Thursday, June 3, 2010
Bitstrips for Schools May 2010 Newsletter
Here is the link to check out the new features provided by Bitstrips for Schools!!!!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
SMARTBOARD TRAINING PAGE LINK
Here is the link to SMARTBOARD (SEMI ADVANCED) training session that we received on Thursday, May 27th, 2010. There are some great ideas and links for you to try. Enjoy!!! And thank you to the Jamieson Staff for inviting me to the presentation.
Friday, May 14, 2010
The Benefits of Comic Life in Education
Making comics is fun for everyone, and Comic Life makes it easy. Teachers and students will find Comic Life a very useful software tool, and now it's available for both Mac and Windows platforms.
Technology not only changes how we write, but it also changes what writing is. Education will need to re-evaluate which writing skills teachers should pass to their students. Digital graphic writing is one genre students need to be fluent. Comic Life is the "word processor" of digital graphic writing.
Easy to Learn
Students and teachers need only a short time to learn the basics of Comic Life. It's easy to add images from digital cameras, computer web-cameras, clip art from CD's and the web, stills from QuickTime movies, scanned photos and drawings -- just about any on-screen image can be used in Comic Life. Adding captions and word balloons is as easy as drag and drop.
Inspires Creativity
Teachers are often asked to identify talented and gifted students by their ability to make "unusual connections." Talented and gifted students offer creative explanations for their answers which seem to come out of nowhere. Comic Life is the perfect software tool for all students to be creative. Comic Life will inspire everyone — teachers and students — to approach learning in new ways.
The Benefits of Comics in Education
Comics are beneficial to learning in the classroom and not just a fun art-enrichment activity.
Reading
Comics provide narrative experiences for students just beginning to read and for students acquiring a new language. Students follow story beginnings and endings, plot, characters, time and setting, sequencing without needing sophisticated word decoding skills. Images support the text and give students significant contextual clues to word meaning. Comics act as a scaffold to student understanding. 
Also according to Cary, comics motivate reluctant readers. They engage students in a literary format which is their own. Comics speak to students in a way they understand and identify with. Even after students learn to be strong readers comics give students the opportunity to read material which combines images with text to express satire, symbolism, point of view, drama, puns and humor in ways not possible with text alone.
Writing
Many students read fluently, but find it difficult to write. They complain that they don't know what to write. They have ideas, but they lack the written language skills to create a beginning, follow a sequence of ideas and then draw their writing to a logical conclusion.
Students frequently ask if they may draw a picture when they're writing. They are reaching for images to support their language ideas. Allowed to use words and images they will resolve problems of storytelling which they would not otherwise experience using words alone. Like reading, comics provide a scaffolding so that students experience success in their writing. Students transfer specific elements directly into text-only writing. For example, students learn that whatever text found in a word balloon is put inside quotes in their text-only writing.
Using Comic Life students have a new publishing medium. Comic Life documents can be printed, emailed to parents or posted as a website very easily.
Key benefits of using comics in education
- A great visual Representation of Knowledge
- Presents what is essential
- Easier to remember a visual graphic containing key information
- Engaging through thinking, creating and writing.
- Perfect avenue for writing dialogue
- Incites students with low interest in writing
- Helps organization through storytelling and storyboarding
- Using visual images convey meaning to a story or topic
- Develops creative and higher level thought processes
- Develops composition techniques through visual-verbal connections
- Enriches reading, writing, and thinking
- Serves as and assessment and evaluation tool
- Sequencing promotes understanding
The key benefits for students using Comics, summarised by Marilee Sarlitto (Technology Director, Kildeer School), found in "Creating Comics: Visual and Verbal Thinking in the Ultimate Show and Tell" by Janette Combs, College of William and Mary, July 17, 2003.
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Best Free Stuff Online
PCWorld's picks for the best free stuff online are divided into 17 categories. If you can't decide where to start, take a look at the greatest hits — some of the classics we've spotlighted over our 15 years of picking free apps, services and sites. Or try a few of our favourite social networking and video assistants, programs and services we couldn't have even imagined that long ago. Click through for our 112 picks for incredibly useful, incredibly free downloads, sites and services.
http://tech.ca.msn.com/photogallery.aspx?cp-documentid=23560488
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
iPods and Special Ed.
An intersting little video on using iPods in Special Education. Check it out!
http://homepage.mac.com/lmelem/websites/iMovieTheater21.html
http://homepage.mac.com/lmelem/websites/iMovieTheater21.html
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
COMPUTER PRINTER REPAIR!
Caller: Hi our printer is not working.
Customer Service: What is wrong with it?
Caller: Mouse is jammed!
