Techedge+PLC


 * Khandi Alexander**
 * Technology Showcase Reflection**

The teacher I had taken a photograph with was apart of the SmartBoard Presentation. His presentation was very beneficial as he, himself was able to utilize the technology, and he demonstrated the full extent to which the SmartBoard could be used, as I am sure not all educators use it to its full abilities. I found that he showed how technology is to be used properly. Following this presentation I attended an Epson presentation, for their version of a 'smartboard' and the individuals in this presentation had trouble operating the technology. This was quite unprofessional, but illustrated how easily technology can be used vs. how it can be misused.

All in all, I found this showcase to be quite helpful.


 * Stephanie Burns **
 * Teaching with Technology showcase **

The first session I attended during the teaching with technology show case discussed the inclusion of technology in the classroom to maintain a global connection with other students around the world. The presenter discussed her own experiences communicating with other classes from Egypt, Afghanistan and South Africa. She also brought in a mosaic that had been sent to all these classrooms and had been designed by all of the students in the various classrooms. As a classroom teacher I would love to maintain a digital pen pal relationship with another class around the world. It would be a great way to integrate empathy and peace keeping into the classroom. I selected this particular session because I am very interested in integrated communicational technologies into my classroom. I am really glad I selected this presentation and learned a lot throughout the process.




 * Ivan Mak **
 * Classroom Management - Dan Trainor **

The workshop I want to revisit is the one about classroom management presented by Dan Trainor, principal of St. James Catholic Elementary School. Although, he came to guest speak for our cohort group near the end of our in class learning. I think it was vital for him to reinforce classroom management strategies and techniques to take into our teaching block. In his presentation, we engaged in various group activities, and discussed as a whole our knowledge within this method. He shared with us his personal experiences as a teacher and the strategies he has used over his career. He reiterated that every class will be diverse, so we need to be very considerate and sensitive. A strategy for the start of a new school year would be allowing students to work in groups first and giving them a chance to choose their own seats. By doing this, it would set the stage for students wanting to be at school. You would slowly make changes and adjustments accordingly to the class’ best interest. The seating arrangements allow you to set the mood and tone for the learning environment. Another strategy that worked for him was having a signal system. He used this for a student that had ADHD and had trouble concentrating. He would squeeze a stress ball to signify that he wanted the student’s attention; in response the student would squeeze his/her own stress ball and give him their attention. I hope we can all assert ourselves as firm teachers and practice excellent classroom management strategies similar to Dan himself.




 * Nicole Schoeneberg**
 * Tech Showcase - Smart Board Seminar**

The first workshop I attended at the Tech Showcase was the Introduction to the Smart board. In this engaging and interesting seminar, we learned about all the options of a Smart Board in a classroom environment, which included: Navigational tools, word recognition, manipulating angles, mathematical computational strategies, modifying and posting class lessons, creating an interactive display and most important of all, answering the question of "what makes a Smart board so smart?". I found the seminar itself a great introductory resource for teachers beginning to utilize Smart board technology in a classroom. Our presenter offered us valuable advice on how to navigate through the software, where to find user help and the few limitations of the technology. For obvious reasons, I chose to attend this seminar as I felt it was quite pertinent to today's classrooms as we see this interactive technology prevalent throughout the school system. I have seen Smart boards in action at some of the area schools I have visited and was amazed how both the teachers and students were using it for instruction. Although in awe of the process, I was a little hesitant to jump up and use one myself for fear of unknown. Would I delete something, or worse break it (I have been known to make electronic items do some weird and crazy things)? Luckily, I felt after the presentation that I had the knowledge and confidence to step up towards the Smart board and use it properly. There is so much more for me to learn (and practice), but I am really happy that I had the opportunity to participate in a seminar which I can use right now in elementary classrooms.



