The Tech Collective is hosting a Tech Institute in the week prior to the Staff Retreat, offering a series of technology training seminars focusing primarily on communication and collaboration. These technologies and techniques are increasingly important tools for effective educators. Several of us recently participated in related workshops at national and regional conferences. Our students live in an increasingly online and digital environment. We feel it is incumbent on us as teachers to not only be aware of this digital evolution but to be comfortable with it and use it. We are offering these workshops so we can share what we have learned with our colleagues.
Workshop Descriptions
The Tech Collective considered many areas of interest generated by our group and suggested by those in the CFS community. Last fall’s iLife workshop was very successful. Recent sessions on how to use the interactive web, becoming known as “Web 2.0”, attended by about fifteen colleagues, were very well received. We also drew on the experiences of the successful full-day staff development workshops two years ago. We have identified six sessions likely to draw interest and be of value to our staff.
MyLife with iLife (Mig)
iLife is Apple’s digital media software suite allowing users to easily make movies, edit and share pictures, make music and create DVDs and websites. Participants will create a digital movie using the tools including iMovie, iPhoto and GarageBand. Because of the hands-on nature of the course, the class is limited to six participants.
Web 2.0 – Wikis and Blogs (Matthew)
A wiki is a basic and easy to use form of interactive website. A blog is another similarly simple to use way of sharing information on the Internet. Participants in this one-day course will get hands-on experience in creating and managing blogs and wikis, learning how to use these simple but powerful tools in the classroom and beyond.
Connections: Communicating in the Digital Age (Matthew and Jim R)
The ways in which we communicate, with each other and with our students, parents and colleagues, is changing by leaps and bounds. Participants in this two day course will learn how the digital revolution is making communication both easier and more challenging. Participants will learn how to edit digital photos for newsletters and on the Web, how to use blogs and wikis to share information, how to create electronic versions of newsletters and how to use our First Class tools more effectively.
First Class for Everyone (Rob D)
CFS has upgraded to the newest version of our email and communications program. Learn how to effectively use this software to communicate with parents and students. Participants in this half-day session will learn how to get the most out of First Class, from customizing the desktop to creating and managing class conferences.
Microsoft Office: What’s New?
Due to unpopular demand, this class has been cancelled! Actually, high demand for the full-day class has encouraged us to offer a second full-day Microsoft Office course. We'll now be able to offer separate classes for PC and Mac users. See below...
Microsoft Office: The Big Three (Sharon)
This full-day class will give participants an overview of the three main programs included in Microsoft Office – Word, Excel and Powerpoint. We’ll be reviewing basic functions of all three programs as well as going in-depth on topics relevant to the participants. At the end of the day, class members will feel comfortable preparing presentations and documents that integrate elements from all three modules. There will be one full-day class for the PC and another for the Mac.
Podcasting in the Classroom (Rob D)
Most of us know what podcasting is - creating audio (and sometimes video) recordings, and making them available for download on the internet. How can this be a teaching tool? Last fall at the NCTEC conference I attended a session that explained exactly how to use podcasting as a teaching tool. The great part is that podcasting can be an effective tool for teachers to use from Early School through Upper School. At the end of this session is teachers will come away with a lesson plan (or plans) tailor made for their own classroom.
Schedule
The Tech Collective believes that offering the Tech Institute the week before Staff Retreat minimizes schedule conflicts with summer activities and early school year commitments. Participating in seminars within a few weeks of the start of classes allows teachers to immediately use what they learned. The schedule is our best estimate of how we would offer the classes but could change based on interest and need. If interest is sufficient we can add more classes. Full-day classes will run from 9am to 3pm. Half-day classes will meet either 9am - noon or noon - 3pm.
Schedule updated 5/15/08
Stipend
You will receive a $25 daily stipend for attending any of the Tech Institute workshops.
Signing Up
I want to sign up for one of those! Great! Send an email to Nancy McGilvary (nmcgilvary at cfsnc.org) telling her which workshop you'd like to attend.
Oh look! It's CFS Web Evangelist Matthew Ross. For more information, view the video below.
