Happy Monday to my wonderful schools!

I hope that you are doing well!  I didn't forget about your Feel Good Friday Tip of the Week!  I was out of town, as I had a family emergency.  So, here it is!  The next few that I send will focus around Google and all that it can do!!!  It's more than just a search engine!  Educators need to have a gmail account as it allows you the opportunity to save documents to a "cloud," create a blog, create quizzes, create documents and presentations, etc.  There is so much you can do in GoogleDocs!  I have found a resource to share with you.  There is an educational blogger named, Richard Byrne and he has an entire Google series!  I will be pulling from there as he has tons of resources!  I am attaching a quick guide for Google that I would like for you to save somewhere so you are able to refer back to it as needed.  It's a great resource.  I am also providing the link to his blog, specifically the section on Google Docs.

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/p/google-tools-tutorials.html#.UuZrNWQo5AY

Before I send the next message this Friday, I want all of you to create a Gmail account.  If you need assistance in doing so, see pages 2-5 of the attached guide.  Don't be overwhelmed in looking through the guide.  We are going to work through it together!  I look forward to sharing all of the amazing things that Google can do with you in the weeks to come!

Don't forget that I am bookmarking all of these Feel Good Friday Resources for you in a blog so you don't have to search for them when you need them.  http://onetechchick.blogspot.com/

As always, if there is anything that you need, please don't hesitate to let me know.  I hope that you all have an amazing day and a wonderful week!

 

App Task Challenges!

Happy Friday!!!!  :)

Your Feel Good Friday Tip of the Week focuses around "App Task Challenges!"  There are so may apps being developed and released every day!  It can get a little overwhelming to distinguish between which apps are good and which aren't along with which apps are engaging and which aren't?  

So, what exactly are App Task Challenges?  Please see the description below taken from Craig Badura, a PK12 Integration Specialist in Nebraska. He focuses his challenges around the Benjamin Franklin quote, "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn."

What are App Task Challenges? 

• "Easy to follow guides that give teachers the opportunity to create products with an app that they can take directly back to their classrooms 
• The challenge is in the teacher trying to complete the task from start to finish (usually not a problem)
• I create them using Pages on my Mac
• I share them with our Middle School teachers during our weekly IDT meetings and just last week issued a challenge to our Elementary and High School teachers.  The challenge involved teachers completing the app tasks and then sharing their completed product with me via email or with our #aurorahuskies hashtag.  An iTunes card was given away to a random name that was drawn from teachers that submitted a product." 

Craig Badura has gone through several different apps and created a simple "how to guide" for them!  He has more that will be released as he creates them so stay tuned for more!!!!  I challenge you to download the apps that he features and play around with them in your down time!  :)  He gives a description of the app, a few ideas of how to use them, as well as a simple "how to!"  They are very easy to follow and are very user friendly!

Below is a screen shot of what they look like!

  

You can visit the following websites for more information:

http://learninginhand.com/blog/2014/1/10/app-task-challenges-for-teachers

http://comfortably20.blogspot.com/2013/12/app-task-challenges.html

How will your students access assessments through Thinkgate online?

Happy New Year!

By now we are all back and getting back in the groove of things!  I first wanted to wish you all a very happy new year!  I hope you are well rested and ready to tackle this last semester!

I've been going around doing Thinkgate training at several of your campuses and some of the same questions have been surfacing.  I am attaching a few quick sheets that will help you navigate through the system as you create and assign your assessments.  Please save this email for future reference and save these documents as needed.  I've also figured out how to assign the test so your students can take it online.  The link for them to be able to take the assessments online is:

The student link should also be in the 'favorites' section of each student PC as well as is their 'student backback'.  

http://assessment.thinkgate.net/gaatlanta

As always should you have any questions or need any assistance, let me know!  Have a great weekend and I'll be seeing you soon!

Kennesaw State University's MOOC Opportunity!

Happy Friday before the last Friday before break to my wonderful schools!!!!  I know these messages have been MIA the past few weeks.  Just like you, I've been crazy swamped!  I haven't forgotten about you!  I think some of you will be VERY interested in this resource!  

Ever heard of a MOOC?  

Well now is your chance to participate in one!  It stands for Mass Open Online Course and KSU is offering a course on blended (a mix of online and face-to-face) and online learning in a K12 environment.  This would be a great opportunity to use in building your online course materials for the Connected Classroom (the APS online course platform a.k.a Blackboard).   

If you are interested see the forwarded message below.  IT IS FREE!!!!!!!!  5 more working days and you will be on a "vacation!"  You can do it!!!!!  :)  As always, if you need anything, I'm here for you!

Have a great weekend. 

