Visit Connect! Tech4Learning's Social Network

Connect is a place for educators implementing Tech4Learning tools to ask questions, raise issues, share the fabulous projects their students are building, and celebrate student learning.

To join this network and begin connecting with other educators blending technology, creativity, and curriculum, visit:

http://connect.tech4learning.com/

Classroom Learning 2.0

Visit Classroom Learning 2.0 for a free professional-development tutorial on Web 2.0 tools.

Free Online Training Sessions by SMART Technologies

Learn how to use a variety of SMART products by attending free weekly online training sessions that teach you how to set up, maintain and troubleshoot your SMART products. These 30- to 60-minute sessions require only a telephone and an Internet connection. They are available in English, German, Spanish, French and Portuguese, for both Windows® and Macintosh operating systems.

Click here for the schedule and registration.

Inspiration Software Launches 2009 Webcast Series

Inspiration Software, Inc., has kicked off 2009 with the launch of a new series of popular free webcasts designed to help teachers use visual learning instructional techniques to improve student achievement across the curriculum. As a result of educators' high level of interest in 2008's visual learning webcasts, they will offer two workshops per month during the 2009 school year.

Join them for their next event:

Webcast: Using Visual Learning Techniques to Improve Academic Performance with Inspiration
Date: Thursday, January 29th, 2009
Time: 12:00-12:45 p.m. Pacific Time, 3:00-3:45 p.m. Eastern Time

Register for this event today!

Complementary Webinar Sponsored by SMART Technologies

"Engage your students with classroom management software"

Learn how you can use classroom management software to create an interactive environment for your students and actively engage them in the learning process. At the end of this complimentary webinar, you'll understand how classroom management software can help do the following:

• Improve student focus, comprehension and participation
• Give you better ROI from an integrated IT system, making it secure and easy to maintain
• Provide an easy-to-use tool that lets teachers do what they love to do: teach

You'll spend 45 minutes with Leslie Wilson, president of the One-to-One Institute, along with the director of technology of The John Carroll School, Greg Russell. Together, they will examine the challenges that today's schools face and explore how classroom management software can help improve student outcomes.

Register now for this February 11 event, 4PM Eastern.

Announcing Connect! Tech4Learning's Social Network

The Tech4Learning team is constantly amazed, inspired, and awed by the work students and teachers are doing with our tools. To help foster this creative energy and share these great ideas, they have created their own social network at connect.tech4learning.com!

Connect is a place where educators can ask questions, raise issues, and share the fabulous projects their students are building with Tech4Learning tools.

Connect gives you a place to reach out to educators around the world who, like you, are teaching our 21st-century students.

To join this network and begin connecting with other educators blending technology, creativity, and curriculum, visit:

http://connect.tech4learning.com

They look forward to connecting with you!

Tech4Learning's Spring 2009 Webinar Schedule

Join a Tech4Learning Webinar!
The spring 2009 webinars are designed to help you consider purchasing or begin implementing Tech4Learning tools.

Use the Webinars to:

• Explore ideas for curriculum connections
• Get an overview of software features
• Learn strategies for successful implementation
• Discuss resources and lessons plans
• Learn strategies for engaging your students
• Visit http://tech4learning.webex.com to learn more, explore upcoming webinars, and register for the one that meets your needs.

Upcoming Webinars in 2009:

• January 14: Curriculum Standards with Frames 4
• January 20: Literature Connections with Linda Oaks
• January 21: WebBlender Across the Curriculum
• January 28: Address Early Literacy with Pixie
• February 11: Valentine's Day Lessons with Pixie
• February 18: Digital Storytelling with Frames 4
• February 19: Visual Literacy and Content Standards
• February 25: Adding Creativity to your Curriculum
• March 4: Using Pixie with a Whiteboard
• March 11: WebBlender: Connecting Home-School
• March 18: Pixie: Creativity & Curriculum
• March 25: Meeting Standards with Frames 4

Register Today!

Share Your Classroom-Management Tricks of the Trade with Edutopia!

Edutopia.org wants to hear from you about your favorite classroom-management tricks. Watch the Edutopia example.

Create a video with a classroom-management trick you'd like to share with other teachers and submit it by January 15, 2009, and they'll publish their favorites on Edutopia.org.

Click here for more information.

Request Live Internet Video Stream of Inauguration

The DOE has partnered with ABC News to provide schools with a live Internet video stream of the presidential inauguration on January 20. The ideal location for viewing the broadcast is an auditorium, cafeteria, or large library with projection capabilities (including a laptop or computer with an Internet connection).

If you are interested in taking advantage of this service, please e-mail your borough technology manager (click here to see the list) by this Friday, January 9. The subject of your e-mail should be “INAUGURATION.” Your borough technology manager will contact your to schedule a visit by a technician who will assess your school’s capability to access the video stream. Technicians will work with your staff to set up and test the necessary equipment. If your school has limited technology resources or no large viewing space, the technician will explore possible alternative solutions (e.g., utilizing existing cable television service).

Register for “Closing the Achievement Gap” Series with Joel Klein and Al Sharpton

Middle school principals and their teams are invited to “Ensuring Equality for All of Our Students,” a conversation with Chancellor Joel Klein and Reverend Al Sharpton. This presentation is part of the DOE’s year-long “Closing the Achievement Gap” series.

The event will take place on Tuesday, January 6 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (515 Malcolm X Boulevard, Manhattan).

Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Please RSVP online at http://tinyurl.com/klein-sharpton by January 5. For more information, contact Anita Cassity at acassity@schools.nyc.gov.

