Tech Thoughts from TEF

SEAM blog – http://teamseam.blogspot.com/

Tech Workshops

11/24 – Streaming video – Cancelled. Sorry about that, if you want to talk about it you are always welcome to schedule a time with me one to one.

12/1 – 1-2pm – Quicky Shooting and Editing Digital Video – Learn how to shoot, edit, and export digital video.

12/5 – 10-11am – Introduction to Teaching and Learning in a 3D virtual world. This session will show you the future of distance education and how some at UMaine are already using it.

12/12 – 10-11am – Wikis and Collaboration – Learn how to set up an educational wiki. Think of a web page where everyone can add and edit content. A great way to work collaboratively.

Planning January 23rd

The technology committee is working with the Maine International Center for Digital Literacy to plan a day for all Maine teacher-prep faculty to learn, share, and explore technology integration. Part of the day will be spent planning how best to integrate technology into our program. So if you want to be involved, you need to be there.

We are currently working to get Punya Mishra and Matt Koehler of Michigan State University on campus to share their work on the TPACK model. Check out their presentation at the 2008 Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education conference, good stuff.

We know the 23rd of January may not be the best of days, but it is the day we have. Please mark your calendars and mention it to your colleagues. You will be hearing more soon.

IM, Skype, and Twitter Session Links

Here are a few links to the topics discussed in today’s PD clinic.

AIM – Sign up for an account here. You can use any software that works with the AIM network. Lots of people use iChat.

Skype – Grab to software here.

Twitter – You also saw twirl, the twitter client. You may also want a link to Twitter in Plain English by the Common Craft Show.

CamTwist - The OS X tool to add things to your video streams.

MLTI Student Tech Team Conference

On Friday May 30, 2008 the Maine Learning Technology Initiative and The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at UMaine, Orono are presenting the Fifth Annual MLTI Student Tech Team Conference. This is a chance for educators, students, and community members to come together as a team for learning. UMaine COEHD faculty are welcome to come and see how MLTI is changing the face of Maine schools. Make sure to check out the conference web page.

MLTI Discussion Notebook

If you were at the Technology Symposium on Friday, here is the link to the MLTI Discussion Notebook that Ruben was talking about. You will need Noteshare to view this file.

Here is an outline of the contents:

• Opening highlight: Why are we doing this?
• What’s on your MacBook?
• The road for the 21st Century
• What we have learned for MLTI (5 years)
• MLTI Resources for Discussion
• Closing Highlight: Creativity, Innovation and the Arts
• Other Resources – Roadmap Examples for Middle School
• Other Resources – Roadmap
• Other Resources – Literacy and numeracy
• Other Resources – PLCs, Assessment
• Other Resources – General

OS X Tips and Tricks

OS X Specific

Senuti – Tool to pull music off of your ipod, with Finder integration.

OS X Keyboard Shortcuts – More than you can shake a stick at. And this isn’t even a complete list.

Dashboard Widgets

Snapz Pro – The best screen shot tool for the Mac

NeoOffice – Open Source and free office suite that works with Microsoft’s new file format.

InterfaceLIFT – Many icons and backgrounds.

Web

Firefox Extensions and Themes – WARNING: Installing the “StumbleUpon” extension will eat up your

Media

Flip4Mac – Play Windows Media Player files through quicktime. Works so much better than Windows Media Player for Mac Microsoft recommends it over their own player.

VideoLAN Client – A media player that plays a lot of formats. It can even stream media across a network.

Networking

Skype – Voice over IP.
WiFi Access Reconnaissance.
Macstumbler
A simple easy to use stumbler for sniffing out wireless networks.

Fun

ZSNES – Super Nintendo Emulator
You will need ROMS. Just remember to only download ones you own or delete them after 24 hours. Try here: FreeRoms

Links

Open Source Mac – A simple list of open source software for OS X.

A bunch of Tips

Mac OS X Hints – The best OS X hint site on the net.

Apple Insider – My favorite apple rumor site. They are very accurate.