Queens Computer Circle #4
April 6, 2006  3:30 - 5:30PM
Celebrating our 11^th Year of Circles

Hosted by Sue Jesnes
St. Kevin
45-50 195th Street Flushing, NY 11358
718-357-8110

Minutes
Agenda for this meeting

Websites
Circle Dates

(N.B. Any additions/corrections will be updated in red)

Attendance:  Susan Aichinger, S. Alise, Joan Arigo, Donatella Bifano, Liz Brand, Bernadette Bruno, Denice Cannon, Christine Cedrone, Pat Clark, Maryann Dalton, Audrey DeMarco, Brenda De Selvesti, Alfred DeSilvestri, Antoinette DiStasi, Jenny Haddock, Sr. Barbara Harran, Janice Hengl, Jill Infante-Hernandez, Lisa Jamieson, Sue Jesnes, Sue Jurkowich, Joan Kelley, Angela Kiffen, Marie Lacutsen, Julie Mansour, Joanne Marino, Aleyda Medina, Ella Mendoza, Joan Mosconi, Cathy Nelson, Lauren Oliver, Laura Pastina, Mary Purtell, Kathleen Retzel, Janet Sgritto, Raye Soren, Beth Snell, Anne Stavola, Lilly Strauss, Pat Sullivan, Stephanie Sweeney, Angela Velazquez

Presentations included:

Webcam and Net meeting, United Streaming, CPS, Stock market Game, Visions Software (teacher tools, Math, vocabulary, rubrics, Teacher super print), Science Court, excel and graphing, Storybook Weaver, www.starfall.com, e-beam, www. portaportal.com, Decisions, Decisions, Hot Dog Stand, KidPix, Ice Cream Truck, Acrostic Poems using PowerPoint, podcastforteachers.org

1. Sue Jesnes: Webcam and net meeting

Hard to work with mixed wired and wireless network. Can get net meeting installed on machine by going to start, run and type in conf.  It will begin to run and you answer the prompts.  Webcam must be attached directly to the back of computer USB; it will not work with USB adapters. Tips: do not run webcam software when beginning net meeting.  Just have net meeting up on machines and make sure that you see yourself before placing a call, if not hit play button and then call (you can use IP address or computer name). Also make sure you have send video checked….   After call you can place picture in picture or click my video in view to get both you and the person you are calling on screen.  You can make any window bigger by right clicking in window and pick appropriate percentage.  But it does get grainy.   It is better to call from wireless to the wired network than the other way around…. Do not have webcams attached if not in use (can lead to students making calls) You can share programs, utilize a white board, and remotely control the other computer.

Problems with use with children…. They are constantly waving their hands and making faces at the camera…. You could turn off my video or have the children wave and make faces for a few minutes so they will not do so when you are on a call…  For Internet safety do not keep web cams plugged in….

2. Antoinette DiStasi: United Streaming     http://www.unitedstreaming.com/ 

If you do not have a school log in the tech coordinator can contact her through First Class (DiStasi ).  All videos can be streamed or downloaded.

3. Christine Cedrone demonstrated CPS system (classroom performance system)

She showed the different types of question forms you could use and illustrated how to add questions…When using the system if you already answered a question and then decide to change answer the square for that clicker will change to yellow if you changed your answer; green if you picked same answer, and red if you picked a letter that was not a choice.  She explained the percentages on the bottom and how to use it.

4. Jill Infante-Hernandez  Stock Market game: rules, navigation and how great the help button is buying stock…September 2^nd begins the first session for   2006/2007 school year.

    5.  Sue Jesnes: Vision’s Teacher Tools, podcastforteachers,  Story Book Weaver and XP Program compatibility Wizard in Accessories, and Digital Photography

There are several programs, Teacher Tools, Math, Math2 Vocabulary, Rubrics that help the teachers can create exams, study guides and many other features.  Also Teacher Print is another good sources for teachers to create seating charts, banners, labels, posters, etc.  All are available to preview in room 207 and can ordered on Fastrack.

Sue showed what an ipod looked like and also something new for teachers to use.  A few of us went to a Tech to Go conference at Fordham on April 4^th and experience new technology for teachers called podcast for teachers. 

“Podcast for Teachers (PFT) is a weekly online program that explores the use of technology to enhance teaching and learning. It features the latest resources, news, and commentary, as well as interviews with education technology leaders.  It is produced by the   Regional Educational Technology Center (RETC) of Fordham University, Bronx, NY.

