MONDAY MORNING MEMO
Sept. 10, 2012
Welcome Back everyone!
Computer Technology Employee Payroll Deduction Plan http://www.plpsd.mb.ca/division/payroll_deduction_plan.htm Please read the information for
this plan. Purchases can be made directly or from any business which will accept an invoice from
PLPSD. Employee discounts are available from CDW and Powerland Computers and may be
available from other businesses as well. If you purchase the item directly submit your receipt
when you complete the paperwork at Division Office. The Employee Payroll Deduction Plan
agreement must be signed at Division Office before the purchase order will will be sent;
deductions begin in September. If you purchased the item directly you will be reimbursed and
then payroll deductions will be made. Please contact chrobins@plpsd.mb.ca if you have any
questions. The deadline for the Payroll Deduction Plan is September 28, 2012.
Please contact Cheryl Robinson, chrobins@plpsd.mb.ca, at Division Office for email, Maplewood,
ePearl accounts, and password changes.
Microsoft Software Assurance Home Use Program (HUP). This program enables teachers, admin
and staff who would use Microsoft Office applications at home to get one licensed copy of
Microsoft® Office desktop PC applications to install and use on your home computer. This is an
online purchase which requires a division email account. Information will be emailed to the
teachers.
Cleaning your iPad or iPad 2 - Handle your iPad with care to maintain its appearance. If you are
concerned about scratching or abrasion, you can use one of the many cases sold separately. To
clean iPad, unplug all cables and turn off iPad (press and hold the Sleep/Wake button, and then
slide the onscreen slider). Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. Avoid getting moisture in
openings. Don’t use window cleaners, household cleaners, aerosol sprays, solvents, alcohol,
ammonia, or abrasives to clean iPad. iPad has an oleophobic coating on the screen; simply wipe
iPad’s screen with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove oil left by your hands. The ability of this coating
to repel oil will diminish over time with normal usage, and rubbing the screen with an abrasive
material will further diminish its effect and may scratch your screen.
How To Clean a Flatscreen (LCD) Monitor - Flat screen monitors, also known as LCD monitors, are
a little different than their CRT cousins when it comes to cleaning. Your standard CRT monitor has
a glass screen and can be cleaned in pretty much the same way as you would any other glass in
your home or office. Flat screen monitors, however, require a bit of special care when cleaning.
Their displays are much more sensitive and are easily scratched and damaged. The same applies to
your LCD television. Follow these easy steps: 1. Turn off the monitor. If the screen is dark, it will be
easier to see the areas that are dirty or oily. 2. Use a dry, soft cloth and very gently wipe the
screen. A great choice would be the microfiber type of cloth used to clean eyeglasses. Avoid using
paper towels, tissue paper, or non-ultrasoft materials which can scratch the screen. 3. If the dry
cloth did not completely remove the dirt or oil, do not press harder in an attempt to scrub it
off. Pushing directly on the LCD screen can often cause pixels to burn out. If necessary, dampen
the cloth with distilled water or with an equal ratio of distilled water to white vinegar.
Important Tips: 1. Avoid cleaning products that contain ammonia, ethyl alcohol, acetone, toluene,
ethyl acid, or methyl chloride. These chemicals can react with the materials that the LCD screen is
made of which could yellow the screen or cause other kinds of damage. 2. Never spray liquid
directly on the LCD screen or it could run inside the monitor and cause damage.
Sept. 17
Taking Care of Your Smartboard - http://www.smarttech.com/kb/077938 Please read the article
for complete information and the Do’s and Don’ts of taking care of your Smartboard and cleaning
it. Special Tips: Do not use low-odor dry-erase markers, such as Sanford Expo markers with lowodor ink, because the ink is more difficult to remove. Do not use adhesive tape on your interactive
whiteboard, because removing the tape can damage the top layer of the writing surface. Do not
spray cleaner directly onto the surface. Instead, lightly spray cleaner on a cloth, and then gently
wipe the screen. Do not allow excess glass cleaner to flow into the crack between the lower
frame and the writing surface, or into the pen tray recesses.
SAGE - http://www.mbteach.org/professional-development/sags.html
SAGE WORKSHOP http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4295124834/eorg
Session Title: Becoming the Digital Teacher
Presenter: David Nutbean
What does it take to become the Digital Teacher? It involves not just technology, but also teacher
practice and pedagogy that integrate your best teaching strengths and effective use of
technology. In this all-day hands-on session, teachers will explore various techniques and
technology to work towards becoming the Digital Teacher.
Topics will include:
What is the Digital Teacher?


Towards the paperless classroom
Technology and Pedagogy
Understanding and Using a Digital Workflow
 Creating and Maintaining Digital Resources
 Using Network and Internet Resources for the Digital Workflow
Creating an Online/Network Presence
 Using Online Tools for the Digital Classroom
 Online Workflows and Communications
Digital Assessment and Techniques
 Changes in Assessment Practices
 Creating and Using Digital Assessment
Some specific technologies to be used:
 PDFs and OCR Software, CutePDF Writer
 Microsoft Word and the Snipping Tool
 Google Documents, CloudOn/Dropbox
 Google Sites, Weebly, Prezi
 Examview, Proprofs.com
These are just some examples. Many other technologies may be explored based on teacher
interest, skill level and subject area.
