Conference+Report

from Mendoza: __ “** Alice ** the Free, Fun and Easy Way to Introduce Students to Programming” __ by Elaine Witkowski and Jill Elberson Alice is free software for visual and interactive programming. Carnegie Mellon developed the program and the late Randy Pausch (__The Last Lecture__) was one of the authors. · 3D programming · Animation · Free teaching tool · Drag and drop Three recommended books: · __Learning to Program with Alice__, Dann, Cooper, Pausch (student edition $43.97) · __Starting Out With Alice: A Visual Introduction to Programming__, Gaddis (student edition $49.97  · __Exploring Wonderland: Java Programming Using Alice and Media Computation,__ Dann, Cooper, Ericson (student edition $79.97)  Copies of the books were given during a raffle. They can be purchased from  Pearson 501 Boylston Street, Suite 900 Boston, MA 02116. Copies of the software were given to participants. The software can also be downloaded at: [] (free software download/resources) __ More Alice Resources: __  · [|http://aliceprogramming.net] (resources)   · [] (tutorials)   · [] (lesson plans middle and high schools)   · [|http://www.personschool.com] (textbooks) · [|http://learnalice.blogspot.com] (video, presentation, blog ** __SAS in Schools__ ** (Middle and High Schools) has been revamped. The new site (June) will be interactive and include audio tutorials in Science (Biology and Chemistry virtual labs, Social Studies (Geography definitions, maps, diverse landscapes, unusual plants and animals), Spanish, Math (with flash cards) and English language (punctuation rules). It will have state and common core standards. The new site requires Adobe Reader 8.0 and Flash 10.1. ** __Skype__ **Example of uses: when student is out sick, collaboration, collaborative presentations, session with authors/experts. Presenters used it with “Read and Skype Across America” for Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Next year they plan to Skype with someone in all 50 states and use an online (Google) form to recruit volunteers to read a book to students. They will email faculty and staff and county office and if they know someone in another state they can submit their name. Be aware of time zone differences. Make Google maps and put markers on the place where the readers are from. Include information about the reader and place. Use a document camera to show a book (images) if reading. Presenters used a Logitech camera. You can get an IPEVO doc cam on a stand for $69.00! Use it as a web cam. [] They used a Polycom microphone and a Smartboard to project on. You can locate authors through a wiki search-some authors are free and some are not. Some Athletic Departments will allow their student athletes to skype with your students. Some examples of using Skype: collaborate with students in other countries, skype with students in other regions of NC to learn about their region, prepare and answer questions for test prep, Battle of the Books practice sessions with other schools. More examples: get a laptop to elderly community members and let them share information with the class, if a teacher is traveling let him skype with the class about that place, skype with an expert, a student’s relative who lives away, skype with someone about a community service project, talk to a museum curator, talk to students at a school they will attend next. Have students coordinate a Read Across America event like Flat Stanley using Google docs, spreadsheets. Extend to curriculum-review, reinforce, support, scaffold. When skyping cover windows (too much light) or project away from windows. Web sites: Around the World with Skype [] Skype in NC schools [] // Resources //: “Skype in the Classroom” [] __Super Book of Web Tools for Educators__ (FREE ebook) [] KB...Konnected [] ** __Livebinders__ **-electronic notebook (organization-graphic organizer) which can be used for class presentations, learning at home, labs, assignments. You can embed in blogs or teacher webpages. Create binders, create tabs, you can make a binder for each class. You can create a binder of things parents can use at home to help their children. Go to livebinders.com and set up an account. No accounts for students under 13. You’ll need an email address. Type ecruisers in the search box at livebinders.com and you can see and use livebinders already created by educators-fantastic! You can create links within your binder and even ebed a binder within a binder. You can add a new subtitle, put pictures in from a Flickr account. You could make a virtual field trip, make an art show. Check copyrights! Resource: [] __ Also of interest: __ · Software from Tech4Learning []. You can download evaluation copies. · Part Stock Computer sells Dell systems and Dell spare parts! Need a flat panel LCD monitor? 19” $119.00. Need a USB keyboard? $10.00 How about a CDRW/DVD combo for a GX620? $29.00!!!! [|www.PartStock.com] 1820 Elm Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414. __Digital Discoveries:__ · Zamzar (online file converter) [] · Symbaloo (access your bookmarks anywhere) [|www.**symbaloo**.com] (free) and [] //(Personal Learning Environment) tool //-organize teaching resources all in one place (subscription cost) · Xtranormal (online flash movie maker) [] · wallwisher (online bulletin board) [] · Sound files to add to rich text media: [], [] , [] · Online digital photo albums (cost): [], [] · Kodu (free programming language for creating games) []