Technology Quiz

Technology quiz – This 10-question test from Edutopia helps you assess your computer knowledge: http://www.edutopia.org/quiz-tech-savvy-teaching

Medical Technology WORKS!

I’m back at work after a car accident that put me in the hospital for a week, and home for over 2 months. The coolest thing about it was that Medical Technology put me back together. I had a large gaping wound in my shoulder that the healing process was sped up with a woundvac. That sped my recovery up 10 times what it would have been. To check out more on V.A.C. therapy go to http://www.kci1.com/KCI1/vactherapy . Then there is the technology that happens in surgeries as well. So after 3 surgeries, 1 month on a woundvac and lots of Physical Therapy later, I’m typing with two hands again!

June 2010

Excited to teach Professional Development this week! Office 2007 update, online blogging class and lots of Promethean ActivInspire courses. I really enjoy when teachers get excited and more confident in their Tech Skills. Refer to the tabbed pages for resources.

How Does Technology Cause Change?

For you Kinder Teachers in RRISD, Here are some ideas for your unit on "How Technology Causes Change"

A reminder of TEKS:   The student will (content)…
• Identify examples of technology used in the home and school (13A)
• Describe how technology helps accomplish specific tasks (13B)
• Describe how his/her life might be different without modern technology (14A)
• List ways in which technology meets people's needs (14B)

Technology Causes Change – Include lists generated by students like: computers, microwaves, telephone, light bulb, air conditioning; Include technology that changes the way people work; example: broom vs. vacuum cleaner, wood stove vs. microwave.  Identify how technology is used in home and school.

POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES:

• Identify technology devices at home and at school.
• Describe how the use of tools and machines can be helpful or harmful.
• Identify materials that can be reused and/or recycled
• Model what it was like for teachers vs now and the technology changes in school. Examples – Markers weren’t invented, paste then -- now glue sticks, no Velcro on shoes.... Make a language experience chart listing out changes in technology for current kindergartners and other adults (teachers, parents, librarian). Could be an interview or could even be part of the Research strand of the ELAR-TEKS. Transfer learning to kidspiration or kidpix drawing.
• Gather information about examples of technology through a field trip around the school or just in your room and list all the technology that made life easier or better and make sure they explain why. Then they could explain what life would be like or what they would have to do if they didn't have it.
• Discuss and discover before and after pictures. Show ways people used to count and add (abacus, then adding machine, then calculator). Show how people used to get messages to other people (letters, pony express, Morse code, email, texting--also old phones vs. cell phones). Show how people kept things cold (in caves, on ice, refrigerator). And so on

Online Resources:

Activities for Students:
• Matching Game 1 Online (Matching then and now objects)
• Matching Game 2 Online (Matching then and now objects)
Teacher Resources:
• http://www.fotosearch.com/clip-art/old-technology.html (images of old technology)
• http://pbskids.org/wayback/tech1900/index.html WayBack Technology. Created for kids, to difficult for Kinder to read, but can use some ideas from it.

• http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124251060 The Jobs of Yesteryear: Obsolete Occupations.  Great images and audio of individuals who held these jobs.

Thank you to Callison Kinder Team and the wonderful ITSs and Inst. Coaches who contributed ideas!

How Does Technolgy Affect our School?

TCEA 2010 - Things to Check out

Today was my first day of TCEA Convention 2010. For those of you who are not familiar with TCEA, it is Texas Education Computer Association. Every year they have a huge conference right in downtown Austin.

I'm already collecting some fun new websites to try with teachers and students. Check them out and see what you think!

• http://www.kerpoof.com/ Great online storymaking site, very fun!


• http://www.polleverywhere.com/ I'm using this is a staff meeting, so great, can take a poll by texting in responses!


• http://www.authorstream.com/ PowerPoint online storage. Can even search already loaded PowerPoints.


• http://edu.glogster.com/ Online poster creation. Very cool! Can think of loads of uses already.


• http://www.smilebox.com/ Create an online scrapbook. Haven't tried it, but curious.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Just a few resources to help Teachers and kids appreciate and understand our furry little friend and his special day!

• http://www.punxsutawneyphil.com/interactive/ Learn some 'groundhogese" some interactive games


• http://www.groundhog.org/ Official Website of the Punxsutawaney Groundhog Club. With videos of past ceremonies, lesson plans and all sorts of facts.


• Groundhog Day QuizDid you know??  Try the Groundhog quiz to test your knowledge of the animal.


• http://www.factmonster.com/spot/groundhogday1.html facts about groundhogs and their friends. Answer to the question, "Why Groundhogs?". And a  quiz to test your knowledge.


• http://www.hoghaven.com/find.html Great site with images and videos of actual groundhogs. Includes a link to FAQ

January- Martin Luther King Jr Day

 

Here are some resources for you to use with your students to help explore Martin Luther King Jr.

1. http://www.factmonster.com/spot/mlkjrday1.html MLK Day trivia and more

2.  http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/US_History/USH0029.html A great lesson plan about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

3. Interactive classroom on MLK from the Seattle Times. Includes an interactive quiz http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/special/mlk/classroom/index.html

4. http://www.gpschools.org/ci/ce/elem/holidays/mlkk5.htm Collection of sites for Upper Elementary, clipart, online activities, multimedia files, lessons

5. Listen the podcast of his Speech http://media.financialaidpodcast.com/shows/ihaveadream.mp3

6. Selection of MLK powerpoints and links to templates and more http://holidays.pppst.com/MLK.html