Audience: Mainly High School teachers, but suitable for any teacher.
Prerequisite: A basic understanding of working with files and folders in Windows as well using
internet services such as gmail, flikr or Facebook will make things go smoother.
Enrolment Limit: 25
Location: Portage Collegiate
Lab fee: None.
September 24
Requirements: An established gmail account as well as a small flash drive (4Gb or less) to take
samples/shared work with them. Please bring your iPads, tablets, phones or other devices to
explore how they might work with the ideas in this session.
REMINDER: This is the last week for the Employee Payroll Purchase Plan for Computer equipment.
http://www.plpsd.mb.ca/division/payroll_deduction_plan.htm
Registration for S.A.G.E. http://www.mbteach.org/professional-development/sags.html
Winnipeg Free Press article on laptops vs pen and paper.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/laptops-versus-pen-and-paper170937581.html
The Tech News Daily – a newspaper by John Evans http://paper.li/joevans#
iPads in Education - http://www.scoop.it/t/ipads-in-education
A Guide to Educational Gaming in the Classroom - http://edudemic.com/2012/09/must-haveguide-gaming-classroom/
Do parents actually want their children to have Educational Technology?
http://edudemic.com/2012/09/students-teachers-parents-show-opinions-edtech/
A Guide to Google Drive and Apps - http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2012/09/an-updated-63page-guide-to-google.html#.UGCBGFHSZ-0
FREE training and resources for SMART Technologies (SMARTboards, SMART Notebook, SMART
Response) - http://smarttech.com/Home%20Page/Resources/Training/Training%20Search%20Prefilter?WT.ac=Training_FreeResources
October 1
FREE Top Ten Educational Technology Applications - http://techrav.blogspot.ca/2011/06/top-tenfree-educational-technology.html
The Technology section of the Monday Morning Memo is archived at
http://www.plpsd.mb.ca/division/PDF%20Documents/MMM%202013.pdf
Registration for S.A.G.E. http://www.mbteach.org/professional-development/sags.html
20 Ways to think about your class blog http://whatedsaid.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/1020ways-to-think-about-your-class-blog/
educateurs-francophone online newsletter http://paper.li/dkuropatwa/educateurs-francophone
Superintendents online newsletter http://paper.li/dkuropatwa/1310929945
The Manitoba-educators Daily http://paper.li/amckiel/manitoba-educators
iBrainstorm is a free brainstorming application for the iPad. The app allows you to record
brainstorming sessions using a combination of free hand drawings and sticky notes. You can share
and collaborate with other users of iBrainstorm. Sharing notes and drawings between users in a
local setting is a simple matter of "flicking" an item to another user.
12 Awesome EdTech Tools for 2012-2013 is designed to share a selection of free tools that can be
used in almost every K-12 setting. The intended audience is teachers who are new(ish) to using
technology in their classrooms. http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2012/09/12-awesomeedtech-tools-for-2012-2013.html#.UGm48FHSZ-0
Teachnology - October Worksheets http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/misc/october/
October 9
October 15
October 22
Discovery Education http://www.discoveryeducation.com/survival/index.cfm There are some
great, free resources available that can help teachers, students, and parents. The content and
design of these resources is excellent are are great resources to help students learn.
BYTE 2013 Call for Presentations
http://www.brandonsd.mb.ca/byte2013/call_for_presentations.asp Deadline for receipt of
proposals: October 18, 2012
BYTE 2013 Call for Presentations
http://www.brandonsd.mb.ca/byte2013/call_for_presentations.asp Deadline for receipt of
proposals: October 18, 2012
I hope you all enjoyed a terrific and inspirational SAGE Conference. Do you have any
recommendations for the BYTE Conference being held in February? If you do please forward them
to Cheryl Robinson, chrobins@plpsd.mb.ca
ePearl – Are you interested in finding out more about ePearl?
http://grover.concordia.ca/epearl/promo/en/index.php ePearl is currently available to all teachers
and students in PLPSD (requires Internet access). If you would like ePearl set up for your class
please email your class list to Cheryl Robinson, chrobins@plpsd.mb.ca and your class account will
be created and information will be sent to you. If you need more information please contact me
before Friday, October 26 because school accounts will be discontinued if ePearl is not needed.
Crisis? What crisis? Dire environmental circumstances proof that outdated educational system is
failing students, failing the future. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/fyi/crisis-whatcrisis-175049901.html
How Canadians are integrating technology into the classroom.
http://edudemic.com/2012/10/how-canadians-are-integrating-technology-into-the-classroom/
Great website with lots of information on planning--even a tutorial on creating a plan book on
your iPad! Recommended by Devon Caldwell via Twitter.
http://www.theschoolsupplyaddict.com/planning--standards.html
Snapify is a handy little Chrome extension that allows you to highlight any word or phrase on a
webpage and quickly find definitions, videos, Tweets, and webpages about that word or phrase.
