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Information Literacy Games: Kermit the Frog Search Challenge

Posted by Dennis O'Connor on October 18, 2009 at 7:37am

It ain't easy being green....

Finding Kermit was the inspiration for one of the first Internet Search Challenges created by Dr. Carl Heine. The task is to track down a picture of Kermit ready for graduation in the least amount of time.Many teachers use this as a whole class lab activity. Put up a search challenge and then it's off the races! This game is live, just click Google to start the timer.

This activity has been available online for years along with nearly 100 other Information Literacy Games at 21cif.com.For news of the latest Search Challenges subscribe to Carl Heine's Internet Search Challenge Blog! http://internetsearchchallenge.blogspot.com/

2nd LAN Party of the K12Online2009 Conference

Posted by mrsdurff on October 18, 2009 at 6:58am

Please join us on October 20, 2009 at 22:00GMT/3:00pmPDT/4:00pmMDT/5:00pmCDT/6:00pmEDT for a live event of the 2009K12Online ConferenceOn October 20, the K12Online Conference is hosting a LAN party from 6:00PM to 8:00PM EDT. We invite everyone to gather at the LAN party site with colleagues in order to view two past conference presentations and then engage in lively discussions in our chatroom. The presenters will be in attendance.

Silvia Tolisano - 6:00 – 6:45 Travel Through Space and TimeBorn in Germany, raised in Argentina and living in the USA, Silvia graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish & International Studies and a Master’s in Instructional Technology. Currently teaching at a private elementary school, she serves as the Instructional Technology Facilitator and Webmaster. Having lived on three continents and traveled extensively, she is well aware of the importance of instilling global awareness & cultural sensitivities in all her students.6:45 – 7:30 How Can I Become Part of this ReadWriteWeb Revolution? Alice Barr, Cheryl Oakes, Bob Sprankle

Alice Barr has lived, taught and traveled on five continents. She now lives in Maine where she is the high school Instructional Technology Integrator in a 1:1 laptop environment. Alice also teaches in the summer at The University of Southern Maine and provides professionaldevelopment sessions during the year. Alice was a Technology Learning Leader with SEED, Spreading Educator to Educator Developments and worked with teachers during the beginnings of MLTI, the Maine Learning Technology Initiative.Cheryl lives and works in Maine and around the world virtually! I get to work with students and teachers

in Wells, Maine and in the states of Maine and New Hampshire. I am also lucky enough to be involved with folks from around the world through my online networks of the Webheads, Worldbridges, EdTechTalk and Seedlings. Join in any of these conversations. You will flatten your classroom.

Bob Sprankle comes from Wells, ME, USA. He's a Technology Integrator in a K-4 Elementary School, teaching over 500 students technology and skills for the 21st Century and has been integrating technology in a 3/4 Multi-age class for 10 years prior.The EdTechTalk community will host this event athttp://www.edtechtalk.com/liveFor questions or more information, contact Susan Van Gelder,Live Events Committee, at susanvg@mac.com or on Twitter at @k12online.

THE MUSE ONLINE WRITERS CONFERENCE!

Posted by Kathy Stemke on October 17, 2009 at 5:30am

I'm taking part in a fantastic on-line conference with hundreds of authors and dozens of brilliant teachers. Some of my workshops include: Adding Suspense to your novel, Fine Tuning the Senses, Creating Teacher Guides, Getting to Know your Characters, How to Write Power Sentences, First Pages in the YA Market, Assulting a Writer's Thinking, Before Copy Editing, Tightening Up your Writing, Finding your Voice, World Building, and Creative Block Busters. I just may have overbooked myself. I'm on information overdrive.Wait, I'm not done yet. I was also given the opportunity to meet and chat with publishers and agents. They give invaluable information like what they are looking for as far as genre, and even style. It doesn't hurt to be able to mention in a cover letter that you met at the Muse Conference.There are chat rooms designated for mingling with the other authors, too.Finally, I got the opportunity to pitch my new picture book to an excellent publishing house. I got positive feedback and was asked to submit my manuscript. Keep your fingers crossed.The very best feature of this conference is that I attended it in my PJs in bed. If your interested in writing, I highly recommend you attend next years conference. By the way, it's free.Sign up for my free monthly newsletter, Movement and Rhythm on my blog.My blog: http://educationtipster.blogspot.comMoving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html http://kathystemke.weebly.com

Brainypics Week 2 Winners

Posted by Jack on October 13, 2009 at 4:30pm

Congrats to our Week 2 Winners! They not only receive an iTunes song, but their Brainypics qualify for the $200 Grand Prize competition on DEC. 7.Submit Brainypics this week, and you can compete, too. Our theme for Week 3: GET CREATIVE! Give us Brainypics that are going to stand out and be super memorable. If that means your kids are gonna get goofy, wacky and weird in their Brainypics... LET'S SEE IT! :) Go to http://Brainyflix.com.P.S. And here are the Week 2 winners:

This photo shows Hover Cat at the NADIR of her flight.

