Saturday, December 02, 2006

Ch-ch-changes

I want to review the protocol for smart passwords. Be ready in the first week of January to change your password. This will get you all through grading and report cards. Think of it as a New Year's Resolution you can't avoid.


I found the following rules for smart passwords at the Portland State University User Support Services. A smart password...

  • must have at least six characters
  • must not appear in any dictionary
  • must contain both lowercase and uppercase alphabetic characters
  • must contain a number
  • should contain non-alphanumeric characters such as !, #, $, %, ^, &, *, (, ), etc



If you have a question about creating a password you can email me. coakes


Many of you have asked about the amount of SPAM some of us are getting in our mailboxes. One way to work around this is to get rid of the email PDF form on our district page and make it unreadable by SPAMbots.

The next PDF may look like this   

  school address     wocsd.org

Staff user names:

coakes 

Then our community will  have to put the two things, user names and school address together on their own. This prevents SPAMbots from having it all laid out for them.

Over and out

Cheryl

Collaborative Content Coach for Technology

WOCSD

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Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Wocsd Tech Talk November 28, 2006


A reminder to please take the NetDay Survey! This will give our district some great information about technology in our community, plus it will keep a record over time.  http://www.netdayspeakup.org/        The password is *****       Thanks.

I just spent 2 days at the Christa McAulliffe Conference in Nashua, NH. Bob Sprankle and I presented a workshop called Hands On Podcasting, Podcasting with Purpose (Bob), http://www.nhcmtc.org/2006/Spotlight.html  and Math Links for Elementary (Cheryl)Math Links are here at  http://del.icio.us/elementarymath .  We attended many great sessions. Alan November was the keynote speaker on Tuesday, David Weinberger on Wednesday. If you are interested there are links for their online keynotes hosted at the ISTE-Christa McAulliffe site.      http://www.nhcmtc.org/2006/Keynote.html
 
There is also a live podcast with folks from the conference. If you are interested in learning how to apply podcasting to your classroom please contact Bob Sprankle or Cheryl Oakes.
To listen to the podcast you can go to  Women of the Web 2.0, and click  the link  http://womenofweb2.podomatic.com/ and select Week 5.

Highlights from Alan November:

Our journey using web tools must include making our classrooms the hub of communication. The communication needs to be worldwide. If we are not teaching our students how to communicate globally we are doing them a disservice. Our classroom tools must include blogs, wikis, podcasts and SKYPE.

See my post at TechLearning.com/blog  Go Global with GlobalSpeak!


David Weinberger talked about social learning and how our students see things differently. Our students don't see lists and taxonomies, rather, they are the product of the Internet and they see the interconnectedness of items. We digital immigrants are a product of the Dewey Decimal System and our students are a product of Amazon.com where they can find a iPod under many links: electronics, music, digital recorders, toys, mp3 players....... the list can go on. We digital immigrants need to learn more so we can teach them how to do more productive, reliable and precise searches on the Internet.

Try these 2 ways to search and  compare the process. If you want more information on how to provide you and your students with more productive web searches stay tuned!

Try a google search for Joshua Chamberlain

it provided me with 745,000 hits in .05 seconds.

However, if you go to AltaVista, type Joshua Chamberlain  + edu     in the search

this will provide you with 35 hits    and all will have something associated with a school.

If you want more information on how to provide you and your students with more productive web searches stay tuned! Is this helpful? More soon!

Over and Out

Cheryl Oakes


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Sunday, November 19, 2006

NETDAY SPEAK UP 2006

NetDaySpeakUp is a national non-profit organization which WOCSD has partnered with to collect data from our district students, parents and teachers about technology. The survey is very comprehensive and takes about 20 minutes to complete. We will have access to this data and will be able to look at trends and patterns in our community and across the USA. At our District Technology meeting it was decided to participate in the survey. We'd like to strongly encourage the High School students, teachers and parents to participate since we are also involved in high school accreditation and this information will become part of that comprehensive plan.
Thanks in advance for participating! Tell your friends, community members and other staff members. The password is the first word in WOCSD, only because that is short!
Thanks,
Cheryl Oakes, Content Collaborative Coach for Technology and the District Technology Committee.


Promote Participation

Below is a sample email you can send to participating schools in your district. Please forward along with your personal encouragement:

Please Participate in the 2006 NetDay Speak Up Survey

NetDay Speak Up is a national initiative of Project Tomorrow, the new nonprofit organization formed with the merger of NetDay and Project Tomorrow in September 2005. The Speak Up survey invites students, parents, and teachers to take part in our fourth annual online survey. This is an opportunity for students to share their voices with their local school-decision makers and for teachers and parents to join the national dialog about science, technology, and 21st century skills.

Our district has committed to having at least 15% of our students take the online survey. Because we will have access to our school and district data, this is an opportunity for students to share their opinions and ideas about technology use. For teachers and parents, this is an opportunity to join the national dialog about technology and 21st century skills.

* Your school's secret word is: the first word in WOCSD

* The Speak Up dates are Wednesday, November 1 - Friday, December 15, 2006.

* Students, teachers, and parents will use the secret word to access the surveys at www.NetDaySpeakUp.org.

* The NetDay Speak Up website (http://www.NetDay.org/SPEAKUP) offers a How-to Guide for participants including lesson plans, helpful suggestions, and other resources for making the survey experience a success.

* Visit the NetDay Speak Up website (http://www.NetDay.org/SPEAKUP) for ideas on how to promote the Speak Up event at your school. You can print out a flier to post at your school or use our email text to send reminders to your teachers.

Thank you and we look forward to your participation.

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Thursday, November 09, 2006

Latest Web 2.0 tools.

A short and sweet, or as the kids say    schweeeet blog of the latest.


National Geographic podcasts tell world stories.

New copyright guide answers your frequent questions right here!


Google for Educators just keep bringing on more great stuff. Here is the literacy portal.

