WELCOME CHARLES HOWITT TEACHERS!

Now that you're here, please tell us how you use technology now, and why you decided to take part in this PD opportunity.

ECOO Conference November 2010-2011

This week Jennifer and I, along with a teacher colleague (Rose) had the opportunity, thanks to our TLLP funding, to attend the ECOO. The conference was a wonderful way for the three of us to build our knowledge about technology and how we can further use it as a tool to support student engagement and learning.

We each attended a variety of sessions on topics including using the Smartboard as a tool to support math in the Primary and Junior grades, Digital Storytelling, Using Clicker 5 and Photo-Story. The professional learning for each of us was fantastic!! Presenters shared many wonderful resources that we can now use to support our students and can share with other educators!!

Thanks to the TLLP for providing us with the funds to attend this conference and to help us support both teachers and students in their use of technology for teaching and learning.

Click on the links below for the information we received in our conference sessions.

Pete's PowerPoints. Here you will find a collection of free PowerPoint presentations on a variety of subjects and topics which you can download and use.

Off to a Good Start. Here you will find links to a number of web 2.0 tools. Also check the section called more, more, more for additional links. Thanks to Gaily Lovely

Motivating Boy Writers. Here you will find a link to a blog written by Kent Manning. He provides several links to visit. Thanks to Kent Manning

Using SmartBoards in your Primary and Junior Math program. Here you will find Smart Notebook files with many math tasks and manipulatives ready for use in Notebook 10.

Blog by Brenda Sherry. Brenda was one of the ECOO conference organizers. Her blog contains many wonderful links.

Click here to go to see our online survey for our Technology Day

If you would like to see our on-line survey that was created using Survey Monkey for our Technology Day click here. Feel free to take the survey.

VoiceThread

Today Jennifer and I, along with a colleague from Jennifer's school (Karen), are attending a VoiceThread PD session offered by the ABEL network.

While I have made an initial attempt to use VoiceThreads with my grade 2 students, I ran in to a few glitches from getting the microphones working to determining the best way to create a VoiceThread, without giving the students individual email accounts.

Over the last few days, I have been "tweeting" my twitter friends to gather more information about VoiceThread. Many of my new friends have suggested that I get an educator account...so I'm hoping to hear more about that today at the VoiceThread session.

My class was excited to hear that I would be learning more about this web 2.0 tool. They are excited to try it again with me at school and to be technology leaders in our school.

Stay tuned to see our first official voicethread (hopefully) after the training I get from this session.

Attending GAINS Math Camppp 2010, and thinking how we can use technology as a tool to support our students as they learn math concepts.

Which programs would work best? What are the limitations and/or challenges we may face.

Lots to think about in the days ahead....

Sharing the Journey

Wow,

What an exciting adventure this TLLP experience is already shaping up to be. After attending the OTF Social Media course I'm feeling so much more enlightened, and competent with some

web 2.0 applications. I'm spending this morning with a York Region colleague sharing some of my new learnings, and deepening my knowledge by scaffolding for her how to blog, set up and use tweet deck and introducing her to some other web 2.0 apps (Jingle and typewith.me).

We're going to try to collect some initial information on her knowledge and interest about tech and education using voice thread. It will be my first experience with this, so stay tuned....

OTF Social Media Course

Spending three days at an OTF Social Media Workshop along with Jennifer and 28 or so new friends. Had a great first day learning more about twitter and blogging. So much great information to learn and lots of tips and tricks to make our tweeting experiences more enjoyable.

Second morning warm up is to write a brief blog using using Wordpress.

Check out my blog here: http://blogitwithme.wordpress.com/

So excited for Days 2 and 3.

Paul, I hope your enjoying whatever adventures your up to.

Cheryl