topics+and+questions+from+the+survey

=**When you signed up for the August 15th flex session on Multimedia Classrooms, what were some of the main things you expected to learn?**=
 * Paperless portfolio review
 * You can use Google Docs to share files with your classes. This VIDEO is from a teacher who uses Google Docs for portfolio assessment. This VIDEO contains specific instructions for students at Gustavus, but the principle behind what this professor does can be applied to our classrooms.**


 * Using ipods for classroom activities
 * While we don't have many iPods or iPads in the district, we will only see more access to mobile devices and tablets in the future. Perhaps the key is in finding ways for students who have their own devices to use them, without neglecting students who don't have them. There on some interesting videos on this topic on this PAGE.**
 * Here's what Apple suggests educators should do with the iPad.**


 * Formatting text on websites
 * This will be different on different webpages. There are some handouts at the botoom of this PAGE that walk you through formatting your Schoolwires Teacher Web Page. If you are using a different site, contact an ITIC to come to your classroom and work with you 1-1 to answer your questions at your convenience.**


 * I would love to learn how to use my wikispace as a method of collaboration in the classroom. It seems so cumbersome and the students really aren't familiar with it. I also don't know how to go paperless with google docs and would love some instructions to give to the students. Without email access this would avoid some of the problems with forgetting thumbdrives, etc.
 * My experience using Wikispaces with our K-12 students over the last four years has been overwhelmingly positive. They seeem to get familiar with using wikis very quickly, but there is some advance planning, set up, and a clear vision for how and when wikis will be used that needs to come fromt he teacher first. Contact an ITIC to work with you individually to get started with using your classroom wiki to suit your classroom goals. Also, be sure to sign up for the online Wikispaces trainings taking place in November and March!**


 * Easy way to add visuals to my PowerPoints...hyperlinks etc.
 * Here is a VIDEO on inserting visuals into PowerPoint 2007. Here is a VIDEO on inserting hyperlinks. There is so much more you can do with PowerPoint than slide shows. For example, I do much of my picture cropping and converting from one type of picture file to another using PowerPoint. Hyperlinks and visuals are also great ways to spruce up your presentations. We don't have any specific training sessions scheduled for Office 2007 applications this year, but contact one of your ITICs and we will be happy to come to your classroom and work with you 1-1 to help you figure out anything you want to do with PowerPoint.**


 * Learn more about Prezi.
 * In case we don't get to discuss Prezi in detail at this session, check out this VIDEO for more information on getting started. Prezi can be a little difficult at first since it is something different than most of us typically use (it's not PowerPoint) but the different feel it gives your presentations will make it worth the extra effort to leran and use.**


 * I just need more practice on things like wikis, etc. We always go flying through things and I end up breathless and not really sure what I am doing.
 * At all of our technoloy training sessions, we encourage those of you who are interested in learning more in-depth information on a given topic to focus your time in the session on that topic. We don't mind if you go off in your own computer screen and investigate for a awhile -- in fact, we encourage it, and enjoy differentiating our instruction whenever possible! The inconvenient truth here is that there is always going to be more out there than any of us can possibly learn, and with fewer flex sessions in the budget now, the trainings will often be overviews of several topics with links for you to use to pursue your individual interests in greater depth. If you ever want someone to walk you through anything step-by-step, please contact an ITIC to come to your classroom and work with you at your convenience. Feel free to use your time today to use Wikispaces hands-on, and ask one of the instructors to come over if you get stuck. Also, be sure to sign up for the online Wikispaces trainings taking place in November and March!**


 * I'd like to be doing more with Google Docs, creating digital projects or live binders, going paperless with quizzes/tests/formative assessments, having students create and initiate projects, lessons, etc. Problem is: multimedia classroom or support not always available. Limited in my theater classroom and labs not always available.
 * We will devote a good portion of time in today's session to using the Google applications. If you would like more, please don't hesitate to contact an ITIC to work with you in your classroom. Don't let lack of availability slow you down. Many teachers believe they need a SMART Baord in their classroom when all we really need is Internet access, and a way to project it to the class (TV monitor, projector onto a screen, student laptops, etc.). If you don't have regular access to computers in your classroom, please remember, more than 80% of our students have Internet access at home, and they can all use district computers in the libraries!**


