great experience for us all. 2011 will be an exciting time at RCE.