Spring+News+08

=Elementary Tech News=

Digital Cameras
Please be sure to sign the cameras in and out of the lab.

GWF-I have numbered two of the cameras and will number the third when it shows up again. If you have it please return it so I can take care of that. So, when you sign out the camera please jot down which camera you have as well. We should have 3 cords for getting the photos onto the computers, we are down to one. So, if you have one please return those as well. Good news! We now have memory cards for all the cameras. Amazing that something one inch square can hold 1600 photos! However, please take the pictures off the card and put them into a folder on your computer each time you use it.

Conference Day Lab Help
No, I'm not available to help you out with your conferences! Due to low attendance to the after school mini-lessons I haven't done any recently. I'd like to try something different. This month we have the 3 conference days. When you have a break in your schedule please stop by with any questions or quick training on anything in the lab, except Alphasmarts! I don't know much about them-but if you stop by we could try and figure them out together!

Open topics include: I don't claim to be an expert on any of these topics but I know enough to get you started and how to point you in the right direction for more information.
 * how to use the interactive whiteboard.
 * how to access the Smartboard Notebook software and use it.
 * where you can find other sources of lessons for the Smartboard.
 * how to update your webpage.
 * how to use the new scanner.
 * how to use Photostory3.
 * how to use GoogleEarth.
 * how to use Google Documents
 * other ideas??????

I will be at GWF the first conference day and HPE the second two. However, I am willing to go back and forth between the two schools if needed. Just let me know **ahead of time** what time you want to meet with me and what topic you'd like to learn about. Be sure to email me, if you just tell me I'll probably forget by the time I get back to the lab! If I'm not meeting with anyone my plan is to play with the Smartboard Notebook software and start becoming more familiar with it.

Favorite Kid Site of the Month
[|Invention at Play]-It was fun watching third graders try out Tinker Ball. Great activity for trying out cause and effect. Lots of good things for kids and adults to check out at this site.

Favorite Professional Site of the Month
[|Timeline] Free web based program for making a time line. The example shows Wilbur and Orville Wright.

These and many more great sites can be found here on my wiki for kids and teachers. I am beginning to show each of the classes where this wiki can be found in the lab, on the tool bar, and what it has to offer. You can put it on the tool bar on your computers as well so the kids have easy access to it in your room. If you need help doing this just let me know.