A very happy Year of the Dragon to all of you from the ECIS ICT Committee. We hope you have had a good start to the year and had a chance to rest and relax over the holiday season. With another year behind us and us all looking ahead to 2012 this month’s blog is a kaleidoscope of resources, ideas and updates. A few things seem to pop out as areas of focus, the proliferation of internet devices in our lives/schools, our growing reliance on them. The Bring Your Own Device movement (Bring your own Devices in Education and Interactive Student Engagement, Bring Your Own Device in schools – one school’s experience and Don’t be scared of “Bring Your Own Device”) seems to be taking up more conversations with programs around the world seriously exploring or actually implementing this approach to mobile technology integration in schools. In tandem there has been quite some attention from an article in the New York Times Teachers Resist High-Tech Push in Idaho Schools, which has highlighted the tensions that are evident with the fast changing pace of the digital world, and how content, knowledge and learning can be accessed easily out of the confines of our school. How do educational institutions continue to be relevant and engaged with these changes? For us working and managing such IT systems and facilitating education technology pedagogy, change at a fast pace seems to continue to be what will preoccupy us. Juggling visions and big ideas from our school leaders and then operationalizing these into a concrete reality will continue to be the challenge for all.
This idea and Tedtalk is a wonderful jolt to ones thinking about presentations, and something worth sitting and watching, enjoy.
Stretching Your Technology Dollar
In this Educational Leadershiparticle, Minnesota district media/technology director Doug Johnson suggests ways to get the most from technology dollars, we thought this might be a good resource and conversation start as many of us start juggling budgets for next year 2012-2013
Use effective budgeting techniques. “Good technology budgets should not just be practical, but moral as well,” says Johnson, “clearly showing how every dollar spent directly or indirectly improves educational opportunities for students.” This means the budget is aligned with goals, is transparent, is specific, and includes input from key stakeholders.
Take advantage of group buying power. Get quotes and use intermediate service agencies to get discounts.
Practice sustainable technology. Don’t purchase more technology than a school can regularly maintain, upgrade, and replace – and rotate hardware and software.
Purchase the right tool for the right job. This means asking whether this is a job for technology, what exactly will users do with the equipment, where will it be used, will a reconditioned machine serve just as well as a new one, and could families rather than the school provide this item?
Use the cloud. This can save storage and backup expenses at the school and district level.
Enforce standardization through single-point purchasing. Standardizing equipment, software, and services increases bulk purchasing discounts, decreases inventory of supplies and parts, increases the amount of training time, decreases the need for technical support, and increases the likelihood of compatibility with legacy systems.
Get rid of outdated stuff. This includes 16mm film projectors, filmstrips, cassette tape players, opaque projectors, Microsoft Works and AppleWorks software and phasing out overhead projectors, CRT televisions, VHS tapes and players, and desktop rather than web-based software.
Provide sufficient training. This ensures that the equipment you’ve invested in will be used well
If you are like most educators, you wonder from time to time how others are teaching your subject in other schools. You may also sometimes wish you could discuss ideas and tools with and seek advice from those beyond your school community. The professional network, 1to1<connect> facilitates your communication with other educational professionals for that very purpose. You can also use the group feature of 1to1<connect> to help promote sharing amongst your school community as well. 1to1<connect> is free and secure. If you would like to join, go to http://beta.1to1web.net/ and click “Beta Registration” on the right side. Please keep in mind that we do vet emails to avoid spam, so you may have to wait a short time to receive your confirmation. Feel free to share this link with others who may be interested or contact me directly about setting up your school community or group as a whole. We hope to connect with you soon.
Leah Treesh 1to1LT.com
Codecademy, a startup that uses interactive online lessons to turn anyone into a computer programmer, has signed up 97,000 students in less than 48 hours for its New Year’s resolution class Code Year. http://mashable.com/2012/01/03/codeacademy-code-year
Very insightful website about iPad 1:1 implementation in 10 schools in Victoria, Australia. Great overview of application, implementation guide, classroom ideas and also focus on special needs schools. http://www.ipadsforeducation.vic.edu.au/
Focus on Math Web 2.0 tools
3Dvincihttp://www.3dvinci.net/ccp0-display/splash.html 3D design is a great motivational and instructional tool. It exercises both left-brain and right-brain skills, and appeals to students of all abilities. ModelMetricks books contain easy-to-follow projects based on the free Google SketchUp application, to show how to model anything in 3D.
Algebasics http://www.algebasics.com This site contains a variety of interactive Algebra help/ problems/activities
Archimyhttp://www.archimy.com This site has a service for drawing the graphs of all kinds of functions . With Archimy, you will draw the graph of any function and form, just use your imagination. The program must be downloaded and is free.
