North Anna Nuclear Training Facility Visit in Virginia

Forsvarsmakten

Forsvarsmakten

The above link takes you to http://team.forsvarsmakten.se/english/ which is a site that teams you up with three other people. You all work as a team to solve problems. If the team member next to you in a counter-clockwise motion gets things wrong then your "life" doesn't get refilled; however, if they get their problem correct then your "life" is extended. When one person's "life" is drained it is only a matter of moments before the rest of the team is down. This is one fun test.

The Swedish Armed Forces has one heck of a team. :-)

Comedy and Learning Photoshop - All in one

Do you need to learn some of the specifics of using Photoshop? Do you find tutorials to be boring? Would you like to lose some weight immediately? Sexify your look? Merge images so that they look like they were always together? Well, do I have the tutorials for you.

On YouTube's MyDamnChannel you can find the series, "You Suck at Photoshop". This EXPLICIT leader in the world of learning Photoshop is Donnie Hoyle. There is a fair amount of sexual comments. It is all meant in fun and

Let me warn you that there is cursing, disfunctional humor, put-downs, but more than anything, it is easy learning and FUN!!!

Here is your list of links:
#1: Distort, Warp, & Layer Effects
#2: Covering Your Mistakes
#3: Clone Stamp and Manual Cloning
#4: Paths and Masks - You will never want to use the eraser again
#5: Select Color Range
#6: Filter: Liquify - How can you not love his visualization of the honeydew mellon?!?!
#7: Patch Tools and Levels - MILF has a new meaning "Mom I'd like to Facebook" hehe
#8: 3D Layers - He still tells you how much you suck but at least tells you not to feel too bad.
#9: Curves - This was not what I thought this was going to be... cool though... learned something
#10: Vanishing Point - Wow that train leaving was impressive
#11: Smart Objects
#12: Measurement Log
#13: Displacement
#14: Video Stuff Real Fast
#15:
#16:
#17:                                              ...TO BE CONTINUED
#18:
#19:
#20:

A new way to perceive life.

The following video gave me and my family something that couldn't have been timed better. We are facing a difficult decision. Our decision was to make a list of pros and cons to help us make a decision. We are now going to start with a look at how blessed our family is and each of us individually is to help make the list of pros and cons not be such a negative experience but instead a way for us to work together to find the best solution to a problem that has no good answer.

I am sure this video will touch you in your own way. I hope you take the chance.

New multi-media review for Amazon

I received an email from Amazon after I purchased the Kindle. It highlighted their new option of "writing" a video review. It is a great and creative idea. I am excited to take part and watch it develop. I think the more we know and share the better consumers we are able to be. It is wonderful how the web has led to a democratic rule (if the people choose) of what is worth time and what isn't. Read the following message for more information.

This is what the message said:

Dear Airin Hazelwood, Thank you for your recent purchases from Amazon.com. We invite you to submit reviews for the products you purchased or share an image that would benefit other customers. Your input will help customers choose the best products on Amazon.com. It's easy to submit a review--just click the Review this product button next to the product. Amazon Kindle 2 (2nd Generation) Silicone (PINK) Skin Cover Case (Purchased on 02/16/2010) by Amazon ...or share an image. Amazon Kindle ClearTouch Anti-Glare Screen Protector (Single Pack) (Purchased on 02/16/2010) by BoxWave Corporation ...or share an image. 2-Year Extended Warranty for Kindle (6" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation) (Purchased on 02/16/2010) by Service Net ...or share an image. New on Amazon!  Grab your video camera or webcam and add video to your customer review. Click on 'Review this product' above to upload a video or find a different product to review. Need help? If clicking the buttons above doesn't work, you can review your products by following these simple steps: Go to Amazon.com and navigate to the product. In the "Customer Reviews" section, click the "Create your own review" button.

Free Energy Education Kits with SO MUCH STUFF!!!

www.getwise.org


I ordered one kit of the Energy Wise program for EACH of my 30 students last year and received one for myself to use as a demonstration. These kits are sooo cool. The kit we got had 2 FREE CFL bulbs, one faucet aerator for the kitchen or other utility type sink, plumbing tape to ensure a good seal, thereby conserving more energy. It also contained a FREE gallon-per-minute measuring tool and so much more. AND did I remember to mention that it is all FREE!!!! Plus, when I participated, I was sent a $50 VISA credit card to use for my classroom as i wanted.