See video http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=j4NSYs-xTYc If you
don’t have the Chrome browser ask your school tech to install it for you.
October 29
Google Earth is a very versatile program that educators often associate only with social studies.
Google Earth can actually be used in literature, mathematics, and science lessons too. On
November 2, 2012 Jerome Burg and Thomas Petra will host a Google+ Hangout all about using
Google Earth in education. https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/cogiss5nl2ip1p902g93afvi9o4
Jerome Burg is the creator of the excellent Google Lit Trips site and Thomas Petra is the creator of
the fantastic Real World Math site.
WE Day Manitoba http://www.weday.com/we-day-events/we-day-cities/manitoba/ October 30,
2012. Watching the We Day Live Stream from your school? Download the Web Cast Guide (PDF).
http://www.weday.com/files/2012/09/WESAP-WebcastGuide.pdf
Make Your Own PBS Cyberchase SMART Board Game Show PBS Kids Cyberchase website offers
dozens of educational games for students in grades three through five. The games are intended to
help students develop their skills in mathematics, logic, and pattern recognition. Students who
have PBS Kids accounts can keep track of the games they've played and rank the games they've
played. http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/math-games/ If you would like to make your own game for
your SMART Board, check out the PBS Kids Lucky Star Game Show template. The template
contains 150 questions that can be used to create games. One of the activities that you can
develop using the template is a "game show" featuring your students' favorite Cyberchase
characters. http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/whiteboard/
Digital Dialects http://www.digitaldialects.com/index.htm has a large selection of educational
games and activities for learning sixty different languages including English and French. Most of
the games are designed to learn and practice the basics of each of the sixty languages listed on the
Digital Dialects homepage. The more commonly spoken languages have more activities than the
less commonly spoken languages. Audio files have recently been added to some of the languages
too.
Lesson plans and resources for your SmartBoard http://exchange.smarttech.com/#tab=0
Classroom 2.0 LIVE calendar lists the upcoming live shows for Classroom 2.0.
http://live.classroom20.com/calendar.html They have also included automatic updates to other
live web events which you may find of interest (Future of Education, EdTechTalk, Edublogs Live
Events) Ex. Teachers Teaching Teachers on Wednesday, October 31 and Edublogs Fine Focus
Webinar on Thursday, November 1.
50 Apps for Recreational Learning https://www.teachthought.com/apps-2/50-apps-forrecreational-learning/ Ex. Sketchbook Pro for iPad, Adobe Mobile Apps, Pedometer FREE,
Instapaper, etc.
10 Sites for Educational Documentaries http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&EntryId=5000
Open Education Resources http://www.oercommons.org/ Free-to-Use Teaching and Learning
Content from Around the World.
November 5
November 12
Manitoba Association for Computing Educators (ManACE) is pleased to announce our next
Technology Information Night (TIN), taking place Thursday, November 8th, 2012 at St. John's
Ravenscourt. While it is free to register for this event, we'll be collecting $5 at the door to offset
our food costs. Presentations: Window to the World; Creativity & Collaboration – Making Video
Mashups; Rocking the Airwaves. To register and view presentation descriptions please
visit: http://manace-nov8tin.eventbrite.ca
Windows Alt Key Numeric Codes for typing accents, foreign characters, monetary symbols, etc.
http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/international/accents/codealt.html
Saturday Morning SMART Board Workshops These workshops will help you learn about and
explore the many uses of your Smart Board and Smart Notebook 11 software. We will explore
ways to increase student interactivity and engagement. This workshop is hands on, so please feel
free to bring curricular ideas or files to work on. In addition to Smart Notebook, you will be
exposed to other resources you can use to enrich your lessons with captivating multimedia and
web 2.0 tools. Registration: $50/session/person http://sharingsmarterstrategies.blogspot.ca/
How to Devise Passwords that Drive Hackers Away – Advice from the New York Times Tech
Column http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/technology/personaltech/how-to-devisepasswords-that-drive-hackers-away.html?_r=0
Mobile Learning and Common Core – http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2012/11/mobilelearning-and-common-core.html#.UKEXLlHNkxE a slideshow of 10 Mobile Learning Activities tied
to Common Core standards presented at iPad Summit USA.
Icebreakers, Warmups, Energizers and Deinhibitizers http://wilderdom.com/games/Icebreakers.html
Icebreakers, Fun Games, and Group Activities - http://www.icebreakers.ws/ Free instructions to
many useful icebreakers, group games, and team building activities!
Politics Aside, for New Teachers it’s Still November http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/rick_hess_straight_up/2011/11/politics_aside-for_new_teachers_its_still_november.html Advice for those supporting teachers.
November 26
100 Best YouTube Videos for Teachers - http://www.smartteaching.org/blog/2008/08/100-bestyoutube-videos-for-teachers/
Teaching Teachers – 100 Best Web Resources for Educators http://www.onlinemastersineducation.org/teaching-resources Resources divided into Pre-school,
Elementary, Middle School, and High School sections.