Arcademic Skill Builderhttp://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com Our research-based and standards-aligned free educational math games and language arts games will engage, motivate, and help teach students. Click a button below to play our free multi-player and single-player games!
Calc3Dhttp://www.calc3d.com This site has interactive Mathematical graph and charting software for geometry and statistics
Chart Gizmohttp://chartgizmo.com This site has an incredible chart builder for any type of data that can be typed or uploaded to this tool
Interactiveshttp://www.learner.org/interactives Interactives” provides educators and students with strategies, content, and activities that can enhance and improve students’ skills in a variety of curricular areas.
Interactive Library Applets for Math, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry & Earth Science 6-12 http://edinfo.securesites.net/il/il_math.htm The Interactive Library is about “real interactivity”! The database contains hundreds of activities that make use of sophisticated java, vrml and shockwave programs. Teachers can create their own activity sheet to go with the programs. Students can use these programs to supplement their classroom activities, or use one of the more advanced applets as a starting point for their science project.
Introducing Integers (6-8)http://mathstar.lacoe.edu/newmedia/integers/intro/media/media.html This site contains hands-on approaches for teaching the sometimes challenging concept of integers. Included are video clips, concrete models and Mat Board for solving the problems. Quick-Time media player is required.
ASB Un-Plugged 2012 February 22, 23, 24, and 25, 2012
Come to ASB Un-Plugged to engage in developing and articulating a vision for a 1-to-1 learning environment. Bring a team from your school for inspiration and best practices to help you steer an intentional course.
Your words, your input…..
Please remember your links, your thoughts, your resources are important to this blog if you have something you wish to have featured drop into our wiki area on iSkoodle and add it there, I will make sure it is featured in our Feburary edition.
A learning community is what all of us are involved with as educators in the International Schools. This last month many of us connected online and offline through the ECIS Conference in Lisbon which gave us all an opportunity to share, explore, learn and chat with peers from around the globe. One of the events which we shared with many of you was the ECIS ICT Pre_Conference dedicated IT day, with members of the ECIS ICT Committee, Finalsite and John Davitt collaborating with you to explore a variety of topics tied to our day to day work in schools. As always while the conference and sessions took place many side bar conversations occurred, which can be as rewarding of a learning experience as the main conference sessions. Personally the day was rich in learning as a presenter, and the many conversations and side bar chats provided me with so much food for thought and opportunity to reflect on my own practice as an IT Director. It was evident that getting folks together and providing a space and venue both online and offline to collaborate generated a unique opportunity to learn and grow. This short video does a wonderful job of sharing some of the learning from the day Hands: Learning from the day.
In an effort to extend the Pre-Conference and Conference below we am sharing a series of links for your reference posted on our ICT iSkoodle course which we encourage you to explore and share further with your faculty.
One of the many challenges we all face as IT folks in schools, is knowing what will stay current, what systems and devices will be around long enough for us to implement. How to judge and juggle the variables. Often our budget cycles and purchasing timelines are out of sink with new product enhancements or launches, similar with Operating Systems. In the video below these issues are explored with the lens of what IT companies are in the forefront and what does the future hold for them, and us as consumers ….
New topic on iSkoodle: iPad, iTouch, and Tablet Devices share area
We have started a new area on iSkoodle for folks to collaborate and share resources on the topic of iPads and similar devices being implemented in schools,
iPad, iTouch and tablet devices sharing and conversation area
Apple Education European Leadership Summit, London – 10-11.1.2011
Educational conference BETT http://www.bettshow.com in London attracts lots of educators from around the world. Apple Europe is organising 2 day conference and workshops on 10th and 11th January for the key customers and prospecs. The first day is aimed for the primary segment, second day for the secondary segment with lots of attention being on iPad use in the classroom.
ASB Un-Plugged 2012 February 22, 23, 24, and 25, 2012
Come to ASB Un-Plugged to engage in developing and articulating a vision for a 1-to-1 learning environment. Bring a team from your school for inspiration and best practices to help you steer an intentional course.
Your words, your input…..
Please remember your links, your thoughts, your resources are important to this blog if you have something you wish to have featured drop into our wiki area on iSkoodle and add it there, I will make sure it is featured in our January edition.
