Technology Learning @Camilla

My Privacy, My Choice, My Life

2011-11-07T17:44:00.003-07:00

My Privacy, My Choice, My Life is a website from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. It is extremely important to protect your privacy online, especially as technology rapidly evolves and continues to significantly impact our personal lives. On this website, students, parents and teachers can find out current privacy information, resources and tips. The homepage offers up two important questions…along with interesting answers:

How does technology affect my privacy?
Why should I care?

Ms. Tonhauser

RSS Feeds

2011-10-28T09:21:00.018-06:00

What is RSS?
RSS (often called Really Simple Syndication) is a digital format for delivering regularly updated web content from blogs, news sites and other online information pages without the laborious task of visiting individual websites. Using RSS feeds benefits online users who want to subscribe to important or timely updates from favourite websites or to aggregate feeds from many sites into one place. RSS feeds can be read using software called a RSS reader, feed reader, or aggregator. Sometimes online users will see RSS enabled webpages that have an orange feed icon located directly on the page (XML and RSS icons are also used); sometimes the Internet browser has this icon on the toolbar.

Lee LeFever’s RSS in Plain English video provides a basic explanation of RSS feeds and how this benefits regular Internet information seekers.

Renovated Reading Through Aggregated Feeding
Subscribing to RSS feeds solves a problem for people who regularly use the Internet. Feed readers can display subscriptions from hundreds of different websites on a single page in the form of a short summary. Users then can scan through summaries quickly and decide whether they should open up the headline links to read complete articles or postings. There are plenty of choices to sign up for a free feed reader, here are a few examples:
Google Reader
NewsGator
Netvibes
Pageflakes

Expert Village has created a How to Use Google Reader 15 part video series, detailing how to change settings, find and organize content, searching and sharing tips, subscribing to feeds and bookmarks.
Ms. Tonhauser

2P Crunching, Munching Caterpillars

2011-05-25T10:28:00.006-06:00

Caterpillar Slideshow May 2011

2P students have created a digital picture of a munching caterpillar after studying the picture book The Crunching Munching Caterpillar by Sheridan Cain.
Using Word 2007, students created the caterpillar picture by:
•Inserting, copying and pasting shapes
•Colouring and shading using drawing tools
•Using fill effects and shape styles

Ms. Tonhauser

Postcards from the Web, Part 3: Peru...Wish You Were Here

2011-05-10T13:43:00.005-06:00

Grade three students have completed part three of their four part social studies series studying communities from India, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Peru. Enjoy this social studies journey to Peru!

To view a full screen version of this VoiceThread, please use the following link:
3HW Peru…Wish You Were Here

To view a full screen version of this VoiceThread, please use the following link:
3S Peru...Wish You Were Here

Ms. Tonhauser

Postcards from the Web, Part 2: Ukraine...Wish You Were Here

2011-04-13T08:37:00.007-06:00

Grade three students have completed part two of their four part social studies series studying communities from India, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Peru. This VoiceThread postcard project allows students to demonstrate an appreciation in the differences among communities with technology infused learning.

To view a full screen version of this VoiceThread, please use the following link:
3S Ukraine...Wish You Were Here

To view a full screen version of this VoiceThread, please use the following link:
3HW Ukraine...Wish You Were Here

Ms. Tonhauser

Qwiki: The Information Experience

2011-03-17T11:24:00.006-06:00

Qwiki is a multimedia website that synchronizes information drawn from Wikipedia articles and other sources on the Internet. Text and images are summarized on the screen like a moving slideshow with a digital voice narrating the information. This website offers visitors free access, although you can sign up for an account to receive more information access.

Qwiki at TechCrunch Disrupt from Qwiki on Vimeo.

Ms. Tonhauser

Postcards from the Web, Part 1: India…Wish You Were Here

2011-02-15T09:45:00.016-07:00

Grade three students have completed part one of a four part social studies series studying communities from India, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Peru. This VoiceThread postcard project allows students to demonstrate an appreciation in the differences among communities with technology infused learning.

“Social Studies provide opportunities for students to use the processes, tools and techniques of various forms of technology. The Alberta Social Studies program of studies includes selected outcomes from its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) program of studies.” The student resource, Many Voices, suggests incorporating technology as a vehicle for inquiring, communication, representing, decision making and problem solving. Technology can be used as a tool to:
• Gather and identify information
• Express and create
• Organize information

To view a full screen version of this VoiceThread, please use the following link:
3HW India…Wish You Were Here

To view a full screen version of this VoiceThread, please use the following link:
3S India…Wish You Were Here

All digital pictures used in this VoiceThread project are from Wikimedia Commons which houses public domain educational media files.

Ms. Tonhauser

Pearson Education Canada. (2005). Alberta Social Studies Many Voices. Toronto, ON: Pearson Canada.

Social Studies 7 Project

2011-01-28T10:51:00.008-07:00

Student artwork by Pier

Ms. Kwan (Assessment Coach), Ms. Langford (Social 7 teacher) and I (Technology Coach) are working with Grade 7 students on an Aboriginal inquiry-based learning project in social studies. In May, 2011, students will celebrate Education Week by hosting an interactive museum called the L'nu'k Student Expo. As expo presenters, students will share and provide evidence of learning and collaboration through various appropriate mediums of technology.

