PPS Technology Leaders Cadre (TLC)

Here are the details regarding our first meeting on Thursday, Oct. 29. I have been asked by the Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission (MHCRC) if they can use some of our time to conduct a focus group with teachers to obtain technology-related feedback. Normally, our sessions will be from 12:30-3:30 p.m. but because of the focus group, we are ending at 3 and the focus group will be from 3:30-5 p.m. I would greatly appreciate your participation if you could stay. MHCRC has awarded our district significant grant monies in the last several years (their award funded the VoIP project), so it is important that we are able to provide them with input. You will get paid for those one and a half hours and there will be drinks and treats.

TLC Meeting (one participant per building)
Meet in Mazama Conference Room, 2nd floor of BESC, past the cafeteria
Time: 12:30-3 p.m.
Please bring a laptop and power adapter, if you have one.

Focus Group Meeting
3:30-5 p.m. with MHCRC
Open to all who are interested

If you are planning to attend the TLC meeting, the focus group meeting, or both, on Oct. 29, please register for the appropriate sessions via the PPS Learning Campus, under Instructional Technology:
http://app.serebracampus.com/portland/

The agenda  will be posted next week. Please read the following article prior to the meeting.
Grow Your Personal Learning Network

I’m looking forward to seeing you all!

News & Announcements

• eWaste Recycling
  Last pickup of the year is June 5.
• Tech Bundles Initiative: population to receive bundles during year one has still not been decided, but project is still a go.

The 21st Century Educator: Creating a Personal Learning Network
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ajb789gvf6sk_147gbn5s3gx

What is a personal learning network?
“…Personal learning networks are created by an individual learner, specific to the learner’s needs extending relevant learning connections to like-interested people around the globe. PLNs provide individuals with learning and access to leaders and experts around the world bringing together communities, resources and information impossible to access solely from within school walls.”
http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2008/04/5-things-you-can-do-to-begin-developing.html

“A personal or professional learning network involves an individual’s topic-oriented goal, a set of practices and techniques aimed at attracting and organizing a variety of relevant content sources selected for their value, to help the owner accomplish a professional goal or interest.”
David Warlick

Teachers can use personal learning networks to start exploring some of the tools that so many of their students are already using.

Google Reader
http://www.google.com/reader/

Google Reader Blog
http://googlereader.blogspot.com/

Google Reader lets you keep track of all your favorite websites in one place. It constantly checks news sites and blogs for the latest content and updates it in the Reader. Take a tour.

Web 2.0 Sites Handout

Video

Raffle
Todd Stewart-Rinier of Irvington got a presentation remote, Terri Schumacher of Scott got a wireless mouse, and Fran Barth at Hayhurst got an HP laptop! Congratulations!

Thanks for a fantastic year. Have a great summer!

News & Announcements

5-Digit Dialing
Any aftermath to the big transition?

Donation Policy and Process-draft is in review

SMC Switch Policy
Switches will only be supplied by IT to replace broken equipment. These can be obtained in one of two ways, both of which must originate with a request to the IT Service Desk:

• By a visit from a field technician who determines that a switch needs to be replaced.
• By request from the user; in order to get the switch(es) this way, the user will need to send in the broken switch(es) for a one-to-one swap. If sent by PONY, please make sure the ticket number is included.

Any switch requests that are not for replacement must go through IT Purchasing and be paid or out of building funds.

Student Passwords and Security
Students should change their passwords from the default; they do this by logging in to PPS Inside like staff would do.

New PPS Web Site Preview
Feel free to check out the new web page design and submit feedback.

eWaste Recycling
Pick-ups for this quarter are complete. The next pick-up is in April.

