http://www.prezi.com is an FREE online tool that allows you to create presentations online. You can add video, pictures, and text to make a presentation that is a little more "flashy" than powerpoint. It is only for keywords and pictures, movie clips, links, etc. It can also be packed up to take with you if you don't have internet access. Links Read full article »
Archives for October, 2009
Bundles of Blogs By Administrators
On October 16, we held a training session with principals to help get them started on blogging. We have purchased a blog campus from Edublogs.org. This Australian based company houses blog campuses for many major universities including Cornell. The principals would like to use the blogs for professional development, as well as parent communication. This also inlcudes the PTA and Parent Read full article »
category: Professional Development, Training Highlights
Free poll – No Sign-up Required!
http://pollcode.com is a free web tool that allows you to create a poll on the fly and then embed it or link to it. You can embed your poll into a wiki, blog, or Edline. You can only vote one time per computer per day, so you may want to be careful if you are having students take your poll on your Read full article »
category: All Disciplines, Web Tools
Dr. Loughead turns 50!
Although he may not look like it, Dr. Loughead turned 50 on Oct. 9th. He took the weekend to sail with his friends, but also had time to celebrate two times with his staff! Happy Birthday, Michael!! Read full article »
category: Fun Stuff
Curriculum mapping is underway
Faculty from all buildings, grade levels and subjects gathered at the Middle School on Tuesday, Oct. 6th for the first steps toward curriculum mapping. The science and math departments will head off our pilot group by Diary Mapping this year. They will be concentrating on essential questions, content, and skills. The English, Math, and Social Studies departments will be experimenting. It Read full article »
category: Professional Development, Training Highlights
Mr. Conner makes good on bet with students
Last year, Mr. Conner, Huston Middle School Principal, bet the students they would not improve on their 4Sight and PSSA exams. After viewing receiving the test results this school year, Mr. Conner found out he lost his bet! The students did indeed improve on both tests. On Oct. 16, 2009, he made good on his bet by shaving his facial Read full article »
category: Fun Stuff
BYOT official for BHS
Last week, we were approved for a pilot program of BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology). It is also sometimes known as BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). However you spell it, it means one thing… select students are now allowed to bring their own technology to school and run on our guest wireless account. All the hype and stress we have been feeling about launching this program was kind of anti-climatic when I reached out to the pilot students and so few of them wanted to participate. We have one BYOT classroom, which is a journalism class with very outdated technology. The students responded to me with why would I want to bring my own stuff to school. Since this is a class I co-teach, I am hoping to streamline some other process in our publishing process, which will allow for an easier share of information across different devices. For example, we will be utilizing Google docs, wihch is viewable on all devices. It is the plan to be 100% BYOT by second semester!
Parent Teacher Conferences Scheduled Online
Technology Discussions21st Century Classrooms Rule! HomeiPod and iPad Apps iPad/iPhone Apps for Reading SpecialistsToolbox BlogEdlinePromethean – ActivClassroomsWikispacesVirditional LearningSuccess Stories Success Stories – 2010-2011Success Stories – 2009-2010Professional Development 21st Century TeachingTraining HighlightsQuotationsVideo PageRSS FeedParent Teacher Conferences Scheduled OnlinePosted by Dawn Lovic on Tuesday, October 25th 2011 editFor the second year in a row, we are scheduling Parent Teacher Conferences online. It went fairly well last year with only minor organizatonal hiccups. We are well on the way of creating a paperless scheduling system for the whole thing. Last year, we still printed out teacher conferences, but this year, we are going paperless. Each teacher is emailed his/her schedule. We are using a website called PTCfast.com. It is free, and it works well!! If you are a parent who would like to schedule a conference, please go to the websites below: High School: http://www.ptcfast.com/schools/burrellhighschool Middle School: http://www.ptcfast.com/schools/hustonmiddleschool Check out the website at: http://www. ptcfast.com
Coury "Tuck Everlasting"
Coury once again differentiates her "Tuck Everlasting" project with multimedia groups taking on many tasks and projects using technology of the more advanced such as flip cams and laptops and the not so advanced as pen and paper. Once again, she divided her class into four groups each taking a different twist on the book. Through problem solving and creativity each group had several tasks they needed to completed. I came into class and co-taught with her for three of the four days working on the project to help the group that created a web page. On the fifth day, presentaitons were given.