Teaching & Learning Celebration is Coming to New York

The Celebration of Teaching & Learning
Where Knowledge Meets Inspiration
March 6-7, 2009, Hilton New York, New York City
thirteencelebration.org

Learn more about the Celebration’s compelling speakers; exhibitors displaying the latest educational tools; interactive events and book signings; and read and contribute to education blogs by visiting and signing up for e-mail updates at the newly launched Web site, thirteencelebration.org.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to join the conversation!

Webinar: Inspiring Literacy with Adora Svitak

Join TANDBERG’s Jan Zanetis as she chats with Adora Svitak, renowned author, teacher, literacy mentor, and prodigy. Eleven year old Adora has been working with students in person and over video for years to share her writing while inspiring them to create their own stories and poems. Participants will learn tips on how to motivate their own students, whether they be young children or full grown teachers. Learn how she makes the most of technology tools to engage students and get her lessons to come across at a distance. Most of all, participants will be amazed at the confidence and perception of Adora, a young lady that is quite at home on CNN, Oprah, or in your classroom! If you have not heard of Adora, here’s her site: http://www.adorasvitak.com. Join the webinar and be inspired!

Click here to register.

WEBINAR: Is your classroom technology increasing student success?

If you're not getting the most out of the technology you currently have, the answer is No.

This complimentary webinar sponsored by SMART Technologies will help you identify your current inefficiencies and show you how a few small enhancements can drive significant gains in learning outcomes and a return on your investment (ROI). Our speakers will show you how improvements to your classroom technology can do the following:

• Increase your students' success
• Boost your ROI and drive down your Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
• Improve the effectiveness of teachers and administrators

When: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time

Announcing Tech4Learning's Webinar Series

Tech4Learning will be hosting twice-weekly webinars to help get you better acquainted with their products and learn successful integration and implementation strategies for your classrooms. The folks at Tech4Learning hope you will explore the list below to find a Webinar that meets your needs.

Visit http://tech4learning.webex.com to learn more, explore upcoming webinars, and register for the one that meets your needs.

Use the Webinars to:

• Explore ideas for curriculum connections
• Get an overview of software features
• Learn strategies for successful implementation
• Discuss resources and lessons plans
• Learn strategies for engaging your students

Upcoming Webinars:

• Oct. 28, 2008 Introduction to Pixie
• Oct. 30, 2008 Introduction to Frames
• Nov. 4, 2008 Introduction to WebBlender
• Nov. 6, 2008 Chroma Key with Frames
• Nov. 11, 2008 Using Pixie with a Whiteboard
• Nov. 13, 2008 Thanksgiving Lessons with Pixie

Register Today!

ISTE Webinar Series: Blogging in the Classroom—for Beginners

TECHNOLOGY IN PRACTICE WEBINAR SERIES PRESENTS:
Blogging in the Classroom—for Beginners

Wednesday, October 22, 2008
1 pm Pacific / 2 pm Mountain / 3 pm Central / 4 pm Eastern

In this introductory session, learn how blogging can help integrate Web 2.0 technologies into your curriculum. Experience how this form of interactive publishing creates authentic learning experiences, regardless of your content area. By the end of this webinar, participants will know the basics of setting up a WordPress blog, have rationale for using blogs as a powerful, motivatonal tool to promote meaningful student learning, as well as how to use blogging as a form of potent professional development.

Webinar Pricing:
$50 ISTE Members
$125 Non-Members

Teachers Can Apply for Teachnet Institute

Teachers Network is currently seeking applications for membership in the Teachnet Institute, a professional social network for New York City teachers, combining both online and face-to-face communication to foster 21st-century skills for educators. Participants will collaborate with members on technology projects, solutions, and communications; write and publish technology curricula; advocate for the use of technology in education; and come together as a group for the exchange of innovative ideas.

Applicants must submit an online application no later than Sunday, November 2.

To learn more and apply online, visit www.teachersnetwork.org.

Fall Professional Development Listings from Teaching & Learning

Fall professional development offerings from the Division of Teaching & Learning are now available online at http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/TeachLearn/PD/default.htm. Click on "Instructional Technology" to find our latest professional development offerings.

Applications now open for GTA NY 2008 - Apply by October 10th!

The Google Teacher Academy is a FREE professional development experience designed to help K-12 educators get the most from innovative technologies. Each Academy is an intensive, one-day event where participants get hands-on experience with Google's free products and other technologies, learn about innovative instructional strategies, receive resources to share with colleagues, and immerse themselves in an innovative corporate environment. Upon completion, Academy participants become Google Certified Teachers who share what they learn with other K-12 educators in their local region.

Applications now open for GTA NY 2008 - Apply by October 10th!

T3 Regional Conference: "Creative Teaching in the Modern Classroom"

The T^3 (Teachers Teaching with Technology) Regional Conference will be held at The College of Staten Island, City University of New York on Saturday, October 25th from 8AM to 5PM. If you are using Texus Instruments equipment in your classroom, you don't want to miss this opportunity to meet with other educators and receive training on the technology you want to learn. Sessions include:

• The New TI-Nspire Technology
• Geometry with Cabri Jr.
• TI-84 Plus
• TI-Navigator
• Apps for the TI-83 Plus/TI-84 Plus families
• TI-SmartView Emulator Software

And more...

Tentative conference program is now available by clicking here. Click here to register.

Discovery Educator Network Streamathon

The third annual streamathon has been scheduled for September 23, 2008, from 9 a.m. EST to 9 p.m. EST. This free, online professional development event is open to educators nationwide and is a service of Discovery Education, a division of Discovery Communications, whose networks include Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and the Science Channel. To register, click here.