Here is a quote from their site:
In a Nutshell
"Through the LivingWise®, WaterWise™, or Energy Wise® Programs, students learn about conservation in a classroom setting. The new knowledge is then taken home and shared with their families and friends, reinforcing the lessons learned. The program provides students and their families with the tools needed to audit and retrofit their homes, generating immediate and lasting
savings."

Believe it or not, some parents did not want their children to change their bulbs or faucets so we did it in class with my set as a demonstration and then any materials left over we collected. Then we raised money and bought more CFL lights and donated enough to light 2 whole Habitat for Humanity houses and then some.

I can't express enough what a cool experience it was to go on a field trip to meet the families we were donating to and be able to give the bulbs and faucets in person. AND, if you can believe it, one of the families: a single mother with one severely disabled teenage daughter and one other teenage daughter who, by definition of being eligible for the program are POOR. This mother bought doughnuts for every child in my class and soda to celebrate the birthday of her disabled child and to thank us.

My students asked excellent questions like, "how much of the money that gets donated do these people get?". They got some real learning in that experience. It was all sparked by trying out this free energy education program which is sponsored by power companies and others.

It is more than worth it to sign your class up. They have a very worthwhile learning experience. It is not without flaws, some small errors here and there, but the value of the lessons overall was unable to be quantified.

I encourage you to check it out and tell everyone you know about it. Even better, they are available in both English and Spanish. That way when students take the kit home to improve and assess the changes in their home, their parents (if they speak no english) can participate with them. That is the central focus of this program is to get parents and children to work together to improve their understanding of energy consumption.

Let me know what you think.

My PLE visual

Safety on the internet

http://www.safetyweb.com/parents

http://www.staysafeonline.org/content/lessons-and-teaching-materials

http://technologyinclass.com/blog/2009/11/04/cyber-security/


They are all three worth the time.

SMART board lessons and activities *FREE*

Longwood School District in New York has hundreds of lessons grouped by grade level. Check them out.

http://www.longwood.k12.ny.us/longsmart3.html

Wichita Public Schools has a SMART school which, hopefully, means there is some good teacher learning going on there. They have downloadable lessons; however you have to have the SMART Board software to view the lessons. They also are taking lessons if teachers are interested in submitting ideas.

http://technology.usd259.org/resources/whiteboards/smartlessons.htm

PBS has a site dedicated to SMART Boart lessons at

http://pbskids.org/whiteboard/

SMART Exchange has many lessons, also divided into categories for easy search.

http://exchange.smarttech.com/index.html

SMART Tech has them too...

http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-us/Ed+Resource/Lesson+activities/Notebook+activities/
You can also see showcased SMART schools to get a feel for how they are being used at
http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Classroom+solutions/Advantages/Showcase+Schools.htm
And... professional development
http://smarttech.com/trainingcenter


If I find more I will add them here.

XtraNormal movie making

www.xtranormal.com

This is my example movie. I think it is really pretty neat for a free movie creation. Since I spent the time seeing what it was like, I threw together an assignment for my daughter who I am homeschooling right now. That means that this movie is going to tell you what to do. Don't stress, I am not waiting for your movie. :)

The setting, characters, number of characters in the movie, ambient noise and background soundtrack can all be manipulated to create many different movies.

It was fun to make and certainly worth attempting a writing assignment to test it out.

Free workbooks

Free books! This is really cool. The Library of Congress  published a TON of books. The subjects cover math, reading, writing, job training, test preparation, and so much more at various levels. Each link is a 3-4 hundred page workbook with pre-test, post-test and a key.

I am trying not to download everything at once.

To twitter or not to twitter, it isn't really a question!

http://docs.google.com/View?id=dhcbw9bz_228g76svdhf

If you go through these resources you will find that this title isn't unfair.

http://mrslwalker.com/index.php/2009/03/29/nine-great-reasons-why-teachers-should-use-twitter/

This is another good one, but I like the first one more.

