Breakouts

**SMART tips:** SMART had a large presence at VSTE. Here are some of the ideas presented! (please add more!)
 * Set the stage for a lesson by pre entering words into the "word generator"
 * Write words on the notebook. Cover them up with a popping balloon, pop the balloon and reveal the word.
 * Use Google Earth on the SMARTBOARD. WOW! The students will never want to use a regular globe or map again!!!!
 * [|SMART exchange]
 * [|SMART Board Revolution Ning] Great Resource! Place to share information, lessons, find answers to questions
 * You can embed movies and play them in SMART, stopping them in the middle and writing on them.


 * SMART presentations:**
 * 1) Teaching Math the SMART way

Colette Retrosi discussed several ways to use Smartboards in teaching Language Arts, she also shared a bunch of Language arts sites. The first game she talked about was Battleship on Quia, she shared that you find it by searching word study and spelling. Next she shared Chicktionary which is a primary game. I googled it and found a lot of different versions. She showed us the Fridge Magnet feature (Smart Gallery 10), the word generator (in the lesson toolkit), and the spot light tool( Smart Notebook 10). Some other sites she mentioned were [|www.earobics.com], [|www.gamegoo.com], and [|www.vocabulary.com]. Christine  This is a great focused blogging site called Your Take [] Students use a decision making process called SCAN (Stop and think, Clarify the key issues, Ask what's most important, Now what do you do next?) to dissolve a dispute and blog about each step along the way. The disputes can be anything from current situations, (i.e. "should cell phones be allowed in school?") to historical events (i.e. "how should the British respond to the Boston Tea Party") to fictional problems (i.e. "What should Harry do about Draco?") Free subscription until June 30, 2009. Does not require student e mail to sign up.
 * Teaching Language Arts using Smartboards**
 * SCAN**

There was a great presentation on Google Earth 5th Edition. There are a lot of great new tools available. Google Mars has been added with pictures and videos. A new ocean feature was put in there so you can dive into the ocean and check out sea life, ocean walls/floors, and swim with sharks.
 * Google Earth:**

I learned how to create KML (keyhole markup language) and KMZ (keyhole markup zip) files using Google Earth 5th edition. The presenter shared a wealth of ideas with participants for using Google Earth in subject areas suchas Social Studies and Language Arts. The software could be used to trace the cities and countries involved in World War 1 and 2. The files can be saved and shared with others. The wiki [] was provided as aresource for creating kmz files and samples files. Antoher resource shared was Google Lit Trips [] which is a website that uses Google Earth to provide visual connections in literature. Please check out thses sites there is some really cool stuff here! KIM

Shawn Jones from Woodbridge Middle and I (Ryan Osweiler) presented our news program on Monday morning. We had a crowd of about 30 and it seemed to go really well. Instead of typing everything out, feel free to visit our blog: [|http://portertvnews.edublogs.org]. We are in the process of putting pictures from our presentation on there.
 * Visual Communicator 3:**

