Justin Tarte - Life of an Educator...: Let's make a difference...

Justin Tarte - Life of an Educator...: Let's make a difference...

Harrison TV - Streaming Live!

On Monday, March 7, Harrison TV-Streaming Live! will be operational.  Our morning announcements and a variety of special events will be available for live viewing throughout the school, and at home.  Teachers, using their computer and projector, will be able to WATCH the announcements and other events in their classrooms.  Recorded events are saved for seven days allowing viewers to revisit broadcasts at their leisure.

Accessing Harrison TV is simple to do.  Go to this blog, http://huskybytes.blogspot.com, and click the link below the video window at the top of the page.  A new window will open with the live video feed of the event.  You will be asked for an access code.  That code is "husky1300"  Make sure the classroom projector is on so everyone can view the program. If you on the link before we go live, you could possibly be subjected to an advertisement.  Simply turn down the volume on your computer until the live event begins.  The broadcasts will not be interrupted by advertising.

We also recommend that you choose to "Follow" the Harrison TV stream.  You will get a notice anytime a program is being produced.  That is really all there is to it.  If you have any questions or difficulties, contact Rick Glass.  Morning announcements will continue to be broadcasts over the PA system for the benefit of those in the hallways and places without computer access.

There are many positive ways we can use this technology, so do not hesitate to share your ideas.  Soon, we will have a video player embedded on our school web site.  This will allow parents, homebound students, and others to view our shared activities from any location with internet access.

Read the EdTech Times - A Daily Magazine about Educational Technology

Nancy Rooker recently asked me where I get my ideas for technology integration.  My answer is really quite simple.  I use Twitter.  Currently, I am following more than 600 teachers, administrators, and consultants from every level of education.  They post their ideas, successes, failures, and dreams in short bursts of 140 characters.  I find them by using hashtags like #edcur, #edtech, #edchat, #sped, and more.  I look at who is making active contributions and I choose to follow them.

I just put a link on this blog to the EdTech Times, a magazine created from gleaning the blogs and other writings of the people I follow on Twitter.  The magazine is published free for me and for others who choose to use the services of PaperLi, the company that aggregates the information.  The articles you read here are fresher than any newspaper.  They are the gleanings of some of the best people who are passionate about teaching, learning, and technology.  You won't agree with everything you read.  Neither do I, but they will make you think.  They will help you fight complacency and challenge you to move outside the boxes that are either created for us or created by ourselves.  Just perhaps, they will validate what you are doing and encourage you to continue making a difference in the lives of your students.

If you would like to know more about Twitter and creating your own magazine, please let me know.  

Thanks,

Rick

National Geographic Kids

The National Geographic Kids website has been a great help to our 2nd grade students. They are researching an animal and writing a report for one of our non-fiction unit projects. In the search box at that site type in the name of your animal. Several links should pop up that you can go to. Look for the link about your animal that lists photos, video, facts, e-card, and map. When you click on that a screen should pop up with a picture of your animal and a Print tab at the top. Click this and you get a printable animal flash card that you can cut out and glue together or just use as part of a report. Many of the animals we chose had lots of other facts that printed with the picture. The KidsBiology website is another good source of friendly readable information about animals and other topics for kids.

Internet4classrooms

My 4th graders used "internet4classrooms" this morning. I had the children go to Google to access this "learning center". They eased into Internet4Classroom HomePage; we used the whiteboard to discuss how to get to the "practice lesson". The boys and girls quickly picked up how to get to appropriate grade level, subject area, and Mrs. Kinsey's assignment.

FYI-we went to language arts, parts of speech and "gorilla grammar". I liked this "lesson" because "GG" had a mini-glossary with examples as well as levels (beginner & advanced).

Looking forward to hearing your recommendations.

Welcome new authors

This is a great beginning.  Our Husky Bytes blog now has six authors and we're looking for a couple of dozen more.  Yes, we will all fit just fine.  Post your comments, but more importantly share how you are integrating technology into your classrooms.  We can learn from each other.  Have questions?  Post them here.  Between us, I'll bet we can come up with some workable answers.  When you're surfing the web and find a great link for learning or an article about tech, teaching, and learning, post the link so we can all check it out.  Glad you're here.

The weather's fine!

I like it here. It's like a little island. I hope we all fit.

I'm in too...

Hello!

I made it, I am in!

Advanced Forms in Google Docs Webinar

Ever heard of Google Docs?  Eve wonder how to create or use them.  This webinar might answer some of your questions.  I use Google Docs in my classroom.  I am happy to share some of my templates with you.