To all wishing you a restful and relaxing holiday season and our warmest wishes from the ECIS ICT Committee
All of our schools and members of our school communities develop a narrative, story to better share our beliefs and mission to the communities we serve. This idea of building a narrative which then people can participate in, and in turn develop their own narrative from our schools story is a theme that more and more folks are talking about. A good example of a powerful narrative is the story of Steve Job’s and Apple narrative which over the years has become the narrative for many of us, as consumer and fans of their products. This month we are featuring this video from John Francis who shares his story of 17 years of silence and walking,
How does this narrative building play a role in schools? All of our schools through a variety of activities and curriculum engage our students and our communities in this process of building narratives. This for me really stuck out with us hosting the European Student Film Festival, and watching the engagement and enthusiasm of the students participating in the Film Challenge
In this event students work side‐by‐side for an intense time in which they write, film and edit a short film. This years theme was Revolution /Evolution with the setting of Prague and its neighborhoods. Watching the students from different schools, juggle the process of building a unique narrative pulled from their own personal experiences , and then collaborate to come up with a final product through film highlighted the complexity of the narrative process. What was delightful was to see the students gradually through discussion, problem solving, compromise and desire to succeed generate a common vision around one narrative.
A Common Thread from ECIS ICT Committee Member Leah Treesh
Many teachers remember the days of searching endlessly for beyond-the-textbook materials and tools to enhance and support learning in their classrooms. Some may even miss those days, due to how overwhelming sifting through the plethora of available possibilities can be when the pressures of the profession can seem to increase with each coming school year.
Since there are so many interesting and engaging options these days, from online tools to software and equipment, it is easy to either do too much and risk burnout before the end of the first semester, or to do nothing at all and stick to methods and tools which no longer reach students.
One solution for this is to identify (as an individual, department or school) on core goal for the school year, a goal tied to a desired learning outcome. For example, a goal could be making learning more visual or the development of cross-departmental learning projects. This common thread gives teachers one major area on which they can focus their efforts to create a more progressive learning experience and provides them way to build their knowledge and comfort with today’s tools without feeling extremely overwhelmed.
Update : The ECIS ICT Committee Pre-Conference day
Thank you for signing up for the ECIS Pre-Conference session facilitated by the ECIS ICT Committee. We are excited that many of you will be joining us on in Lisbon Thursday Nov 17th 2011. We had such a huge interest we actually filled up all the seats. THANK YOU ALL for your support
We have set up an iSkoodle course for each workshop that you will be able to access for the Pre-Conference even if you are not there physically. If you wish to access the workshop courses you will be able to do this via this link starting Nov 17thhttp://moodle.ecis.org/course/category.php?id=8 Please note you will need to have registered with iSkoodle to access these courses, registration is free.
ICT Committee Open Business Meeting @ECIS
We will have our Open Business Meeting on Friday Nov, 18th from 11:00 to 12:00
If you have items you would like to see on the Agenda please go to our wiki.http://moodle.ecis.org/mod/wiki/view.php?id=1380
Apple Education European Leadership Summit, London – 10-11.1.2011
Educational conference BETT http://www.bettshow.com in London attracts lots of educators from around the world. Apple Europe is organising 2 day conference and workshops on 10th and 11th January for the key customers and prospecs. The first day is aimed for the primary segment, second day for the secondary segment with lots of attention being on iPad use in the classroom.
ASB Un-Plugged 2012 February 22, 23, 24, and 25, 2012
Come to ASB Un-Plugged to engage in developing and articulating a vision for a 1-to-1 learning environment. Bring a team from your school for inspiration and best practices to help you steer an intentional course.
http://www.asbunplugged.org/unplugged2012.htm
Your words, your input…..
Please remember your links, your thoughts, your resources are important to this blog if you have something you wish to have featured drop into our wiki area on iSkoodle and add it there, I will make sure it is featured in our December edition.
As the fall colors start creeping in it is hard to believe how time flies, last post we had just come out of summer
Over the last few weeks there have been a rich set of resources and links shared via our respective Professional Learning Networks and this month we have collated a few for your own reference.
Google Workshop for Educators
There was a good turn out for this event hosted in Prague at ISP sponsored by http://cloudsourcesolutions.com/. Zurich International School, American School of London, Frankfurt International School, American Overseas School of Rome, International School Dusseldorf, International School of Prague and the American School of Leysin, all had faculty attending. Our facilitator Wendy Gorton, (Google Certified Teacher and Google Apps EDU Certified Trainer) provided us with a rich array of ideas, resources and tools in the Google Apps environment. If you are interested in having Wendy come to your school feel free to contact her at : wendygorton@gmail.com
Kids, Privacy and Media.A thought provoking talk.
