Cell Phone Learning

Click here to see a video from OTAN about cell phone ESL learning and teaching.

Tech Tip: Sharing Videos

An easy way to share videos you've made with your flip camera, iPhone, or any other super-modern-recording-device is to upload them to www.yousendit.com. YouSendIt is an online service for sending large files to e-mail users. As you probably know, you can also upload videos to www.youtube.com. Videos posted to YouTube can be shared publically or privately.

Once uploaded to these sites, you can then pull the videos to share with your students via the Smart Board.

You can read more about uploading to YouSendIt and YouTube here.

Appreciate Technology

Pura vida! Now I don't have technology to work with like before, I see things a little differently. Here's a great video to hopefully remind us how wonderful technology actually is! Enjoy.

Free Webinars for Voxopop and Youtube

Voxopop for Speaking, Pronunciation and Listening

Students develop their speaking, pronunciation and listening skills by sharing their voices in Voxopop, a free online discussion site. Join Marsha Chan, leading ESL instructor, author and communications expert, as she demonstrates teaching and learning oral skills in a global online community. She'll share student's recordings, pedagogy, lesson plans, process, follow-up activities, and lead participants in using the tool.

Thursday, May 6, 2010
2:00 - 3:00 PM

Using YouTube to Engage Learners and Enhance Learning

Our students are more technology savvy then ever before. Therefore finding ways to reach them through their preferred media outlets is critical. YouTube provides faculty with a wealth of content choices, ranging from music videos, movies, television shows and other online resources that can be integrated into traditional lessons to engage students and enhance learning. Join Marsha Chan as she provides a brief overview of YouTube, shares her experiences and provides you with tips and ideas for how you can use YouTube in your classroom.

Friday, May 21, 20102:00 - 3:00 PM

Register Online: http://www.blogger.com/www.wplrc.org
For questions contact info@wplrc.org

Weebly and Me

Spring is just around the corner. Why not have a fresh start with Weebly? Weebly is a free service that has professional and easy-to-use webpages ready for you to choose from so you can create a webpage in minutes! Take a look at the demo video.



Impressed at how easy it is? Still not convinced that it's easy? Join one of the free workshops on "Weebly and Me" and have a website made by the end of the workshop. Start your summer semester with a whole new cyber look! You can sign-up here by clicking on the button below or by writing your name on the list in room 31.Want to know who's attending the sessions? Click here to see.

*Note - This is a paid workshop. Please write the date and time on your variable to get paid at worokshop rate via stimulus money.

SMART Board Training 2010 Spring

 Training broken down to 10 weeks for quality
 30-minute sessions with focus on 1 content area
 Many hands-on to put theories into practice
 SMART Technologies officially prepared binder
 Official SMART Certificate upon completion
 Plenty of time to practice in your classroom

Please take advantage of this free training as it usually costs at least $90 for outsiders to attend and those trainings cram all the materials in a long 6 hour workshop with minimal hands-on practice. Mark the dates on your calendar and Sign up now!!

Session Information

Lv 1 Training Sessions (The Basics, recommended for beginners)
Section 1: Monday 12:45-1:15 p.m. Room 27 Dates: Jan 25 – Mar 29
Section 2: Wednesday 3:30-4:00 p.m. Room 27 Dates: Jan 27 – Mar 31
Section 3: Wednesday 5:45-6:15 p.m. Room 47 Dates: Jan 27 – Mar 31

Lv 2 Training Sessions (Integrating SMART board into Lessons, for Intermediates)
Section 1: Monday 12:00-12:30p.m. Room 27 Dates: Jan 25 – Mar 29
Section 2: Tuesday 5:30-6:00 p.m. Room 47 Dates: Jan 26 – Mar 30

Instruction on Taking the Annual Technology Skills Assessment

Complete the survey at home or anywhere on your own, please follow these instructions:


1. Open an Internet browser and enter the URL: http://adulted.otan.us/tp/assessment/ or click here

2. Enter the password: smace

3. Type in your names correctly and choose your position. Click Save.

4. Follow the instructions and answer all questions.

5. Log out after you have completed the survey.

If you have any questions, call me at #2170 or e-mail me at jameswu@smaceesl.com or see me.

Video in your class? Flip Camera!

