Skip to content

The Connected Classroom

“Information on and from Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis' Learning Division”

Tag Archives: webquests

Friday, May 18, 2012 Tyranny of the Lecture

The Tyranny of the Lecture: Varying Instructional Strategies with Tech Tools takes place on Monday, June 11, from  8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost for this professional development  is $149 for a CSD member; $189 for a non-member (One Graduate Credit is available). About the workshop: lecture & direct instruction are essential components of effective teaching, but their overuse can lead to unengaged students and predictable lesson formats. You can change this up!

In this newly developed, one-day workshop, examine high engagement strategies that use student interaction to promote learning, and investigate technology resources, such as wikis, blogs, WebQuests, online forums, chat rooms, simulations and educational games, that help students be directors of their own learning.  You’ll also have an opportunity to examine several types of student response systems and evaluate them for use in the classroom. Walk away with ready to use classroom strategies and technology tools to help you break the lecture habit in your teaching. This workshop is co-facilitated by Teacher’s Academy Director Peggy Dersch and the Virtual Learning Center’s Martha Bogart. Registration is required, click here to do that now!

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, June 9, 2009 tele classes in July

working in the teleThere is still room available in our July tele
(instructional technology professional development) classes here at Cooperating School Districts, including:

  • Teacher Timesavers: FREE Online Resources on July 7 & 9; $276 CSD member; $428 non-member
  • Wiki Your Way to a Classroom Website on July 8; $138 CSD member; $214 non-member
  • NEW! Digital Learning Academy: The Read/Write Web for the Classroom on July 13, 14, 15; PRICE BREAK!! now $325 member; $450 non-member
  • Promoting Student Inquiry Using WebQuests on July 17; $138 CSD member; $214 non-member

To see full descriptions, learn about graduate credit options, and/or register, click here.

Tags: , , , , ,

Thursday, May 28, 2009 VLC’s tele classes this summer

tele class tele class tele class

We are offering a large selection of instructional technology professional development this summer at Cooperating School Districts. The classes are housed in our newly updated tele (technology enhanced learning environment). Here’s a random sampling of what you and your colleagues can sign up for:

  • Online “Street Smarts:” Being Legal, Literate, and Secure
  • Wiki Your Way to a Classroom Website
  • Google Academy: Search, Learn, Share!
  • Promoting Student Inquiry Using WebQuests
  • Classroom Projects Using Digital Photography
  • Beginning and Intermediate Moodle Training

Tags: , , , ,

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 Promoting Student Inquiry Using WebQuests

Flickr Creative CommonsPromoting Student Inquiry Using WebQuests
Date: July 17 from  8:30 am-3:30 pm
Cost: $138 CSD member; $214 non-member  (One Graduate Credit Available)
Location: Cooperating School Districts, 1460 Craig Road

A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web. WebQuests are designed to use learners’ time well, to focus on using information rather than looking for it, and to support learners’ thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation. The model was developed in early 1995 at San Diego State University by Bernie Dodge with Tom March.

In this class, you will learn:
•    The difference between short and long term WebQuests
•    The critical attributes of a WebQuest
•    The thinking skills necessary to complete a WebQuest
•    The forms WebQuests take
•    The steps in a WebQuest
•    The evaluation of WebQuests

Participants experience a WebQuest as students and then will be guided to Internet sites that help them locate existing WebQuests that can be used in the classroom.  Finally, with the instructor’s help, they will begin working on evaluating WebQuests for use in their classrooms.

PREREQUISITES:  Participants must have basic computer skills–know how to save, cut, copy, and paste; navigate the menu bar; open and close windows; and be able to use a browser to access the Internet.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Tuesday, March 17, 2009 First Week of June, First Week of tele classes

at work SMART Board Snowman Discovery streaming
June 1st marks beginning of the summer tele schedule! The summer schedule packed with classes five days a week on several topics: Second Life, Internet Safety, WebQuests, Wikis…

Here’s what is lined up for the first week:
Monday, June 1: GarageBand
Tuesday, June 2: PowerWalkThrough
Wednesday, June 3: Beginning SMART Board
Thursday, June 4: Intermediate SMART Board
Friday, June 5: Discovery streaming

Look for the full schedule to be released very soon!