Letting your dog into the hot tub is not an EXEMPLARY action.

The cat had to ABORT the mission before he was caught buying catnip.

Though he didn't believe it at first, the player found out the hard way that Yao's armpits are actually quite ACERBIC.

Kagome was nearly killed by a MALEDICTION from the black priestess Tsubaki.

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Posted by bj neary on October 13, 2009 at 12:07pm

I have been thinking about this book a lot, musing about the characters and how society is being portrayed in this book. School, family, and friends were always important, a love of home and loyalty to oneself and others was always present in Werlin's world of Lucy, Zach, Soleded, Leo and Sara. I thought Lucy was such a strong character who worked hard as an athlete, was a good daughter to Soledad and Leo, a fast friend to Sara and like a sister to Zach as they grow up, and someone who knew what she was about...Even as the past and the curse on her family hurtles in to destroy the calm and security in her life. But in Lucy's world, everyone comes to her aid, doesn't judge her and asks "what can we do to help?" Pure evil manifested itself in Padraig Seeley---he had disdain for the simple beauty of their home, he mocked their goodness, but soon their "magic" is able to defeat him and oh how sweet it is! So what did I learn from this book? I felt that Lucy was sooo loved, she was able to use this strength to free her "family" from this wretched curse and live happily knowing that maybe her life wasn't what she would have chosen----but it was "pure joy-to have the normal problems of being a married teenage mom of a newborn. And count my blessings."

Urgent Help!!!

Posted by Abida Merchant on October 11, 2009 at 5:37am

Hello Everyone....I need urgent help...I read to Grade-Pre-K to Grade-4 when they come to the library before they check out books...i read short stories..fairy tales etc...i now have run out of stuff to read...If anyone knows of any compilations which are easy to read out loud and easy to understand....Plz help.

McKenna: Volunteers good, librarian better

Posted by Richard Beaudry on September 24, 2009 at 10:19am

MARY ELLEN MCKENNA, Northborough Daily News Tribune - September 24th The Daily News Tribune, from Needham, Massachusetts has posted an article from a mother who writes a response to another article posted September 18th ("Check this out: Volunteers help keep elementary school libraries open in Ashland."). While she admits that she would probably do the same thing she does recognize the importance of having school librarians. "I applaud the commitment level of the volunteers in Ashland. I would most likely do the same thing in their shoes. I just caution all others applauding their efforts to not think this is a permanent solution. School libraries should be staffed by professional librarians; our children deserve their skills and expertise." http://www.dailynewstribune.com/opinion/letters/x180657789/McKenna-Volunteers-good-librarian-better

A proposed from Colombia on what is understood for Information Literacy

Posted by Alejandro Uribe Tirado on September 24, 2009 at 1:46am

Concepts related and/or synonymic with Information Literacy (INFOLIT) according to the conceptual, linguistic and/or pedagogical position to assume:Spanish: Alfabetización en información, Alfabetización informativa, Desarrollo de Habilidades Informativas, Competencias informacionales, Competencias en información, Competencias informativasEnglish: Information skills, Information competency, Information competencies, Information literacy instruction, Information literacy skillsA proposed from Colombia on what is understood for Information Literacy(Information Literacy Education)INFOLIT is...the teaching-learning process designedfor an individual or group of persons,under the professional leadership andguidance of an educational or library institution,using different teaching strategies and learning environments(classroom, mixed-blend learning or "virtual" / E-INFOLIT),to be able to achieve the competences(knowledge, skills and attitudes)in computing, communications and informationthat would enable and empower them,after identifying and recognizing their information needs,and applying different formats, media and physical,electronic or digital resources,to locate, select, retrieve, organize, evaluate,produce, share and disseminatein an efficient and effective way,as well as with a critical and ethical approach(Information Behavior)the information that best satisfies those needs,building upon their potentialities(cognitive, practical and emotional)and previous knowledge(multiple literacies: reading and writing, functional,visual, media, digital)and to achieve an appropriate interactionwith other individuals and groups(cultural practices-social inclusion),according to the different roles and contexts involved(educational levels, research, job-training),for finally with all this process,to get and share new knowledge as well asthe foundations for lifelong learning(to which every citizen has the right)in order to facilitate the decision-makingfor personal, organizational, community and social benefitsin view of the everyday and long-term demands(opportunities and threats)in the current information society.Uribe-Tirado, Alejandro (2009)Translation with the support of: Cristobal Pasadas UreñaLocate all our content and communities (especially in Spanish) in...Blog:http://alfincolombia.blogspot.com/ - http://infolitcolombia.blogspot.com/Discussion Group:alfincolombia@googlegroups.comFacebook Community:http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129149432049Facebook Page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alfabetizacion-Informacional-Colombia/123902362767Twitter:http://twitter.com/alfincolombiaE-mail:alfincolombia gmail.com