Are you holding yourself to the best standard?

http://technologyinclass.com/blog/2009/12/09/teaching-the-unprofessional-profession/

This is an excellent article. I think every teacher should read it and reflect.

~In reflection on work: “that’s someone else’s job. I don’t want to step on any toes.”

How many teachers are too afraid of stepping on toes? That can't be how we approach our jobs or we are sacrificing the children we aim to serve. I have seen it too much. I refuse to be that teacher.

"When I care the work involved is not an issue. I’ll make the time because I’m passionate about it. I’ll work with my administration. Chances are they welcome the input from teachers on how to make staff development more relevant. This takes tact. We don’t want to make their jobs more difficult unnecessarily."

~I hope every teacher has the opportunity to reflect on this article.

Math Powerpoint games

http://mathbits.com/MathBits/PPT/powerpoint.htm

There are quite a few powerpoint presentations put together as games and study material at the above mathbit site. Everything is free.

More art and geometry

Creating your own mutated art is the idea behind this site at

www.mutapic.com

There you choose two images from their selections and what types of

changes you want to occur based on geometry terms and art terms. 

It was amazing to me how many things can be

interpreted like Georgia O'Keeffe made them herself.

I don't think I will be any more explicit than that.

I mutated these shapes as a representation of my experience of online technologies and my learning.

Because of that I will just give a short caption of what I see in each image.

My learning revolves around me.

 

It gives me joy to create. I think that is nature's way.

 

My entire family can be involved together.

 

I feel free

Sometimes it is frustrating. This mutation seemed to illustrate that feeling you get when you have had enough.

 

Even with the frustration, I feel like a part of a community.

Myoats geometric art

 

I made this.

I did not make the rest of these but I like them. This is a really cool way to show children the

geometry of art in action. They can use the language and the concepts to show a more 

complex understanding of what they learn in the book.

http://www.myoats.com/

Can you see the geometry?

 

  

I couldn't help but add this one.

How about this for cool!!!

You know you can download the Kindle software to your PC, iPhone, and Blackberry, right? Well, there are hundreds of free books that were transcribed by volunteers (that means they are probably not error free). However, the more people that read them, the better the rating for each book will be; therefore, allowing for us all to be a part of the tide that has shifted to focus on public domain. I think it is cool!! I am a total geek, though. I have downloaded over 300 books in the last 12 hours. What else do you do when you are so ill you can't sleep?

Check it out at http://www.amazon.com/ and look at Kindle books by most popular and you will quickly come across the titles marked $0.00. I love the look of that.

Other free book resources

CK-12 is another place where books are able to be self publishable and an open source educational book repository.

Curriki - Fooling With Words Website is another place where open source books are available for education.

Lulu is also a place where books that have been made by authors allowing for a free copy of the book in PDF.

Did you all know about Wikibooks?

Wikibooks is really cool. It has books available for free. These books can be downloaded as a PDF for free and then they can be placed on the Kindle for free reading material. Yeah!!! Free!!!! If you want a bound copy you can create a PDF that can be uploaded to Lulu.com and then purchased as a bound book. IF YOU DO THAT, make sure you are verifying the specs before you create the book. You may need to adjust the PDF document.

They also have Wikijunior for children's books. This is a section of free educational books for children birth to 12 years old.

Copyleft Images

These are sites that students and teachers can get images for educational use. Be sure you direct your students to identify the license so they get in the habit of online source licensing and attributing where appropriate.

Wikipedia Commons
National Biological Information Infrastructure
Creative Commons
Department of Defense
Morgue File
Pics4Learning
Photoshop For Video
Ease History
Ease History also??
US Government Photos
Gimp
Flikr
Free Foto
W P Clip Art

Copyleft Audio

This is a list of open source audio for educational purposes. I have used them and found positives and negatives for the purpose of my classes. Be sure that you are comfortable with any audio that you download or any site you direct your students toward. Some sites are file transfers that have been uploaded from the personal computer of public users and viruses can be delivered to your system. I will try to come back soon to give my account.

