TechKnowledgy Newsletter

Western Reserve Public Media’s Professional Development Schedule
List updated June 1, 2009

June 2009

Tuesday, June 16, to Thursday, June 18
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Camp Google

Friday, June 19
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Digital Storytelling

Tuesday, June 23, to Thursday, June 25
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Camp Google

July 2009

Tuesday, July 28, to Thursday, July 30
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Camp Google

August 2009

Tuesday, Aug. 4, to Thursday, Aug. 6
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Camp Google

Friday, Aug. 7
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Digital Storytelling

Tuesday, Aug. 10, to Thursday, Aug. 12
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Getting SMARTer in My Classroom

Tentative Fall 2009 Schedule

September 2009

Friday, Sept. 11, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Western Reserve Educational Services Kick-off Meeting

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
You Be the Producer — Video Contest Edition

Thursday, Sept. 17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Smart Board — Basic

Friday, Sept. 18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Digital Photography

Wednesday, Sept 23, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
You Be the Producer — Flip Video Edition

Thursday, Sept. 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Smart Board — Advanced

Friday, Sept. 25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Power Presentations

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Video Editing on the PC

October 2009

Thursday, Oct. 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
101 Uses for a Document Camera

Friday, Oct. 2, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Digital Storytelling

Wednesday, Oct. 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Communicating Through Podcasting

Thursday, Oct. 8, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Smart Board Accessories

Friday, Oct. 9, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
You Be the Producer — Video Contest Edition

Thursday, Oct. 15, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Smart Board — Basic

Friday, Oct. 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
NEOEA Day Workshops

Thursday, Oct. 22, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Smart Board — Advanced

Thursday, Oct. 29, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Smart Board Accessories

Summer College Credit Opportunities

Camp Google for Educators
Camp Google, our new three-day professional development session, will explore Google tools that focus on the core areas of 21st century learning skills — communicate, collaborate and create.

Google Docs (an online application allowing for collaborative development of word processed, presentation and spreadsheet applications); Picasa (a photo editing and online sharing application); SketchUp (a computer assisted drawing application); Gmail, Google Forms, Google Earth and many other free Google resources.

The sessions are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following Tuesdays through Thursdays:

• June 16 to June 18
• June 23 to June 25
• July 28 to July 30
• Aug. 4 to Aug. 6

The cost per participant is $50 for the three-day session. Participants can sign up for one hour of graduate credit for the three-day session from Kent State University at an additional cost of $125.

Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own laptops, if possible. A Netbook (Internet-ready mini laptop capable of wired and wireless connectivity) can be purchased for an additional $350 but is not required.

For more information or to register, go to WesternReservePublicMedia.myworkshops.com.

NOTE: When registering, please use the comment section to include the technology component (a Netbook) for an additional $350.

Funding provided by a generous grant the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.

Digital Storytelling

Friday, June 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Learn how to use Photo Story, Audacity, Movie Maker and PowerPoint to create podcasts, slideshows and movies. This series will have one full-day seminar on site, plus online work and a half-day meeting to review the attendees’ work.

The sessions also offer the opportunity to earn one hour of college credit from Kent State University for an additional fee. The cost for the workshop is $175 for all membership levels. If you wish to receive graduate credit, please bring a check for $125 payable to Kent State University on the first session day of the class.

For more information or to register, go to WesternReservePublicMedia.myworkshops.com.

Getting SMARTer in My Classroom

Tuesday, Aug. 10 through Thursday, Aug. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Participate in accelerated professional development about Smart Board technology, including beginning and advanced techniques, popular add-ons such Airliners, document cameras and student response systems. Attendees will learn all the facets of how best to set up, utilize and integrate Smart Board products currently in use at their school district. The session also offers the opportunity to obtain college credit from Kent State University with an additional fee. The cost for the workshop is $175 for all membership levels. If you wish to receive graduate credit, please bring to the first session of class a separate check for $125 made payable to Kent State University.

Today’s documents can be used for a variety of applications, from dissection to close-up imaging to serving as an additional camera for video work. Find out new and innovative uses for this classroom tool.

Through the game of baseball, students learn about the basic principles of physics as set forth by the National Science Education Standards and the Ohio Science Academic Content Standards. The multimedia kit includes a teacher guide, four videos and a Web site, http://www.WesternReservePublicMedia.org/baseball.

This new simulation computer game for grades 4-8 is based on the popular Western Reserve Public Media project Antarctica: 90 Degrees South. Students are trying to get to the South Pole. Along the way, they must make logical choices or their trip is ended. Visit the Web site, http://www.WesternReservePublicMedia.org/antarcti.

Workshop attendees receive a game CD and the accompanying teacher guide that includes supplemental lesson plans.

Big or Small: Measure It All is keyed to mathematics standards in grades 4-6. Five 10-minute videos focus on how mathematics is used in the real world. Hands-on lessons match the topics of the video. A second component of the package is a virtual tour of Ohio using Google Earth. The multimedia kit includes a teacher guide, videos and a Web site, www.WesternReservePublicMedia.org/measure.

What’s the Problem? is a series of eight 10-minute videos that focus on the uses of mathematics through parodies of different TV network reality shows. The project is targeted to grades 8-12 intervention for the graduation test but would also work well in a regular class setting.

Learn how free Web 2.0 communication tools such as blogs and wikis can be integrated into the classroom. This seminar focuses on software used to create and manage communication environments, the creation of blogs and wikis and the use of Web 2.0 tools.