This session focused on providing professional development to teachers similar to providing meals. The presentation provided breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. For instance, breakfast provided PD that would be fast, quick and, easy. Ideas included: present at technology tidbit for 5 minutes during a facility meeting; provides staff technology information in the school newsletter; provided just in time training as teachers request. The lunch provided quick but requires them to sit for 20minutes, ideas included: provide teachers with Lunch & Learn sessions (provide PD during teachers lunch time and supply them with dessert); provided PD during collaboration or PLC time to small groups; provide teachers with the web-based tutorials that software companies provide; provide instructional coaching to teachers such as short observations and providing feedback; establish technology buddies in the schools to assist in providing teachers support. The dinner provided enjoyable and satisfying professional development, ideas included: have small group but focused training through the school day for teachers; use a blog or wiki to work collaboratively with teachers over a period of time; encourage teachers to take professional development courses offered outside the school. Snacks included ideas such as sending teachers thank you notes for attending the session, give teachers a flash drive with resources on it, have teachers win a lab pass for preferred lab reservations. KIM **Submit an Electronic VGLA** The session focused on how to convince teachers to begin creating electronic VGLA portfolios. The presenters discussed how their middle school created electronic VGLA portfolios one school year. The process was cumbersome because they put all of the portfolios on CD Roms but the teachers felt it was successful. Most evaluators at the state level like the electronic format better than the large heavy notebooks. More information can be provided if you are interested. KIM Comic Life is a user-friendly program that allows users to create a comic using photographs or images. The possiblities of this productivity software are endless. It can be used with k-12 students in any subject area. //What are the benefits of Comic Life?// 1. Engaging. Comic Life activities can replace some of the less interesting but common tasks, such as timelines, plot summaries or story mapping, and listing information. 2. Utilizing multiple skill levels. Composing a comic can involve a range of skills and cognitive processes. Depending on the assignment, students may have to organize, analyze, and synthesize information. For example, having to compose a comic exploring the setting of a text requires students to visually compose their interpretation of the setting, rather than simply compiling descriptive words. 3. Appeals to multiple intelligences. Creating a comic with Comic Life may involve composing and taking photographs, drawing illustrations, writing, creating a logical sequence of events or frames, and provides a hands-on experience. Students may have the option to work individually or in groups, and visual learners would gain a great deal from the activity. 4. Meaningful learning. Comic Life can be used in a way that allows students to relate material to their lives and take an active part in their learning. For example, students may choose to act out a text, photograph events or actions, and create a comic from the photographs. 5. Appeals to all students. Using Comic Life is not only fun, but is also allows students to design according to their own personalities and aesthetic value. For instance, there are plenty of pink styles for the girls who may not initially like the ideas of a “boys” comic. ( This list was taken from the website http://cnx.org/content/m18037/latest/)
 * Spicing up Professional Development**
 * Comic Life for Educators**

Here is a link in which you can find lots of information about using this type of software in your classrooms. []

**MAKE DIGITAL PICTURES “ROCK” YOUR CURRICULUM WITH PHOTOSTORY** – This hands-on session provided the basics of how to do a PhotoStory project. Since I have already done projects with students using PhotoStory, I found this session not to be the best use of my time. However, it was a fine presentation for those not familiar with this application. All was not in vein as I did come away with a list of resources for digital storytelling including royalty free music and clipart/images. Joanne


 * VISUAL COMMUNICATOR 3: A STUDENT TV NEWS PRODUCTION PROGRAM** – T his session was presented by two of PWCS ITRTs. I was interested in seeing and learning what they are doing at their respective schools because we are also doing live morning news broadcasts at my school. We, too, are using Visual Communicator and found it to be a very user-friendly application. Joanne


 * ARE YOU READY TO SUBMIT AN ELECTRONIC VGLA?** - After reading Kim’s post, I wondered if we attended the same session. I liked the idea of an electronic portfolio Norfolk Public Schools used last year. The electronic version incorporated a lot more technology as opposed to the paper/pencil worksheet version. When the electronic portfolios were submitted, the presenters found some examiners were not cooperative, some were not comfortable with the technology, and, horror of horrors, some of the CDs would not open. In spite of this, many of their students passed the SOLs. The following year, with administration and teacher training and new directions coming from the ‘powers that be’ Norfolk Public Schools resorted back to using paper and binders. The presenters believed the electronic portfolio is the way to go. However, I detected a “give up” attitude by these presenters because of the “brick walls” they encountered while trying to go green and use technology tools. Joanne


 * READY, SET, ACTION! USING VISUAL COMMUNICATOR WITH A MORNING SHOW PROGRAM, TO ENHANCE YOUR CURRICULUM** – This presentation was done by an elementary school teacher and basically covered the same things Ryan and Shawn did in their presentation. To capture students’ attention, they have a “where in the world is the principal” segment where a picture of some place in the world served as the backdrop for the principal’s minute. Students would submit their answers and someone would be rewarded at the end of the week. One feature I particularly liked was the “self-evaluation” by her news crew. Because she had the time to do this, she would sit down with students at the end of the week and have them reflect on how they performed as far as eye contact, expression, vocal clarity, etc. Another feature she used was to have each grade level come up with 10 questions about a particular SOL objective. One question from each grade level would be shown each morning on the news. Joanne


 * SMART. .PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER** – The enthusiasm from this presenter made you want to step back in time and be a student again. It sure would be nice to clone some of her energy and passion for creating lessons using SMART. Her presentation focused on elementary science lesson but the same type of lesson could be adapted to middle school.

