Lifelong learning

I have been pondering on this topic for some time now. I even spent over 30 minutes on the phone last night with a colleague discussing it. So, I was very pleased to come into work this morning and stumble across Brianna Crowley's blog post, Tips for Tech-Cautious Teachers! I eagerly read in anticipation of finding the solutions to why so many teachers are so cautious when it comes to technology. I'm not sure that I walked away with anything new to help teachers, but she did arrive at one of the same conclusions I have. We need to model lifelong learning for our students.

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of conducting a teacher workshop at one of our high schools. I was so totally pumped up because I was going to have a full class of teachers willing to give up their afternoon to enhance their skills! The workshop was over a tool that has been in our system for some time now, and I had anticipated that I could gloss over some of the very basics such as how to find the tool, how to use the browser, etc. After a couple of minutes, I realized that I was not going to accomplish all that I had planned and went to Plan B. We ended up having a terrific training and I look forward to returning to the campus again soon and continuing what we started with these teachers!

Anyway, it struck me that I have seen some of these teachers before in a similar if not the same training, and they didn't seem to have made much progress. They were taking copious notes of each and every step in the process - a process that for me is rote (and I am no spring chicken). A couple of the teachers even said, "I need to write everything down. I won't remember how to do this again." I shared my Google presentation with them which had the major steps laid out, but it isn't going to help them with the steps where they need to look at the screen and decide what is the next click.

The experience has me thinking if there is a better way. Is there a way that I could change the way I train to better empower the teachers. Am I the problem? These teachers come expecting me to be the expert. I do the thinking for them and they sit and get. Isn't that what we are asking them not to do? Why am I modeling poor instruction? Aren't the skills I should be developing for teachers the same as they are developing for their students - critical thinking, problem-solving, true ownership of learning?

I had a room full. These teachers want the information and want to learn, but their model for learning is still in book form. That is how they have always learned. Is that bad? I used to think so but now I'm not so sure. Should we try and meet learners where they are and move them forward? I'm wondering, if to some, we are expecting them to move too far too fast (after all, I did it - it can't be that hard) and for them it is like jumping over the Grand Canyon.It isn't that they don't want to learn, we are just not presenting in the way that they know. Would it be OK to present the material visually in video, or does it need to be something that can be printed? Or, is time the real issue? Is the step-by-step, material in print desired because it shortens the time to learn the real issue?

As Briana says, "Occasionally, we teachers need to let ourselves experience discomfort and uncertainty, just as we expect our students to do." I'm not sure that teachers don't see that, but I am wondering if they are so busy with other facets of the job that they have a hard time carving out that exploratory time. These teachers gave up their afternoon. Were they just wanting/needing to try and make the most out of it?

Still pondering where to go now...  

Downloading Youtube with KeepVid and Embedding

Teachers are clamoring for ways to share YouTube videos with their students in SBISD. Here is yet another attempt...which appears to work!

Creating and Playing swf Files

One of the easiest tools to help show someone how to do something is to create a video of the process. I used to spend a lot of time taking screenshots, cropping them and putting an email or document together complete with pictures of a process to respond to a teacher's question on how to do something on the computer. Then came JingProject. Not only does it facilitate taking a picture of my screen to which I can add text and arrows, but now I can quickly create a video which is even easier! So, I started replying to teacher requests with video when appropriate, and I though I had it made!

Then, came the dreaded "player" issue - a few of the teachers said they couldn't play the video on their computer. So, I checked into it and according to my Tech Guru, Danny, "Some computers aren't smart enough (or we didn't make them smart enough) and the computer doesn't know what to open the video with!" Really?

However, there is an EASY fix! Just drag the swf file into (ontop of) a browser (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox) and it will play! That's pretty easy! I also got the impression from Danny that once you do that then it should always just play for you in that browser when you click on it. However, since I have already done it, I can't test it!

PS. I just tried to create a JingProject video of the process but I guess you can't take a swf of a swf!

C-SPAN Classroom

We visited the C-SPAN Classroom booth at ISTE back in June but I just had a few minutes the other day to take a look at the site. This website is FULL of free primary source materials for social studies teachers and students! There is a “Timely Teachable Videos” module right on the front page where you can grab and embed videos about current issues. Select a particular video and read a summary about it and then, if logged in as a teacher, save the video for easy retrieval. Upon joining, you are automatically added to the C-Span Classroom Ning where you can join in on the Forum.

Additionally, easily navigate the wealth of content yo the site by the Subject/Topic categories or by using the search feature. Find tutorials by fellow teachers on how they use C-Span as a current events blog, with Google Maps and more! You can also quickly navigate to other C-Span websites!

Take a look at the STUDENTCAM 2012 project available to your students!

This annual national video documentary competition encourages students to think about current issues affecting their communities and our nation. They submit a short video documentary related to the theme. This year’s theme is “The Constitution and you: Select any provision of the US Constitution and create a video illustrating why it’s important to you.” Deadline: January 20, 2012!

