Blocked Bloggers

Yes, it is blocked. Frustrating. I discovered that if you type the name of the blog in directly into the address bar, they can view it, but I had some trouble with the comments showing. Mel, I'll catch up with you on that one. That could be my error, not sure yet. Clearly, the students will not be able to create their own blog. I had two students attempting a trial run yesterday after school and they were unable to post, yet they were able to view it. I'm warming up for Game #2!

Three Strikes for Technology at Edison

To add to your technology meltdowns, Sarah and Andy, I (Melissa here) was ready to have my students log into Blogger to comment on my post, but.....THE DISTRICT IS BLOCKING BLOGGER.

Agghh.  It is my personal mandate this year to try to integrate technology into the regular, ongoing curriculum (instead of - or in addition to) big technology projects.  Getting my 8th graders up and running on Blogger has been challenging, despite the technology gains I made with them last year.  Still, one group is particularly ready and able.  But, no go today.

License: cc-by-sa/3.0
Then Cincinnati Reds outfielder Adam Dunn strikes out swinging to Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz
Size: 500 x 473 pixels (83555 bytes)

Taken by: Lomn from Wikimedia Commons

Topic: Strikeout [W][FB][DBp]

Found at: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Swinging_strikeout.jpg

Strike One - Andy's Day
Strike Two - Sarah's Day
Strike Three - Melissa's Day.

But they were all the same day. 

I guess we're out for now.  Andy's a baseball fan.  We'll try to win the next game, ok team?

Google Apps (1st time)

AAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH! This was my day.
Technology is great when there are ample resources (laptops/computers) and the internet doesn't crash, the computers do not shut down, etc., etc... I was prepared for setbacks and delays, yet it was a bit overwhelming. I found about one-third of the students knew how to access and utilize the emails (they became my mini-teachers), but a majority did not have experience with google docs. They seem excited, just as I am to get this rolling. My mini-teachers were key. I have a feeling this set of students will be teaching me how to improve some of the projects. I will be adding "Troubleshooting" to my lesson plans, for my own sanity.

Technology Survey

This is the link to the technology survey. I added it to my web site so it is easier for students to find. My web site is https://sites.google.com/site/sef8929/ It is in the works so beware. My plan is to have the students create their own and improve upon it through out the year. Ideally, if I had a station, they could work on it whenever they finished early or after school, but I'll figure that out as we progress.

Mel's Blog

I noticed on your blog that it does not seem to have a spot to comment on the comments that students post. Have you found a way to do this?

Going Wireless...

Amazon.com has a wide range of wireless keyboards and mouses/mice!  It looks like we can get them for what we didn't spend on books.  I didn't look at PC vs Mac, I'm not sure what you have, Mel.  Something to discuss on Thursday!

The Best Alternatives to iMovie for PC Users 5/19/11

Alternative to iMovie for PC Users

I think we need a central place to collect all of these emails we keep sending each other with ideas, from sites to cameras.   A blog?  Not another google doc...please... ideas?

Melissa

32 Ways to Use Google Apps in the Classroom

Great stuff

Melissa

And so it begins...

If our students are going to blog, so should we.  This blog spot is a place to discuss what we are doing in the grant and to hold ideas that we may revisit at a later date...

Andy