WolframAlpha

Wolfram|Alpha is a computational knowledge engine. How is that different than a search engine like Google? Wolfram|Alpha answers factual queries by computing the answer from data. Let’s look at an example: I will enter Farmington in the search field:
I see the results for Farmington, Utah—not Farmington, Michigan or Connecticut or Maine. How does it know I mean Utah? It pulls my IP address from my computer, located in West Jordan and assumes I mean the Farmington just north of here. Just in case I do mean another Farmington, I am provided with a list of other cities named Farmington in other parts of the U.S.

Instant results show weather, current and historical population, local time, current and historical weather, elevation, GPS coordinates, a U.S. map pinpointing Farmington, Utah and more.

For a very cool, you-just-gotta-see-introductory video from Stephen Wolfram, check out this video:
http://www.wolframalpha.com/screencast/introducingwolframalpha.html

Social Studies and Thinkfinity

As educators we love to borrow and share lesson plans, ideas and resources. Thinkfinity.org is a tool provided by the Verizon Foundation for educators to use. The lessons and resources are tied to national standards and might need to be tweaked and or adjusted to meet Utah standards. There are 4 main resources that specifically relate to Social Studies, they are: EconEdLink, EDSITEment, Smithsonian’s History Explorer and Xpeditions.







You can do a general keyword search from the main Thinkfinity.org homepage. You can do a more specific search by using any or all of the dropdown menus. Just remember that the more specific you are in choosing categories, the fewer results you will get.








You might also choose to invesigate a specific partner, and then search within that partner’s website. Once you get to the specific partner website you can navigate and search through the resources provided there.

Refining Search Skills

Educator and speaker Alan November believes there is a growing gap between what we teach children and what is needed in this expanding global workplace. In his opinion students need to be able to do three key things when they leave school.

 Have the capacity to do good research on the Web

Have good global communication skills

             We should evaluate teachers on their ability to directly engage children with people all around the worl

Be self-directed

Our system is based on the concept that teachers own the learning

Corporations need people who don’t need a boss to tell them what to do

The top skill learned in school is to learn how to be taught

Quickly I will highlight the first of those skills.  “The ability to do a good search on the web”.  Most students just type in a stab at their topic and take the “Big 6”, which one told me was the first six hits on the list.  Not a real effective method, but easy and seldom corrected.

Boolean Searching

Really a strange name for a very simple concept, it is like a verbal Venn diagram.  If I want a search of ‘yellow trucks’ and type in Yellow Trucks I will come up with all the sights that have Yellow and all the sites that contain trucks, as well at the “yellow trucks” With Boolean searching you write “yellow and trucks”, the results will only contain both words. If I want to eliminate “Chevy” then type in “yellow and trucks not Chevy”.  Try it with something you want to look up and look at the hits.  Try it with two or three different search engines and check out the numbers.

For a fun look at Boolean searching checkout Boolify: the Boolean Project.  It is great for explaining the process, even to younger groups.  

Keys To Search the Internet More Effectively:

Read the Help or Tips Menu

• The Help or Tips Menu will provide valuable information about how to perform an effective search.

Prepare to Search

• Think about what you are looking for. Make a list of key words that you can work with. Consider what is the best search tool for the job.

Use Unique Terms When Possible to Retrieve More Specific Results

• The words you choose will determine the information you find. Try to use words that are specific and describe what you are looking for in unique ways.

Use the Directories in Search Engine or Subject Directories

• Directories are available on most search tools and help organize sites into categories.

Use More than One Search Engine

• Not all search tools are alike. A search will produce radically different results depending upon the tool used.  Every search engine it’s has strengths and weaknesses. Try doing the same search on different tools. Compare the first ten sites retrieved by each tool.

Use Capitalization When Needed to Refine a Search

• Not every search tool is case sensitive. Capitalization sometimes finds sites that have the search term in the title--this is especially useful when searching for a terms that are not capitalized unless they are in a title.

Use Quotations or Other Symbols to Specify a Phrase

• Search tools do not know whether a search is for "lesson" or "plans." The default is typically lesson or plans in simple searching. Use quotations to surround a phrase such as "lesson plans."

Keep Results to a Minimum: Size of the Search Tool Does Not Matter

• If you have not found what you are looking for in the first 20 to 50 sites, give it up and reword your search or try another search engine.

