Technology Coordinators' Corner
Student and Teacher Blogs that Succeed
By Dean Shareski
A veteran blogger reveals why some blogs are wildly popular and others die on the vine. Technology Helps Leave No Child Behind
By Cynthia Hyland
Blended learning and other high tech tools help Pennsylvania’s Cyber Academy to serve the needs of all its students, from the motivated to the reluctant. Software That Delivers Network Safety and Security
By Randy Backus
This is your mission: provide safe and secure computing to a network of 250+ computers while also providing Internet and Email access to 2,000 high schoolers; it is possible. RSS-101 for Educators—What, Why & How
By Laura Turner
RSS technology simplifies and enhances your Web experience—and this article explains what it is, why you need it, and how to do it. Assessment Software Helps Students Pass High Stakes Tests
By Miranda Storey
How one district uses assessment software to help teachers focus on student strengths and weaknesses in preparing for high-stakes statewide tests. Nine Excellent Reasons for Technology in Education
By John Page
Here are answers for those doubters who ask we should integrate technology and learning. You'll find some excellent reasons and rationales. Keeping Up-To-Date On Web Resources
By Larry Ferlazzo
Find the best and most relevant sites on the Web by subscribing to one, a few, or even all of these newsletters. Kid Friendly! Kid Safe!
By Julia K VanderMolen
The Web can entertaining and engaging even for very young children at these selected safe sites. Internet Explorer 7 is coming. How do I stop my computer from downloading it?
By Miguel Guhlin
Although some folks are ready for Internet Explorer 7 to take over their computers, others are less excited about the prospect, especially if using other browsers that provide the new functionality (like Firefox or Flock) What are wikis and how can I get one?
By Miguel Guhlin
One of the most exciting Read/Write Web technologies that is available for educator use includes wikis How do I share presentations with others via the Web?
By Miguel Guhlin
Think you know the answer to this question? I tried that THE GIMP graphics editing program, but I need something easier. Is there something?
By Miguel Guhlin
Although THE GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is my graphics editing program of choice, especially on multiple platforms, Windows users have access to another program known as PAINT.NET I'm still running Windows 98. Although Microsoft has service packs for Windows XP, how can I quickly update Windows 98 computers with an equivalent service pack?
By Miguel Guhlin
If you're stuck with a Windows 98 computer—and you haven't made the switch to Linux on it to get a brand new system—you may want to take advantage of this freeware update for Windows 98
How can I quickly install my favorite software programs on my Windows computer?
By Miguel Guhlin
When setting up a new computer, an activity that can be time-consuming if you're not working from a recorded image of the hard drive, there comes a time when you want to install useful utilities How do I get copies of those videos on YouTube and Google to save to my computer so that I can share them at work?
By Miguel Guhlin
After viewing this video "The Audience is Up to Something" from the Long Tail blog, I hoped to get a copy I could show at a workshop I was conducting What new utilities are out for Windows and Mac to help me organize the mess of files I have on my computer?
By Miguel Guhlin
If you're a Macintosh user, you are familiar with iPhoto, an application that gives you a thumbnail view of all the photos on your hard drive and enables easy management and locating What Are Live CDs And How Can I Use Them?