Resources:
1to1 Connect is an Online community for progressive educational professionals seeking to connect and share their practices and ideas with other like-minded folk. http://beta.1to1web.net/
A compelling look at the self, identity, community and our lives and how we and digital devices are shaping the future http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2011/ccp-turkle/
Facebook Privacy Settings. With yet again a new overhaul of Facebook’s privacy settings. These new settings are clearer and have an easier structure for our students to understand. It is well worth spending time with your respective school communities on these: Beyond Facebook’s New Simplified Privacy Settings
Conferences
ICT Committee Open Business Meeting @ECIS
Please note we will have our Open Business Meeting on Friday Nov, 18th from 11:00 to 12:00
If you have items you would like to see on the Agenda please go to our wiki.
Post-Conference Institute by ISM – February 26 and 27, 2012
Your words, your input…..
Please remember your links, your thoughts, your resources are important to this blog if you have something you wish to have featured drop into our wiki area on iSkoodle and add it there, I will make sure it is featured in our November edition.
A warm welcome back to all from what I hope was a restful and relaxing summer. If you are like many of us who actually have been back for a little while at our respective schools, summer might be feeling like a distant memory. So here we are in the beginnings of a new academic year, a world that keeps changing at increasing speeds, and each one of us juggling new ideas, concepts, systems, and outlooks. A resource which frames some of the trends and areas to look out for is the Horizon Report. Here you will find links to the key areas of the document which looks at what is coming down the pipeline in Education Technology, this year, in three years and 5 or more years. This report and areas of focus are excellent conversation starters and also provide a clear framework of what we can expect to have an impact on our own learning and our respective schools learning. Sharing this with your administrators and faculty informally or formally is a good way to generate conversations, and highlight things you might be already doing, or areas you might like to focus on for the upcoming year.
Look forward to hearing how people might be currently integrating some of these trends in your schools and areas you are looking to move on. Please drop us a note here at the ECIS ICT Committee and we will post some of these on our blog.
A couple weeks ago a faculty member shared this compelling and moving video with an interesting title ” The Internet is My Religion “. A fascinating story and reflection.
IMPORTANT: Please make a point of reading Warren Apel’s (IT Director at the International School of Amsterdam and Committee member) Post on our ECIS ICT Blog about a scam hitting international school teachers recruiting, he has shared excellent advice and tips.
Google Educators Workshop
by CloudSourceSolutions at the International School of Prague
There are still a few seats available if interested please find the information and contact person to register
Google Workshop for Educators at the International School of Prague on Saturday September 24th . For questions or more information please contact: “Daniel Taylor” <dan@cloudsourcesolutions.com>,
Register: https://cueweb.cue.org/cueweb/PDW/PDWWebStore.aspx?pagecode=prague
What: Google Workshop for Educators
When: Saturday, September 24th, 2011, 8:30am-3:30PM
Where: International School of Prague
Your words, your input…..
Please remember your links, your thoughts, your resources are important to this blog if you have something you wish to have featured drop into our wiki area on iSkoodle and add it there, I will make sure it is featured in our October edition.
John@ISPrague -Chair of the ECIS ICT Committee
The recent news about internet “pirates” taking websites hostage has caused a lot of (very appropriate!) worry for international schools lately. If you haven’t read Dr. Linda Duevel’s story about how her school was affected, you should – it’s a well-written piece that explains the scam perfectly.
It’s understandable for a school to feel somewhat helpless faced with the idea that somewhere, someone may be constructing a carbon-copy duplicate of your entire website without your knowledge or permission. There probably isn’t a way to pro-actively stop them from doing that. And yet, how are we to prepare for such an attack?
One step we’ve taken at the International School of Amsterdam is to set up a Google Alert. It’s an easy way to subscribe to updates in the massive database of sites that Google monitors. The instant that a new website is available on Google, you can get an email letting you know. I use it to keep track of new websites that I might be personally interested in. But it’s also a great way to be the first to know when a pirate site has been launched.
All you have to do is go to the Google Alert website and create a search. In this example (click the image to enlarge), I’m searching for the title of our human resource page “International School of Amsterdam careers.” Google lets me know that there haven’t been any new pages created today that match this search. It also gives me a preview of what my alert would look like if a new page popped up matching my search.
Then I just choose if I want this alert sent immediately as it happens, once a day, or once a week. I can choose to search the entire web, or just news or blog posts. I can choose to get just the top results or to get absolutely everything. Then I enter my email address and I’m subscribed.
I know I can’t stop a dedicated scam artist from hijacking our website, but I can make sure that I know about it before unsuspecting candidate teachers get waylaid by internet pirates.
