reBlog from Hollyrae: RETAzens Blog

I found this fascinating quote today:

Help save IDEAL NM! Please share this post with the hashtag #saveidealnm and advocate with us today! Find out how below.Hollyrae, RETAzens Blog, Jan 2010

You should read the whole article.

Online Math Secondary Resource

Web site offers free online math lessons


The California-based Web site Brightstorm offers online math help for students with video lessons created by teachers. Most of the site’s math lessons are free, but the company also offers fee-based lessons in preparation for standardized tests. "Anybody who is confused with their homework can come to our site, search for the concept, find it really quickly, and then they can get an explanation that is concise and to the point from a really talented presenter who is also a great teacher," a Brightstorm representative said.

http://www.brightstorm.com/

Indictment of use of technology to improve learning?

Has education wasted the money and opportunity to improve learning, teaching, achievement by only using new technologies to perpetuate traditional, non-effective learning strategies?

What/Where is the evidence?
 
What is meant by using new technology as a "cognitive tool?" What would that look like?
 

Special Edition: Educational Outcomes & Researc h from 1:1 Computing Settings  
The Journal of Technology, Learning, and Assessment

The End of Techno-Critique: The Naked Truth about 1:1 Laptop Initiatives and Educational Chang
http://escholarship.bc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1193&context=jtla

Speak Up! Survey

RETAzens,
Keep up the great work! Read more below.

And there’s still time for teachers, students, administrators, and parents to take the Speak Up! Survey. It closes on Friday, Dec. 18th! http://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/

Thanks to everyone who has taken and promoted this survey. Thanks to Jill Brown, NMSTE President, for the following information.

Speak Up! update: Innovate-Educate NM in partnership with NMSTE, IDEAL-NM and the NM CTE
Committee has resulted in over 6000 NM participants that have taken the survey, compared to 300 last year!


–Sincerely,
   Susie B. =;->  

“The world is full of willing people; some willing to work, the rest willing to let them."
–Robert Frost,
Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet

Upcoming RETA Webinar: Creating Projects with Scratch

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM November 9, 2009
Location: http://nmsu.na3.acrobat.com/scratchsum09/

Dear RETAzens,

The Regional Educational Technology Assistance (RETA) program would like to
invite you to attend our upcoming, free, professional development webinar,
Creating Projects with Scratch.

This is webinar is an introduction to the free programming language,
Scratch, and its website/repository/social area. First, there will be an
introduction to the programming features that are unique to Scratch. After
that, the presenter, Carl Bogardus, will log on to Scratch's website and
give you a tour. At that point, you will see student and teacher projects
and discuss the possibility of classroom use. Finally, you will get the
chance to register on the website (also free!) and look for projects that
you'd like to use as an introduction to Scratch in your classroom.

Details on Attending
When: Monday, November 9th, 2009 @ 4:30 PM (Mountain)
http://nmsu.na3.acrobat.com/scratchsum09/
Cost: Free

Plan to join us 15-20 minutes prior to the start time to configure your
computer. To participate, speakers are required. A simple computer
microphone and/or a headset are ideal for interaction.

If you have never used Adobe Acrobat Connect Professional, please test your
connection at: Adobe Acrobat Pro Support Center
https://admin.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

For complete information on this and all of our webinars visit us at:
http://webinars.nmsu.edu or contact us at: webinars [at] nmsu.edu or call
Miley
Grandjean, 575.646.6143. Also, don't forget to find us on Facebook,
http://tinyurl.com/ahffeh or tweet with us on Twitter&lsqauo;@retazens

Have a cup of coffee, invite a colleague and raise your eQ (eLearning
Quotient) with us!

Thank you,
RETA Webinar Team

Reminder: Competitive Mini-Grant Applications– DUE Friday, October 30, 2009

Innovate-Educate and NMSTE Announce
Qwest Innovation Grants
Competitive Mini-Grant Application Package

http://nmste.wikispaces.com/Qwest+Grant+09
 
                              
 
Application Deadline:
Friday, October 30, 2009
 
Administered by Innovate-Educate


Qwest Classroom Technology Integration
Competitive Mini-Grant Application


Introduction

The Qwest Foundation has allocated to Innovate-Educate $25,000 through a Qwest Foundation for Education Grant to be awarded to non-APS (APS grants also available) PreK-12 teachers who demonstrate an innovative use of technology with students.  The funds may be used to purchase the following for use in the classroom: supplies and materials, technology, or professional development activities.  Any non-disposable supplies and materials or capital objects purchased are the property of the district or school that is awarded the grant.  Funds will be awarded during the 2009-2010 school year.  Recipients will be awarded in November 2009.  The funds must be spent by May 30, 2010.  Deadline for the Award:  The application must be postmarked by October 30, 2009.  

The purpose of this grant is to:
 

1. Recognize teachers who are using technology  in innovative ways with students;  
2. Increase an awareness of how teachers are using technology in the classroom;  
3. Model best practices with technology integration improving student achievement.
   

For the Innovate-Educate submissions, there will be a competitive priority on the use of virtual technologies.  In other words, those grants submitted that address the use of virtual resources to reach more teachers/students will be given priority over other submissions.  Sustainability and scalability are also a priority.
 
Timelines

1. Mini-Grant proposals must be postmarked by October 30, 2009.
   

Proposals postmarked after that date will not be considered.

