Salem City Schools – Page 28 – Teaching with Technology

A New Type of Newsletter

Posted on October 3, 2006 by Tina Coffey

If you are reading this blog, then you’ve found my new “newsletter” for the technology happenings at your school. Welcome! Yes, and that’s what this is….a blog. I am going to be blogging to keep you informed! Why? Because I can tell you what I need to tell you without having to wait until I put out a newsletter each month. A blog also has advantages for other reasons. You will be able to look back at past “news” if you need to. You’ll be able to look for information I have written about certain topics using “tags” or categories. I will be modeling for you a use of technology that I think would be very useful for your classroom. And, the coolest part….blogging is actually two way communication! See that “comment” link right below this article? If you click on it, you can leave a comment about the article you are reading. It’s even possible to have a nice discussion via the blog comments.

So, let’s lay some ground rules:
1) You do not have to comment, but please do if you have something to say.
2) This is NOT another form of a “help” page. If you choose to comment, please keep the discussion about the topic of the article to which you are responding. Also, please do not leave comments about wanting to schedule a time with me—this is best done through email.
3) You do not have to leave your email address, but it would help me to at least know what school you are from….and your name if you feel comfortable. First names are fine.
4) Remember that this page is part of the Internet. Anyone can read it. Do not use kids’ names.
5) Be honest. If you don’t like one of my ideas, feel free to say so and tell me why. If you have questions, ask. If you have suggestions, please share. If you used an idea and it went really well, tell me. If it was a flop, tell me that too. Remember that others can read your comments as well, so what you say may help someone else.

So, that’s it! Go for it! I will remind you once a month to check this blog in lieu of sending out my monthly newsletter. You can visit anytime…I will post new articles regularly…you don’t have to wait for my email!

PS—Blogs also use something called RSS feed (you see it mentioned in the box to the right). Using this feed might make it easier to keep up with this blog, and to keep tabs on a bunch of other really neat stuff on the web. Keep a look out for webpages that have an RSS feed. You might see a little orange xml or rss icon to let you know. For now, just try and notice, and I’ll explain more about it later.

Salem City Schools

Computer Lab Seating Chart

Posted on October 3, 2006 by Tina Coffey

Be thinking about a permanent arrangement for your students in the computer lab during the next few weeks. As you assign seats, please record your students in the computer lab notebook located on the table in the lab. Assigning seats will allow students to

Take ownership and provide incentive for the maintenance of their computer.
Allow us to know who was on any given computer during the day, if a problem should arise.
Make it easier for me to know names when I assist in the lab.

Once you have assigned seats, please require students to stay at their computer unless there is a technical problem. If you need to rearrange seating during the year, please just update your seating chart.

Two suggestions:
* Assign students by numbers–that way they can also use the same numbered laptop when you are using the cart.
*Don’t forget, the projector in the GWC lab is hooked to computer #3. If you plan on using the projector or having me work with your students, you might want to leave this computer open.

Salem City Schools

Technology as Content vs. Content using Technology

Posted on October 3, 2006 by Tina Coffey

I love working with teachers, especially when I get to come into their classrooms! It gives me a chance to work with the kids too! I was able to do that a lot last year, especially towards the end of the year, and I’d love to keep it up. As you get to know me better, you might want to think about how you request my help. I don’t mind meeting you in the lab to teach your students how to use a certain program, BUT, I’d like for you to start thinking more about the content you are teaching rather than about the technology. So, instead of, “Can you come teach my students PowerPoint?” let’s change it to, “I am teaching about Famous Americans. Can you help me think of ways to incorporate technology into this unit?” Here the focus is not on the technology in and of itself, but on technology as a tool to assist you in teaching content. What you teach in the lab should augment what you are teaching in your classroom. That’s what it’s all about! After you decide what technology goes with the content (and I’ll be glad to help you think of ideas), then I’ll be more than happy to help you implement it! And, as I said before, that’s the part I love! Ask me!

Blogs and Blogging, Salem City Schools, Web 2.0

Web 2.0 Inservice

Posted on October 3, 2006 by Tina Coffey

Okay, maybe it’s too soon to tell, but would you like to have a page like this? It’s pretty easy to do…you don’t need any special programs…just a web browser. You do everything (including picking the style of your page) by filling in forms and checking (or un-checking) boxes. The only thing that is helpful to know how to do is cutting and pasting from a word processing program (like MS Word). BUT, you don’t have to know how to do this. The only reason I like to start first in Word is because I am addicted to spell check, and as of yet, edublogs does not have spell check. If you are interested in making a page like this, you should come to one of the Web 2.0 inservices! There will be two in October (Oct. 18-East and Oct. 23-GWC) right after school. You’ll even receive unscheduled inservice hours…so think about it. Email me if you want to come!

Salem City Schools

Upcoming District-wide Technology Inservices

Posted on October 3, 2006 by Tina Coffey

Yes, the ITRT department will be teaching after school inservices for unscheduled inservice hours again this year. A sneak preview of the topics—Kerio: More Than Just Email, Beginning Front Page, Front Page Workshop, Beginning PowerPoint, PowerPoint Workshop, Digital Camera Workshop, Intro to Web 2.0, Movie Maker/ Photostory, and maybe more! We will be offering a workshop format where you come prepared to make and take…and the usual inservice format where you will be introduced to a certain piece of technology. Enough on that for now….just keep a lookout for a brochure and website giving the details!!