Monday, August 30, 2010

Announcing Library Training Series: "Teaching Tools on Your Time"

The NCS Upper School Library is expanding our Digital Literacy initiative with a new year-long faculty/staff training series: "Teaching Tools on Your Time."

About the Training Series


Each quarter, we will focus on different types of web tools, such as alternative presentation tools, widgets to enhance your Moodle page, organization tools, and more.  Every few weeks we will highlight and provide training for what we consider the best web tools currently available.  Trainings will be held in the Upper School Library's Multimedia lab and scheduled at the faculty's convenience.

To learn more about the training series, go to the "About the Trainings" section on the NCS Library Website.

Our Inspiration


The constant and easy availability of information on the Internet has changed the way we experience the world.  These changes are also affecting education.  Our Internet-saturated students have new expectations of education and technology.

Watch the video below for a great example of a 21st Century student who has, with the help of her teachers, empowered her own learning through free tools available online.


Alternative Presentation Tools 


For the First Quarter (September 2010 - October 2010), we will focus on Alternative Presentation Tools.  While PowerPoint is a standard technology that often gets the job done, there are a slew of new sites online that can easily and effectively engage your students in the classroom.



Break the mold and consider using something other than Power Point!  Either implement these tools yourself, or have students turn in assignments using these tools. 

First Alternative Presentation Tutorial: Glogster


The first Alternative Presentation tool we will focus on is Glogster EDU, an interactive web-based tool that permits users to create an online poster.  On this poster, you can add various elements such as sound, video, animated graphics, and web links, that are not possible when designing a conventional poster.

Glogster also allows users to become more creative because of the site's multi-dimensional interface. Glogster is a green technology, and you can even embed finished "glogs" in your Moodle account or elsewhere.  Here's an example of one of the library's glogs: 


Schedule a Training

To set up a time for training, email Chip Chase and list your available times.

Also, if there is a specific technology tool that you would like to implement in your classroom, but not covered in our Teaching Tools on Your Time website, please let us know and we'd be glad to help provide training for you or your students.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

What's New in the Library Multimedia Lab?

We have purchased a variety of new equipment to start off the new school year.

Remember, students and faculty can check out camera and other multimedia equipment from the library on a nightly basis for use on school projects.

Take a look at some of our new equipment:

2 Flip HD Slide Camcorders


These camcorders are ideal for capturing quick video. Borrow one from the library to easily film classroom projects and events. Mr. Chase will be glad to help you upload your video to Youtube and embed the clip on your Moodle account.


2 Vixia HD Camcorders


These camcorders capture high quality HD  video, ideal for longer video projects. These camcorders also record to a built-in flash card instead of Mini-DV tapes, so you don't have to worry about accidentally recording over important video! Mr. Chase will be glad to train you on the use of the camcorders.

2 Panasonic Lumix Cameras


These point and shoot cameras come with built-in GPS tracking. These cameras are ideal for field trips where you can capture the exact location of where you took the image. These cameras will be ideal if you want to create Google Map field-trip report.

(For more information, check out our new Teacher Tools in Your Time: Alternative Presentation Tools web page.)



1 Apple Trackpad


Take a look at this Apple trackpad in the library to see what all the fuss is about. The trackpad brings the Mac laptop's gesture-based trackpad functionality to the Apple desktop.




2 RCA Digital Audio Recorders


These audio recorders make it easy to quickly record audio.  The built-in USB port makes it easy to transfer the audio files to your computer.

 


1 Display Screen


This screen will be used in the Multimedia lab for faculty/staff trainings, as well as for student instruction.
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