Tech Chick Tips

Tips and tricks for teaching 21st century students using 21st century skills from two Texas educators obsessed with anything digital! RSS Subscribe to RSS

Episode 40–enhanced and fortified with 18 essential vitamins and minerals (oh, and images and links too)

Err…so we’re posting this after episode 40.5, but you know it makes sense in the alternate universe. This podcast is a continuation of our reflection from TCEA 2008. Anna enhanced this podcast with images and links from TCEA–remember that you can also go to Hitchhikr and look up TCEA to see what others have posted.

We don’t have many links, but here’s a couple:

  • David Pogue – We heart David! Fantastic presentation at Past Presidents’ Luncheon.
  • Marco Torres – Our friend and fellow ADE – did a fabulous job at the closing keynote–I’m still mulling over and sharing his wisdom!
  • Cover It Live – live blogging from any event–very, very cool. See our blog for examples of this.
  • Who Is Sick – “flumappr” of sorts–see who’s sick and where (based on user input)

And we need your feedback! Call us at 206-350-7814 to let us know about your favorite part of TCEA, what you learned, a memorable moment–whatever you want to share. We’ll include it on an upcoming episode

 
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Posted on : Feb 14 2008
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Notes from TCEA’s Closing Keynote

These are my notes from Marco Torres’ keynote during TCEA. They are what they are, but I think you’ll get the general gist…


Posted on : Feb 12 2008
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Posted under links |

GarageBand in the Classroom

Session notes from John Maklary’s session on GarageBand.


GarageBand in the Classroom (02/08/2008)
8:01
John Maklary

http://mistermak.pbwiki.com/GarageBand

8:02
presentation is on GDocs…all resources can be found at the URL above
8:03
Why GarageBand?
Suppports project-based learning
Enhances digital media projects
Addresses musical intelligence
Cross-curricular
8:04
Going to talk about a mashup of Google Earth and GarageBand–cool
8:06
more examples available at http://jp2kidcasts.blogspot.com
also his podcast server–subscribable in iTunes
good digital storytelling examples
8:08
Saint’s Live–monthly student podcast
use mics attached to iPods
Flip video cam
GarageBand (GB) used for editing/mixdown
Students created their own theme music
Very student centered, engaging, and motivating
Students used writing, editing, and speaking skills
8:09
Sharing example of student podcast-John Paul II Catholic School
News, sports, and more
Interview of teacher
8:12
Sound Seeing Tours
8th grade trip to DC
Used iPods and mics to record what they are experiencing and for interviews
Supports social studies, speaking, and editing
Uploaded nightly from DC–lots of parent interest
http://jp2washingtondc.blogspot.com
8:15
Same theme for beginning and end so that there was consistency.
Students came up with their own content.
Great idea for field trips
Mics are relatively inexpensive, as are Olympus recorders
8:19
Movie Soundtrack
Students create digital documentaries
2 examples:
Documentary on the story of the Indianapolis; used UnitedStreaming clips; first efforts used lots of voice sound effects and may have copyright issues (things to think about)
Computer game soundtrack (Waffles Revenge)
8:24
Writing Songs
Based on a curricular theme or special event of study
Teach song form/patterns (ABACAB)
Supports sequencing/patterns

Student examples:
Drug Free Rap (became viral–kids passed it around everywhere; brought these kids motivation level higher)
Working on My Beat (springboard to talking about pattern-lyrics were really about this student’s life; let kids just go and do it, then review and talk about how it can be made better)

8:28
Mozart Meets Magellan
(or Meatloaf meets Marco Polo)

Students create Google Earth tours to research different world music cultures (history, influences, etc)
Students use GB to construct music showcasing each culture’s music and embed into Google Earth (new vers 4.2 allows for embeddable media)
Supports geography and world history

Geo-Music World tour (kmz file)
Tutorial for embedding media in GE
Code for embedding audio (have to use shockwave code, but didn’t work on the Mac he is borrowing to use this morning–may need further investigation)

8:31
GB has extra jam packs that contain more loops–definitely worth it if you want more to work with–especially World vibe
8:34
Pimp Your Ride
to get more out of GB

M-Audio (audio interfaces and pre-amps, mics, MIDI controllers, etc)–allows for greater degree of control with instruments

Apple Jam Packs (more loops)

8:36
Mac Envy?

If you don’t have a Mac and can’t use GB, try Audacity
M-Audio Session ($50 or you can buy a bundle w/mic or MIDI controller for ~$100)
Sony Acid (free version w/very few loops; pd version has more loops)

8:37
Recommended Reading

Dan Schmit’s books (Kidcast: Podcasting in the Classroom, etc)
Available from FTC Publishing

8:42
Demo of GB ‘08

Magic GarageBand–click on genre, then click audition, can click on instruments and chage up the vibe (cool! )
When you have what you want, click on Create Project and you’ll get all the tracks laid out in GB interface ready to edit.

Video tutorials available

8:43
Ques about how he does student review process…

very informal, does it have all the required elements, etc.

8:44
This Live Blog has now ended.


Posted on : Feb 08 2008
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David Pogue at TCEA Past Presidents’ Luncheon

WOW–can’t wait to hear David. We’re trying out Live Blog, so let’s see how it turns out.


Posted on : Feb 07 2008
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Episode 39–TCEA Update

Episode 39
Notes from TCEA

Links to share:
Tweet Scan
http://tweetscan.com
Search your tweets! Type in a timely topic and you’re likely to find several discussions and blogs about that story. Can be emailed daily, weekly, etc or RSS feed.

MixBook
http://www.mixbook.com
Online photobook creator which can use photos from flickr, yahoo, facebook, etc. Projects can be collaborative and published online and/or purchased for print.

jUploadr
http://juploadr.org/
Cross platform, cross-site photo uploader. Can edit properties of images before you upload to Flickr or Zoomr.

The Rasterbator
http://homokaasu.org/rasterbator/
Creates huge, rasterized images from any picture. Upload an image, print the resulting multi-page pdf file and assemble the pages into extremely cool looking poster up to 20 meters in size. Online tool and downloadable (Windows only) tool.

50 free fellowships to study Lincoln
https://www.horacemann.com/resources/fellowships/default.aspx
Horace Mann is making 50 fellowships available to study Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Library in Springfield, Illinois this summer. All travel is paid and no special knowledge of Lincoln is required. Open to all teachers.

Reach Every Child
http://www.reacheverychild.com
Educational resources for teachers and students. It includes lesson plans to make reaching students and using technology easier.

Google Forms
http://docs.google.com
Create and share an entry form with others for collecting information without giving them full access to the spreadsheet itself. Also users don’t necessarily need a gmail account.

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Posted on : Feb 07 2008
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