**Dan Hendriks ** **Educational Video Conferencing Reflection **

Of the three workshops I attended at the Tech Showcase on January 31st, the video conferencing workshop was in my opinion, the most interesting. The title of the workshop was //Global Connections// so I wasn’t really sure what the workshop would be about until I got there. When we walked into the room there was a large screen with a lady on it, and a man in a red shirt. When I saw the lady on the screen I assumed that as in most presentations, we were going to be watching a video clip related to global education. However, after sitting down for about three seconds I realized that this was something much more than just a video clip. As each person walked into the room the lady on the screen would address them and tell them where to sit! Instantly I was engaged and interested in what she had to say! The man in the red shirt was there just to make sure that all of the video conferencing equipment was set up properly; once the presentation was underway, he left and it was just us and the lady on the screen, no presenter physically present at all! I found it very cool that we were able to ask questions and get answers from a real person, but that this person was in a location several hundred kilometers away. She demonstrated to us how this video conferencing technology could be used to take students on a virtual field trip. She explained that she had given virtual field trips to students who were currently incarcerated. These students were not allowed to leave their building, but were able to virtually take part in a field trip; following the instructor along as she taught them about global education. Another example of where she used this technology was when she gave a virtual field trip to some students down in Florida. Because they don’t (usually) have snow in Florida, she took them on a virtual field trip of a Canadian forest in the winter and how the ecosystems are different than the ones they normally experience in their climate. Although a video conference is by no means a replacement for actually leaving the classroom and taking part in field research and trips, I thought this was a great way to engage students and get them thinking outside the walls of their school on a more regular basis. Additionally, it is just SO cool, that no matter what the subject matter, students will automatically be more engaged in the subject and the lesson. I would love to see this technology become more widely available in schools across the board!

PS I wasn't able to get a picture of me with the workshop presenter, so I guess this will have to do! (This is the lady who did the video conferencing with us)




 * Kyle Raby: TechShowCase**The workshops I attended were great and provided me with many amazing tools and resources for my future career as a teacher. The //Google in the Classroom// workshop showed me just how many great tools are available for teachers personal work and for use in the classroom. It is interesting that you can choose a plethora of tools through Google, not just the simple search. Google provides opportunities for easy access to multiple tools. //Google Earth// is an amazing tool for many purposes, including geography and earth-science, but also it is a fun way for students to explore the world. //Google S////cho////lar// is another great tool that allows for the access of educatioal resources that are valuable to myself as a teacher and to my students. //Google Docs// is amazing in what it provides; students can simultaneously work on a project from home so if my group had to finish a Powerpoint Presentation we would be able to work on it at the same time. If I was in charge of slides 1-5 and my partner slides 6-10, we could keep track of our partners progress and give them feedback.

Mike Veryzer Like many of my peers, I was able to check out the introductory SMART Board tutorial at the Brock Technology Showcase. Upon hearing everything Michael Ward (Area Manager, SMART Technologies) had to say, I must admit I was ready to give away money I don't have for this piece of equipment! I wholeheartedly believe in the implied value of having a tool such as the SMART Board in a classroom. In his brief presentation, Michael was able to explore several features and benefits of this technology - tools for writing, editing, as well as an extensive list of mathematical functions.
 * SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard Seminar, Brock Technology Showcase**

At first, I interpreted SMART Board technology as glorified direct instruction - a 21st century representation of classic educational practice. Michael, perhaps without knowing it, quashed my preconceived notions of this technology by showing the variety of ways students can engage in a constructivist focused manner. The way this is done I believe is through the use of thousands of applications and activities available through SMART technologies, as Michael claimed it was SMART resources and software that kept them ahead of their competition. Seriously, this man was a salesman!

Trying to stay critical, I couldn't help but fall for the very obvious argument that an educator would have for having a SMART Board in his/her classroom. The tipping point for me personally was not all of the many bells and whistles associated with SMART (and believe me, there were many. No, what convinced me the SMART Board was worth it was how easy he made everything he did look. Obviously Michael should have vast experience with this product, but it seemed that this was a tool that could be quickly mastered, or would significantly improve classroom efficiency at the very least. Call me a Luddite, but I am often skeptical of technology that claims to make life easier, only to do the opposite in reality. I know that a SMART Board in my future classroom would improve classroom efficiency and organization; were I not so deprived financially, (1400 dollars - reasonably priced but not when you're broke) I know I would be considering this purchase!

