Moving from Blogger to Google Sites

"YouTube Google Sites Logo." 19 Dec. 2008. Google Sites Tour . <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_KnC2EIS5w>.

Until recently, Google did not have a web-design tool worth using. But with the launching of Google Sites this all changed. The product is becoming stronger and stronger every month as their development team continues to add features and flexability.

So the question becomes, when does one choose to post their work using the layout of a Blog, or design their own web-site using a tool like Google Sites?

• When the theme is sequence-oriented, a Blog works great. For example, posting daily lesson plans, students submitting work in sequential order, and hikers posting a daily log of their trip.
  
• However, when the theme is topical in nature, a web-site seems to to be much more appropriate. The challenge I was having with this Blog is there was no logical way to organize the topics, and wading through 40 Posts is certainly not very efficient. Here's a tutorial by the Google Sites team to get you started.

Meanwhile, I used Google Sites to rebuild my complete web site, including restructuring all the Posts on this eLearning Blog to make them easier and more intuitive to find.

Come join me at this new location and see what you think about this great Web2.0 product.

Remote Computer Sharing

Tech Support and Training --- from a Distance

Products: TeamViewer and Ammy Admin

I live in a world of tech support, where being onsite is often not possible. Sometimes I need to take control of a machine to diagnose an error, configure software, transfer files, provide training or demonstrate a process.

Following are two of my favorite products for remotely sharing any computer from anywhere. Both products are free, secure, firewall-friendly, and take only a few minutes for even a novice to implement.

Clients can observe or interact as you remotely drive their computer.

Note: I want to emphasize that these tools are not designed to remotely manage your home or work computer while you are away. LogMeIn is a great tool for that type of application.

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Product #1 TeamViewer

TeamViewer (connects PC's and Mac's). Supporter (person providing support) | Instant Customer - Partner (person receiving support) Note: Administrative privileges are not required (if you select Run rather than Install), as nothing resides permanently on your computer. Note: If you're using a Mac to support a PC (or visa versa), be sure that both parties download the same version (ie., v3 or v4) Note: You may ignore all warning messages that may be triggered by XP or Vista. Supporter: Go to http://teamviewer.com/download, download, then Run the Full Version Contact your instant customer (partner), preferably by phone, to provide additional verbal instructions and support. Instant Customer (partner) Go to http://teamviewer.com/download Run the Quick Support. Instant Customer will view a unique ID# and Password. Instant Customer provides this information to the Supporter. Supporter Supporter simply enters the Partners ID# See illustrations: (example: 164 341 023) Press 'Connect to Partner' and enter their Password. Voila --- you are now connected and support is a keystroke or mouse away. Transferring files is also a few clicks away (either direction).

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Product #2 Ammyy Admin

Ammyy Admin (remotely connects PC to PC) Reliable and user-friendly tool. Quick to setup --- even for a novice! Operator (person providing the support) | Client (person receiving the help) Note: Administrative privileges are not required (if you select Run rather than Install), as nothing resides permanently on your computer. Operator and Client: Go to http://ammyy.com, and click the following button: Hit Save. Then open and Run the file. You may ignore all warning messages that may be triggered by XP or Vista. Operator: Click the Operator tab. Ask the Client for their ID, type it in the box, and press Connect. Client: Client: Click the Client tab. Provide your ID# to the Operator. Press the Start button. Press the Accept button when the operator is connecting. Voila --- you are now connected and support is a keystroke or mouse away. Transferring files is also a few clicks away (both directions).

So which one do I prefer? I narrowed all the recommended products down to TeamViewer and Ammyy Admin. My preference is TeamViewer, mainly because it supports both the iMac and PC. It also appears to be significantly more professional, has a long list of well known corporate users, and offers great support and documentation.

However, periodically the work session may crash (meaning the 'connection' is dropped). One simply reconnects and continues working. As any tech support person knows, it's always nice to have an alternative tool in the bag of tricks. Ammyy Admin is simple and fast so that's my second choice.