Natasha B. Rachell

Educational Technology Specialist-East Region 

______________________________________________________________

Dear ITEC Advisory Board:

I wanted to let you know that the Department of Instructional Technology is launching KSU's very first MOOC in January. The title of the MOOC is "K12 Blended and Online Learning!" Registration has now opened!  Please forward to all faculty. The course is FREE and worth 5 PLU's upon completion!   You can watch this video to get more information about the MOOC:  http://mooc.kennesaw.edu/courses/k12_online_blended_learning.php). See the announcement below:

*******************************************************************

We are pleased to announce that Kennesaw State University's K12 Blended and Online Learning MOOC is now....

Open for Registration!

The course registration page can be found on Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/usg

To get started – Click the blue“Learn for Free” button to create your Coursera User ID and Password. If you are already a Courserian, you will be able to use your existing user name and password.

We are very excited to welcome you to the first MOOC offered through the Bagwell College of Education. In order to make the most out of this learning opportunity, we encourage you to find a small group of colleagues to join you in the course. This will enrich your experience and help keep you on track to completion.

So invite some colleagues and friends to join you!

If you already have a grade level team or group of colleagues in place, we recommend that you: 

1. Assign a group leader to send reminders about meetings and assignments.
2. Mark your calendars to meet once a week during the course. During these meetings hold each other accountable for your assignments, discuss interesting topics being addressed in your discussion forums, and talk about how blended and online learning can serve your students in your unique context. Don't forget the snacks!
3. Celebrate successful completion together and plan action steps after the course. 
4. Meet at least twice after the course to share how your practice has changed, and problem solve any issues together.

If you can't convince a friend to join you in the course, don't worry! We will all be able to interact and communicate using #KSUitecMOOC and #k12blendedlearning on Twitter. Everyone can start that today!

In the meantime, have a terrific December. We’ll be back in touch once more before the course starts to finalize any last minute details.

***********************************************************************

Traci Redish, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair

Special Assistant to the Dean for Technology

Kennesaw State University

Bagwell College of Education

Department of Instructional Technology

1000 Chastain Road

Kennesaw Hall - Box #0127

Kennesaw, Georgia 30144

tredish@kennesaw.edu

770-499-3349 - Office

770-499-3263 - Fax

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Follow us on Twitter @KSUITEC

Motivation Monday!

Happy Monday!!!!

I don't know if this will be a weekly happening here on the blog, but I came across another inspirational video!  What are you teaching the world?  Take 3 minutes and be inspired by "Kid President!"  We could learn a lot from this kid!  

Teachers Pay Teachers!

Happy Friday to my Super-fantastic Schools!

I hope that you have had an awesome week!  Its' Friday....and that means that after today you ONLY have 10 more days until Thanksgiving Break!  It's almost here....hang in there!  :)

Todays Feel Good Friday Tip of the Week is a website called, "Teachers Pay Teachers."  I'm sure that several of you already know about this website, but for those of you that don't or those of you that haven't explored it, you are missing out...BIG TIME!  This site provides educators the opportunity to post or upload the things that they are doing in their classes or the things that they create that could benefit other teachers around the world!  You are able to purchase these things/items that they post including posters for your classroom, worksheets (I don't like that word...let's call them "extra practice sheets!"), bookmarks, clip art, etc.  These items typically cost between $5.00-$8.00.  There are a TON of awesome resources on this site!

Not only are there items available for purchase, but there are over 130,000 FREE downloadable resources that you have the ability to download.  All you need to do to access any of these resources is go to www.teacherspayteachers.com.  Register for a FREE account and then peruse the site.  You can search in the left hand tool bar by grade level, subject, prices, or resource type.

Now...if you are one of my awesome and creative teachers, which ALL of you are...you can even sign up and sell your awesome creations on this site!  I read a blog a few weeks ago of a teacher that made over $30,000 a year selling her awesome creations on this site!  

Here is a short Youtube video about the power of Teachers Pay Teacher!

I hope you take the time to take a look through the free resources that are available and hope that you find some things to use in your classes with your wonderful students!  Have a great weekend!  See you soon!  

Motivation Monday!

Happy Monday to my AWESOME and AMAZING schools!

Please take 8 minutes to watch this inspiring Youtube video (Ted Talk) on the power of connections with students.  I am a firm believer that EVERYTHING happens for a reason.  YOU are teaching the students in your class for a reason.  It's not a mistake that you have those bodies in your room.  They were put there, with YOU as their teacher for a reason.  Administrators, YOU have been assigned to YOUR school for a reason.  This is NO mistake.  

Are YOU a champion for your students?  Do your students matter?  Do you LIKE your students and even more importantly, do THEY like you?  

Have an awesome Monday and a fantastic week!  15 days til Thanksgiving break!  You can do it!