Robin Van Der Linda, a sixth grade language arts teacher at CMS, recently put together an entire review lesson using the Lesson Activity Toolkit in the Gallery tab.  [...]]]> Putting our educational technology tools to use in the language arts classroom is never a challenge when you use the Lesson Activity Toolkit in SMART Notebook!

Robin Van Der Linda, a sixth grade language arts teacher at CMS, recently put together an entire review lesson using the Lesson Activity Toolkit in the Gallery tab.  Her students (and one of the vice principals) enjoyed plenty of interactive fun as they moved answers around on the SMART Board.

Using a webcam and Skype, a few students [...]]]> How are we the same?  How are we different?  It’s easy to have that discussion among the students in our classes, but what are kids like outside Chatham?  Sandy Kelly, Michelle Monahan, and Jennifer Lehotay-Taylor have regular visits with fellow third grade students in Illinois to find out.

Using a webcam and Skype, a few students eagerly take their places in front of the computer to exchange questions and comments with third graders in Mrs. Palm’s class at the Greenbrier Elementary School in Arlington Heights, IL, outside Chicago.

The latest exchange between the students was about being responsible at home . Colin shared how he is responsible by taking out his dog, Coal , twice daily.  Michael shared that he is responsible for all the household recycling and maintaining his room, and Carly shared how she also took her dog out for walks and cared for her own belongings and room.

Mrs. Palm’s class is compiling information about the 50 United States, so each week, our students provide facts about New Jersey to their friends in Illinois.  Are you interested in interesting facts bout New Jersey?  The official state facts are here, but for things you didn’t know about New Jersey, try Hangout NJ  which is sponsored by the State of NJ.

While reading Helen Keller’s Miracle Worker, Lisa McTague had an interesting challenge on [...]]]> With six more months of school, it’s time to think about updating your teacher website, but what can you do to make it more interesting to students and teachers while using your time effectively? How about incorporating student work into your website?

While reading Helen Keller’s Miracle Worker, Lisa McTague had an interesting challenge on her website for her students. One student would use sign language to spell a word or sign a phrase while another student videotaped the sign language. Lisa then posted the video with a challenge to the students: “Send me an email telling me what the sign language video means.”

Have a look by visiting her website HERE.

In second grade at WAS, Sarah Gutierrez is working with her students as [...]]]> If you’ve spent any time in an art museum, you know the term “mixed media,” but when it comes to technology, we don’t have oil paint, newsprint, and feather dusters glued to the monitor. Instead, we have digital art, video, and sound.

In second grade at WAS, Sarah Gutierrez is working with her students as they create digital stories illustrated by them using Microsoft Paint. Paint is a simple art program that is worth giving your students some time to play with. While creating original art is easy with Paint, it is also possible to manipulate photos as well. The video below is just a basic introduction to the drawing aspects of Paint, but it’s a good start!

Check the video on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQaJJ-AW19M while our tech gurus fix our embedded video function.

 The kids didn’t get to travel to the wilds of Montana to dig, but in science class they did get to be paleontologists for [...]]]> Okay, so we’ll skip Tech Tip Tuesday today to recognize WAS teacher Sarah Gutierrez and her student teacher, Cathy Gomber, for teaching their second grade students how to narrate their fossil dig.

 The kids didn’t get to travel to the wilds of Montana to dig, but in science class they did get to be paleontologists for the day.  Their Jurassic adventure is documented in Photo Story fineness on Sarah’s website HERE.  You can double-click on the video image itself to see it full-screen.

Interested in using Photo Story with your class?  Need to know how to post a video on your Schoolwires Centricity teacher web pages?  Let Erik know, and he’ll direct you to the resources you need or even help you and your students directly!

Note: you can click the photo for a bigger image.

The students in one class began [...]]]> Writing an essay can be boring, but not when you’re in Mrs. Kopacz or Mr. Curcio’s class!  Essay writing became an exercise in collaboration and videoconferencing when the third graders in Mrs. Kopacz’s SBS class participated in a writing exercise with the fifth grade students in Mr. Curcio’s LAF classroom.

The students in one class began an essay with an opening paragraph, and then shared it with Bridgit software.  Bridgit allows the two classes to see each other with their webcams AND see what they wrote because the students can share their desktops or SMART Board screens!

After every paragraph is written, the classes start a video conference and discuss what was written.  Can it be improved?  How?  Was the word choice good?  Does anything need to be added or deleted?  A real conversation about writing ensues!

Once that part of the essay is done, the other class writes the next paragraph, and the discussion starts again via videoconference!

Some teachers at the middle school are using Skype to communicate around the world, but you can also use our in-house Bridgit software which allows you to have a small video window and share your computer screen with the other participants.

Remember to click once on the photos to enlarge them!

Using a webcam, a SMART Board, and Skype, CMS students were able to speak with students their age in France.  A few students would gather around the webcam at a time [...]]]> Not exactly a storming of the Bastille, but on Thursday, March 12, Trish DeMallie’s eigth grade French students entered a classroom in Nimes, France, via videophone.

Using a webcam, a SMART Board, and Skype, CMS students were able to speak with students their age in France.  A few students would gather around the webcam at a time to practice their French (or allow the French students to practice their English) while the rest of the class watched and listened via SMART Board.

Trish was able to make a connection with the school in Nimes easily because her daughter Katie (once a student of mine!) is currently working there.  Trish and Katie had been keeping in touch privately with Skype, but then decided to have their students connect.

While there was a minor technical glitch at the beginning, all was working as expected after about 10 minutes, and everyone had an enjoyable experience.  If you’re interested in communicating with a class around the world or around the corner, contact Erik to help you put your plan into action!