Resources to Share from ITSC & NCCE

• Look for how-to videos on YouTube; AverVision has intro videos for document cameras, connecting a data projector to a computer, interactive whiteboard lessons, etc.
• iTunes U
  iTunes U is a part of the iTunes Store featuring free lectures, language lessons, audiobooks, and more, that you can enjoy on your iPod, iPhone, Mac or PC. Explore over 100,000 educational audio and video files from top universities, museums and public media organizations from around the world.
  Introduction to iTunes U Video
• Google Forms
  You can create surveys in Google forms and the feedback will automatically be populated into a Google spreadsheet. You can access Google forms in Google documents, by going to New and choosing Form.
• Cha Cha is a free answering service you can access via cell phone by calling 1-800-2CHACHA or texting 242242. You can ask any kind of trivial question or find out where the nearest Piiza Hut is.
• Survey Pirate
  Free survey tool with no limitations
• Poll Everywhere
  This web-based tool replaces clickers with standard web technology. You can gather live responses in any venue: conferences, presentations, classrooms, radio, tv, print — anywhere via text messaging or web voting.
• Photo Story 3
  Free download for WIndows XP users. Similar to iPhoto. It includes features that enable you to create a slideshow with your digital pictures, edit your pictures, create your story with original music, add narration, and share them with your family and friends.
• Other software that Jan Tullis shared with us from NCCE workshops: Crazy Talk
• Other animation/comics software: ToonDoo (free), Make Beliefs Comix (free), Comic Life, Animationish
• Digital Poetry and Digital Riddles Projects
  Great ideas for easy multimedia projects from Jennifer Gingerich.
• Melinda McCrossen’s Blog
  Melinda summarizes the workshops she took at NCCE and provides helpful links and ideas.

Article & Video

Sir Ken Robinson is a visionary cultural leader. He led the British government’s 1998 advisory committee on creative and cultural education, a massive inquiry into the significance of creativity in the educational system and the economy, and was knighted in 2003 for his achievements. He is the author of Out of Our Minds: Learning to Be Creative and his latest book, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, a deep look at human creativity and education, was published in January 2009.

Article
Let Them Dance

TED Talk: Sir Ken Robinson
Do Schools Kill Creativity?

News & Announcements

eWaste Recycling: next deadline is January 4 (https://it.pps.k12.or.us/index.pl?id=13182)

XP upgrades are elective, but can be kicked off so that reimaging of qualified systems results in our XP image instead of Win2K. Schools must complete forms and confirm that their site is “XP Ready”. Key points to consider:

• All conversions are elective in nature and thus will not involve onsite IT support
• Once converted, only qualifying systems will receive XP, and only upon the next time they are imaged
• Hardware upgrades intended to bring computer up to XP standards will be funded at the school’s discretion
• Conversions will occur as they are received, with time between each to ensure that no issues occur
• Information is available at https://it.pps.k12.or.us/index.pl?id=12513

New copiers coming in the new year.

Videos
Digital Students @ Analog Schools
http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=b5c8973ade16764156be

Low-Cost Multi-touch Whiteboard using the Wiimote
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s5EvhHy7eQ
Using infrared (IR) light pens and the Wii Remote, it is possible to create very low-cost multi-point interactive whiteboards and multi-point tablet displays. Johnny Chung Lee, Carnegie Mellon University. The software can be downloaded at http://johnnylee.net.

Thank You!
Thanks to Mike Scott, Buckman Elementary, for his Wiimote demonstration during our meeting. I’ll be posting more information regarding specifics of using the Wiimote to create an interactive whiteboard. Stay tuned!

Jigsaw Activity
Article 1
Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants

Article 2
Listen to the Natives

Article 3
Summary of Findings from the Digital Youth Project

Web 2.0 Sites to Check Out

News & Announcements

• eWaste Recycling-Follow the link for more information; next deadline is Jan. 4, 2009.
• DeepNines web filtering-continue sending block/unblock requests to webfilter@pps.k12.or.us
• McAfee Update-Version 8.5 pushed out to all workstations
• Apple Picking Season-specials on Apple hardware (PDF)
• Grades 6-8 SS will be receiving technology bundles as part of the new MS SS adoption. Teachers will need to attend a training in order to receive their bundle.
• Wireless survey requests are no longer being done by IT
• MHCRC grant will bring VOIP phones to Astor, Beaumont, Bridlemile, Faubion, Hayhurst, Hosford, James John, King, Lee, Marysville, Ockley Green, Roseway Heights, Sitton, Skyline, and Whitman.

Revised Student Tech Standards-DRAFT (Word)
These revised standards are based on the the newest NETS for students.

Tech Tips for the Basic Computer User (PDF)

Web 2.0 Sites to Check Out (Word)

Videos
The Machine is Us/ing Us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLlGopyXT_g

TED Talk: J.J. Abrams, The Mystery Box
You can also get this video via iTunes.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/j_j_abrams_mystery_box.html

News & Announcements
*Please review the IT Summer Shutdown Guidelines. They are posted on the blog if you no longer have the email.
PPS TLC Blog
http://ppstlc.edublogs.org/

*June technology PD offerings are almost full! We may be able to offer some August sessions as well. Check the PPS Learning Campus during July.