Under the new partnership, all PFT past and future programs, show notes and program resources are now syndicated to members of LearningTimes.org, the fastest growing free online community for education and training professionals worldwide.

In addition to access to a searchable program library, members of LearningTimes.org have a wide range of ways to continue the conversations started in each episode of PFT. Vibrant discussion boards, live online virtual meeting rooms, and a record-by-phone feedback line are among the many outlets for peer collaboration and interaction available within the LearningTimes community to enhance each program and the free professional development opportunities the podcasts afford. http://www.podcastforteachers.org/Pft_lt_406.html, para 2-4 check out www.podcastforteachers.com.  and become a member of LearningTimes.org which is a free online community for educators.

StoryBook Weaver is a program that you can create stories with pictures.  You are able to pick background, place clip art in it, write, put music or record your voice.  Further you could use this software to teach math (booklets provided by Janet).

Tech Notes: Installed on XP in Accessories is a Program compatibility Wizard.  I had trouble installing Story Book Weaver and Kid Pix on a Flat screen so I uninstalled those programs and reinstalled using this wizard and tried various options of the wizard.  The wizard asks what operating system these programs worked on prior to XP and then you apply different settings.  Since flat screens only like 1024x768 screen setting it is difficult to run software that likes 256 colors and lower resolution.  These programs work with other monitors just not flat panel screens.   But I will work at it to get these programs installed or check to see if there are updated versions.

   There is a great book for teachers on how to incorporate digital photography into the classroom called Digital Photography Workshop for Teachers by Janet Caughlin.  I met the author in Albany who has also written many books.   See her website http://www.workshopbooks.com/.  She has created many step-by-step teacher-help books.  If you forgot to pick up the Digital Photography websites handout at the circle meeting here is the link to it http://www.workshopbooks.com/dpt/index.html  and here is a link to some of her other great stuff including what to do with digital pictures in the classroom http://www.workshopbooks.com/conference_handouts/download_conf.html

   One idea is making an alphabet book where there is a cup of water – “Cc is for water (that we drink from a cup)”  Looked at from a different perspective.  Find some great ideas here: http://www.workshopbooks.com/conference_handouts/Digital_Photography/Digital_Camera_Projects.pdf

  6. Beth demonstrated www.portaportal.com and how to copy your link and add link in categories and have students access it. She also showed quick link. 

  7. At this point the people that attended the meeting were dispersed to the various rooms to see some of the software above and then other software presented.

 Alfred – Excel graphing with M&M's or Skittles; Lilly – Decisions, Decisions; Maryann – Hot Dog Stand, KidPix                             
 
Christine showed samples of Acrostics; come see how you might incorporate this in your lessons:

     Acrostic Poems using PowerPoint idea from 50 Quick and Easy Reading and
 Writing Ideas.  Vertical word art can be used for acrostics (central letters rather than initial ones) - insert a vertical WordArt and then for each letter do a separate text box around those letters.
This is a Word Art picture: insert, format word art, fill effects, insert picture (use wide letters)

For PPT grid: right click and go to grid and guides and R display on screen

8. All met back at the wireless lab and Beth ended the meeting with demonstrating eBeam and  talking about the chalkboard.  Cathy also said a few words about the Talking Walls Software by Riverdeep.  http://www.riverdeep.net/talkingwalls/ Tells the stories about all the different walls and then asks the children if you created a wall what would it be.

N.B. There are/will be more comprehensive work shops offered for many of the programs/hardware items shown at the meeting.  This was only a sampler of what is available.  Check the Fall Diocesan listing for specific programs being offered.

http://malektips.com/links/ - Great Site and has many tips on spyware, web pages, word, photography, scanning, IE, software etc....

TechLearning - Eleven Language Arts Sites:   http://www.techlearning.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=180204184

Internet Safety Site:  http://www.netsmartz.org/ and particularly for children:   http://www.netsmartzkids.org/indexfl.htm

Create A Graph: http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/graphing/  design, print and save graphs.
(You might want to check out the Kid's Corner of the NCES site: http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/index.asp?flash=true)

From Fordham RETC: www.podcastforteachers.org 

Janet Caughlin has created many step-by-step teacher-help books see:  http://www.workshopbooks.com/ Digital Photography websites:  http://www.workshopbooks.com/dpt/index.html  and here is a link to some ideas using digital pictures in the classroom http://www.workshopbooks.com/conference_handouts/download_conf.html

N.B. many great sites were included in previous minutes go to the Index to look for them

 Tentative Circle Dates & hosts for 2006 - 2007: