Learn more about our new database.  It is AMAZING!!

Global Issues from Becca Munson on Vimeo.

Attend conferences without leaving your classroom or home. 

Many conferences are developing virtually so participants can interact online at a specific time or view the archive at their convenience.  Great presentations can be forwarded or posted on a blog for others to enjoy.  Check out some of the following links. 

K12 Online Conference begins in October.  You can view the archives here from the past year to 2006.  Sessions can be downloaded to your iPod or to your computer including Student Creation of Digital Documentaries, Asking Bigger Questions about Assessment, and presentations by David Warlick.

Smithsonian Education Online Conference Series

7th Annual Online Conference Illinois Teaching & Learning

Below is an example of an online presentation (although lengthy) about effective use of Powerpoint.  (It was rated as one of the best visual presentations given – but you decide…)


How to Create a Great PowerPoint - Take 2.0 from Alvin Trusty on Vimeo.

SIRS Researcher is an online database that provides articles from a variety of reading levels.  With such important issues like the election and our economy, SIRS provides a toolbox of articles and interactive websites. 

“Global Reach: SIRS Researcher
Did you know that SIRS Researcher provides a global perspective on leading issues from more than 270 international content sources?

Our editors monitor issues daily, hand-selecting the most relevant articles from global sources such as the Arab News (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), Bulletin (Brussels, Belgium), and China Daily (Beijing, People’s Republic of China).

For a full list of SIRS Researcher’s international sources, including 99 Canadian Sources, click here.”

“The Great Depression V2.0?

“The U.S. financial system resembles a patient in intensive care. The body is trying to fight off a disease that is spreading, and as it does so, the body convulses, settles for a time and then convulses again. The illness seems to be overwhelming the self-healing tendencies of markets. The doctors in charge are resorting to ever-more invasive treatment, and are now experimenting with remedies that have never before been applied.” — Wall Street Journal (”Worst Crisis Since ’30s, With No End Yet in Sight”)

How will members of the U.S. Congress solve the current financial-market crisis facing the nation? How will this economic crisis affect the outcome of the presidential election? How will it affect you and your family?

SIRS Researcher provides the answers you need with the latest articles from leading economists and policymakers. Learn more about the bailout plans, read analysis of the causes of the crisis and gain historical perspective. See Financial crises to get the results you need to understand this important issue. Then, share your opinion about the crisis on SIRS Researcher’s That’s Debatable poll question.

Plus, see our Election 2008 coverage in action inside our latest video podcast.”

What is SIRS Researcher?

Congratulations Aaron Anderson!  His Africa Studies and U.S. History classes are creating essential questions and researching the information to create Voicethreads.

The Library Media Center purchased student accounts for Voicethreads.  Students are able to create engaging projects, pose questions online to each other and make comments.  Students love how easy the site is to use and the ability it gives to interact with their classmates.

If you are interested in an alternative to posters and powerpoints, please stop by and see us!

Wiki:  an online tool for collaboration allowing all users to edit a web site – no knowledge of web design needed – it is all about the content.
Wikis in Plain English  video to learn more.

How are educators using wikis to impact student learning?  See the following examples.

Teachers First, Wiki Ideas for the Classroom (listed by content area)  http://www.teachersfirst.com/content/wiki/wikiideas1.cfm

Horizon Project 2008
http://horizonproject2008.wikispaces.com/

High School Online Collaborative Writing
http://schools.wikia.com/wiki/High_School_Online_Collaborative_Writing

AP Calculus Wiki  https://apcalculus.wikispaces.com/

Foreign Language Teaching Wiki  http://flteaching.wikispaces.com/

PB Wiki in Science Classroom http://cuebc.ca/2007/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=2

20 Ways to Wiki http://wiki.wetpaint.com/page/20+Ways+to+Wiki

Students research and collect data on an environmental issue using digital resources creating a documentary of their findings. *

Students create a digital story about a significant local event based on first-person

interviews.*

Two examples of 21^st Century projects and amazingly, these projects were completed by elementary students!

