Addictive Videos

I found these videos as I was going browsing through the many education technology blogs I subscribe to.  These videos were made by Pogo, a video editor/music producer on YouTube.  Each video was built using songs within the movie.  You may want to get up and dance when you hear some of these mixes!

Tech Lit in the NewsTribune!

On Saturday, October 9, the NewsTribune ran a story about our classroom!  The article includes great information about our class, interviews with students, pictures and even a video.  Click on the link below to read and let us know what you think!

http://www.newstrib.com/articles/news/local/default.asp?Article=885535A79D46FBE9ADA6DEF0BA0CD1F99E2A729CB8310B07

New projects added to the website!

The students have been working very hard in Tech Lit 21!  They have been making book trailers, podcasts and even movies!  Take a look at our homepage, click on the projects tab and see what they have done.  They are very impressive!

http://www.lasalleschools.net/webpages/cjesse/

Microsoft Excel - Timelines

Follow the directions on the handout on how to make a timeline using events that have happened to you and around the world.  If you'd rather see how it's done, click on the link below and you can watch a step-by-step video on making a timeline in Microsoft Excel. 

http://www.microsoft.com/Education/CreateTimeline.aspx

Wordle of the Day

What do all of these words have in common??

Check out my Wiki!

This past summer, many teachers took part in a Technology Boot Camp.  We learned about a lot of new websites that we will be sharing with you throughout the year.  One of the projects we worked the entire week on was our own Wiki.  A wiki is a Web site that allows users to add and update content on the site using their own Web browser.  Take a look around at my wiki and see what you think!  I'll be adding more as the year goes on.

http://missjesse.wikispaces.com/

PaintJam

Dan Dunn is an artist who paints to music.  His show, called PaintJam, features great music and speed-painting.  Check out his website and watch this video to see what he can really do!

http://www.paintjam.com/

NumberNut

Number Nut provides some great games with which students can practice and develop their math skills. Unlike many other Math game websites, Number Nut includes some word problems that force students to problem solve rather than just recall information from rote memorization.

http://www.numbernut.com/

 

Try it out and let me know what you think!

Who is Responsible for Education?

Watch this CNN Student News Video.  During the education segment, the following question comes up: "What do you think students can do to get a better education?"  Answer this question and write it as a comment to this blog post.  Remember to sign it with your first name and class section. 



If you can't see the video, click on this link and read the section called "Fix Our Schools":
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/studentnews/09/01/transcript.thu/index.html

Apple Unveils New Products

Check out the article below, and see the new gadgets Apple is releasing in the upcoming weeks!

http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/09/01/5023699-apple-announces-new-ipods-ipod-touch-with-camera

The Evolution of Technology and the Human Race

This is a great video!  Shows just how far we've come, and makes you wonder what life will be like in the next 10-20 years!

Design Your Name

Using Google Images and PowerPoint, you will be designing your first name using a variety of letters.  First of all, you need to get your letters!  Go to Google Images http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi and type in each letter individually.  For example, type in "letter m," and many results will show up.  Pick one that you like, and save the picture to your Tech Lit 21 Images folder.  After finding all of the letters you need, open up PowerPoint, and insert each letter into a blank slide.  Move the letter around and change its size until you find design you like.  Once you are finished, you need to save your work.  You will be saving this as a JPEG.  To do this, go to File, Save As and make sure you are in your Tech Lit 21 Images folder.  Then go down to Save As Type, click on the arrow, and find "JPEG File Interchange Format."  Click on that and press Save.  Before you exit out of PowerPoint, go back into your Tech Lit 21 folder and double-check that your picture is there.  We will be using this for a future project so be creative and have fun!     

Top 10 Things Today’s Kids Will Never Experience

Recently, TIME Magazine published an article called "Top 10 Things Today’s Kids Will Never Experience." 

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/6jATWI/www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2011482_2011480,00.html

It's a great list to show teens how quickly things are developing and changing.  The list includes:

• Camera Film
• Landline Phones

• Real Books
• Being Lost
• Music Videos on MTV
• Walkmans
• The Glory Days of Nick at Nite
• Tan M&Ms
• Czechoslovakia
• Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Terminator

Will all of these items be, one day, completely extinct?  I guess time will tell.

Your assignment today is to come up with a list of 5 gadgets and/or ideas that won't be around in the next thirty or so years (when I'm finally old and gray:).  Give reasons why you don't think that item will be around for generations to come.