— Warren Apel, Director of Educational Technology, ISA
Believe it or not, the school year is coming to a close. A few more weeks of frantic running around and putting closure to projects and tasks. This has been a busy year for all and what year is not . One reflection for me for the 2010-2011 year as been the incredible changes and critical role of information (via the internet) is having on everything we manage, understand and share . The complexity of the mediums and venues we work with to access and share information are going through unbelievable changes, and this is having a transformative impact on our social and professional lives. The pace of change is rapid and at times I feel we often do not have the time to synthesis and come to terms how we as educators and schools need to scaffold these understandings to our respective learning communities. As a way to bring closure to this academic year I am sharing some links and a song which in different ways share perspectives on the role of information and the challenges we face ahead as learning communities.
Google and Computer Using Educators is proud to be hosting the first international Google Workshop for Educators at the International School of Prague this September 24th
What: Google Workshop for Educators
When: Saturday, September 24th, 2011, 8:30am-3:30PM
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED FURTHER CLARIFICATION CONTACT: Daniel Taylor” <dan@cloudsourcesolutions.com>
Search, learn, share! Brought to you by Computer Using Educators (CUE), the producers of the Google Teacher Academy, the Google Workshop for Educators (GWE) introduces participants to innovative ways Google tools can be used in education. A full day of fast-paced presentations and hands-on activities includes experience with advanced search techniques, collaborative web-based applications, and inspirational instructional strategies. Google Certified Teachers share ways they’ve implemented tools such as Google Search, Google Docs, Google Maps, Google Sites, and… even more. Participants who complete the event are given access to the Google Workshop for Educators Network, an online community focused on supporting educators as they learn more about the power of Google to drive student learning.
Lead Learner(s): Ken Shelton, Google Certified Teacher
Wendy Gorton, Google Certified Teacher & Google Apps Certified Trainer
Daniel Taylor, Google Apps Certified Trainer
It is here!!! and a special thank you to Steve D, Leah T , and the crew at Munich International School who have been very busy getting this off the ground and make this a reality. At the ECIS Administrators conference the channel was officially launched. This project sponsored by Apple (iTunes U- K-12 channel) and ECIS is to encourage Educators and Students to share authentic meaningful content on this dedicated channel for other educators and students to tap into. If you are interested in getting involved and uploading your own class podcasts, please contact “Leah Treesh” <ltreesh@mis-munich.de>
ECIS News Lisbon Portugal 16 – 20 November 2011.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND TELL YOUR FACULTY ICT Committee ECIS Pre-Conference day workshop
“Learn, share, and collaborate”: Blended classroom, iTunes and Podcasting, Digital Citizenship and Strategies, Tuning Up Your Web Browser, Social Meida, Your School and You, and Tips for IT Integration.
This is a special full day pre-conference workshop (8;30 to 16:30) focused around 6 hands on workshops facilitated by the ECIS ICT Committee members, Finalsite and special guests. With mentor and keynote:John Davitt. John will be a mentor for participants, critical friend and share two short keynotes on his own work in schools. The pre-conference is designed to give classroom teachers, specialists, IT Specialist and Coordinators a dedicated day to participate in these hands on workshops, time to share and collaborate together with these various pedagogy and tools.
Developing and Implementing a Digital Citizenship Program in your school
In this hands on workshop we will explore the components, dynamics, process, structures, learning outcomes to implement a Digital Citizenship Program as a stand alone class or integrate this into your advisory or class curriculum. We will look at some current models being used in International Schools. In the process we will help facilitate the resources, documents, and understanding to support this process in your schools.
Managing a Blended Classroom
In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore tools, resources and strategies for managing an online classroom with Moodle. While the session is designed for teachers in schools that are part of the World Virtual School Project, any teacher in a Moodle-using school is encouraged to participate. In addition to taking away strategies for managing a blended classroom, participants will engage with ideas, tools and templates for creating innovative collaborations between classrooms and schools.
Strategies, Tools, and tips for Technology Coordinators and Integration Specialists
During this workshop, participants will discuss, share, and try out a variety of different resources to work with faculty members at their schools. Utilizing protocols from Critical Friends Group systems, we will formulate ways to work with teachers to encourage growth and development in their integration of technology in the classroom. Participants should come ready to share their expertise and experience and are encouraged to bring lesson plans and samples from teachers to discuss.
iTunes U generating podcast.
Participants will receive a quick overview of the philosophy of and usages for ECIS’ iTunesU, then have supported time to create content to be used as part of instructional practices and to populate iTunesU. Guidelines, frameworks, exemplars and support materials will be provided. Participants will also enjoy connecting with a network other like-minded educators.
Tuning Up Your Web Presence The Web, and your users’ needs, continue to evolve: is your web presence keeping pace? Join finalsite President and founder Jon Moser as he and finalsite staff share strategies and tips for improving your web presence today. Topics include: the move to mobile, social media and your school’s website, understanding Google, search engine optimization (SEO), and getting return on your investment (ROI) with your website. Don’t miss out.
