Entries Tagged 'Education' ↓

gimp
beth phinny
big spring high school
leslie ferris
lubbock cooper high school

GNU image manipulation program

up to version 2.6

www.gimp.org

alien project
picture of person
select what part (face)
click on rectangular select
draw square around upper body
crop to selection
that gets rid of excess
distort Iwarp
opens a window
grow option
deform radius – choose between 25-35 kind of play with it
click on forehead and kind of click out to pull it out bigger
if you don’t like it you can click reset
when ready – click okay
filter distort iwarp again
grow the eyes – little horizontal lines slowly
shrink chin same process only shrink instead of grow
to colorize
click on color, colorize choose numbers to get hue and saturation

selective colorization
6 steps
layer
duplicate layer
click on background copy
make it b and w – desaturate sure whatever
turn off eyeball on background copy
click on erasure get size you can work with – brackets change size
erase the black and white part you want to end up in color

warp
new image
choose size
click ok
foreground and background color
fill
click on paintbrush tool
click on top, hold down shift, drag it down and click on bottom and it will create a straight line
make ten of these across the image (vertical lines)
use filter – distort, polar coordinates
make sure that checkmark is on 2 polar
gaussian blur

links
gimpology.com
gimptalk.com
tutorialized.com
gimpusers.com/tutorials.php

TxTechnoGeeksRUs.com

I watched a demo on the Eno board which is what we are going to have at the high school next year.  You can use them with your computer, with easy touch software, you can use dry erase markers.  The presenter even wrote on it with a sharpie and the later traced the writing with a dry erase marker (said you can use anything alcohol based) and wiped the sharpie off.

The board is also magnetic and there is a magnetic icon strip you can affix to the board.  You can use the pen that comes with it to access the functions and also draw or write on whatever you are projecting on the board.

They say they are not at all locked down, that the are just drivers and so the board is open to use with anything.  I don’t completely understand that but according to their website:

The eno board application runs on an open platform that works with existing software/operating systems, meaning education and business systems that have previous investments in software can still utilize applications

Here is a video demonstration

Here is a link to software that can be used with it.
http://www.techedu.com/main_software.asp

revitalizing old hardware using Gnu\Linux and LTSP

linuxltsptcea2010.pbworks.org

http://linuxltsptcea2010.pbworks.com/

rom-o-matic cds

over my head but interesting LOL

thin client

can’t afford a computer lab?
doesn’t have 1:1 student ratio
need to use old and obsolete hardware

linux is a kernal basically some device drivers to run your computer
finland linux torvalds wrote it
richard stallman created free software – fsf.org
gpl gnu public license (virus of licenses – anything that is a derivative of this code has t be shared
reverse copyright

community of professional programmers contributing out of love, arrogance, helpfulness. financial motivation

the number 1337 – means ?

community

If you have a computer running linux you have access to all linux software – software repository

no licensing fees
no copyright infringement
better use of ram
no hidden TSR (terminate and stay resident)
strong control over user network and program permissions

os is more than just the desktop

ltsp
linux terminal server project
1 fairly new computer then a group of older computers
server with nics
network interface cards
thin clients
fat clients
ssh-x
1 card getting connection to internet
one connection to the other computers

on average need at least 1 gb ram for each 10 thin clients
min requirements for thin clients
pentium II with 48 mg ram and 2 mg display card

attendee said he likes slackware – that it runs on old machines efficiently
slackware users install slackware once and then no changes
not a good system for beginners

distrowatch.com

aww the presenter has his mom running ubuntu

Linux is secure
permissions are read write or execute priveleges

setting up ltsp
older computers go into bios
boot menu
boot from server?
some don’t have that option
rom-o-matic
thin client – no hard drive to speak up – server actually running the programs
fat clients can be configured to run some programs
edubuntu easiest to get running
k12 linux as well 0 install on a usb drive and try it out
can run windows terminal sessions
can use with active directory
samba shares
can use with windows shares