20 Movement Activities and Games for Elementary Classrooms
http://gazette.teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/leah-davies/20-movement-activities-and-gamesfor-elementary-classrooms/
Phonics Video lessons to teach kids phonics, short and long vowel sounds, consonant sounds, etc.
http://www.neok12.com/Phonics.htm
Games for the Classroom that get the whole class involved
http://www.stephencarr.com/classroomgames.html
Ten games are great for end-of-the-day fun. Do you need ideas for occupying students during the
last ten minutes of a busy day? Perhaps you want to reward kids at the end of a particularly
productive day. http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/field_day_games.shtml
Education World – Teacher Tools and Templates
http://www.educationworld.com/tools_templates/index.shtml
Interactive Whiteboards 101 – a Short Primer
http://www.whiteboardblog.co.uk/2012/09/interactive-whiteboard-101-a-short-primer/
Teacher Training Videos http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/ Online tutorials for Using a
Smartboard (Introduction, using Smartboard for languages, Tips and Tricks), blogs and wikis
(Blogger, PB Works, Wordpress Glogster), virtual learning environments (EDMODO, Moodle),
adding voice to PowerPoint, etc.), Sktechcast, MailVu, Vocaroo, Fotobabble, JING, Voicethreadd,
ScreenR-Free, Survey Monkey, etc.
TES iboard Interactive Resources http://www.iboard.co.uk/activities?utm_source=iboard&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=700
-tes-home- Hundreds of free teaching tools and practice games for Interactive white boards (ex.
Smart Board).
December 3
Pinterest Teacher Tips and Resources - http://pinterest.com/jccordova/teacher-tips-resources/
Pinterest is being used by educators to gather resources and ideas. Try searching for teaching
activities, etc. for more resources. Please note: Pinterest has some very unsuitable content for
students, use with caution.
Office 2010 Professional Plus Suite Home Use Program (HUP) - only $11.00 Staff members this
school division can purchase Office 2010 directly from Microsoft. Staff will need a school division
email address and a program code in order to be able to purchase from this site. The license is not
perpetual, but a limited license. When the employee is no longer employed by PLPSD their right to
use Office terminates immediately. An email was sent to employees last week with more
information.
Do students really need practice homework? http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/practice.htm
The Homework Myth excerpt.
International Teacher Exchange blog - http://teacherexchange.ca/
The Edublog Awards – vote for your favourite blogs http://edublogawards.com/vote-here/ The
voting period runs from now through December 12. You can vote once per day in each category.
Changing Gears 2012 – rejecting the “flip” http://speedchange.blogspot.ca/2012/01/changinggears-2012-rejecting-flip.html?spref=tw Why the flipped classroom may not be right for your
students.
Free Technology for Teachers - http://www.freetech4teachers.com/p/freedownloads.html#.ULzJY4bNkxE Eight free downloads. Ex. The Super Book of Web Tools for
Educators, 12 Essentials for Technology Integration, Google for Teachers, etc.
iPads in Education http://ipadeducators.ning.com/ Exploring the use of iPads and eBooks in
schools and colleges.
December 10
Top 12 Ways to Motivate Students - http://www.teachhub.com/top-12-ways-motivate-students
How to Teach Math as a Social Activity http://youtu.be/kZxNldBEU6o This is a very good video of
a master teacher in Anchorage, Alaska, who establishes a cooperative-learning environment in an
upper-elementary classroom.
8 Great Tips for Education and Instructional Technology Innovation
http://www.emergingedtech.com/2012/10/8-great-tips-for-education-and-instructionaltechnology-innovation-success/ These tips can help innovation become a part of the daily mind
set of administrative staff, teachers, and technologists across your institution.
Why all HDMI cables are the same. http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20056502-1/why-allhdmi-cables-are-the-same/ Save your money.
Still more reasons why all HDMI cables are the same. http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_757540275-221/still-more-reasons-why-all-hdmi-cable-are-the-same/
What are HDMI cables and why would I use one? CNET quick guide to HDMI and HDMI cables
http://reviews.cnet.com/hdmi-guide/
F.I.T. blog – Fun Integrating Technology - http://www.funintegratingtechnology.blogspot.ca/
T is for Teaching - http://www.theage.com.au/national/t-is-for-teaching-20121130-2amd9.html
5 Free iPad Apps I Love Using In My Classroom http://edudemic.com/2012/12/5-free-ipad-apps-ilove-using-in-my-classroom/
5 Ways Technology Enhances Education http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/12/5-waystechnology-enhances-education.html
Personal Learning Networks Simplified for Teachers
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/11/personal-learning-networks-simplified.html
December 17
10 Fantastic Educational Podcasts - http://www.fractuslearning.com/2012/12/03/educationalpodcasts/
ISTE Horizon Report K-12 Education 2012 - http://www.iste.org/docs/documents/2012-horizonreport_k12.pdf?sfvrsn=2 collaborative research effort between the NMC, the Consortium of
School Networking (CoSN), and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). This
edition of the NMC Horizon Report series discusses the top emerging technologies, trends, and
challenges that the advisory board believes will have a major impact on teaching, learning, and
creative inquiry in pre-college education over the next five years.