On the right you'll see Michael, Adam and I at the end of the SMART presentation - Michael humored us and did not leave us hanging - thank you SMART Technology!

Carianne Neufeld Presented by The Holocaust Centre in Toronto
 * Holocaust Education Workshop Reflection (January 31, 2011)**

On January 31st, I participated in a workshop about Holocaust Education. A representative from the Holocaust Association joined us from Toronto, who provided us with historical insight on the Holocaust and the development of anti-Semitism. He showed us the laws and media messages used to increasingly oppress Jewish people, as well as provided us with strategies with which to teach kids about the Holocaust. After his presentation, we had the privilege of hearing the story of a Holocaust survivor, who provided us with a first-hand account of the events that happened during that time.

I hope to put the resources we were given to use in my classroom. I am an advocate for human rights, and in promoting equity in how we treat one another. The Holocaust is a powerful and chilling example of what can happen when we allow ignorance to take place of critical thinking, and when we allow popular opinion to dominate our perspective. The Holocaust is a horrifying part of our history, so it is important to use discretion in how and when to talk about the Holocaust with students.

I chose this presentation because it was powerful and inspiring. It was moving to hear a person, a survivor of the Holocaust share his story, and I was reminded of the importance of bringing real experience into our curriculum. The events of the Holocaust connect to discussions of many relevant and important issues about bullying, respect and equity, which would benefit students. The Holocaust is a real event, which made a profound impact on our world. It is important that we teach students what has happened in our past and how we can make changes now to promote human rights.



Erica Menzies Workshop: “Support and Enhance Visual Thinking and Data Literacy with Kidspiration and InspireData – Presented by Strategic Transitions”
 * Tech Showcase Reflection (January 28, 2011)**

This was the first workshop I attended at the Tech Showcase and it was hosted by Strategic Transitions ([|http://www.strategictransitions.com]), a “digital learning specialist company”, headquartered in Aurora, Ontario. The workshop was a useful hands on session during which we were introduced to two software programs: Kidspiration and WordQ. The presenters guided us through both programs and explained how these programs could be used in tandem in the classroom. Kidspiration is a tool which allows students to better visualize concepts. Students can create colourful concept maps / graphic organizers and then switch to “writing view” where they can write about the visual representations they created in “picture view”. Students can also use virtual manipulatives to solve math problems using Kidspiration.

WordQ is an assistive software device that anticipates words being typed and allows users to select the intended word. The software also provides audio, so users can listen to what they are writing while typing and then review what they have written once completed as it is read aloud. This program is especially useful for students who might encounter challenges while writing because of difficulties with spelling and grammar. This program is also available in French, Spanish and German.

As a future teacher, I think both Kidspiration and WordQ could be valuable tools in the classroom. Kidspiration seems to be an excellent way to enable students to create their own graphic organizers / concept maps as well as integrate text with graphics in a number of ways. I was also very impressed with the interactive virtual math manipulatives feature. Clearly, this program could be used as part of a variety of creative lessons and activities. As research indicates, being able to provide students with a visual display can greatly benefit their learning. I think WordQ would be useful not only for students difficulties with spelling and grammar in Language, but could also be a fantastic tool for students learning French as a Second Language. As a potential future French teacher, I could see WordQ as a practical tool that could assist students in developing their knowledge of French spelling and grammar while also allowing them to develop a greater “ear” for the language. I was interested in attending this presentation because I think graphic organizers / concept maps promote learning and the understanding of concepts in the classroom. I had a great deal of success using them during my first Practicum in Language, science and math, and was looking for ways in which students can create their own graphic organizers / concept maps using technology. I look forward to having the opportunity to use these exciting software programs in the future in a classroom setting!



