Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Snowshoeing with an Android

Over the weekend I downloaded some new applications for my Android G1 and thought I would give My Tracks a try while out on a leisurely snowshoe. While taking my GPS enabled phone on a quiet snowshoe through the woods in the middle of Minneapolis seemed wrong, I decided give it a try anyway.

The purpose of this post is say that despite all the gadgets in my life...I can still get out and go for a simple walk in the woods. Rats!

Here are my stats.

Total Distance 1.95
Total Time 01:00:07
Moving Time 00:39:15
Number of Tracks 1
Average Speed 1.95
Average Moving Speed 2.98
Elevation Gain 378
Min Elevation 716
Max Elevation 892

Friday, February 20, 2009

Google Workshop for Educators

Announcing the Google Workshop for Educators (formally the Google Learning Institute) in Hopkins, Minnesota on August 6-7, 2009.


Search, learn, share! Brought to you by the producers of the Google Teacher Academy, a Google Workshop for Educators (GWE) introduces participants to innovative ways Google tools can be used in education. The two-day workshop includes a full day of fast-paced presentations and hands-on activities including experience with advanced search techniques, collaborative web-based applications, and inspirational instructional strategies. A second day will be devoted to development of a proof-of-concept project and classroom application. Google Certified Teachers share ways they've implemented tools such as Google Docs, Google Earth, Google Sites, and... even more. Participants who complete the event are given access to the Google Workshops for Educators Network (GWEN), an online community focused on supporting educators as they learn more about the power of Google to drive student learning.

We are looking for creative participants (eager beginners to advanced) that have a desire to build on current skills and integrate relevant technology into the classroom. Participants should have a desire to collaborate online with other educators from the workshop and help support each other with questions and successes. Participants should bring their own ideas and be willing to look at big picture when pace is fast and dive into the relevant details during time set aside for application.

This workshop is designed to give participants an introduction to various Google tools plus an extra day to develop a "proof of concept" idea/lesson to be implemented in your own classroom. The Google Workshop for Educators is designed as an entry level workshop into the world of Google with room for personal adaption to higher level application.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Youtube - The Bombproof Sub Plan

Last week I created the bombproof sub plan. Seven minutes of quirky teacher-ness that the students would be accustom to and information about expectations and such straight from the horse's mouth. The Youtube video was embedded on the class website and was recorded for the intended audience...the students.

The problem is that they never saw it. For some reason the sub never played it for them. A sub's dream...push play and kick back. Students would magically do what they were supposed to do and questions would be answered. Of the 102 views in one day on Youtube not one of them was for the intended audience.

Try it! The Youtube quick capture video really is the ultimate sub plan, just make sure you tell the kids in the event the sub is a dud. Train a few kids in each class to be the tech helpers and make sure your sub gets to the class website for the day. I did this, but next time I will make sure the students insist on watching the sub plan as a large group to start class.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

learning.21st (2.0)



Students will soon be registering for classes at WJH and I am hoping that learning.21st will take off next year. After a successful first year with 17 students, I am ready for the masses. Bring it on...and tell your friends to sign up too.