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Friday, October 17, 2008 *NEW* Excel Class

Excel is not just for math teachers, and it is not boring either!  Come to the tele class on October 27th from 4-7 pm and Stacey will show you how to incorporate this tool in exciting, new ways in your classrooms.  Did you know that you can use it to make interactive maps?  How about WebQuests?  Go beyond the normal spreadsheets with Excel and learn how to make them interesting for both you and your students. To sign up, visit  http://www.csd.org/tele.

*Spring 2009 update: This class has a new name! Teaching Students about Charts & Graphs (Featuring MS Excel 2007) will be this summer on July 23*

Tags: , , , , , ,

Monday, July 14, 2008 What’s New with SMART Notebook Version 10

Martha Bogart

Nancy George

CSD’s Martha Bogart & Nancy George will be presenting at Successlink’s 6th Annual Technology Innovations Conference later this week on SMART Notebook Version 10.  

I thought I’d give you a sneak peek at some of the new features they will be using and talking about: 

  • Presentation Pen: spotlight, magnifier, invisible ink
  • Animations: fly-in, shrink & grow
  • Fill Effects: pattern, image
And what can you expect with the Successlink Conference itself? According to its website, a lot: “educators will learn how technology in the classroom can be utilized to improve student learning as well as assisting with multiple administrative tasks and responsibilities.  Participants will meet other teachers from around the state implementing various forms of technology in their classrooms. Each session will be a “hands-on” experience.  There will be sessions for beginner, intermediate and advanced users.  We will be highlighting sessions on blogging, handhelds, webquests, and podcasting to name a few.”

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thursday, May 1, 2008 It’s a Wrap

Nancy and Stephanie have been working with teachers from the Dunklin School District for over two years as part of an iTEA.  (Integrating Technology Educator Academy provides face-to-face, hands-on experiences with creating lessons and unit plans using 21st century teaching tools. The iTEA trains educators to promote higher level achievement from students who are engaged in their learning experience. The iTEA is flexible and goal oriented so that schools can decide exactly what will help support them in achieving their goals).  Tools used during the Dunklin iTEA include SMART Boards, Moodle, Podcasting, and WebQuests.  Today is the last iTEA for these participating teachers. During the session, they shared their experiences integrating technology into the classrooms with Nancy, Stephanie, and their colleagues.

   

St. Louis area educators, if your school district is interested in participating in an iTEA, contact Virtual Learning Center Director Ruth Litman-Block.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Monday, February 11, 2008 Technology Academies

Beginning our 3rd year of iTEA, the VLC is proud to offer 4 area districts long term professional development. The Integrating Technology Educators Academy (iTEA) is a flexible model that can be customized to a school or districts needs. The iTEA is based on the goals of the participating educators. Participants can receive professional development using a variety of technology skills, such as SMART Boards, WebQuests, unitedstreaming, MS Office, and Web 2.0. Educators find our iTEA successful because of the individualized professional development we offer.


For over 10 years, CSD has offered another academy, Support Staff Academy. The SSA is developed differently based on the feedback of a committee made of area district support staff. Participants can attend one, all, or a combination. Participants can learn about Legal Issues, Organization Skills, MS Office Tips & Tricks, email or many others.


The VLC began the 7th cohort group in October with the TLA, Technology Leadership Academy. School leaders attend a year long academy learning how to integrate technology into their jobs. Participants learn about online resources, evaluation tools, and create an action plan for their position. These leaders are provided a handheld computer and learn how to keep organized, collaborate and evaluate using this small but mighty tool. To learn more about any of our academies visit our website http://www.csd.org and click on Technology.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 722 other followers