12-3-09

=EASTCONN Tech Council Meeting Minutes for 12/3/09=

Web 2.0 Links

 * **Cool Tools For Schools** - http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/
 * **Go2Web20 Index** - []
 * **Kathy Schrock's Web 2.0 Presentation on 4/24/08** - http://eastconntechcouncil.wikispaces.com/4-24-08
 * **Kathy Schrock's Web 2.0 Tools Web Site** - []
 * **[|Kidblog] Free, and teachers can set up a class-no student emails needed**


 * Twitter by Steve**
 * Twitter - http://twitter.com
 * Why Twitter? Beyond the social hype, Twitter provides a place for PLN (Professional Learning Network or Personal Learning Network). It's similar to having our TechCouncil go international.
 * Steve constantly mines the data stream and bookmarks his favorites through Delicious or Diigo.
 * Most people use a client to pull in a real time stream.
 * When you enter something into "What's happening?" you are sending a "Tweet."
 * Twitter has introduced lists which are subgroups of twitterers.
 * Popular twitter clients are Twirl and TweetDeck. TweetDeck is more sophisticated and lets you do real-time searching. TweetDeck also lets you create a group to follow. TweetDeck also lets you send automatically to FaceBook.
 * See more on our wikispace page Do You Twitter?


 * Jottit by Jim**
 * jottit - http://jottit.com
 * When you go to jottit, you create a web site, then you claim site.
 * Simple to use and free but limited in what you can do.
 * Jim's presentation:


 * Google Sites and Apps by Marji**
 * Google Apps for Educators - http://www.google.com/educators/p_apps.html
 * Ashford decided on Google Sites for their web page because it was free.
 * Most teachers have been able to use it and some are using it very well.
 * Marji has gmail accounts for teachers are Google Apps. She wishes it was done before the sites were created.
 * Downside is support because they only use email and turnaround time is a couple weeks.
 * Migration was difficult so she found a Google "guru" and for $349 dollars, he assisted with this task. Some earlier accounts will be migrated later.
 * One login and password puts them into all their Google applications. Marji's started having them use collaborative documents.
 * Since space can be a problem (hasn't yet!), the suggestion is to use Picasa for "smart" photo albums.
 * Many lesson plans are being put online at Ashford.
 * Marji is also putting up instructions for the staff.
 * Google Sites is great for small schools.
 * There are still questions about how to view student emails in case of concerns. You can also set the emails to stay within the domain.
 * You can create a list of users at the administration level.
 * See more at: Google Sites Information for Dec 3


 * Diigo in Education by Pam**
 * Diigo - http://www.diigo.com/
 * Diigo in Education list from Pam - http://www.diigo.com/list/pskelly/diigo-in-education
 * Similar to Delicious, but much more powerful, and a higher learning curve s required.
 * After you create a Diigo account, you can then make it an educator account (at the bottom of their homepage).
 * The educational accounts are secure, private, and can be shared by a group of students you set up.
 * Every morning you receive an email from Diigo Education with some interesting links shared by other teachers.


 * SurveyMonkey by Glen**
 * SurveyMonkey - http://www.surveymonkey.com/
 * Free version is restricted with the number of questions and participants. Brooklyn has used the free version and once purchased a month's subscription for a climate survey that had many respondents.
 * Creating the survey is very easy for both students and teachers.
 * You can select an attractive background theme.
 * Examples are available so you can see the type of question you want to use.
 * Steps are: 1) design survey, 2) collect responses, and 3) analyze results.


 * WWP online by Donna**
 * WWP online - https://www.wpponline.com/Welcome.aspx
 * Union chose WWP online for their laptop writing program.
 * Sells assessments to private schools. Donna looked and saw a lot of schools were using it.
 * Very easy for students to use.
 * Automatically holds partially completed documents.
 * Intuitive scoring of any prompt.
 * There is a timer if you want to use it that can be set for 45 min., 90 min., etc.
 * Teachers can add sticky notes.
 * Scores along 6 scales. These scores agreed with the teachers' scores.
 * Gives feedback and skill lessons.
 * Reports for individual students and by class.


 * Delicious by Donna**
 * Delicious - http://delicious.com/
 * Convenient, easy, social, fantastic!


 * Xtranormal by Jane**
 * xtranormal - [|http://www.xtranormal.com]


 * Bitstrips by Michael**
 * Michael's PowerPoint: [[file:Bitstrips.pptx]]
 * Create Comic strips: []


 * The remaining Web 2.0 tools will be covered next time if there is time.**


 * Other Items**
 * Steve recommended participating in the virtual conference for the next 2 weeks at k12onlineconference.org
 * Rich suggest 10MinutEmail - http://10MinutEmail.com - for disposable email accounts.
 * Marji suggested Edutopia's 10 Tips for web 2.0 at http://www.edutopia.org/ten-top-tips
 * Jane informed us that Connecticut SDE is going to adopt ISTE standards.
 * Karen Kaplan is trying to develop a grant for 21st Century learning environments hopefully by mid-December. The state has changed the formula so Jane is unsure of how many of our districts will be eligible.