You will need to sign up and register, free, for goggle for educators. Coming Sunday Nov. 12, 2006

Nov 12 -18 is Geography Awareness Week. This year, explore Africa in Google Earth and learn about its rich wildlife, culture, landscapes, and history.

Okay, one more

NovaScienceNOW

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Wednesday, November 01, 2006

DTC October 19, 2006 Minutes

Hello, this is a summary of the District Technology Committee meeting of October 19, 2006.

Submitted by Cheryl Oakes

Minutes from DTC meeting October 19, 2006

Members present: Laura Subilia-Bell(parent/community member), Marty Cryer(parent/community member), Ira Waltz (Asst. Superintendent), Bob Sprankle (Technology Integrator-WES), Cheryl Oakes (Collaborative Content Coach for Technology), Cheryl Mills (Adult Ed Director)
Members not present:
John Osterday (Computer Technician/Network-WHS), Jamie Reynolds (Computer Technician-WES),
Mike Griffin (community member), Megan Sullivan ((parent/community member)),Saul Lindauer (Technology Integrator-WJHS on Sabbatical until 12/1/06)

There are 2 other community members who may be interested in joining the group. They will be invited prior to the next meeting with is set for November 16, 2006 at 3:20 at Central Office.

Cheryl O presented the slide show that was shown to the staff prior to the start of school. The slide show will be added to the district page.

Cheryl O presented a diagram of district technology. A suggestion was made to add the names of the people who represent the targets on the diagram. After looking at the chart and identifying people who represent the job descriptions on the chart it was noted that there is not a tech integrator at WHS. This was/is a concern to the committee. Laura wanted to know how students get direction about working in the field of technology, or where they get direction about taking courses at YCCC. Does the district provide the kinds of education options for technology for the 21st Century?

Marty reported that there are limited offerings for students to use their laptops. Most of the kinds of work done is on the laptops is about word processing. Kids do not understand virus', cookies, pdf? How can this be taught without a tech integrator at WHS?

Netsmartzkids.org curriculum has been used at WES and at WJHS for students enrolled in computer classes. How can we be sure all students get the message about Internet Safety in WJHS and WHS? Cheryl  O mentioned that Nancy Cotty was in charge of a safety presentation. The members offered to help with this endeavor.

There was a discussion about Linux operating system and open source software. Cheryl O will try and arrange a speaker in the future about this new software and operating system. Is this an area the district should be looking at adopting? Linux doesn't have a lot of proprietary code so it is easier to run on  machines that we currently have. What will happen with Microsoft comes out with Vista operating system? Where will that leave the district with functioning equipment?

Laura mentioned that we should look at the community resources for training opportunities on software.


The district should look at how we manage staff development and how we can transform education. Ira Waltz has a 2 year survey of the 9th graders and what and how much they used their laptops in school. The Collaborative Content Coach position was created to help move teachers and students along using technology in more innovative and comprehensive ways K-12+.

Cheryl O reported about HomeworkNow.com has been purchased for each school as a way for teachers to have a quick way to share what is happening in their class, make the email address available and as a way to communicate with parents and the community was a discussion about Web2school as well.  It was decided that we have some good technology options which are being under utilized at the present time. Maybe we need easier ways for parents to connect with these options, more training, more information. We should be aiming for less paper going home with the students, we should be less of a clearing house for all the community agencies and make information available digitally, where we can.

The  main ideas from the meeting:

Better utilize the technology options we have in the district for parents, Web2school, HomeworkNow.com, Internet Safety information, . The comprehensive Wocsd Web site is an example of how this can be accomplished.

Better utilize staff development opportunities in order to transform the kinds of activities we expect teachers and students to be involved with at all buildings and program levels. The Collaborative Content Coach for Technology will be involved in setting this up.

Look at the equipment replacement schedule and determine how best to meet the district needs based on the Technology Plan. Set up a presentation about Linux and open source software.

Look at the personnel need at WHS for a technology integrator for 07-08. How will the gap be filled this year?




Thanks for all who were able to attend.
Meeting adjourned at 4:40 pm.

News Flash!!!
Jamie Cox, a young man who recently graduated from UMO, has been hired at the Computer Technician at WJHS. Jamie will begin work October 24, 2006. You will get to meet Jamie Cox at our next DTC meeting. Jamie C comes with much experience with networks and with ibook and mac computers. We are looking forward to welcoming Jamie C to WOCSD.






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Monday, October 30, 2006

How to get a message to the TechTeam!

If you are a staff member in the Wells Ogunquit Community School District you have a new way to get technology support from the comfort of your classroom, or the closest nearby computer.


Go to the WOCSD District Webpage.

On the far right  menu you will see a heading for District Staff Site, drop down to Technology Work Order and click.

You will come to a page the Customer Support/Help Desk options. Add your user name, that would be the same as your email user name. Mine is coakes.

Then your password, will be emailed to you. Then select Login.

After you log in, You will have a choice of support options Create New Case and the go button.

There are other choices where you can look at frequent questions and answers, or look at all open cases, search the database or log out.

Once you create a new case and click go, you will have a one line description to fill in. Then choose what category you think your job most represents. Then in the next box, describe your problem or question.

Examples, even though I plug my laptop in, I have no battery reserve.

Is there something I can use to create PDFs?

ANY THING! We will answer your question. After your work order is addressed, you will receive a questionnaire survey to fill out. Please fill these out and give us feedback, good, bad, or mediocre. If you need help, ask a peer. This is the only way we will be able to address your technology needs.

Once you have described your problem, then hit the submit button. You will get an automatic response from us. Then we will schedule the work in an email to you.

Thanks for using this new tool.

If you are in the high school, John Osterday will answer your work order.

If you are in the elementary school, Jamie Reynolds will answer your work order.

If you are at the junior high school, Jamie Cox will answer your work order.

Thanks,

Cheryl Oakes


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Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Blogs, how, why, where and when?