Social Media, Your School, and You Facebook, Twitter, and more are changing how schools market and educators connect. Find out the latest on the social media movement in this fast-paced discussion hosted by finalsite President and founder Jon Moser. From how schools market with social media to how educators network with social media to how the rules of etiquette are changing with this new medium, you’re sure to find information that you need to move forward with social media as schools and as professionals.
Spread the word your support is greatly appreciated. For more information on this day contact any of your ECIS ICT Committee members.
Your words, your input…..
Please remember your links, your thoughts, your resources are important to this blog if you have something you wish to have featured drop into our wiki area on iSkoodle and add it there, I will make sure it is featured in our May edition.
Wishing you all a restful and relaxing summer, and look forward to catching up with you in August.
John -Chair of the ECIS ICT Committee
Last month, your school probably celebrated Earth Day. In the last few weeks, I’ve been reviewing all of the progress that Technology and the Green Team have made together at my school. I thought I’d share some of the steps that we took at The International School of Amsterdam to help us reduce waste, conserve electricity, and go green.
We’ve done a lot this year with Google Docs, which is helping to save paper as well as making our lives more efficient. If you’ve struggled in the past with juggling file types on various USB sticks, you can imagine how hard it is for a student these days. At ISA, we have both Macs and PCs, as well as an increasing number of iPads. Students have a network file folder they can save their work into, but they can’t access it from home. And when a file gets emailed as an attachment, it’s hard to remember which version is the most current. Google Docs has really helped us with all those problems. And it’s green – students are able to turn their work in electronically, so we can reduce the amount of printed paper students turn in. That saves paper, ink, time and effort!
In addition, using Google Forms (a part of Google Docs) has helped us reduce the amount of paper we are using for collecting information. Students who are running for Executive Student Council this year are able to nominate themselves with a simple web-based form which is easily collected. I’m so happy every time I see a stack of paper slips replaced with a simple web form!
We also had some great success this year with our “power off” campaigns. ISA classrooms have so many amazing technologies in them: SmartBoards, projector/beamers, document cameras, computers, laptops, digital microscopes and more. Obviously, all of these appliances require energy to operate. But it’s a good goal to try and reduce that amount of energy. One way we accomplished that this year was by reducing “vampire power,” the amount of electricity that’s used at night or on weekends when things are supposed to be off. Some gadgets draw a small amount of electricity just by being plugged in. Simply by putting camera chargers and other devices on a power strip with an on/off switch, teachers can make sure that they kill all the power at night, and reduce power waste. Projectors (aka “beamers”) are the worst offenders. Some models use as much as 5 watts just to remain in “standby mode.” We encouraged teachers to unplug their beamers over the holiday breaks, which saved a lot of electricity! Looking towards the future, we have found two models of projectors with Eco-friendly low-power standby modes. When it’s time to upgrade our aging beamers, we are going to make sure we look at the power consumption for regular use as well as in standby mode.
We also go through a lot of disposable batteries. The last time we tried to use rechargeable batteries, the technology wasn’t quite there yet. We have some cameras that use AA batteries, but a rechargeable just doesn’t seem to put out enough juice to run a camera. A couple of weeks ago, the second grade teachers replaced all their AA and AAA batteries with Sanyo Eneloop rechargables. They’re not cheap, but in the long run, throwing away dead batteries just isn’t sustainable.
What steps has your school done to reduce its environmental footprint? Leave a comment and share your post-Earth-day reflections with the ECIS community.
Warren Apel
International School of Amsterdam
ECIS ICT Committee
Spring has come and now many of us are already thinking about the summer ! The summer is a downtime, and chance to recharge and reconnect with a focus outside of school. For Tech departments the summer becomes a critical time to manage, maintain systems and services. This then followed with preparations for the new school year. The absence of students and teachers on campus provide some valuable downtime to focus on these things, and work at a different pace. These summer months can be a good way to take stock of the year, unpack events, and plan. For any IT Department as we support faculty, staff, parents, students and the institution as a whole, it is easy to forget the core business we are supporting, because honestly we are so often to busy to think of anything else except the task in front of us and everything else we juggle.
Here is a wonderful video that is a good reminder of why maybe we are in education, and re frames a potential focus where we should be in education…. in this dynamic I feel strongly information technology plays a critical role.