Sarah Chippior - HyperStudio At the Technology Showcase that was presented at Brock University, Hamilton campus, I attended the HyperStudio: Creating Digital Culture first thing in the morning. HyperStudio is a piece of software that can be used to implement multimedia into various aspects of the curriculum. Students can use pictures, video, animations, voice, web links, music etc to create their very own project. I believe if students used this program, and programs such as this, they will be excited about their own learning since they are in control of the design. Students are already engaged when given the opportunity to use PowerPoint and word processors, imagine the excitement when using HyperStudio! I envision students putting together multimedia presentations in such subjects as History, Social Studies and Geography. The presenters did a very thorough job of showing us the various components of the program. They were extremely knowledgeable of all that this program has to offer and ensured that the activities and components were simple to use, even to beginners. They also modelled exactly how to use the program in different areas of the curriculum. I was thoroughly amazed at the quality of presentations students could create using this program. I entered the presentation not knowing very much about the program, but came out feeling excited to implement it into my future classroom. I understand students would require much guidance and modelling in order to first learn about the program, however am up for the challenge in attempts to get students excited about learning! The best part – we got a free copy to use on our home computers! I can't wait until I have the chance to play around!



Amanda Snow **Tech Showcase**

I attended the Hyperstudio workshop during my first session at the showcase. Before the session I was unaware of this program and all the applications it is capable of. I found learning about this technology useful because it combined so many tools into one program. In a classroom students would be able to create projects that go beyond powerpoint and allow them to link and create movies, audio, pictures, and animations. For younger students this program would be much more straightforward than having them opening and trying to utilize a variety of tools. Here students are able to include as much or little as they feel comfortable.

I signed up for this workshop because it is a program I had heard little about. I wanted to learn something new and felt that this workshop would inlighten me as well as provide me a resource for the future. I was very happy with this choice and was overwhelmed by the quality of work the program could produce.

In the future I would introduce the elements of hyperstudio slowly into my class, because there is so much it is capable of. As the students become more familiar with the program it would be very useful for students to put together a research project. Studnets would be able to link videos on youtube that relate to their topic as well as create pictures using the paint program offered by hyperstudio. Students may also do audio recordings to present information they found interesting and link their resources right to their assignment. This is just one possibility and I feel the more I learn about the program the more applications I will discover. Hyperstudio is a great program that allows students to use technology and create projects that are highly integrated and developed.

Drew Pierce **Tech Showcase**

I participated in the //SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard in the Classroom// workshop during the second session. During this session I learned a considerable amount about the usefulness of using a //SMART Board// as and educational tool. Not only did I become familiar with many engaging educational possibilities the technology offers but I also learned how //SMART Boards// are effectively revolutionizing the way people teach. I became aware of the amount of time and energy this technology can save teachers in the preparation and planning stages of the job by learning about the extensive Gallery collections in the notebook software and the online PLC at the SMART website. I signed up for this presentation because I have been informed that my second teaching block practicum classroom has a //SMART Board// in it and the teacher uses it effectively. I want to be able to do the same so I need to learn more about the technology. This workshop introduced me to SMART technologies, now I have to develop my skills in preparation for my placement. During the presentation, Michael Ward (third from the left in the photo) demonstrated some practical uses for this technology in the classroom. Michael focused on using the //SMART Board// as a learning station for students rather than a "teacher toy" only. During my placement I will develop this philosophy and try to use the technology in learning station or center activities so the students have opportunities to use and develop their technological skills. Specifically, I would like to have students use the //SMART Board// for math because the technology can help students understand mathematical concepts and relationships by representing equations in graphs with the click of a button. This will help students develop deeper mathematical understandings through interactive inquiry based investigations.