 Creating Video Tutorials with Jing
fort sam houston school district
Dr. Rios
what is jing
upgrades
image capture
video capture
screencast.com
other freebies
free techsmith program
storage for videos is free

presi.com used to make their presentation – free web based
http://todaysmeet.com/UsingJing online chat during presentation
up to five minutes swf video
save to screencast.com (free account)
for mac and windows
www.jingproject.com
snag pic of screen
record vid of onscreen action
share instantly on web
free 2 gb storage
2 gb monthly bandwidth
click and drag
or select a window
capture image
manip preview
add text
add arrows
boxes, and highlighting
save or copy to clipboard or send to screencast

records audio too
3 sec countdown
record up to five minutes

(follow fshisd on twitter)
pro upgrade lets you go to youtube and itunes own camera and 14.95 a year

screencast pro account 25 gb storage
snagit and camtasia
200 gb or bandwidth – $10 per month or 100 a year

jing sun icon resides on your desktop
options features capture hotkey settings
free format is swf but pro does mpeg4
establish free screencast account
you can use other video there besides jing
sun icon can be hidden and reside in your programs toolbar

click capture button on sun
highlight what you want to capture or video
options on left toolbar -arrows, text, draw box around things, highlight sections,
keeps history on hard drive in jing

video tutorial how to

3 sec countdown then mic turns on
talk and do whatever then click stop
video is created

once on screencast you can grab the html code and embed it on blog or webpage

jing does not resize so set size to smallest
camtasia will resize and fit the window

vid tuts hints
anything where teachers will see desktop – make sure your desktop is clean
http://www.fshisd.net/blogs/rrios
screencast page (They have a bunch of comic life tuts)

embedded on blog – hits count on your bandwidth
jing pro or camtasia lets you use with a webcam
you can also save to hard drive as flash video
free jing is only five minutes
break information into chunks
online lectures camtasia relay
voice recording will pick up internal mic or you can use headset
tell jing which mic you are going to use

celtx.com  screenwriting
livestream procaster
format factory
dimdim web meetings
edmodo free private social networks for teachers
xtranormal.com – if you can type you can create 3d movies
freeplaymusic.com
presi.com

Presenter brought students with him.  They created and actually ran the presentation and they were very knowledgeable.  I would love to see more student participation in these presentations.

Session 3

blogging basics and beyond
Tammy Worcester
www.tammyworcester.com
walk through on creating a blog on blogger
name, address
check address availability
enter the captcha letters
choose theme or template
can always change it later
continue
blog has been created - you can start blogging
add a post and then you can view the blog

different ways you can post to the blog
you see the tools, pencil and the new post button - only the blog owner sees those
you can remove components if you don’t like some of what is on the sidebar.

igoogle - search for blogger
add gadget that allows you to post to blogger right from igoogle

go to customize
you can set up a scheduled post like all your spelling words or a tech tip per week
go to link for email and mobile
ignore send address  (you can have it email people everytime you post here)
scroll down to posting options
create an email address
you can send a blog post from any email account

can set it up to require word verification and if it should email you when you get a comment and you have to approve it - moderated

some new blogger settings
you can now create pages of static information (up to ten static)

jump break
lets you just show partial posts with a link to continue

vocaroo.com
lets you record your voice, listen and if you are happy with it click post on the internet
you will get some embed code to paste into your blog.

other embeddable:

youtube video
delicious tags
flickr slide shows
issuu upload a pdf and makes an ebook
chat room meebo
polldaddy
voki

teacher ideas
weekly newsletter
sharing student work
spelling lists
teaching tips
a blog of widgets
resources for parents
feedback from parents
lesson plans
absent student info

teacher and student blog ideas
reading response journal
gathering data
photo essays
younger students - post pic of something green for example

Takeaway:

The best “new” information here was that you can now set up the email address in blogger that you want posts emailed to.  If you are using blogger with your class your students will not have to log in to the actual blog.  They just email their posts in.  You then set it to notify you whenever a post comes in and you can moderate what appears in the blog.  Much easier and better control.

