"Running with the Pack; Tales from Behind the Screen"
Doug Johnson Director of Media and Technology
in the Mankato Schools
"Whadda I Need That I Ain't Got?
Courage IS a Technology Skill"
Wendy
Mesley CBC Award-Winning Broadcast
Journalist "Running with the Pack; Tales from Behind
the Screen" The
news is all around us. From newspapers, television and radio, to our
favourite webpage, we've never had access to more information, much
of it on demand and real time. Yet, all this information comes at
a price. It can be, and is, massaged and doctored by the newsmakers,
their public relations people, and even by the media itself. How do
you separate fact from fiction in the nformation age? Join CBC investigative
journalist Wendy Mesley as she explores the world of the daily headlines,
showing you how to find the truth behind the hype. Drawing on a range
of examples from both past and present, she shows the audience that
nothing in our media saturated world is as it seems, and that if you
know where to look and what to look for, you can find the most interesting
news by reading between the lines. It's a funny, irreverent, and informative
look at Canada's newsmakers, and their fascinating and often hilarious
efforts to look good, even when they've been bad.
Doug
Johnson Director of Media and Technology in the Mankato
Schools
"Whadda I Need That I Ain't Got? Courage IS a Technology
Skill"
Doug
Johnson has been the Director of Media and Technology for the Mankato
Public Schools since 1991 and has served as an adjunct faculty
member of Minnesota State University, Mankato since 1990. His teaching
experience has included work in grades K-12 in schools both here and
in Saudi Arabia. He is the author of four books: The
Indispensable Librarian, The Indispensable
Teacher's Guide to Computer Skills, Teaching
Right from Wrong in the Digital Age and
Machines are the Easy Part; People are the Hard Part. His
regular columns appear in Library Media Connection, Leading
& Learning and The School Administrator magazines and
his articles have appeared in over forty books and periodicals. Doug
has conducted workshops and given presentations for over 130
organizations throughout the United States as well as in Malaysia,
Kenya, Thailand, Germany, Qatar, Canada, the UAE and Australia and
has held a variety of leadership positions in state and national organizations,
including ISTE and AASL.
f
M1-Media
M2-Integration
M3-Continuum
M4-Robotics
M5-Text-To-Speech
M6-Podcasting
M7-Writing
Move your mouse
over any session for more detail
CODE
DESCRIPTION
M1
The
Media: The Truth is out There
- You Just Have to Know Where to Look
M2
The
Sane Teacher's Guide to Technology Integration
M3
Big
Baud Book / Cyberspace Learning Continuum
M4
Robotics
M5
Literary
Lowdown on Ministry Licensed Software
M6
Taking
Podcasting to School
M7
Structured Writing with Computers
M1—
The Media: The Truth is out There
- You Just Have to Know Where to Look
"The
news is all around us. From newspapers, television and radio, to
our favourite webpage, we've never had access to more information,
much of it on demand and real time. Yet, all this information comes
at a price. It can be, and is, massaged and doctored by the newsmakers,
their public relations people, and even by the media itself. How
do you separate fact from fiction in the information age? Join CBC
investigative journalist Wendy Mesley as she explores the world
of the daily headlines, showing you how to find the truth behind
the hype.
M2—The
Sane Teacher's Guide to Technology Integration
Never
been a technology geek or guru? Still rather think of a mouse as
something that eats cheese than rolls around on your desk? Yet as
a conscientious teacher, you KNOW your students should be practising
technology and information literacy skills. This workshop ex-
plores how good teaching practices and the content area curriculum
can be enhanced through the judicious use of technology upgrades
that support best practice. Examples of real student technology
enhanced projects
M3—Big
Baud Book / Cyberspace Learning Continuum
The
Cyberspace Learning Continuum Project. This dynamic project uses
a three dimensional learning and teaching model to develop academic
and life skills such as team work and personal management. During
involvement in the “ Cyberspace Learning Continuum”
teachers and students grow and develop using “slice of life
learning” . Cyberspace Learning Continuum evolved over a 12
year period beginning as the “Big Baude Book Project”
the brain child of noted Canadian author, illustrator Werner Zimmermann.
This innovative, trans-curricular project employs modelling, research,
conceptualization, visual , literacy and technology skill building
to publish illustrated picture books.
M4—Robotics
This
innovative workshop features two elementary
teachers who have been involved with an after-school
program involving the Lego Robolab software and Lego Robotics kits.
This kit makes use of motors, various sensors and other Lego features.
They will demonstrate how to create and program the many pieces
of Lego into an autonomous robot. Further, they will provide information
on how LKDSB proposes to integrate these kits into a classroom setting.
M5—Literary
Lowdown on Ministry Licensed Software
Participants
will be given an overview of text to speech software including Clicker
4, Write:OutLoud and Co:Writer. Each program will be reviewed and
suggestions given as to its integration into any classroom literacy
program. As well, available resources to support
these programs will be provided. Come see how technology can enhance
your literacy program!