Customer Service: Mouse??? Printers don't have a mouse!
Caller: Mmmmm??... Oh really??... I'll send a picture!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Teens Can Get Advice On Safe Texting
Lauren La Rose
Canadian Press
TORONTO
(Jan 22, 2010)
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection is launching a website targeting texting teens to teach safe use of the popular technology amid growing concerns about young people sending sexual messages and nude photos via text.
The charitable organization is partnering with the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association on textED.ca. The site will provide educational information on the risks of text messaging, as well as safety strategies and guidelines to follow when using technology.
Signy Arnason is director of the centre's Cybertip.ca, a national tipline for reporting kids being sexually exploited on the Internet.
She said they had been getting a lot of anecdotal information from schools and law enforcement agencies of a "mass increase" in cases of youth texting and mobile-phone use that often bordered on the illegal.
Arnason said the goal is to educate teens that their decisions have both short-term costs and long-term ramifications.
"From many of the reports we either get or law enforcement have to deal with, you've got these kids making spur of the moment decisions, which may include maybe disseminating nude photographs," she said from Winnipeg.
"We talk about what are the components of treating someone well and what does a good relationship look like, so hopefully they can avoid those situations."
A poll conducted last fall by The Associated Press and MTV found that more than one-quarter of young people in the U.S. are "sexting" -- sharing nude photos, videos and chat by cellphone or online.
An example of luring by texting provided by Cybertip.ca highlights the potential dangers of using the technology. Last January, a 14-year-old Ontario girl engaged in text-message exchanges with someone claiming to be a 15-year-old boy, who was attempting to lure the girl to meet him in Kingston.
As it turned out, the man was 20, and had just been released from custody after being convicted of physically assaulting another girl he met online. He has also been wanted in three provinces on charges that include sexual assault and threats against a girl he met online and moved in with.
Bernard Lord, president and CEO of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, said it's important to make sure young people are aware of how to deal with texts that may be inappropriate and to encourage them to seek help.
"This is not an overwhelming problem. We just want to make sure that we've covered the bases before we have a major crisis," he said.The website, launched yesterday, will roll out its pilot phase with 100 Grade 7 classrooms across Canada. The full site is slated to launch in September.
Canadian Press
TORONTO
(Jan 22, 2010)
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection is launching a website targeting texting teens to teach safe use of the popular technology amid growing concerns about young people sending sexual messages and nude photos via text.
The charitable organization is partnering with the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association on textED.ca. The site will provide educational information on the risks of text messaging, as well as safety strategies and guidelines to follow when using technology.
Signy Arnason is director of the centre's Cybertip.ca, a national tipline for reporting kids being sexually exploited on the Internet.
She said they had been getting a lot of anecdotal information from schools and law enforcement agencies of a "mass increase" in cases of youth texting and mobile-phone use that often bordered on the illegal.
Arnason said the goal is to educate teens that their decisions have both short-term costs and long-term ramifications.
"From many of the reports we either get or law enforcement have to deal with, you've got these kids making spur of the moment decisions, which may include maybe disseminating nude photographs," she said from Winnipeg.
"We talk about what are the components of treating someone well and what does a good relationship look like, so hopefully they can avoid those situations."
A poll conducted last fall by The Associated Press and MTV found that more than one-quarter of young people in the U.S. are "sexting" -- sharing nude photos, videos and chat by cellphone or online.
An example of luring by texting provided by Cybertip.ca highlights the potential dangers of using the technology. Last January, a 14-year-old Ontario girl engaged in text-message exchanges with someone claiming to be a 15-year-old boy, who was attempting to lure the girl to meet him in Kingston.
As it turned out, the man was 20, and had just been released from custody after being convicted of physically assaulting another girl he met online. He has also been wanted in three provinces on charges that include sexual assault and threats against a girl he met online and moved in with.
Bernard Lord, president and CEO of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, said it's important to make sure young people are aware of how to deal with texts that may be inappropriate and to encourage them to seek help.
"This is not an overwhelming problem. We just want to make sure that we've covered the bases before we have a major crisis," he said.The website, launched yesterday, will roll out its pilot phase with 100 Grade 7 classrooms across Canada. The full site is slated to launch in September.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Caribou Contest
Just wanted to say that I was very impressed with the effort that all of the students put into the Caribou Contest today! We should see some great results at 4:30 today! And a thank-you to Mr. Restoule-General/OMSK/ECG/Jamieson, for including me today.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Frames 4 Is In!
