Congratulations
to two of our sophomore Tech Sherpas, Austin Taylor and Jess Cloutier for their article 
"A student's perspective on learning through teaching."
published in the latest issue of Teacher Librarian magazine!
Friday, December 20, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Tech Sherpa Show - December 17th
The topic covered this week:
Interview with Eddie Alvarado from S.W.A.T
(Students Who Assist with Technology)
NOTE: The Tech Sherpas will be traveling to Texas this February to visit Eddie and present at the
TCEA Conference thanks to Tech Smith!
Question from Karen:
"How can I record and share audio with Google Drive?"
Chrome Extension: www.twistedwave.com
Question from Colleen:
"How can I insert a Cacoo drawing into drive?"
We will be back Tuesday, January 7th at 3:00 EST
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Tech Sherpa Show - December 10th
The topic covered this week:
"How do you make a form that collects Student Writing Prompts and then publishes them randomly on a Google site?"
"How do you make a form that collects Student Writing Prompts and then publishes them randomly on a Google site?"
Writing Prompt Randomizer Template
"Is there a script would to convert data collected in a form to create printable name tags?"
We will be back Tuesday, December 17th at 3:00 EST
Wednesday, December 04, 2013
Tech Sherpa Show - December 3rd
The topic covered this week:
"Interview with Tanya Avrith and Holly Clark from
EduSlam.me about students tech support and digital portfolios."
"Interview with Tanya Avrith and Holly Clark from
EduSlam.me about students tech support and digital portfolios."
We will be back Tuesday, December 10th at 3:00 EST
Sunday, December 01, 2013
Tech Sherpa Show - Nov. 26th
The topic covered this week:
"Interview with Tech Smith about the new Snagit extension for the Chrome browser."
"Interview with Tech Smith about the new Snagit extension for the Chrome browser."
We will be back Tuesday, December 2nd at 3:00 EST
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Tech Sherpa Show - November 19th
The questions covered this week:
"Tell me about virtual field trips with Connected Classrooms and Double Robotics in school?"
"How do I provide custom Chrome Themes to my students?"
"Tell me about virtual field trips with Connected Classrooms and Double Robotics in school?"
"How do I provide custom Chrome Themes to my students?"
We will be back Tuesday, November 26th at 3:00 EST
Wednesday, November 06, 2013
Milestones
And to fall. That's the hard part for me of course, (by the way, the picture isn't of him falling over, but trying some 'tricks' he saw his cousin do.)
#progress
Tech Sherpa Show - November 5th
"How do I change the battery in a flip camera?"
"How do you use the Livescribe Sky
pen in the classroom?"
We will be back Tuesday, November 12th at 3:00 EST
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Tech Sherpa Show - October 29th
"Can a guest join a hangout on air after it's gone live?"
"Can a Hangout on Air be made private?"
"How do I put Google Docs into multiple folders at once?"
"How do I have student info auto-emailed to their parents?"
We will be back Tuesday, November 5th at 3:00 EST
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Tech Sherpa Show - October 22nd
"How do run the Tech Sherpa Show?"
Links:
We will be back Tuesday, October 29th at 3:00 EST
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
2013 MAINEducation Conference
To say this was a special MAINEducation Conference this year would be a terrific understatement.
I was honored to be awarded Actem's Technology Educator of the Year alongside Technology Leader of the Year Maya Crosby and finalists Page Lenning and Jacqueline Durant-Harthorne.
A special thank you to Cheryl Oakes and Alice Barr for all their help and guidance over the years and getting video from some of my students. It doesn't get better than that!
And what an opportunity for my students to hear amazing keynotes by Kevin Honeycutt and Dan Russell.
Thank you guys!
Tech Sherpa Show - October 15th
The questions covered this week:
"How do I embed an animated GIF from Auto-Awesome into my Google Site?"
"How do I embed an animated GIF from Auto-Awesome into my Google Site?"
"How do I sign out of my Google Account remotely?"
Links:
We will be back Tuesday, October 22nd at 3:00 EST
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
Tech Sherpas - October 8th
"How do I sign out of my Google Account remotely?"
"What is a Student Learning Network?"
Links:
We will be back Tuesday, October 15th at 3:00 EST
Sunday, September 29, 2013
South Africa Summit
This week I had the opportunity to learn from an incredibly enthusiastic group of educators in South Africa! The EdTechTeam offered a Google in Education Summit to an audience of educators who couldn't be more receptive.
One of my favorite stories about the summit actually had to do with my son. I was lucky enough to be able to bring my eldest with me to Cape Town. It would be the first time going to Africa for both of us and we didn't know what to expect. Needless to say, we had an incredible experience and I know he'll remember it forever.
