Meeting Dates & Location

 

7 July through 11 July 2008 at Towanda High School

 

Overview

 

This course introduces the microcomputer and its educational applications. This is an introductory level course and instruction will be based on the premise that participants are novices. You will learn to operate microcomputers as well as develop skills needed for the appropriate application of microcomputers in education. This involves becoming familiar with the range of educational computing issues.

 

Within educational settings, technology is not simply an independent curriculum -- i.e., teaching about how to use technology. Rather, it is a powerful means for addressing, and potentially redefining, everyday teaching and learning issues.

 

The potential of technology is most effectively realized when considered in combination with views about how individuals think and learn best. The goal of this course, then, is not for you to become an expert in "technology," but to become more of an expert in teaching and learning. Technology can be used as a vehicle to help you to further develop this expertise.

 

syllabussummer08b.doc 

 

Course Participants

Barbara A

Shana C

Karen D

Janean E

Krista G

Kenneth H

Brian H

Sue K

Jen M

Jeff N

John S

William S

Marnie S

Matt V

John W 

 

Day 1:  Using the Internet as a Resource

 

 Search Engines

http://www.google.com

http://www.yahoo.com

http://www.msn.com

http://www.dogpile.com

http://www.ask.com

http://www.live.com

 

The World Wide Web.pptx

 

Search Engine Assignment (Using Google)

Please access the MS Word document below to complete this assignment.  The directions are listed in the assignment.  You must open a copy of the document, insert your information, save the file, and upload it to your wiki page as a file attachment.

 

assignmentsearchengine.doc 

 

http://www.plagiarism.org/index.html

http://www.plagiarismdetect.com

http://www.echeat.com/

http://www.newfoundations.com/Cheatsite.html

http://del.icio.us

http://docs.google.com

 

Day 2:  Spreadsheets

Before we start on spreadsheets, please take a few moments to read the article on the other end of this link below and be prepared to comment on it.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/education/ny-litext175730047jun17,0,5110825.story

 

Spreadsheet notes: 

notesspreadsheets.docx 

 

Spreadsheet Resources:

http://www.amphi.com/~psteffen/excel.html

http://futureofmath.misterteacher.com/spreadsheets.html

http://www.alicechristie.org/edtech/ss/

http://www.ncwiseowl.org/kscope/techknowpark/freefall/resources.html

 

Assignment #1:  Creating a Basic Spreadsheet

Using the features that we have discussed and any additional features you would like to incorporate, create a basic spreadsheet on a topic of your choosing.  You must post your product to your wiki page for others to have access to it.

 

Assignment #2:  Creating a Spreadsheet for the Classroom

Using the features that we have discussed and any additional features you would like to incorportate, create a spreadsheet for use in your classroom.  Your spreadsheet may build on the spreadsheet created in assignment 1 or it may be an entirely new spreadsheet.  Follow one of the sets of directions below:

 

1.  Create an assignment for your students to use in one of your classes.  On your wiki page, you should include a lesson plan/lesson outline that you would use with your students describing the type of content you would expect your students to use and what content from your curriculum you would be incorporating.  Also, include an example of the type of result you would expect from your students.

 

2.  Create a spreadsheet that would allow you to increase your productivity in your job.  Potential topics for this assignment include a grading spreadsheet, a spreadsheet to track numerical information for a team you coach or a club you advise, or setting up a spreadsheet to track information such as books that must be collected at the end of the year.  You must include this spreadsheet on your wiki page.

 

Please take the time to include formulas, functions, formatting, and other features as appropriate.

 

Day 3 (AM):  Desktop Publishing

Before we start on desktop publishing, please take a few moments to read the blog entry on the other end of this link and be prepared to comment on it.  Note that as an entry on a blog, I did find a couple of grammatical errors, but such is life in the blogosphere.

http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2008/05/12/stupid-kid-tricks-on-facebook-and-my-space-are-costly/

 

Assignment:  Creating a Desktop Publishing File

Using one of the templates available to you in MS Publisher, create a desktop publishing file for use in your classroom.  You should follow one of the sets of directions below:

 

1.  Create an assignment for your students to use in one of your classes.  On your wiki page, you should include a lesson plan/lesson outline that you would use with your students describing the type of content you would expect your students to use and what content from your curriculum you would be incorporating.  Also, include an example of the type of result you would expect from your students.

 

2.  Create a desktop publishing document that you could use in your classroom.  This can be a sign that you would be hung in your classroom, it could be a newsletter that you would send hope to parents, or any other useful template.  Your finished product must be posted on your wiki page.

 

Please know that I expect you to start with a built-in template, but I want you to take the time to customize it and play with it to make it your own.

 

Day 3 (PM):  Group Project Research

 

Your group assignment this week will incorporate using the World Wide Web and del.icio.us.  The class will be broken into groups of 3 by subject matter (hopefully).  Your group's goal is to find information on the web that is pertinent to your classroom.  You should find links to lesson plans and other information that you can use in your daily work life.  I want each member of the group to utilize their account on del.icio.us and use tags, bundling, and connecting to each other as best you can.

 

• Each group should have a minimum of 15 links (combined) on del.icio.us.  If each member of the group wants to have all 15 on their account, that is fine.  If the group wants 5 on each person's account, that is also fine.
• Each link should be something useful.
• On Thursday afternoon, each group is going to expected to present their results to the class.  Each group is going to present for 15-20 minutes.  Thus, the number of links you present is up to the group.  If you can cover the appropriate time using only 1 or 2 of your links, great.  If you must use more of them, that is fine, too.

 

By using your del.icio.us accounts, this assignment is designed to help you find information that you can use to help incorporate technology into your classrooms!

 

Day 4 (AM):  Working With Graphics & Final Project Time

 

Before we start talking about graphics, please read the article on the other end of the link below.  As on previous days, be prepared to discuss the contents of the article.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/08/technology/google_lively.ap/index.htm?postversion=2008070819

 

Working With Graphics

Adobe Fireworks- http://www.adobe.com/products/fireworks/

Adobe Photoshop- http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/photoshop/

Free Options- http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pixelbasedwin/tp/freephotoedw.htm

 

 

dom.jpg

 

collesium.jpg 

 

Assignment:  Editing a Graphic

Please make sure your graphic is posted to your wiki page.  Find a graphic on the Internet and modify it using MS Office Picture Editor.

 

Final Projects

Please see the directions below.  I ask that you take some time today to prepare your final project for tomorrow.  Please ensure that you follow all directions listed below.

 

Day 4 (PM):  Group Project- Finishing Touches and Presentations

Please see the requirements listed above on Day 3 (PM)

 

Day 5:  The Last Day

Discussion/Exploration:  Microsoft InfoPath and Microsoft OneNote

 

John Swayze will be here at some point to do evaluations.

 

Final Projects:  For your final project, there are two components.  On your wiki page, you must utilize 1 of the topics discussed this week (search engines, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, etc.) and develop a more detailed lesson (or way you could use it in your fulltime job) and post your work.  I'm looking for a description that is about 1 or 2 paragraphs long describing how you would use it and an example of the software.  You may use multiple topics if you wish.  For example, if your idea is to have students develop a desktop publishing file on a topic in your curriculum but you also want them to incorporate a picture, you can edit the picture using MS Picture Manager before inserting it into the Publisher file.  Or, if you would like to use Google Docs as part of the assignment, that would also be acceptable.

 

After everyone has finished posting their work, everyone will present their project to the class.  As there 15 of you, I'm looking for a presentation in the neighborhood of 5 minutes.