Teacher Talk

Tired of Learning

That's right, I'm getting tired of chasing edtech. While the technology is changing rapidly and it's incredibly exciting to be a part of these changes particularly as they relate to the world of education...I'm starting to tire of 'keeping up.' Please understand, I love the excitement and have always been an early adopter. What is exhausting is that sometimes I would just like to use the technology instead of understand it.

Image from Somadjinn. Spinning Disco Lamp. MorgueFile.

For example, I want to access all of my email from one location (Thunderbird works for me). So, what's the issue? The level of technical expertise I need to make this happen. So, I set up an account wanting to get my gmail to this desktop application. That's easy until I get a warning that says,

Mail server pop.gmail.com responded: Your account is not enabled for POP access.

So, I go to Gmail and look around for the link to the settings page so that I can enable my account for POP access. Hey look! I can FORWARD the email to another one of my accounts...this should meet my need. In fact, what a great idea! Done. Ooooh, and here's the POP access infor too...as long as I'm here, I may as well make sure it's all on.

Basically I over-engineered a solution and now recieve emails as well as copies of emails in Thunderbird. What's more is that it all stays ad nauseum in Gmail. My EdTechies friends and colleagues will tell me exactly how to fix this, the issue...I don't want to know how. And while I want it fixed, I don't want to fix it.

Cool Tools

Lulu Publishers. Using print-on-demand (POD) technology, Lulu Publishers can help you print and sell your book online - from a single copy to thousands. Create a book for someone's birthday present, or write a best-seller: you are in charge!

Gymnastics for the Mind

Gymnastics for the mind, entertainment for the soul and training for the hands is how Oriland describes the art of origami. My much less elaborate description is "beautifully intricate and really, cool looking."

From an educational perspective:
Origami creates creates conditions of intensive interaction of the brain’s hemispheres and effectively allows development of motor skills of both hands, intellectual and creative abilities.

On a somewhat related note, no one sheet of paper can be folded in half more than seven times. Go ahead, try it.

Image: http://morguefile.com/forum/profile.php?username=sideshowmom

Child Safety

Over 3 Million Children are Safer

Thanks Yello Dyno!
When a child's life is at stake, this is what works.

The Yello Dyno Method™ is scientifically based on Nobel Prize-winning and internationally acclaimed research. Yello Dyno Methods™ activate children's "fight or flight" response. In fact, 80.8% of students demonstrate an increase in knowledge after one cycle of the Yello Dyno curriculum.

Generate proven results through the Yello Dyno curriculum and materials. Please visit the Yello Dyno web site to learn more about empowering the children in your arch/diocese's care take action. Safe & Sacred's children's curriculum partner, Yello Dyno, is an amazing influence in the lives of children ages 4 - 12.

"Unless children recognize deceptive behavior of Tricky People who mean them harm, it doesn't matter what safety rules they're taught."

- Jan Wagner, Founder of Yello Dyno

Safe environments provide a paramount foundation for learning. Children simply cannot learn, nor can teachers teach, if they do not feel safe.

Click here to learn about Professional Learning Board's
Partner in Safety

Safe Toys in One-Word

Hasbro

FREE Teacher Toolbar

FREE TOOLBAR

---

Download this FREE Teacher Toolbar and keep the latest teaching and learning information at your fingertips. Updated automatically when you go to the Internet.

Click here to get the Teacher Toolbar today.

Got a suggestion for tools, web sites and other resources to be added?
Let the Toolbar Team know at toolbar@professionallearningboard.com.

Awesome for Autism

The previous post highlighted Google's 3D Warehouse, SketchUp Software and Project Spectrum. Here is another awesome tool and resource for enhancing teaching and learning and focusing on students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

The Wrist-o-Picwww.wrist-o-pic.com) is a way cool product invented by Gail, a veteran special education teacher in Minneapolis Public Schools. Gail spent years researching this product and has just officially launched the Wrist-o-Pic last month.

According to Wrist-o-Pic promotional materials, "Fill it with favorite images" and use as:

- Picture Schedules
- Behavior Reward Charts
- Organizers
- Memory Joggers
- Communication and
- Choice Boards
- Transition Indicator
  first this (picture), then that (picture)
- Mobile sticker chart
  (add a pic for good behavior at church, the store, etc.)
- Friendship bracelet
  display and trade mini-school pictures with friends
- Visual Cueing System
- Chore Board
- Task Organizer
- Goal Achievement Indicator
- Collectables Display
- Homwork Organizer
- Bible School Scripture Verse Memory Reminder>

While I am not an expert, at all, in Asperger or Autism, I do have a knack for finding (or as my husband claims, things just seem to 'find me') and am excited to share this information.

Locally, here in Minnesota, both Fraser Academy and a newly approved charter school in Robbinsdale, Lionsgate Academy (sponsored by Adler Graduate School, Lionsgate Academy and to serve grades 6-12.) serve students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Please tell your local education specialists in this field about it as well.

Google ANSWER Engine

Many folks know Google as a robust Search-engine.

Project Spectrum (http://www.google.com/educators/spectrum.html) is an example of how Google is also an elaborate Answer-engine.

Google's responsiveness and work with families to create career opportunities and enhancing communications for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is quite impressive. Check out Project Spectrum and try SketchUp (http://sketchup.google.com/), the FREE 3D design software for yourself.

Click here to see how easy it is to use, get  Google SketchUp Tutorials (http://sketchup.google.com/sptutorials.html) and even Download Lesson Plans (http://www.google.com/educators/learning_materials/Project_Spectrum_Manual.pdf)

Current Events in Education

There are few things more exciting than what I percieve to be outstanding use of technology in education. Andrew Pass' blog The Current Events in Education demonstrates such use.

Discussion Starters for both young and older children provide prompts that present often difficult subject matter in an enlightening manner and more elaborate vocabulary is called out for study.

Mr. Pass' has a gift for designing inquiries that draw thoughtfulness and debate while refraining from sharing his own opinions. Very commendable. We can learn a lot from his suggestions as well as from the manner in which he conducts himself. Thank you!

Get this widget!

Nuts for this Preschool Site

Pre-school age children are going nuts for this recently discovered site. The Little Animals Activity has a little bit of everything for nearly everyone's little one. Despite the cheezy graphics that make me believe even I can draw the simplicity of this site provides good, clean, learning fun.

Phonics & Rhyme
Preschoolers learn and practice letter sounds and rhymes with Digby Mole and these word games.

Music & Rhyme
A listening and watching activity garners attention and the rhyming story is just sweet with owl's that say "woof" and earthworms with claws.

Stories
The Storybear section features online books that include an option to toggle sound off/on. A nice feature is audio and written directions that tell users where to click.

Puzzles
I'm not sure if it's a lack of understanding due to age (the riddles and jokes just didn't work for me or my children) or perhaps language (British vs American English). Regardless, I'm not impressed with Puzzlesnuff and his stuff.

Math
The number games led by Count Hoot the Owl introduce addition and subtraction. While I'm not an early childhood expert by any means, as a parent I'm really impresed with the different levels eg. items to count as well as numerals to recognize.

Printable Activities
Mazes, recipes, dot-to-dots and crafts are all part of Micky Maker's activities.