__//Jane Townsend //__

Tech Showcase

I attended the Elearning workshop which highlighted the Ontario Elearning Resources Bank (O.E.R.B.). I would use the information obtained from this workshop to search for various lesson plans. This website, [|http://resources.elearningontario.ca], is basically an online database containing more than 22,000 K-12 resources. Ontario teachers have been seconded to write curriculum for approximately 200 Secondary School Elearning courses. As well, teachers upload resources in order to share their own lesson plans. There are available interactive learning resources, quizzes, rubrics, and 8000 videos. For some strands whole units are available. I selected this workshop so that I could understand more fully what resources were available and so I could ascertain how to access them. I would use this web site to download whole units and lesson plans that I could use for my teaching. As well, if I felt I had an excellent lesson plan or unit I would upload them into the Elearning database. The technology used in this session was minimal from the actual workshop but it is fascinating to have so many Elearning courses available to students. Students in high schools with small populations that only offer core courses or only core courses in a designated semester can access other courses that they want through Elearning. Elearning does have its drawbacks, though. Students are young and often require more support than Elearning has to offer them. Students need to be highly motivated in order to be successful in Elearning courses.

_

//Nicole Robinson // The first workshop I attended was the Google Workshop presented by Zoe Branigan-Pipe and Erica Kruis (as pictured). I thought that I had a good understanding of Google going into the workshop, but was left amazed with the amount of functions that Google offers! I selected this workshop because Google is such a familiar and popular tool to our society. I felt it was important to really understand all of Google’s functions and learn about it through a teacher perspective on how it can best be implemented in the classroom. The many features of Google left me speechless! I have always used Google mainly just for its search engine, and have not previously been aware of everything it has to offer. As a classroom teacher, I can see myself using many of the functions to promote collaborative learning in my classroom. One function of Google which would really allow for this collaborative learning is creating presentations (power points) through Google Docs. As outlined in the workshop, this is a fantastic way for students to create a class slideshow where they are all able to provide their input, and leave with a complete presentation. Providing students with a topic and allowing them to be creative in their design, I believe, can leave both the students and the teacher with a very powerful slideshow. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are several other features to explore through Google, all with the potential to use in a classroom. The best part is that it’s all free!



__Tiffany Samson__ __The first and most informative workshop I attended at the tech showcase was ‘A Gold mine for teac__ __her: the Ontario Educational Resource Bank” also know as OEDRB. This workshop focused on a resource bank, which can only be acc__ __ess once the board hires you. Once hired you can access this wonderful resource where there are full unit plans and lessons at your disposal. It is clearly organized. You can search by grade, subject, and curriculum expectation. This is a great resource for a classroom teacher s__ __ince time is very precious and this resource bank is filled with quality lesson’s that can be easily accessed and adapted to the lesson. Also if a teacher has a lesson that they created and want to share they can send it to the OEDRB and they will look at it and decide whether or not to upload it. It has everything from lessons, units, videos and experiments. Simply wonderful!__

__As a teacher candidate the reason why I chose this workshop was to find out where to find great resources. I saw the words resource bank and though “JACK POT!” It is always helpful to know where to find quality lessons and unit plans where you do not have to re invent the wheel. As soon to be first year teachers our time will be very precious and having an electronic resource bank where lessons are literally at your fingertips is incredible. Also a benefit of having it electronic is that you can download the material and can alter it on your computer and then use it as apposed to retyping everything, which is time consuming.__

__Rosella Ingriselli__ __The topic that interested me most and blew my mind was the SMART Technology workshop that was presented by Michael Ward. The amount of educational purposes that the SMART board offers is incredible. One of the features that really stood out to me was how it incorporates assessment through using clickers. It shows the data of the student answers over a period of time by plotting it on a line graph which allows you to see if they have improved, stayed the same, or declined. Differentiated Instruction is really being emphasized in classrooms these days. A lot of the features of a Smart board could reach out to many different types of learners (kinesthetic, visual and audio).__

__I chose this workshop because Smart boards are becoming more popular and more and more schools are using them. I feel that it would be beneficial to learn more about what it has to offer so if I am in a situation where I need to use one, I am a prepared. I believe that in a couple of years every classroom will have a Smart board in their classroom. Before talking with Michael, I assumed that Smart boards would cost around $5,000. To my surprise, they only cost $1,400. Seeing how an amazing piece of technology costs so little, I would have thought that schools would have at least more than one.__

__//Derek Grainger//__ One of the workshops I attended at the Teaching and Technology Showcase was "SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard in the Classroom," which was presented by Michael Ward from SMART Technologies. It was a basic introduction to the SMART board and some of the accessories that SMART produced in conjunction with the SMART board. We were also introduced to the main software, SMART notebook, and were shown a number of neat tools and applications of this software. I spent much of the presentation 'oohing, and ahing" as Michael demonstrated a number of ways to teach using the SMART board, like drawing and measuring angles or performing a frog dissection.