This is a great short movie about blogs and why you might use them in schools. The movie takes less than 5 minutes.


Check out the link.

http://weblogg-ed.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/WebLoggingSmall.mov


Can you think of a way to use this in your class?



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k12online conference! You can do it!

Have you thought about going to a conference about technology only to find that you really can't take the time to leave your classroom, you can't travel to Atlanta, Georgia, NYC or can't afford the money for the registration?

Well, the  k12online conference is all about open source software, the Web 2.0 tools, (web 2.0 means that you are using the interactive read/write web). You are not just sitting in an auditorium next to other people all scribbling notes and trying desperately to make the connections with the speaker, instead you are asynchronously joining a conference that has or is happening at the time you join. It is all about you choosing the time to listen, the article to listen to or read, and where you will join in this online conversation! How is this all possible?

By clicking on this link and joining in this online conference! There are many bloggers, podcasters, webcasters and technologists from around the planet who are ready to give back to their peers, who have volunteered to join this conference and who have designed some of the best and most updated and challenging information for YOU!

All you need to do is join and click on a link when you can, work on your own, work in small groups, blog and converse with others, it is about the conversation. If you need some professional hours, add this kind of event to your professional plan. If you need credits go to this link and sign up for some credits from Plymouth State College in NH in partnership with Shanghai University!  I am so totally doing this, I have always wanted credits from Shanghai!

Here is the keynote! 

You will need about 30 minutes to view the keynote, it is totally worth it!

Are you just a little interested? Can you find someone in your school who might do this with you? Can you find someone in  England who might do this with you? You will need SKYPEGizmo to converse with others, or and you will need some chutzpah! Chutzpah is free! This conference is free, find someone to join with you. I promise you will enjoy this, I promise you will be challenged, and I promise you will find the best professional development you have been to in years!

There are many links that will support this online conference. Enjoy! If you want to take part using just a few of these presentations that is fine. Just remember the conversations are the most important part, join a blog, leave a comment, it will be transformational!

http://landmark-project.com/k21online/

http://hitchhikr.com/index.php?conf_id=113

How popular is this topic? Well if you look at the ClustrMaps, only 2761 people visited this site yesterday and over 21, 215 people have visited since September 2006. I know I can find a couple people to relate to in this group, how about you?


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Friday, October 13, 2006

David Warlick's keynote ACTEM

If you were unable to attend ACTEM you can share in the conversation of David's kick off presentation by reading the highlights and soon a link will be posted here for the podcast .


Remember to go to handouts of David Warlick's workshop.


Remember to use Hitchikr.

David will also provide a session on the Ethics of the Information Highway.

Redefining Literacy for the 21st Century.

Workplace of the future

Information-2003 5 exabytes of new knowledge.

Of new information only .01%  is even printed each year.

Why are we teaching students to use paper?

We don't want our offices to stay behind, we want to take our connections with us.

conclusion first!

We should stop integrating technology, but integrating literacy!

Kids need to know how to teach themselves. Kids will spend their careers re tooling for new jobs.  You must be literate. You must have the skills to learn new tools.

Old literacy- reading-riting-rithmetic.

Literate, in 21st century

kids will read blogs, who published, who authored, investigate who wrote the piece.

URL backtracking, delete back to the first forward slash.

be a detective, look for clues.

go to bottom of the page and find webmaster.

We have to teach our students to research what they find.

We learned to read what teachers, librarians, adults gave us. No need to question authority.

Now our students can read anything anywhere anytime. But they must be literate and find the source.

Read text and find the truth of the text.

Now students must

find the information

decode it

critically evaluate it and

organize into a personal digital library.

Wikipedia library

Part 1 see what it says.

Part 2 go and prove that it is true.
Part of reading information is finding the evidence that what you are reading is true.

When the BBC announced PLuto not a planet at 13:34 GMT,

Wikipedia announced the change of Pluto as a planet at 13:35 GMT.

What about your encyclopedia, when will that change?


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Saturday, September 30, 2006

Looking for an online project to do with your class?

I met Jennifer Wagner, online, she is a teacher/project coordinator in California. She offers great lessons, projects and ways for you to have your classes collaborate.


Check out a project that is just waiting for you and your students. Tell Jennifer I sent you.

Technospud


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Conversations on a Flat Planet

You can read my post at TechLearning.com/blog, I was invited to be a guest blogger. Pretty cool, pretty international. Remember you are all in my network!

Over and Out

Cheryl



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Monday, September 25, 2006

A first!

Today was the first day, I did not have a phone message, phone ringing, phone vibrating or a missed call all day long! Prior to today, I've been available by cell phone, which has been my office for the past 6 weeks. I think technology has turned the tide at WOCSD.  Dare I say this, yes, the vision of the end of the tunnel is approaching. Are there still areas where the printing is not functional 100% of the time, sure, but not for much longer. The goal is to have the technology be seamless, with your help and support we will get there together.


Next.... working with students and teachers and displaying and demonstrating evidence of all the great technology being used in the WOCSD district.

If you have something you want to share, email me and I'll find a way to share your news!

WOCSD where our students touch the future!

Over and Out,

Cheryl Oakes


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Wednesday, September 20, 2006

TechTalk update September 20, 2006 Progress has been made!

Hello to all!

K-12 WOCSD Technology Status         September 20, 2006

Thanks for your patience.
Please share this email with others who I may not have on my email list. I keep adding new staff as soon as I get them

Today September 20, 2006, ADS, our outsourced network provider,  was scheduled to be at WHS to finalize the movement of some staff to the new DOMAIN. Due to an  illness they were unable to come down. The lead programmer has bronchitis , so we will reschedule. John Osterday and Cheryl were able to get Adult Ed. moved over with some remote assistance from ADS. John Osterday and Cheryl finished getting 12 people moved over to the domain and linked up to their files.

