TW+Lehighton



 Lehighton Area Middle School 2008-2009

__Advisor:__ Mr. Charlie Bachert __Tech Wizards:__ Brooke Begel Sarah Kistler Tia Rex


 *  Class 1 - October 28, 2008 **

**__Our Mission: __** To train the teachers of our school how to use Thinkfinity and Nettrekker.

__**What are the Tools:**__ __Jing__ - __Thinkfinity__ - __Nettrekker__

We will use Jing to create a tutorial that shows our teachers how to access Thinkfinity and Nettrekker, and how to use these two programs. We will then add our tutorials to our Tech Wizards Website that we created last year to forward this information to our teachers.
 * __What will we do:__**

We will creat these tutorials and add them to our webpage in the near future during an 8th period.
 * __When will we do it:__**

__**How will we know the mission is accoplished:**__ We will know that our mission was accoplished when the teachers in our building start using Thinkfinity and Nettrekker in the classrooms, or they contact us for individual help on how to use these two programs.

We have created a new page on our LAMS Tech Wizard Website that we created during Tech Wizards 1. This page includes information that we learned during our lst class, and the websites for teachers to access Thinkfinity, Nettrekker, and Jing. We also have made tutorials using Jing to show the teachers how to use Jing, Thinfinity, and Nettrekker. We have emailed our web address to all our teachers, and have invitted them to view our website and to contact us to help them learn how to use these three new technology items that we have just learned about, or to show them how to use any of the technologies that we learned how to use to use last year.
 * __Application of Material Since Last Class:__**

** Class 2 - December 9, 2008 ** __**What is the Tool?**__ __Discovery Streaming Video__ and __PowerPoint__

__**Why should it be a classroom tool? and How can it be a classroom tool?**

Discovery Streaming Video__ This tool should be used by teachers because it allows them to use non copyrighted educational videos for free. No matter what the subject is a teacher can find different educational videos to use for their classes. These videos can be searched for in different ways to include, keyword search, search by subject, search by grade level, and search by academic standards. These videos can be shown as a whole video, or they can be shown in segments. By using videos to present material to the class it changes up the teaching style and gets away from everyday lecturing. To access this tool you go to the following website http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm This tool is free to educators in Pennsylvania, however, you do need a passcode to be able to set up an account. To get the passcode, any teacher may contact their schools Tech Wizard advisor.

__PowerPoint__ If a teacher can use a word processor, they can use PowerPoint to make intersting fun presentations to use in their classrooms. These presentations can be used to present a lesson, or can be used for a review. Using PowerPoint can make a lesson come alive because the following features can be included in the presentation: Links to webpages, Links to other documents, Links to another slide(very helpful for a review), add pictures, sounds, and video clips, the slides can be animated and include different transitions from one slide to the next, and the teacher could also add narration to the slides. In addition to presenting the slide show, the slides could also be printed out to give to the students as a reference or review sheet. PowerPoint is one of the programs that is included in the Microsoft Office Suite Software, and can be accessed by going into Microsoft Office and clicking on the PowerPoint tab.

After Christmas break we will add a webpage to our Tech Wizard website and send an update reminder to our teachers to inform them about __Discovery Video Streaming__ and __Power Point.__ On this page we will show them how to access these two tools and give a demonstration how to use these two tools.
 * __What will we do to make this a classroom tool and when?__**

We will know we have made a difference if teachers contact us to find out more information about these two tools or any of the other tools we have learned about. or if we see our teachers using any of the tools that we have introduced to them.
 * __How will we know we have made a difference?__**
 * Class 3 - January 8, 2009 **

FlipViewer and Movie Maker
 * __What are the Tools?__**


 * __How Can these Tools be used in a classroom?__**

Flip Viewer is a program that allows the user to put PowerPoint slides in to a book to be viewed like the example below:
 * FlipViewer **

The Following tasks can be preformmed with FlipViewer:



This program is a free download and can be downloaded at: [|www.flipviewer.com]

**MovieMaker** MovieMaker is a program thit is included on most computers that run Windows XP or higher operating system. It is fun and easy to use, it could be used to enhance any presenation or lecture for any type of class. Movies are created by adding video clips, still pictures and audio clips. For the audio clips of the movie a personal narrative can be included by using sound recorder which can be found in the entertainment link in the accessiories section on most computers.

**Class 4 - February 5, 2009**


 * __What Is The Tool?__**

CPS (Classroom Performance System)

__**How Can This Tool be used in the Classroom?**__

= What is CPS? = = = The Classroom Performance System is a package of hardware and software developed by eInstruction Corporation. The hardware consists of a radio frequency or infra red receiver unit and response pads. The software and hardware work together so that you can create and deliver course-relevant questions and standards. Then the software reports student performance result.  You can engage every child in class material by creating an interactive learning environment in your classroom. Students who normally remain silent in class can now answer every question without fear of embarrassment. And since you see instant feedback from the entire class, you know whether to move on or continue teaching a concept.

CPS also streamlines administrative tasks. Now you can spend less time grading and more time teaching. Take attendance, grade tests and quizzes, create lessons, and generate personalized reports automatically.

To learn more about CPS, go to: [|www.einstruction.com]

** Class 5 - March 4, 2009 ** __** What is the Tool? **__ Google Earth __** How can it be used in the Classroom? **__

Google Earth lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, streets, 3D buildings, landmarks, places of interest, and even explore galaxies in the Sky. You can explore rich geographical content, save your toured places and share with others. Using Google Earth you can create virtual field trips to anyplace in the world. It also contains a flight simulator that allows you to fly over and view anywhere that you desire. Click Picture To Enter Website

Below is a Sample Presentation of a Virtual Field Trip that was created by the LAMS Tech Wizards

[]

Class 6 - April 16, 2009 Voicethread**
 * What is the Tool?
 * How can it be used in the classroom?**


 * [|browse]
 * [|create]
 * [|myvoice]

K-12 Solutions Ed.VoiceThread is a web-based communications network for K-12 students and educators. Simple, powerful and safe, Ed.VoiceThread is a place for creating and collaborating on digital stories and documentaries, practicing and documenting language skills, exploring geography and culture, solving math problems, or simply finding and honing student voices. [|Watch an overview], [|visit our K-12 Pricing page], or [|download our K-12 brochure]. Students participate in Ed.VoiceThread only after being added by an educator or administrator with an Ed.VoiceThread class or school subscription. Students are added via the online Administration Tool, one-by-one or by importing contact files. For each student, a first and last name is collected, along with any teacher, school and district information. Student email addresses are not required for participation. By default, a student identity/avatar only shows the pupil's first name. All other information is available only to the administrator. Educators are free to override this restriction if parental permission is received. All VoiceThreads are private by default and creators can easily control who can view, edit and comment on content. Within this private state, educators can collaborate with students, students with each other, and entire classes with other classes around the world. It's never necessary to make a VoiceThread publicly viewable, but we do believe students grow when they share and collaborate with others. The act of publishing content, that can be seen by anyone anywhere, reinforces the idea that student work is unique, valuable, and worthy of the world's attention.
 * An accountable environment where all users on the network are known users, responsible for their content and behavior.
 * Restricted to K-12 educators, students and administrators, all content is created or vetted by registered members of the community.
 * There are no Free accounts, students may only participate after being added by their teacher or school, and **student email addresses are not required**.