By Miguel Guhlin
Here are some free or low-cost alternatives to accepted software solutions Bringing the K-12 Classroom Online, Part 5
By Daniel Lake
Classroom Management software such as Blackboard helps educators and students and also the people responsible for the safe and efficient running of a school system's physical plant. Backing Up Your Hard Drive
By Miguel Guhlin
If you have ever reformatted a computer, reloaded it with software by loading the programs one by one, you know it can be a time-consuming process Blog Peripherals: Enhancing Your Blog's Presence
By Miguel Guhlin
In helping someone setup a Thingamablog, I was surprised to count all the free stuff that needed to be added for blogging to take place Facilitate Communication with Free Tools
By Miguel Guhlin
"We'll have to start our own radio station soon," shared my supervisor with me Protecting Your Digital Privacy
By Miguel Guhlin
From banks to school districts to the Veterans Administration, every other week, we hear about some other individual who has jeopardized confidential information for millions of people Staying in Touch: "How To" with Bulk Emailers
By Miguel Guhlin
Ever tire of sending out emails one at a time to a large group of people, even though your work is education related? Making Flyers, Brochures and More
By Miguel Guhlin
A few years ago, I remember obtaining my first copy of Publish It! Special Education Record-Keeping Made Simple
By Tim Skilton
Los Angeles Unified has thousands of special needs students in 200+ schools, but database software makes keeping on top of compliance requirements a breeze. Case Study: Learning With Tablet PCs
By Kenneth Collura
The portable and versatile Tablet PC, along with some specialized software, proves its worth in a rigorous academic setting. Tips to Manage a 1:1 Learning Initiative
By Todd Bryant
One laptop per student is a great idea, provided you can manage it; here are some helpful techniques and checklists. Bringing the K-12 Classroom Online, Part 4
By Daniel Lake
A beginning teacher shows his command of technology integration, and awes a veteran advocate of computers in the classroom. Downloading an Entire Web Site
By Miguel Guhlin
Just when you think Internet access is ubiquitous, you find out it's not--and you're set to do an important presentation where you need to show off a Web site Minimizing SPAM
By Miguel Guhlin
Even though popular, free Email programs--such as Mozilla Thunderbird--may have built-in spam protection, I encourage you to consider using special programs like POPFile or K9 Protecting Myself from Spyware and Adware
By Miguel Guhlin
"What are all these windows open on my screen?" a campus administrator asked me recently Setting Up an FTP Server
By Miguel Guhlin
The concept of FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is quite simple Setting Up a Web Server
By Miguel Guhlin
One classroom teacher at the TCEA State Conference said, "I want to set up my own Web server in my classroom because I can't get space on the District server. Am I able to do that?" The answer is, "Of course!" Compressing Multiple Files to Email
By Miguel Guhlin
Sending Email attachments is easy, but can cause a lot of trouble for the recipient Managing Photo Albums
By Miguel Guhlin
If you're a Mac user, you probably already use iPhoto to manage your digital photographs and images Protecting Deleted Files
By Miguel Guhlin
Over the last 6 months, I've had to explain to several folks that simply because you delete files on your computer, it does not mean that they are "safe" and "unrecoverable" Free Graphic Editors
By Miguel Guhlin
Some time ago, I had the opportunity to visit several private school campuses. Of course, I was privately surveying their level of technology implementation (LOTI) Creating and Sharing a Calendar
By Miguel Guhlin
There are a wide variety of tools available for sharing calendars of events online. However, here are three that you need to be aware of that take advantage of Read/Write Web technologies such as RSS Converting PowerPoint Slide Shows to Web-based
By Miguel Guhlin
Although Wink is a nice tool to use to create tutorials, what if you already have Powerpoint presentations that you want to place on the Web as slide shows? Creating Online Tutorials
By Miguel Guhlin
Wish you had a tool to create online tutorials without expensive software? If you're a Windows or Linux user, then you can take advantage of Wink. Storing Files Online
By Miguel Guhlin
Ever had to email a large file -- whether it's a multimedia slide show, zipped file, digital photo, or video -- to someone only to find that they didn't have enough email storage capacity in their email to receive it? Bringing the K-12 Classroom Online: Part 2
By Daniel Lake
How a high school teacher uses Blackboard to make his history courses sparkle. Standards-Proof Your Digital Storytelling Efforts
By David Jakes
Digital storytelling fits national standards so go ahead and use this powerful instructional technique. An Educator's Guide to Writing Technology Proposals
By Ken Royal
Try these suggestions and win support for your great ideas. Sharing Images
By Miguel Guhlin
Like social bookmarking, sharing images on the web for more than just personal use has become a phenomenon Storing Bookmarks Online
By Miguel Guhlin
Social bookmarking is defined in Wikipedia's online encyclopedia in the following way as an activity that is... Outside the Walls: Bringing the K-12 Classroom Online
By Daniel Lake
Launching a course management portal has changed how thousands of educators in central New York conduct their work. In this first article in a seven-part series, meet John, a sixth grade teacher who's using the system to connect with parents. Webconferencing across the Americas
By Thane Williams
Spanish language students in South Carolina are harnessing Macromedia's Breeze Live to survey their peers in Ecuador and Colombia. Teaching Science Labs Online
By Teaching Science Labs Online
If you think online learning is only for tiny subjects, read this model of conducting science labs online. Making a Case for Digital Storytelling
By David Jakes
Multimedia tools help students communicate the most powerful narratives of all: the stories of their lives. All Library Systems Go
By Neil Mercurius and Paula S. Ford
Essential to integrating technology into school media centers are the three Ps: prepare, plan, and perform. Hands-On Learning
By Jenny Garetto
Pocket-sized handheld computers are helping fourth graders become better note-takers, writers, and mathematicians. Planting the Seeds for Global Learning and Caring
By Jody H Kennedy and Susan L Wiener
Through the use of Interactive Videoconferencing (IVC), teachers are inviting experts from around the world into their classrooms as co-teachers. Putting IT into Perspective: Infusing Technology into the Classroom
By Terry Woolard
The author says that computers are not classroom necessities. However, he’s not advocating getting rid of them. He just wants them to make a difference. Here’s how. Technology Integration and the Beacon School Portal
By Chris Lehmann
Sometimes a school web site isn’t just about school events but also plays an important role for the members of the community. Digital Cameras for Learning
By Gayle Rubenstein
Capturing digital images is transforming photography and this district's classrooms quickly, easily and dramatically. Staff Development and Technology Solutions
By Steven Glyer
Here's how one district ran a technology staff development program for all staff members with only one trainer: Technology came to the rescue. Why Project Management Can Make Education Better
By Justin Grenier
Education leaders haven't honed essential business skills and the result is often disastrous. Read how project management's process and procedures translate into increased efficiency.