K12 Online Conference 2009

K12 Online Conference 2009
Participate in a great Technology Learning Experience!

K12 Online 2009 is a FREE conference open to ANYONE interested in integrating emerging technologies into classroom practice. A primary goal of the conference is to help educators make sense of and meet the needs of a continually changing learning landscape.

http://k12onlineconference.org/
http://wiki.k12onlineconference.org/
http://wiki.k12onlineconference.org/home/for-participants/2009-schedule

Flip "over" Video

Flip Video
http://www.theflip.com/en-us/

Flip Video is the world's simplest camcorder. It lets you capture the everyday moments that happen anywhere, everywhere and share with anyone. Shooting video is as easy as taking a picture. There are NO chargers, NO cables, just a USB connection!

Resources to Learn How to Use the Flip Video

How to Use a Flip Camera
http://www.allaroundyou.net/page/how-to-use-a-flip-camera

Flip Video Basics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_rZKOK8DwU&fmt=22

Making a Video on a Flip Camcorder
http://www.mindbites.com/lesson/495-making-a-video-on-a-flip-camcorder

Shooting Tips
http://www.flipvideospotlight.com/resources/shooting.aspx

Editing Guidelines
http://www.flipvideospotlight.com/resources/production.aspx

The Flip Camera for PC and Mac (Movie Maker and iMovie, too)
http://it.seattleschools.org/blog/category/tools-and-applications/video/

Educational Uses for the Flip Video

Capture student successes
Create writing prompts
Document fieldtrips
Demonstrate student progress
Develop storytelling skills
Interview community members
Record science experiments
Reflect on student presentations
Review new concepts
Share classroom event

Forty-Two Interesting Ways to use your Pocket Video Camera
http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dhn2vcv5_6tv55j7g9

Creating a Public Service Anouncement (PSA) from Granite District
http://theflip.wikispaces.com/PSAs

Video Sharing
http://www.flipvideospotlight.com/resources/distribution.aspx

Storytelling
http://www.flipvideospotlight.com/resources/storytelling.aspx

Digital Wish Lesson Plans
http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/view_lesson_plans

Purchasing Information

You can pruchase from CDW-G at $168.00

Flip Ultra™ 120-minute Camcorder 2 for 1!
http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/product?id=4310

Flip Video Spotlight Mission and Network / Matching Purchase Program
http://www.flipvideospotlight.com/about/default.aspx

Flip Video MinoHD Mobile Lab
http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/product?id=2127MHD

Ultimate Pocket Camcorder Comparison
http://gizmodo.com/5401862/ultimate-pocket-camcorder-comparison

GIS Day (Geographic Information Systems)

On Wed, November 18th, several Jordan District teachers took the opportunity to go to GIS Day.

Participants learned what GIS is and how it is used in our daily lives. Here is a great video for your students that explains GIS.

GIS professionals from various municipalities taught sessions on aerial mapping, using elementary-level GIS software, and how teachers with no GIS mapping experience can work with a GIS mentor to implement GIS in their classroom.

So what is GIS? A Geographic Information System (GIS) can save, search, retrieve and analyze geographic data. GIS is currently being used academically and in many professional fields including environmental science and transportation. Everyday GIS use can be seen in the hand-held Global Positioning Systems (GPS) carried by hikers and fishermen and in navigation systems that many cars have today.

Here are some GIS resources that we learned about at GIS Day:
Videos:

• Layers of Our World
• GIS Day
• GoogleEarth Tours

GEOSPATIAL DATA SOURCES

1-Online map viewers

• Google Maps
• MS Live
• US Dept of Agriculture, Aerial Photography Field Office:
• MDOQ Viewer

2-Sources of data for download

• Data Gateway (USA data)
• AGRC (Utah data)
• USGS Seamless (USA & world data)
• GIS User

3-Free GIS Software (Data viewers)

• APFO links & instructions
• GIS User links to software and data sources

4- Fun Stuff with Geography
Earth As Art

********************
Important note:
***GIS Class ****
What will you get from the class?
Learn GIS software from scratch. Learn step-by-step instructions with screen shots on how to use GIS software. Get data for lessons on earthquakes, tornadoes, volcanoes, analyzing population, mapping habitats, Magellan's voyage across the Atlantic and Pacific, and much much more.

Minimal Requirements: Intermediate computer skills. No knowledge of GIS software required.