The presenters, Tom Kern and John Maher presented ideas to improve teaching in the lab setting, as well as a cd with lessons for every grade level. Some of the ideas they shared included, colored cubes on top of computers so that you can easily group students, clips on the sides of computers for headphones, and a computer club to help with maintaining computers and organization. Christine
 * "I'm in a Hurry!"**

Additional items presented during this session were: Cynthia
 * a classroom management system for use in the elementary lab (tickets earned or taken away depending on behavior, with raffles for those who kept all their tickets)
 * ideas for meeting with teachers (one every 6 weeks, asking teachers to fill out a pre-planning sheet with curriculum focus, posting finished planning sheets for all staff members to see)
 * their method of sharing cameras and photos (cameras bar coded and checked out from library, everyone downloads pictures to shared drive on server)


 * CREATING DIGITAL FIELD TRIPS** – This presentation focused on creating field trips using maps, pictures, and music. We learned how to create a short video using Animoto. This software is downloadable and free. The free version allows you to create a 30-second video. For a price, you can create an extended length video. There is no limit on how many free videos can be made. Animoto supports image retrieval from Flikr, Facebook, and Photobucket. To learn more about Animoto, go to [|http://animoto.com]. Joanne

This was a presentation about the many uses of the Flip Camera. The presenter talked about the different versions of Flip cameras, had different cameras there to use, and went over several projects she completed with her class. The Flip camera is a basic video camera that is plugged into the computer. All the necessary software is on the camera. It's also very inexpensive. It allows students to use the camera, plug it into the school computers and go. They can pull the software off the camera, edit it, and save it (or turn it into a podcast) right there. The presenter shared lessons she did with grades 5-8, but said she had also used the flip camera with Kindergarten and younger grades. One lesson was a Public Safety Announcement she had the children do. Another was creating a digital story. Christine [|Day of Discovery] **- DigitalStorytelling -** Discovery Education invited their VA Star Educators to this event. The morning began with a Keynote by Steve Dembo titled A Fractured Look at Digital Storytelling and then offered 4 sessions throughout the day: PhotoStory, VoiceThread,Makin' Movies with Mac and PC, and Using a Green Screen with Adobe Elements. I would encourage everyone to become a DEN star educator as the benefits are fantastic as is the professional development that you receive. Valaina
 * Flip**


 * We're Inspired: -** was in the Share Fair room and offered a myriad of ideas for K-5 of ways to use Inspiration with K-5 . http://vb-vste09.wikispaces.com/We%27re Inspired! Valaina

**Technology + Marzano Strategies = Classrooms that work!** was also in the Share Fair room. We expected people to walk through and we would chat with them like the poster sessions at NECC. However, there were chairs and people came in and sat and stood around so that it turned out to be more like a concurrent session. Our wikiis a work in progress. Valaina

G – Greatly increase your schores R – retention of infomartion E – energized Lessons E – Easy Grading N- No paper or pencil Save, more efficient, and fun 5. Online Test 6. Have students bring thumbdrives and save everything to it 7. Online Activities > 8. Photostory – digital writing 9. MovieMaker 10. Games
 * Think... on the Future and Go Green with Technology -** (Share Fair Presentation) Valaina
 * 1) SMARTBoard – put smartboard notebook in the Novell box - Can do it on the computer
 * 2) Personal Response systems
 * 3) Study Island is a great review tool
 * 4) Email –
 * Teacher to students
 * Students to students
 * Students to teacher
 * Student access part of groupwise
 * Students take test and email it to the teacher
 * Teacher emails the test and grade to the parents
 * 3-5 have their own email account
 * Quia
 * Ixl math
 * Released test items
 * Save lessons to it
 * Allow before and after school for those without computer
 * Nettrekker
 * Brainpop
 * Sol pass
 * Thinkfiniity
 * ABC video
 * Pictures from field trip
 * Put online for parents to see
 * Have kids make movies for review
 * use clips from DE streaming
 * use camera to get their own pictures to make the movie
 * Like the jeopardy powerpoint, etc
 * ITRTs Go To NECC 2009 in Washington, DC** There will be an ITRT Pavillion - **Charting a Course for 21st Century Learning**