Dan Gagner, our MLTI/ibook consultant, who happens to be a retired technology integrator, by Thursday will have processed 650 ibooks through his data base, moved to the domain and they are ready to hand to students depending on how the High school and Junior High are ready to move forward. Dan is also moving the old MLTI laptops to the domain and half will remain at WJHS, the other half will move to WES. A huge thanks to Dan and all his work!

There are 6 more people to move over at WES.

We are thinking we have moved all staff to the new domain in terms of laptops.

So.... if  you are not able to go on the Internet, not able to get email, not able to print, we do want to hear from you. Find a computer and send off an email. It is great when I hear from you and I move around the district, but my hand gets full of notes and I run out of space. Go ahead and email me.

Since you have been moved to the domain, you can log onto any computer in the district. Please share with the ed techs that they too can log on and have access to their email and a folder to save their documents. Ed Techs all have the same password that was the standard, color password.

There have been printing issues with the new copiers and we are trying to isolate what the problems are.

Next we will begin working on getting classroom computers and students at WHS onto the network. Classroom computers will be added to the domain we will be getting around to you.


Be ready to change your password. Here are the directions again for the protocol. Have some fun with  your password sentence!

Here is a republish of my summer time hints for password protocol.

This ADS network will standardize the district with all staff logins, student logins in all buildings and
a new login/ password protocol. Our standard login will be first initial -last name, (
exceptions will be for similar logins in which case the next letter in the first name
will be added).
**** Bulletin*** Extra***Extra***
The other part of the protocol will be that student passwords will change on a 90 day
rotation basis(3 x a year: not for Wells Elementary Students), STAFF passwords will
change at 180 days (2 x per year). This change represents a more security acceptable
protocol.  So, I am going to ask you to do some summer bummer homework. Be thinking of a
way to come up with your own password that you will remember. I?ve been reading about
passwords and some of the latest recommendations.
Here are the guidelines:
           Passwords must use a variety of kinds of symbols and keys
           At least 8 characters
           A lower case letter, an upper case letter, at least a number
           Optional use of non-alphabetic characters

The reason we will be following this protocol is to prevent hacking programs from
cracking your codes. Also, we will ask that you NOT write down your network password,
which defeats the whole protocol.

SUMMER BUMMER HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
You will not be graded on this, but you will be happier having done this ahead of time.
Think of a favorite saying or sentence. You can write this down at home and try it ahead
of time to see how easy it is to type, that will be critical! Take the first letter of
each word and make up your password. Here is how to create your code.

My sentence:

Sugarloaf is best for skiing and snowboarding. ( only 2 more months to ski season.)
My password will look like this at first

Sibfsas


However, I could use & for the word and, then add a number and I am done.
Finished password:

Sibfs&s1


So, I challenge you to come up with your security password. Oh, in 6 months when we have
to change this, I will have another tip for redesigning your password.

           THE NOTS, YOU MAY NOT DO THE FOLLOWING:
           Do not use your names, children?s name, pet names, school name, titles etc
           Do not use WORDS
           Do not use DOB, SS#, anniversary , phone number
          I will post most of this on my new TechTalk blog. Comments are welcome.

Information about passwords was gathered from this article. People, problems and
passwords by Victor Bobb, ITtrends, 2nd quarter, 2006
http://www.flmicro.com/ittrends.html

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Sunday, September 17, 2006

Great new links!

Well, in spite of all the network changes in the district, instruction still happens and more often with technology. Here are a couple great sites you may find content to support your course.

NobelPrize.org

Here you will find Nobel Prize winners and learn about them through games and simulations. This is a comprehensive and thought provoking site. Good for elementary and secondary.


World Wildlife Fund

Learn about the delicate biological balance of the world through interactive maps, photos, quizzes and games! This is for elementary and secondary.

BEEweb

Here is an education community where students are encouraged to become each other's teachers. SpellBEE, PatternBEE, GeograBEE and MoneyBEE- with two player games in which students log on and test each other's knowledge. This one is for elementary.

Sadlier-Oxford Phonics Interactive

Explore phonetics with this extensive education resource stie that uses word-math games, memory cards and a host of in-depth activities to teach studetns about letters, sounds and words. Elementary.

Quiz Hub

Free, cross-curricular, thinking games, quizzes and logic puzzles at this fee based site. Elementary and Secondary.

Try out some of these sites, and share them with your peers.

Over and out.

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Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Back in the Swing

We are in full swing with students, staff and NWEA's at Wells Ogunquit! The network migration is still very, very rocky. Thanks for all your patience.

Here are some things to look forward to this month.

Teachers, a reminder that there are a couple grants coming due:

Te@ch at Best Buy. Check this out, it is due 9/30/06.

NSA Awards due October 12, 2006. This is a science focus.

NWEA's began Monday, 9/11/06 at WJHS and WES. WHS will begin by 9/18. The testing will continue through the rest of September. Students do not test more than one time a day, and usually enjoy the challenge of getting better scores than they did the previous test time. Staff will be using the information on our first early release day 10/4/06.

A consultant, Dan Gagner, is working on getting the new ibooks ready for 7th and 8th graders. The staff just received their new ibooks and are looking forward to learning more about the new software available to them.

My son told me, that I had to get more into the 21st Century, and lose my old saying Over and Out. He suggested I try, Goodnight moon and have a great day! It is catchy, what do you think?

Over the moon and have a great day?



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Monday, August 28, 2006

Grant Opportunities and Great Links!

