Computer Software

I have had a really hard time keeping my students on task when they are online. I have recently heard of a product called Vision which allows the teacher to monitor all computers at the same time from a central hub. The teacher can shut down a student's computer if they are on unapproved school sites (MYSPACE!) or they can assist a student with a project by showing them (discreetly even) how to go about doing something. The company offers a 30 day evaluation of their product. For those of you with computer labs, this would be a great thing. So far, I'm LOVING it, and while the students know that I have the capability to see everything they are doing on the computer now and they can no longer get on myspace, they are enjoying the attention they can get from me without having to let the whole class know that they need it. There is also a chat function on there that I can send messages to the whole class when it's time to log off, and therefore save my voice in my room that does not have the best acoustics.

On another note, today is a half day for the students so we can have some professional learning time. One of our activities is to have a mock lockdown and evaluate a few things. My healthcare 2 students and I "decorated" my room for the lockdown all in the spirit of Halloween and having fun. We are not downplaying the importance of the lockdown whatsoever but want to also make it as realistic as possible, without the realities. We've painted our hands red and run them all over the windows, propped up a few spare body parts in the windows, have a saw with my half mannequin in the window and a few other surprises for them. On top of that, with this trial software I'm using, I'll have a "HELP US" message broadcast on all my computers. Some things, even for teachers, we have to keep interesting!

Have a great day! :)

Promethean Board

Well, I have a brand new Promethean Board. It is like a smart board on steroids! Ha! Ha! It was installed last week over Fall Break. Yesterday when I came into the classroom, I thought "Oh, no! This is a disaster!" All the desks were pushed around, my desk was sideways and backwards, cords and wires hanging in every direction. Took me forever to get things straightened up so my students could get in the room.

I couldn't sign on to my computer because I didn't know one plug from the other or where to plug anything. Finally, several of my students figured out how to get my computer functional again. But we couldn't figure out how to get the Promethean Board turned on. So it just sat there all day.

Today, my department chair had time to help me. We got the wires and plugs into the right spots. And lo and behold, a whole new world opened up!

This thing is WONDERFUL! We are going to have a class on how to use it, but I love all the things it can do that I have figured out so far. I am going to use it for first period in the morning to play a game with my students. We are having our GHST Writing in the morning, and we will have a "very extended" first period and no second period. So I will have time to bond with my first period students and my Promethean Board.

Stay tuned......I'll let you know how we do! :)
Connie

New computer lab

Over the winter break I have been assigned a new set of computers. I've finally, after two years of complaining and dealing with false promises, gotten new computers for my lab. My lab was the oldest in the county. We were the first to have the IT and Information Technology program in the county. The county delivered and has set up 26 computers. I am excited about it and have big plans for using these computers to the fullest. Now, while I'm excited about the lab, I also know that the state is changing the curriculum in the IT department. It appears that we will need to get training in programming. The whole situation is confusing because as I was preparing one of the NTI assignments, I went to Griffin Tech (one of the technical schools in the Southeast) to interview one of the administrators and the lady in charge of the articulation program between the high schools and Griffin Tech is herself lost in the new pathways. Enough of this! I'm just happy about my new lab. With new computer materials everything needs to be labeled and properly set.

Training................. What Training?

This posting can be greatly appreciated by Linda Y. But if anyone else has had their lab upgraded or newly created, they may feel the pain. We had 3 days of training in the studio and control room at Linda's school only to find out that many scenarios/equipment were installed incorrectly, so our time was spent troubleshooting instead of utilizing the lab. This is combined with the fact that the vendor who is responsible for at least $300,000 worth of television production equipment is making the teachers "us" feel responsible for the problems. Finally, on the 3rd day we were able to train on the equipment and perform some mock newscasts. But, "holy cow", I've never felt so wrong for wanting something to work correctly! And I felt even worse for Linda because this was her new lab. Needless to say.................. the same vendor is at my school correcting the same problems. And if Jesse reads this.....................sorry for my previous e-mail that just confirms (and I mean no disrespect to Dr. B) that my Polish brain does get the better of me sometimes.