Development and Media
Zandra Brixey's
Network For Learning Handbook
EdPsy490NET


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Media Resources Development Resources District Support Problem Solving Rick Langlois

 
 
 

Media Resources

  I am the webminer for kindergarten through third grade teachers in our district.  I find sites that can be used for classrooms, for development, for resources.  I also get a lot of requests during the year.  I have a link to clipart sites that have been used by teachers.  This is also a target on the webpage that lists lots of addition sites for teachers to use. Some are labeled by categories and some are general.  Click here to see the list of sites.  There is a section labeled clipart sites.

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Development Resources

     This is a particular section that I find really exciting.  I love to look for these sites and have already been scavenging my classmates resources for my own use.  Isn't it fun to share? Here is what I have found, so far.  I have a feeling I will be constantly up-dating this file!
 
 
One resource that I find interesting and that my students enjoy are the webcams.  Here is a list of the ones they check on frequently.
This is a webcamera set up in Africa. There are many options.  I have the students journal what they see. http://www.africam.com/
This is the National Zoo site.  There are many zoos that offer this.  Maybe a compare and contrast assignment could be done using zoo webcams. http://www.si.edu/organiza/museums/
zoo/hilights/webcams/webcams.htm
Okay, watching the continents drift together, paint peeling and/or grass growing might not be your idea of a good time.  These do inspire some students on creative writing activities.  It also can lead to a great brainstorming activity on what would be good live camera shots. http://www.mich.com/~rrreibel/sudcinma.htm
These next three webcam sites are about animals.  How about a pet show!
This is the Animal Planet webcam. http://www.animal.discovery.com/cams/cams.html
This is the Wild Birds Unlimited site. http://www.wbu.com/feedercam_home.htm
This is the BBC site.  There are several animal webcams here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/webcams/
I am actively trying to incorporate more critical thinking into my daily lessons.  These sites have helped me do that.
These are Richard Paul's 35 Dimensions of Critical Thought. http://www.criticalthinking.org/K12/
k12class/strat/stratall.nclk
I use this software as my graphic organizer. http://www.inspiration.com/inspclass.html
This article is a basic description of using critical thinking skills in learning. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/
jte-v7n1/gokhale.jte-v7n1.html
This site lists the basics of Bloom's Taxonomy. http://www.bena.com/ewinters/Bloom.html
This is a good resource for using the 8 multiple intellengences in your lessons. http://www.multi-intell.com/
This is the WebQuest site.
This page says it all, does it all and is an example for us all! http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/webquest.html

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District Support

       For this section of my assignment, I interviewed Sheila Watson, Tech Coordinator for District  108.  She is also a co-coordinator of the District Software Committee.  This committee is actively searching for software for district use since IBM will no longer support their SchoolVista program. The district is testing software to see if it will run on the network.  Is it does, it will be purchased and supported by the district.  If it does not run on the network, individual schools may still purchase it.  The district will support this software on a limited basis.  Please see the Problem Solving section for more about this. These are sites that the district is looking at to help with purchasing this software.  This committee has also developed a rubric.  It is rather lengthy to post here, but I would be glad to fax it to you.  Our very own CTER 2 cohort, Cynthia Clark, is a member of this committee!
 
The Review Zone http://www.thereviewzone.com/reviews-index.html
SmartFun software http://www.smartfun.com/new2.htm
ClearingHouse http://206.127.206.137/
Children's Software http://www2.childrenssoftware.com/
tech-LEARNING http://www.techlearning.com/review.html
SuperKids http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/best/99
Education Technology Network http://www.edutechnet.com/Recommendations/software%
2520portfolio%2520-%2520elementary.htm

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Problem Solving

     I again interviewed Sheila Watson, the district's tech coordinator, for this section.  I also spoke with Angie Arnold.  She is Tech Coordinator for Technical Support. Once again, I need to say how lucky I am to work with a district that provides so much support!  The Tech Center will support and help solve problems with all software that is purchased by the district.  Wow!  If the district does not purchase the software, but the individual schools do, it is still supported as long as guidelines are followed.  The basic guidelines are:
1. That the software is installed on a classroom, student station following all copyright laws and use agreements.
2. Installation directions were followed correctly.
3. The teacher has already preformed standard trouble-shooting directions emailed to her/him by the support staff.
4. There is a detailed, understandable list of problems written for support staff.
     Here are the sites listed under District Support above.  I have jotted down what support is available on these websites.  I must add that I have not personally used any of these, so I cannot comment on their reliability.
 
The Review Zone This site lists an email address.  It also has an archive of letters for reference.
SmartFun This site has a toll free number.  It also has an URL for information.
ClearingHouse This site has an email address listed under comments.
Children's Software This site has an email service.
tech-LEARNING This site has a section titled "Need Help with a Product."  It can be founded by clicking on Product & Services.
SuperKids This site has a section called "Product Support."  You then need to click on "Software."
Educational Technology Network This site lists its own URL.  I think it is outstanding!
http://www.edutechnet.com/links.htm#Software Publishers

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Rick Langlois

                  On Tuesday, June 6, 2000, I attended an on-line chat with Rick Langlois.  He is a software developer and technology facilitator at the University of Illinois.  His knowledge in this area far exceeds mine.  This made it difficult at first to follow the discussion.  I did get several little tidbits of information that I will use this fall with my Tech Team group and also my learning center classes.  I will definitely use storyboards more for development of websites and PowerPoint presentations.  I use them myself, but forgot how important it is for students to learn the process as well.  I would also like to learn more about software development.  I would humbly like to suggest that an additional chat and/or mini course be offered.  It would have to be a sharing of basic knowledge!  Rick, I have a project for you to undertake.  I am president-elect of our local union and we are meeting several times this summer to plan forms, information sharing, etc. with members about the state's recertification process.  It would be helpful for a lot of individuals, school district's and locals if there was a piece of software with all of these forms, URLs, links, and helpful hints on it.  Please think about that!

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