Supporting Students with Reading and Writing Challenges with Free Software Applications
With tight school budgets and more students in the classroom with reading and writing challenges it is nice to know that there are many free and open source applications to help support them in the classroom. In this workshop you will have a chance to learn how to use and access theses free tools to support students and provide them with the text to speech support. You will find out how you can access these applications and use them to your advantage with your students.
Recommended for: Regular and special education teachers, child study team members, parents

Top of Page

CSI
Would you like to develop your students’ critical thinking skills in science in a whole new way? How about through the eyes of the crime scene investigator just like the popular television show! We’ll look at some activities designed to actively engage your students and challenge them to find out who dunnit! From a deadly picnic to fibers don’t fib to solving the mystery white powder we’ll explore how to inject some fun and excitement into your science curriculum while teaching science strategies, skills and techniques. Warning – fingerprints will be checked at the door!
Recommended for grades 5-9

Learning through Learning Centers
Whether you have one computer or four computers in your classroom, learning centers can be an integral part of the learning environment.  Come explore a collection of learning center ideas and learn to create some of your own.
Recommended for: K-6 Teachers.

Top of Page

Audio Software & Podcasting for Music Teachers Recording practice and performance tracks is just the beginning… explore the possibilities for you and your students with free audio recording software and web-hosting. Learn to edit and mix favorites from your own library, as well as create new, custom recordings. Leave with new ideas for yourself and engaging projects for your students.
Recommended for: K-12 music teachers

Talking Books Here’s a simple technology project for the classroom. Using Microsoft PowerPoint students can make interactive talking books that can be used in the classroom or uploaded to the Internet to be shared by all. In this workshop, you will learn how to make a PowerPoint book with sounds, animated graphics and hyperlinks.
Recommended for: Teachers of grades k-8, special education teachers

Top of Page

GarageBand for Non-Musicians
Any teacher who has access to a Mac computer can get rolling with GarageBand, no talent or musical training required. Participants will learn to harness the power of GarageBands built-in music creation, recording and podcasting features in one fun-filled session. Integrate music, record lessons, make new songs & podcasts, or create exciting, motivating student projects. Pump up your classroom in person or on the web! Participants are encouraged to bring CD’s of favorite music to use during the session. SESSION TO BE HELD AT EBHS D-11 MUSIC LAB
Recommended for: All teachers

Advanced SMARTboard Users: Creating Interactive Lessons
You’ve been using your SMART board for a while and you and your students really like it. Now thanks to the latest upgrades in the SMART notebook software there is more for you to learn. And thanks to the growing community of SMART board users you will access terrific Internet sources for ready-made Smart notebook lessons. Use the downloaded lessons as is or modify. During this workshop you will learn to use action buttons, insert video clips, and create your own interactive manipulatives for the content area and grade that you teach. After learning advanced skills and examining Internet resources in the morning the afternoon will be a SMART notebook lesson studio, providing time for you to prepare a dynamite lesson that will inspire your students, your colleagues, and you. If you like bring SMART notebook files you’ve created and raise the lesson to new levels.
Recommended for: Participants who took SMART board for beginners or SMART board Across the Curriculum or who can create SMART notebook lessons and use a SMART board. This class is not for beginners.

Top of Page

SMART Board In World Language Classes
Transform your classroom with SMART board. Prepare a SmartBoard lesson that rotate around the three modes of communication. Come with your interpretive, Interpersonal, and presentational activities and learn how to make the most out of the interactivity of a SMART notebook. Your lessons will engage visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners. You will be able to manage differentiated learners and engage digital learners. In this workshop you will se some examples and then will create a group notebook that integrates the three modes of communication with the strengths of this interactive notebook.
Recommended for: World Language teachers

Incorporating Publisher in the K-8 Curriculum
So you think Publisher is only for making cards. Spend some time exploring the program and you will see that you can use this exceptional resource for making newspapers, pamphlets, newsletters, brochures, flyers, postcards and more. Lear how to use hundreds of templates that will boost your students’ knowledge and abilities. You will leave this workshop with a variety of ways to incorporate these tools into your daily curriculum.
Recommended for: Classroom teacher, secretaries, school newspaper staff.