CODiE Awards - Best K-12 Instructional Solution
http://www.siia.net/codies/2012/finalist_detail.asp?ID=29 Recognizes the best broad-based,
multi-disciplinary teaching application or solution for curricula and content that is specifically
targeted toward students in K-12 learning environments. Includes products that offer online
curriculum, assessments, and reporting, integrated with tools for classroom management,
planning, and collaboration. Products nominated here are eligible for the Best K-12 Education
Solution Award.
EDUBLOGS Best Individual Blog for Education 2012 - http://www.seomraranga.com/
EDUBLOGS Best Group Blog for Education 2012 - http://www.edutopia.org/
See all the EDBLOG 2012 winners – http://edublogawards.com/2012awards/best-individual-blogfor-education-2012/
10 Incredible iPad Apps for Education - http://thenextweb.com/apps/2012/07/07/10-incredibleipad-apps-for-education/ Ex. Evernote – FREE organizational App that lets you create and capture
notes and media. Paper – Storyboarding, presentation, and brainstorming tool – winner of 2012
Apple Design Awards for Best iPad app – and it’s FREE.
10 Minutes of Technology for Busy Teachers - quick tech tools for teachers to explore in ten
minutes or less. http://www.jogtheweb.com/run/nXojPyaFvnep/Ten-Minutes-of-Tech-for-BusyTeachers#1 is a jog that introduces technology tools that are FREE, easy to use, and require no
login. This resource includes tools for creating interactive stories, summarizing text, collaborating
online with students in real time, exploring museums, linking directly to quotes in web pages, or
creating word clouds.
TinkerLab.com http://tinkerlab.com/ Home to a huge selection of creativity-building art and
science projects and crafts for kids of all ages. The ideas shared on this site value the processes of
experimentation, exploration, and problem-solving.
CraftsByAmanda.com http://craftsbyamanda.com/ Easy craft tutorials for kids and adults.
BetterExplained.com http://betterexplained.com/ A clear, intuitive guide to math topics essential
for high school, college and beyond. Whether you're a student, parent, or teacher, this site is your
key to unlocking the aha! moments that make math truly click -- and make learning enjoyable.
Math Playground http://www.mathplayground.com/ Math Playground is an action-packed site
for elementary and middle school students. Play a math game, solve a logic puzzle, and have some
fun!
RefDesk.com http://www.refdesk.com/ This award-winning site is a great place to find and
check facts. RefDesk has an enormous collection of reference materials, searchable databases and
other great resources that can't be found anywhere else.
January 7
ScienceNetLinks.com http://sciencenetlinks.com/ Providing a wealth of resources for K12 science educators, Science NetLinks is your guide to meaningful standards-based Internet
experiences for students.
BYTE 2013 is Friday, February 22, 2013 at Neepawa Collegiate, Neepawa, MB. The Workshop
Grid is online with the workshop descriptions at http://www.byteconference.ca/.
Registration Opens: January 14 at 4:00 pm Registration Closes: Feb. 6 Costs: Teachers $40
Late Costs: after Feb 6th, fee is $60
Please note that the presenters for BYTE 2013 still need to register. Do NOT sign up for your own
sessions as sessions are capped. You are welcome to attend sessions when you are not presenting
(please be sure to select that you are a presenter so you’re not charged) or just do not select any if
you are presenting all blocks. Registration is used to tally numbers, order the appropriate
quantities for coffee, lunch, etc. so even if you will not be attending any sessions as an attendee
we still need to make sure that you are included in our numbers for handouts, gift bags, food and
drink. If you do want to attend workshops when you’re not presenting please be warned that
many sessions fill up VERY quickly. At BYTE 2012 we had 125 people register in the first 10
minutes and with hands on sessions capped at lab size that can make it very difficult to get into
your first choice sessions. If this is important to you please have your sessions selected and be
ready to register at 4pm January 14th.
thelittleresource An ADHD Source for High School Teachers (Online completed Master’s
Project/Thesis) http://thelittleresource.wordpress.com/ Rena Little is a high school teacher in
Manitoba. “I know the difficulties in finding evidence-based supportive programming for students
with ADHD. As the mother of a child with ADHD, I understand the frustrations students face in the
academic world of high school and the undesirable results of individualization and adaptations.
Therefore, this site will provide a number of useful, whole class strategies to support those
students with ADHD while also providing supports for other students within the inclusive
classroom.”
6 Tech Resolutions for 2013 http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/01/tech/web/tech-resolutions2013/index.html?hpt=hp_c1
TIP: Make the camera on the iPad focus on something by pinching!
21st Century Icebreakers: 10 Ways To Get To Know Your Students with Technology
http://teachbytes.com/2012/08/05/21st-century-icebreakers-10-ways-to-get-to-know-yourstudents-with-technology/
How to Prepare for an Exam http://deal.org/the-knowzone/how-to/how-to-prepare-for-an-exam/
ManACE Technology Information Nights are informal presentations which focus on techniques
and practices for integrating technology into curriculum. It is also an opportunity to meet other
technology-using educators, share ideas and strategies and learn something new. View the
archives at https://sites.google.com/a/manace.ca/manace/archived-tin-presentations
January 14
BYTE 2013
 Registration Opens: Monday, January 14 at 4:00 pm, and Closes Feb 6th.