At one point, he wanted to rest in the rental car we had parked next to the building I was presenting in. (The jet lag was hard on him, but he keep up like a trooper.) So I set him up with snacks, a book and his iPad. I would check on him every few minutes. And at one point he sent me this email:
I was quite a proud dad, he had figured out how to connect to the wifi, shoot me an email and let me know he needed the keys to roll the window down. So I headed right out (I was next door to the car) opened the door and saw this:
It wouldn't surprise me at all if he'd never actually manually rolled a window down before. I decided to take it as a metaphor of how many of our students come with some technical expertise, but still need our support and guidance. (No matter how clever with an iPad they are :)
At one point, he wanted to rest in the rental car we had parked next to the building I was presenting in. (The jet lag was hard on him, but he keep up like a trooper.) So I set him up with snacks, a book and his iPad. I would check on him every few minutes. And at one point he sent me this email:
I was quite a proud dad, he had figured out how to connect to the wifi, shoot me an email and let me know he needed the keys to roll the window down. So I headed right out (I was next door to the car) opened the door and saw this:
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Maine Google in Education Summit
 |
| Keith Kelley with Robotics |
The students and I had a great time last week at the Maine Google in Education Summit. With over 200 educators from across New England and Canada. We were fortunate to have +Michael Wacker, +Tim Lee, +Ken Shelton, and +Monica Isabel Martinez join us as well as many local talent like +Alice Barr, +Cathy Wolinsky, +Cheryl Oakes and +Robert Dominick.
The highlight for me was the chance to see one of my students present at the Summit. Here's +Jared Gay in the opening keynote. We're looking forward to our next opportunity to help!
 |
| Jared in Opening Keynote |
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Building Learning Communities - 2013
Another amazing Building Learning Communities Conference for me and my students. I've been bringing students to BLC since 2006 and every year has been provocative and educational, but this year it felt like my students were more engaged than they ever have been.They had the opportunity chat with Alan November and he asked what they were taking away from the conference. They answered with all the exciting ideas they'd picked up, but then he challenged them. He challenged them to go back this year to school and do something about those ideas. (We've scheduled a follow up in October to see what they've come up with.)
That's the type of experience you don't get in the classroom. Sure, I can tell them to try new things, but when someone outside challenges your kids to be amazing, magic can happen.
Additionally, the Tech Sherpas invited attendees to join them in a live show from BLC. They were able to talk about some of the work they did there and their experience throughout the conference.
I also wanted to give a shout out to Melanie Spencer from Canberra, Australia who was inspired by the students to start their own Tech Sherpa team, FANTASTIC!
We're already looking forward to next year!
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Summer Technology Institute
From the 18th Annual University of Maine
Summer Technology Institute in Belfast
we discuss working with students at tech support.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Where will Tech Sherpa's be this summer?
Looking for some PD opportunities this summer? Check out some of the events the Tech Sherpa students will be presenting.
Professional Development Opportunities
Student Showcase
Date: June 8th
Location: Sebasticook Valley Middle School, Newport ME
Website: www.studentshowcase.org
Summer Tech Institute
Date: June 24th - 28th
Location: Hutchinson Center, Belfast, Maine
Website: umainesti.umeedu.maine.edu
Building Learning Communities Conference
Date: July 22nd - 26th
Location: Park Plaza, Boston MA
Website: blcconference.com
Google Education Summit
Date: August 8th - 9th
Location: Hampden Academy, Hampden ME
Website: me.gafesummit.com
PREP Conference Keynote
Date: August 21st
Location: Orono, ME
ACTEM Conference
Date: October, 10th
Location: Augusta, ME
Website: ACTEM.org
Monday, June 10, 2013
Student Technology Showcase
Another successful Student Technology Showcase where our students get to show their technology projects. For more information visit:
Below is our Tech Sherpa coverage. In a very 'meta-moment' there is a section where the Tech Sherpa students are streaming as the Channel 5 reporter interviews them.
Newport - The RSU 19 middle schoolers were at school on Saturday, but none of them were sitting in a classroom. They got to show off to friends and family all that they have done this school year.
Keith Kelley is the Integrated Technology Teacher, he hopes the Student
Technology Showcase is a learning experience for kids and parents.
"Our robot kids that built the robots are now having to describe to mom and dad how to run it... so they learn a lot from that," Kelley said.
Connor Verreault is in the 6th grade at RSU. Saturday he got to learn about the robots. "I think it would be more fun to interact with the robots and build them for the end of the seventh grade year," he said.
The students host a live web "hangout" once a week during the year. They were hosting one Saturday as well. During the web chats they answer questions about technology from teachers around the world.
Jared Gay is one student who helps facilitate the online chats, "you can help teachers everywhere and that just always feels good and you know that your helping their students and it reaches out to them," he said.
Carol Burnette is one student's grandmother. She was excited to see what he learns at school, "it's a great experience, it's wonderful to see what the kids are doing and RSU has some great things that people should know," she said.
