Final Assignment

I am patiently hopeful for the future of technology. I do see positives in the classroom with advancements in technology. Prometheum, clickers, powerpoints, youtube. All good visual advances from when I read and took notes from the textbook in middle school.
The negatives are impatience by students and parents and a want it now type attitude that develops with high speed technology. 42 e-mails to look at today because I was gone yesterday. This takes a chunk of time to go through and respond to. I am curious to see where we will be 20 years from now.

E-Newsletter

E-Newsletter

The title of my e-newsletter is: Minnesota author visits Northdale.

The feature is on Will Weaver. He visited Northdale Middle School promoting his new book "Saturday Night Dirt". His discussion with the students brought about many comparisons between his writing and one of his friends, Gary Paulsen's, style of writing. Paulsen is another famous Minnesota author. The three article pieces were:
1. Will Weaver's contact information.
2. Books authored by Will Weaver.
3. Books authored by friend Gary Paulsen.

I choose the nature/fall background and a crimson/red color as backgrounds to my newsletter.

Brochure Assignment

Brochure Assignment

I am intending to do a brochure assignment regarding library procedures.
One page of the brochure will be called Library 411 with an information sign by it.
The major concepts of the brochure will be Library Procedures, Overdue Procedures, and visiting the Media (IMC) Center.

Poster Assignment

I am working on making a poster for the STEM fair that begins next week. This poster tells the key dates when the students meet. What the STEM fair is (Science, Technology,Engineering, and Math). Where we meet and times. Contact number information. The STEM fair ends January 17 at Anoka High School. I will display these posters throughout the school to attract interested students.

Power Point/ Staff Development

I am working on about a 12 slide presentation for using various technology in the school. It would be an after school session for teachers on how to work with:
Novell
Outlook
SASIxp
Easy Grade Pro
Homework Hotline
A-H Connect
School Center
Atomic Learning

It would be beneficial for new teachers and returning staff to refresh themselves at the start of the school year.

bp

Blogging

This is my first blog so here goes:

I discussed blogging with my media specialist at the middle school I teach at in the northern suburbs in Blaine. She started her own blog last year and is current on blogging. In Minnesota the 23 things on a stick (I believe this is what it is called) was shown during one of their monthly meetings last year to all the media professionals in the Anoka-Hennepin school district. This is a great name by the way to go along with Minnesota State Fair theme. The media specialists were asked to create their own blog. Hopefully the professionals took advantage of this opportunity.

I see blogging more and more now that this assignment was presented. Radio and television personalities seem to have one. Even in my fantasy football league there is a place to post a blog. I asked the 120 sixth graders that I teach if they heard of blogging. 85% knew of blogging and about 40% have there own blogs. So in my simple sample I see that this is something that students do and I need to stay current. So I better get on board. Hopefully so far, so good.

bp