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Winter/Spring 2009 catalog

Registration

This 10-hour professional development course includes a51 page state-of-the-art eBook filled with information about software and hardware tools to improve the writing process. It includes one video describing how to take advantage of this new "just in time" type of multi-media interactive learning tool and 11 integrated videos showing examples of how to use the built-in supports in some of the highlighted software products. Take this course from any computer connected to the Internet at any time of the day or night and learn how to eliminate barriers to successful written expression
Recommended for: Regular and Special education teachers, child study team members, and parents.

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I Can't Believe it's Free: Software for School and Home
Which suite of applications has a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation program, and database…and it is free? You were sure you knew the answer until you read the ‘free’ part. Yes, Open Office, is an example of Free Open Source Software (FOSS). It can be downloaded for PC’s and Mac’s and is a viable solution for the basic software almost everyone needs. Files created in Open Office open seamlessly in Microsoft Office and vice versa. Come and use Open Office and TuxPaint, a free variation of KidPix. Now you can legally install software on your computer with a ZERO DOLLARS BUDGET.
Recommended for: Anyone interested in using free software.

Collaborative Internet Projects
Collaborative Internet projects are opportunities for schools to join in curriculum enhancing activities that are interdisciplinary by nature.  Collaborative Internet projects use the Internet to its fullest potential - to communicate with students around the planet on commonalties and differences in a variety of subject areas. These inquiry-oriented, problem-based projects allow for true technology integration as opposed to mere technology usage. This powerful communication connects schools around the world and develops a global community. Participants will view examples of collaborative Internet projects, find collaborative Internet projects they can join, learn tips for participation, and learn the steps for developing an original problem-based project (come with ideas!). 
Recommended for: Teachers of Grades K-8

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Sibelius Music Notation Software
Get started and learn some great tricks with this professional level music notation software. Input music simply and easily, create custom arrangements, export as audio and even score for video! Teachers will love the worksheet creator, too. This software is so intuitive that you’ll be able to advance on your own and even have your students using it.
Recommended for: K-12 teachers, all subjects

Developing Early Learning Foundations
Explore strategies for building early learning foundations with engaging activities and challenging projects. Participants will learn how to create Pixie Activities students can use to explore early literacy topics, math concepts, science processes, and social studies themes. They will also explore open-ended paint and storytelling projects that expand writing and critical thinking skills. A complimentary copy of Tech 4 Learning’s Pixie will be given to each participant. You will be able to practice and use what you have learned immediately. ‘vendor presentation’
Recommended for: Educators working with students in grades K-5.

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Make your Research Reports Painless with Noodlebib!
Are you tired of your students losing their note cards and bibliography cards? Is it difficult for them to keep their research organized? Then you NEED to use Noodlebib in your classroom! Noodlebib helps students create bibliography cards in the correct formatting and creates Works Cited/Consulted pages easily. It allows the users to create Note cards and organizes them into clusters by keywords and by source. Come spend a few hours to learn how to use this exciting tool in your classroom!
Recommended for: 6th - 12th grade teachers.

Incorporating Technology into Physical Education Looking to spice up your PE program? Why not add some technology to it. In this workshop learn from a master technology-using physical education teacher how to enhance your current PE program through the use of programs including: Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Movie Maker, and podcasts.
Recommended for: Physical Education teachers

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Centers From Heaven   
Are you stuck trying to develop centers for your classroom. Do you have at least one computer center? Then this is the class for you. Using the FREE (yes, FREE) site, Thinkfinity, you will leave this workshop with more interactive sites, lesson plans and ideas than you ever have at any workshop. This is a must for the first year teacher to the very seasoned teacher.
Recommended for: K- 5 teachers.

Preschool, Kindergarten, and First Grade Teachers: PowerPoint and the Internet Would you like to learn how to make PowerPoint lessons to enhance your teaching? Would you like to use websites that are designed for your classroom curriculum? Are you interested in viewing software that will address just the needs of your fist grade students? Then this is the workshop for you. We will begin by making PowerPoint presentations designed to use immediately with your students. Next, we will look at the wonderful Internet resources for Preschool-1st grade including free worksheets and motivating classroom activities. We’ll conclude with a review of "must have" grade appropriate software. In one afternoon you’ll make important additions to your Technology Toolbox.
Recommended for: Pre K to First grade teachers who are beginning or intermediate PowerPoint user.

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Thinkfinity: Free Resources for Your Classroom
Thinkfinity, Verizon's education portal, provides the highest quality educational resources to teachers and students. Developed by world-renowned organizations who are experts in their fields, these standards-based resources include lessons plans, student materials, reviewed Web resources and interactives. Learn more about Thinkfinity's free teacher resources and how to effectively integrate online educational resources into your curriculum to increase student achievement. Receive a small technology gift, too.
Recommended for: All Teacher

Think Green with Thinkfinity: Inquiry based Lessons and Resources
Use Thinkfinity’s 55,000+ FREE resources to create a comprehensive environmental program that teaches earth-friendly behaviors including sustainable practices for how to live, work, and play. Understand the value of environmental stewardship through the use of practical activities such as recycling, composting and reducing waste, inside and outside of the classroom. Be inspired by Thinkfinity resources that will create environmental partnerships involving students, teachers, administrators, and parents that align with existing curriculum and state mandated standards.
Recommended for: All teachers grade K-8