M6—Taking
Podcasting to School
With
more and more educational content being developed for and delivered
through podcasting, educators and students have on-the-go access
to audio, ranging from curriculum-related content to professional
development shows. Podcasting is also a way for teachers and students
to publish and distribute content. Imagine a science instructor
posting daily assignments and recorded lectures from class, to a
website that provides an RSS feed. Students can subscribe to the
feed from home and have their class assignments and content sync
with their iPods, taking them wherever they go. This session will
focus on the podcasting workflow from creation, examining a variety
of tools, to publishing.
M7—Structured
Writing with Computers
The
Structured Writing resource is a solution to teach students of all
ages and abilities to write well. Solutions and strategies for multiple
learning styles and disabilities will be addressed. Smart Ideas,
WordPerfect and Write:Outloud will be used to demonstrate the writing
process.
f
A1-Making a Difference
A2-Analysis
A3-Camera
A4-Web
A5-Dreamweaver
A6-Safety
A7-Math
Move your mouse
over any session for more detail
CODE
DESCRIPTION
A1
Data
Analysis Is Technology Making a Difference in Your School?
A2
Data
Analysis Tools for Administrators
A3
101
Things to Do With a Digital Camera
A4
TVO
- Web Based Resources
A5
Dreamweaver
MX- Time Saver Tools to Edit your Web Site
A6
On-line
Safety – Security and Resources
A7
Integrating
Understanding Math Software
into my Junior/Intermediate Classroom
A1—Is
Technology Making a Difference in Your School?
Change
requires courage, and developing courage isn't often addressed in
technology planning sessions. This keynote suggests strategies that
educators can use to combat the fear and stress that often accompany
implementing new programs and projects. How do we use humour, personal
motivation, setting to make change a more pleasant experience for
teamwork and goal everyone involved - including the change agent?
A2—
Data Analysis Tools for Administrators
From
Tinkering to Fathoming Dynamic Data
Ministry-licensed data management software titles, TinkerPlots and
Fathom, put powerful, intuitive tools into the hands of students,
teachers and administrators. Participants will be introduced to
the software, given some examples of how the software can be used
in the classroom, including with StatCan's Census at School, and
be shown how achievement data might be presented to a school community.
A3—101
Things to Do With a Digital Camera
Students,
in and out of school, now have access to a variety of digital cameras
and scanners. These can be used to capture images at school events
or field trips. The images may be used as starters for writing activities
or to further illustrate the student’s ideas. Digital cameras
allow students and teachers to add another dimension to their projects
and lessons. This presentation will share many ideas about using
the camera in a variety of curriculum applications as well as low-tech
tips for making photos ready for a variety of uses, using readily
available software. Explore simple techniques that will have a big
impact in your teaching and in student learning.
A4—TVO
- Web Based Resources
TVO's
Free resources and tools for the K-12 classroom.
A)
TVO Programming—TVOKids and curriculum-linked documentaries
B)
Support materials—-TVOKids.com Parents and Teacher's site
( teachers guides and student worksheets) -TVO for TEACHERS: free
downloads of teacher guides, curriculum links, student worksheets
and assessment and evaluation tools.
C)CRB-Curriculum
Resource Bank: a bank of award winning video and animation resources,
indexed winning video and animation resources, indexed according
to the K-12 Ontario curriculum and available for free to download
or stream
D)
ILC-Independent Learning Centre
A5—Dreamweaver
MX- Time Saver Tools to Edit your Web Site
Maintaining
your website is essential to keep it fresh-looking - but making
the changes across your burgeoning site can get very time-consuming.
Save yourself some drudgework by learning to use Link-Checking,
Cascading Style Sheets and Code Snippet Library tools.
A6—On-line
Safety – Security and Resources
This
Internet Safety presentation has been prepared in a partnership
with AMDSB, the OPP and Stratford Police Services. During the workshop
we discuss our need to be informed as educators to better assist
our students in becoming 'safe, wise and informed internet users'.
Glen Childerly, OPP Police Services Officer will partner with Maggie
Crane, System Principal of Information Technology to share legal
situations, laws established, tips and resources created by AMDSB
for use by parents, educators and students.
A7—Integrating
Understanding Math Software
into my Junior/Intermediate Classroom
Understanding
Math has become an integral part of my daily mathematics program.
Join me for a look at an integrated instructional approach that
combines technology and research-based instructional strategies
to build conceptual understanding of mathematical concepts in all
learners. Walk away from this session with ready to use ideas and
lessons on how to use software within your mathematics curriculum.
The R.C.A.C. is grateful for the support
of the following donors of door prizes last year.
Click any logo to visit a donor!