DropBox - The Future of FileSharing & Syncing Data

DropBox is a brilliant piece of web-based software that allows for storing and sharing of files between computers. It behaves like a remote online hard drive, and removes the hassles of networking local computers, carrying flash drives, etc.

But more important, it is a simple way to seamlessly and automatically sync data between computers --- PC's, Mac's, and Linux.

Example: sync your work computer, home computer, and notebook computer.

Watch a short DropBox video, or take a Tour.

Scenario #1:

• Download DropBox onto computer #1 (PC, Mac, Linux)
• Install DropBox
• Login with your email address.
• A DropBox Folder is created inside of the Documents folder (or wherever you choose).
• Drag all files (any filetype) into the DropBox Folder
• They're instantly synchronized with a Dropbox folder on the DropBox website.
• Access these files by simply logging into getdropbox.com from any computer, any time, any where.
  

Scenario #2:

• Download DropBox onto computer #2 (PC, Mac, Linux)
• Use the same Login (email account) as computer #1
• ALL files from PC#1 are synchronized on computer #2 (regardless of platform)
• Edit or add files from either computer and they are instantly synchronized.
  

Free storage up to 2 Gig. Small fees for up to 100 Gig.

Google Chrome (browser)

Google released a lightening fast browser that focuses on running web-based apps.

A smarter implementation of Javascript rendering makes pages more responsive and let your browser do more than one thing at once (multi-task).

It's crash-protected -- by using smarter memory management each tab is independent and one crashed tab does not impact the others.

It's built on Webkit, the browser framework used to power Safari and the iPhone.

Download at: http://www.google.com/chrome

Find more information on installation and essential features.

CatchVideo.net (download YouTube videos to your PC)

CatchVideo.net

This is a very fast (and free) video converter.

1. Simply copy/paste the URL of a YouTube or MySpace video.

2. Select the type of video format you wish, including:
.avi, .mov, .flv, .dvd, iPod

3. Select the Convert/Download button

4. Save it on your local computer.

Great for backups, burn to CD or DVD, transfer to iPod and a host of other uses.

Catchvideo.net. Try it soon.

Voice Thread

VoiceThread is a simple but powerful Web2.0 tool.

One can upload images and create an audio narrative to go along with each image. Audio comments can be left by visitors, and the narrated slide show can be emailed or embedded in Blogs and websites.

Consider the image below. It's about an exciting, free web-based product called Scribblar. I used VoiceThread to take the images, narrate over the top, and post a nice 3-minute video that is much more effective than just an image.

Imagine posting several photographs of a World War II veteran in action, then having this person annotate while viewing the photos. Or imagine a student posting photographs or scanning images of a project then speaking about each picture.

VoiceThread is as simple as uploading pics, documents, or presentations and simply annotating over the top.
After recording one can share and publish the results. Just copy the URL or the Embedded Coding into an Email, Blog, or Webpage.

Scribblar

Scribblar is an interactive white-board with tons of bells and whistles.

There's nothing faster or easier for effective online collaboration. Great for online training, tutoring and creative brainstorming.

This free web-based application is real-time multi-user with live audio, text chat, image uploading and sharing, and tons of tools (pencil drawings, shapes, highlighting, and more.)

I observed a student teacher who prepped a few Scribblar pages, then invited his kids to participate. He simply sent them an email and a few clicks later they were in and participating.

Consider the following example: uploaded image; tools to add lines, shapes and angles; live audio and chat.

You may wish to view this short 3-minute video describing the Scribblar diagram below.

Try it out at scribblar.com

Post 36: Teaching Ed 556 (Secondary Pedagogy)

I'm excited to be working as an adjunct professor with George Fox University this year. In addition to supervising several student teachers, I also have the opportunity to teach Ed 556, Secondary Pedagogy, with an emphasis on Technology Education. I've met with several instructors, support staff and administrators (on campus), and their philosophy of education is just wonderful.