Have you recently had a great idea for your classroom, but not enough money? Here are a couple grants you could apply for. Office Depot and Jo-Ann Stores has $500.00 awards available for teachers in Maine. The application is only 1 page and due Sept. 30, 2006. If you would like help please contact Cheryl.

http://shopa.org/shopa_foundation/2006_teacher_grants/

http://shopa.org/shopa_foundation/2006_teacher_grants/2006_teacher_grant_app.php?source=joann



Here is a $3,000.00 math grant. If you are a NCTM member, teacher grades 9-12 and are interested in planning lessons in Math connected to other subjects, you could apply and get this grant. Deadline Nov. 3, 2006. The proposal is a 3 page maximum grant proposal. http://www.nctm.org/about/met/pappas.htm

For math grants at other grade levels please look at this page. There are a variety at each grade level. I'll be happy to help!

http://www.nctm.org/about/met/index.htm

Here is a $3000.00 math grant if you are a NCTM member and teach middle school 6-8. This $3,000.00 grant is to support the design and creation of material in the form of books, visual displays, slide shows, videotape or other appropriate media. The focus of the materials should show the connectivity of math to other fields or to the world around us. Deadline Nov. 3, 2006. There is a 3 page maximum for this grant proposal.

http://www.nctm.org/about/met/shult-hocking.htm

Great LINKS!

I know I've mentioned this before but it is so great.

http://access.newspaperarchive.com

This link gives you and your students access to front page news from 1794 to 1977 including the following countries, US, UK, Canada, and Jamaica. Our librarians will be the contact for this free service.

KOL Expeditions, brought to us by AOL@SCHOOL, and is an opportunity for students to share in webcasts,free video and interactive websites. The program's goal is to encourage and excite elementary aged kids about science, math and technology in a fun and engaging environment and to expose them to careers in science and related fields. Their latest expedition if called dolphin Communication and begins mid-August!

http://www.kolexpeditions.com

Google, one of my favorite Web 2.0 tools has come up with another great for high school teachers, teaching Shakespeare.

Http://books.google.com/googlebooks/shakespeare

For researching government documents

http://www.google.com/ig/usgov

That is all for now! Welcome back to the new school year!

Over and out,

This is Cheryl Oakes from Wells, ME.


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Sunday, August 27, 2006

Sunday night news!

I usually have family time on Sunday, like many of you, and today was no exception. I made basil pesto, dilly beans 28 quarts, brownies, watched a soccer game, recorded a Seedlings podcast with Bob Sprankle, I recorded the post show audio, edited a podcast with Alice Barr, On the Road with Alice, listened to the last of EdTechTalk, and checked out my  schedule for the upcoming week. With 3 boys packing to head off to college, it is a trick to get everything done.  One last thing will be to edit the post show with SEEDLINGS. I'll add the audio to my webpage, follow the link if you have a few minutes to listen.

What is happening with the network and moving laptops and computers to the domain? I have 27 staff members signed up to have their laptops moved over to the new domain. Please email if you would like to schedule your laptop for the "move".

The 7th and 8th grade laptops arrived, the image arrived Friday and next week we will begin processing the laptops for teachers, then students.

Printing in the schools will not be available for you until your account for your computer has moved to the new domain. Print at home until you are moved over, then copy at school.

Be sure you have your summer bummer homework completed, a new secure password.

Reminder NWEA testing will begin 9/11 and continue through September.

Over and out

Cheryl






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Saturday, August 26, 2006

This is a re-publish, read the password hints.

Tech Talk from coakes

Hello, This is Cheryl Oakes coming to you from Wells, ME. I have just been appointed to a
new job in the district. Really for the most part it is doing some of the same things but
district wide rather than at Wells Elementary School. I will have a blog, web log, and
podcast, internet mp3 recordings, that you will be able to access 24/7 with the latest
technology information in the district. A blog means that you will be able to comment at
the end of the articles I post. It will be important to comment since blogging is about
conversations on the internet, and the conversations help others learn through the
conversations we have. So welcome and I hope many of your participate in this use of
technology.  http://www.wocsdtechtalk.blogspot.com


01Techtalk
When you return to school this fall some of you will have new laptops( WES staff), new
computer lab in your building(WHS), new MLTI2 laptops(WJHS) and one thing we will all
have in common is the new ADS network complete with new copier/printers. This ADS network
will standardize the district with all staff logins, student logins in all buildings and
a new login/ password protocol. Our standard login will be first initial -last name, (
exceptions will be for similar logins in which case the next letter in the first name
will be added).
**** Bulletin*** Extra***Extra***
The other part of the protocol will be that student passwords will change on a 90 day
rotation basis(3 x a year: not for Wells Elementary Students), STAFF passwords will
change at 180 days (2 x per year). This change represents a more security acceptable
protocol.  So, I am going to ask you to do some summer bummer homework. Be thinking of a
way to come up with your own password that you will remember. I?ve been reading about
passwords and some of the latest recommendations.
Here are the guidelines:
           Passwords must use a variety of kinds of symbols and keys
           At least 8 characters
           A lower case letter, an upper case letter, at least a number
           Optional use of non-alphabetic characters

The reason we will be following this protocol is to prevent hacking programs from
cracking your codes. Also, we will ask that you NOT write down your network password,
which defeats the whole protocol.

SUMMER BUMMER HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
You will not be graded on this, but you will be happier having done this ahead of time.
Think of a favorite saying or sentence. You can write this down at home and try it ahead
of time to see how easy it is to type, that will be critical! Take the first letter of
each word and make up your password. Here is how to create your code.

My sentence:

Sugarloaf is best for skiing and snowboarding. ( only 4 more months to ski season.J)
My password will look like this at first

Sibfsas


However, I could use & for the word ?and?, then add a number and I am done.
Finished password:
Sibfs&s1


So, I challenge you to come up with your security password. Oh, in 6 months when we have
to change this, I will have another tip for redesigning your password.

           THE NOTS, YOU MAY NOT DO THE FOLLOWING:
           Do not use your names, children?s name, pet names, school name, titles etc
           Do not use WORDS
           Do not use DOB, SS#, anniversary , phone number
          I will post most of this on my new TechTalk blog. Comments are welcome.