Dominic Bigue from Capuchino High School is promoting a great offer to all the schools in the district, and that includes us!

Click on Read More to see the original message.

You can sign-up online and we will notify you when the training will be shortly.


Flip Cameras are the ideal tool for integrating video into your classroom. Whether recording your own lessons for professional development, using video to motivate active learners, or creating a class show, the Flip camera is the perfect video capture/share resource. Its simple, one-touch recording and compact size make the flip camcorder the ideal tool for teachers and students alike, and the powerful FlipShare™© software included with the camcorder makes editing and sharing videos a snap.

Specifications:

• Holds 120 –minutes of video on 4GB of built-in memory; no tapes or additional memory cards needed
• Convenient USB arm plugs directly into your computer to launch FlipShare™ software
• FlipShare™© software- FREE
• Additional specs available at http://www.theflip.com/products_flip_ultra_specs.II.shtml
Here's the deal- For $85 you will receive a flip camera as well as 3 hours of hands on training.

For those of you who would like the camera but no training there is also a "Buy One get One Free" promotional offer for teachers @ http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/product?id=4310

Let me know how many of your staff are interested in the training option and I'll put together a group and date.

Have a great break,

Dominic

[Videos] Creating Games on SMART Board

This is information for those who have attended the Games on SMART Board Workshop.



If you missed the workshop, you can still download the handout. Click to download

Finally, here are some Tips and Tricks for everyone regarding the LAT (Lesson Activity Toolkit)

Listen and Learn - via Online Library

Both the Peninsula Library System http://plsinfo.org/ and the San Francisco Library System http://www.sfpl.org/news/overdrive.htm have audio material available online now.

I am not sure about the Peninsula library system, but audio material from the SF system is free for library patrons and anyone can get a library card.

You might want to consider using the SMART Board or time in the computer lab to show your students how to access this material online, how to use it, etc.

The audio material from the SF system can be downloaded onto a computer, burned onto a CD, or downloaded onto an MP3 player. All sorts of material are available - eBooks, audio books, music and video downloads. Audio books include fiction, non-fiction, adult, young adult, children's, etc.

And the best part? No late fees!

SMART Board Level 1 Training

* Training broken down to 12 weeks for quality
* 30-minute sessions with focus on 1 content area
* Many hands-on sessions for practice
* SMART Technologies officially prepared binder
* Official certificate upon completion
* Plenty of time to practice in your classroom
Please take advantage of this free training as it usually costs at least $90 for outsiders to attend. Mark the dates on your calendar and sign up in room 31 or in the SMART center.

Time and Place

Tuesdays / Wednesdays 5:30-6pm in room 47
Wednesdays 11:45-12:15 in room 27

*You do not get paid for attending these workshops

** All sessions are the same, just offered at 3 different times for your convenience!

Listen and Learn

There are lots of new goodies out there to help your student improve their listening skills. Check out:

1. www.eslpod.com Free ESL listening lessons. Students can listen to them on the computer or download onto an MP3 player. Students can also subscribe to them - for free - via iTunes.

2. http://storynory.com Stories for kids - also appropriate for higher level ESL. Again - all free. Listen or download, subscribe via iTunes.

3. www.podomatic.com Make your own podcasts for your students to listen to. Students can listen via a computer or download onto an MP3 player. Set up your account so that it is password protected (limited to your students, for example) or open to the public. All free.

See James for help with any of these.

See young people walking around with little white cords coming out of their ears for proof that this form of technology - MP3 players and podcasting - is here to stay
(at least until the next form comes along!).

Oh - and if you have any grammar questions, check out:

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com

February's Mini Tech. Sessions

Blog Basics
Feb 10th & 11th
12-12:30, 5:45-6:15pm
Meet in room 31

We will look at the basic features of the blog and practice posting comments. Questions are welcome.

SMART Board Review
Feb 17th & 18th
12-12:30, 5:45-6:15pm
Meet in room 31 then move to a classroom

We will review the basic functions of the software and critique some existing lessons for adaptation in your class.

Using Favorites in the Lab
Feb 24th & 25th
12-12:30, 5:45-6:15pm
Meet in room 31 then move to a lab

Find out how to lower the difficulty of learning with computers with your students. The Internet is a great resource and we will make the acess easier using favorites.