A social 7 wiki and blog has been created to encourage students, parents, and educational guests to participate in collaboration, information sharing, student engagement, and project communication. Please visit the sites to follow the project, view student work and join in the discussion.

Camilla Social Studies 7 Wiki

L’nu’k: A Tribute to the First Nations Blog

Ms. Tonhauser

1L Animal Research

2010-12-09T13:19:00.014-07:00

Kidspiration Animal Research

Grade 1 students have been busy researching animals in science over the past couple weeks with Ms. LaBuick. Students have been studying living things, what they need to survive as well as how to grow within their environment. Through research, students have become familiar with differences and similarities in living things.

General Learner Expectations

Students will: Observe, describe and compare living things.

Specific Learner Expectations

Students will:
•Classify some animals into groups on the basis of visible characteristics; e.g., adaptations for survival, such as claws, beaks, prickles.

•Identify examples of animals that are normally under human care (domesticated) and those that are normally independent of human care (wild).

•Identify the requirements of animals to maintain life; i.e., air, food, water, shelter, space; and recognize that we must provide these for animals in our care.

Kidspiration software was used as the tool to give structure to the research project. This tool gave students creativity to visually organize their research information into web groupings such as:
•Lives
•Eats
•Looks like
•Moves
•Facts

Through the help of a cross-graded leadership activity with 5W, grade 1’s were shown how to import a digital picture in the centre of their web as well as given some assistance typing up their research information.

Ms. Tonhauser

Wonderful Wordle

2010-11-23T14:00:00.005-07:00

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Gr 3 Wordle Project

Wordle is a wonderful tool for generating ‘word clouds’ out of text. This online tool does not require a login and allows users to originally design artistic word artowork with the option to print out the colourful creations.

Grade 3 students created their annual fall ‘Introduce Yourself’ Wordle. Students began the project by creating a personalized list of meaningful words in Microsoft Word 2007. Next, students copied and pasted their word list into the Wordle tool where they could customize font style, colour and text layout.

More interesting ways to use Wordle in the classroom include:
•Vocabulary words
•Novel study
•Highlighting key words
•Summarizing
•Writing prompts
•Creating a learning poster

Ms. Tonhauser

Mrs. Kieftenbeld’s Blog

2010-10-29T10:42:00.003-06:00

Welcome Mrs. Keiftenbeld to the blogosphere. She will be blogging for students, parents and staff while attending the Ottawa Teachers’ Institute on Canadian Parliamentary Democracy with 70 other teachers from across Canada. Please check out her blog, feel free to leave comments and celebrate in learning through the theme of the Institute, “Parliament in the Age of Social Media”.

Ms. Tonhauser

Welcome Tech 7 Students to the Blogosphere!

2010-10-19T13:18:00.016-06:00

Tech 7 students have entered the blogosphere as student bloggers. They are now web authors and collaborators by newly creating and maintaining individual public blogs. You can access the grade 7 student blogs on our main webpage titled Grade 7 @Camilla School. Please feel free to visit, read their postings and leave comments.

I decided to use kidblog.org as our blogging tool because it is simple, secure and presents straightforward formatting. Blogging is a great way to have an introduction to 21st century literacies, online participation and classroom sharing. Students will learn how to creatively design and edit blog posts, upload media files, and continue to grow as ethically responsible digital citizens.

There is a great article titled 20 Reasons Why Students Should Blog which outlines the power of student voice through this format. Blogging is a powerful learning community where sharing, learning, collaborating and responding is open 24/7. Students are engaged in writing meaningful posts and responding to blog comments, interacting not only with peers but potentially with a worldwide audience.

Take a little time to enjoy the view from our place in the blogosphere.

Ms. Tonhauser

Cyber Safety

2010-09-21T13:14:00.004-06:00

Last week Craig Krieger, Crown Prosecutor for Technology & Internet Crimes from the Government of Alberta, was invited in as a special speaker for grades 5-6 and 7-9 classes. Craig’s presentation titled Cybercrime: When Computers Go Bad gave students and teachers valuable information on cyber crimes, Internet safety, digital footprint awareness and identity theft. Some of the main points from his presentation include:
• Computers are used as tools, but can also be used as targets
• Keep your antivirus software up-to-date
• Think before you type!
• Carefully decided what information you give away online
• Protect your email address
• What you type to someone online is not private

Many of the Internet safety websites Craig referenced in his presentation can be found on this blog in an earlier posting under the Internet Safety tag.

Wecome Back!

2010-09-03T12:57:00.009-06:00

We are all back and looking forward to another year of sharing, collaborating, creating, engaging and participating in new technology learning opportunities. The library computer lab has been updated and we are excited about having the addition of another mobile lab available for classrooms.

On August 31st and September 1st teachers attended workshops by David Warlick titled Leading & Learning in the 21st Century and Cracking the Code. Some of the key points from David’s presentations included:
• Promoting life-long learning
• Preparing students for an unpredictable future
• Learning to live in a culture driven by hyper-connectedness
• Redefining and reinventing what it is to be an educator
• Teaching students ‘how to teach themselves’

4L Novel Study: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

2010-06-10T14:54:00.003-06:00

To view a full screen version of this VoiceThread and leave a comment for 4L through the VoiceThread tool, please use the following link:
4L Novel Study: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

VoiceThread is one our favourite Web 2.0 tools here at Camilla School. Teachers are using VoiceThread as a digital storytelling tool that can be shared in the classroom, school, and education community. This tool offers online collaboration, interaction, communication and participation from around the world.