This workshop really helped me, as a future classroom teacher, gain some insight into the kinds of applications that SMART boards provide for classroom use. We were shown examples of how the software can be used to create dynamic and engaging lessons in a huge variety of subjects in ways that will cater to the needs of all of our students. One of the tools that I, personally, would be very interested in using is the software add-on, Notebook Math Tools. Unfortunately, this software costs extra money, but I think it would really benefit me, and other teachers, when using the SMART board to teach some key math concepts. Overall, I think the SMART board is a great way to engage students with technology, while providing them with meaningful learning activities in various subjects. If you want to check out some resources that SMART provides teachers, I highly recommending going to the following links:

[|http://express.smarttech.com] - Read and create SMART notebook files online [|http://exchange.smarttech.com] - Find curriculum-based lesson ideas with associated SMART notebook files

I chose this workshop because I found out that I will have a SMART board in the classroom of my next teaching block. I had never used a SMART board before, and I thought that it would help provide me with some basics before I begin my block. I chose to discuss this presentation because I feel that it is the one I will be most likely to implement right away (ie. my next teaching block) and because I was fascinated by options that teaching with the SMART board will provide me with. While I can certainly see myself implementing strategies and tools from Google and Hyperstudio at some point, I feel that the tools and strategies I learned in the SMART presentation will benefit me most as a student teacher.

__//Ruth Mullen//__ __At the Technology Showcase on January 28, I chose to attend the "<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Serious Gaming and the Teaching of Critical & Historical Thinking Skills" <span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> workshop. I was curious about this topic, as I have always enjoyed playing computer games, but was also aware of how much I had learned about history from various games (i.e. Age of the Empires). I had heard from Prof. Rutherford about using games in the classroom but I was incredibly curious about the logistics of teaching using a computer game. Our presenter Michael Clare provided us a variety of free, internet games that allow students to enter the role of a third world farmer, Haitian or politician to provide an excellent hook and emotional investment in a topic. Some of the games he mentioned were: __ __<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">[|www.3rdworldfarmer.com] __ __<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">[|www.historycanadagame.com] (download, only available for PCs) (can be used for First Nations history...) __ __<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">[|www.costoflife.ning.com] (Haitian family) __ __<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">[|www.playinghistory.org/items] (variety of options) __ __<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">[|www.bbc.co.uk/sn/hottopics/climatechange/climate_challenge] (Politician trying to bring environmental change) __ __These were some great game ideas, that could be used as an introduction to a unit (however, I still have not been able to play the game without killing the families off). In general, you don't want to choose a game that will take more time to learning how to play then playing. Once the kids have had some experience with the "problem" of the game, you can bring it into discussions in the classroom and base your unit around the dilema of the game. This way the students are already interested, since they have spent time trying to solve the problem in a simulator setting. I think that there are great benefits to using games in the classroom, it just takes practice figuring out the balance of how often to incorporate them. We also need to overcome the idea that playing games is something you do when the work is //done// instead of using gaming to //help complete// the work. I need to work on adjusting my mentality but I'm excited to see the practical applications of these games and if I can use them in my upcoming block.__