Thin Clients Meeting Teacher Needs
By Ray Reitz
A district-wide technology advisory committee, composed of district, university, and business personnel, worked to develop goals and a transition plan to provide better computing resources for the Chapel Hill-Carboro schools. This gave the team an opportunity to challenge current practices by implementing a plan for the next generation of computing in schools. They decided to move toward a thin client solution. Find out why and what the benefits they expect from this choice.
The Successful Technology Coordinator
By Jeanette Parham
Technology Coordinators wear many hats. In order to do the job well, technology coordinators should be aware of certain techniques and strategies that will make them successful. Jeanette lists her strategies for success that include listing what a technology coordinator is, knows, and does, and she provides a checklist to measure effectiveness.
Integrating Technology into Environmental Education: A Summer Program
By Donna Schnupp
Nature and technology--two seemingly disparate and often opposing forces in our culture came together this past summer with the help of middle school children from the greater New York City area. Sponsored by Media Workshop New York, a special project of the Bertelsmann Foundation, Tech Camp was created for children aged 10-14 of Bertelsmann employees and its affiliate companies. The overriding goal of the program was to help young people explore various new media technologies in the context of everyday life, with a particular focus on environmental issues. Donna describes a program to develop both interpersonal and technological skills through teamwork, Web design, and various forms of research.
Videoconferencing in the Nation's Fifth-Largest Public School System
By Dr. MaryAnn Butler-Pearson
Mary Ann explains how Broward County, Florida, uses videoconferencing to bring academic classes and programs, field trips, and special events to the thousands of students in its elementary, middle, and high schools and to bring unique projects to adults and children in educational and special-needs centers. Initially started as one method of providing equitable educational opportunities to the students in this geographically large and culturally and economically diverse school system, teachers and administrators have also benefited.
Students to the Rescue
By CarolAnn Stevens
Printer not working? Computer acting up? Need another pair of eyes? How would you like a technology specialist in every elementary intermediate classroom? If you answered yes to any of these questions, CarolAnn has advice. Over the past few years, she's used student Tech Reps who are trained to handle day-to-day technical problems, maintenance, and care of computers, printers, and peripherals. Find out what this project is designed to do and how it works.
Survey Projects and Tech Tools
By Cathy Nelson
Part of Cathy's job is to help instruct both students and teachers in technology. One of her favorite units is Survey Projects. She says the students develop their own survey questions, administer the survey outside of class, and return with a written data table. From there, they use Excel and PowerPoint to create and display their work.
Hosting a School Technology Fair
By Cathy Nelson
At New Ellenton Middle School, the goal is to equip every student with the skills of today's technology and send them into tomorrow as a lifelong learner, capable of using information and technology. To accomplish this successfully, they feel that parents, business partners, and community members need to see firsthand what they're doing to prepare children for the future. Cathy says that sponsoring a Technology Fair gives the students a forum to demonstrate the activities and skills they have acquired or are learning. Find out Cathy's plans and details for a successful event.