 Late Costs: after Feb 6th fee is $60.
 Cancellations: contact rnordstrom@bpsd.mb.ca(no refunds after Feb 6, 2013.)
Novel Approach to Aspergers http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-andlife/life/novel-approach-to-aspergers-185978422.html
7 Habits of Highly Effective Teachers Who Use Technology
http://blog.alwaysprepped.com/the-7-habits-of-highly-effective-teachers-who-usetechnology/
24 EdTech Terms that All Teachers Should Know http://blog.alwaysprepped.com/24-edtech-terms-that-all-educators-should-know/ Ex. Asynchronous Learning, Massive Open
Online Course (MOOC)
APPitic http://www.appitic.com/ App Lists for Education - is a directory of apps for education
by Apple Distinguished Educators (ADEs) to help you transform teaching and learning. These apps
have been tested in a variety of different grade levels, instructional strategies and classroom
settings. Ex. Apps for Physical Education http://www.appitic.com/index.php/mi/apps-forphysical-education/category/ex Apps for Teachers
http://www.appitic.com/index.php/teachers/apps-for-teachers
25 of the Best Pinterest Boards in Education http://www.teachthought.com/social-media/25-ofthe-best-pinterest-boards-in-education/
Student Engagement: Two Questions for Penny Kittle: On Teacher Burnout and Motivating
Teenage Writers http://www.edutopia.org/blog/interview-with-penny-kittle-todd-finley
January 21
For ‘Connected Educator Month,’ Tips From 33 Educators We Admire (Aug 2012)
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/for-connected-educator-month-tips-from-33educators-we-admire/
BYTE 2013 Registration opened Monday, January 14 and closes Feb 6th.
http://www.byteconference.ca/
7 Technology Tools Every Educator Should Use http://www.teachhub.com/7-technologytools-every-educator-should-use
Top 12 Ways of Motivating Students in Your Classroom or School
http://www.teachhub.com/top-12-ways-motivate-students
Making Math Meaningful with Online Games and Videos
http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/01/making-math-meaningful-with-online-gamesand-videos/
Science in a Can http://sciencesoup.tumblr.com/ One paragraph articles explaining the
universe.
More Than Wordle... Ten Other Word Cloud Generators ... Providing Unique Features
http://www.techlearning.com/default.aspx?tabid=67&entryid=364
THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT http://www.techlearning.com/features/0039/theres-an-appfor-that/53332 Common Core Reading Apps (click to enlarge)
From the Principal's Office: The Worst Consequence of Your Best Ideas
http://www.techlearning.com/default.aspx?tabid=67&entryid=5294
6 Weeks of iPad Apps for Schools (or 46 Apps I’ve liked)
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/01/six-weeks-of-ipad-apps-for-school-or46.html
13 Good Resources for Social Studies Teachers
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/01/13-good-resources-for-socialstudies.html#.UP1V-mdyF8E
January 28
From the Principal's Office: Going 1:1? How Would You Respond To Comments Like
This? http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&entryid=5271 “For about three
thousand years or more all that was needed for learning and writing was some sort of pencil. Plato
never wrote his master piece The Republic on an iPAD…”
Books Report Apps - http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&entryid=5278
These apps can help kids write or embellish their book reports.
The Innovative Educator Group - Hottest Posts of 2012
http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&entryid=5238
FREE motivational posters to download from GiftedEd teacher Krissy Venosdale
http://venspired.com/?p=2792 Her instructions on how to make your own classroom
posters http://venspired.com/?p=775
“Model of Blood” activity. http://tinyurl.com/a6xwblr A similar model used a mini
marshmallow for the white blood cell.
Big Huge Labs http://bighugelabs.com/ Helping you do cool stuff with your digital photos.
Motivational Poster maker, Magazine Cover maker, Warholizer, and much more! Everything is
free.
Museum Matte http://bighugelabs.com/mat.php Add a stylish museum-style single or double
mat with optional beveled edges to your digital images. Customize the size and color to perfectly
complement your photo.
FREE PDF to Word Converter http://www.pdfonline.com/pdf-to-word-converter/
Freeplay Music http://live.freeplaymusic.com/#highlight=4 is absolutely free for personal,
private, non-commercial use, for student use in a class project (as viewed only in the
classroom). Use of Freeplay Music as a teaching aid requires a paid license to be secured
with us.
Mr. Henry’s Educational Songs and Videos for Kids
http://www.youtube.com/user/HarryKindergarten
The Super Book of Web Tools for Educators (download the pdf)
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/66422033/Super-Book-Of-Web-Tools-For-Educators
FUN Social Studies Ideas http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/free-resources/contentareas/social-studies
February 18
Popular Social Studies Games and Puzzles (K-5)
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/games/social-studies/48746.html
ManACE TIN Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 6:00 PM at Neepawa Area Collegiate,
Neepawa, Manitoba. Dinner + 3 Great Presentations for $5.00. Killer Apps Facilitated by
Andy McKiel; QR Codes Facilitated by Janis Williams & Sherry Hannah; Celebrating our
Blogiversary Facilitated by Kirsten Landen & Tyler Letkeman. Registration Ends:
February 21, 2013 5:00 PM http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5227212734
MOOC – (massive open online course) MOOCs have at least two key features: (a) Open access.