__At the tech showcase on January 28, I attended the workshop about the program Hyperstudio. It is a multimedia presentation creating program that combines the features of audacity, paint, movie maker, and a few other types of software into one program for students to use. I thought it was a really neat way to teach students a variety of topics and keep them engaged in the learning. The presenters showed us ways they have had students use the program in the past and sample projects created, and it is absolutely amazing what students can create when they are given the proper knowledge and a tool such as this! The program can create animations, add text, link to photos and websites on the Internet. It is really neat to see a program that can do all of this at once (and a ton of other things too!) instead of having to use several programs ot create one presentation. Students can make their own artwork for their presentation using paint-like features. It is a really cool way to have students present what they learned, and makes power point look boring! I think this would be a really neat program to introduce to students, but it would need a lot of prep work on the part of the teacher, in order to learn the basic features of the program and how to use them, in order to teach the students to use it effectively. I would like to say I would try to use a program like HyperStudio on my block because it is such an engaging program, but realistically I think I will need a lot of my own personal time using the program to create samples and ideas to further my own knowledge with how it works, before asking students to use it. We were given a copy of the software in the workshop, so I look forward to using it at home and becoming familiar with it so I can hope to use it with students some day.__

__Jessica Bowering__

Adam Cross

One of the sessions I attended at the tech showcase was SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard in the Classroom done by Michael Ward. It was my favourite session because the topic was very relevant and Michael made it interesting and fun. He showed us how to work a SMART Board by going through different subject examples. We learned all we need is an ID number off of a SMART Board to get the software. Michael said the software is what really makes SMART outshine competitors. The software looks so easy and helpful to use in comparison to just using PowerPoint and Word. We were also given websites for [|SMART files]and [|curriculum resources] that use SMART Boards. This was the most valuable and best workshop I have attended thus far.

A teacher can use the software to create interactive lessons. Teachers can use the SMART Board for multiple intelligences whether it be audio, visual, kinesthetic, etc. Students should be encouraged to use the SMART Board so lessons are that more meaningful and hands on. I will be trying to find an ID number ASAP so I can get the software because I have a SMART Board in my next classroom. I will also be looking at the websites to get some great ideas and resources.

I chose this presentation because I knew I needed to know more about SMART Boards and I would get the most out of the presentation. I will use the information I gained because regardless of subject, the SMART Board can be extremely useful. It helps with how we are teaching today, the teacher facilitates while the students use resources to solve problems in small groups.

The technology was amazing and I was captivated by everything Michael did because it seemed so simple while he did so much. This was honestly an amazing workshop, I am glad I went and advise those who couldn't make it to go when you get another chance!

Janet Baines <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At the Technology Showcase I attended a session on “Serious Gaming and the Teaching of Critical & Historical Thinking Skills,” which focused on how to hook students into history through the use of online games and video games, most specifically the “The History Game Canada”. The presentation highlighted a number of fun and interesting history games that could easily be integrated into lessons to make history come alive and more interesting for students. Most of the games presented in the session were geared towards teaching Grade 10 History or Civics and I could see the games had great potential for hooking students (ex. [|3rd World Farmer] [|Ayiti: Cost of Life] [|Playing History][large list of games] [|Pax Warrior] [need a subscription to play, which some school boards have] [|BBC Climate Challenge] [role play world leader dealing with climate change] [|A Force More Powerful] [|BBC Battle of the Atlantic Game] [|History Game Canada] ) because they provided authentic real world simulations, especially for current global issues. I just wish the presenter had provided more resources for elementary teachers, although “The History Game of Canada” seemed to have potential. My only concern was the game seemed to have a number of glitches that need to be worked out and I could not get it to work on my computer. It would also take a long time for students to learn how to play it, so perhaps it would be better suited as an at home lesson consolidation. However, I could see myself easily using some of the shorter BBC<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> games as a hook for a lesson because they are very engaging and make students start to think critically. This is the main reason that I attended the presentation. Although I do not play video games a lot, as a history major I was curious about the resources that the session would provide because any opportunity for making history more interesting for students is good. Unfortunately history is often taught very dryly and students feel no connection to it. Using games bridges that connection with students and also inadvertently teaches critical thinking, which is an absolute necessity in schools today. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">