SoundzAbound
Magnatune
Wavplanet
Musopen
WikiCommons
Wavsounds
Moviewavs
Freeacidloops
Dailywav
Soundsnap
PacDv
Creative Commons
Music Alley
CC Mixter
Free Sound Project
Open Sound
Pen Machine Podcast
Internet Archive

Children's Rights

How many of these children's rights did you know about?

CDC Podcast "Electronic Aggression"

I was researching internet safety and came across this podcast on electronic aggression from the Center for Disease Control. It was very interesting.

Free Training Opportunity Free Access to Learn360

The following information is just cut and paste from an email sent by Corin Richards. I did not write it. Even so, I hope you take this chance to see how you can use it in your classroom.

Please join us Monday February 22nd, 3:45 pm to 4:45 pm for a free Learn360 training.   This is a web-based training, so the location is your choice.  This is not a sales presentation, Learn360 is a service provided to all schools in Willamette ESD area.   We encourage you to attend this training to learn how to take full advantage of this valuable service. This online opportunity has a participant restriction so fill out the quick registration at the following website: http://tinyurl.com/yezbnff

Intro to Learn360 Webinar – This training covers all the basics. From streaming and downloading videos and other media from over 50 educational producers to creating customized playlists and sharing them with fellow educators, this webinar leaves attendees with a solid understand of the site as well as encourages them to explore some of the new features, which exist in the new My Learn360 section. My Learn360 employs web 2.0 technology and creates a safe and easy-to-use environment for educators to use the features such as: blogging, podcasting, creating online assignments and quizzes, creating online classroom environments that allow educators to communicate with students and continue the classroom outside of the typical classroom environment. 

Video streaming programs have proven to be valuable to educators at many levels: building background knowledge, addressing that teachable moment with just the right video clip, embedded video in interactive white board software, realia for ELL, meeting the demands of the 21^st century learner and more.

If your educators want to learm more about streaming media in their classrooms, or if they want to improve on their current practices, this webinar is for them. A fast, fun way to showcase all of the different ways to use digital media in the classroom.

We are limited to 25 attendees per meeting.    To assure we do not turn people away, we ask that you register for this training by filling out the short form at: http://tinyurl.com/yezbnff. Once you register, watch for more information about accessing the meeting.   If this class is full, we will schedule another class with the time TBA. If you are interested in a different time and date, please reply to this message and you’ll be alerted directly if there is another date and time available.

She missed a perfect opportunity...

I think it is ridiculously funny that I am in my Master's of Education program in Information Technology and I ask Kira for a copy of the paper that she is writing in my Google Docs account. She missed out on a great opportunity to do the typical middle school, "Gosh, don't you know anything. You are so old." Although a virtual beating may ensue. I would have virtually enjoyed the exchange. :) You know, do the whole turn your head to the side so the toddler doesn't see you laugh at something they did that was hilarious but not something you want to promote. It is harder to get them not to notice or to brush it off as they grow in their cognitive ability... imagine that!

Amie Hazelwood and Family

My Voki

Podcasting A How-To Guide

You can download a copy of the How-To Guide on Podcasting at the following link. It walks you through, step-by-step how to create both an audio podcast and a video podcast for both Mac and PC. Just make sure you are reading the appropriate section and you will have your first podcast available in a snap. I suggest using freeware. For Mac use Garage Band. For a PC you can use Photo Story 3 and choose an appropriate format at the end and you are ready to go. You can also use Audacity to record audio only. If you use Audacity you MUST download the LAME ENCODER and be able to locate it for Audacity the firtst time you use it. From then on the free software will not ask for you to locate the LAME ENCODER. Another free software is Windows Movie Maker. In this you can import video and get slightly more technical with your work. Have fun!!

http://sites.google.com/site/mrshazelwood/

Professional Opinions Wanted

Maybe a blog can be a way to share disguised information to be able to problem solve difficult situations that are in need of some extra minds. For example:

"It takes a village to raise a child."

This is a real case. The name was changed to protect the child's identity.  True feedback would be supremely appreciated.

Most have heard this potent message.  So in thinking of the brain rules I have a request for advice and feedback. Teachers... Students... Parents... Adults... Children...

