On the Trails

When teaching content with a web resource, it is very important to link DIRECTLY to the web resource. If you take your students to a page where they have to scroll, find words, click on words etc. you not only waste time, but you encourage mistakes.

How many [...]

I have been fascinated with the dictionary tool-tip – a add-on and have used it quite extensively.
I would like to add a dictionary to that tool-tip, a picture dictionary for young readers.
I can see how technology can help with decoding and vocabulary with this new dictionary.
I am making my first attempt at this dictionary [...]

1. Click on the QuickNote icon on your tool bar to open QuickNote

2. Click on the little notepad near the top right corner of QuickNote

3. Click on the word Settings

4. Customize the following under the Main Tab:
I would Send Selected Text to Tab 1 – so click in the circle next to Tab 1
I [...]

Here are the directions for sharing a document with another person.

Open the Google Document you wish to share
Click on the Share tab
In the box, type in my email address and don’t change the button that says as collaborator. Click on the button that says Invite Collaborator.
Type in a message to me that explains what the [...]

Ideas kicking around in my head for a lesson formula – I am sure that someone has already organized this, but …

Decide on (an) objective(s)
Decide on materials

web

web page
video
podcast

print

Decide on instructional delivery method

teacher directed

projector with computer
overhead
worksheet/handout

student directed

cooperative learning

jigsaw
peer teaching
Think-Pair-Share

individual practice

Decide on (an) Assessment Strateg(y)ies

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addthis_title [...]

The good folks at Naturescapes have created a web resource that actually differentiates reading by using Science content.
I have taken 3 screenshots of the first two paragraphs of three different pages about the cactus.
Here is the basic page (real page):

Here is the more details (real page) web page:

And lastly, here is the more in depth [...]

Stop letting the IT Department tell your teachers how to teach with technology. Work with them to develop a safe and secure environment for digital learning.
Are you prepared to guide your school as this unfolds around you?
Key Finding #1
Digital schools are transitioning from a desktop world to a mobile world Not [...]

I was working with a teacher the other day who wanted his/her students to make a brochure about regions of New York State. She/He is a veteran teacher who does not normally use technology – so keep that in mind.
As I watched this experience unfold, I jumped in to help the kids and her – [...]

According to the Reading Rockets web site
(http://www.readingrockets.org/helping), 40% of children struggle with
reading. In a class of 20 kids, that is 8 out of 12.
Do you know how to help them? Do you know what to tell their parents?
Imagine a child saying these words to you:
“I feel like I just use the same words over and [...]

When teaching content with a web resource, it is very important to link DIRECTLY to the web resource.  If you take your students to a page where they have to scroll, find words, click on words etc. you not only waste time, but you encourage mistakes.
How many of you remember those kids who could not [...]

There are two advantages to “writing” on the computer.

Editing is much easier
Sharing to a wide audience is increased

The problem with “writing” on a computer is keyboarding.  Students do not practice keyboarding frequently enough to improve their skills.  I have been thinking a lot about this dilemma and have begun work on this dilemma.
I decided to [...]

One of my graduate students, Crystal Elias, wrote the lesson below. It falls into the pattern of using the web to teach “everyday or traditional content.” Here is the original blog post.
Objective: The students will learn how to use the dictionary tooltip add-on for the Firefox browser. The students will experience how [...]

This lesson was developed by one of my graduate students, Heather Nace. She has written a lesson that takes advantage of a Firefox add-on, the dictionary tool-tip. Here is a link to Heather’s Blog, where the lesson first appeared.
Lesson Plan
Topic: Dictionary-tooltip add-on
Objective: Six graders will utilize
dictionary-tooltip add-on, for spelling list. The students will [...]

One of my graduate students, Lia Navone, has shown me another way to share learning. Lia posted examples, on her web site, of how to calculate area and perimeter for her students.
She did not have to do anything difficult or that could not be learned in 10 minutes.
She did have to have to think [...]

Note: These are the directions I am giving to a third grade teacher and class today.
Hi Kids,
Today you are going to:

build 3 different monsters using the Monster Exchange Monster Building page
use Colored Tabs – to help you keep track of open web pages
use Quicknote – to help you follow my directions

Here is how:

Login to our [...]

PBS has produced an animated web site called Illuminating Photosynthesis.  This interactive web page can be used to teach this New York State Performance Indicator:
Students provide evidence that green plants make food and explain the significance of this process to other organisms.
and this Major Understanding:
Photosynthesis is carried on by green plants and other organisms [...]

The Logitech Quickcam has four primary functions:

To take digital pictures
To capture video
To enable video conference
To capture audio

1. Starting the Quickcam
Double Click on the Logitech icon
2. Quickcam Interface explained

3. Lesson Ideas

Pictures of student projects
Record students reading
Leave a comment for your ideas

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addthis_title = ‘Logitech+QuickCam+Tutorial+and+Lesson+Ideas’;
addthis_pub [...]

For teachers using My Teacher Pages, a classroom web site tool developed by School World, organizing homework assignments can be a valuable tool for your students. 
But did you know that you can attach documents (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoints, .pdf, etc.) to a homework assignment section?  Here is how:

Login to MyTeacherPages
Click on My Applications
Click on [...]

I want to create a 4th and 5th grade unit using Google Maps, called Where have you been? This is just a reminder for me because I don’t want to lose the thought….
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addthis_title = ‘Where+have+you+been%3F’;
addthis_pub = ”;

Full Story from NPR
Photo linked to: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14212491
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addthis_title = ‘Farewell+Luciano%21′;
addthis_pub = ”;

My philosophy with technology integration is simple: 
If you students can not duplicate what they are learning in school at home, use different software. 
So, open source and web based applications are my first choices.  In order to get students to use web based applications, students must demonstrate the following:
The ability to:

Open and close Firefox
Navigate [...]

I am sitting in the Buffalo Airport waiting for my “ride” back to the Outer Banks in NC and I got to thinking about my discussion today about what kids need to know.  I was in a meeting with HS teachers and technology integrators and we were talking about office skills and what the HS [...]

Steven Spielberg did not direct E.T. to keep to himself.  He did so in hopes that it would be a film that people would love.  In schools we tend to have students create products for a grade and usually only for the teacher.  That mentality just makes me sad…. ;-(
Well, to counteract the sadness I [...]