4L students read Judy Blume’s book Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing as a novel study. Judy Blume is an award-winning author of children’s and young adult literature with over 80 million copies of books in print.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing tells the story of fourth grader Peter Hatcher and his little toddler brother Farley Drexel ‘Fudge’ Hatcher. As a big brother, Peter always has to help his little brother Fudge, who seems to get all of the attention. This makes Peter feels neglected by his parents. Peter feel like a fourth grade nothing! This book is filled with more interesting characters such as Mr. Yarby, Sheila, Jimmy, Sam, Jennie, Dr. Brown, Mr. Vincent, Dr. Cone and of course Dribble, Peter’s pet turtle.

Judy first got the idea for the book when her children’s babysitter showed her a newspaper article about a toddler who swallowed a turtle. This quirky story inspired Judy to write the story as a picture book titled “Peter, Fudge and Dribble.” Many publishers rejected the idea until several years later when it caught the eye of an editor who wanted the story to be told as a chapter book, and the novel was written. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is the first book in her Fudge series.

Ms. Tonhauser

Teachers would help me learn better if…

2010-06-09T11:38:00.003-06:00

I came across an article last week titled “Hey Teachers: This is How I Learn.” from a blog titled TeachPaperless: Seeking social solution to the mysteries of 21st century teaching and learning. The philosophy behind the blog is to help educators create paperless classroom through integrated technology learning communities. The blog posting reflects on a classroom discussion between one teacher and a class of students.

Ms. Tonhauser

2K Ted Harrison Project: A Flickr Invitation

2010-06-03T12:43:00.005-06:00

The Ted Harrison Studio in Victoria, British Columbia has begun collecting student artwork to share via the Internet. We are pleased to report that the 2K artwork from our April 18th Ted Harrison VoiceThread has been invited to be part of the online student gallery in Flickr photosharing. Flickr is a free Internet photo and video hosting website that houses over 4 billion images.

To visit the gallery’s online Flickr account, use the following link:
Ted Harrison Flickr Photostream

Congratulations 2K!

Ms. Tonhauser

5B Novel Study: The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford

2010-05-20T13:00:00.007-06:00

To view a full screen version of this VoiceThread and leave a comment for 5B through the tool, please use the following link:
5B Novel Study: The Incredible Journey

5B has just completed a novel study using the VoiceThread multimedia tool. The visual component of this VoiceThread project has allowed grade five students to showcase comprehensive volcabulary words, setting/locations and core characters from their novel study captured in a free tool called Wordle. This online tool is becoming increasingly popular in education because its versatility across all subject areas. Wordle creates ‘word clouds’ or a visual display using text.

During the reading of the novel, each student was responsible for creating a Microsoft Word document listing important vocabulary words, significant locations and main character names for each chapter. After the novel was finished, students copied and pasted their assigned chapter list into Wordle and a word cloud was created. Wordle gives users the artistic freedom to customize their image by choosing:
• foreground and background colour schemes
• horizontal/vertical layout of the words
• font style

Once Wordle images were uploaded into Voicethread, students recorded their chapter highlights through the use of an external microphone.

Ms. Tonhauser

5B has just completed technology enhanced project combining Wordle, language arts writing, summarizing skills and their recorded voices. Our VoiceThread focuses on the thrill seeking novel, The Incredible Journey that we read together as a class. Each student was assigned a partner and with that partner they were asked to summarize a chapter of the novel into eight main events. They also had to choose twenty interesting and important words found within the chapter for the wordle they created. We are lucky to also have some very talented artists in our class who recreated a beautiful cover for our project. Many students commented that it was an exact replica of the original on the cover of the book! The students were thrilled to see their finished work on display for the entire world to view! They had a fantastic time working collaboratively and creating their own summaries for The Incredible Journey.

We hope you enjoy our VoiceThread!
Mrs. Berube

Kids in the Know

2010-05-12T11:00:00.006-06:00

Engage, Empower, Educate

Kids in the Know is an interactive educational website to support parents and educators in promoting online safety for K-12 students in Canadian schools. This site contains safety tools, online quizzes, safety checklists and cyber strategies.

Ms. Tonhauser

Cluster Maps

2010-05-12T10:59:00.002-06:00

On April 17th our blog visitor ClusterMap was archived and a new visitor map was created. ClusterMap archives the map automatically after one year. Hard to believe this blog is already one year old! In the first year of Camilla School’s technology blog, we have hosted over 1500 visitors from around the globe. It is interesting to notice that we have had visitors from almost every continent.

Ms. Tonhauser

2K VoiceThread: Part 2

2010-04-29T13:44:00.008-06:00

"I can develop age-appropriate behavior for social involvement as responsible citizens contributing to my community."
Grade 7 Social Studies Learner Outcome

At Camilla School, cross-age learning occurs year round to promote community building. Such activities are mutually beneficial to both younger and older students; resulting in both academic and social gains. For our teenage students, it is an opportunity to model their skills and knowledge for their younger peers. Mr. Paustian’s Grade 7 class provided a wonderful finish to our 2K Ted Harrison project. In Assessment for Learning, descriptive feedback is an important strategy that supports improvement. To provide responses for the 2K VoiceThreads, each 7P student first listened and viewed a presentation with care. After taking notes of key words, they then created responses to express their connections and opinions. Finally, they shared their fine comments using audio, text, and or doodling. The 2K students were delighted with the thoughtful feedback. A huge “THANKS!” goes to Mr. Paustian and his class for taking the time to do extra from their busy schedule. What a great example of student contribution and leadership made possible by VoiceThread!