This
page will expire Nov.30, 2006
Please email daryn_bee@osapac.org
if you
would like to support Symposium 2006
with a doorprize donation
Best Western Lamplighter Inn
591 Wellington Road, London, Ontario N6C 4R3
1-888-232-6747
From:
The north
Take Highway
4 (Richmond Street) to York Street. Turn left on York Street to Wellington
Road. Turn right on Wellington Road. We are 1 block past the fifth
stoplight on the right (west) side of Wellington Road.
From:
The east
Coming from the Toronto
Area, take Highway 401 to Exit 186B. Follow Wellington Road North.
We are 7 stop lights on the left (west) side of Wellington Street.
From:
The west
Coming from the Windsor
Area, take Highway 401 to Exit 186. Follow Wellington Road North.
We are 7 stop lights on the left (west) side of Wellington Road.
Click
to download a hardcopy of the Symposium Flyer !
"The
news is all around us. From newspapers, television and radio, to
our favourite webpage, we've never had access to more information,
much of it on demand and real time. Yet, all this information comes
at a price. It can be, and is, massaged and doctored by the newsmakers,
their public relations people, and even by the media itself. How
do you separate fact from fiction in the information age? Join CBC
investigative journalist Wendy Mesley as she explores the world
of the daily headlines, showing you how to find the truth behind
the hype.
Never
been a technology geek or guru? Still rather think of a mouse as
something that eats cheese than rolls around on your desk? Yet as
a conscientious teacher, you KNOW your students should be practising
technology and information literacy skills. This workshop ex-
The
Cyberspace Learning Continuum Project. This dynamic project uses
a three dimensional learning and teaching model to develop academic
and life skills such as team work and personal management. During
involvement in the “ Cyberspace Learning Continuum”
teachers and students grow and develop using “slice of life
learning” . Cyberspace Learning Continuum evolved over a 12
year period beginning as the “Big Baude Book Project”
the brain child of noted Canadian author, illustrator Werner Zimmermann.
This innovative, trans-curricular project employs modelling, research,
conceptualization, visual , literacy and technology skill building
to publish illustrated picture books.
This
innovative workshop features two elementary 
Participants
will be given an overview of text to speech software including Clicker
4, Write:OutLoud and Co:Writer. Each program will be reviewed and
suggestions given as to its integration into any classroom literacy
program. As well, available resources to support 
With
more and more educational content being developed for and delivered
through podcasting, educators and students have on-the-go access
to audio, ranging from curriculum-related content to professional
development shows. Podcasting is also a way for teachers and students
to publish and distribute content. Imagine a science instructor
posting daily assignments and recorded lectures from class, to a
website that provides an RSS feed. Students can subscribe to the
feed from home and have their class assignments and content sync
with their iPods, taking them wherever they go. This session will
focus on the podcasting workflow from creation, examining a variety
of tools, to publishing. 
The
Structured Writing resource is a solution to teach students of all
ages and abilities to write well. Solutions and strategies for multiple
learning styles and disabilities will be addressed. Smart Ideas,
WordPerfect and Write:Outloud will be used to demonstrate the writing
process.
Change
requires courage, and developing courage isn't often addressed in
technology planning sessions. This keynote suggests strategies that
educators can use to combat the fear and stress that often accompany
implementing new programs and projects. How do we use humour, personal
motivation, setting to make change a more pleasant experience for
teamwork and goal everyone involved - including the change agent?
From
Tinkering to Fathoming Dynamic Data 
Students,
in and out of school, now have access to a variety of digital cameras
and scanners. These can be used to capture images at school events
or field trips. The images may be used as starters for writing activities
or to further illustrate the student’s ideas. Digital cameras
allow students and teachers to add another dimension to their projects
and lessons. This presentation will share many ideas about using
the camera in a variety of curriculum applications as well as low-tech
tips for making photos ready for a variety of uses, using readily
available software. Explore simple techniques that will have a big
impact in your teaching and in student learning.
TVO's
Free resources and tools for the K-12 classroom.
Maintaining
your website is essential to keep it fresh-looking - but making
the changes across your burgeoning site can get very time-consuming.
Save yourself some drudgework by learning to use Link-Checking,
Cascading Style Sheets and Code Snippet Library tools.
This
Internet Safety presentation has been prepared in a partnership
with AMDSB, the OPP and Stratford Police Services. During the workshop
we discuss our need to be informed as educators to better assist
our students in becoming 'safe, wise and informed internet users'.
Glen Childerly, OPP Police Services Officer will partner with Maggie
Crane, System Principal of Information Technology to share legal
situations, laws established, tips and resources created by AMDSB
for use by parents, educators and students.
Understanding
Math has become an integral part of my daily mathematics program.
Join me for a look at an integrated instructional approach that
combines technology and research-based instructional strategies
to build conceptual understanding of mathematical concepts in all
learners. Walk away from this session with ready to use ideas and
lessons on how to use software within your mathematics curriculum.
