Oct+2008+-+Techie+Discussion

This is an open area for questions and issues that come out of the "Techie" sub-group at the Quality Classroom Consortium meeting on October 1, 2008.

Question from Norton Gusky > * Wimba - allow students with lower levels of listening/hearing / Read stories into discussion board/ audio and visual input / allows multiple types of input - audio, video, keyboard / ease of use for teacher or developer of materials > * BlackBoard (Moodle) - through BlendedSchools/ issue with curriculum alignment / moving to new level with Web 2.0 technologies / teachers moving courses into Blackboard / flexible grouping > * Virtual Labs - example of child with cerebral palsy
 * 1) What are successful technological tools for differentiating instruction?
 * Windows MovieMaker - appropriate to learning styles
 * Quia -online assessment / Student response systems
 * Online discussion group using WikiSpaces
 * Project Lead the Way - Society of Manufacturers - taking TechEd into Applied Engineering / $200,000 for South Park / Project-based with assignments based on learning styles / teachers need to attend 2-week camp/ great student motivation
 * YouTube - (TeacherTube) Teachers given bypasses (South Park) to filtering software

Question from group (Scott) - How are schools using Blackboard? How do schools decide whether Blackboard is worth the cost? Is there anyone evaluating the contents from a curricular point of view?
 * Talk with curriculum director - what should be the policy
 * Vetting process = Technology request form / North Allegheny - most include technology evaluation
 * Use as tool for more engaged and interactive learning

Additional topics of conversation:
 * 1) Free utility as alternative to YouTube - KeepVid.com that allows teacher to cut/paste YouTube video into alternative web page as mpeg 4.
 * 2) Emergency Notification System - What systems are districts using?
 * AlertNow - allows for burst or on demand calls (Keystone Oaks, Bethel Park, South Park)
 * ParentLink -
 * Idea - tap into PRI from local provider such as Consolidated