John Hunter puts all the problems of the world on a 4′x5′ plywood board — and lets his 4th-graders solve them
It is here!!! and a special thank you to Steve D, Leah T , and the crew at Munich International School who have been very busy getting this off the ground and make this a reality. At the ECIS Administrators conference the channel was officially launched. This project sponsored by Apple (iTunes U- K-12 channel) and ECIS is to encourage Educators and Students to share authentic meaningful content on this dedicated channel for other educators and students to tap into. If you are interested in getting involved and uploading your own class podcasts, please contact “Leah Treesh” <ltreesh@mis-munich.de>
ECIS News Lisbon Portugal 16 – 20 November 2011.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND TELL YOUR FACULTY ICT Committee ECIS Pre-Conference day workshop
“Learn, share, and collaborate”: Blended classroom, iTunes and Podcasting, Digital Citizenship and Strategies, Tuning Up Your Web Browser, Social Meida, Your School and You, and Tips for IT Integration.
This is a special full day pre-conference workshop (8;30 to 16:30) focused around 6 hands on workshops facilitated by the ECIS ICT Committee members, Finalsite and special guests. With mentor and keynote:John Davitt. John will be a mentor for participants, critical friend and share two short keynotes on his own work in schools. The pre-conference is designed to give classroom teachers, specialists, IT Specialist and Coordinators a dedicated day to participate in these hands on workshops, time to share and collaborate together with these various pedagogy and tools.
Developing and Implementing a Digital Citizenship Program in your school
In this hands on workshop we will explore the components, dynamics, process, structures, learning outcomes to implement a Digital Citizenship Program as a stand alone class or integrate this into your advisory or class curriculum. We will look at some current models being used in International Schools. In the process we will help facilitate the resources, documents, and understanding to support this process in your schools.
Managing a Blended Classroom
In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore tools, resources and strategies for managing an online classroom with Moodle. While the session is designed for teachers in schools that are part of the World Virtual School Project, any teacher in a Moodle-using school is encouraged to participate. In addition to taking away strategies for managing a blended classroom, participants will engage with ideas, tools and templates for creating innovative collaborations between classrooms and schools.
Strategies, Tools, and tips for Technology Coordinators and Integration Specialists
During this workshop, participants will discuss, share, and try out a variety of different resources to work with faculty members at their schools. Utilizing protocols from Critical Friends Group systems, we will formulate ways to work with teachers to encourage growth and development in their integration of technology in the classroom. Participants should come ready to share their expertise and experience and are encouraged to bring lesson plans and samples from teachers to discuss.
iTunes U generating podcast.
Participants will receive a quick overview of the philosophy of and usages for ECIS’ iTunesU, then have supported time to create content to be used as part of instructional practices and to populate iTunesU. Guidelines, frameworks, exemplars and support materials will be provided. Participants will also enjoy connecting with a network other like-minded educators.
Tuning Up Your Web Presence The Web, and your users’ needs, continue to evolve: is your web presence keeping pace? Join finalsite President and founder Jon Moser as he and finalsite staff share strategies and tips for improving your web presence today. Topics include: the move to mobile, social media and your school’s website, understanding Google, search engine optimization (SEO), and getting return on your investment (ROI) with your website. Don’t miss out.
Social Media, Your School, and You Facebook, Twitter, and more are changing how schools market and educators connect. Find out the latest on the social media movement in this fast-paced discussion hosted by finalsite President and founder Jon Moser. From how schools market with social media to how educators network with social media to how the rules of etiquette are changing with this new medium, you’re sure to find information that you need to move forward with social media as schools and as professionals.
Spread the word your support is greatly appreciated. For more information on this day contact any of your ECIS ICT Committee members.
ECIS looking for presenters
In partnership with Finalsite, ECIS is looking for presenters to present an online ECIS webinar. If you have something that will serve the ECIS community, and would like to present an ECIS webinar, then please contact richardherbert@ecis.org for more information. ECIS webinars will be advertised here: http://www.ecis.org/page.cfm?p=429”
Your words, your input…..
Please remember your links, your thoughts, your resources are important to this blog if you have something you wish to have featured drop into our wiki area on iSkoodle and add it there, I will make sure it is featured in our May edition.
Have a good month
John -Chair of the ECIS ICT Committee
…evidence of spring is hear but this year in a context of much intensity with the devastation of the Japanese earthquake, tsunami and tension surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Many of our community members at International Schools in Japan have all at different levels experienced a level intensity. Our thoughts go to them and their respective communities. Below I have added a few links which relate to the situation, and resources which might be of useful.
Make Paper Cranes, Rebuild Communities
http://studentsrebuild.org/japan/
Fault Line living
http://www.faultlineliving.com/
Teaching Ideas: The Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan
I would like on behalf of the ECIS ICT Community extend a big thank you to Gareth B @FIS and his IT team for hosting such an outstanding ECIS IT Conference. We all know how hard it is to juggle our regular day and then adding this complex layer of organization and demands bring a new tension to any day. Again Gareth and the whole team at the Frankfurt International School thank you. Here are some of the key links from the keynotes you might like to share further with your respective faculty and schools.