Top of Page

The NEW Dynamic Classroom: Teaching & Learning Math with Dynamic Software and Web 2.0 Come and experience a series of unique & compelling activities that incorporate significant software environments (Spreadsheets, Microworlds, and Sketchpad) that will help a teacher to engage their students in gaining a deeper understanding of powerful mathematical ideas. For more details go to http://DMCpress.org and click on Workshops.
Recommended for: Math teachers & coaches of grades 6-10

Internet Safety for Educators Educators need to understand that the greatest risk our students face online is being denied access. The Internet is essential to our children's education, future careers and lives. But even the most experienced Internet user doesn't understand how children use the Internet and how to help them have a safer and more enjoyable surfing experience. The internet can be a great way to meet others of the same age group that may share similar experiences, but the information posted on web sites can also provide information to scam artists and child predators. This workshop will share information about what our students are doing online and strategies to help them understand some of the potential dangers they face. We will discuss strategies for educators to communicate these dangers to students. Further, we will explore the various forms of electronic bullying. Workshop is presented by NJEA’s Darryl Ensminger.
Recommended for: All teachers and administrators

Top of Page

Inspiration Across the Curriculum
Inspiration is a powerful visual learning tool that inspires students to develop ideas and organize their thinking. In this session you will learn how to create visual outlines and dynamic graphic organizers. You will also learn practical methods for integrating Inspiration into your grade appropriate language arts, science, and social studies classes. Come and see the added features and accompanying web resources of the newest version, Inspiration 8. All participants will receive a free demonstration copy of Inspiration.
Recommended for: All teachers and parents of grade 5-12.

Kidspiration in the K-5 Classroom
Kidspiration is a visual learning tool especially for K-5 students. Designed for emerging readers and writers, Kidspiration helps students develop confidence as they learn to organize information, understand concepts and connections, create stories, and express and share their thoughts. In this session you will learn how to create visual outlines and dynamic graphic organizers. You will also learn practical methods for integrating Kidspiration into your language arts, science, and social studies lessons. All participants will receive a free demonstration copy of Kidspiration.
Recommended for: All Teachers and parents of grade K-5 students.

Top of Page

Research Paper Boot Camp
Day 1: Amazing Databases and Advanced Searching

Get in shape to teach raw recruits the research process in this workshop that covers all aspects of teaching the inquiry-based, thesis-driven term paper. Research topics will include: search basics, such as subject and keyword searching; the use of online databases; advanced web searching techniques, including the use of web directories, indexes, and invisible web; evaluating websites; the amazing powers of a public library card; and choosing the correct research tools for a given phase of the project. Pedagogy topics will include plagiarism prevention and detection, structuring a long-term project.

Day 2: Scaffolding the Research Process

Research projects give students an opportunity to integrate and develop an entire range of academic skills, but writing a research paper is an enormously complex cognitive task, requiring the disparate skills of information-seeking, reading comprehension, note-taking, analysis, problem-solving, time management, and expository and persuasive writing. Students who lack proficiency and confidence in these areas may struggle with the project and produce poor results, or may be tempted to plagiarize rather than suffer the frustration of having to learn too much all at once. Some of our students find it difficult to use even one source intelligently and ethically, so teachers and librarians must collaborate to build students' skill levels throughout the year and throughout the four-year high school cycle to enable them to write a multi-source, inquiry-based, thesis-driven paper.

This workshop covers two aspects of scaffolding the research paper process: scaffolding component skills throughout the year, and scaffolding the project itself into logical and manageable steps. The workshop offers a "menu" of assignments and mini-projects that teachers and librarians can tailor to the needs of various classes in order to build students' skills.
Recommended For: Middle and high school teachers and people going/returning to college or graduate school.