 * Smartboard use
 * Today's session is in a room that is not specifically equipped with a SMART Board, so we won't be able to show much related to Board use or Notebook software. We are still waiting to see if we can offer some trainings specific to the SMART Boards in this year's budget. In the meantime, check out these VIDEOS, feel free to contact an ITIC to work with you in your classroom, or look over the documentation on this PAGE.**
 * Google apps, podcasting, embedding video
 * Great! We will certainly discuss all three of these today.**

=**Which of the following topics would you most like to work with in a hands-on setting during our training session?**= 6 votes -- Using Google Applications (Docs, Forms, Sheets, Calendar, etc.) for paperless student collaboration 6 votes -- Having students create and share their presentations (PowerPoint, Keynote, Prezi or others) online 4 votes -- Having students make movies, videos, PSAs, etc. 3 votes -- Using Skype for students to communicate, chat, or video conference 2 votes -- Creating a "backchannel" chat or discussion for students to use during lecture, in class, or at home 1 vote -- Having students create talking avatars or using other talking animations to share information
 * Most of these topics will be covered in a little more depth today than Skype or creating avatars, so please check out our podcast on Skype and our podcast on avatars.

=**Which of the following websites would you MOST like your students to use?**= 4 votes -- I don't care... just show me something great!
 * Make movies with your students!
 * Make podcasts of your lessons and post them on your website
 * Get your students sharing files with you on Google Docs!

1 vote -- Edmodo
 * Here is a link to last year's training session on using Edmodo (scroll down the page about halfway)
 * For future reference: Tech Tip Podcast on Creating an Edmodo Account

1 vote -- Animoto
 * We will briefly discuss ideas for using this free site, or creating an educator's account to make longer videos

1 vote -- Schoolwires (teacher web page)
 * Our district supports podcasting using Schoolwires
 * We also offer basic and advanced Schoolwires trainings every month. Sign up on MyLearningPlan.com!

1 vote -- Google Docs / Forms / Spreadsheets / Calendar / Mail

=**What is one question you would most like us to answer?**=
 * Maintaining security online
 * This is a very important topic with cloud storage, social netowrking, and with so much of our information and files being stored online. My personal top five are:**
 * 1) Don't open emails or attachments from unknown senders, and don't click links in these emails if you don't know where they are sending you.**
 * 2) Don't open or forward chain emails**
 * 3) Watch for the secure logo (a padlock on most web browsers) and the letter "s" in the web address (https://www....) before entering any personal information.**
 * 4) Don't post anything on social netowrking sites that you wouldn't tell your mother (because she's probably on there, too!) or that you wouldn't say in front of your students.**
 * 5) Never give your password or login information to anyone. The people who run the sites and networks don't need it and will not ask you for this information!**
 * This VIDEO is a presentation by Barbara Liskov, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She gives some insight into the benefits and perils of our online lives.**


 * Thanks for the reminder of the class....I had room K24 on my calendar and I see we will be meeting in D9...see ya Monday
 * Well, I sure hope we got the right room! Thanks for joining us.**
 * I am changing grade levels from first to second grade. Now that my students are older and have some background on the computer I would like to teach them some fun animation tricks. I have heard of talking Avatars.
 * We have had good success using PowerPoint with second graders. There are plenty of animations and movements students can add to their presentations. Voki and Blabberize are also sites that let students give their own voice and words to a talking avatar.**
 * I am just looking forward to ways to add interest to my lessons...
 * We hope you found some today!**
 * Working with multimedia -- especially if you are not in a multimedia classroom or can't book a lab! Ways for teachers to assess work or finding time just to read it -- such as blogging -- love to it -- with rehearsals, when do I see it? And making sure content is good and strong -- not just bells and whistles.
 * We have collected some good information on student blogging at this PAGE. If you would like more, please don't hesitate to contact an ITIC to work with you in your classroom. Don't let lack of availability slow you down.**
 * How can I get students to do meaningful work (depth, not breadth of content knowledge) using multimedia?
 * One idea that comes to mind is "chunking" the work from a unit so that individual students or small groups become experts in a topic and share it with the class (teach the topic) using engaging, multimedia methods. One of the best parts tot his strategy is that the teacher keeps the best projects forever, and can always use them with future classes.**