After looking at the brain rules again I was refreshed and found possible answer to a problem that I have been struggling with since "John", a child I volunteer with (regular respite care) started middle school.

To put it gently, VERY GENTLY, it didn't go well AT ALL!  "John" has cerebral palsy, brain damage that leaves one half of his body partially paralyzed. "John" has above average intelligence and exceptional problem solving skills.  However, recently he decided that he was interested in attending physical and occupational therapy so his disability would be less noticeable to his peers. Also, since starting his transition into adulthood he has struggled with tardies, fights, inappropriate comments and profanity and all sorts of behavior problems.

There is a medication that is linked to helping the damaged neurons to fire as though they were normal and healthy.  It was prescribed over Christmas break. Prior to break his tardies were in every class multiple times a week. Since returning to school after the break the only tardy he holds is in his first period. So getting to school on time is the issue. The medicine seems to be helping but I do not believe it is a cure or an end to the issue.Since starting that new medication he is able to maintain focus enough to make it to his other classes on time. Hurray!!! It is wonderful to see him take pleasure in meeting expectations.

Knowing that the semesters are about to change in two more weeks, I would like to propose to the staff that we take away one of his electives and he starts school at the beginning of the 2nd period bell (no longer having a graded first period. In fact having no first period at all.) Every day, instead, I will attend a yoga class together with him at the Kroc Center which will increase our face-to-face connection time, give him a relaxing exercise to start off the day (which hopefully will allow for him to carry that throughout the day), increase his attention to detail from an authority in a non-threatening way, relieve stress from the previous day or from dreams in the night, and include sensory input that is desperately needed for his atrophied muscles. As a bonus that will allow me to drive him to school ensuring that he is on time for his first class of the day.

I believe this will help build upon the success he has worked so hard for over all of this time. It sounds like the school is willing to give it a go at the turn of the new term.

Feedback? Thoughts? Ideas? Concerns?

Ok, Hit me with your best shot. Fire Away!

Brain Rules

This site has some great information on how we function and details on how to work best for children and adults. It is for anyone. Check it out at http://www.brainrules.net/the-rules

EXERCISE | Rule #1: Exercise boosts brain power.
SURVIVAL | Rule #2: The human brain evolved, too.
WIRING | Rule #3: Every brain is wired differently.
ATTENTION | Rule #4: We don't pay attention to boring things.
SHORT-TERM MEMORY | Rule #5: Repeat to remember.
LONG-TERM MEMORY | Rule #6: Remember to repeat.
SLEEP | Rule #7: Sleep well, think well.
STRESS | Rule #8: Stressed brains don't learn the same way.
SENSORY INTEGRATION | Rule #9: Stimulate more of the senses.
VISION | Rule #10: Vision trumps all other senses.
GENDER | Rule #11: Male and female brains are different.
EXPLORATION | Rule #12: We are powerful and natural explorers.

Ultimate Web 2.0 site

http://www.go2web20.net/

This is a site that aggregates a ton of web 2.0 sites. You could spend hours here. WARNING! Have fun.

Full Length Animoto Example

I am in love with my daughter and so many of the things that I play with in order to learn how to use them is centered around my darling Kira. I wanted to show you what a full length video was like from Animoto so enjoy if you want to spend 3 minutes.

Technology Training from Google

"The Google Teacher Academy for Administrators is a FREE professional development experience designed to help K-12 educational leaders 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 learn how to apply examples from our 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 – and around the world. This GTA will be held in San Antonio, Texas, right before the ASCD conference. If you’re already planning to attend ASCD, we hope you’ll also consider applying to the GTA for Administrators. Learn More and Apply Now"

RSS

I wonder...

I wonder if the missing images for the followers is a reciprocity issue??? I see more pictures on peoples pages. Maybe it is because we are linking in more than we were before today... and maybe not. Just a guess. I knew I would come back to this issue before the night was out. I didn't mean to, I swear.

A birdy told me

How to get your blog seen better

A master reference list of all CSS properties, updated live; very useful! CSS

WOU

music video creator FREE

There is a resource that is made free for educators. You have to apply but it takes two days or so for them to process the application.