The new Frames 4 software from OSAPAC is now in thanks to Mr. Restoule-General. If you would like the software in your classroom, please don't hesitate to give me a call! There are many uses for the software which include:
Cel Animation
Communicating visually is an essential 21st-century skill. With Frames integrated drawing tools, students can illustrate their own animated diagrams, graphs, procedures, and more, helping them understand concepts that are difficult to explain using text alone.
Clay Animation
Nothing engages students more than creating clay animation! Use Frames to transform your classroom into an active learning environment and begin having your student develop exciting cross-curricular group projects that incorporate writing and technology skills.
Digital Storytelling
Digital storytelling is an effective way to engage students in their learning. Creating digital stories with Frames develops students’ ability to interpret events beyond their immediate experience and builds planning, organizational, and time management skills.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Thursday, January 7th, 2010
Hello, Welcome Back and Happy New Year!!
Today I was invited to attend an in-service on the Premier Software, at Hagersville Elementary School, with thanks to Robin Staats and Michelle Black. The software we looked is available to all students in the Grand Erie Board. Here is some basic information into this technology if you would like to check out the website:
http://www.readingmadeeasy.ca/education/
Premier In-School Program Breaking Down Barriers to Assistive Technology
Bridging the gap between budgets and needs
The In-School Program, by Premier, is an educational solution designed to bridge the gap between educational budgets and the need for school districts to serve the literacy needs of ALL the students within the board. The Premier In-School Program takes a multi-sensory approach to literacy — offering auditory accessibility as a companion to printed and digital materials.
A comprehensive collection of literacy tools and a unique approach to licensing allow Premier to offer options and opportunities that do not exist anywhere in the literacy software arena. With the Premier In-School Program, it is now within the reach of school boards to provide literacy solutions to each and every student within your district. Universal Design has never been so attainable...so affordable...so available.
In-School Program Literacy Tools
Robust and easy-to-use tools
The Premier In-School Program capitalizes on the Accessibility Suite of literacy tools. The Suite contains robust and easy-to-use tools that will improve reading, writing, comprehension and learning by providing multiple channels for acquiring and retaining information. Each user can adjust software options based on their own individualized learning style. The Premier In-School Program supports the development of active study strategies and encourages student achievement for success in school and in life.
Licensing
An unlimited board-wide license
The Premier In-School Program is based on an unlimited board-wide license of our Accessibility Suite software. Quite simply, any computer that the Board owns, leases or purchases within the license period is fully covered under the Premier In-School Program. Licenses are granted for a one-year period and include access to unlimited Technical Support. Upgrades within the year are provided at no additional cost.
You also benefit from the Suite’s flexible deployment options. Depending on the preferences of the Board, the software can be deployed on your server using our Network Edition, pushed out to all workstations through the use of an image, installed on individual workstations using a CD or via any combination of these options.
Today I was invited to attend an in-service on the Premier Software, at Hagersville Elementary School, with thanks to Robin Staats and Michelle Black. The software we looked is available to all students in the Grand Erie Board. Here is some basic information into this technology if you would like to check out the website:
http://www.readingmadeeasy.ca/education/
Premier In-School Program Breaking Down Barriers to Assistive Technology
Bridging the gap between budgets and needs
The In-School Program, by Premier, is an educational solution designed to bridge the gap between educational budgets and the need for school districts to serve the literacy needs of ALL the students within the board. The Premier In-School Program takes a multi-sensory approach to literacy — offering auditory accessibility as a companion to printed and digital materials.
A comprehensive collection of literacy tools and a unique approach to licensing allow Premier to offer options and opportunities that do not exist anywhere in the literacy software arena. With the Premier In-School Program, it is now within the reach of school boards to provide literacy solutions to each and every student within your district. Universal Design has never been so attainable...so affordable...so available.
In-School Program Literacy Tools
Robust and easy-to-use tools
The Premier In-School Program capitalizes on the Accessibility Suite of literacy tools. The Suite contains robust and easy-to-use tools that will improve reading, writing, comprehension and learning by providing multiple channels for acquiring and retaining information. Each user can adjust software options based on their own individualized learning style. The Premier In-School Program supports the development of active study strategies and encourages student achievement for success in school and in life.
Licensing
An unlimited board-wide license
The Premier In-School Program is based on an unlimited board-wide license of our Accessibility Suite software. Quite simply, any computer that the Board owns, leases or purchases within the license period is fully covered under the Premier In-School Program. Licenses are granted for a one-year period and include access to unlimited Technical Support. Upgrades within the year are provided at no additional cost.
You also benefit from the Suite’s flexible deployment options. Depending on the preferences of the Board, the software can be deployed on your server using our Network Edition, pushed out to all workstations through the use of an image, installed on individual workstations using a CD or via any combination of these options.
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