 * VSTE island in SecondLife (SL) will be showcased - will offer learning sessions
 * VA districts will have displays - **Forging Ahead - 21st Century Skills**
 * The pavillion will be a large space to relax, talk to others about the ITRT position, highlight the history of VA, and what is great about VA
 * Need people to volunteer to work in the pavillion Valaina

__**Hands-On Workshops**__
//Where in the World with Google Maps and Google Earth// - Combining information (creating mashups) with Google's mapping technology, including integration of pictures and videos

//Beginner Instructional Animations with Flash// - Basics of Flash and created an instructional animation, which illustrated the use of animations in the classroom

//Google Sketch-Up// - Modeling and manipulating in 3-D. This free application can be used in a variety of areas, especially math.

__**Concurrent Sessions**__
//SMART Tools for Secondary Students//
 * Lesson Activity Toolkit - Word Guess, Vortex, Checker Tool
 * Gallery - Search "Flash"
 * Smart Video Player - new feature in Notebook 10; pick up pen and video stops

//Webcasting in the Middle School// - Winchester Middle School Summer Program detailing historical sites
 * Digital Cameras
 * Flip Cameras and Tripods (educational rebates of $15 each if you buy more than three)
 * Digital Voice Recorders - use with headset with microphone
 * Ready Bags
 * Webcast Historians - student application
 * 10 days - 5 hours/day
 * Hands-on Training
 * Operation Walkabout
 * Filming Techniques
 * Storyboarding/Scriptwriting

//Simulations in the Math/Science Classroom: Creating an Engaging Pedagogy with Excel//
 * Interactive simulations using only computations - no formulas
 * [|Resources and examples]

Shawn

__**Hands-On Workshops: **__
**Digital Storytelling Day of Discovery** - This pre-conference event was organized by the Discovery Educator Network. The morning began with a Keynote by Steve Dembo on Digital Storytelling, and was followed by 5 [|breakout sessions]: Photostory and DE Streaming, VoiceThread, Makin-Movies, Using Green Screens, and 50 Web 2.0 Tools.


 * Make Digital Pictures "Rock" Your Curriculum with Photostory** - This hands-on session took us through the process of using Photostory from beginning to end. This session was particularly useful to me, because I am more familiar with MovieMaker. Many of the features were similar, but I did appreciate the ability of Photostory to add music to the final presentation. She also provided us access to her [|presentation/files].


 * Learning Adobe Photoshop** - As a beginning PhotoShop user, most of this was way above my head, but the presenter certainly was well versed in the use of Photoshop. His provided us with additional [|resources], including tutorials and videos.

__**Concurrent Sessions: **__
**Bend, Break & Bust it Loose: 10 Ways to Engage Your Students** - This session explored new ways to use DE Streaming, including using the Writing Prompt, Quiz Builder, and Assignment Builder features. He demonstrated uses for the Interactive Calendar and Interactive Atlas, and he showed us other tips/tricks such as how to embed Windows Media Player into a PowerPoint and how to edit the closed-captioning for DE videos. Instructions can be found at his Geekybird blog at the [|Birdhouse].


 * Language Smarts: Interactive Literacy** - A great presentation on incorporating hands-on reading comprehension strategies. Her entire presentaion can be found on the [|Smart Exchange].
 * [|Chicktionary]
 * [|Monkey Business]
 * [|Vocabulary.com]
 * [|The Writing Process by Sue LeBeau]
 * <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">[|Grammar Bytes]