Holt's Tools

Hi Alicia,

I am going to first take on a wikispace and Twitter.  #notsosurewhattodo

Dignan First

Ready for another round of technological advancements with Alicia. 17 Things to Chew On was a very helpful program for my classroom, so I know this will also bring more to my teaching. I'm going to try Twitter as my first project, mostly because I've tried to do Twitter before and really get lost amongst all the symbols and what not.

Am excited and nervous some.  I've always been technically savvy but have not expanded my horizon as much as I've wanted (mostly because of other time commitments).  But, hope by being part of the Troop, I can find the time to improve!  I'm really enjoy REMIND 101 for the safe texting to parents and students!!!  THANKS!

Invitations to Write Posts for This Blog

Everyone should have received an email invitation to write posts for this blog. The way that you will inform the group of your activities (and part of how you will earn each of your twelve badges) is to write a short post about each component you complete. That way we can all see what everyone is doing, and how it's going. We can also comment on each other's posts, give suggestions, ask questions, etc. 

As soon as you are able, would you accept the invitation to author a post, and then WRITE a post yourself? It only needs to be a short paragraph or so, detailing your feelings about/experiences with/perceptions of technology in education. I've been reading a lot about blogging lately, so I want to particularly encourage you to write informally and to use your own voice. This will be a very informal blog!! If you have any questions or run into any problems with your blog post, send me an email and we will figure it out together.

(Just to clarify, you should create a NEW post, not comment on this one).

Tools

Here is a list of potential tools. Tools you choose must be unfamiliar to you, or you must have experienced such failure that they may well be completely unfamiliar to you! If you have a tool you'd like to use that is NOT on this list, please let me know and we can discuss.

Please let me know as soon as you can which three tools you would like to choose (I will then create the requirements for completing each specific tool). If at any point you change your mind about a tool, please let me know right away so that I can create requirements for the new tool.

The next post I write will describe how to begin participating in the program.

Have fun perusing the possibilities, and please don't hesitate to ask me any questions about the tools before you make your choices.

Website Creation Tools
Google Sites (click "Sites" at the top of your rbhs208.net email)
Wikispaces
Weebly
Yola
Wix

Blogging Tools
Blogger (click "More" at the top of your rbhs208.net email and then choose "Blogger")
Wordpress
Tumblr
Posterous

Video Tools
Animoto
Screencast-o-matic
Vialogues
iPad Apps (iPad has several screencasting apps: ReplayNote, ExplainEverything, ScreenChomp, ShowMe)
Using video to "flip" your classroom by recording lectures (we can help you with the tech set-up)

Social Networking Tools
Edmodo
Twitter
Pinterest

Productivity Tools
Evernote
Diigo

Polling/Audience Response Tools
TodaysMeet
Socrative
Cel.ly
Poll Everywhere
Clickers (Student Response System clickers we have here in the building)

Physical Hardware Tools
SmartBoards
Wireless Slates

Cool, Useful, but Hard to Categorize!
VoiceThread
Voki
Snapguide
visual.ly

Welcome to RBHS Technology Troop 208!

The Overview: Teachers participating in Troop 208 will independently explore three technology tools of their choice. These tools include a variety of web-based programs (such as Blogger, Screencast-o-Matic, Evernote, etc.) as well as hardware-based technologies (such as tablets, SmartBoards, etc.). In addition to becoming proficient users of these programs, participants will share their knowledge with colleagues and with the staff as a whole by creating documentation about the technologies for others to use. Participants will also in some way use the tools with students. Additionally, participants will maintain some sort of website, blog, etc. tracking their progress. Troop 208 is appropriate for true beginners as well as for the technologically advanced. We can also work with “graduates” of the 17 Things to Chew On programs to ensure that new tools are available for selection. One of the program’s primary goals is to increase participants’ comfort level with learning new technology, sharing it with others, and integrating it into the classroom, counseling office, or professional workflow.

The Fun Part: The program will be set up as Girl/Boy Scout “Troop 208.” Each participant will receive an actual “sash”. As participants complete various requirements (totalling twelve), they will receive “badges”, which they will be able to attach to their “sash.” Once all twelve badges have been attained, participants will achieve the prestigious “Bulldog Scout” ranking. Small prizes may be involved.

Specific objectives of this group include:

• attain proficiency with three technology tools
• create a tangible artifact using each tool (this could be a lesson using the hardware)
• teach a colleague how to use the tool
• present one tool to the faculty (this could be in a faculty meeting, at an Institute Day, via a video tutorial, etc.)
• complete a form detailing the who/what/when/where/why/hows of each tool
• comment on other participants’ websites, blogs, etc.