1. Mini-Grants  can be applied for in the amounts of $2,500 and $5,000.  
2. Panel  or poster session presentations of awarded projects will be made at the  Innovate-Educate /STE Spring Conference in April 2010.
   

Eligibility

Certified PreK-12 school teachers are eligible to receive a maximum of one Mini-Grant award.
 
For the rest of the story go to http://nmste.wikispaces.com/Qwest+Grant+09

Upcoming RETA Webinar: Photostory 3 in the Classroom

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM November 2, 2009
Location: http://nmsu.na3.acrobat.com/photo3sum09/

Dear Retazens,

The Regional Educational Technology Assistance (RETA) program would like to
invite you to attend our upcoming, free, professional development webinar,
Photostory 3 in the Classroom.

Photostory 3 is a free software download on computers using the Windows
operating system. During this webinar we discuss various classroom
ideas/uses for Photostory videos, and you will learn how easy it is to
create videos for your own classroom. Engage your students with video
projects that can be burned on to CDs, DVDs, posted to the web, or even
emailed to parents. Downloadable take-home resources will also be provided.

Details on Attending
When: Monday, November 2nd, 2009 @ 4:30 PM (Mountain)
http://nmsu.na3.acrobat.com/photo3sum09/
Cost: Free

Plan to join us 15-20 minutes prior to the start time to configure your
computer. To participate, speakers are required. A simple computer
microphone and/or a headset are ideal for interaction.

If you have never used Adobe Acrobat Connect Professional, please test your
connection at: Adobe Acrobat Pro Support Center
https://admin.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

For complete information on this and all of our webinars visit us at:
http://webinars.nmsu.edu or contact us at: webinars [at] nmsu.edu or call
575.646.6143. And don¹t forget to find us on Facebook,
http://tinyurl.com/ahffeh or tweet with us on Twitter&lsqauo;@retazens

Have a cup of coffee, invite a colleague and raise your eQ (eLearning
Quotient) with us!

Thank you & feel free to pass along the attached flyer,
RETA Webinar Team

Upcoming RETA Webinar: Microsoft Office Word 2007 for Teachers

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM October 19, 2009
Location: Online: http://nmsu.na3.acrobat.com/wordsum09/

Dear Retazens,

The Regional Educational Technology Assistance (RETA) program would like to
invite you to attend our upcoming, free, professional development webinar,
Microsoft Office Word 2007 for Teachers.

This is a demonstration and explanation of some of the features that make
Microsoft Office Word an excellent presentation tool for teachers. In this
webinar, you will learn how to create and format tables, insert visual
graphics (pictures, clip art and shapes), and embed objects (audio and video
clips).

Details on Attending
When: Monday, October 19th, 2009 @ 4:30 PM (Mountain)
Where: http://nmsu.na3.acrobat.com/wordsum09/
Cost: Free

Plan to join us 15-20 minutes prior to the start time to configure your
computer. To participate, speakers are required. A simple computer
microphone and/or a headset are ideal for interaction.

If you have never used Adobe Acrobat Connect Professional, please test your
connection at: Adobe Acrobat Pro Support Center
https://admin.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

For complete information on this and all of our webinars visit us at:
http://webinars.nmsu.edu or contact us at: webinars [at] nmsu.edu or call
575.646.6143. And don¹t forget to find us on Facebook,
http://tinyurl.com/ahffeh or tweet with us on Twitter&lsqauo;@retazens

Have a cup of coffee, invite a colleague and raise your eQ (eLearning
Quotient) with us!

Thank you & feel free to pass along the attached flyer,
RETA Webinar Team

Upcoming RETA Webinar: Cool Tools For Educators

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM October 5, 2009
Location: Online: http://nmsu.na3.acrobat.com/cooltoolssum09/

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM October 5th, 2009
Location: http://nmsu.na3.acrobat.com/cooltoolssum09/

Dear Retazens,

The Regional Educational Technology Assistance (RETA) program would like to
invite you to attend our upcoming, free, professional development webinar,
Cool Tools For Educators.

Cool Tools For Educators will will introduce you to lots of free and cheap
online tools for educators. In this webinar we will take a quick "drive by"
tour of some of the cool tools available. Resources and links to these
online tools will be provided.

Details on Attending
When: Monday, October 5th, 2009 @ 4:30 PM (Mountain)
Where: http://nmsu.na3.acrobat.com/cooltoolssum09/
Cost: Free

Plan to join us 15-20 minutes prior to the start time to configure your
computer. To participate, speakers are required. A simple computer
microphone and/or a headset are ideal for interaction.

If you have never used Adobe Acrobat Connect Professional, please test your
connection at: Adobe Acrobat Pro Support Center
https://admin.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

For complete information on this and all of our webinars visit us at:
http://webinars.nmsu.edu or contact us at: webinars [@] nmsu.edu or call
575.646.6143. And don¹t forget to find us on Facebook,
http://tinyurl.com/ahffeh or tweet with us on Twitter&lsqauo;@retazens

Have a cup of coffee, invite a colleague and raise your eQ (eLearning
Quotient) with us!

Thank you & feel free to pass along the attached flyer,
RETA Webinar Team

Having fun with my RETA crew and taking a mental break from prep for new semester