Our Future Students

A teacher shared this link with me today.  Yes, it's an ad, but it sure gets you thinking about what our young students are capable of doing!

Doodle for Google

TEACHERS:  Register now for the Doodle for Google contest.  I'm sure you have noticed that the Google logo changes on a regular basis - on special holidays, for example.  Entries are due on March 31, 2009.  Schools can submit up to six of their best entries.  See rules/guidelines here.  The theme for this year is "What I Wish for the World".

Prizes:

• The national winner receives a $15,000 college scholarship, a trip to Google's headquarters in New York, a laptop, and a T-shirt with their design on it.  In addition, the winner's school receives $25,000 of tech equipment.


• Three national finalists receive a trip to the Google New York Office, a laptop computer, and a t-shirt printed with their doodle.


• Each of the other 36 Regional Winners will win a trip to the Google New York Office and a t-shirt printed with their doodle.


• Each of the other 360 State Finalists will receive a "Doodle 4 Google" official winner's certificate.


• New this year is a District Quality Participation Prize in the amount of $10,000 to the school district that most encourages high-quality participation from its schools. The District Quality Participation Prize will also be a grant that goes towards the establishment/improvement of a computer lab.

Michigan Online Resources for Educators (MORE)

If you are a Michigan educator, you'll want to spend some time exploring Michigan's E-Library.  If you are connected to a district network, you are logged in automatically.  You can use from other locations by logging on with your drivers' licence number.

The feature I like the best is called MORE.  You can search by Michigan Standards/Grade Level Content Expectations to find teacher-selected web sites, lesson plans, and online activities.  I did a search for 7th Grade Social Studies G5.1.1.  Resources are linked by clicking on the icon of the laptop (see the screenshot below).  What a great way to quickly and easily find instructional tools to use in your classroom!

Educon and FETC 2009

Two conferences (I wish I could have attended both of them!) just finished. 

The Educon Conference took place the last couple of days in Philadelphia.  You may wonder what Educon is... the quote below is from their wiki.

EduCon 2.1 is both a conversation and a conference.
And it is not a technology conference. It is an education conference. It is, hopefully, an innovation conference where we can come together, both in person and virtually, to discuss the future of schools. Every session will be an opportunity to discuss and debate ideas -- from the very practical to the big dreams.

The opportunities for learning seem to be easiest/best for those who could attend in person, but people who could not make it can still participate and learn.  Many session descriptions, presentations, and handouts are posted for people to use at any time. 

Florida's big tech conference also just finished, FETC.  Resources are being posted at the FETC wiki.

Lots to learn!

Dr. Martin Luther King

A half-century ago, when African Americans were denied the right to vote, sat at the back of the bus, drank from "colored only" water fountains and sent their children to substandard, segregated schools, brave Americans dreamed of a better nation. They were beaten and water-hosed and thrown into jail. Many were killed. Today is a national holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., and the eve of the swearing in of the first African American president.  Excitement is in the air.  Below are some great lessons and activities that are available:

• The New York Times educational division publishes daily lesson plans that are archived.  They are well done, with many extentions and options so that teachers can fit them to their unique classroom needs.  Check out the bank of lesson ideas here. 


• Did you know that Google image search now includes a collection of Life Magazine images?  Click here to see the collection of MLK images.   I was going to include one with this blog post, but the copyright license is for personal use only. 


• Several major news web sites will offer live streaming video and audio of the inauguration ceremony:

C-SPAN main streaming page.

CBS News

CNN Live page.

Fox News

NBC News through MSNBC

New York Times will be streaming the inauguration live.

• Discovery Education has a wide variety of excellent videos, audio, and images. 

Image  by Peter Prehn, Creative Commons license. 

MACUL Multi-Media Contest

Have your students created some outstanding technology integrated projects you want to share with others?  If so…

The Multimedia Special Interest Group (SIGMM) of MACUL is hosting its 2009 Multimedia Contest for Michigan students during the month of January & February.

Entries will be accepted in each of 3 categories:

1. Digital Storytelling (Grades K-4), 


2. Multimedia (Grades 5-8), 


3. Enhanced Podcasting (Grades 9-12). 

Contest applications from sponsoring teachers are due between Jan. 5 and midnight Feb. 9, 2009; teachers may sponsor up to 3 entries.  Top 3 entries in each category will receive cash & professional book prizes.  For more information, go to: http://userve.unioncityschools.org/~mwaffle/mmcontest.

Sponsored by MACUL SIG-MM and Linworth books

Discovery Education Webinars

Some free and outstanding teacher professional development webinars are coming up soon.  Click here for dates/times and registration information. They will be worth your while!