Dates:
Thu, Feb 11th, 2010 for 4-6th grade teachers.
Fri, Feb 12th, 2010, Secondary Social Studies or Science teachers

Place: ASB, 7905 S. Redwood Rd in the computer lab.
How to sign up: Please contact Pam Su'a at 801-567-8320. She will pay for your sub.

2010 Film Festival and UCET Information

Have your students participate in the 2010 Film Festival! Communicate, Collaborate, Connect

•Friday, December 4, 2009 Intent to participate form due to Margo Shirley at the ASB

•Friday, April 23, 2010 Films are due by 12 noon to Margo Shirley at the JSD ASB
(Auxillary Services Building 7905 S. Redwood Rd, West Jordan, UT 84088)

•Thursday, May 6, 2010 JSD Elementary Film Festival Celebration at the ASB Auditorium from 6-8pm

More information can be found at:http://t4.jordan.k12.ut.us/t4/content/view/313/37/




Don't forget to sign up for UCET 2010!

Fri, Feb 26th and 1/2 day Sat, Feb 27th
Murrary High School

Great sessions,great food, put your name in the hat for the yearly drawing (you might win an iPodTouch!)

Don't miss out on the opportunity to attend some great sessions, win a prize, or be eligible to apply for a UCET grant! This year's theme is: A Clear Vision for Teaching in a Digital World. We hope to see you there!

More information can be found at: http://www.ucet.org/inUCETnew/conference/

Searching, Moving Beyond Google

Since I am new to the T4 team I would like to briefly introduce myself.  My name is Nancy; I am new to the district coming here from Osceola County Florida.  After years of classroom teaching I became a Media Specialist and now am bringing that technology training to the Jordan School District.  High School is my love, but I am happy to be here and willing to work with whomever needs help.  Research is a love of mine so you will see a definite “information literacy” bias in my postings.

With that in mind, when did “Google” become “Google-ing” and interchangeable with research, or looking something up.  It is wonderful and brings up a huge amount of information, but sometimes six million hits is more than I want and usually more than students can process.  I had a student once describe it to me "it's like shopping at Ross, a whole lot of 'stuff' and you may find something good. But when you find it you will be tired and have a headache".  With that in mind I will give you a couple of alternatives here and direct you to more.  Look them over, check it out. 

Quintura is a visual search engine. Good for visual learners or for narrowing a topic.  Good results with very little commercial sites. There are fewer results easier to sort and good images.

Clusty.com , organizes the top search results into topics or "clusters" for easier searching. Searches multiple engines.  Again, fewer but better results.

Search-cube is a visual search engine that presents web search results in a unique, three-dimensional cube interface. It shows image previews of up to ninety-six websites, videos and images.This is new and fun.

If you want to see more go to the web page on the T4 site… there are several other fun search engines. 

Smart Response, Notebook and Tagging

All of you should have at least one set of Smart Response clickers in your school. These are very useful tools to collect formative and summative test/quiz results in a quick and timely manner. The purpose of tests/quizzes is more than just a grade for the students, they should be used by the teacher to help shape and direct instruction. Teachers should ask themselves as often as possible, “How do I know if my students understand this topic?” and “What do I do for the students that don’t understand it?”

For years the main way of collecting test/quiz scores was to have the students answer the questions for the quiz/test on a scantron or just have the students write the answers on a piece of paper. If the teacher was ambitious they would break down the responses of all the students of all the classes and find out which questions were missed the most and who missed them. Then the teachers may have linked each of the questions to the topics that they were assessing to find out what topic or topics the students struggled the most with. As you know this process takes a lot of time and effort. I am here to tell you, THERE IS A BETTER WAY.

Smart Notebook calls the better way tagging. In a nutshell Tagging allows you to label the questions with the topic that they cover, the standard and objective or any other information that the teacher feels is relevant to their class. Then after the tag is applied you can run reports and see which topics the class struggled with and then reteach them as needed.

How to tag your test/quiz questions in a new notebook presentation:

1. Start by inserting a question into a notebook document
2. Choose the type of question
3. Type in the question
4. Add the appropriate tag
5. Then finish creating the question

How to tag your test/quiz questions in a notebook presentation that already exists:

1. Open the notebook document that needs to have the tags added
2. Click on the slide/page that contains the question
3. Click on the Smart Response icon
4. Click show answer key
5. Enter the tag information
6. Repeat the above steps for the rest of the questions

Mac 10.6: Snow Leopard

Mac’s latest operating system, Snow Leopard (OS 10.6) is here. If you have received a brand new computer recently it probably came with Apple's latest operating system, 10.6: Snow Leopard.