TCEA Session 2
Using Mobile Technology To Differentiate Instruction
Karen Fasimpaur
www.k12handhelds.com
http://mobiletech.wikispaces.com/
students in high school bored - not relevant, too easy, too difficult,
below grade level performance
high absenteeism
high drop out rates
text book not the best too for differentiating instruction
potential solution
mobile devices facilitate tutorials, practice activities, mini-lessons, projects
motivating
research says
student choice
for product and process
information chunks
language support
linked glossaries
different levels of text
visuals
graphic organizers
multiple practice opportunities
multimedia = engagement
tech options
laptops
netbooks
ebook readers
handhelds
mp3 players
mobile video players
cell phones
easier to integrate
brings equity for students who don’t have access to tech at home
gives privacy for students to learn at their own pace
One to one
-coverage
-activity oriented design
backward design approach
Understanding by design

1. identify desired results
2. determine acceptable evidence
3. plan learning experiences and instruction

software, content and lessons
ebooks
audio
video
virtual field trips

to read ebook - software to read an ebook and the content

mobipocket
microsoft reader

change color of text and size

interact with the text

add text, annotate, highlight
text to speech
dyslexic
some have synced actual speech
service for special needs students

grammar and sentence diagramming
ebook they have developed
scaffolding and remediation built in
kids will navigate independently

free some are available in public library
more and more are being made available
netlibrary
usually mobipocket
austin library has tumblebooks?
menybooks.net free ebooks  middle school level mostly

java used for interactive ebooks

kindle annotations - use with kindle app for pc and you can manipulate text, import into word - she didn’t talk about that - it is fairly new.

Audio books
research shows effective for improved reading
appropriate for special needs students
linked to gutenberg mostly

mini movies
3-5 minute clips
information chunks
video is very passive needs a way to engage
showed video where a word is shown, pronounces then a hand pointing and the student is to say the word
math - algebra 2 step equation
talking whiteboard movie
shows the math problem worked out step by step
record audio later and put it together
camstudio
can use graphics tablet for writing
have students create the movies
teachertube
schooltube
nextvista
watchknow (started by one of the guys who started wikipedia)
make your own
have students make their own

writing project - grammar instruction
load powerpoints on a website where students can put them on their mobile devices

podcasts
multimedia files posted online
students can subscribe
lots of free content available
wide variety of content
can be played on many platforms
allows time shifting
great tool for student project creation
links to great podcasting examples on the website

graphic organizers
webspiration
inspiration (commercial) can go back and forth between graphic and outline
bubbl.us
can be used individually or collaboratively
challenge to web 2.0 - system to use usernames and passwords

google docs
or school version - google apps
grant writing
collaborative lesson planning
group projects

cell phones

quick ideas - text, photo, voice

smart phones vs. not smart phones

educational applications

photo blogging

take picture with your phone and text it to your blog

wordpress

wordpress.com - they host

wordpress.org - hosted by you

google sms text define mobile 466453

instant response system poll everywhere

voice thread

TCEA session 1
Karen Ferrel
Language Arts Activities using Microsoft Office

teach Language arts and an office skill

www.karenferrell.net

Word
1. sentence elaboration
copy and paste
e.g.
The dog ran.
to elaborate - see wherer they started and where they ended up for complete concrete visual of improvement
copy and paste sentence - add an adjective
The spotted dog ran.
How did the dog run?
Swiftly
The spotted dog ran swiftly.
more descriptive what breed?
The spotted dalmation ran swiftly.
The spotted dalmation swiftly trotted.
some language arts skills
teach open word, copy and paste,

Passive Verbs
Find and replace
given a prepared sentence or paragraph
use find and replace to find passive verbs like is
and replace with is but click more
format - replace unhighlighted is with highlighted is
replace is replace all
student can quickly see that they have a lot of is in there
or
vary sentence structure
find The (captital The space) check match case
this highlights all the sentences that start with The
you can change the colors of highlight

Parts of Speech
formatting and or highlighting
prepared paragraph
or their own writing
have them go through and highlight or bold all the verbs or different font
or underline
can use format painter
find all the nouns?
select noun, highlight
double click format painter
it will now stay active
now click off painter and click maybe the verbs
change format and click on format painter