Audio For the Classroom – Music, Podcasting and More
Powerful FREE software and web-hosting can bring you and your students some powerful new tools. From meeting the needs of auditory learners, to student-produced projects and classroom radio, we’ll look at how you can use audio & podcasts simply and effectively to create excitement about your subject in and out of school. Using free software and web-hosting, you will leave knowing how to load all of the software and gear, and produce/post your own podcasts and audio projects.
Recommended for: K-12 teachers, all subjects

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Digital Storytelling with Photo Story 3
Use your digital photos and Photo Story 3 to tell your stories. Photo Story 3, a free program from Microsoft, makes it easy to add music, narration, titles, and special effects to turn your photos and images into movies. Come see how you can promote literacy skills across grade levels and content areas by becoming a digital story teller. It is easy and it is fun. Bring your own digital photos or you can work with sample files that will be provided. Take home your digital story on a CD and start checking submission deadlines for the Sundance Film Festival.
Recommended for: Participants who have basic computer skills

SMART board for Beginners
Get the most out of your SMART interactive whiteboard? Learn know how to use the great features in the latest version of SMART software? Be able to use a SMART board with confidence by attending this workshop. Learn how you can create interactive lessons that will make teaching and learning more engaging for you and your students.
Recommended for: Anyone interested in using a SMART board.

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SMART board Across the Curriculum : A First Course
Make the most of your SMARTboard and watch class participation and engagement soar. First you will master SMARTboard basics. Then you will learn how to plan and prepare your SMART lessons on any computer using SMART notebook software. Come and take back interactive enhanced lessons to use with your SMARTboard. We will provide a list of websites that are particularly SMARTboard "friendly." No more fumbling for transparencies, hyperlinks, diagrams, or files. Your lesson will flow seamlessly and learning will increase as students participate as active learners. Please bring your curriculum materials.
Note: Smart Board software is free to Smart Board users and can be purchased for use on other boards
Recommended for: Anyone interested in using a SMART board

Bells and Whistles for Your SMART board
You are in for a treat with the SMART recorder. As you lecture record your voice and every pen stroke and action on your Smart board to create tutorials, provide lessons for absent students, or establish an archive of teaching activities. Learn how to use Senteos, SMART's interactive clickers, to provide instant classroom assessment data to inform your instruction. Try out the AirLiner, SMART's remote graphic tablet. You will have time to create a lesson using these exciting tools.
Recommended for:Advanced SMART board users. This course is not for beginners.

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Using Cooperative Learning in the Technology-Infused Classroom
Learn to differentiate instruction using a variety of cooperative learning activities.  In the technology-infused classroom, students need to learn to work collaboratively as a team, while at the same time be individually accountable.  Strategies for balancing these key features of cooperative learning as a method of integrating technology will be highlighted. 
Recommended for: Teachers of Grades K-8

Technology in the Classroom: Knowing Where I Stand, Knowing Where I’m Going
So you’ve got computers in your classroom and you are wondering what to do next. Or perhaps you are wondering where you stand regarding technology implementation. In this workshop you’ll start off by taking the free LoTi Digital-Age Survey. The LoTi Digital-Age Survey provides each participant with an empirically-validated tool that creates a personalized digital-age professional development profile aligned to the NETS for Teachers (NETS-T). This profile offers recommendations aligned to five popular instructional initiatives including (1) Level of Teaching Innovation (LoTi), (2) Partnership for 21st Century Skills, (3) Marzano’s Research-based Instructional Practices, (4) Daggett’s Rigor & Relevance, and (5) Webb’s Depth of Knowledge. Participants will receive a separate Level of Teaching Innovation (LoTi), Current Instructional Practices (CIP), and Personal Computer Use (PCU) score. After all participants have received their results the remaining portion of the workshop will focus on gaining a better understanding of how these results can be used to further your professional development in regards to technology. This workshop is given by a LoTi certified mentor.

Organizing Your Computer Files
You know you saved that file … somewhere. How can you find it? This workshop will teach you how to organize your computer desktop and hard drive to make locating files quick and easy. You will learn how to make electronic folders, remove unwanted files, use the Search feature to find missing documents, and even change the look of your desktop.
Recommended for: Anyone who wants a less chaotic electronic filing system

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Introduction to Microsoft Word
After this full-day workshop, you won't be able to imagine how you existed without Microsoft Word. You will learn to create, save and open documents; change the style and color of text; add borders and shading; and use the spell checker and thesaurus. This course fulfills the "Word Processing" requirement for NJDOE's Beginner Technology Proficiency Level Certificate.
Recommended for: Anyone who wants to learn word processing. Some experience using a mouse and Windows is suggested, but not necessary. No experience with Word is expected.

Introduction to Microsoft Excel
Ready for the next step beyond calculators? This full-day workshop will cover the skills needed to create basic spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel. Learn to create, save and open spreadsheets; enter and edit data in a spreadsheet; build formulas and create charts. This course fulfills the "Introduction to Spreadsheet and Graphing" requirement for NJDOE’s Beginner Technology Proficiency Level Certificate.
Recommended for: Anyone interested in creating spreadsheets. Experience using a mouse is needed.

