Taking a course online is very similar to taking a course face-to-face in a traditional computer lab setting, there is an instructor, there is a course plan, or syllabus, and teachers are expected participate in discussions, practice, and demonstrate that they have learned the material, but with one significant exception. Teachers do all of the work online, without ever entering a computer lab.
An online course makes use of emerging technologies and media such as broadband Internet, web cameras, live chat, asynchronous message forum, podcasting, and instant messaging. Online courses makes training accessible to a teacher 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
Sign up today for McAllen ISD's First Online course!
Course Description: SharpSchool Online Classroom Part 1 Hours: 3 Transcript or 3 Time Equivalency Hours Requirements: A minimum of 1 hour a week course work; must be a teacher to register. Registration Deadline: April 1, 2010 Course Begins: April 6, 2010 Course Must be Completed By: April 23, 2010
Need Help With Your SharpSchool Online Classroom(s)?
Teachers,
We have a group of students who can help post information on your SharpSchool Online Classroom –McAllen ISD Student Classroom Webmasters. A Student Classroom Webmaster can assist teachers in creating and editing content in class modules such as: Files, Calendar, Groups, Lessons, Chats, and/or Forums.
Student Classroom Webmasters are identified by teachers and/or Counselors. Each Student Classroom Webmaster must complete an application, list two teacher references and receive training. These students are responsible, motivated, respected, and knowledgeable.
Send me an email to cgarcia@mcallenisd.net if you are interested in having a Student Classroom Webmaster assigned to assist you with your SharpSchool Online Classroom.
New “Tech-It-Up” Service
If you want to enhance your lesson, we’ll help you “Tech-It-Up”!
If you want to make your meetings more engaging, we’ll help you “Tech-It-Up”!
If you want to increase collaboration, we’ll help you “Tech-It-Up”!
This service provides teachers and administrators with technology integration assistance for lessons, meetings, or other instructional or administrative needs.
Need funding to bring “Get a Clue”, an innovative web-based vocabulary program, to the middle and high school students you work with? “Get a Clue” provides kids with a fun, game-like experience, while offering educators an easy way to track student progress. The ESA Foundation is dedicated to supporting positive programs and opportunities that make a difference in the lives of America's youth. The Foundation seeks to harness the collective power of the interactive entertainment industry to create positive social impact in our communities.
Work with students to create a project that requires them to learn the fundamentals of animation. Suggest that they interview professional animators and then apply their knowledge with Animation-ish! The
National Endowment for the Arts is offering funding for projects that help children and youth acquire knowledge and understanding of and skills in the arts.
The Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) is a free, online collaborative encyclopedia intended to document all of the 1.8 million living species known to science. Information has been compiled from existing databases and from contributions by experts and non-experts throughout the world.
The purpose of this site is to serve as a resource for teachers and students who are interested in how multimedia can be integrated into a variety of educational activities.
This site features one historical event each day; it includes what happened, what led up to it, what has happened since, and places the event in today's context including links to the best research on the subject.
This is a synchronous, online whiteboard tool that allows the creation of multiple pages and integrates text and video chat; you can create on-the-fly for brainstorming or as a summarizing activity.
This collection of sites with "generous" copyright licensing is a nice place to start if you need some images or sounds for your Web page, blog, wiki, podcast, or videos; remember to read the usage rights and the citation information required by each site before you use their materials.
Keybr.com is a flash–based typing instructor. You can use custom text, supplied random text, or even a selection of text from a web site or blog. As you type, you’ll see your words-per-minute rate.
In this issue we are spotlighting Vicki Warwas, a 4th grade teacher at Navarro Elementary School.
As a child, Vicki attended Jackson Elementary, Lamar Jr. High, and graduated from Memorial High School in the early 80’s. She has a B.S. degree in Elementary Education with a minor in English. “I began teaching at Navarro Elem. in 1987 and have been there ever since! I truly enjoy these young ones. You never know what they will come up with. It’s always an inspiration when former students visit and tell me about their lives and future dreams. I enjoy my Corvettes, WaveRunner, reading, volunteering with the American Cancer Society, and spending time with friends and family. My nephews and niece bring so much joy to my life.”
Each year McAllen ISD is proud to name a Technology Teacher of the Year for the Elementary and Secondary levels. This award recognizes the outstanding efforts of classroom teachers who use curriculum-centered, standards-based practices for integrating technology into his/her classroom, participate in ongoing technology-related, high-quality professional development opportunities and are active contributors to a technology-related community of practice.
The Instructional Technology Department is now accepting nominations for Technology Teacher of the Year. For more information, please click here.
Student Multimedia Contest
Have you heard about this year’s Student Multimedia Contest? All entries must strictly adhere to all rules and regulations in order to enter the competition. Contestants will compete in 3 different categories:Videos, Graphics and Web Design. All entries are required to submit the proper documentation in order to compete. You will find the required information about the competition on the links provided below.
Are you looking for ways to increase collaboration in your classroom? Maybe a microblogging (think twitter) option for collaboration or networking in your classes is the answer?
Twiducate is a microblogging Web 2.0 tool that creates a platform for collaborative learning for you and your students in a private and safe online environment. Use Twiducate to post questions to elicit responses, or use the safe environment for students to receive feedback on works in progress. The choice is yours. Click here to check it out!
From the Director's Desk
Administrators, Teachers, and Staff,
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020, adopted by the State Board of Education, charts the course for educational technology in Texas and provides recommendations to various stakeholders in the areas of Teaching and Learning; Educator Preparation and Development; Leadership, Administration, and Instructional Support; and Infrastructure for Technology.
All Texas school districts are required to submit a technology plan to TEA each year. District technology plans align to the TEA Long-Range Plan for Technology.
McAllen ISD Technology Plan Update Highlights:
Develop a plan to evaluate teachers' and administrators' technology standards.
Establish a plan to ensure all 8th grade students are scheduled into an 8th Grade Technology
Applications course.
Develop a plan to utilize TxVSN and Online Learning for teaching and learning.
Develop a classroom webpage evaluation plan.
Deliver an Internet Safety Curriculum to students (K-12)
McAllen ISD Campus Technology Plans are then aligned to the McAllen ISD Technology Plan. We will be reviewing/updating all Campus Technology Plans during April and May, 2010.
Click here to view the McAllen ISD Technology Plan or Campus Technology Plans.
Carmen G. Garcia, Director Instructional Technology
Technology Training Sessions
The Instructional Technology Department has scheduled training sessions for time equivalency or transcript credit. Limited seating is available, so register on ERO now!
Taking a course online is very similar to taking a course face-to-face in a traditional computer lab setting, there is an instructor, there is a course plan, or syllabus, and teachers are expected participate in discussions, practice, and demonstrate that they have learned the material, but with one significant exception. Teachers do all of the work online, without ever entering a computer lab.
In this issue we are spotlighting Vicki Warwas, a 4th grade teacher at Navarro Elementary School.
Each year McAllen ISD is proud to name a Technology Teacher of the Year for the Elementary and Secondary levels. This award recognizes the outstanding efforts of classroom teachers who use curriculum-centered, standards-based practices for integrating technology into his/her classroom, participate in ongoing technology-related, high-quality professional development opportunities and are active contributors to a technology-related community of practice.
Administrators, Teachers, and Staff,