Technology Tidbits #1
By Helen DeWitt
In this first column, Helen tackles Six Essentials of Learnings in a Technological Society as identified by the State of Illinois. She deals with how the Web helps each student become an Information Seeker, Navigator and Evaluator, Critical Thinker, Analyzer and Selector, Creator of Knowledge, Effective Communicator, Technologist, and Responsible Citizen in a Technological Age
Technology Tidbits #2
By Helen DeWitt
In Technology Tidbits #2, Helen tackles some common questions with, of course, great places to find answers. These questions include: Is there someplace that I can learn about Internet basics? Where can I learn more about e-mail? What is the Internet? What is the World Wide Web? and What is a URL?
Technology Tidbits #3
by Helen DeWitt
In the third installment of Technology Tidbits, Helen shares information about Internet history. Here is a timeline that highlights some of the events that led up to the development of what we know today as the Internet.
Technology Tidbits #4
by Helen DeWitt
In this final section of Technology Tidbits, Helen provides information about the rich resources that the Internet offers. She begins with listing ways in which teachers currently use the Web with their students and provides information and links to online project sites, lesson plans, teacher resources, and thematic units on the Web. She offers information and links to search engines such as safe searching for kids, search engines for teachers and other adults, advice on how to search and how to decide which search engine to use. Even more important than searching tips, Helen gives advice on evaluating information on the Internet by providing questions to ask for both content design evaluation and links to other evaluation resources. Finally, Helen offers links to Web sites that address copyright issues, permissions, and citations.
The Six Commandments of Technology Implementation in a New School or What Starting a Technology Program Really Requires
By Jason Collette
Implementing a technology program in a new school may seem a Herculean task, but you can do it if you follow six commandments, says Jason. These include never losing sight of the prize, cherishing voice mail, being flexible, knowing where everything is, sacrificing, and involving others in the process. He adds other things to consider but assures us, "the job can be done."
Back-to-School Ideas for Technology Coordinators
By Jeanne M. Owen
As the technology advisor at her elementary school, Jeanne has discovered a few strategies and lessons that help her stay organized and help her classes learn valuable computer skills. Here are some suggestions for others who use or who are in charge of technology in their schools.
Coordinators Influencing Teachers
By Anthony Fisher
The job of technology coordinator is not an easy one, as Anthony demonstrates in this thoughtful analysis. He presents a baker's dozen of typical technology coordinator responsibilities, but it's that Number-13 which provides the greatest challenge - namely: How do we convince the technology-resisting teachers to climb aboard the bandwagon so that their students will also be adequately prepared for the future?
Technology Coordinator -An Impossible Job?
By Barbara Bray
For a technology coordinator, "impossible" is a relative term. Barbara shares her methods and advises us to start widening the realm of possibility by first defining just what it is a technology coordinator does. She includes seventeen commandments of a Technology Coordinator.
Forewarned, Forearmed
By Bill McIntyre
There are roadblocks on the Information Superhighway, but knowing the problems is the first step to finding solutions. Join Bill for a look at ten important concerns for schools and some online resources where there's information to help educators deal with them.
A Five-Year Technology Plan Succeeds at Nathan Hale High School
By Currie Morrison
The staff of Nathan Hale High School noticed that "Everything we hear or read about the future seems to be saying the same thing: future economic and political success will be measured by our ability to access and manipulate information." So they created a long range technology plan. Currie describes the plan and its focus on three main goals: increasing communications within the building (e-mail); sharing files across platforms (interoperability), and opening a connection to wide area information access (the Internet).
A Modest Proposal: On-Site Technology Administrators
By Mike Thompson
You say your school has great technology, but sometimes it doesn't work so well? Or hardly anyone really uses it as a teaching tool? Or there's no one on staff who really has the time to give help or advice? Is that what's troubling you? Then read Mike's proposal for an on-site technological guru who will make sure that technology does make a difference in the school. And if you're looking for such a job you might want to print this article and give it to your administrator!
The Internet Helps People Solve Problems . . . Fast!
By Marlene Goss
The Internet helps people solve problems in hundreds of ways. This example shows when good answers come fast.. energy can be spent on ACTION steps instead of being stuck with not knowing what to do!
Being a Technology Coordinator Is Like Being a "------" Because . .
By Willis Binnard
Why is being a computer coordinator similar to being a wind-up clock...or Ross Perot...or a runaway train? Willis explains these and a few dozen other analogies while providing an amusing look at the not-so-amusing strains and stresses of the job.
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