Sparta Connections

Here are our slides from today's meeting. Feel free to join in on the conversation.



Join us in the chat to ask questions and push our thinking. Also, here is the link to the wiki where we created the curriculum.

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Apply to the Google Teacher Academy - Nov. 18

Below is the official announcement and invitation to apply:

Google Teacher Academy - NYC

New York, New York

November 18, 2008

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Applications Due: October 10, 2008
http://www.google.com/educators/gta.html
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We are pleased to announce that another round of Google’s FREE training program for K-12 educators is coming to The Big Apple! Outstanding educators from around the world are encouraged to apply for the Google Teacher Academy taking place on Tuesday November 18, 2008.

The GTA is an intensive, one-day event (8:30am-7:30pm) where participants get hands-on experience with Google’s free products and other technologies, learn about innovative instructional strategies, collaborate with exceptional educators, and immerse themselves in an innovative corporate environment. Upon completion, GTA participants become Google Certified Teachers who share what they learn with other K-12 educators in their local region.

50 outstanding educators from around the world will be selected to attend the GTA based on their passion for teaching, their experience as leaders, and their use of technology in K-12 settings. Each applicant is REQUIRED to produce and submit an original one-minute video on either of the following topics: “Motivation and Learning” or “Classroom Innovation.” Applications for the event in New York City are due on October 10, 2008. If possible, please use Google Video or YouTube to post these original videos. Participants must provide their own travel, and if necessary, their own lodging. Though we will give preference to K-12 educators within a 90-minute local commute of an Academy event, anyone may apply.

Learn more about the program and the application at http://www.google.com/educators/gta.html

The GTAs have been a wonderful experience for everyone involved, with 97% of all attendees rating the GTA as “outstanding.”

Here are a few quotes from GTA participants:

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“The academy was everything I hoped for and more! I can’t wait to plan out ways to use the tools we learned about, to share my experiences with my colleagues and to re-connect with the other academy participants!”

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“The focus on innovation in education, and not just about the tools, was right on target.”

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“I appreciate the opportunity to be connected to a group of educators that are passionate about preparing students for the 21st century. I feel inspired and able to meet the challenges that lie ahead!”

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“Until now, I had never attended a conference where I was so engaged and loving every minute of it.”

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“This was easily the most important professional development experience I have ever had as an educator. World-class tools demonstrated by world-class people at a world-class facility. THANK YOU!”

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“I love [the Google Certified Teacher community] for the ideas and inspiration that comes flowing to and from it…folks share professional development strategies (technology or otherwise) that have worked. It’s nice to have a variety of ways to assist others and having that variety also provides spice for those of us responsible for doing the providing.”

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Feel free to send any questions to “gteachers@gmail.com”, and please spread the word to anyone who may be interested in joining us.

We’re looking forward to another great event!

- The GTA Team

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Google Teacher Academy - NYC

New York, New York

November 18, 2008

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Applications Due: October 10, 2008
http://www.google.com/educators/gta.html



For tips on the video and the application see my friend and fellow GCT Kevin Jarrett's post and for additional information, visit my blog at ThumannResources.com

Good luck!
Lisa

Wii in PE

After the June NJECC meeting a few people asked me to post the Wii in PE movie.

Here is a link to the movie:

http://web.mac.com/glenfieldschool/DigitalStorytelling/WII_in_PE.html

Enjoy!
Samantha

Jing

Jing is an amazing tool for capturing and sharing video and still images from your desktop.

I have used it to make easy "How to..." videos for staff, students, and parents.

I am also having students use it to create videos while they are using different types of software. So, when they create something great, they can share it with the rest of us. It is a wonderful to for peer coaching and collaboration.

If you start using, Jing please share your ideas here.

Here is the link for Jing:

http://www.jingproject.com/

Running the Mac OS X maintenance scripts

Running the Mac OS X maintenance scripts

Mac OS X is a UNIX-based system. UNIX systems run scheduled maintenance routines — known as maintenance scripts — to clean up a variety of System logs and temporary files. By default, these are executed between 03:15 and 05:30 hours local time, depending on the script.

If your Mac is shut down or in sleep mode during these hours, the maintenance scripts will not run.

This Dashboard Widget, Maintidget, will let you run the scripts when you choose.

Download @:

http://www.giantmike.com/widgets/Maintidget.html

2/15 Meeting - Random Thoughts

Let's blog! Sue Sullivan just gave us a site that hosts a competition for K-12 students to create the Google Doodle! www.google.com/doodle4google

Know of any other great online competitions? This would be the place to add them.

Whatever pops into your mind during the meeting, just BLOG IT! :-)

Teacher tech advisor/coordinator

Our District currently has a stipend position at each school for "A/V Coordinator". This person is supposed to help with AV setups, toner order/replacement, tech supplies orders, etc. I would like to expand this position so that the AV Coordinator can be more of a technology helper for their school. In a perfect world, we would come up with some general criteria and then I would do a training for these teachers during the summer. I would then meet with them a few times a year to go over new topics, issues, etc. These teachers would get a laptop and a stipend for their troubles. The would be expected to help lead some staff development in their own school and help their fellow teachers with basic technology issues, questions, problems, etc.

Is anyone doing any thing similiar to this? Do you have any ideas that you can share? I am not expecting these teachers to become techs for their schools, but more of a first line of defense.
Thanks!