Katherine Kerley


 * Live Learning with Livescribe**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I chose this workshop because it featured a technological tool that was unfamiliar to me, and I wanted to learn more about its use in teaching and learning. The smartpens produced by Livescribe (available for purchase at [|http://www.smartpencentral.com]) are ballpoint pens that have the capacity to record handwriting and speech. This data can then be transferred to a computer via USB cable. The newer pen model, the Echo, also has a headphone jack. What is really interesting about this particular smartpen is that each audio recording is specific to what was written on the special dot paper that accompanies the pen. For example, if a student were recording a story, and making jot notes at the same time, the student would double-tap the part on the page that they wanted to listen to, and the audio would play from the small speaker in the pen.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The applications for teaching and learning with this device are remarkable! Ms. Dunsiger herself uses a single smartpen in her classroom (a grade 1-2 split) to aid learning, specifically for those who have difficulty reading or writing. She also uses the pen to communicate with parents by giving specific instructions for student work, and students may also benefit from this. For example, if a student had homework, and the teacher was able to record more specific instructions, the student could access the audio, increasing the chances of success.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For my own teaching practice, I am really excited at the prospect of buying one of these gadgets for my class and myself. The two ways I would use the Livescribe in my classroom would be for anecdotal notes and special education. By way of anecdotal notes and assessment, the teacher could make jot notes, but record more specific observations to reference at a later time. If I were assessing reading, or having a writing conference with a student, I could record the conversation with that student and revisit that conversation in order to make more accurate assessments. The special education applications of this tool are almost endless – mainly, students can listen to text as they read it, or record audio if they are unable to write. Ms. Dunsiger had the innovative idea of recording words on a word wall and giving students the option to listen to the recording of those words to help them learn. She also noted that when students are able to listen to themselves reading, their pacing improves dramatically and they understand where they need to improve.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In conclusion, I recommend this product as a unique and helpful learning tool that bridges the gap between pen and paper and digital technology. If you are interested in buying a Livescribe, the entry-level model runs at $125 CAD – not bad, considering you would only need one for the entire class!

Ben Thomson ‘Serious Gaming and the Teaching of Critical & Historical Thinking Skills’



While at the Tech Showcase in Hamilton, I found the workshop, ‘Serious Gaming and the Teaching of Critical & Historical Thinking Skills’, to be the most informative and inspiring presentation. The workshop discussed how history is often a subject area where students are not quite certain as to whether they love it or hate it. In order to hook these students, the workshop gave many great ideas of how gaming and technology can engage them and enhance their learning. Some excellent resources that were shared were educational games, such as [|Cost of Life], [|3rd World Farmer], [|The History Game Canada]. These games are valuable resources for teaching grade 10 history and civics. I learned that introducing these games to students is only the beginning. Effective educators must have students //act// upon the new knowledge gained from the games. Sttudents must also critically analyze and evaluate games, just as they would textbooks. This workshop gave me a multitude of ideas which I plan to integrate into my own classroom one day.

Becky Bridges - Building Futures I attended the Building Futures worshop a few weeks ago in St. Catharines. At the workshop I attended three sessions; Literacy, Teaching Mathematics, and Assessment and Evaluation. The session on Assessment and Evaluation really stood out for me. I enjoyed this one the most because the focus was on the students rather than the teacher. The instructor talked a lot about how so often, the students do not understand how they are being assessed. Students also dont always understand the criteria the teacher is looking for and as a result they receive poor marks or feedback. Really, all they needed in the first place was for the criteria to be layed out for them in more student friendly terms. We did an activity that helped to illustrate this. He asked for 4 volunteers to go to the front of the room. He asked the first one to clap for us, and then the audience had to evaluate him. We were simply making up things that we wanted to evaluate on. Then we gave him a mark an how well he applauded, and he was confised about why he got that grade. The second person was asked to clap, but also to make sure they clapped really loud and enthusiastically. They got a slightly better grade from us in the audience, but still didn't do as well as they could have. The third person got a list of things they were going to be judged on. This person did a lot better! Their grade from the audience was reflecting what they could do. The fourth person got the list of criteria but also had some input. They got to remove a few things to narrow it down with the teacher's help. This person was the most successful in their clapping, because the expectations were clear, and they got a say too. This showed us that we cannot just decide as we are evaluating students how we are going to do it. They need to know before hand what is expected of them, and they should also have some input! I learned a great lesson in this workshop!