MOOC participants do not need to register as students and are not required to pay a fee; (b) Large
scale. Traditional courses have a smaller ratio of students to teacher, but MOOCs are designed to
have a "massive" number of students. MOOCs are a recent development in distance education
using open educational resources. They are similar to college courses, but typically do not offer
academic credit. Ex. Connectivism and Connective Knowledge http://cck11.mooc.ca/ (This course
ran in 2011 but you can view everything online. Delivered in partnership with: Extended Education
and Learning Technologies Centre, University of Manitoba.)
FREE Online certificate Courses & MOOCs from Great Universities: A Complete List
http://www.openculture.com/free_certificate_courses
Neptune Canada – transforming Ocean Science. http://www.neptunecanada.ca/ Live
video from Folger Pinnacle. NEPTUNE Canada regional cabled ocean network, located in
the Northeast Pacific, is part of the Ocean Networks Canada Observatory. Our network
extends the internet from the rocky coast to the deep abyss. Our sister network, VENUS
operates in coastal waters of the Salish Sea. Ukrainian teen makes rare discovery on B.C.’s
ocean floor. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/01/28/bchagfish-discovery.html
Teaching with Smart Boards (Technology to enhance learning) http://technology-toenhance-ed.wikispaces.com/Teaching+with+Smart+Boards
“21 Ways to Integrate the SMART Board in the Elementary Classroom”
http://fltechshare.pbworks.com/f/NJAET_Outline_SMARTBoard.pdf
Creative Ways to Use a Smart Board http://edcompassblog.smarttech.com/archives/4958
Top Uses and Misuses for a Smart Board
http://onlinewithkatieann.pbworks.com/w/page/23687730/Top%20Uses%20and%20Misuses%20f
or%20a%20Smart%20Board
Measures of Effective Teaching Project http://www.metproject.org/ This project was a 3 year
study in how can effective teaching be identified and developed? The Final Report has been
released.
The Australian Education Blog – Microsoft Windows 8 Apps
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/education/p/win8educationapps.aspx
February 25
BYTE 2013 Evaluation Form - http://byte2013.wikispaces.com/ Complete SURVEY by Friday,
March 1st @ 4pm to be eligible to win a Kobo Glo eReader
BYTE 2013 Archives – Keynote Speaker Clarence Fisher http://byte2013.wikispaces.com/
Bits of Byte Archives http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bits-of-byte
Phil Taylor - Professional Learning Networks;
Devon Caldwell & Leah Obach - Little Kids, Big World;
Janis Williams - Creating Content on the iPad;
Darren Kuropatwa - Storyfinding;
Clarence Fisher - The Idea Hive;
Sophia Palahicky - Teaching for 21st Century Learners;
Blue Jay Bridge - #pegeeks;
Ryan Miller - Songwriting with Students;
Kirsten Landen & Tyler Letkeman - Celebrating our Blogiversaries
#gafesummit Follow this hashtag on Twitter during the Google Apps for Education Alberta
Consortium Conference for Teachers, Administrators, Tech Directors, Library Media Specialists,
Tech Support Staff and anyone who is interested in finding out more about leveraging Google Apps
for Education to support student learning. February 25 and 26th.
Why Is Milk White?: & 200 Other Curious Chemistry Questions [Paperback] is based on
the queries of an 11-year-old author Alexa Coelho, and answers from her neighbor, chemist and
author, Simon Quellen Field. The easy-to-read book answers 200 basic, but fascinating, chemistry
questions that any child might ask. Covering a wide variety of everyday chemistry concepts from
the very simple to the more complex, this question-and-answer primer provides straightforward,
easy-to-understand explanations for inquisitive young scientists’ questions. A dozen unique
experiments to try at home—from lifting latent fingerprints from a “crime scene” using super glue
(for smooth surfaces) or iodine (for paper) to hollowing out the zinc interior of a penny using
muriatic acid—are interspersed with the answers to such questions as What makes soda so fizzy?
and Why do you get cavities when you eat too much sugar? From separating food coloring into its
component dyes to using easy-to-find chemicals to create “slime,” Silly Putty, or bouncing balls,
this handy guide is the ideal resource for the budding chemist.
textPlus App - The app, textPlus offers free and unlimited messaging no matter what type of
phone you have. After providing you with a free phone number, this sponsor-supported app is
most known for its group-messaging feature and community texting. Photo messaging and voice
notes are also available. Available on: Windows phones, iOS, and Android devices. Application:
You can send FREE group text reminders to your class and without using your personal number
and your students can use the app to receive FREE texts and keep their numbers private.
MathJam Winnipeg, MB http://math-jam.com/index.php?content=winnipeg We meet on the
second last Tuesday of every month, from 7pm in the evening, at The Round Table, on Pembina
Hwy. Next MathsJam evening: Tuesday 19th March 2013 For more information, and to be added
to our mailing list so we can remind you when each event is happening, email Sherri at
winnipeg@mathsjam.com .