Ms. Kwan

2K Ted Harrison Project: An Inuit Study

2010-04-18T17:54:00.018-06:00

2K has just completed a technology infused project combining original digital artwork in the styling of Ted Harrison, social studies research, language arts writing skills and their recorded voice. For an introduction to the VoiceThread Web 2.0 tool, please visit the following link:
Introduction to VoiceThread

To view a full screen version of this VoiceThread and read visitor comments posted for 2K through the tool, please visit the following link:
2K Ted Harrison Project

Sturgeon School Division has been promoting research-based instructional practices to improve student learning. One area of focus is Assessment for Learning (AfL). In this process, both students and teachers worked together to achieve targeted learning outcomes. This AfL learning journey was infused by the wonders of technology.

This Ted Harrison Project provided the students a purposeful opportunity to share their learning with local and global friends. The students were guided by the Big Question: How do (did) the Inuit adapt to the Arctic? An introduction was made using a previous VoiceThread project. Our class was fueled with enthusiasm. After each child had decided on a topic of interest to address, we studied the remarkable artwork of Ted Harrison on the Internet. The experience was magnified by the use of our Promethean board. Noting the patterns, our class established criteria as to what their art should target:

We analyzed and discussed how best to apply our KidPix skills to create the visuals. While the children experimented with the KidPix drawing tools for appropriate effects, they collected information relevant to their presentation. By assessing examples of grade level VoiceThreads, they determined the criteria for their content and presentation. In AfL, these powerful conversations enable students to understand “quality” and their own capacity to improve. Essentially, the children’s choice and voice scripted the teaching. The on-going references to where “we’re at” and “where we’re going” uncovered instructional needs. When students are involved in the assessment process, they take on ownership of their learning and progress.

Ms. Kwan

Ted Harrison is a Canadian treasure who is an author, artist and teacher. Harrison's work is displayed in art galleries and private collections worldwide. He is also well-known for his best selling illustrative books including The Cremation of Sam McGee. For further biographical information and illustrative examples, visit the following websites:
Ted Harrison Painting Paradise
Official Ted Harrison Website

Grade 2 students created original digital artwork using Kidpix software. This drawing software allows students the flexibility to define their pictures using a variety of art mediums such as a paint brush, pencil, marker, crayons and a colour fill bucket. Students outlined the template of their picture first using a pencil, carefully mapping out the landscape background. It was imperative to the success of the picture that all lines were connected so the colours filling in each section would not spill out into neighbouring landscape sections. The foreground details were the next part of the drawing process. Once pencil sketches were completed, students choose vibrant colours to fill in their artwork in the styling of Ted Harrison. Part of the instructions outlined to students was to create multiple pieces of artwork and then choose which picture would best represent their written text. Once each picture was uploaded to the VoiceThread tool, students recorded their voice with the help an external microphone. Each student was asked to evaluate the quality of their recording, remembering that a clear, articulate voice was needed to capture the listening attention of blog visitors.

Enjoy the VoiceThread!

Ms. Tonhauser

Sweet Search

2010-04-14T18:59:00.002-06:00

Sweet Search is a new search engine passed along to me via a blog visitor who first heard about the resource through a webcast on EdTechTalk. Sweet Search is an engine that is designed for students through the expertise of research professionals, teachers and librarians. It searches approximately 35,000 researched and approved websites, whereby drastically cutting down the number of search hits students would encounter through the major search engines. This kind of search engine is a welcome addition in information literacy learning as educators continuously strive to help students receive the most relevant and credible information possible in their learning environment.

Ms. Tonhauser

Digital Citizenship

2010-04-08T08:00:00.004-06:00

One of the focuses we continue to address in education is digital citizenship, Internet safety and cyber ethics.

“Digital Citizenship is more than just a teaching tool; it is a way to prepare students/technology users for a society full of technology.” (Digital Citizenship, 2010).

Many online websites have developed specific resources for teachers, students and parents. The Internet is an exciting tool full of infinite resources, information, education and entertainment. However, students need guidance and direction of how best to appropriately explore the Internet and become responsible, safe digital citizens.

Get Web Wise
The Government of Alberta created this website to educate parents, teens and children on Internet safety.

Be Web Aware
Be Web Aware was developed by the Media Awareness Network, Microsoft Canada and Bell as a national Internet safety program.

We’re On To You
This provincial site is sponsored by Alberta and Children Youth Services.

NetSmartz
NetSmartz has created resources for educators, parents/guardians, teens and kids.

GetNetWise
This site was developed to help online users make informed choices and decisions using the Internet.

SafeKids
SafeKids provides tips for social networking, Internet safety, cell phone use, and cyberbullying.

KidSMART
An Internet safety website for students, teachers and parents full of resources and interactive activities.

OnGuard, Online
This site provides tips and multimedia resources on how to protect your personal information when using the Internet.