Please take a minute to take a look. We're really looking forward to hear how YOU will use C-Span Classroom this year!

Make Using Discovery Education on the iPad EVEN Easier for your Students

For over a year, I have shared with teachers how to download Discovery Education videos and then import then into iTunes for syncing to the iPod touch/ iPad. This is a great practice, especially at elementary school where having students log onto another site can be time-consuming and/or when time is short and you really want the students to focus on one or two videos. However, there are times when you want students to find their own resources for learning and having access to Discovery Education would be ideal on the iPad!

Discovery Education has created an iPad optimized environment! While not an app that is downloaded, it can look like one by creating a web clip of the website! Students can find content using Discovery Education's targeted keyword search or explore content via the visual subject browse.


Users open the Web Clip, enter the district username and password, and explore thousands of video clips covering all core, K-12 curriculum areas.

So now, you may be asking, “How do I create a web clip?”

First, tap the Safari app and enter the url:  mobile.discoveryeducation.com. Then, tap the “Send to” icon and select Add to Home Screen! Repeat the process on each device, or better yet... Have your students do it! It is that easy!


Thanks, Angela for sharing this website!

The NEW Stupeflix Studio

Stupeflix: New features!

If you have ever attended one of my trainings, then you are probably aware of Stupeflix Studio - a terrific movie-making app that is integrated into our SBISD Google Apps accounts. Stupeflix Studio is a super-simple presentation tool. Recently, the creators of Stupeflix Studio have overhauled many of their original themes to include the features of the new video editor such as the music library, maps, text-to-speech and more, so now it is even better if you can believe it!

Choose from four different themes, upload your images or video, add a few title/text slides or add text directly to the images, make a music selection from the library or record your voice/write a narrative and voila! Your movie is created in minutes! No longer are students lost in design decisions, animations, and transitions! Take a minute or two and explore Stupeflix Studio! I think you’ll agree it is a great little tool to use with students in the classroom! Create a classroom Dropbox or share one of your Picasa Web Albums with students! That way, everyone is working collaboratively adding pictures to the same location. 

How do you get there?


Select more from the Google Apps dashboard menu and then select Stupeflix Studio!


It’s THAT easy!
Questions? Feel free to comment, email or call!

Teacher'sFirst - A Terrific Resource for Teachers

I can't remember when and how I first came across TeachersFirst, but I wish I had found the time to share it sooner! Personally, I am always skeptical about teacher resource sites because I find them to be so broad that they require way too much searching for a teacher to find what he/she needs. However, I have been able to use this site to search for classroom resources, particularly for interactive websites that would make great centers/stations for students, quickly with ease.

Of course, as I go to write this post, TeachersFirst has recently renovated their website. (There is a webinar about navigating it on July 19th that would be great to attend, but I think I can still show you a few things!) The home page appears to be a collection of widgets. I have found three widgets that are really working for me.

Search: Use this to search for a specific topic or phrase. You can also search by grade level and/or subject.

TeachersFirst Edge: Here TeachersFirst has reviewed Web 2.0 tools and given specific ideas for ways to use each one in the classroom safely. You can also filter by type of tool. Go to the Edge and select one of the filters. For example, I selected Animation. The list of animation tools will display, complete with grade level recommendations, a brief description of the tool, and a rating feature! I'm thinking this will be where I spend most of my time!

Classroom Planning Calendar: Here you can easily see the upcoming ok2ask webinars. I definitely plan to attend some of these! Again, the one I attended this spring was one of the best quality webinars I have ever attended.

Well, those are just a few tips to help you as you delve into TeachersFirst.org! You can also find lessons and units here as well!  I hope you find it as helpful a tool as I do!

Dropbox and DROPitTOme!

I've known about Dropbox for a while, but I just found out about DROPitTOme yesterday. Together, these two tools offer teachers and students another way to share files when using web 2.0 tools and a variety of devices.


Dropbox is an online storage website where you can store 2 GB of files for free. You can then access those files from any computer, phone, iPad, iPod touch, as well as the Dropbox website. You can access your files even when you're offline. It is simple to share folders so you can work together on the same projects and documents. See other people's changes instantly.

With DROPitTOme, you can securely receive files from anyone to your Dropbox. You setup a unique upload address (web address) with password protection. A person accesses that website, browses their computer, finds the file and enters the password. The file is uploaded to your Dropbox. (To register for a DROPitTOme account, you must already have created your Dropbox account.)

So, how could teachers use these services?

• Teachers could have a Dropbox account and have students use DROPitTOme to upload projects. DROPitTOme automatically creates a folder within Dropbox! 
• Teachers could create a class Dropbox account and everyone could use it as a collaborative space. 

Currently, I'm able to upload a photo from my iPad, but videos are also supposed to be able to the uploaded. I have just contacted Dropbox to find out how to accomplish that. So, students could use the iPod touch or iPad to take video and then upload it to Dropbox to be able to access it from another device to add to a project. Hopefully, they will add the service to allow other file types soon!

What are your ideas?