Riley Savage spent the year learning to build a skateboard, something she didn't think she could do.
"When I come into IT I feel like I can do anything that I want with my skateboard. After I did that I was like I can't believe I finished it and then after I did the grip tape and the trunks and the wheels I was like wow, I'm done" she says.
This was the 9th RSU Student Technology Showcase, and organizer hope to make it even bigger next year.
Channel 5 Wabi Story
WABI Channel 5 coverage
Newport - The RSU 19 middle schoolers were at school on Saturday, but none of them were sitting in a classroom. They got to show off to friends and family all that they have done this school year.
"Our robot kids that built the robots are now having to describe to mom and dad how to run it... so they learn a lot from that," Kelley said.
Connor Verreault is in the 6th grade at RSU. Saturday he got to learn about the robots. "I think it would be more fun to interact with the robots and build them for the end of the seventh grade year," he said.
The students host a live web "hangout" once a week during the year. They were hosting one Saturday as well. During the web chats they answer questions about technology from teachers around the world.
Jared Gay is one student who helps facilitate the online chats, "you can help teachers everywhere and that just always feels good and you know that your helping their students and it reaches out to them," he said.
Carol Burnette is one student's grandmother. She was excited to see what he learns at school, "it's a great experience, it's wonderful to see what the kids are doing and RSU has some great things that people should know," she said.
Riley Savage spent the year learning to build a skateboard, something she didn't think she could do.
"When I come into IT I feel like I can do anything that I want with my skateboard. After I did that I was like I can't believe I finished it and then after I did the grip tape and the trunks and the wheels I was like wow, I'm done" she says.
This was the 9th RSU Student Technology Showcase, and organizer hope to make it even bigger next year.
Channel 5 Wabi Story
Wednesday, June 05, 2013
Tech Sherpas - Google Hangout Best Practices
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Tech Sherpas - Using Lego MindStorms in the Classroom
The question covered this week:
"How do you use Lego Mind Storms in the classroom?"
Links:
itsvms7.blospot.com
We will be back Tuesday, May 21st at 3:00 EST
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Tech Sherpas - Collecting videos with YouTube and Digitizing Elementary Students Work.
The two questions covered this week:
"Can I set a YouTube playlist up so
anyone can upload to it?"
"How do you digitize elementary students work."
Examples of Students Digitizing their own work
We will be back Tuesday, May 14th at 3:00 EST
Wednesday, May 01, 2013
A Spoon is not a Fork.
The question covered this week:
"What do you think of the proposal for Maine's 1to1 laptop initiative?"
We discuss some of the implications of this shift for students, teachers and the state at large. It's important to note that as of the latest information, districts will still have the option of buying into the other hardware choices (iPads and MacAirs) if they foot the cost of the difference.
My personal feelings is that I know it matters what platform you use, but less and less than ever. If the web is your production platform, then the devices just become the conduit to your content. That said, there is undoubtably a trade off. There are local programs and features that do not have the equivalent in cloud services yet. A spoon for soup and fork for spaghetti. But that's changing, and all the major players know it. Microsoft's latest version of Office saves your files in their Skydrive (cloud storage) BY DEFAULT. That's a huge shift in functionality and assumptions about users. One of drawbacks of this is how each company is building their own digital fiefdom, and not playing well with others.
iCloud vs. Google vs. Skydrive vs. Dropbox, etc.
We don't want them to build these artificial digital ecosystems where you have to choose one closed garden over the other (think AOL circa 2005.) Facebook is pushing this, they are the one service to rule them all, the difference is there's no cost to changing social networks. Hardware costs money and all the apps we buy for them will not transfer. Right now when I buy music, I buy it on Amazon which downloads a copy to iTunes which syncs with Google Music. Yes, I now have the song in each service, but it's quite a Rube Goldberg way of accomplishing this.
Hopefully it will get better.
Spork anyone?
We will be back Tuesday, May 7th at 3:00 EST
Friday, April 26, 2013
LearningModule.com
The question covered this week:
"How do you prepare students for online learning?"
The purpose of the site is twofold,
- First, for students to prepare the new Google Apps account they will be using in the high school. They subscribe to school calendars, organize their Google Drive folders and take a copy of our Student Portfolio. All in preparation for our digital portfolio system.
- Second, the students have experienced learning purely online. There is no class time set aside for students to complete the mini-course. There are 5 tasks, though none of them are particularly arduous. The point is for them to complete school work, (without a teacher prompting them over their shoulder.) Also, there are a handful of technology skills embedded in the task. For example, watching a short video and recording a response. This is not a difficult task, but in completing it, the students have shown they can reflect, digitize that reflection and hand it in.
We will be back Tuesday, April 30th at 3:00 EST
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