Getting the Word Out About our Classes

Every semester we try our best to get the information about our classes out to our consortium members. We use several methods: printed schedule, eNewsletter, emails to the advisory committee, posts and notes on various social media sites, word of mouth, . . . that's all I can think of off the top of my head. Still, we are not sure we are REALLY getting the information out there. We quite often hear from first time participants who have been in a school for many years that they have never heard of us or didn't understand what we were about. OUCH! We do an impressive repeat customer kind of busniness - meaning, once people take a class here, they are hooked.

We have a few questions you all may be able to help us with:

• How do we combat being invisible without being annoying?
• How do we get first timers up here - what might make them notice us?
• What could we be doing to get folks to interact with the Eighth Floor more?

I know people don't have a lot of extra time, and absolutely no schools have any extra money, but we are the best deal in town when it comes to professional development - hands down. How do we let people know?????

Just wonderin'
Lee Anne

Protecting Your Reputation Online - in Plain English

The folks at Common Craft have come out with another short video that puts "life online" in simple terms. This video, Protecting Your Reputation Online in plain English, is aimed at younger social media users and discusses some of the short and long term risks of posting inappropriate or potentially embarrassing information online about them or their friends.

Although it is meant for the tween/teen crowd, there are good reminders in here for us more mature users. I think of this particularly as so many parents and grandparents get on Facebook and other social networking sites. Not only are we connecting with our day to day friends, but we are connecting with kids, siblings, parents, high school friends, work friends, people we don't really know so well, etc. Sharing on the web is a good thing, and I certainly do not want to warn anyone away from productive or fun use of networking sites. I can not imagine my work or personal life without them. We simply need to be mindful of what we are sharing, both about ourselves and others. Does your best friend from high school really want his or her kids to see that hilarious picture? Do you have a frosty beverage in your hand in every picture of you on Facebook?

We don't always think about what goes into shaping our online persona, but of course, we should. This video is a gentle poke in the direction of mindful posting.

Just thinkin'
Lee Anne

I'm in a "JibJab" Frame of Mind

The end of the semester is finally here, and I have been determined the last week or so to find a little time to construct a blog post before I left for the holidays. It's been a while since I have sat down and spent a little time reading and sharing. So, I tried to do that this morning. Amid the many interruptions, I managed to read parts of several articles -- enough to get my mind moving and start thinking about what I could write about. I figured when I got back from lunch I would be ready - I was even looking forward to it. I would focus and weave, focus and weave.

Back from lunch. Unfortunately, neither the focusing nor the weaving is happening. I'm not even going to pretend like I am surprised. Like everyone else, I am tired. I'm ready for something a little more lighthearted, I guess.

Here's what I came up with:

Greetings from Scott, Shawn, and Lee Anne!

We hope you have a great holiday season.

Just Sharin'
Lee Anne

Mobile Learning

Have you ever used a cell phone for educational purposes?

Create interactive meetings at Poll Everywhere

The English Companion Ning Site

In doing some digging for a new class I am teaching (insert shameless plug here-- Social Networking Tools for Educators - Nov 11th at 4:30) . . . back to the conversation . . . in doing some digging for a new class, I have run across some great resources. The English Companion Ning is one in particular. I really wish this sort of resource had been around when I first started teaching. What a great place to bounce ideas off of others testing the same waters you are. I have seen ning sites for just about every subject.

One of the things that I like about ning sites is that they allow the greater lump of members to self-select into smaller, focused groups. For example, I can belong to a group within the larger group that focuses on teaching English with technology. What's not to love about that?

Of course, we have started a ning site of our own at the Eighth Floor, and we have started to create a few groups that are gaining momentum, slowly but surely. We have a group for our advisory committee and we have a group for anyone interested in SMART tools in the classroom. If you have an idea for a group, get in there and make it happen!

If you want to know more about ning sites or social networking tools in general, check out some of the sites I've been rolling around in - http://delicious.com/lamorris/socialnetworking . And if you are interested in more conversation, come join the class next week.

Just sharin'
Lee Anne

VizZle for Special Education

Often Special Education teachers are left out in the cold when it comes to new technologies and classroom resources.  While reading through a few tech journals this morning, I found VizZle, a web resource for Special Education teachers.  This resource allows teachers to create and share visual resources for special education and autistic students.  Resources are also available on the VizZle website.  If you follow the link to their parent website, there is a video you can watch to see the benefits of this product.  You can also sign up for a free trial.  The coolest thing about this resource is that it is compatible with Interactive Whiteboards like the Smartboard.  You can also check out a tutorial on their website, here. 

Smart Notebook Express

Have you ever been at home and you wanted to view or edit your SmartBoard files, but you didn't have Notebook loaded on your computer? Or say you were using a public computer and you were browsing through lessons on the web, but you couldn't view them without Notebook? Smart has a solution for you. Still in the beta stage, Smart has introduced Smart Notebook Express. This site allows you to open and edit files on your computer, as well as view files on the internet. functionality is a bit limited at this time, but you have the ability to type, write and draw on pages using Smart tools. Check it out today and give them a little feedback. Your comments may be used to make this resource better.

What are you using your LCD projector for?

Looking for ways to use your projector besides  the same old powerpoint?  Take these tips from Tech and Learning:  http://techlearning.com/article/17198  If you have tips of your own, comment on this article.  Tell us what you do that's outside of the box.  We'd love to hear from you.

The Smart Table

Recently Smart (maker of the Airliner and the SmartBoard) released the Smart Table.  This tool allows elementary educators to create themed lessons that can be pushed out to a stand alone table.   Because the table has a multi-touch feature, several students can interact and work through the lesson at the same time.  Smart has produced a video to introduce the product here:  


If you're interested in how the table works, call the 8th Floor and sign up for our Smart Table class.  Classes are available on October 22nd and November 5th.  This is a new offering, so classes will fill up fast!

National Board Certification

Are you working on your National Board Certification? If so, you will probably be interested in a class we are offering on the Eighth Floor this Thursday after school.

Technology Tips & Tools for National Board Certification

Being organized is never easy. Whether you are a first-time candidate or renewing your certification for the National Boards, you need this class. We will discuss tips and technology that will help you get and stay organized throughout the certification process. Innovative uses of technology for entries will be shared. Bring a flash drive to class.

Oct 3rd, Thursday, 4:30 - 7:30 pm

If you are a member of the Eighth Floor consortium, contact your Advisory Committee member for enrollment procedures or contact Phyllis Lawson on the Eighth Floor, phyllis.lawson@tulsatech.org.

Just Sharin'
Lee Anne