David Warlick: davidwarlick.com
Personal learning “cultivating connections with people and other sources that help me do my job” David Warlick a learning garden, cultivating your personal eco-systems
Scott Klososky
www.klososky.com
Scott Klososky is a technology speaker who addresses future trends in any area of business and society.
As we start seeing more and more cameras as part of the architecture of mobile devices and laptops there is evidence at our own school, that video is fast being used to produce, create and share content, ideas and creative expression. In this Ted talk Salan Kahn shares a vision that he has begun with the Kahn Academy looking if video might redefine education: Salman Khan: Let’s use video to reinvent education
ECIS Lisbon Conference:Special New Feature
We will be piloting at the ECIS Lisbon Conference a dedicated full day focused on ICT learning. This will be a pre-conference day focused around 4 hands on workshops facilitated by the ECIS ICT Committee members, guests and a Keynote. This year John Davitt has been approached. The idea is to give educators from ECIS, IT Specialist and Coordinators a dedicated day to participate in these hands on workshops, providing hands on experiences, time to share and collaborate together.
The workshop presenters from the ICT Committee are:
Leah Treesh IT Integration Senior School Munich International School, John Mikton Director of IT International School of Prague, Mariam Mathew High School Technology Coordinator The American School in London , Alan Preis Instructional Technology Coordinator Atlanta International School, Warren Apel, Director of IT , International School of Amsterdam, Chad Fairey Associate Head of School, Information Services Washington International School, Lal Abraham – Director of Technology, American School of The Hague
Developing and Implementing a Digital Citizenship Program in your school
In this hands on workshop we will explore the components, dynamics, process, structures, learning outcomes to implement a Digital Citizenship Program as a stand alone class or integrate this into your advisory or class curriculum. We will look at some current models being used in International Schools. In the process we will help facilitate the resources, documents, and understanding to support this process in your schools.
Managing a Blended Classroom
In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore tools, resources and strategies for managing an online classroom with Moodle. While the session is designed for teachers in schools that are part of the World Virtual School Project, any teacher in a Moodle-using school is encouraged to participate. In addition to taking away strategies for managing a blended classroom, participants will engage with ideas, tools and templates for creating innovative collaborations between classrooms and schools.
Strategies, Tools, and tips for Technology Coordinators and Integration Specialists
During this workshop, participants will discuss, share, and try out a variety of different resources to work with faculty members at their schools. Utilizing protocols from Critical Friends Group systems, we will formulate ways to work with teachers to encourage growth and development in their integration of technology in the classroom. Participants should come ready to share their expertise and experience and are encouraged to bring lesson plans and samples from teachers to discuss.
iTunes U generating podcast.
Participants will receive a quick overview of the philosophy of and usages for ECIS’ iTunesU, then have supported time to create content to be used as part of instructional practices and to populate iTunesU. Guidelines, frameworks, exemplars and support materials will be provided. Participants will also enjoy connecting with a network other like-minded educators.
ECIS News
In partnership with Finalsite, ECIS is looking for presenters to present an online ECIS webinar. If you have something that will serve the ECIS community, and would like to present an ECIS webinar, then please contact richardherbert@ecis.org for more information. ECIS webinars will be advertised here: http://www.ecis.org/page.cfm?p=429”
ATTENTION:
Several scams relating to non-existent teaching jobs at the International School of Stavanger have been circulating on the Internet. They have included information taken from the school’s official website, which is www.isstavanger.no. The school is making every effort to stop such scams, and is actively working with the authorities to prevent them.
The following are tips are adapted from the Bill and Melinda Gates’ Foundation website, and are practical points to help anyone avoid email scams:
Be suspicious of emails that ask for personal or financial information.
Avoid filling out forms in email messages.
Log on to official websites instead of clicking on links embedded in an email.
Contact the organization that is supposedly sending the email to verify if it is genuine.
Be wary if you receive an email saying you won a lottery or have been awarded a grant, or, in this case, being offered an interview.
Be cautious if you are asked to wire money.
Candidates should not use their valuable time in applying for jobs that are a part of a computer scam that has nothing to do with the International School of Stavanger.
(Taken from a web article written by Dr. Linda Duevel, Director, International School of Stavanger.)
Your words, your input…..
Please remember your links, your thoughts, your resources are important to this blog if you have something you wish to have featured drop into our wiki area on iSkoodle and add it there, I will make sure it is featured in our April edition.
iPad, iTouch, tablet devices conversation Forum
Share resources, links etc.. on iPad, iTouch and tablet devices 