Ms. Tonhauser

References
Digital Citizenship, (2010). Digital Citizenship: Using Technology Appropriately. Retrieved from http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Home_Page.html

Microsoft Office 2007

2010-03-16T08:11:00.004-06:00

Camilla School is currently transitioning staff and students into using Microsoft Office 2007 software. This new software is running in a mode which allows students to save files that are fully compatible with Office 2003. Microsoft Office Online offers free training for all 2007 products.

Microsoft Office Online Training

Atlas of Canada: The Olympic Spirit

2010-02-23T08:46:00.002-07:00

Natural Resources Canada is providing in-depth resources of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics through historical, statistical, cultural and environmental information. The 2010 map series includes:
• Canadian Olympian places of birth
• Vancouver Olympic geographic regions
• Winter Olympic medallists by Canadian region
• Winter sports participation statistics

Atlas of Canada: The Olympic Spirit

Ms. Tonhauser

Inside the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics with Google Maps

2010-02-18T09:51:00.005-07:00

Google Maps is providing great online real time coverage, medal counts, news and event schedules of the Vancouver 2010 Games. See the Olympic venues up close, ride the Alpine slope or check out the statistics on medal winners from around the world.
Get Inside the Games with Google Maps
Google Maps: Choose a Sport

Ms. Tonhauser

Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

2010-02-09T15:04:00.003-07:00

The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics is right around the corner. With three days…and counting until the Opening Ceremonies, there is a flurry of Olympic research and learning happening here at the school.

We were very fortunate to have an Olympic torch bearer visit Camilla School a couple weeks ago, which in turn sparked more excitement and Canadian pride for the Vancouver games.

Teachers and students have been accessing some of the amazing educational resources available online. Here are a few Olympic sites worth visiting:
With Glowing Hearts
Canadian Olympic Committee
Canadian Olympic School Program
CBC Vancouver Now

Ms. Tonhauser

What Are You Searching For? Part 2

2010-01-28T13:29:00.004-07:00

New studies reveal students are indeed having more trouble searching the Internet that we realize. This podcast discusses the way parents can help mentor and motivate children to refine their information search skills.

Ms. Tonhauser
NPR (2010). Study: Not All Kids Are Computer Whizzes. Retrieved from
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122893913

What Are You Searching For?

2010-01-19T13:47:00.011-07:00

Search Engines

Search engines are tools intended to help people search out information on the World Wide Web. Some of the information retrieved by search engines includes websites, images, video as well as many other types of files. When searching the web, there are a few basic tips to remember:
• Narrow the search topic into keywords or phrases
• Spelling counts!
• Searches are not case sensitive
• Use precise words for your search topic
• Punctuation is usually not necessary
• To locate an exact phrase, place quotes around the words
• Explore as many search results as possible

What is a Phrase Search?
A phrase search is a great search technique for significantly reducing your search results. Place double quotations around the search phrase, which in turn will tell the search engine to only retrieve the phrase indicated.
Example: “John A Macdonald”

What is a Boolean Search?
A Boolean search is a system using standardized words to connect search words or phrases. Using this kind of search will narrow or broaden a web search by using the words AND, OR, NOT (use all caps) as keywords. It is important to recognize that not all search engines support Boolean searches.

Web searching for required words, use the plus sign (+) or AND to require both words be found in the search.

Web searching for excluded words, use the minus sign (-) or AND NOT to request a word not be included in the search.

Web searching for multiple words, use the term OR to request that either one of the words be found in the search.

There are dozens of search engines available for online users to access. It is important to recognize that while Google is the most popular search engine on the web today, it is advantageous to explore different engines and not simply rely on retrieving information from one source. Students need to be well-informed citizens that are able to seek out information from multiple sources, or what we call being information literate. “To be information literate, a person must be able to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information" (Wikipedia, 2010).

While Google continues to dominate as the number one search engine, it should not be the only means to which students are researching, retrieving and using information. There are a handful of effective search engines specifically designed for excellent educational results. Recommended search engines for students include:
LearnAlberta
Ask Kids
Quintura for Kids
Thinkfinity

Here are a few of the poplar search engines today used by people searching the web:

Google
The most popular search engine with over 1 billion pages of web content

Dogpile
A meta search engine that searches Google, Yahoo, Bing and Ask all at once

All The Web
Searches over 600 million websites

AltaVista
Offers simple and advanced searches of over 500 million websites

HotBot
Has a database of approximately 500 million websites

Excite
Searches over 250 million websites

Bing
Microsoft’s new search engine launched in 2009
A ‘decision engine’ to help users make better information decisions

Ms. Tonhauser
Wikipedia (2010). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_literacy

2P Travels on the Polar Express

2010-01-14T13:30:00.007-07:00

Polar Express Power Point

In the month of December class 2P studied the Caldecott winning picture book “The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg. This book’s rich vocabulary and theme of believing without seeing created many learning opportunities for students. Naturally most of the learning outcomes derived from the use of this book were directly tied to the Language Arts curriculum. This year however, we decided that under the guidance of Ms. Tonhauser that we would integrate the “Polar Express” unit into technology. The students and I were given Microsoft Word as our toolbox and Ms. Tonhauser as our conductor guided us to creating these awesome cars and train. The kids were encouraged to be creative and by the looks of these train cars we were not disappointed. Enjoy the slide show thanks to Ms. Tonhauser!