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Intermediate Microsoft Excel
Take Excel to the next level. First, get some tips to increase your efficiency: keyboard shortcuts, handy functions, and pitfalls to avoid. Then, learn to use the database analysis functions of Excel such as sorting and filtering. Finally, learn to create and use macros to automate those repetitive tasks.
Recommended for: Experienced users of Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint --- Tips and Tricks with Video Clips
Stretch your PowerPoint presentations to the max with video clips you make with your digital camera … learn how to add, activate and time your own digital video clips … feel free to bring your own camera (don’t forget the wires needed to transfer into the computer) or use one of ours … Fun and easy!
Recommended for: Those comfortable with basic PowerPoint & interested in adding Pizzazz to their presentations.

PowerPoint – Tips and Tricks with your Digital Camera
Stretch your PowerPoint presentations to the max with digital photos … fascinate your audience by layering your photos and timing them just right … learn how to frame your photos into different shapes to add a special artistic touch to your presentation … feel free to bring your own camera (don’t forget the wires needed to transfer into the computer) or use one of ours … Fun and easy!
Recommended for: Those comfortable with basic PowerPoint & interested in adding Pizzazz to their presentations.

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Digital Portfolios Using PowerPoint and PhotoStory
See the possibilities offered by digital portfolios in capturing what your students have learned. Use a microphone to capture a singer’s talent or a new reader's abilities, use a digital camera to record a sculpture or science project, use a scanner to bring in a finger-painting or watercolor piece. Then pull it all together with software and produce a CD-ROM that brings that student's accomplishments to life in a way that a letter grade never can. Participants will choose either PowerPoint or PhotoStory to produce a finished digital Portfolio.
Recommended for: Participants familiar with digital media file creation.

Getting Started with Moodle: Your Online Classroom As explained on moodle.org, "Moodle is a course management system (CMS) - a free, Open Source software package designed using sound pedagogical principles, to help educators create effective online learning communities." This hands-on workshop will allow users to take Moodle for a test drive. Experience an existing Moodle classroom and then learn how to get started on creating your own Moodle site. You will learn how to create an online classroom, upload files, setup calendars, include podcasts and video, and assorted other features built into a Moodle site. Come prepared with files (Word, Excel, etc) to upload to Moodle. Each attendee will walk away with a CD with all the necessary files and programs to setup Moodle on a stand-alone computer.
Recommended for: Participants comfortable using email attachments

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Free Google Tools for your Classroom Discover innovative, collaborative technology tools for the classroom that are yours for FREE! When it comes to searching the Internet, most people turn to Google. Now you can look to Google for great teacher tools, too! Discover Google Docs and Spreadsheet, Google Earth, Google Maps and Google Forms. Bring back something new and exciting to your content area.
Recommended for: Participants comfortable using email attachments

Effective use of Google Search Web search is one of the most popular online activities and, for an increasing number of students, a primary starting point for research and learning. This session will offer some fundamental concepts, strategies, and tools to help you teach your students search more effectively. The session will cover techniques to search smarter, assessment of search results credibility, and advanced Google search features.
Recommended for Participants comfortable using email attachments

Blogs, Podcasts and the Classroom
Blogs and podcasts form a new partnership in communications media. Students and teachers can become personal publishers and broadcasters in ways that connect the subject area with writing and speaking skills. In the morning we will explore the world of blogs and how a blog can relate to your instructional goals. You will establish a blog on the Internet for future use. The afternoon will be devoted to the world of podcasting. You will learn the vocabulary, the tools and the process used to locate, download, create and publicize your own podcasts. Find out what all the buzz is about and learn how these new tools can amplify student projects as well as your own listening interests.
Recommended For: K-12 teachers, all subjects

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Web 2.0 in the Classroom- Virtual Workshop There is no doubt that Web 2.0 is transforming the way we teach and learn! Webinars, screen casts, and Skype now make it easier than ever to communicate and collaborate on a local, national and international level. Online word processors, graphic organizers, spreadsheets, and video conferencing are now accessible right within your browser and many are free! Learn how these tools are transforming the way you think about using software in the classroom. All of the content will be delivered online during the course of 4 weeks and will include opportunities to view the software in use. There will be opportunities to network with your colleagues as you learn about the various Web 2.0 technologies.
Recommended for: All educators and parents

Web Design Teacher Web: Point and Click to Create Your Own WebPage
 Does your district provide you with access to TeacherWeb? If yes, sign-up for this workshop immediately and leave the session with your very own website ready to be used by any one with Internet access. Lost permission slips? Missing handouts? TeacherWeb to the rescue. Post them on TeacherWeb and parents and students can download them 24/7. You can also post classroom announcements, curriculum materials, links to favorite websites, and classroom photos. Bring your materials and leave with a website! (If your district has not purchased TeacherWeb you can create a TeaherWeb for free and maintain it for a small yearly fee.)
Recommended for: Anyone who wants to use TeacherWeb.

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