Information about passwords was gathered from this article. People, problems and
passwords by Victor Bobb, ITtrends, 2nd quarter, 2006
http://www.flmicro.com/ittrends.html

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Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Link for the USM podcast lunchtime presentation

This is the tinyurl of the podcast located on my .mac account.


Podcast, listen here.


Over and out. Cheryl


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Sunday, August 20, 2006

Math Links


A great resource for any math teachers!


Project Interactive

extensive collection of lessons, interactive tools, activities and teacher resrouces for middle level and upper elementary mathematics. Good applets for High Schools as well.



Natational Library of Virtual Manipulatives
Online labrary of virtual manipulatives aligned with national math standards for grades PreK-12.

Enhancing and Extending the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives

The eNLVM tool is an oline lesson creation tool. It provides an opportunity to create lessons that incorporate online tools and applets, text and response types in cluding ope-ended text responses, selected response items, file uplaods and other response types.



NCTM Illuminations
This website provides lessons, standards, interactive tools, and web resources that support the vision outlined in the Principles and Standards for School Math.

Seeing Math Interactives
This website hosts interactive , online toos for use in middle school and high school math classrooms. The tools included qualitative , linear and quadratic graphing as well as, functional and ata analysis applets.

WisWeb
This site is hoteses by the Freudenthal Institute which conducts research into mathematics education. Some things are in English, some in Dutch.

Analyze Math
Alegebra I, Algebra II, Trig and Calculus

Argyll Centre
Interactive math tools and movies written in Flash.

Manipula Applets

Interactive java applets related to middle school and high school including trig, calculus, conics and others.

ExploreLearning (fee based website)

A commericial website that hosts interactive learning tools for math and science. Middle and High school is the target.


Arcytech Java Applets

Java applets to suport mathematics teaching and learning. Pattern Blocks, Base 10 Blocks, Integer BArs, or Cuisenaire Rods, Fraction Bars and tools to explore Pythagorean Theorem, the Value of Pi and Fractals.

Mathematics Online Encylopedia and Dictionaries Mathworld

Online Math encyclopedia and resoruce that includes an extensivve collection of definitions and explanations of math topics.

Intermath Interactive Mathematics Dictionary

Intermath Interactive Dictionary hosted by the Math Dept. at the University of Georgia. It is designed for middle and high school.

ThatQuiz

This site is designed to provide practice and testing of a number of math skills. It is free. and can be used to manage and track student success with a particular skills in the areas of Number and Operations, Algebra and Geometry. You must have IE Explorer 6, Firefox, Mozilla, or Netscape 7.1. On the Mac you must use Firefox or Netscape 7.2


Math.com Website

A website which contains an online glossary, homeowrk help, math calculators, skills reinforcement, worksheet generators and more. It does have advertisements and pop-ups.

Try these out and let me know what you think.

over and out

Cheryl Oakes


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The Lunchtime Share at USM 8/18/06

During our lunch Ruben, Jim and Pam, share some of their favorite parts of the current MLTI image and links. This presentation was recorded and edited by Cheryl Oakes on an iPod Video with the new Belkin Tune Talk Stereo, which you can order from the Apple Store. If you think you might want to learn how to Podcast, look up www.actem.org October 12, Podcasting Workshop.

Ruben Puentedura, shared the great things about NoteShare, which is part of the MLTI image.You may want to have the image in front of you while listening to this podcast.
The help section parts of NoteShare are well done and you will find plenty of support.
NetLogo is a free program, for PC as well as Mac. It is part of the image. This is a great simulation piece of software for solving problems.It provides a great visualation of the problem.
Ruben quickly mentioned Second Life. It is a 3D immersive environment. You assume the personality of an Avatar and you can act our science experiments, listen to talks, look at art exhibits. If you go to Worldbridges.net, you can find an example of the NASA Second Life Museum. It is best to go to Second Life with a mentor or someone who has already been to Second Life. You can join for free.
MIT has a project called Revolution, which is a simulation piece of software, where you assume the character of different people during the Revolution. It is a 3D world, many years in the making where students role play. However, the role playings are real, and the characters have real life consequences during the colonial times, like being whipped and even death.
Then Jim Moulton began his favorites! Jim promoted collaboration, we do not teach collaboration, social networking for our students. This piece is critical. Ruben mentioned earlier in the day how important it is for classes to collaborate with 18 other classes. When it happens, achievement grows by 2 sigma.
Jim promoted Comic Life, which is part of the image. It is integrated with iPhoto and runs seamlessly. Graphic novels are a rage today for adolescents, now let them createe their own digital stories. Try it out! Use Comic Life to create your next set of directions for your next project! What a concept.
Web 2.0 are the read/write web tools that make the difference between viewing the webpage versus interacting and creating content on the web.
http://www.shambles.net/web2
This is a site that supports schools in Southeast Asia and web 2.0 tools. There are plenty of great links here.
Don't try and stamp out MySpace, Xanga,Facebook, but use Noteshare and create an appropriate social network for these connected students!
Writely.com , has been purchased by Google and is a place where you an collaboratively create documents. As a matter of fact our current TechPlan was created collaboratively by 12 people. It works great when people each take a different color to work with. Numsum.com is an online Excel type spreadsheet.
Finally, Pam Buffington spoke about math applets and the many ways to visualize math. The math links will be in the next post. To hear the lunchtime talk, listen here.
http://web.mac.com/cherylsoakes/iWeb/Site/Podcast/Podcast.html
Over and out.

Friday, August 18, 2006

Strengthening Your District Through Technology

Aug. 18, 2006

This is the first time I can actually blog  in a conference presentation.

I am looking at the first crack at the new MLTI2 image.

Adventuresome teachers could apply to Earthwatch and work with scientists on environmental issues. And share their activities with their districts and the world.

Purplemath.com  traditional algebra curriculum. The experience we embed the content in, is what matters. How does that relate to the MLTI project.

2nd Edition with the educator additions, The World is Flat and read this.