The course will evolve as the semester progresses, so feel free to periodically check in and add Comments and Suggestions.

Welcome back to school

Welcome back to what will hopefully be an exciting school year for you. Just a kind reminder too, if you have a cellphone to either turn it off or put it in vibrate mood, and of course there is no use for cellphones in a learning environment. listen

Powered by Jott

PS: The above recording will be used later in the wksp to discuss the value of cell phones in the classroom.

Post 35- Rethinking our K-12 Schools (using Web2.0 tools)

Hood River School District (Janice Patton, Curriculum/Instruction)
West Sylvan Middle School (Allison Couch, Principal).
George Fox MAT students (Kathy Sansone, instructor for student teachers)

1. Welcome (do cell phones belong in a classroom?).
   
   
2. 1-Page Handout for Goals and Hands-on Activities
   Presentation | Gmail | Blogging | Adv. Blogging
   
   
3. Reasons to rethink our K-12 schools
   


• 
  
  
• Hood River and Sylvan Slideshow | GFU MAT Slideshow
  
• Shift Happens, so Pay Attention (engaging with todays kids)
• Relationships -> Relevance -> Rigor = Results
• Web2.0 to the rescue
  
  
4. Web2.0 Tools --- Quick Overview
   
• Post 12: Jott (cell phone Posting to Blog)
• Post 14: Del.icio.us - social bookmarking in 3 minutes)
• Post 17: OSLIS - (MLA cite referencing)
• Google Sites (KISS web design)
  Dale's Site (for staff development. Tons of examples)
  Barry's Site (integrating emerging technologies into education)
  
  ACTIVITY (Task 1)
  
• 
• Gmail (Tutorial) opens the doors. Let's Get Started!
  Create a school-based gMail account.
  Example: hr-mrjones@gmail.com
  Email your partner -> reply -> attach file -> reply
  
  
5. Blogging Demonstrations
   
• Blogging in Plain English (3 min)
• Blogging for Educators (teachers/students)
  
• School-blogging Interview video (3 minutes)
• Blog-ology
• Ed-556: Teacher Blog and Student Blog
  
• Dale (Freshman Science) _and_ Doug (blogging wksp and Mr A's blog)
  
• Fresh Start (alternative HS)
• Janet's Powerpoint in Google Presentation (Nat'l Parks)
  
• Willamette MAT group Blog to post their Community Service experiences (rather than the original plan of passing around emails). Another MAT blog where students uploaded and Posted their Powerpoint presentations titled "Our Dream School."
  
  
• Building a Blog (post #21) | Create, Post, Modify
• ACTIVITY (Task 2) Create a school-based blog titled Welcome to my Blog using the criteria in our Goals and Hands-on Activities
  Tutorial (Post 27 is step-by-step)
  
  
6. Google Docs --- Word, Sheets, Presentations
• Google Docs in 3 minutes! My Google Doc Examples (share/publish/post)
• Post 27: Tutorials for Gmail, Google Docs, Blogging
• ACTIVITY (Task 3) Create a Google Doc titled My Classroom Rules following the criteria in our Goals and Hands-on Activities

Post 34: Podcasting in Simple English

Curious about Podcasting?
Common Craft's video says it all, in simple English, in 3 minutes.

Post 33: Leadership in the Age of Technology

Presentation to Lincoln County School District administrators.
Smaller District with a big vision, and making it happen.
Addresses leadership in the age of digital natives and digital immigrants.
Digital natives are rapidly becoming our new teachers.
(PDF version GoogleDoc version)


Slide 14: Making it Happen. Teacher and Student Blogs.

Post 32: DrGunZ Video

As a teacher or administrator, how would you respond to a student who sent you the following video on YouTube? Take a careful look at the various components and imagine some creative applications and responses. Remember, most of us are digital immigrants communicating with a digital native.