Mr. Presseau

Flip Video Camcorder

2010-01-10T12:11:00.008-07:00

The Flip video camcorder is here and is an amazing little technology tool!

Ms. Tonhauser

"A Different Journey" by Positively Dark, free music download by
http://www.entropymusic.com/

2010: Continuing Our Tech Odyssey

2010-01-07T12:32:00.008-07:00

2010 is hear and we will continue create, collaborate, investigate, motivate and communicate technology learning @Camilla School. Technology continues to evolve rapidly and new trends in education are always an interesting read. Here are a few of the attention-grabbing articles circulating throughout online media sources and social networks. Some predict technology trends will continue to grow in the areas of:
• Interactive whiteboards
• Mobile devices
• eBooks vs textbooks
• Realtime searches
• Educational social networking

Questions about the Next Decade
David Warlick

2020 Vision?
Will Richardson

K-12 Technology Trends for 2010
The Journal: Transforming Education through Technology

Ten Technologies that will Rock 2010
TechCrunch: Ercik Schonfeld

Ms. Tonhauser

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-17T13:22:00.004-07:00

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season!

Technology Videos Worth Watching

2009-12-08T14:12:00.005-07:00

Video sharing sites such as YouTube and TeacherTube offer up a great deal of educational content, consisting of a wide range of appropriate resources for all subject areas and grade levels. Here are a few notable technology/21st century literacy videos worth sharing.

Digital World: Kids Today
The 21st century has created a new digital culture through the use of web tools and technology. Kids today are using new digital literacies to communicate and connect.

Pay Attention
Today’s students can be labeled as digital learners, so why should we pay attention?

A Vision of K-12 Students Today
How did you learn? How do students today learn? A snapshot how best to inspire and engage digital learners today.

Discover Information Literacy
Great introduction to information literacy and how teachers can help students ‘discover’ information literacy:
D Define
I Inquire
S Search
C Collect
O Organize
V Verify
E Express
R Reflect

Ian Jukes: Understanding Digital Kids
Ian is a well-known Canadian educator, author, consultant and keynote speaker. One of his educational missions is to make sure that educators are properly preparing students for the future.

Explanations in Plain English by CommonCraft produces an easy-to-understand video series on emerging online tools such as:
• Blogging
• Podcasting
• Web Search Strategies
• Social Media
• Social Bookmarking
• Social Networking
• Wikis

Ms. Tonhauser

Thank You to the FOC (Friends of Camilla)

2009-11-26T14:10:00.008-07:00

Thank you to the Friends of Camilla (FOC) parent group who have allocated fundraising money to purchase new and exciting technologies for Camilla School.

Last week Mr. Byrne announced that the following technology would be purchased for our School:
• Promethean Boards
• Flip Ultra HD Digital Camcorder
• Nintendo Wii
• New Digital Camera

We look forward to even more learning and growing academically with technology infused 21st century instructional lessons!

Google Earth, No Passport Required!

2009-11-20T10:22:00.012-07:00

What is Google Earth? “Google Earth lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean. You can explore rich geographical content, save your toured places, and share with others” (Google, 2009). Google Earth 5 is a free download that offers users:
• Ocean floor exploration
• 3D buildings
• Moon and Mars exploration
• Educational exhibits
• Historical imagery
• Street level imagery
• Recorded tours

The latest version of Google Earth hosts an array of educational tools including partnerships with National Geographic, the BBC and Cousteau’s Ocean World. Teachers and students can explore the earth, ocean floor and solar system through extensive multimedia features.

The Google Earth User Guide gives detailed ‘how to’ instructions on using this exciting tool whether in the classroom visiting a location of instructional study or at home mapping out a vacation.

Google Lit Trips is a website that fuses Google Earth and literature together into amazing virtual roads trips using locations found within literature. Readers from grades K-12 can discover the world while traveling with books.

Google Earth in the classroom:
• Provides cross-curricular learning opportunities
• Engages learners visually and globally
• Builds mapping and navigational skills
• Connects students to their world using real-world perspectives

Ms. Tonhauser

Google Earth in 4L
Google Earth has become an important tool in the 4L classroom. I have used this tool in many of our classroom travels around Alberta. The grade 4 social studies curriculum provides opportunities for students to visit a variety of cities and town in our great province. This user-friendly program allows me to digitally mark each location visited by 4L so that we can compare how far we have travelled in relation to Camilla School. Google Earth allows teachers to record tours, so we recorded our trip to Drumheller and investigated the landscape up close and at a distance. Google Earth will continue to be an integral part of our learning landscape.

Ms. Langford

Reference
Google Earth, (2009). Google Earth. Retrieved from http://earth.google.com/

Literacy and Learning in the 21st Century

2009-11-05T10:15:00.006-07:00

On November 4th Technology Learning Coaches in Sturgeon School Division attended an Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium session titled Literacy and Learning in the 21st Century presented by David Warlick. This was the first time many of us had the pleasure of listening to David speak in person and what a great learning day we had!

How do we define literacy today? Is literacy still simply defined by the 3R’s? David emphasized that literacy today is just not about reading and writing, but instead knowing how to find information, ask questions and find answers. What will the web look like in five years? What kinds of technology will emerge? For the first time ever, educators must prepare students for a future we know nothing about. We are preparing students for a future we cannot predict, or what David calls The Perfect Storm. Being literate today means questioning information, exposing information and becoming an informational ‘digital detective’.