An example was used for significant impact on technology and schools, BobSprankle.com's

Room 208 blog and podcast, plus Bit by Bit.

The Newseum link off the MaineLearns site, from the Aug. 06 , 2006 Sessions There are 545 front page papers from around the world.

Look at the map view and click on the map, and the dots will come in a ID the papers on the Newseum. If you hover over the spot on the map, you will see the front page of the news from that country.

So, which newspapers do you have coming into your school.

To use the zoom in a pdf, you can click control, then hold down the mouse key trackpad, then a pop up menu will appear to zoom in , zoom out.

Remind kids about good care of the laptop, lids down, easy does it, the most expensive part of your laptop is the screen.

Newseum is a resource to the whole curriculum. Use print new, with audio news.

How and who can use this.

Next:

Readprint.com   all the classics are available. Using the Safari, drop down, look for Services, Speech, read text for students who need to listen to the text. This is good for highlighted websites, their documents, etc. Think of the possibilities.


Kids are using Sparknotes.com We need to know the tools.

Can we as a district afford not to use these tools on our computers, laptops, LCD panels, SMART boards.......

IDEA encourages all these assistive technologies.

Nimes law all new books must come out in digital content.



Math and Technology,

Pam Buffington, Newton, MA

Kids are innately multi platformed.

Great book, How can Technology enrich Mathematics. from NCREL

math concepts are not only represented well by numerical, but the visual representation.

great visual representation of .75% vs. 75%

NLVM- space blocks, can be manipulated in 3D space, still need hands on, but also need to develop the 3D.

space blocks, is new on NLVM can rotate the cube so y ou can see how the "puzzle" works from flat, to the 3 D block.

What is the evidence that this is true? Pre-CAD activities. Applet for ratio

Mixing paint applet.=

This would be the conversation starter, and then show the results.

Turn the power to the students:

Tool Suite Selection

Interactive, flexible, open tools.

Look at what George Siemens says about constructivist vs connectivist learning

Website for Experiencing Math and Science with Gizmos.  Fee based site. Free 30 day trial.

Apple L, highlights the whole URL bar

Ruben R. Puentendura, Ph.D.

Transformation, Technology and Education

things that made a company successful, was the level of technology used.

Why transformation?

lowest to highest

Substitution= as a tool with no functional change=word processor used like a typewriter=productivity same, or slight dip

Augmentation   substitution as a tool with functional improvement   basic function, cut, copy, paste

Modification   tech allow for significant task redesign   integretated with email, spreadsheet, graphing=substantial productivity

Redefinition   Tech allows for creation of new tasks, previously inconceivable   = integrate with workgroup and content management ( no one person creates a report, but a group looks at data and together creates the data presentation)

We want to be at the Modification and Redefinition levels, and consider the bottom 2 levels as transitional.

Can't wait 2 years to get there, must get going in 2 months.

ONline dictionary and Online Thesaurus that integrates while the student is reading online.

Transitional ways of having students converse and reflect about the reading they are doing in class, IM< SKYPE> and blog.

Kids use SPARKNOTES.com to understand reading material, but if they have to converse and give examples, they will go deeper. If they have to RAP about the passages, they will be engaged.

Ruben's slides are available to us later. Information from Freedman's book.

PISA are assessments that look at how 15 year olds are prepared to assume different levels of jobs, and perform in today's world. Although it looks at Reading, Math, Science, more what can the kid perform in various jobs in the world. Genuine questions actual problems to solve.

The US is in the average range with most of Europe and there are several countries, the commonwealth, Australia, Canada,Finland, Hong Kong, China, Liechtenstein (has fewer hours per day of school), Japan and Korea(the highest use of wired, cell phone and wireless)

All the countries in the lowest group, are participating in the 100.-laptop.

India is going with the more expensive laptop and said no to the 100. laptop as it is not good enough compared to , for example the US.

If we are going to move up in the global standings, we can't make small incremental changes, we need significant changes.

How do we accomplish this SHIFT.

Bloom showed that you can move all students up 2 Sigma gain in  learning with 1-1 tutoring.(1984)

A Bloom/Walberg study , see slide, identified major variables that would effect achievement.

Computer Use, can give you .4, which is the same as remedial tutoring

if you go to the Redefinition   level, then your students go up 2 sigma levels!!!!

All new READ/WRITE and latest tools, will give you 2 Sigma gain for all students.


Technological Avenues to Transformation. Horizon Report- put together for Higher Ed. We will get a copy of the report.

visualization and simulation

social computing

digital storytelling

educational gaming- Games have been essential to learning about the world, the earliest dice were vertebrae and they were sanded, and four sided. There is huge mileage in using games for knowledge.

Concentrating on

visualization and simulation

social computing

for rest of the day.




If you have 18 schools, teachers, students you double your Signma

If you have 10 schools, teachers , students you double your Signma

If you only have 4 schools  you still gain, but not nearly the great benefits.

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Wednesday, August 16, 2006

WOCSD Tech Talk

WOCSD Tech Talk

Thanks for checking your emails. The installation of the hardward for the new network has been successfully installed throughout the district. 14 new copier/printer/scanners have been installed throughout the district. There are many changes with this new network system. Changes are difficult to learn, especially when we are all about getting ready for the new school year. Please be patient, by the middle of September all will be better.
On August 15, the server at the elementary school crashed. We have a back up to July 11, 2006. We are in recovery mode as well as setting up new users on the new server. If you go into school to work, as long as you have your work on your desktop you will be fine.
If you try to print, (we have new copier/printers with some slick options, training required )on your XP machines, use the START button, FIND, and search for the new printers. When you select one, wait while the driver installs.Then print. This will be the same printing process at each school.( At the WHS, you will need a printing code in order to use the copier/printers to print.)
Apparently, the WJHS server crashed sometime in the spring. What data was recovered is now on the new server. Your old laptops are set to find an old server. We are working on setting laptops/desktops to find the new paths. If you come in and want to print, you can find printers in the same fashion as at the elementary.At WHS, we have moved all the data to the new server domain. As you come in we will need to set your computers to the new paths. Printing is in the same protocol as the elementary. The wireless networks are not all functioning yet in all the schools.They will be soon!
Please email me if you have a meeting and will need to get on the server.We will do everything we can to get you up and running. Any questions, please email.
Cheryl

Monday, August 14, 2006

Words about Internet Safety!

