My MACUL 2010 Experience – Thursday Google Earth Workshop

Google Earth (GE) is basically a geographic browser, much like Internet Explorer is an information browser (I like this analogy). Because computers have IP addresses and can be located, basically anything that is posted to the Internet has a geographic location…find the IP address, find the information source (a bit scary if you over think it). Aiden (the presenter from Google), showed us tips on using the navigational tool bar…the biggie is if you press the “r” key GE will reorient your view to directly above your map position, with north in the upward position. I learned that you can actually zoom below the ocean and see the terrain on the ocean floor. And you can “record” as you build your map/journey/tour, etc. and play it back in sequence. This would be a great feature to evaluate the logical nature (or lack thereof) of student work. The presenter was great, but the wireless connection was terrible; we ended the session watching as Aiden demonstrated…so much for “hands-on”!

NOTE: You can find speaker handout material at: http://macul.org/conferences/2010maculconference/attendees/speakerhandoutmaterial/

My MACUL 2010 Experience – Wednesday Discovery Education Workshop

I started my conference on Wednesday with a 3-1/2 hour hands-on preconference workshop on Discovery Education Network (DEN) (previously United Streaming). Well, I was on information overload by 4:00; I learned so much…DEN is much more than video streaming! Last spring I went through the process to become a DEN Star Educator in order to reap the benefits of full membership so I was eager to learn more about their offerings (check it out at http://www.discoveryeducation.com). DEN offers a wealth of free resources as well. Here are the keypoints that I noted:

· Multi URL - collections of websites that display one at a time. http://www.multiurl.com/g/1ul

· Audacity files for digital portfolios to exhibit fluency or language arts skills.

· Polleverywhere – on-the-spot audience polling

· Assessment w/in DEN

· Digital stories - include script writing and research that went into creation, not just the end product.

· VARK - Visual.... Aural/Auditory.... Read/Write.... Kinesthetic

· Visual - Google Earth (PRO free to educators)

· [Book: Stand and Deliver]

· Stephen Hawkin The Universe Series (check this out when it comes out soon)

· Life - 11-part series about multiple species on Earth comes out in 2 weeks

You can create a “course” within Discovery Education (DE): Adding to content is basically bookmarking; can use folders; can share content to school and district level (collaboration) can be open or controlled sharing; DEN is SOOOO much more than video streaming; it's total media integration and working with web tools; appears that you can do an import of student data (user name and password) from SMS.

You really should check it out!

NOTE: You can find speaker handout material at: http://macul.org/conferences/2010maculconference/attendees/speakerhandoutmaterial/

MACUL 2010 Blog post

MACUL 2010 Conference

The annual MACUL Conference is just a few short weeks away and excitement is building from all sides…hands-on workshops, break-out sessions, vendor exhibits and special events all add up to what promises to be another fabulous conference!

 

I’m not presenting this year, but am looking forward to soaking up all that is available. I’ve signed up for the following sessions: Google Earth for Educators, Office Live…What Can it Do For Me? (being presented by my good friend and co-worker Windee Wagner), and Integrating Web 2.0 Tools with Discovery Streaming.

 

It appears that I’ll have a full “social” schedule again as well. I’ll be meeting up with the Ed Tech Masters group from WMU, hoping to attend the DEN event as a new STAR educator, and have many key vendors to catch up with.

 

In the exhibits, I’ll be looking for information on eReaders, tablet PCs, and what’s new with document cameras and short-throw projectors, interactive board technology….my goodness, the list goes on and on.

 

To sum it up, I’ll be very busy for three days and return with a ton of valuable new knowledge and product information.

 

Maybe I’ll see you there…