David Warlick is an educator, author, public speaker, and blogger with over 30 years of experiences working with students and teachers.

Ms. Tonhauser

Digital Storytelling: Tell Me A Story

2009-11-03T13:20:00.017-07:00

"Digital Storytelling refers to using digital tools so that ordinary people can tell their own real-life stories” (Wikipedia, 2009). This emerging form connects storytellers and technology through the power of imagery, voice and video resulting in short digital narratives. This digital format gives students the opportunity to enhance their communication skills by exploring storytelling through multimedia platforms.

The Educause Learning Initiative has published a great article titled 7 Things You Should Know About…Digital Storytelling.

The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling serves as a resource for students and teachers interested in integrating multimedia into technology-based projects.

Center for Digital Storytelling is an international organization committed to helping people tell meaningful digital stories.

The Elements of Digital Storytelling website explores five elements essential in each story: action, media, context, relationship and communication.

DigiTales provides resources for schools, families and organizations ready to use digital tools in the storytelling process.

Camilla School has great multimedia applications available for digital storytelling projects:
• PowerPoint
• Photo Story 3
• Windows Movie Maker

Tech 7 students were introduced to Photo Story 3 for Windows in October and asked to create a visual story of the four seasons. Photo Story 3 software was new to students as well as the concept of digital storytelling, so they were eager to explore the digital possibilities of this project. All of the images used in the four seasons presentations were collected from the Microsoft Office Online free gallery. Specific technical and communicative elements outlined in the development of this story included the use of:
• Title frames
• Customized motion
• Cropping, visual effects
• Transitions and timing
• Conclusion collage

Ms. Tonhauser

Reference
Wikipedia (2009) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_storytelling

Why I’m Happy To Be In Grade 4! Podcast

2009-10-15T14:41:00.013-06:00

Grade 4 students have been working on the process of recording their first podcast the past couple weeks and we are finally done! Students were asked to think about why they were excited to be in grade 4. Their responses were creative and varied. Some thought about favourite subject areas, favourite school activities or what they were looking forward to throughout the year.

The recording application used for this podcast was Audacity. This 'easy-to-use' application is great for recording and editing audio files. Using a microphone and a laptop, small groups of students took turns recording their voice, listening to the quality of the recording and rerecording their audio file if necessary. After the recording process was completed, the audio file was uploaded into PodBeam. This free web tool converts the Audacity file into a podcast sharing format available for upload to the school blog.

Introduction to Podcasting

2009-10-15T13:50:00.008-06:00

If podcasting is a new technology term for you, I recommend watching Podcasting in Plain English created by Lee LeFever at Common Craft. This video gives a simple explanation of podcasting whether you want to create your first podcast or you simply want to listen to podcasts. LeFever lists three reasons in the rising popularity of podcasts:
• Podcasting is a digital medium accessible for all computer users
• Podcasts are available through subscriptions making following favourites an easy task
• Podcasts are just not limited to listening on computers, there are numerous mobile gadgets that serve as portable listening devices (ie. iPods)

What influence and implications do podcasts have on education for students…for teachers?
• An exciting Web 2.0 format for engaging learners
• Provide differentiated instruction by adapting content in response to student learning profiles
• Supports verbal-linguistic learners
• Allows students and teachers the ability to have access to professionals and educational experts worldwide
• Facilitates professional development and distance learning for educators
• Asynchronous learning that allows listeners to review, replay and revisit information

Ms. Tonhauser

Welcome Back!

2009-09-03T08:51:00.001-06:00

It is the first day of school and we are excited to have the halls filled with enthusiastic students here for another year of outstanding learning!

On Tuesday, September 1st, Sturgeon School Division hosted Powered Up 2009 “21st Century Teaching for 21st Century Learners” professional development day at Guthrie School. All the teachers in the division came together for a day of learning, sharing, and collaborating through a wide variety of technology topics. Some of the sessions included technology infused instruction through:
• Web 2.0 Tools
• Digital Storytelling
• Promethean Boards
• Online Reference Centre
• Gaming

We are powered up and ready to move towards more digital learning!

Ms. Tonhauser

A Year In Review

2009-06-23T12:48:00.013-06:00

The school year is quickly coming to an end. There has been a great deal of enthusiasm about technology-infused lessons and learning this year, and it is sure to continue in the fall. Before summer break begins, it is worth reflecting on just a few of our technology highlights from the 2008-2009 school year:
• New wireless mobile lab
• Introduction of document cameras and Promethean boards
• Videoconferencing projects throughout the year
• January 29th PD focused on technology in-servicing for all staff
• Creation of the Camilla School blog
• May 15th PD day included Promethean board demonstrations

Camilla’s technology learning for teachers and students is a work in progress. Teachers will continue to be dedicated to providing cutting-edge learning opportunities through current technologies and 21st century tools.

Have a wonderful summer vacation!

Ms. Tonhauser

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

2009-06-03T10:10:00.009-06:00

(Image from http://www.eric-carle.com/home.html)

2009 marks the 40th anniversary of Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Eric Carle is an acclaimed author and illustrator of over seventy innovatively designed children’s picture books. Grade two students at Camilla recently studied this beloved author’s works by reading a few of his books including:
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar
• A House for Hermit Crab
• I See A Song
• The Very Lonely Firefly

The main focus of the author study was The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Students followed the main character’s incredible life-changing journey through the book as well as studying Eric’s various illustrative techniques on each colourful page. Eric produces different textures on coloured tissue by using a variety of brush and fingerpainting techniques as students discovered by watching the author give demonstrations through an educational video. Students were now ready to digitally create their own version of the very hungry caterpillar character.