*Ideas for TLC meetings next year: meet more than four times, rotate locations, more web 2.0 tools, more PD offerings, focus on NETS (tech standards)

We discussed the new Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy. Lots of good information and posters can be found here:
http://www.kurwongbss.qld.edu.au/thinking/Bloom/blooms.htm

There is also a digital Bloom’s Taxonomy:
http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/Bloom’s+Digital+Taxonomy

Digital Kits Moodle
http://pps.orvsd.org/course/view.php?id=44
If you want to explore some of the digital kits on the PPS Moodle, you will need to follow the link above and then create an account. A digital kit is a collection of media based on a particular unit that is gathered by the teacher. Students can then use the resources in projects, assignments, presentations, etc.

We watched this TED video that features author Dave Eggers:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/233

Thanks for your participation this year. It’s been really fun. Have a great summer and see you next year!

IT Announcements
Follow the link above to download the IT announcements and updates shared at the meeting.

Other Meeting Notes

What is a MAC address?
As with many technical terms, MAC is an acronym. It stands for Media Access Control address. This is a 12-character address that maps to a physical component such as your broadband router, wireless access card, network card and so on. The number is unique with the first half of the address representing the device manufacturer. For example, a MAC address starting with 00-06-25 is identified with Linksys.

Since the MAC address is unique, it can be used as a filtering mechanism to keep devices on or off your wireless network. Most 802.11 wireless networks will allow or deny access to specific MAC addresses. On my Linksys router, I enabled MAC filtering and entered the three MAC addresses that I want to connect to my network. Each of these MAC addresses belongs to a device that I use. If a device tries to connect with a MAC address that is not on that list, it will be blocked.

How to Find a MAC Address (Windows, Mac, Unix)
http://www-dcn.fnal.gov/DCG-Docs/mac/index.html

Collect inventory from teachers regarding asset tag IDs and serial #s at end of school year, if possible.
Download School Technology Inventory spreadsheet.

SMART Boards
Permanent mounting $1400 vs. stand $400

Fundraising limits $5000? See information below.

Portland Schools Foundation
The Equity Fund
Because not all schools can raise significant private money, the School Board requires 1/3 of the funds raised by local school foundations to be set aside in an Equity Fund administered by the Portland Schools Foundation. The remaining 2/3 is used by the school for “instructional staff, educational enhancements, extended day activities, and contracts.” In 2005/06 local school foundations raised $2.7 million – about 1⁄2 of 1% of the district’s annual budget.

Because many low-income schools are able to raise only a few thousand dollars each year, in 1998 the School Board approved an amendment to the original policy to exempt the first $5,000 from the equity provision. Today, all funds raised after the first $10,000 are subject to the 1/3-2/3 split.

More information on The Equity Fund and the two grant programs can be found here:
http://www.thinkschools.org/local-school-foundations/equity-fund/

Send block/unblock website requests to this address:
webfilter@pps.k12.or.us

New drop is $500-$1000, depending on how far it is from the network closet.

Spring/summer PD topics

• Video
• Podcasting
• Geocaching
• Email management
• Technophobes 101 (small groups and two sessions going concurrently)
• Communication with other classes overseas/skype/networking with other district schools
• Web 2.0 sites: VoiceThread, flickr

SuccessNet chat really works.

Digital Kits on Moodle
http://pps.orvsd.org
Digital Kits are collections of digital materials that include audio, video, pictures, and teacher materials that are based upon a unit of instruction. Once the kit is compiled, burn CDs to distribute to students or place the kti on a shared server for all staff and students to access. Students may then use the materials in the kits to create reports and projects filled with rich media that helps in communicating their vision of a particular topic. Ultimately, students will become familiar enough with the digital resources and technology so that they can create and research their own resources.

Websites Shared
http://bridlemile.wordpress.com
http://swni.org/bridlemile/bridlemile_elementary_school_oral_history_project
http://clusty.com/
http://bridlemile.edublogs.org/
http://schoolfusion.com/
http://fifth-grade-ampm.south-portable.vestal.groupfusion.net/