Easy Conversation Trick about Pets

Petplace.com has hilarious videos about cats and dogs.
My favorites: the skateboarding dog; the dog who uses the tennis-ball-machine to play fetch by himself; the swimming cat; the cats on the treadmill.

Cat videos: http://www.petplace.com/cat-videos.aspx
Dog videos: http://www.petplace.com/dog-videos.aspx

Pop the website on the Smart Board and strike up a conversation about pets, animals, animal idioms, cultural attitudes toward cats, dogs, pets, tricks, and that all important question: are cats better than dogs or visa-versa?

OTAN technology workshops - January

There are many free workshops available on the Internet for you to attend! I will be attending most of them myself, and I encourage you all to come and join me. Be sure to check the side panel's "Professional Development Calendar" to find out more about these wonderful and free workshops provided by groups such as CALPRO, OTAN, and CASAS.

01/09
Easy Excel Activities for the Classroom: Bingo and Study Helpers

01/20
Using Moodle to Create a Course Web Site

01/21
Creating Activities with Discovery Education Streaming Builders

01/22
An Overview of Google Products

You can click on any of the workshops to read their abstracts and register to participate at home. Alternatively, you can come to the school and participate with me on the SMART Board. Hope to see you then!

New Distance Learning Blog

If your students are interested in the Distance Learning program, you can now direct them to the new Distance Learning Blog:

http://esldistancelearning.blogspot.com/

The blog includes information about what the program is, how to start, locations, series, etc.

Speaking of locations, we now have DL at six locations - the Main Campus, Burlingame (Community Gatepath), Foster City, San Bruno (at St. Bruno's and at Belle Aire Elementary School), and George Hall Elementary School in San Mateo.

Our newest series is Connect with English which details the dreams and adventures of Rebecca - singer, girlfriend, daughter of aging father, traveler, and... did I say "dreamer"? Most students really enjoy it.

We're also getting Ingles Ya in soon. This series has some instruction in Spanish which makes it very user friendly for Spanish speaking students, especially those who may not have used DL programs before. It looks to be very funny with over-the-top comedy, songs, and romance.

Teachers can borrow any DL series to use in their classroom. Grab the blue "Teacher Log" folder off the wall and sign out whatever you borrow and when you return it.

You can also borrow "World Link," a great program which available only for classroom use. It has a contemporary feel and focuses on the lives of young adults. I recommend you check it out and give it a try with your students.

DL is a growing program. Use our resources!

2008-2009 Tech Skills Assesment DUE SOON!

Hi all,

Just a reminder that we would like you to complete your technology survey before December. Remember, you can do this anywhere you like. All you have to do is to goto http://www.otan.us/adulted/tp/assessment/ and type in the password you are given to start it.

Shall you have a need for assistance, I will be here on Nov.26 from 12~12:30 for the morning / afternoon teachers and 5:45~6:15 for the evening teachers. It should only take about 15 minutes MAX to complete.

Easy English at Work DEMO SESSION

The "Easy" series is the one many of us use in the labs. So far we have "Easy 1" and "Easy Community". They have recently released "Easy at Work" (click to see website) and would be a nice addition to what we already have. Part of the video is taken here at our very own school, with Cara being one of the writers. We encourage you to come to the Demo and see what it is all about!

Date: Tuesday, November 25
Time: 12~12:30
Place: Room 27.

Bring your lunch with you!

Posting Headlines for the Students' Page

We need more authors for the Students' Page to give them more contents and jazz this blog business up for them. Here is a list of topics that Cynthia and I have come up with to keep things more organized. Please use the following "labels" when posting.

- School Events
- Student Council
- Community (Local events, such as town parades and various festivals)
- Offsite Campuses
- Holidays
- US Culture
- Student Work & Projects
- Classes and Programs
- Staff Bio
- Student Bio (or perhaps Student Success Stories?)

Please leave a commenet if you feel that there shouuld be other labels or change on the existing ones.

Adding youtube Videos to SMART notebook

Check out the tutorial on how to add youtube videos to your lesson on the SMART board. Thanks to Shirely for going over the steps with me. Now the steps should be clear and easy to follow. I hope this will help to make your lessons more engaging with videos.