Top of Page

Incorporating Publisher in the K-8 Curriculum
So you think Publisher is only for making cards. Spend some time exploring the program and you will see that you can use this exceptional resource for making newspapers, pamphlets, newsletters, brochures, flyers, postcards and more. Lear how to use hundreds of templates that will boost your students’ knowledge and abilities. You will leave this workshop with a variety of ways to incorporate these tools into your daily curriculum.
Recommended for: Classroom teacher, secretaries, school newspaper staff.

"Yes, I can ... learn to use a computer"
Everyone around you is sending email, surfing the web, downloading pictures but you haven't embraced technology yet. Here is your chance. Come to this nonthreatening and unintimidating workshop and learn computer basics in a friendly, low stress environment. Learn how to turn a computer on and off, type a letter, create an email account if you don't have one, and find things on the Internet. Use a computer mouse to 'point' and 'click' your way into the digital age.
Recommended for: Real beginners

Top of Page

Making Changes to Microsoft Office 2007
This workshop will cover various changes from Office 2003 to Office 2007, such as gallerys, ribbons and the new Office button. We will see the new locations for commonly used features such as inserting tables, formatting text, working with indents, tabs, and outlines, as well as explore the new 3d graphics. This is a hands on course that will leave you feeling comfortable and confident with MS Office 2007.
Recommended for: All users of previous versions of Microsoft Office

Intermediate Microsoft Word
Move beyond the basics of Microsoft Word. In this workshop you will learn how to import pictures and other objects, create and customize tables, generate personalized letters to replace form letters, and create and use templates.
Recommended for: Users comfortable working in MS Word.

Microsoft Access for Absolute Beginners
Microsoft Access is a wonderful database tool but you just never got around to learning it or found it too confusing and frustrating. You are not alone and that is why we are offering this workshop that will start from the very beginning and establish a strong foundation of basic skills so that you will be ready for more complex tasks. Learn how to create a database, how to use the database to answer questions, and how to create reports - just the basics. See how Microsoft Access can help you get the most out of all that data that you have been collecting. No advanced topics will be covered.
Recommended for: Anyone interested in learning Microsoft Access

Top of Page

Microsoft Access: An Introduction
This workshop will introduce you to Microsoft Access database software. Learn to create and maintain tables to track a variety of classroom, district, state and testing information. We will focus on the principles of sound database planning, design and implementation. Working with a small sample of raw information throughout we will complete and populate a basic database file as well as create a simple report.
Recommended for: Participants with basic computer skills.

From Excel to Access and Back
Do you have lists of information in an Excel spreadsheet? Do you have to download NJDOE reports using Excel? Are you limited in how you can extract specifics within Excel? Then this workshop is for you. We will show how to import Excel worksheets into Access, design simple select queries and reports, and then export back to Excel for analysis. Bring your spreadsheets with you and leave with the reports you need.
Recommended for: Participants familiar with Excel and basic database design.

Top of Page

PowerPoint -- Tips and Tricks with Music
Stretch your PowerPoint presentations to the max with music … learn how to add music to enhance your presentations … learn how to time musical selections so that you can add more than one musical selection to a longer presentation or loop the same musical selection throughout your presentation … Fun and easy!
Recommended for: Those comfortable with basic PowerPoint & interested in adding Pizzazz to their presentations.

Intermediate Microsoft PowerPoint: Movies, Sound and Hyperlinks
Come and expand your PowerPoint skills. You will learn how to add hyperlinks, sound, and action buttons. Bring your own curriculum materials and/or an existing PowerPoint presentation and you'll take back an amazing classroom-ready slide show.
Recommended for: Participants who have completed Introduction to Microsoft PowerPoint.

