EduTech’s West Central Region Blog

I attended a podcast workshop at the National Educational Computing Conference this past summer in San Antonio. The presenters were Jonathan Bergmann, recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Math Teaching and Aaron Sams. They both teach AP Chemistry at Woodland Park, Colorado and use video podcasts of their lectures for students to view at home.

Students view the vodcasts each evening. They can stop, rewind and fast forward through the lectures as needed. The next day students discuss the lectures for about 10 minutes and then have 75 minutes to devote to guided practice and labwork. These teachers have found that their students’ test scores have improved as well as their grasp of the content.

Bergmann and Sams use software called Snapkast to record their PowerPoint slideshows which include live voice-over audio and pen strokes created on a wireless tablet. This software then converts the presentation into an MP4 file.

This week, Learning & Leading with Technology (December/January 2008-09) has an article entitled Remixing Chemistry Class by Jonathan and Aaron. To access this article, go to: http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/Current_Issue/L_L_November.htm

To learn more about Chemistry Vodcasts go to:

Bergmann’s Web page: http://www.wpsdk12.org/~jbergmann/Podcasts

Hatak’s blog: http://21chatak.blogspot.com/2008/08/good-ideas-seem-to-come-in-sets.html

Hatak’s podcasting blog: http://hatakappodcast.blogspot.com/

Sam’s Web page: http://www.wpsdk12.org/~asams/

Snapkast: http://snapkast.com/

Web site on how to start vodcasting lessons: http://www.educationalvodcasting.com/

Tuesday, I presented Creative Ways to Use Electronic Portfolios in the Classroom and What in the World? Google Earth, GPS and Geocaching in the Classroom for the 2008 TNT Conference here in Bismarck. I have attached my presentations as well as my resource links. Please let me know if you have questions. I’d especially like to know about your experiences with these technology tools.

Electronic Portfolios Presentation.ppt

Electronic Portfolios R&R.doc

What in the World.ppt

What in the World R&R.doc

K-12 teachers are invited to join us this summer in learning about “Real Connections: Delivery Models and Enriched Content with Distance Learning”. This two-day workshop will be conducted by videoconference in locations across the state on August 11–12, 2008. Participants have the option to attend one or both days.

The workshop will be conducted by videoconference at the following locations:
*Cavalier High School
*Berg Elementary, Dickinson
*NDSU, Fargo
*Minot Extension Center

Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. Workshop cost for both days is $80 or $60 for a single day payable to EduTech. One graduate credit is available upon completion of the two-workshop. Graduate credit cost is $65 payable to North Dakota State University. Lunch is on your own. Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops.

To register, get more information or for special accommodations, contact Kari Sauer at 800.804.8550 or kari.sauer@sendit.nodak.edu. Register through EduTech’s online dashboard http://www.edutech.nodak.edu/training/register/ by August 1. Topics and more is available at Real Connections: Delivery Models & Enriched Content with Distance Learning http://www.edutech.nodak.edu/pdf/video/edut_4829_flyer.pdf .

Today, I will be presenting at the North Dakota Association of Technology Leaders Conference in Bismarck. My presentations are entitled, “What in the World? Google Earth, GPS and Geocaching in the Classroom” and “Creative Ways to Use Electronic Portfolios in the Classroom”.

Here are the Resource and Reference Links to these presentations:

What in the World

Electronic Portfolios