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Hi Colleagues,

Recently I have been doing a great deal of learning about technology in education. I have started this wiki and have included a few of the things that I have covered in my recent PD sessions. Some of these tools you probably already use, and some you may not, but hopefully if you are interested you might find something that is of use.

Please Join the space and once you do, feel free to add in your own tips, comments, etc. The site is public but only people who have joined can edit content. Also I will not publish the site address beyond you my colleagues so it should stay a well kept secret. Please let me know if there is anything I can help you out with or questions you may have. I have set up some pages for different departments so that if you want to put specific content area links or tools in there, feel free.

Thanks for visiting, Trish Hallson

** Some tech tips, links and ideas for you: **

= ** lwICT curriculum: [] ** = ** (note the little pictures are links to instant parent or kid friendly language) ** ** - Is meant to teach responsible, ethical behavior ** ** -Is not extra, just different. I.e. it is meant to be integrated into learning, rather than added to it. ** ** -Creates avenues to increase creativity and encourage retention of ideas **

Instructional BIG idea:
=== ** “Web 2.0” is a term that means web that you don’t just read or watch, but sites where you participate and become part of the discussion. This is an important concept for 21st century learners, that they can be involved in the conversation, that they can interact and ask questions. ** ===

Here's a great article about web 2.0 and cognitive function. Experts agree that Web 2.0 active engagement re-wires our brains, but they are divided on their views regarding whether this is beneficial to our cognitive development. It was posted in eLearn magazine.

[|Learning 2.0: How digital networks are changing the rules]

By Mélanie L. Sisley

March 8, 2011

= Web 2.0 Tools and Sites = = Some of the Web 2.0 sites you may want to check out, or have been to and used are (just in case definitions are there): =

// Tip* Get a google account for the features with a * -- its free and makes these very useable, along with a ton of other free features Google offers. //

Blogs**
** Read more about them here: []**
 * ==== ** * Interactive sites, an online commentary, diary, pictures, etc where readers can leave response comments ** ====

** Check out mine (still pretty new) for the classroom here: []**

** Googledocs: **
** [] **
 * ==== ** *Google has a free tool where you and many others can all access a document you created and work on it collectively, from anywhere you are online, and even all at the same time. Great tool for getting kids to collaborate on homework. ** ====

** Facebook: **
**[|www.facebook.com]** **[|http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Pembina-Trails-School-Division/111552645570409]**
 * ==== ** I know I don’t have to get too much into this, but as a forum, **** Social networking websites have too much influence for us to ignore. Kids need to know the affective details of how to be careful on here. Some schools and divisions are on facebook (Pembina Trails has a page) because it is a great means of setting up mass communication that people actually look at regularly. P.S. NOT ENDORSED BY OUR SCHOOL DIVISION --- be cautious on this site. ** ====

** Wiki’s: **

 * ====** A wiki is an interactive page like this one ;). They allow users to post links to other sites and share information. It kind of works like an informational bulletin board. It can be private or public, and content can be managed tightly or loosely, depending on how you set it up. **====

** Wikipedia **

 * ==== ** is a wiki, but it is also the worlds most up to date encyclopedia. If you go from the information page to the discussion page, you can usually read the discussions that people had (often experts) on what should and shouldn’t be included on the page and why or why not. It is a collective of knowledge at a student’s (or teacher’s) fingertips and anyone can become an editor and be part of the discussion. []** ====

** Twitter **

 * ==== ** is a social networking site that allows users to post updates that are no more than 140 characters long. Users can also message each other or post links to information, pictures, videos or websites they would like to share. This is a great way of getting current news, or in my case interacting with other educators worldwide who also are looking to promote technology. []** ====

** Youtube **

 * ==== ** * is the hottest search engine on the planet. Need a tutor? Youtube. A place for students to get a real audience for their projects? Youtube. A quick lesson on a topic you will be covering? Youtube. There is another site called teachertube which is an offshoot of this, although most teachertube posts can be found on youtube. You can post comments, rate videos, etc. [|www.youtube.com]** ====

= __** Some great tools for teachers and for students: **__ = = ** Creative Commons - ** = ** Will get you to a Creative commons search engine where from there you can search for music (Jamendo), Photos (flickr), video (bliptv), media (spinexpress) and more. **
 * === ** Means that you are permitted to reuse the work that is posted there. Images, music, documents, etc .that can be used by you or your students __without copyright infringement__. This link []** ===

** Glogster **
** Wordle / tagxedo ** **[]** **[]**
 * ** create (amazing) online interactive posters, they have a page for educators with a free (lite) version and a paid (deluxe) version. []**
 * ** Two sites that you can take a block of text and create a great word splash poster (printable) where the words used most often are larger than the lesser used words. Wordle creates a simple word cloud and tagxedo allows you to create the cloud in a specific shape of your choice. CAUTION: If you recreate the poster with a click to get a different look, you won’t be able to get back to the previous one unless you already saved it in an adobe format first. **

= **__ Some interesting tools that are being used by other teachers in our division: __** =
 * ** Smart Response system: Works with the existing Smart software – has a bunch of clickers and allows the instructor to survey or test the class, get specific results or a graph for the class, a neat tool. **


 * ** Podcasts: Audio blogs where students can create a show to share with the world (Itunes has many) **
 * ** Skype: Face to face online teleconference that is free and easy to use (you need a camera and mike, like on a laptop). [] **
 * Finally, if you've read this far, and you haven't already, you really need to check out TED TALKS. This is a most interesting collection of lectures by very interesting people, on very interesting topics. [|www.ted.com] **
 * This is one of the latest featured topics --Math and Science teachers check this guy out! **

====Salman Khan: Let's use video to reinvent education ====