Being in charge of PD for a large building can be a daunting task - especially when the people you want to help are so busy with their daily lives and trying to survive the school day that even efficiency tools seem like "too much."
With this in mind, I remembered something that has been done recently at some conferences I've attended - Demo Slams. A Demo Slam is a 2-3 minute presentation on a tech tool that highlights its usefulness or a fun part of the tool that most people don't yet know of.
I paired my frustration with the idea of the Demo Slam and came up with the video below. My four kids are the rock stars in it. (Yes, there are two separate girls, two years apart in age - pay careful attention!)
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
Am I Famous Yet?
Tech Triage Radio Show
I was asked to be a guest on the Tech Triage radio
show, sponsored by PC Medic of Madison. So I went in and was interviewed on the show...
My Favorite "No" Video: Great Idea
Check out this video... it is a teaching technique that can be used in any subject area, no technology needed.
LESSON IDEA (COMMON CORE) My Favorite No: Learning From Mistakes (6 min)
Grades 6-8 / Math / Warm-Up
Flipping Out!
This is a video that we put together to demonstrate the advantages to flipping a classroom. If you're interested in flipping your classroom, talk to Ms. Carey, Ms. Krueger, or Mrs. Barganz.
-Ms. Krueger
Google Calendar/Poll Everywhere PD
Parker lab sign up and Poll Everywhere
Here is the Prezi used in the 1/31/12 PD at Parker. It walks users through how to to sign up for the LMS computer labs using Google calendar and how to use Poll Everywhere.
Animoto: Oxygen Video: Romanelli Chemistry
Mrs. Romanelli decided to have her students learn more about the elements by having them use a Web 2.0 tool to create either a video or a glog. Here is a sample Animoto video that we put together in about ten minutes:
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Tween Tribune: Extra! Extra! Read All About it!
This post by Amy Beetstra.
Have you heard about TweenTribune? This is a great website to get students involved in current events that are relevant to them and/or a particular category. As a teacher, you can create an account with one or multiple classes (if you wish). Students are also able to create accounts and join your class. Once accounts are created, let the fun and engagement begin! Students are able to post comments and join the discussion with students from around the country. A very powerful tool for teaching a multitude of skills!
Website: Super Teacher Tools: Tech Tools for Teachers
This post by Amy Beetstra:
One day, not too long ago, I needed to divide my class into groups. Having exhausted many of the traditional methods, I decided to search the web for a tool that would do the work for me. Not sure what I'd find, if I'd find anything at all, I came across the website: SUPER TEACHER TOOLS. This site had exactly what I was looking for, plus so much more! I was able to type in the names of my students to create a "class list" and then with the click of a button, the tool randomly generated groups of 2, 3, 4, or 5 students per group. If I didn't like the groupings the 1st time, I was able to shuffle them again and again, until I was satisfied. This website has many flash-based tools for creating seating charts, review games, websites and more! Take a look, it may have just what you're looking for!
Kids' Brains are Just Wired Differently
This baby is trying to use her magazine as an interactive device... Watch and consider what this means for your students and for how you teach.
Poll Everywhere: A Use for Cell Phones in the Schools
Did you know that you can use Poll Everywhere to get answers to a poll via text messages? Choose one and only one to answer. (For a free account, there is a limit of 40 responses per question.)
Create your own sms poll at Poll Everywhere
Make your own poll voting question with Poll Everywhere
Replace audience response hardware with Poll Everywhere
Edmodo: Student Social Networking, but Educational!
Edmodo: Social Networking for the 21st Century Classroom
This post is by Amy Beetstra.
If you are not already a user of Edmodo, I highly recommend looking into how it can transform your classroom. Similar in concept to a Moodle or class wiki, Edmodo integrates the familiar appeal of Facebook with classroom functionality. Here's a glimpse of what Edmodo is all about:
"...it allows teachers to post messages, discuss classroom topics, assign and grade class work, share content and materials, and network and exchange ideas with their peers - but in reality, it is so much more" (Edmodo.com, 2011).The site has recently added a QUIZ feature, making grading easier than ever before! Teachers create the quiz in Edmodo (short answer, true/false, multiple choice, and fill in the blank questions), then students take the quiz in Edmodo. After submitting, Edmodo will grade the quizzes, calculate and graph the scores, and automatically upload the grades in to their integrated gradebook feature!
Overall, this free, safe, and secure tool, is a great way to support 21st century learning objectives, providing a platform to teach students how to collaborate and share appropriately on-line. It's user-friendly, and constantly evolving to meet the demands of teachers like us! Create an account today!
