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Supporting the Inclusive Classroom –  making it easy with tools you have and tools you will want to have.

Does your classroom have struggling readers and writers?  Are you reading aloud assignments to students? Do struggling students shy away from reading support options due to feeling different when using them?Come to this workshop to learn of easy ways to engage struggling readers and writers in the inclusive classroom, while using everyday applications like Microsoft Word, Internet Explorer and Adobe Reader with a little help from Texthelp’s Read&Write GOLD.Using a combination of software you have and software you will want to have, you will learn how to help struggling students improve reading comprehension and writing outcomes, while raising independence and self esteem.  ‘vendor presentation’ Recommended for: Teachers of struggling students in grades 3 and beyond.

Using What You Have: Features in Windows & Word that Support Struggling Readers and Writers

Even on a tight budget, school districts can use technology to help their students with disabilities succeed in the regular classroom.  This hands-on session will explore specific features in Microsoft Windows and Word that enable teachers to differentiate instruction to meet students’ varying needs in reading, writing, studying and testing. Recommended for:  Regular and special education teachers, child study team members, parents

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School Administrators and MindManager 7, Perfect Together.        

Find out about how this revolutionary mind mapping application can help you organize, communicate and share information more effectively in your school districts. MindManager 7 is the perfect tool for setting agenda's, carrying out and tracking projects and communicating your vision for your school. Find out how this empowering tool integrates with Microsoft Office so that all of your resources are quickly at your disposal. This is one workshop you will not want to miss. Recommended for: School superintendents, School principals, Directors of Special Services, Curriculum Directors, Child Study Team members, and Supervisors.

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, and include podcasts and video. Come prepared with files (Word, Excel, etc) to upload to Moodle.  Each attendee will walk away with a CD containing 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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Data Literacy with InspireData™     

Make sure your students have data literacy. InspireData™ builds critical data literacy skills and engages students. As students organize and analyze data they ask meaningful questions and dig deeper to solve problems. They move beyond simply memorizing facts and start acquiring the skills of reasoning, inquiry and communication. They actively explore and analyze data using dynamic Venn, bar, stack, pie and axis plots to interpret information and draw conclusions. This process builds data literacy and makes learning a richer, more meaningful experience. Participants will receive a free trial version of Inspire data so they can begin building data literacy, developing analytical skills, and strengthening critical thinking as soon as they return to the classroom. Recommended for: Math teachers, elementary school teachers, science teachers and special education teachers.

Interactive Curriculum           

Enhance your curriculum with a collection of interactive webpages made by you using a Word template.  Participants will develop Bloom-style questions focused on quality Internet resources for students to explore, respond, and then submit to you with the click of a button! Recommended for:  Teachers of Grades K-8

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Differentiating Instruction with Technology
Participants will learn about and explore technology resources, tools, and activities available that vary approaches to content, process, and product.  Bring a colleague to help plan! Recommended for: All educators

Raise Language Arts Literacy State Test Scores with Software You Already Have
Did you ever think of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Kidspiration/Inspiration as test prep software? If you are looking for activities to improve student performance on state tests and have computer access for your students look no further. Invest a day to learn about technology enriched lessons correlated to specific tasks from New Jersey’s Language Arts Literacy tests using Microsoft Word, Kidspiration, Inspiration and PowerPoint.  Learn to make the most of the software you already have. Recommended for: Classroom, Basic Skills, ESL and computer teachers

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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 

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

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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             

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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.

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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.

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.

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Podcasts in the Elementary Classroom

All you need is a computer, a microphone, a free sound editing program, some ideas and you are ready to turn your students into newscasters, literary critics, learning consultants and problem solvers. Your students will record radio-like programs to be shared with your school or the world via the Internet.  Podcasting is a motivating tool which strengthens language arts skills while deepening knowledge in any curricular area. This workshop will show you how to get the software you need and how to get started. Bring the excitement of podcasts to your classroom.  Recommended for:  Elementary teachers

TeacherWeb: 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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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

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. 

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Introduction to Microsoft PowerPoint.

This full-day workshop will enable participants to create multimedia presentations to support all aspects of teaching and learning. Participants will explore features in PowerPoint, which bring slides to life. You will learn how to animate your slides and how to add interesting transitions between slides. This course fulfills the “Introduction to Multimedia” requirement for NJDOE’s Beginner Technology Proficiency Level Certificate. To help with the creation of your own PowerPoint presentation you might want to bring a textbook or other curriculum materials.  Recommended for: Anyone who wants to create dynamic presentations. Some computer experience is required.

Introduction to Adobe Photoshop Elements

This workshop is for anyone who needs to learn the basics of correcting digital and scanned picture files using Photoshop Elements, the less complex photo editing program from Adobe.  Learn how to use automatic color correction and image enhancement and dabble with the panoramic feature included with the software. Create an original work of art and save a copy for the Internet.   We will have fun with picture filters creating several images from just one photo .   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. 

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Getting Started with Moodle: Your Online Classroom

As explained on moodle.org, “Moodle is a coursemanagement 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