K12Online2009 LAN Party

Posted by Durff on September 22, 2009 at 7:29am

Please join us on September 26, 2009for the first live event of the2009 K12Online ConferenceOn September 26, K12Online Conference will host a LAN party from 2:00PM to 5:00PM EDT and encourages everyone to get together with colleagues in order to engage in lively discussions. Past presentations will be shown and you are invited to participate in live conversations about the presentations with the featured presenters. A K12Online Conference overview is scheduled at the EdTechTalk website 30 minutes prior to the LAN party.

mathew2:00 – 2:45 Film School Mathew Needleman, Apple Distinguished Educator, has been integrating video in the classroom for seven years as a teacher of kindergarten, first, and second grade. Make better classroom movies with simple tips that will help elevate your vodcast to the next level in terms of artistic and technical merit. Learn how to storyboard like a pro, choose shots that support the telling of your story, and capture better lighting and sound.

AlecCouros2:45 – 3:30 Open, Social, Connected Dr. Alec Couros is a professor of educational technology and media at the Faculty of Education, University of Regina. This presentation unravels a recent open graduate course offering titled “Open, Connected, Social” that was offered at the University of Regina, Winter 2008. The presentation describes the theories influencing the course, types of open practice, reflections and outcomes, and goes on to describe the emergence of “open teaching”.

Markwagner3:30 – 4:15 Wiki While You Work (Basic) A former high school English teacher, Mark Wagner has since served as an educational technology coordinator at Estancia High School, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, and the Orange County Department of Education. His session briefly introduces participants to the Read/Write Web, and to wikis in particular. A live demonstration of wikispaces.org and wikipedia.org will illustrate that…, “If you can use a word processor, you can use a wiki.”

kathycassidy4:15 – 5:00 We Like Our Blogging Buddies: The Write Stuff With Blogging Mentors Kathy Cassidy is a grade one teacher at Westmount School in Moose Jaw, SK, Canada. In the winter of 2008, Patrick Lewis’s university class of pre-service teachers were blogging mentors for Kathy’s grade one students. This presentation talks about that collaboration and the results of the research that was conducted about the effect this mentorship had on the students’ writing.

000100technorati tags: k12online2009 mneedleman acouros mwagner kcassidy

Please vote for our video. Last chance!

Posted by Doug Valentine on September 21, 2009 at 12:17pm

Hello all,Shameless plug, but important as well. We have a very differnt way of acquiring technology for our school. we enter video competitions. My wife and I entered a contest sponsored by the National Parks Foundation to try and win a state of the art camera for our elementary school. Our video is a tongue in cheek look at our trip to Big Bend National Park. We need votes to get the prize! If you've enjoyed my videos I ask that you go to the site, register (it's short and safe!) and vote for our video now through September 23rd at midnight. If you DON'T like to register you can use your Facebook login at the site. It's that easy! Leave a comment if you like. You can vote once a day so vote early and often. Please pass this on to everyone. We really would like this technology for our school. Go to:http://yourparks.nationalparks.org/contests/showentry/84199register at the top right, or login with Facebook, and vote at our site.THANKS!Doug

new novel "Homestretch"

Posted by paul volponi on September 21, 2009 at 10:18am

I have a new novel out today called Homestretch. It is a about a teen runaway from Texas named Gas, who was brought up to hate Mexicans. He winds up working on the backstretch of a racetrack, beneath the very same Mexicans that Gas was always told he was better than. It's a YA book about prejudice and connecting with a larger more universal family. The opening chapter can be read at my website- paulvolponibooks.com.

Great Opportunity

Posted by David Sanger on September 16, 2009 at 11:21am

I am currently serving as the Interim Director of Libraries in Denver. This is a great position for a library leader. Denver Public Schools has over 70,000 students and 145 schools. Look at the new position in the right hand column. I would be glad to talk with anyone about this job!

Help us win some great technology!

Posted by Doug Valentine on September 14, 2009 at 11:30am

Hello all,My wife and I entered a contest sponsored by the National Parks Foundation to try and win a state of the art camera for our elementary school. Our video is a tongue in cheek look at our trip to Big Bend National Park. We need votes to get the prize! If you've enjoyed my videos I ask that you go to the site, register (it's short and safe!) and vote for our video now through September 23rd. You can vote once a day so vote early and often. Please pass this on to everyone. We really would like this technology for our school. Go to:http://yourparks.nationalparks.org/contests/showentry/84199register at the top right and vote on our site.THANKS!DougPS It looks like you can also go and use you Facebook login if you don't like registering.

