Topic2

=Discussion Topic #2 =

What was the most powerful and memorable way you were ever able to use technology at school? What made it so effective?

Post your ideas in the space below:

We were able to watch a live heart transplant and an autopsy from the Northern United States. The open-heart surgery "broadcast" was an amazing experience. Being able to talk to a surgeon while he's performing an operation was valuable for real-world experience. We used a distance learning lab in elementary school. Video conferencing/chats with other kids helped get an understanding of what other schools thought about the subjects we were talking about. We have this program here called credit recovery where the computer provides curriculum for the student to catch up on the high school credits.  YouTube videos are hugely important teaching tools. These have been used in AP U.S. History and AP Biology. Teachers sometimes use them to show examples of scientific or other things. We used Google Earth/Google Sky to visit planets and do a simulation of outer space. We like playing online learning games. Games can be used as learning tools because it is more entertaining. The Internet can be used more in class. We all like to look up things that we need to know.  We use online tutorials. Being able to use email to send emails to a friend to ask them about a paper. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Using //PowerPoint// <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Using //Movie Maker// <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Books on CD. Books on CDs are a great thing because they help you to hear, see, and read along which means you are using at least two of your senses to learn making an impact on what you remember. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Multimedia in B.C.I.S. Creating stuff through //PhotoShop// and other programs in C.M.A.T. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">We like being able to use //Skyward t//o keep track of our own grades and attendance. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Having projectors instead of overheads in the classroom. The projectors that math teachers use - issue them to all teachers! <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Coach Bonner puts his PowerPoints online; Mr. Johansen puts his notes online. Online worksheets and notes are very helpful in case these materials get lost. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Calculators that attach to the TV, especially in advanced math classes have been great for demonstrating solutions to problems. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Text messaging between coaches and students (for extracurricular) has made communication much faster and easier. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The document cameras are really great! <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">My teachers use games to help us review and learn in fun ways. We played games like //Jeopardy// and //Millionaire//. Playing //Jeopardy// always helps me to have fun and remember. Making the lesson into a game makes it more interesting and encourages others to get involved. Also a game makes the lesson more memorable because you are having fun <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Getting to use the COWS (Computers on Wheels). We like using the C.O.W.s (Computers on Wheels). It’s fun to use computers in class. We were all able to get our own laptop and work on our own research. It was really mobile for us students. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Having a personal computer login and saving data on our U drives is great. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Getting to use the computer labs. We use the computer lab for typing rough drafts for English assignments it helps when you have an idea you can quickly type your idea immediately, and go back and change it. It also saves class time! <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Being in a class that used the //MIMIO// system: Writing on boards using electronic pens and coordinating projectors. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Ms. Anderson has //MacBooks// in her room. Can be used for projects and //StuCo//. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Student remote response systems (CPS) make multiple choice tests and answering questions easier and more fun. The CPS really made routine assignments more enjoyable. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Using cameras in school and then creating a //Movie Maker// project was very fun. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Used the digital cameras to create a book. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Touch screen whiteboards (used at out-of-district schools and University of Las Colinas) make everything faster. Can be on the Internet and click on things to show the whole class. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">In our school North Ridge our principal Mrs.Rix had the idea of letting us use our iPods for fifteen minutes at the end of every class. But in order to do this we had to pay $3.00. The money that everyone paid went for a fundraiser for a service project. Everyone thought that it was really cool because usually we can’t use iPods during class but it was even more cool because it was for a good cause. Some of the teachers did not approve of it but they ended up letting us use them while we did our work. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">In Shannon we are able to use our iPods during our class when the teacher isn’t speaking. It helps out a lot of kids work harder and testing is easier, and it helps the brains thinking process to be more efficient. It promotes concentration, and creativity. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">In Watauga Middle School - Mr. Townsend had a very intellectual program running for students where everything was hands-on learning using computers with special programs and a book with step by step instructions. We have designed our own t-shirts for clubs with a machine he has, and we could even make our own design on his computer. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">In health we learned to give CPR on a dummy, the teacher made it very real with a hands on dummy that we literally had to get down and give CPR. Hands on technology made the lessons fun and worth doing. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Being able to take the PSAT test online.
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Distance Learning/Video Conferencing: **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Online/Internet Resources: **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Using Software for Projects: **
 * //<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Skyward //****<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Gradebook: **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Teacher Technology Tools/Practices: **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Computers/Laptops/Interactive Tablets/Interactive Whiteboards, Cameras. Student Response Systems (CPS), iPods **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Other: **