OSAPAC

Visiting the OSAPAC website was an interesting experience. I had knowledge of the "Ministry Licensed CD" and understood that in many cases this CD was the backbone of many of the the software programs that we were using on our computers. What I didn't know was that the site provides some upgrades, and grade specific ideas on what to do with these programs. Great service, but like some good things, few people know about it and perhaps even fewer take advantage of it.

The board that I'm with has been working with a standard image for it Mac computers for a couple of years and is, I understand, in the process of developing an image for PCs. With all the discussion around "standardization" in education, I wonder if there will ever be a standard image for Ontario schools? If OSAPAC is made up of teachers and computer people from around the province is this an unreasonable thought? Does it make sense?

There are one or two programs that we have on our standard image that do not appear on the OSAPAC site, so I am assuming that our board has purchased the license for the software. It so happens that I believe it (Comic Life) is a great piece of software and I'm glad that our board has it. In the end if we are all teaching the same curriculum using the same reporting system would it make sense that we have access to the same resources.

Great piece of software...

This is the software application that I used for Assignment 2. Comic Life has been on our school board's standard image for Mac computers for a couple of years now. Basically it is a program that allows you to make "Comics". On Mac computers it links up with the iPhoto application which allows users to drag and drop photos into their comic. Users can also capture images from a video camera or iSight and place them directly into their comic.
The great thing about this program is that you can use the comic as a jumping off point for whatever you want to do in your class. Make book reports more interesting, great way to create a "How To..." chart, make the water cycle that much more interesting, demonstrate the life cycle of a frog or butterfly. I have recently begun to use this application with my Grade 5 class and they love it.
A little bit of research online turned up some neat sites that can provide educators with a multitude of ways to incorporate this application into lessons which are appropriate for different grade levels.

This is one of the better ones: (I posted the links below but they don't seem appear when I publish so I have also posted them in the sidebar)



If you want to test Comic Life out, you can get a 30 day trial download for either Mac or Win based machines.
Here is the link:

I'm Back...

Sorry that I have been out of touch for a while. Looks as if lots of good discussions going on!!!
I'll try and get up to speed.

Dave

Did You Know/Shift Happens

I originally saw a version of this video a couple of years ago, this is an updated version that I found on YouTube.

Thought this video created some perspective on technology and how we approach our teaching...
Any thoughts??????

Dave

Okay, now what????

Okay, I like it.  I have read blogs before and even have commented on a couple, but this is my first foray into the hosting section.  Setting this blog up was a extremely easy process and I have had fun exploring different ways to customize the site.  It is very interesting to see how simple it seems to evolve your blog from a visually plain information exchange into an eye catching money maker (AdSense).  

I have always viewed blogs as an ongoing conversation with the world.  With that concept in mind, what part will blogs play within the scope of an elementary school setting?  Seems as if there is a fair amount of personal information that is shared or has the potential to be shared on the web. Unless the access to the blog is limited to invited bloggers, I believe this can be done, I would have some reservations incorporating this type of technology with my grade 5 students.

If the point of blogging is to engage in ongoing and open conversation with, and between students then the environment which facilitates this should be safe and secure.  Our board's intranet provides opportunities for teachers to set up and moderate class conferences.  The scope of these conferences allow for the exchange of messages(emails), instant messaging and through editable documents a form of blogging.  Benefits of class conferences are that the teacher can moderate closely the content and also limit access to students and teachers within the board or school.

I am not closed to the idea of blogging but I would appreciate ideas/thoughts on how it could effectively and safely be incorporated into an elementary school setting.

Dave

Dave's Intro

Hello 

I hope that everyone had a good holiday! Writing this intro is my slow way of jumping back into the reality of getting back into school mode.

My teaching experience has taken me from the TDSB, where I started my career, to my present location of Halton. I have had lots of fun teaching grades 1,5 and 6. Starting in the new year my assignment changes slightly to include being the Teacher Librarian at my school. Being the new T-L is part of my motivation for taking this course as I hope to compliment the .5 position in the Library with an additional .5 of planning time that is dedicated to IT. Giving up my classroom is tough, but the new opportunities and challenges I'm sure will keep me busy.

I love using technology to deliver lessons and provide students with interesting ways to engage in their learning. Despite my interest, I don't always feel very confident that I am using the technology to its full potential. In the end, what I want to get out of this course are practical ideas for the use of technology and the confidence to incorporate technology to a greater extent in my classroom.

Looking forward to the course,

Dave Buddell