Excel

sentence generator
tools addins box tool pack - click first tow little check boxes

has spread sheet of words click f9 and it generates a new sentence
uses a combination of an if statement
function =if randbetween

can highlight the list and format font to white so kids don’t see the words
file available online

Access
Madlib
design the sentences
create table
ID student name adjective noun 1 noun 2 adverb past tense verb
add data for each field

she used label wizard type in what sentence might look like
student name
the space adjective space noun space verb to the noun.
it will put them in there for you
detailed instructions online

Powerpoint
drawn objects with text
triggers

click on the ? could be noun?  whatever you want them to click on
create text box, type in sentence, enlarge font
create buttons to tell student if they clicked right or wrong
can create prompts 1n WordArt
e.g. try again, you are right, maybe a star that says correct!
if they click anywhere on the sentence besides the noun we want it to say try again
custom animation
add effect to try again
enter, dissolve?
attach animation to (right click timing box comes up click triggers)
first everything will be try again
create boxes over nouns for exceptions
make  fill transparent so word will show (and no outline)
add animation effect for correct and again right click timing trigger and choose rectangle number (whatever is correct)

Error eraser
use this for finding an error in a sentence (taks)
(this one is in book - Gamewise for Language Arts
matching game
booth 935 and 2479
conference price for book 27.00

Students frequently ask me how to insert a sound and make it play for more than one slide.  Here is how to do it in ten steps.  This assumes that you have already found a sound and saved it somewhere on your computer. This is in Office 2003

1. Navigate to the slide where you want your sound to begin playing.
2. Go to Insert>Movies and sounds>Sound from file
3. Navigate to your sound file
4. Click OK
5. Click Automatically
6. Go to Slide Show>Custom Animation (your sound file should be listed)
7. In the drop down list next to  your sound click the effect options. Play sound, Effect tab
8. Click the radio button beside stop playing after (Here there is a drop down box where you can choose the number) slides
9. In Timing tab - to play automatically you can set to start after previous with a 0 second delay
10. Go to sound settings and adjust the volume

Done!

Cross Posted at Thoughts Have Wings

Susan Anderson and Jim Holland Arlington isd
http://googleearthlessons.wetpaint.com
www.curriculummagic.com

the students would have two kmz files and a powerpoint
there would already be some basic prerequisite skills
lesson called Lost
geographic labeling of the earth
based on reinforcing that skill
a little on time zones

an alien has landed on earth and really doesn’t know where they are but will give you as the students, clues to help discover their location

this lesson probably targets 4th or 5th grade

TEKS come from grades 2,3 and 5

technical difficulties - they are trying to get to google earth

they have folded cards with abcd and yes, no, false, true for the “student” participants to hold up to answer questions (this would be great with writeon wipe off boards too

Asking geography questions as students hold up answer cards about hemisphere and latitude, longitude

Showing Australia - this country is not A continent, B Country, C island, D isthmus
Teacher asks why this place is not

What line of longitude is opposite of the international dateline a equator, b rime meridian, c tropic of cancer, and d tropic of capricorn

when it is summer in the western hemisphere, it is winter in the eastern hemisphere true/false

In order to navigate around the earth I can grab it with the hand or double click on the earth and it will turn. zoom in, push it around with the hand, use the rotaion
can turn off automatic tilt while zooming if you like

version 5 released Sunday

to add a placemark
click on pushpin choose add placemark
give it a name and type info into description
now if you click on the placemark the info in the description will be displayed
you can change the icon from the yellow placemark
right click on placemark to edit it choose properties
add custom icons - any jpg pr gif
right click and save place as
native extension is kmz so it will be whatever name you gave it.kmz
kmz files are very small so easy to share

all about me in the handout is a great way to intro google earth

a teaching tip with google earth - have students turn their mouse upside down (it’s hard to sneak quietly

around the world are placemarks - many with question marks

eliminate placemarks that do not have alien clues
rightclick and turn off
so now only placemarks you need to see will be displayed

Lost has a list of cities in one column and the other column is for students to write why that city was eliminated

eg if a clue said it’s a place where penguins live then you might want to eliminate Mexico city

first one done together for guided practice

first slide
students will double click on the Lost kmz file which will automatically launch google earth for you

