Tech in Perspective

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43217080@N00/1169807846

An informal meeting with a board Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT) today made me review the progress we have made implementing technology at my school. A little refresher to put things in perspective.
Library Tech:

• wireless hub 
• 13 netbooks + 4 desk top PCs
• 4 flip cameras
• 15 headset/microphones
• Evernote & Diigo added to netbook image

• Wiki use for social studies and science projects (gr. 6)
• wiki use for reading strategies demonstration (gr. 7)
• use of Flickr and FlickrCC resources
• Glogster presentations (prior to board blocking)
• Prezi creation with French classes (gr. 8)
• Diigo recommended for student collection of bookmarks (g.r 8)
• Bibme accounts for collection of citations (gr. 8)
• introduction of alternate search engines; Sweet Search, Mashpedia, Boolify and Yippy
• 16 Sqworl pathfinders for a variety of subject areas (gr. 6,7,8)
• podcasting with six science classes (gr.8)
• video creation with two media classes (gr.7)
• introduction to blogging for eight classes (gr.7, 8)
• purchase of Weebly Campus Account
• ten teachers set up Weebly class accounts
• purchase of PodOmatic podcasting account for school
• planned PD to introduce Diigo and Twitter as tools for PLN

Tech in the school:

• wireless hubs on three mobile netbook labs (20 netbooks/ one cart/grade level)
• use of Google docs at staff meeting and student focus groups
• VP's from our superintendency visit digitally savvy schools in B.C.
• teacher attendance at board-wide Tech conference
• School blogs with student content, photos, Voice thread

Our digital footprint is much better than we thought and growing.

Student Blogging Guidelines

Kist (2010, p.37) offers the Snowball activity as a way to create an inclass (no tech) blogging experience leading to developing guidelines for bloggers.

Image: 'Snow ball'

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11138469@N00/2436664340

After an exciting Friday afternoon snowball activity, class 701 generated the following:

Guidelines for Blogging 
and Commenting

1. Write for your readers
2. Use proper grammar and spelling
3. Make sense
4. Be polite
5. Stay on topic
6. Disagree respectfully

   
   The best moment was when the T.A. for a student who is visually impaired (and a blossoming writer) told me that the student had loved the activity and really "got it".