I Know my mama, but not my MoMA

But I plan to use the Do You Know Your MoMA? feature with students who absolutely love art, but could care less for reading. Each segment has a blurb about each work of art. We have Word Masters and Math SuperStars at our elementary school--wouldn't be too hard for someone to keep track of results of students who want to play along. Makes me want to look to see if other opportunities exist for other content areas:)

Where in the world???

Happened to glance over at David's laptop the other night while he was studying for a Cultural Geography quiz and he was using activities at:
http://lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/index.html
and
http://www.maps.com/FreeStuff.aspx#
to prepare. Pretty good success rate--he scored 18/20.
What I like about both sites' activities is that users get multiple chances to answer and I also like how both sites give informational corrections. Finally, the GeoQuiz at the maps.com site uses high quality maps and included movement from place to place as if the user is turning the globe.

It's Been a While...

With this new post comes a new goal--to visit at least every other day and discuss at least one new thing I have learned.

Was just thinking today as I was helping two of my colleagues burn DVDs of their 2nd grade class' year-in-pictures projects that with my use of google docs and the capacity to upload any file, that I have developed a much better understanding of file sizes,which elements of videos really bump up a project's size. Knowing these facts is helping me plan more effectively and communicate to our faculty how much production they can realistically expect to complete in a day's time. As a result, we are creating higher quality products, because we are not in a frenzied panic to get something done in 45 minutes that will in reality and by the necessity of the medium, software, and hardware we are using will take 2 1/2 to 3 times as long.

New To Me...Resources, Events, and Applications

I will be updating content as I learn about new resources, events, and applications. Decided to combine earlier posted content. If you know of something that absolutely, should be here, let me know:)

RSS is Really Simple Syndication: Using Feedburner makes it possible to set up an RSS feed in less than 3 minutes, and yes, I really did read all the options:) My husband has been using RSS on the pages that he builds for people, but it had never really dawned on me to use it, until I started subscribing to other people's blogs. Now granted, some of the content I include in this blog will be far from earth shattering to some, but now, at least if someone wants to keep tabs on what I am learning and posting, it will be easy, I mean "really simple":)

Constructing Modern Knowledge: Read about this event in David Warlick's blog this a.m. Looks like a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in fusing creativity, communication, technology, pedagogy, etc. No go for me--in Texarkana that week for family birthdays. http://www.constructingmodernknowledge.com/Home.html

EPA Education Resources: I will be suggesting this to our Science Club sponsors since much of their programming focuses on conservation, preservation, etc.
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/index.htm

Tomie DePaola Lit. Trip : by: Andy Losik--linked via Twitter

Exuberant Games : by: Natasha Oliver--Beginning Math Animated games with NO advertisements--woo hoo:)

I never knew that...

I will be updating this regularly, as I seem to learn daily, random, but very helpful tidbits about applications and programs that I have been using for years. I will insert newer content at the top, so, well, you know...

4. Adding labels to a blog post is as simple as noticing that there is a field for labels/tags, and taking the time to key in major topics mentioned in the post. I have been using this blog since Nov. 2007 and I guess I will see if the labels really make a difference as far as people being able to find the blog without me telling them where it is.

3. Clicking History in the drop down navigation of Internet Explorer makes it possible to see and browse to pages that I have visited within the past two weeks.

2. Paint's fill tool will fill in pretty much any space inside black lines with whatever color you choose. Again--had to slow down and explain to someone else exactly what all those tools in the pallette do.

1. Inserting a picture is a fill option in WordArt. I was helping a colleague finish up Techno-Hounds by showing her the how-tos from her how-do-you-do-? list and just stumbled across it when I was showing her how to fill WordArt with preset patterns, gradients, etc. It's been there all along, and I never had noticed it until I slowed down to show her how to access the menus that Format WordArt opens up.

New to Me

I have met 200% of yesterday's goal:)

Tomie DePaola Lit. Trip : by: Andy Losik--linked via Twitter

Exuberant Games : by: Natash Oliver--Beginning Math Animated games with NO advertisements--woo hoo:)

Has It Really Been A Month???

Yes, Because it really has been a month...

We are currently in full skid and scamper mode toward the end of the 2007-08 school year. After closing our very successful last book fair, I have turned my attention toward several units that will help me get a pretty clear picture of the cumulative effect my classes with students have had. I will also be wrapping up Techno-Hounds and various other staff developments via SEASystem.

We should be hearing about more ACTIVBoard grants soon, I hope, so that I can get the rest of the equipment out of the media center and into classrooms where it can do more than take up space.

I will also be helping with the Rockingham County Reading Association's Community Reading Conference to be held at RCC on Saturday, June 7. I will be chairing and running the book fair in the Whitcomb Student Center.

Enough about that...I am going to make a concerted effort to at least pop in daily, if only to describe one thing new that I have learned. I have got to get better at this, eventually:)