Let’s take a look at some of the new features of OS 10.6.

1. QuickTime X movie, audio, and screen recording.
• You can record yourself directly from your built in camera into QuickTime X.
• Don’t have time to write out instructions to explain to your students or a colleague how to do something on the computer? Make a screen recording!
• Record an audio clip directly into Quicktime.

If you opt to share your videos from QuickTime X, you'll be presented with a progress window that uploads your video. Once the video is done, the progress window will display the URL for the video you've uploaded. This works with both MobileMe and YouTube.

2. Import from a scanner directly into Preview.
Just go to File > Import From Scanner.

3. Screenshot names are time stamped (in this example: 
“Screen shot 2009-10-26 at 11.41.50 AM" PM”

4. Sync Address Book with Google and Yahoo


5. Scrollable Stacks
Stacks in Snow Leopard are scrollable. The icons will stay a fixed, easy-to-read size, and if there are more items than fit on the screen, you can scroll up or down to see more.

The 100 top features of Snow Leopard are detailed at MacLife.com. This is the a very thorough listing of Snow Leopard features.Each feature is clearly described and includes easy-to-understand screen shots.

For more information on Snow Leopard, check out the Apple website.




Hash Tags

Have you noticed on Twitter that people sometimes use a # sign in front of words? That # sign is called a “hashtag”. You create a hashtag simply by prefixing a word with the hash (#) symbol, for example, #balloonboy

So what does that hashtag actually do? Hashtags create real time track records of words, events, groups, etc on twitter. They make it easier to track all conversations in the twitter via search. You can find what other Twitterers who use that hashtag in their post are saying about a particular topic.

One of the most notable uses for hashtags was during the San Diego forest fires in 2007 when Nate Ritter used the hashtag "#sandiegofire" to identify his updates related to the disaster. See this post “How Geeks Can Help in Disasters”. People around the country followed what was happening on the ground.

A great educational use for hastags is to find out what other teachers have to say about #utahhistory, #civilwar, #mathtricks, etc.

Type in any hashtag. If somebody has used it in a post, you will see what they had to say. Have fun!

Life is a "Twitter"

I know it seems like “life is a twitter.” Twitter can be used personally, professionally and with students. Before you try it with students you should try it yourself and see what you think the value of twitter in education could be.

I have found that I like being a “twitter lurker” where I enjoy reading and getting other people’s twitters, but I rarely send out my own twitter unless I have something of value I choose to share.

If you already haven’t started twittering yet, here are some twitter resources to get started. I really value my twitter friends that share technology educational resources with me along with Oprah and other popular tweeple for “entertainment purposes.”

Once you have signed up for a twitter account, start tweeting.
http://twitter.com/

Helpful Hints in Using Twitter:

• Twitter definition: Twitter combines the texting ability of phones with the audience capacity of a blog. It allows you to send out 140 character “tweets” to anyone who cares to listen. If people like what you’re saying, they “follow you.” It’s like 21st century CB radio.

• Make sure your tweets are relevant, count and provide value. Ask questions to your tweet network for quick answers to your queries.

• To find tweets to follow, look who other tweeple follow.http://twitter.com/mshirley / http://twitter.com/bmmuir

• Shorten website links by using http://tinyurl.com/ or http://bit.ly/

• Share photos on Twitter at http://twitpic.com/

• Other Twitter Tools and Add-Ons can be found at: http://mashable.com/2007/09/29/twitter-toolbox/

Twitter Explanations and Instructions:

Of course, there is an instructional video from Common Craft:
http://www.commoncraft.com/twitter

Another Twitter Explanation:
http://www.slideshare.net/hopkinsdavid/twitter-in-education

50 Terrific Twitter Tutorials for Teachers
http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2009/09/22/50-terrific-twitter-tutorials-for-teachers/


Ways to use Twitter in the Classroom:

Twenty-Five Interesting Ways to use Twitter in the Classroom
http://www.ideastoinspire.co.uk/twitter.htm

50 Ideas on Using Twitter
http://cooper-taylor.com/blog/2008/08/50-ideas-on-using-twitter-for-education/

How to Use Twitter in Education and the Classroom
http://edufire.com/content/articles/173-how-to-use-twitter-for-education-in-a-real-classroom

