Today I presented an in service on Blogging in the Classroom. check out my new wiki at thedigitalteacher.wikispaces.com to learn more.

Outlook TrainingAgenda

December 13, 2007

Sharing Calendars: Practice http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RP010333921033&CTT=6&Origin=RP010333911033&AxInstalled=1&c=0

Links for Additional Training

Outlook 2003 Training:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/CR061832721033.aspx

Calendar
        set to recurrence or an event

Let others view your calendar as a delegate:
http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC010329611033

Share Calendars and view multiple calendars:   
http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC010333631033

Send invites to meetings:
http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC011659751033

Email:
Storing and archiving:
http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC010265551033

Colors and folders in email and calendar:
http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC010435841033

Backup email:
http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC010970841033

Using Keystrokes/keyboard shortcuts with Outlook:
http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC060786531033

Manage Mailbox size:
http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC010294911033

Sending Attachments:
http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC012057721033

Filling the To Line in emails quickly:
http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC010515461033

Searching email:
http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC010778621033

Last fall, I was invited to join a podcast project called Podcast Pioneers. I wasn’t sure what podcasting had to offer, but I’m always willing to try something new. Podcasting has been an epiphany for me. I’ve always believed that students need to have an authentic audience (beyond the teacher.) Podcasting provides a wonderful forum for students to share their work. If you check out my schools’ website mendez.sausd.k12.ca.us you will see links to 2 podcasts. Potentially, every student could be a contributer to The Rook Review Podcast. So now, instead of writing a book report for the teacher, student can SHARE their favorite literature or with their peers. Our goal is for students to learn about books which they may not have previously considered reading. I currently have about 30 episodes in production, but only 1 is currently posted.

Today I attended an excellent workshop by Mark Wagner regarding blogging in the classroom. Here is the link to his handouts. http://blogifyoulovelearning.wikispaces.com

I have found that technolgy is a tool that can really motivate students. The trick is to make the project meaningful and content rich. I have seen too many project that are big on flash, but low on substance. The rule of thumb I like to follow is 80% content and 20% production. I also grade this way. In adition, if the project is an individual or group presentation, I hold the audiance responsible for learning the material presented.

Attached are the files I used in my presentation on “Motivating Students with Technology.” I hope these are helpful. If you have any questions, please comment or contact me.

Motivating Students with Technology
Creating Effective Power Point Presentations

Research Template

Here are some resources which can help students create quality reseach projects.

The Research Grid helps students organize the information they find. Sources are listed across the top and research questions are listed down the side. As students find information, the grid is filled in using bullets and notes. Each row of the grid will become a paragraph or Power Point slide. The use of this grid reduces the opportunity for plagerism and enourages students to use multiple sources for research.

file Research Grid

Welcome to the my technology blog. The purpose of this blog is to share ideas relating to the ways I use technology in the classroom. I will include file links and suggestions. Please share your ideas as well. It is my opinion, that using technology in the classroom is an excellent way to motivate students and to prepare them for the 21st century.