A short tutorial:
Glogster as an Online Multimedia Poster
Glogster as a Multimedia Postering Tool
Good morning! Did you know you can use Glogster as a multimedia tool to keep your stuff in one place? If you want to learn more, go to this link to see some "best of" examples. One sample:
Tech Challenged?
Ever Feel Tech Challenged?
Have you ever felt "tech-challenged?" We all have!
Here's a 2 minute video you'll like!
Prezi: Making Presentations More Fun to Watch
Prezi as a presentational tool
About 12 months ago, I had the pleasure of putting together a Prezi for a PD at Parker. Here it is... consider using Prezi instead of PowerPoint, or even converting your PowerPoint slides into a Prezi (very simple!)
Link to this Prezi
Link to Prezi website
Link to this Prezi
Link to Prezi website
Animoto: Quick and Easy Videos!
Use Animoto Quickly and Easily with your Class
Last year, I had the opportunity of a lifetime - a behind-the-scenes tour of Lambeau field, including places that even players don't get access to. Off limits to my tour: the room that houses the playbooks.
After such a wonderful experience, I wanted to put it into a video. Armed with nothing but a long drive, a cell phone with a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a laptop, I made the short video below using Animoto.
Animoto is free (for the basic platform), but educators can get a 6 month full-platform membership. If you are interested, please follow the link at http://www.animoto.com/ or contact Stacci Barganz for a code.
Note: if you are on a desktop computer and have your own photos, you can make a short video in five to ten minutes, and Animoto will walk you through the entire process. If you do not have photos ready, you will need to find them online (be sure to follow copyright laws!) and have them saved on your computer or in your school account first. Once uploaded to Animoto, photos can be organized, rotated, and deleted. You can add text and change the video style easily.
My day at Lambeau:
After such a wonderful experience, I wanted to put it into a video. Armed with nothing but a long drive, a cell phone with a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a laptop, I made the short video below using Animoto.
Animoto is free (for the basic platform), but educators can get a 6 month full-platform membership. If you are interested, please follow the link at http://www.animoto.com/ or contact Stacci Barganz for a code.
Note: if you are on a desktop computer and have your own photos, you can make a short video in five to ten minutes, and Animoto will walk you through the entire process. If you do not have photos ready, you will need to find them online (be sure to follow copyright laws!) and have them saved on your computer or in your school account first. Once uploaded to Animoto, photos can be organized, rotated, and deleted. You can add text and change the video style easily.
My day at Lambeau:
Twitter? Me?
About a year and a half ago, I really got into Twitter. I set up a new account, linked it to my school email account, and I started using it for professional development.
Now, a year and a half later, I am connected to some of the best and brightest minds in educational technology, and I often get some of my best ideas from my "Tweeps", both in Wisconsin and across the world.
You can follow me here: https://twitter.com/BarganzS
Now, a year and a half later, I am connected to some of the best and brightest minds in educational technology, and I often get some of my best ideas from my "Tweeps", both in Wisconsin and across the world.
You can follow me here: https://twitter.com/BarganzS
Grant Money!
Just before Winter Break, I received notification that I got a small grant I had applied for. As a result, the Parker High School LMC will be able to purchase a nice digital Canon Rebel 3Ti SLR camera!
Here is the text of the press release:
Parker High School Receives Grant
Parker High School announces that it has received a grant from the JTAG Foundation, a component of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc. to support Digital Storytelling. For more information, please contact Stacci Barganz, Innovation Specialist at PHS.
The Janesville Excellence in Education Fund supports new or expanded programs that advance promising and creative approaches for the education of children enrolled in the Janesville public school system. Support is given only for programming that takes place out of the school budget.
For more information about the Janesville Excellence in Education Fund, please contact Sue Conley at the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, 608-758-0883, or sueconley(at)cfsw.org. The Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin served nine Wisconsin Counties: Crawford, Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Rock, Sauk, Vernon, and Walworth. For good. Forever.
Here is the text of the press release:
Parker High School Receives Grant
Parker High School announces that it has received a grant from the JTAG Foundation, a component of the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc. to support Digital Storytelling. For more information, please contact Stacci Barganz, Innovation Specialist at PHS.
The Janesville Excellence in Education Fund supports new or expanded programs that advance promising and creative approaches for the education of children enrolled in the Janesville public school system. Support is given only for programming that takes place out of the school budget.
For more information about the Janesville Excellence in Education Fund, please contact Sue Conley at the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, 608-758-0883, or sueconley(at)cfsw.org. The Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin served nine Wisconsin Counties: Crawford, Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Rock, Sauk, Vernon, and Walworth. For good. Forever.
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