(If you haven’t yet installed Dropbox on your laptop, you will need to do so at this link: http://db.tt/zRNN5wV.)

If you need a reminder as to how to transfer pictures from your iPads to your computers so you can print them, etc., you can download the directions again here.

Now that Mother Nature has calmed down, and we are well into the new school year, it’s time to start thinking about Henrico21 lesson submissions for the 2011-2012 school year.  There are quite a few changes that have been made to the process for this year including the deadlines.  I will highlight the changes below, but always review the Henrico21 web site to make sure you are familiar with all of the rules and regulations for submission.

- The Henrico21 web site has a whole new look having been created using a blog interface.  Many, many new lesson plans have been added from last year’s submissions.  This change is to the reader’s advantage as you can now search the lessons based on several categories.

- The TIP chart has been revised and simplified.

- This year’s focus will be on quality, daily instruction.  Lesson plans should be 150 minutes or less and should emphasize one strand of the TIP Chart.  Projects longer than 150 minutes will be evaluated in a separate category and should emphasize all strands of the TIP Chart.

- Submissions should be turned in on the 2011-2012 lesson plan template.  Click here to download the template which can also be found on the Henrico21 web site.

The submission time line for this year is much earlier:

• August 29-September 2, 2011 – Recommended window to introduce H21 site, process, and TIP Chart
• September 30, 2011 – school selects and norms an internal review team
• Jan 20, 2012 – all lessons to be considered for district H21 recognition have been posted and tagged for district review
• Feb 15, 2012 – district review team makes final decision
• Feb 22, 2012 – award winners are notified via email
• March 28, 2012 – Henrico 21 Awards Ceremony

I created a web site containing all you need to know about VoiceThread after giving a presentation about it at EdTech 2011.  The site contains: a .pdf download of VoiceThread instructions, a YouTube video tutorial I created about how to set up identities, examples of VoiceThread integration into instruction, and how to acquire VoiceThread educator benefits.  Check out the web site, Be Heard with VoiceThread!

With the capability to use Skype this year for educational videoconferencing, many of my teachers are interested in having their students connect with other students in the state, country, or internationally.  I have finally acquired a list of teachers who are willing to videoconference and/or communicate via snail mail.  This awesome 21st century method of teaching is a great way for students to learn about other regions, countries and cultures.  Every teacher in Henrico County can have an unlimited number of blogs, so this would be another great way to communicate and collaborate beyond the classroom.  Videoconferencing can be used for book talks, sharing projects, playing games, etc. in real time.  The students get so excited when this means of communication is utilized as I have learned that they really enjoy sharing their knowledge in this interactive format via web cam.  If you would like to learn more about using Skype for videoconferencing in your classroom, please contact your ITRT.  Any elementary school teacher in Henrico County who would like additional blogs for their classroom use, can contact Julie Franklin or Frank Fitzpatrick to create them for you.

Click here to download the list of “Pen Pals Who Write”.

How do I use this iPad?  That is the question today as all kindergarten and first grade teachers where handed their four iPads for their classrooms.  Some are veteran iPad users, some are merely experienced with iPhones, some had never set their eyes on a tablet, but one thing is certain: No matter their level of experience, they were all excited about the new technology entering their classroom.  Two ITRTs on my team created a video tutorial about basic iPad usage.  The video can be viewed here.

Additional iPad and iPod app reviews can be found on our county’s blog locate here.  Many ideas for instructional integration are also located on the blog.  Have you found an app that you would like to have included on the iPads?  You can click the “Submit an app for review” link on the blog and fill in the needed information.  Henrico County’s iPad and iPod App Review blog is one stop shopping for all your iPad needs!

The room was literally shaking as we endured the wrath of a 5.8 earthquake in  the middle of Henrico’s New Teacher Academy.  Yet, the shaking, rattling, and rolling of the earth beneath us didn’t stop the third grade teachers from gaining the benefits of all that my partner, David Clough, and I had to share that day.  Our session’s title, Thewy Third Thaumaturge” is a tongue twister that makes me giggle every time I say it.  However, as odd as it sounds, it does have a legitimate meaning.  Just consult with Merriam-Webster, put the definitions together, and then it will all make sense.

Thewy Third Thaumaturge lasted for four hours, so David and I decided to rock the day with dance music, glow sticks, a disco ball, door prizes, and LOTS of chocolate!  Yes, learning can be fun for adults too!  It was interesting how the other sessions thought the earthquake was merely our music vibrating the building at first.  I guess that shows just how much fun we had at times.  Our ideas shared during the first half of the session can be found on this website.  The second half of the day we allowed the teachers to use dotvoting.org to choose their topics so we could tailor our smaller group rotations to meet their needs.  Yes, we differentiate for adults too! The topics they chose were: setting up their blogs as web pages, iMovie, Garageband, and Photobooth.

One cool activity we did was in using the photo sharing web site Yogile.  It allows the user to upload pictures to one web page.  Once the photos are all uploaded, they can be viewed as a slideshow or gallery.  Check out ours here!  If you would prefer the pictures to be displayed in book form, check out Keepsy.  You can see our sample here.

Even with the earthquake, the day was a blast and the new third grade teachers left with lots of ideas for technology integration into their instruction.

Many of Henrico schools have set their Henrico 21 lesson submission deadlines for now or the near future since the county deadline for submissions is March 1st. I am looking forward to reviewing your lessons and judging the submissions at each site. Henrico 21 judging will take place at Lakeside on Thursday, Feb. 17th, Colonial Trail on Monday, Feb. 21st, Adams on Tuesday, Feb. 22nd, and Crestview on Thursday, Feb.24th.

Click here to access the Henrico 21 web site.

Click here to download the packet I sent to all of my teachers to help with their Lesson Plan part of Henrico 21.

The file contains:
- Rubric overview with highlights and notes on what to consider when facilitating your lesson.
- An example of an elementary winning lesson plan.
- A blank lesson plan for you to use.

This Glog is a continuous work in progress as I come across Web2.0 resources ideal for the elementary classroom

EdTech 2011 was held at Randolph-Macon College again this year. I had the pleasure of presenting the awesome web 2.0 tool, VoiceThread, with Karen Hues, a Henrico ITRT colleague. Click beneath the picture of our web site to access the actual site and all of our resources, examples, and tutorials!

Click Here!