What are the 21^st century skills?   Why do we hear a lot about it lately? 

Standards for the 21^st Century Learner became a reality in 2002 as an initiative to help educators effectively integrate 21^st Century skills into the curriculum. 

The following skills were defined as important for students to enter the workplace:

•Information, media literacy, and communication skills

• Thinking and problem-solving

• Interpersonal, collaborative, and self-direction skills

•Global awareness

• Economic and business literacy, including entrepreneurial skills

• Civic literacy

Such skills are becoming a part of the educational dialogue as research shows these skills are necessary for life-long success. 

All skills are intended to be integrated into the curriculum.  Throughout the year, we will highlight helpful ways to incorporate these skills. 

Resources:

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/documents/frameworkflyer_072307.pdf

http://www.iste.org/*

http://www.mmischools.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=13874

See “25 Tools every Learning Professional should have in their Toolbox – and all for FREE!”

A list of the most popular tools that educators are currently using.  A few are listed below that we have highlighted or used in the library. 

Overview:

#2 Delicious – Social Bookmarking (see previous article)

#3 Google Reader -  keep track of all your favorite websites & their most recent articles – in one place

#8 Igoogle (see previous article)  everything in one place

#11 Voicethread (see previous article) We recently purchased the classroom subscription of Voicethread.  Let us know if you want to us it and we can help you set up.

#13 Audacity – Create podcasts with this easy recording and editing software.

#15 Jing – Records images of your screen as you move your mouse.

#16 PB Wiki – (see previous Wiki Article)

#17 Polldaddy – Set up a fun poll for your students.

#18 NVU – web authoring tool (for student projects perhaps)

#19 Ustream – live video broadcast

#21 Ning (previous print article)

#22 FreeMind – Mapping Tool

#23 Twitter – see previous article

Voicethread: a website that allows a user to post images along with audio and text and then allows others to comment by audio or text.

Should I use voicethread?

Voicethread is yet another way to engage students and inspire excitement about the content.

It also incorporates valuable 21st Century Skills along with your content area.Voicethread provides an avenue for students to show their creativity and innovation.

Plus, the library media specialists will help you and your students.

Handout #1

Handout #2

Voicethread Handout Example (new)

How can Voicethread be used by you and your students?

Teachers can post an image or video (example: video from united streaming) with comments.

Student can post comments creating an online discussion.

Each student creates a Voicethread to discuss an essential question (example: What if images such as … never existed?). Students and teachers can create a discussion with each voicethread.

How To Use Voicethread

www.voicethread.com

Sign up for a free educator account (both teachers & students).

Click the CREATE tab to begin your thread.

Upload images, movie files, etc. to use.

Attach a microphone (available in the library) to record your voice.
The library has a class set of headphones/microphones.

Share your thread (see options).

VoiceThread Examples:

What is a Function

Science Lab

Extreme Biology list of Voicethreads

Photograph

See the BVW Productions Blog for more examples of Voicethreads… http://bvwest.edublogs.org

Podcasting:  (iPOD broadCAST) “An audio broadcast that has been converted to an MP3 file or other audio file format for playback in a digital music player or computer.” (PC Magazine) 

An iPod is not required to listen or create podcasts!   

Podcasts can easily be found on iTunes or Educational Podcast Network (http://www.epnweb.org/). 

Once you determine a file you would like to try, click on the file and your computer should begin playing.   Common podcasts include NPR This I Believe, National Geographic, and Yogamazing. 

Many educators are utilizing podcasts to go beyond the traditional classroom setting and share with a world-wide audience. 

Students can create a recorded version of their presentation or record a script from a writing assignment.   

Teachers are also creating podcasts to distribute homework, lectures, and school announcements. 

To create podcasts or to have your students create podcasts, see the library media specialists for assistance.   

Podcast Resources: 

Quick/Easy Podcast Creation

How-To

Examples
Grammar Girl’s Quick & Dirty Tips for Better Writing Podcast

Biology @ WHS