If you are trying to view this on your school computer, you are, no doubt, blocked.  We are working on that.

Thank you,

Rick Glass

That Quiz - Excellent Practice, Differentiated Assessments

That Quiz provides provides a variety of ways for students to improve their skills and for teachers to assess that improvement.  The greatest variety with the program is in the area of Math.  Assessments can be presented in a nearly infinite number of ways.  The assessments can be adjusted by levels of difficulty, time, and number of questions.  Nearly every type of math is included, making the program useful for nearly every grade level.  Students may be permitted to freely explore the site or the teacher, with a free account, can create specialized assessments that match the current curriculum.  A nice feature is that the program grades the student work and provides feedback on incorrect questions.  The site also features assessments on vocabulary and comprehension, science,  and national, geography.

Create Word Clouds with Wordle

Wordle is a fun way for students to play with words, any words; spelling words, vocabulary words, math words, social studies words, science words, thematic words.  Wordle is completely free.  Start creating your word clouds todays and share them with each other.

PLC's and Husky Bytes

As you follow our new guidelines for Professional Learning Communities (PLC's), you are now doubt sharing lots of creative ideas about lesson plans and meeting your students' needs.  Husky Bytes is a way to extend the sharing of those ideas beyond your grade level.

As a Harrison teacher, you recently received an invitation to join this blog.  Joining gives you full administrative privileges to write comments and post new topics for discussion.  Do you have favorite web sites that effectively engage your students?  Share them here.  Are you willing to share some of your terrific lesson plans?  Here is a quick way to make them public.  Do you have questions about the use of some of your tech tools?  This is a good way to get answers and share them with others.

Respond to your invitation to join the Husky Bytes blog.  If your invitation got lost in your spam filter, email Rick Glass for a new one.

Thanks!

Mimio Resources

Please notice the tabbed tool bar at the top of the page.  A tab for Mimio resources has been added.  Here you will find a great collection of concise how-to videos that cover many of the Mimio functions.  You can conveniently access them from anywhere as you plan your lessons.

Do Rewards Work?

I don't know.  There is currently quite a debate on the subject.  Let's give it a try here.  I have a special reward for the first five Harrison teachers who comment on a post or create a new post of their own.  It is really pretty cool.  Let's see who wins.

By the way, when you reply to your email invitation, you will receive authorship rights to this blog.  Your comments and posts will not be moderated.  You will be able to write freely.

CCC Video on Demand

CCC Video is back.  We once again have access to those educational videos.  If you no longer have a bookmark to the site, email me for the link.  I will also post it on this site.  Please remember that this link is only accessible from school.

A Virtual Library - Springfield Township Schools, Oreland, PA

Springfield Township Schools in Oreland, PA, has posted a unique resource for students, parents, and teachers - A Virtual Library.  Want to go on a virtual field trip? Need tools to create a digital story? Looking for tech-integrated lesson plans?  The folks here have made their meticulously collected resources available to everyone.  Bookmark this page and visit often.  The site is updated regularly.

Science Textbook Adoption

This year, WCS will adopt new science textbooks.  More than a half-dozen publishers have supplied us with materials for review.  Many of them have strong technology components.  These materials are on display in the 4th Grade Discovery Lab.  All teachers are invited to stop by and examine the materials.  Grade levels are encouraged to take materials back to their rooms and share them among themselves.  Deb McClintock and Rick Glass are your representatives on the Science Textbook Adoption Committee.  Please direct your questions and recommendations to them.

Getting the Tools You Need - Eduphoria

Eduphoria is our district Help Desk for all of your technology needs.  Need a document camera?  Problems with your Mimio? Need access to a blocked web site?  Login to Eduphoria and record your request.  Response time on these requests is quick, usually within two days.  More features are being added all of the time so visit the site often.  You may also check the status of your requests with a simple mouse click.  Remember to bookmark the link.

Welcome to Husky Bytes

This blog is offered to you as a resource for technology integration in your classroom.  As a Harrison teacher, you are invited to take ownership of this blog with full posting and editing privileges.  All teachers, regardless of locale, are invited to respond to posts and share in the exchange of ideas.

If you are an active blogger who writes about issues in education, you are invited to share a link to your site here.  If you have a classroom blog for your students to share their writing, please consider sharing that link here as well.

If you have questions or ideas regarding this blog, please contact Rick Glass.