Currently I use Presentation Zen for PD sessions with faculty as much as I can, but when I was in the classroom I used Presentation Zen Keynotes for Readers and Writers Workshop.  The result in the classroom was (I think) better conversations, shorter mini-lessons and increased motivation and inspiration – especially for writing.

Recently at the JIS Technology Learning Institute, the Presentation Zen- Introduction session I ran, was very popular.  Below I’ve included the Keynote (uploaded to SlideShare) to introduce the basics of Presentation Zen.  After the basics, we looked at an actual Readers Workshop keynote that I’d used in the past, then I asked the session participants to begin work on their own Presentation Zen keynote.  It was a great way to not only introduce the basics of keynote, but encouraged a really good conversation about Creative Commons and copyright, which a lot of schools are struggling with.

Do you use PresentationZen? What ways do you use it?

It seems that this is a “hot topic” in a lot of schools as we head back to begin another school year.  JIS, was no exception.  We started off with a great conversation about ipads vs laptops vs netbooks – why would I want one of these in my class?  My personal opinion is, it’s another tool – use what you’ve got – experiment with what you’ve got – make what’s been made available to you work.  I’m also one of those people who’s prepared to purchase my own tool to experiment with to see if it works in the classroom for my students and/or myself before I ask admin to consider purchasing said-tools for the classroom.

A couple of days ago, I bought the iPad2.  (My son already has an iPad – it’s become his personal device – so I really don’t have the heart to permanently “borrow” his!  And that’s exactly what the iPad is supposed to be – a personal device.  But, we teachers like to take things that we only have one or two of, and make it work in the classroom environment with many more “bodies” that it was originally designed for!  (That’s why we’re such a creative and innovative bunch!).  So I believe you can make 6 iPads work in class of 20/22/32.  It will take organisation, it will need experimenting, and it will take some effort – but it can be done!

I’m glad we had an opportunity to talk about iPads in the classroom, I’m glad that teachers were able to voice their concerns, their excitement and their questions before we got down and dirty with some top apps for the classroom and ways to use them!  JIS has purchased 40 iPad2′s for their campuses.  I’m hoping that I’ll hear how it’s going and what teachers are doing with them in classroom over the coming year!

Now, here’s the part of the session that really started to buzz – the apps!  Oh the apps! There’s so many great apps out there! So, modeling one of the new online tools that I’d already exposed the teachers too, I used LiveBinders.com to create a resource called iPad Apps for the Classroom.  Click on the link or click on the image below to see this resource.

Uploaded with Skitch!

Best purchase after three glorious weeks back in my home country – this book (and it’s accompanying CD)!

If you loved Pete the Cat, then you will just love this gorgeous book by this clever New Zealand guy: Chris Smith!

You can listen to Craig sing his way through the story here:

I only bought one copy and I’m wishing I’d bought one more for my fabulous colleague, Miss Tara – our Learning Hub Librarian Extraordinaire! Thank goodness it’s available through Amazon!!

She’s just spend all morning reading it to the Kinders and Grade 1! It was great when I walked into the Hub later in the morning and two little Kinders rushed up and said that they LOVED the Wonky Donkey book I’d bought – especially the part where he farts!”  Made my day – hope the Wonky Donkey makes yours!

Today I learnt, from my support staff in EdTech, how to copy a resource DVD so I no longer needed to have the actual disc with me!

Here’s how to do it in 3 easy steps: (Mac instructions – if you’re a PC user & know how to do this on a PC, please leave a comment!)

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Now you have a .dmg file on your computer that will “mount” just like an app when you click on it! Awesome ay!!

Click on the image you like the look of, and this screen appears next:

As a presenter, the stamp option is fabulous!! Check out what it does below!

I do wish this site did have a safe-search option ……… I’d love to introduce it to our students, but for now, I think we will stick with Compfight as it allows us to have a Safe-Search on, which makes it appropriate for use at school.

You can find out more about what we’ve been discussing with our students about Creative Commons & using Compfight over at our “model blog” for student blogging.

What conversations are you having at your school with students about the use of images in our work?

the AASL Top 25 Best Websites for Teaching and Learning!

The “Top 25″ Websites foster the qualities of innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration. They are free, Web-based sites that are user friendly and encourage a community of learners to explore and discover.

Categories include

• Media Sharing
• Digital Storytelling
• Manage and Organize
• Social Networking and Communication
• Curriculum Sharing
• Content Resources: Lesson Plans and More
• Content Collaboration

The AASL (American Association of School Librians) has also linked each category to their standards for the 21st Century Learner.

I love that all the websites listed are FREE!

As I prepare myself, both mentally & physically, to come out of the classroom in August to begin a new role at ISB – Technology and Learning Coach, I’ve been reading a lot of blogs and checking out a lot of tools (new and old). Part of my daily routine during the summer break has been to check out my TwitterTim.es feed. (Love this!!)

Today I came across this slideshare presentation by Jacqui Sharp (a fellow Kiwi I might add with a blog worth following) about Multiple Intelligences & Web 2.0 tools. What I love about this presentation is that Jacqui has simplified what each Intelligence means in terms of specific abilities and everyday use, and then she has added possible delivery methods with suggested Web2.0 tools to help you do that.  Awesome!

It’s called Newsmap and it was shared by Andrew Churches in his Project-Based Learning Session (blog post brewing) at ASB Unplugged 2010, in Mumbai, India.

I think I love it because, not only is it colour-coordinated to the type of news it is, but you can also change the feed based upon the countries that you are particularly interested in. It’s interactive and visually attractive!

Immediately I’m thinking ways to use Newsmap in the classroom.

• Students compare what news makes the headlines in which countries
• Identify reasons why news may not make the headlines in other countries
• Identify the top categories of news
• Compare one country with another country in terms of top categories of news
• Collect data regarding how long the top news, stays the top news

The list is endless really!  What a great find and an amazing resource for the classroom!

I’m honoured to say that it was been accepted and is now part of a growing number of resources from inspirational Educators all over the world.  I’m so very proud of my 5th Graders from Room 202, 08/09 – they did such a fantastic job with their portfolios using VoiceThread.

You can read about the Digital Portfolio VoiceThread project here.

If you’ve not used VoiceThread before or you are looking for ideas to help you integrate VoiceThread into your classroom – then look no further: the VoiceThread Digital Library is brimming with clever ideas and resources – check it out!

And to the developers of VoiceThread – you offer such an amazing service and product to Educators – thank you for your continued generosity.

Considering my family and I have just spent 5 days down in Nelson (blog post in progress over here) with the amazing AllanahK – it’s no wonder she’s top of my Replies To (@) list.  Ms Cofino – well everyone knows I just LOVE working with this highly motivating and intelligent lady (even have the t-shirt to prove it!!) so NO surprises there.  HeyMilly is absolutely gorgeous, witty and funny and I love reading her tweets – I wish I was as full of energy as she is – she’s loving life and taking us along for the ride – Go Girlfriend!!

Here’s the graphic I think is most revealing though – TweetCloud!  My top 5 tweets are a reflection of the last 5 days spent in Nelson on our first ever visit to the South Island – thanks, new, time, nz, great !!

But I like the fact that awesome, learning, students, skype, mac, think, need, time & blog feature heavily too.

Most of all, I’m really, really pleased that thanks features the most in the Tweet Cloud!  Without such a supportive, inspirational, generous and caring bunch of people in my PLN – my learning journey would be a half-empty glass.  Thanks twitter PLN! (And thanks Mum, for teaching me that manners matter!)