Are You More Techno than a 5th Grader?

Ever wonder past the awesome tools and projects technology gives us? I do. I think a lot about the basic skills behind creating, producing, collaborating and ooh and ahhing. Because we can create Glogs, stream video projects, backchannel our lessons via Today's Meet, use cool apps, etc. until the cows come home, but none of it matters if a student doesn't have basic skills like saving.

So what technology skills do students need to know and by what grade?

My AWESOME teammate, Sarah Daugherty* (Shout out!) thinks about it too. In fact, she just recently took a look at our Technology TEKS and created the Glogs below that illustrate what technology skills each grade should know. I think they are an awesome reference and invite you to take a look and refer to it often when planning.

Does this mean you should drop all curriculum tomorrow in order to accomplish mastery of these skills?  NO.  Does this mean these skills should be taken into consideration when planning and integrating technology?  ABSOLUTELY!

Kindergarten
1st Grade
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade

ENJOY!

 * I am linking these with Sarah's permission, probably because she knows the utter frustration I will experience at a certain poster printer** in her honor later this week.  :)

**No ill will re: the poster printer is intended.

Chickens!

The Kindergarten classes at Cottonwood Creek are incubating chicken eggs! We've used www.ustream.com, a camera and a laptop to bring you the first annual Chicken Watch! Check out our eggs below! (If you see a big black box, don't worry, our broadcast may be off air depending on the time!)


Live TV : Ustream

Edcamp Plano

Registration for edcamp Plano begins today!  Edcamp Plano is a free unconference designed to allow teachers to collaborate, learn and share ideas about technology! The inconference set up means there is a relaxed and fluid atmosphere.  Educators meet over coffee the first hour and break into impromptu sessions after.  If you like a session, stay, if you don't, you can move to another one.  If you want to present a session, simply sign up on the main board the day of the event.  All are welcome to attend and/or present!

Learn more about edcamp Plano at the official wiki for the event. Registration is easy!

http://edcampplano.wikispaces.com/ 

If you are a teacher at one of the creeks, this event has been approved for flex credit consideration.  You will want to sign up in Eduphoria as well as on the unconference website in order to be eligible for credit!

My Latest Obsession

I got on my computer tonight thinking, I'll just clean up loose ends from last week, maybe check my Twitter feed and then bask in the last few moments of my weekend.  Here I sit (lay actually...love wireless!!), 2 hours later. Yes, blog readers, I am obsessed with a new tool.

Let me introduce you to the best organizational thing since the invention of the Trapper Keeper, the LiveBinder.

What is a LiveBinder, you ask?

It is a collections of weblinks and resources organized as if you were looking at a 3 ring binder, complete with tabs and subtabs.

I have seen them for awhile now and have graciously used and suggested resources from some very awesome ones, even started my LiveBinder shelf of favorites.  But today, well, today I have started creating one.

Let's ignore the fact that I am a bit organizationally challenged by nature and that creating these is one of the easiest things I have encountered all year.

 There is a library of LiveBinders that other people have created for education. A public library.

At the very least, I will be recommending teachers search this library and use resources and references as needed.  However, I will also be suggesting uses in the classroom for creating LiveBinders as well.  The binder I am creating is one my co-trainer Toni and I can use to train my upcoming PD series, Engaging Students through Web 2.0.

Among other things, I see teachers using this resource for:

• Resource libraries for student units
• Student ePortfolios
• Educator PLC resources
• Team Planning Resources
• Author Studies
• Book Units
• And More*

* Stopping my list because as I mentioned earlier...it is late on Sunday evening.  :)  There's many more I could see and would be happy to discuss with you!

I will list some favorite LiveBinders of mine in an upcoming post!  For now, check out LiveBinders at the link below.

www.livebinders.com

PD Nerdiness

I have said it before, I will say it again:

I am a PD nerd.

I am sitting in a PD session right now that 2 of my teammates are running. Today's session is on Web 2.0 tools for Elementary Language Arts/Social Studies. I am not here to help, I am here because I want to learn. 

I have seen the tools they are showing before, but I am still eager. I think PD is all about what you make of it.  I search for nuggets I didn't know or see, I practice things I don't usually have time to practice and think about how I can make the skills being shown a reality in my classrooms.  It shouldn't matter if I have seen a tool before or have used something extensively...I am in control of my learning.

If I hadn't come to this session, I never would have thought about the COOL things I could do with www.tagxedo.com 

Like Wordle,  it lets you create word clouds only with Tagxedo, you decide the shape!  Teaching about chocolate?  Use a chocolate kiss!  Teaching the Civil War?  Place your vocabulary in the shape of Abraham Lincoln's head!

Here's my new creation...an ode to Dr. Seuss's Cat in the Hat!

Interested in laughing at me over my PD nerdiness?  Want to look at more Tagxedo integration ideas?

Let me know!!!

Fotopedia

I just got a cool reference website in my Twitter feed that is worth sharing!  The site is called Fotopedia and it is a visual encyclopedia full of images and information!

All you do is search the site based on the subject or topic you are teaching. Some examples I tried were Landforms, Fish, Texas, Presidents, etc.  Your results bring you a collection of photographs illustrating the subject along with an informational description with links to Wikipedia articles**.

 Check it out!

http://www.fotopedia.com/

** As with all things Wikipedia, make sure to take facts with a grain of salt since anyone can add information.  This is another great avenue to discuss with students how not everything you read on the web is the most reliable information and to search with caution.  :)

TCEA 2011 - The Backstory

So my first TCEA as an attendee has came and went.  I tried to soak up every ounce from it.  It reminded me what I came to CISD to do - integrate and teach technology and excite others regarding technology.  But the truth is, behind my twitter updates and blog check in's, something else was going on.

I was sick.

Not just a little cold, or a sniffle, but full on, shivers and fever sick. The kind of sick where every ounce of your body hurts.  The kind of sick where you know you should be in bed or at a doctor's office or curled up somewhere near your mommy.

That being said, TCEA still rocked.  I still learned so much.  I was able to find energy and enjoy.  But it reminds me that at the end of the day...it comes down to a choice.  We all can choose to curl up and get in bed or we can choose to fight through and get the most from the day.

I am glad I did...I would never be able to share this cool resource if I didn't!

50 Ways to Integrate Technology Tomorrow