A Blog by Mr. Elson

CIO Corner

Jun 11

melsonTeaching, Technology classroom, education, Kids and Teens, Mobile phone, Teaching, Text messaging, texting No Comments

I found this fascinating quote today:

What if our educators took time out of each day to reinforce the proper, safe and secure way of using these devices – not only inside the walls of the classroom – but outside as well? Don’t you believe that would begin to reduce the number of inappropriate uses (sexting)?JDS-CIO, CIO Corner, Jun 2009

You should read the whole article.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Texting vs. Teaching: Who Wins? – Class Struggle – Jay Mathews on Education

Jun 03

melsonTeaching, Technology classroom, Teaching, texting No Comments

Our high schools are full of secretly texting, blithely unengaged adolescents, my colleague Dan de Vise reveals today in a story on a Montgomery County proposal to let students text during lunch. Dan’s story describes the situation well. Educators can’t keep up with the latest technocrazes. They banned cellphones for awhile, then decided they were necessary for emergencies. They figured no one would use them in class, forgetting that the text function allows a flurry of conversations without the miscreants making a discernible sound.

Texting vs. Teaching: Who Wins? – Class Struggle – Jay Mathews on Education.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Schools United Update

Nov 04

melsonTeaching, Tech Links, Technology international, schools united, Teaching No Comments

I am very excited to announce our first contact from Schools United. We have joined with a school from Smorgon, Belarus. (See map below)

If you are interested in participating, please email Michael for details. This will prove to be a very exiting experiment, especially during a time when diplomacy with Belarus has been shut down.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Smorgon,+Belarus&ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ll=54.162434,26.279297&spn=20.993585,56.601563&t=h&z=4

Popularity: 5% [?]

Online (free) Timeline Applications

Oct 15

melsonTeaching digital, stories, Teaching, timeline, web2.0 1 Comment

Within the past few months, a new crop of web 2.0 timeline applications have sprung up.  The first application I played around with is http://www.dipity.com/.  Dipity has some great features for your personal blog and has some pre-fabricated time lines for you to use in the classroom (http://www.dipity.com/election).  A personal favorite of mine is the History of the GUI (http://www.dipity.com/hewittteacher/The_History_of_the_GUI).  Sign up now while the platform is still in beta for free and use for your classroom.

The second offering is http://www.allofme.com/.  AllofMe.com (also free and in beta) offers similar features to Dipity.  Check out the sample on the page using Forest Gump history as a backdrop. (http://www.allofme.com/T/1006773/Forrest_Gump).

The third and final site is http://www.ourstory.com/.  OurStory was the first of the bunch to incorporate photos, videos, etc. into your story (timeline).  It is still free now, but sign up soon.  The site already is restricting the free features in lieu of a paid membership.

All three offer many features for your own of classroom time lines.  Imagine the possibilities for your students!  Digital story telling has never been so easy (and free).

Popularity: 15% [?]

Best Buy Teach Award

Aug 31

melsonTeaching, Tech Links, Technology education, grants, Teaching, Technology No Comments

Best Buy is proud to support K-12 schools who have integrated interactive technology into the curriculum to engage students and make learning fun. As a company, Best Buy believes that when technology is used effectively it can inspire children and have a positive impact on their ability to learn.

The Best Buy Teach Award program recognizes creative uses of interactive technology in K-12 classrooms. Winning programs focus on kids using technology to learn standards-based curriculum, rather than on teaching students to use technology or educators using technology that children aren’t able to use hands-on. The purpose of the Best Buy Teach Award program is to reward schools for the successful interactive programs they have launched using available technology. Please do not be discouraged from applying if your school does not have the most current equipment.

Applications must be completed and submitted online by 11:59 p.m. Eastern DST on October 12, 2008. Awards will be announced on March 2, 2009, at www.BestBuy.com/teach.

Popularity: 6% [?]