Create a classroom Web site using WGTE’s Build Your Own Web Site program. After creating an account, participants use simple application tools and templates to design a Web site with options such as Homework Calendar, Web Pages, Photo Gallery, Online Storage, Polls and Quiz Center.

Students will be bombarded with persuasive techniques in all aspects of their life. They need to recognize the persuasive techniques that are being used to manipulate their thinking and how they can use these same techniques to influence others. The multimedia kit is keyed to grades 8-10 language arts standards and includes a teacher guide, five videos and a Web site, www.WesternReservePublicMedia.org/changemymind.

Today’s way to communicate can be created with little equipment investment and does not require mobile listening devices. This workshop teaches you how to create your own podcast. It also includes lessons on podcasting directories, information on gathering audio feeds and suggestions for educational usage.

Constitution Challenge is keyed to grades 5-8 social studies and language arts content standards. Videos include The Constitution, Checks and Balances, The Bill of Rights and Federalism. The teachers guide provides many hands-on lessons in both social studies and language arts. The Web site contains PowerPoint shows and Jeopardy-style games that can be played with the class. The multimedia kit includes a teacher guide, videos and a Web site, www.WesternReservePublicMedia.org/constitution.

Learn how to set up a digital still camera, save images to a CD and use photo editing software to enhance images. Create a slide show with the free program Picasa and inserting images into PowerPoint are also discussed.

Learn how to integrate podcasting, Windows Movie Maker, PowerPoint and other technologies to create digital stories and scrapbooks.

Five 10-minute videos, a teachers guide and a Web site focus on general economics topics including scarcity, production, consumption and distribution and the market economy. The project also views economics with a historical perspective. Lesson plans are constructivist in approach and hands-on. The package is keyed to standards in grades 5-8. The multimedia kit includes a teacher guide, videos and a Web site, www.WesternReservePublicMedia.org/economics.

How does all of this technology fit together in my classroom? How can I utilize the technology I have with technology I would like to have? Can blogging and digital photography work together in my classroom? Find the answers to these questions and more.

Find out about free tools, programs and add-ons that enhance the capabilities of your PC.

Google is much more than a robust search engine. Learn how to create buildings in 3-D, enhance photos, travel to any place on earth and link Google functions to Smart Board lessons.

Free Web 2.0 productivity tools such as Google for Educators, Zoho and Thumbstacks allow for the creation, distribution and collaboration of documents and presentations across the Web. Find out how to integrate these applications with students and colleagues.

Welcome to the world of high-tech treasure hunting! Learn about basic GPS handheld functions, the rules for depositing and finding geocaches and how to work in the online geocaching environment.

The goal of this project is to help students understand the different eras of history including the Barbarian Invasions, feudalism, the Crusades and the beginning of the Reformation. The package is keyed to grade 7 social studies standards and includes a teachers guide and Web site, www.WesternReservePublicMedia.org/middleages.

Learn how to organize and customize your PC desktop, burn a CD, save files to a jump drive, add a printer, use a search program, edit a photograph, bookmark and organize Web sites and more.

Create lessons with screen captures from any program using SnagIt. Then edit and share exactly what you see on your screen in PowerPoint, on your Web site or in Movie Maker. Camtasia can also be used to capture video of your computer screen activity, allowing the creation of instructional movies for your classroom.

Learn how to add images, music, animation, narration and videos to PowerPoint. Output and print your presentation in different formats — even a self-running show.

Students in grades 4-8 practice collecting data, presenting it in an understandable fashion, analyzing it through graphing, identifying ways data can be distorted and looking at both arithmetic and geometric probability (area models). This resource is keyed to Ohio mathematics standards in grades 4-8. It contains five videos, a teacher guide and a Web site, http://WesternReservePublicMedia.org/quizbus.

The Smart Board can easily be integrated into the classroom. Learn the software, set-up and operation of the Smart Board. Lesson plans and additional resources will be discussed. This is an entry-level professional development course for beginning Smart Board users.

Gather with other Smart Board users to discuss best practices in the classroom and develop additional lesson plans using the technology. Share tips and tricks for making an easier, faster integration of this exciting technology into the classroom.

Learn about wireless tablets, document cameras and student response systems that work directly with Smart Boards. Develop resources related to this technology.

Free Web 2.0 curriculum tools such as Kerpoof (online creation station) and XTimeline (timeline creator) are useful classroom tools. Find out how to integrate them.

Windows Movie Maker software is an easy-to-use editing program that lets you seamlessly capture video and still images from digital devices and add effects, transitions, titles and music. When you are done with your video, put it on a DVD, send it to the Web and even send it out as a podcast.

Free Web 2.0 multimedia tools such as YouTube, TeacherTube and other streaming video sites can be used to support educational efforts with your students and colleagues.

Unleash the entrepreneurial spirit in your elementary, middle and high school students. Materials include a teachers guide and video resources that focus on how best to integrate the “power of the idea” and how to develop that idea into a product.

Learn the process of creating a video, including creating the script, setting up the shoot and filming creatively. Videos will be created using Flip Video technology and emphasis will be given to video production to the Web.

Enjoy this look at the process of creating a video, including brainstorming the idea, writing the treatment, creating the script and shooting the video. Discover the different ways to broadcast videos through the Web.

Enjoy this condensed look at the process of creating a video. Bring your crew of no more than three students, as well as your own equipment (camcorders, microphones, etc.), and learn how to produce a video. A helpful resource for schools interested in entering the eTech Ohio Student Video Contest!