Split by Swati Avasthi

Posted by bj neary on September 11, 2009 at 11:54am

Split is a taut, psychological thriller for young adults about two abused brothers, Christian and Jace Witherspoon at the hands of their father who is a respected judge. Older brother Christian escapes to a new life with the help of a neighborhood family and leaves a much younger Jace behind to bear the beatings meant for his mother. But after years of enduring psychological torment and physical abuse, during which Jace lives a lie, the final straw is reached. Jace discovers his father has beaten his mother yet again and in his frenzied anger, Jace punches his father knowing he will be kicked out. With Christian’s address given to him by his mother, Jace flees to a brother he has not seen or heard from in years. Split is such a great title on so many levels about the brothers’ past and present….and how they feel, split, not whole. Swati Avasthi keeps the reader turning the pages with the psychological torture these brothers have endured and continue to re-live as they try to rekindle their fragile relationship and rebuild a life without the anger and cruelty that still haunts them. The characters are all finely drawn, especially Mirriam, Christian’s sympathetic, strong girlfriend. The reader feels tremendous highs and lows as Jace navigates his new life; but still can’t let go of his past, his mother, and his girlfriend. It is through Jace and Christian’s talking, their silences, their arguing, their fighting, and their bonding that you hope there may be a slow, painful, road to recovery for these brothers. Teens will be lining up for this drama filled book about the all too real issue of abuse in families.

Glogster!

Posted by Doug Valentine on September 6, 2009 at 3:34pm

Most of you have probably heard of Glogster but if you haven't, I suggest you try it out! The .edu.glogster site is now private and is an amazing tool for student work. This year our school theme is Star Trek and I created a Star Trek themed Glog web for our school. It will continue to grow as the year progresses but if you would like to see it go to:http://mckilloplibrary.edu.glogster.com/McKillop-Home/I will be posting more book reviews there as we get into the school year.

ETCon : Communities and the Power of Crowdsourcing

Posted by Mark Cruthers on August 28, 2009 at 4:40pm

ETCon : Communities and the Power of Crowdsourcing by E-Teachers Academy

Get your own Virtual Classroom

Children and Worry

Posted by Bernice Wonderly on August 22, 2009 at 1:00am

Using books to deal with children's emotions and problems is a wonderful teaching tool. Books are also a fantastic way to open the classroom for discussion on topics that have meaning for every student. Some of the best writing can come from classroom discussions and the emotions that come from these discussions. Worry is a feeling that is universal. Big Universe.

RADIO INTERVIEW ON BOOK BITES FOR KIDS!

Posted by Kathy Stemke on August 15, 2009 at 9:10am

Check out my interview for my new book, Moving Through All Seven Days, on Book Bites for Kids. Preview

Check out my blog:http://educationtipster.blogspot.com

Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones

Posted by bj neary on August 6, 2009 at 10:09am

What a wonderful and sad book dealing with wartime, being students and becoming totally enthralled by your teacher's rendition of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and differences between people such as color, breeding and the horror that happens during war. It was such a visual novel, I loved Matilda, Mr. Watts and the simplicity of how they lived and hated what happened to all of them during this time. A Reading Olympic book for this year and I can't wait to see what the students say as they read and after they read this book.

Bloom by Elizabeth Scott

Posted by bj neary on August 6, 2009 at 10:01am

This is my 3rd book (even though this was written first!!!) and Lauren is a teen who can't believe she is dating the most perfect guy, Dave. He is kind, considerate and Lauren wonders, "what does he see in me" and everyone in school wonders the same thing too. Lauren cares about him, but she is not toally into Dave the way he is into her. Lauren's real estate dad is never around and if he is, he is usually distracted and unlucky in love. Her mom took off when she was six and since then, Lauren's dad moves women into their home so they can be one big happy family. Well, it never works and one time, Lauren's dad brought a woman with a son, Evan, to live with them. Lauren and Evan got along great, even though their parents did not. When they break up, Evan moves out and life goes on....until years later when Evan sits next to her in World History. What happens next is the conflict that Lauren feels about caring for the greatest guy in the world and wanting Evan. High school is at its most isolating and Lauren needs to decide what she really wants and how to deal with all the curve balls in her life. I loved this book but I will say My favorite book of ES is Perfect You, then Bloom and Something, Maybe. I have on order Living Dead Girl but I am a little afraid to read it....

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Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.