Places to Find Teachers on Twitter:

Twitter4Teachers Wiki
http://twitter4teachers.pbworks.com/

Free Technology for Teachers: Seven Ways to Find Teachers on Twitter
http://www.freetech4teachers.com

The Best Twitterers For Sharing Resource Links http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2009/07/21/the-best-twitterers-for-sharing-resource-links/

Techy Teachers on Twitter
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2009/09/updated-7-ways-to-find-teachers-on.html

100 Terrific Twitter Feeds for Teaching Advice
http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2009/08/100-terrific-twitter-feeds-for-teaching-advice/

NECC 2009 Experiences to Share!

We are at NECC 2009 and would like to share great technology integration ideas with you from our experiences at NECC in Washington DC. Sorry you all couldn't go with us, but this is the next best thing. I hope you find our experiences and resources shared in our ISTE blogs helpful learning experiences for you and your classroom.

Margo Shirley Blog / http://iste-members.ning.com/profile/MargoShirley
Bonnie Muir Blog / / http://necc2008.ning.com/profile/BonnieMuir
PJ Giles Blog / http://teachersrlearning.blogspot.com/
Kelly Dumont / http://theeducationalmac.com/blog/
Darren Draper / http://drapestakes.blogspot.com/
Harrrison Beckett / http://beckettsbytes.blogspot.com/

After Atomic Learning

Good news! Your Atomic Learning subscription will not end until August 15, 2009. We hope you will have more time in the summer to access the trainings that you didn’t have time to do.

You or your school could decide to continue the subscription if you would like. Please contact Atomic Learning if you are interested.

After the Atomic Learning subscription expires there are still abundant resources to continue your technology learning online.

UEN Resources:
Professional Development Course Catalog
Faculty Lounge Archive
UEN YouTube Video Channel


Classroom 2.0 Salt Lake City Workshop:
Classroom 2.0 LIVE Workshops are two-day hands-on workshops that focus on the use of Web 2.0 in education. Great opportunity to keep in the know!
Register at:
http://www.classroom20.com/events/classroom-20-salt-lake-city
View the Agenda and Sign up here to present if you would like:
http://wiki.classroom20.com/Salt+Lake+City+09+Agenda

MAC Resources:
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/

PC Resources:
http://www.180techtips.com/index.htm

Thank you for taking the time to learn new technologies to share with your students.

Please leave a comment and share any other technology learning online resources that you know about.

Quicksilver

Sometimes we want our students to be able to REALLY see a message. Quicksilver can help us do that. Look at this image. See how the word 'quicksilver' really pops out at you?

Want to see how to do this?


The following video explains how to download and set up Quicksilver so you can create those large easy to read messages on your screen, too. Although there are many other uses for Quicksilver, this post discusses the 'large type' effect you see in the images here.

http://screencast.com/t/PyEHKMjh

You can download Quicksilver from www.blacktree.com or just Google "Quicksilver for Mac". It will be the first or second hit. Download and set it up as shown in the video. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Mouseposé

Some teachers have purchased Mouseposé from Boinx Software and have asked me to create a tutorial on how to use it. So here it is: Mouseposé Tutorial.

Mouseposé highlights the screen area around the mouse pointer and visualizes keystrokes and mouse clicks. For more information about Mouseposé, go to www.boinx.com.

This program is not free. I am posting this tutorial by request.

Helpful Resources

By now you are probably using your document camera daily and other teachers in your building are asking and hopefully getting document cameras. Here are some helpful links that will give teachers ideas to continue to use the document camera in many new ways.

eThemes Classroom Use of Document Cameras
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00002162.shtml
Be sure to check out the one titled: 101 Ways Teachers Use Document Cameras

Avervision Document Camera Alert

If you have received a new Mac computer or you have updated your Mac OS to 10.5.6 you might experience difficulty with the Avervsion software on your computer. We are finding that with Mac OS 10.5.6 there have been freezes or problems with the software working and loading with the Avervsion Document Camera.

There is a beta updated version (2.7.2.0005) of the Avervision software that you can download at:
http://www.avermedia.com/avervision/Support/DownloadDetail.aspx?ID=16

Reminder: You only need to use the Avervsion software on your computer when you want to record or capture video from the document camera, otherwise just use the camera in the camera mode.