Using Microsoft Word, students were guided through the creative process by focusing on drawing skills such as:
• Inserting appropriate shapes
• Copying and pasting shapes
• Colouring and shading
• Adding detail to the character (feet, hair, facial features, anntena)

Ms. Tonhauser

Gr 2 Caterpillar 2009

Promethean Professional Development Day

2009-05-15T13:28:00.020-06:00

Today is professional development day at Camilla. The School Instructional Leadership Team (SILT) organized the day to include morning sessions dedicated to learning about our new Promethean boards. All teachers gathered together for an introductory session led by Leanne McMillan from Central Office. Break out sessions followed, grouping divisional teachers together providing them with the opportunity to explore the instructional possibilities of the technology.

Promethean boards combine the power of the Internet, computer, projector and software all together into an engaging, interactive environment for teaching, learning and collaborating. The full colour boards bring e-learning to a whole new level. Promethean boards can assist instruction through:
-Demonstrations
-Brainstorming
-Interfacing with school software
-Navigating on the Internet
-Displaying teacher and student presentations
-Virtual field trips
-Allowing students to participate directly in lessons
-Accommodating various learning styles

We are looking forward to new and exciting teaching opportunities through the use of Promethean boards.

Camilla’s Mad Scientists Videoconference with Columbus, Ohio

2009-05-13T08:34:00.003-06:00

On Wednesday, April 22nd the Junior High Mad Scientist option watched a live knee replacement surgery via videoconference. The surgery was performed at Mount Carmel Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, USA. Students prepared for this experience by performing a mock knee replacement surgery of their own online, as well practicing a variety of surgical procedures in the classroom. During the surgery, which was narrated in real time by a lead surgeon, students from across North America were able to ask the surgical team questions in the Operating Room. This shared learning experience was very rewarding for our students and we hope to be involved in more new and exciting videoconferences in the future!

Mr. Moore

The Marvelous Toy - Grade 3

2009-04-20T18:29:00.003-06:00

This project was an extension of The Marvelous Toy song introduced to grade three students in music class. In the first verse of the song, the lyrics describe the toy as “A wonder to behold it was with many colors bright”. Students were asked to create a digital image of their interpretation of the marvelous toy. Using Microsoft Word, students used skills such as:
· Inserting drawing toolbar
· Accessing autoshapes menu
· Drawing using lines, rectangles, ovals
· Colouring and shading using fill colour, fill effects, line styles
· Inserting text
· Copying and pasting shapes/images

Ms. Tonhauser

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Gr 3 Marvelous Toy 2009

2K Magnetized Through VoiceThread

2009-03-22T18:07:00.005-06:00

“A VoiceThread is a collaborative, multimedia slide show that holds images, documents, and videos and allows people to leave comments in several ways - using voice (with a mic or phone), text, audio file, or video via a webcam." (VoiceThread, 2009)

VoiceThread.com gives a wonderful introductory overview as found in their multimedia presentation below:

“Design and produce a device that uses a magnet.”

Grade 2 Science, Topic C: Magnetism
Alberta Education, Programs of Study

Assessment for learning (AFL) is a practice that enhances how we learn. Together, the students and teacher are actively engaged in the planning and assessment of learning. They set criteria to frame the learning, monitor the progress, and think of ways to improve and achieve the goals. For our Grade 2 Science project, we combined the power of AFL with technology. After our study of Magnetism, we came up with criteria for our project using the curriculum outcomes. The children each created a game to show their understanding of what magnets can do. Along with a digital image of the game, each student contributed his/her thoughts using VoiceThread for a class multimedia presentation. This unique technology captures each individual performance; making it possible for the student to self-asses. It also allows us to share our creations with others, and invite collaborative feedback. The capacity of VoiceThread helps students understand that learning is an on-going process. We will use the feedback to help us edit and improve. We are thrilled with this opportunity to practise digital media literacy!
Ms. Kwan

The process of recording 2K students using the online VoiceThread tool was not complicated. A couple weeks before the recording process was going to take place, pictures were taken of each student holding their project as they were manipulating the magnet appropriately. Once all of the digital pictures were taken, they were uploaded into the VoiceThread program. Students were then ready to record their voices in small groups. Each recording session consisted of a laptop, a microphone as well as 2-3 students with prepared scripts. This was an exciting project for students as it was the first time many of them had recorded their voice. It was also just as thrilling for students to stand back and watch the live recording process in motion.

We hope that you enjoy Camilla School’s first VoiceThread!
Ms. Tonhauser

Welcome to our Blog!

2009-03-22T18:07:00.004-06:00

Camilla has joined the blogosphere! This blog is intended for students, staff, parents and the public to view and comment on technology learning at Camilla School.

What is a blog?
Blog is short for ‘weblog’. Wikipedia defines a blog as:
“A blog is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order” (2009).

Blogs are usually composed of several entries, however each entry will have its own title along with the date and time it has been published. Blogs show the latest posting first and allow you to scroll down to read archived postings. Basically, a blog is an online journal.