The Tech Curve Blog shares some Google Templates for Education
https://sites.google.com/site/kernkelley/forms
March 11
The Busy Persons Guide to Social Media http://edudemic.com/2013/02/the-busy-persons-guideto-social-media/ Parting Note: Think smarter, not harder. You already have enough on your plate.
ManACE Seed Grants for Education - Next Deadline is March 15, 2013!
http://www.manace.ca/Assets/Documents/ManACE%20SEED%20Grants%202013.pdf
Microsoft Partners in Learning Network http://www.pil-network.com/ms/rrq/t
 Over 30 downloadable free technology tools and resources
 Over 12,000 learning activities and tutorials created by educators around the
world
 Hot Topics moderated by education experts
 Over 60 hours of online professional development courses about teaching with

technology aligned to the UNESCO teacher competency framework
A community of thousands and thousands of educators from around the world
dedicated to improving student outcomes. You'll find inspiring tools and learning
activities and support from colleagues around the world.
How Teachers Are Using Technology at Home and in Their Classrooms
http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Teachers-and-technology/Summary-of-Findings.aspx Pew
Research Survey - Teachers, Tech and the Digital Divide?
Notes for the Digital Teacher – David Nutbean (PCI)
Hi everyone. I will be a guest writer here on the MMM for the next several weeks. My
goals are to help provide information on specific ideas and techniques to help with the
transition into being a digital teacher.
What is a Digital Teacher?
First of all, a digital teacher is a paperless teacher. All aspects of teaching should be in
digital form. This will mean transitioning to a paperless classroom. It is a process that
involves technology but more importantly a rethinking of pedagogy.
Teaching involves three phases: transmission (resource providing)  assimilation
(reinforcement and practice)  assessment (testing for understanding) in a cycle of
instruction. The digital teacher strives to keep all phases of instruction digital, while
keeping in mind that digital instruction is different.
What’s Different in a Digital Classroom?
The digital classroom can leverage the internet, school network, and mobile resources to
shift the teaching-learning process more into the hands of students. Some things that
are different in the digital classroom:
 Information and resources can be accessed anywhere.
 Teachers need not directly provide information.
 Students can take ownership of their learning.
 Teachers can provide more complex assignments supporting higher level
thinking.
 Classroom time can be spent supporting integration of knowledge, rather than
transmission of knowledge…among others.
The Inverted Classroom
One model that changes teaching is the inverted (flipped) classroom model, where the
resource providing is done outside of class time. This frees up time for the other two
phases of instruction:
March 18
http://www.slideshare.net/rtalbert/inverting-the-classroom-improving-student-learning
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H4RkudFzlc
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/flipped-classroom-best-practices-andrew-miller
Next Generation of MimioStudio: Free Upgrade Now Available! We are pleased to announce
that MimioStudio™ 10 classroom software has been released and is ready for immediate
download. Available for both Mac and Windows platforms. http://news.mimio.com/mimiostudio10-download?utm_campaign=MimioStudio+10+Download&utm_source=Email+D&
Google Reader will be retired on July 1, 2013. If you'd like to download a copy of all your Reader
data before then, you can do so through Google Takeout.
http://support.google.com/reader/answer/3028851
Notes for the Digital Teacher ~ David Nutbean
Moving Toward the Paperless Classroom
It seems inevitable that the majority of information management and communications we do
outside of the classroom will be done without paper using digital devices. Why should classroom
life not reflect this shift away from paper and the movement into the digital realm?
What does it take to move away from paper?
 One to One Computing?
 Bring your own devices?
 Digitize everything?
 Get rid of the Photocopier?
One-to-One Computing?
Ultimately, it will mean this. Many students already have the devices they need (their cell
phones) and all devices (such as tablets, laptops, and netbooks) are getting less expensive all
the time.
Bring your own devices?
A “Bring Your Own Devices” (BYOD) model is currently being used in Louis Riel School Division
and is likely to become the predominate model of technology integration into schools. And it
means exactly that, students will be required to bring their own computing device for school
work; their laptop or tablet is a required school supply, like pencils, erasers and calculators are
today.
Digitize everything?
Ultimately, yes. Having a mixture of paper based work and digitized
work is like mixing oil and water. How do you give assignments on paper
and then expect students to save it to the network. Or what’s the point
of giving a set of questions in a PDF document when they will write down
the answers with pens on paper. Ultimately every aspect of teaching
and learning will need to be in the digital realm to take advantages of the
efficiencies and opportunities of being completely digital.
Get rid of the Photocopier?
A drastic measure, undoubtedly. But, how about utilizing the
photocopier as a scanner, which many are capable of, and digitalizing
documents while they are being copied. Then next time, just try and
use the digital document.
A digital classroom requires digital resources. Digital pedagogy requires the teacher to find and
utilize digital resources in a digital workflow that will allow for an effective and efficient
teaching/learning process; one that is as good as or better than the paper equivalent. Next time
we will look at how the transformation can start taking place.