WOCSD Tech Talk

If you are interested in Internet Safety, and we all should be, read this article by David Warlick.

http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/2006/08/11/a-telling-picture-of-internet-in-the-family/

I wrote this response to the article and the comments after the blog.

Cheryl wrote

  1. Cheryl Oakes said,

    August 14, 2006 @ 9:08 pm

    This Internet Safety belongs to the whole village. I have students in school maybe 6 hours. I don’t pretend to try and educate parents about TV/ VIDEO/MUSIC ratings. However, I do educate parents about Internet Safety. Many parents need to know the vocabulary, the options, how to set parameters and why. I’ll be responsible for the 6 hours during the day, for educating netizens, parents and community. I will enter into a partnership with parents and communities, I’ll collaborate, but I won't advocate for schools to own this whole Internet Safety. Just as I do not advocate for the US Senate try and legislate Internet Safety.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Great links that will be added to the blog in the links section soon.

Titles and URL       Grade level      submitted by Cheryl Oakes  August 13, 2006


Roy the Zebra K-2

UptoTen      K-2  

Protopage  K-12+  a great instant web page for teachers!  

BrainPop k-4   get the password from Mr. S

TryScience k-5

Archaeology 5-8

PBS-A Science odyssey k-5

Candlelight Stories k-5

Gamesaqaurium.com  k-6

Dositey.com   k-12+

Learning to Use Money  1-5



Shodor Math Activities 4-9

National Virtual Math Manipulatives k- 12+

Internet Safety k-6+

Teen Internet Safety 6-12+

Teen Health Internet Safety 6-12+

Blog Safety for Teens 6-12+

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Tech Update, the good news and the not so good news.

Testing to see if I can add from my Flock browser.

The migration from Novell to the Windows server is going well. The hardware is installed, now the funky stuff of getting you all back online and printing. If you have a question please email or call Cheryl at Central Office. See you all back online soon.

Over and Out.


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Tuesday, August 08, 2006

NEW ADS server is happening this week in the district

Hello,
This week all the techs will be working with ADS to set up our new servers. Bear with us as we change over. You may experience some down time in your building as we move things over. Any questions email coakes.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

WOCSD Tech Talk

WOCSD Tech Talk
August 3, 2006
Tech Talk from coakes

Hello, This is Cheryl Oakes coming to you from Wells, ME. I have just been appointed to a new job in the district. Really for the most part it is doing some of the same things but district wide rather than at Wells Elementary School. I will have a blog, web log, and podcast, internet mp3 recordings, that you will be able to access 24/7 with the latest technology information in the district. A blog means that you will be able to comment at the end of the articles I post. It will be important to comment since blogging is about conversations on the internet, and the conversations help others learn through the conversations we have. So welcome and I hope many of your participate in this use of technology. http://www.wocsdtechtalk.blogspot.com


01Techtalk
When you return to school this fall some of you will have new laptops( WES staff), new computer lab in your building(WHS), new MLTI2 laptops(WJHS) and one thing we will all have in common is the new ADS network complete with new copier/printers. This ADS network will standardize the district with all staff logins, student logins in all buildings and a new login/ password protocol. Our standard login will be first initial -last name, ( exceptions will be for similar logins in which case the next letter in the first name will be added).
**** Bulletin*** Extra***Extra***
The other part of the protocol will be that student passwords will change on a 90 day rotation basis(3 x a year: not for Wells Elementary Students), STAFF passwords will change at 180 days (2 x per year). This change represents a more security acceptable protocol. So, I am going to ask you to do some summer bummer homework. Be thinking of a way to come up with your own password that you will remember. I’ve been reading about passwords and some of the latest recommendations.
Here are the guidelines:
Passwords must use a variety of kinds of symbols and keys
At least 8 characters
A lower case letter, an upper case letter, at least a number
Optional use of non-alphabetic characters

The reason we will be following this protocol is to prevent hacking programs from cracking your codes. Also, we will ask that you NOT write down your network password, which defeats the whole protocol.

SUMMER BUMMER HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
You will not be graded on this, but you will be happier having done this ahead of time.
Think of a favorite saying or sentence. You can write this down at home and try it ahead of time to see how easy it is to type, that will be critical! Take the first letter of each word and make up your password. Here is how to create your code.

My sentence:
Sugarloaf is best for skiing and snowboarding. ( only 4 more months to ski season.J)
My password will look like this at first
Password missing on purpose

However, I could use & for the word “and”, then add a number and I am done.
Finished password:
Password missing on purpose

So, I challenge you to come up with your security password. Oh, in 6 months when we have to change this, I will have another tip for redesigning your password.

THE NOTS, YOU MAY NOT DO THE FOLLOWING:
Do not use your names, children’s name, pet names, school name, titles etc
Do not use WORDS
Do not use DOB, SS#, anniversary , phone number


I will post most of this on my new TechTalk blog. Comments are welcome.

Information about passwords was gathered from this article. People, problems and passwords by Victor Bobb, ITtrends, 2nd quarter, 2006
http://www.flmicro.com/ittrends.html

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Wells Ogunquit CSD Tech Talk

Tech Talk with Cheryl Oakes. Welcome to this public blog about technology in the district. You will be able to view this blog and see the latest news about technology in the district. Join in the conversation and read, ask questions, give comments, share your vision for technology in the 21st Century.
You can email Cheryl at coakes@wocsd.org