Top of Page

Introduction to Adobe Photoshop
This workshop is for anyone who needs to learn the basics of correcting digital picture faux pas and has an interest in learning techniques to embellish reports, plans, documents and letters. Learn how to use color correction and image enhancement tools. Create an original work of art and save a copy for the Internet. We will learn red eye correction and scanned picture restoration procedures. Participants are urged to bring images to scan and/or their own digital pictures to work on.
Recommended for: K-12 teachers and digital camera enthusiasts.

Using Microsoft Movie Maker as a Presentation Tool
If your district has Microsoft Windows XP operating system then you have Movie Maker at your fingertips.  Come in and learn a new way of presenting information to your class, district and/or community.  Utilizing still pictures, video, sound recordings, and original artwork, you will create a 21st century presentation that will change the way you use your computer. 
Recommended for: Participant familiar with the digital process and basic computer skills.

"Free Wikis for Everyone"
You can launch a totally free, password-protected, no-advertising WikiSpace for your class today! An educational WikiSpace can replace or supplement your existing Teacher Web, Blog, or Podcast site, or become a new forum for school collaboration. You can post documents, homework, hand-outs, pictures, audio & video all in one place, for free. Your students will be able to create and post or respond to material, depending on the level of access you provide them
Recommended for: Educators who want to find out about and/or create their own Internet collaborative classroom

Top of Page

Classroom WebPage using Microsoft FrontPage
Want to create your own web site? Not sure where to begin? This workshop will take you step-by-step through the web site creation process using Microsoft FrontPage. Begin with a simple page. Add links, color, images, a background, sound, animation, and a message banner. Create a professional layout using tables. We will search and evaluate free background, graphic and sound sites, free web server space, and a free web-based e-mail address to help fill out our web site.
Recommended for: Participants familiar with word processing

Design a Treasure Hunt on the Internet
Learn to design an Internet treasure hunt loaded with activities that will get your students searching for specific information. Your students can have fun while they are learning some critical thinking skills. In this workshop you will surf the Internet for appropriate sites, download pictures, generate questions/clues and put it all together using Microsoft Word.
Recommended for: Anyone experienced with Internet surfing and word processing software.

Top of Page

Introduction to Macromedia Dreamweaver
Get started with Dreamweaver by exploring the palettes and preferences. We'll set up a Web site by creating and organizing files, building and managing site structure, and checking links. We'll examine Dreamweaver properties, horizontal rules, lists, background and text colors. Learn to insert and position your images and setup both internal and external hyperlinks.
Recommended for: Users with a working knowledge of HTML, the Internet, Web Design techniques and word processing software.

Web Sites within Minutes! Explore the power of using a Web authoring tool in the classroom to share academic content and school information and see how motivating it is for students to make their own websites. Learn how they can create rich web sites with text, graphics, and sound to share school reports, field trips, photo galleries, hobbies, and more. Leave with project ideas, lesson plans, tutorials, and more so that you can implement web authoring in your classroom. Tech 4 Learning will give a complimentary copy of WebBlender 2 to each participant. You will be able to practice and use what you have learned immediately.
Recommended for: All Levels ‘vendor presentation’

Top of Page

Jumping Joomla!: A Collaborative Web 2.0 Approach to Building A WebsiteIn keeping with the growing trend in Web 2.0 tools, Joomla allows you to create a collaborative website. You’ll learn how to use Joomla!, a Free Open Source Software web content management program, to create a website in just a few steps. This hands-on workshop will walk you through the entire process. First, you will learn how to setup the website. Next spend time tweaking and adding information to your site. You’ll be amazed how quickly you can put your website together using Joomla!. Find modules on the Internet such as adding forms, calendars, and podcasts, and learn how to install them.  Don’t be overwhelmed. It’s not as scary as it sounds! If you know how to download/upload an email attachment you can add modules to your site! Find out how to establish a website for your school, create a collaborative website with multiple authors, or even if you want to establish your own web presence. No special software needed. You’ll leave this workshop with knowing how to create a great website! Recommended for: Experienced computer users.