Welcome to the CFS Tech Institute Wiki!
for more information on the Tech Collective, please see their wiki.Table of Contents
The Tech Institute
The Tech Collective is hosting a Tech Institute in the week prior to the Staff Retreat, offering a series of technology training seminars focusing primarily on communication and collaboration. These technologies and techniques are increasingly important tools for effective educators. Several of us recently participated in related workshops at national and regional conferences. Our students live in an increasingly online and digital environment. We feel it is incumbent on us as teachers to not only be aware of this digital evolution but to be comfortable with it and use it. We are offering these workshops so we can share what we have learned with our colleagues.Workshop Descriptions
The Tech Collective considered many areas of interest generated by our group and suggested by those in the CFS community. Last fall’s iLife workshop was very successful. Recent sessions on how to use the interactive web, becoming known as “Web 2.0”, attended by about fifteen colleagues, were very well received. We also drew on the experiences of the successful full-day staff development workshops two years ago. We have identified six sessions likely to draw interest and be of value to our staff.MyLife with iLife (Mig)
iLife is Apple’s digital media software suite allowing users to easily make movies, edit and share pictures, make music and create DVDs and websites. Participants will create a digital movie using the tools including iMovie, iPhoto and GarageBand. Because of the hands-on nature of the course, the class is limited to six participants.Web 2.0 – Wikis and Blogs (Matthew)
A wiki is a basic and easy to use form of interactive website. A blog is another similarly simple to use way of sharing information on the Internet. Participants in this one-day course will get hands-on experience in creating and managing blogs and wikis, learning how to use these simple but powerful tools in the classroom and beyond.Connections: Communicating in the Digital Age (Matthew and Jim R)
The ways in which we communicate, with each other and with our students, parents and colleagues, is changing by leaps and bounds. Participants in this two day course will learn how the digital revolution is making communication both easier and more challenging. Participants will learn how to edit digital photos for newsletters and on the Web, how to use blogs and wikis to share information, how to create electronic versions of newsletters and how to use our First Class tools more effectively.First Class for Everyone (Rob D)
CFS has upgraded to the newest version of our email and communications program. Learn how to effectively use this software to communicate with parents and students. Participants in this half-day session will learn how to get the most out of First Class, from customizing the desktop to creating and managing class conferences.Microsoft Office: What’s New?
Due to unpopular demand, this class has been cancelled! Actually, high demand for the full-day class has encouraged us to offer a second full-day Microsoft Office course. We'll now be able to offer separate classes for PC and Mac users. See below...Microsoft Office: The Big Three (Sharon)
This full-day class will give participants an overview of the three main programs included in Microsoft Office – Word, Excel and Powerpoint. We’ll be reviewing basic functions of all three programs as well as going in-depth on topics relevant to the participants. At the end of the day, class members will feel comfortable preparing presentations and documents that integrate elements from all three modules. There will be one full-day class for the PC and another for the Mac.Podcasting in the Classroom (Rob D)
Most of us know what podcasting is - creating audio (and sometimes video) recordings, and making them available for download on the internet. How can this be a teaching tool? Last fall at the NCTEC conference I attended a session that explained exactly how to use podcasting as a teaching tool. The great part is that podcasting can be an effective tool for teachers to use from Early School through Upper School. At the end of this session is teachers will come away with a lesson plan (or plans) tailor made for their own classroom.Schedule
The Tech Collective believes that offering the Tech Institute the week before Staff Retreat minimizes schedule conflicts with summer activities and early school year commitments. Participating in seminars within a few weeks of the start of classes allows teachers to immediately use what they learned. The schedule is our best estimate of how we would offer the classes but could change based on interest and need. If interest is sufficient we can add more classes. Full-day classes will run from 9am to 3pm. Half-day classes will meet either 9am - noon or noon - 3pm.Stipend
You will receive a $25 daily stipend for attending any of the Tech Institute workshops.Signing Up
I want to sign up for one of those! Great!Send an email to Nancy McGilvary (nmcgilvary at cfsnc.org) telling her which workshop you'd like to attend.
Oh look! It's CFS Web Evangelist Matthew Ross. For more information, view the video below.