Hi my name is Nan I’m from the planet ning I think I’m lost can you help. I’ve got a few clues to help - I am not on an island

you can password protect a ppt file
save, choose where and under tools on 07 and 03 - choose general options on 07 security options makes you enter a password
his would be useful for a ppt you want students to use so they couldn’t modify it
password can be needed to open or just to modify

can go to view menu and choose grid to see the gridlines

online tools available on their wiki
online stopwatch - you can give students specific amount of time for an activity
www.online-stopwatch.com
can be embedded into a blog or wiki

ctrl mouse properties
pointer options
show location of mouse pointer when I press the control key

also on the wiki is the random name picker (or random vocab word
classtools
random name/word picker

kml files - things like timezones can be contained in kml files
you can turn on and turn off some of these overlays if you only want it on long enough to do a task
some of the overlays make it hard to see anything else.

At this point I had to move on to the next session but most of what you would need is on their wiki

 Cross Posted at Thoughts Have Wings

So far this has been disappointing.  I even verbalized the question (that is actually the TITLE of the session) and no one is going there.  My question was, if it takes us a certain amount of time in education to move from the point of learning the mechanics of something new in technology primarily because we are being required to, to the point of it being second nature and totally infused in teaching - and if we are in transition with this Web 2.0 stuff; by the time it has actually become a total buy in, the technology will have moved on.  It’s fluid.  What will the technology look like at that point?  I was hoping the panel had some idea of where is was going.

So far it has mainly been explaining what it IS repeatedly, in more than one way, but still - a definition.

Some people have done the expected griping because they have so much blocked in their district.  One panel member is Bradley Kessler - Whyville.  He is knowledeable but also he is selling the concept of whyville (not in terms of money because it is free - though maybe he is angling for it to be officially adopted by school systems) which is not objectionable in itself.  It just isn’t what the title of the session makes you think it will be.

Patricia Schnee, Lead Trainer and Curriculum Coordinator, University of Texas Professional Development Center is also very knowledgeable and seems to be very forward thinking but is mainly concerned with how all this relates to business and employment.

How do we teach kids to be prepared for a world that doesn’t yet exist is my question.

Here are my notes - sorry for the editorial.

Web20panelwheredowegofromhere
patricai schnee
research - looking at web 2.0 in terms of what it means in the corporate world
bradleykessler
whyville put it in the classroom?
kids want a place - they want to create the structure
avatar based virtual world
using a pick your nose faciltiy in whyville make your own face
a week after launch they had a message from a kid that said their face parts were dumb
now there is a place where kids make the face parts and sell them
they run companies where they have employees who do marketing, graphic design - all around creating faceparts

Bill Jule? Jason Project
marco polo

patricia stats
confucious center
367 million are under the age of 18 - larger than pop of us
200 million student s between the age of 14 and 25
our tech and engineering superiority is in jeopardy
define web 2.0?
definition kessler
web 1 was largely a push operation = taking media and putting it on the web and pushing it to the users
web 2.0 is pull - rather that standing up in front of a classroom and pushing info - actually understanding classroom management and engaging students in such a way that they are pulling the info to them - teacheres now also managers, directors
learning styles change on evolution scale not generation scale
we finally have a tech device that will let us better match our learning process that we run as humans, because we can handle 2 prob - scalabiltiy - small group can influence large group
engagement
social piece - they can socialize, interact, create their own structures and media

audience - trying to get Spore integrated into curriculum - what is panel opinion of this progression

What about web 3.0 - by the time school adopt new technology the technolgy has usually moved on - where do you see us moving on to?

merck had some chemical probs and put it online 7% of the solutions came from people who didn’t have degrees - some from out of the country
now merck is disguising the problems so that they will be intriguing but not know what the whole problem is (gave too much info to competitors)

to teach science you need to be a process expert, not content expert

web 1.0 content - web 2.0 process
companies (media and textbook) have a problem with this because they are content pushers

printing press and university structure last major changes
that’s all that has been available