Post 31: Hood River Workshop

The following message was created by a cell phone call I made in front of the Hood River HS faculty. The phone-call used Jott (a free Web2.0 tool) that not only recorded the message, but converted it to text and automatically posted in this Blog. Take a moment to reflect on what this means.

Hi, welcome to the Hood River School District. We are here at one of the elementary schools. It's nice to come up here to visit and meet with you guys. I hope all of you leave with something that you can start doing tomorrow that will help impact kids. Listen (recording)

The presentation title was "Possibilites - Tools, Tips and Topics." I began by taking several minutes to quickly create a Hood River Blog. I then took a few pictures and uploaded them to Google Photo (picasaweb.google.com) and uploaded them in a new Post in their blog. Low tech, immediate results.

Post 30: The Power of Pull

"Instead of fear of failure learning (i.e., push learning) such as experienced in most schools and many training settings, learning needs to be irresistible and help learners unconsciously acquire information. In effect, learning should be:

• Interesting, fun, interactive, collaborative, cool, compelling, exciting, social or friendly, challenging, authentic (simulations for instance), flexible (learn when want to learn), user generated, captivating (draw learners into it—learning is a perk not a terrible experience)
• Simply stated, an alternative to the regular classroom.

The Power of Pull: Imagine walking by a bakery and encountering the tantalizing smell of your favorite cookie being baked. It would be almost impossible to resist going in and partaking. Learning can, and should, present the same attraction for learners. Ideally, it should be irresistible. With the pull-technique:

• Draw the learner to the knowledge.
• All learners have different modes by which they learn best.
• The top three are visual, aural and kinesthetic.
• Some people learn by reading and seeing — they are the visual learners and will absorb information most effectively this way.
• The aural group learns by hearing. They need to hear information in addition to seeing it to fully absorb and embrace it.
• The third group needs to do, that is, have hands-on experiences to deeply seat the information in neural circuits.
• While one of these styles may predominate in an individual, it is important for training to incorporate all three modes to create a varied and interesting learning environment."
  

Gillette, Charlie. "The Power of Pull." Norwich U. (Jan. 1 2008):4.20 Jan. 2008 .

Post 29: Welcome Newport High

Welcome to Newport High School. We know there's no use for cell phones in education for kids and teachers so we have to make sure we're not allowed to use them. However, maybe there are some things we might want to consider. listen (recording)

The above message was created by a cell phone call in front of the Newport HS faculty (this is how I began the presentation). Jott (a free Web2.0 tool) not only recorded the message, but converted it to text and automatically posted in this blog.

While the principal (Jon Zagel) did some preliminary staff meeting activities, I quickly created a Newport HS Blog and uploaded some pics and a video taken moments before. Enjoy.

See Post #22 for the Workshop Agenda.

Post 28: Sketchcast Web2.0 tool

OK --- just another little Web2.0 tool. But, it won't take you long to realize that Sketchcast.com sure has alot of potential. It took me 3 minutes to create this great little demonstration of Website Layout and Design strategies. Just remember, a picture is worth a thousand words --- and one just sketches and talks, then Posts the results in Blog or website. Imagine the possibilities.

Post 27: gMail, Blogging, and Google Docs Tutorials

Are you looking for a set of activities or tutorials for setting up a gMail Account, Blog, or Google Docs? Look no further. I created the following activities using Google Docs, then Published so they would be available to everyone. Feel free to link to these activities or send any ideas for improvement.

1. Lesson/Tutorial: creating a gMail Account

2. Lesson/Tutorial: creating and posting a Blog

• View video: Blogging in Plain English (3 min) and Blogging for educators and students and Creating your first Blog (2 minutes)
  
• Creating a Blog and Posting (using Google Blogger)

3 (Hood River). Lesson/Tutorial: Customizing Blogger

• Editing the Profile
  
• Inserting images, videos, docs, sheets, presentations and more.
  

3 (Sylvan Middle School). Lesson/Tutorial: creating and effectively using Google Docs