 

Worth 19 minutes of your life

This is truly worth 19 minutes of your life... and a great talk that crosses the bridge of what mainstreamed media has to offer. This contains oral story-telling, media, the effect
on people, and government... Plus it is hilarious.

Inventory????

Well, here it goes, though I don't know exactly what is expected. I will go by the definition.

There is a dashboard that serves as a home base so that you can go out into the blogging world you have created.

There is a layout so you can make it personal. You can add widgets from other sites and so forth.

You have your profile in which you can share as much or as little as you wish.

There is a place to post to any or all blogs, which is just adding your content.

You can add pictures, videos and audio.

In blogger, it automatically creates an rss feed so you can link it to an aggregating device, then you can sign up for automatic updates by choosing a disseminating device so you can listen to what YOU want WHEN you want.

Of course, you have your advertisements, which you can get out of, in your settings.

That is my best guess at a blog inventory.

Personal assessment ???

 I am not sure what you are looking for Mr. Denvy but I hate to miss a deadline. Se here is my personal reflection and assessment of blogs and technology as a whole for that matter.
 
 

What if this "disconnection" that so many people are talking about is actually not real? I love learning about the brain and so I was drawn to this short video. It would be interesting to me if there are any thoughts on how we communicate without realizing it using mirror neurons. I am watching Transformers 2 and I feel what I am not a part of, the movie. Through the sight and sound I virtually experience something I am not really a part of. Blogs have a different sort of ability. I believe they provide another type of virtual reality. Think of people who have phantom pain when they lose body parts. They are no less real to the one feeling the pain. When you watch the movie, you don't feel less feeling of sadness or fear, love or hate. What draws people to anything, I believe, is that it (whatever it may be) fills in us or relates to us. The technology of music, the pounding of the drums and the words that we sing... don't they usually correlate to what mood we are in? When I am angry or hurt, I listen to Metallica. When I am just being, I listen to George Winston, a pianist. Does any of this resonate with anyone? There are all types of blogs that feed the needs of all types of people.

Upping the ante

The picture was coded by a web 2.0 site called Photofunia. Sorry Mr. Denvy, I missed your question. I added the picture I created there by clicking on the add image button in the create a new post section then clicked the "browse" button and added the image from where I had saved it.

Photofunia, by the way is a great site to play with. It specifically looks for faces and uses them to create a new image with the face you want. I am GUESSING they use the golden ratio somehow to do that but who knows. Not I.

Check it out. I made the name the link so you can go directly there. Have fun.

1 blog that asks the same questions

http://whatgotmegoingtoday.blogspot.com/2008/11/why-do-i-blog-aka-renaissance-soul.html

In this blog, this woman asks the same questions that I see going on and even responses. It is an interesting conversation. I wonder what you all think?

Just for fun

I came across this and thought it was fun...

Internet Serenity Prayer

Technologist,grant me...
the Serenity to accept that not everything can be found on the Internet...
the Courage to go to the Library...
and the Wisdom to evaluate the information I do find.

--Doug Johnson of http://www.doug-johnson.com/

Hello all

Hello all,

My name is Airin Hazelwood and this is my first term in my Master's program. It is greatly exciting to me to be participating as a Graduate Teaching Assistant as well as a student in the Education, Info Tech program. Over the last three years I have worked as a 5th and 6th grade blended class teacher and fell in love with technology because of the many wonderful people that I had in my endeavors as a teacher (Professional Learner). My story is very different, but I can make it short. My parents took me out of school after I completed elementary school. When I left home I tried to go back to school but the district was going to put me into the 7th grade at 15 years old and that was obviously not an option. I got my GED instead. About a year and a half later I started my A.A. program and realized how easily I learned and decided on becoming a teacher because I watched myself go through the process of learning that I can learn and believed that I could help others see that in themselves also.

Through my time teaching I saw many things but the most important lesson I took away was that I always had to be learning and growing and changing. That is my philosophy in every area in life. I look forward to working with you all and learning together.

Because the last movie I saw was Star Wars Episode III, I so badly want to sign out by saying, May the Force Be With You.