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Promoting New Learning Experiences with Gadgets

MEC Conference • March 14, 2007

Therese Turman & Margie Brown

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Overview of Presentation

• Foundations for the Future

• Professional Development - Explorers Guild

• Interactive Gadgets Demonstrations

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Foundations for the Future (F3)

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Foundations for the Future

• Foundations for the Future (F3) is a collaboration of Georgia Tech researchers that helps accelerate the application of technology for K-12 schools for collaborative learning, promotes cyber safety awareness for parents, students, and teachers, and provides summer educational opportunities

• A successful program that can be replicated in any state with school administrators, government agencies, and industry partners.

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Potential Program Focus

• Help accelerate technology applications for collaborative learning, remote access to educational facilities, and Internet-based resources for the K-12 community.

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F3 Services Provided

• Technical assistance and resources

• Proposal writing assistance

• Professional development workshops

• Monthly award-winning community newsletter “Outta Site!”

• Training and information outreach to K-12 schools in Georgia

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F3 Outreach• Provided over 80 county and

city school systems across Georgia with various outreach efforts.

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Explorers Guild

www.f3program.org/explore

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Objectives for Explorers Guild

• Opportunities for teachers/administrators to learn:

• new technology tools

• cutting-edge applications to assist in the classroom

• strategies for increasing funding base

• Georgia Tech researchers and other K-12 specialists lend their technical expertise in an informal setting

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The Concept

• The Explorers Guild mission is to conduct teacher-driven professional development workshops for F3

• Teachers can implement new technology concepts in the classroom for student, parents, and community use

• Explorers Guild attendees receive PLU credits

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Workshop Topics• Digital Photography

• Making Excel Accessible for All Users

• Web Design Principles

• Evaluating Websites for Learning

• Test Taking Skills

• PowerPoint Projects in the Classroom

• How to Find, Extract and Use Digital Resources

• Online Resources for the Classroom

• Gadgets

• Math and Science Websites

• Computer Troubleshooting

• Using Photoshop Elements in the Classroom

• Interactive Whiteboards

• Introduction to Editing Video

• Firewalls and Filters

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Outta Site!• Helps families explore the Internet together, safely

and effectively.

• Aimed at parents of children in upper elementary to middle school.

• Distributed monthly during the school year by The Friends School of Atlanta, Foundations for the Future (Georgia Tech), and the Family Technology Resource Center (DeKalb County School System).

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Interactive Gadgets Demonstrations

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Web Cams• Enhance online experiences

• View real-time events and bring far a way places to life

• Inspire curiosity and imagination

• Virtual Field Trips

• * Address safety concerns *

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PDAs• Small and portable

• Wireless communication

• Classroom management

• Use in different subject areas

• “Beam notes to students”

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Wireless Digital Hotspotter• Inexpensive, small and

convenient

• Wi-Fi detection with a LCD display

• Provides network information

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QuickLink Pen Scanner • Provides electronic note-taking

capabilities

• Moderately priced

• Stores up to 1,000 pages of text

• Scans and captures addresses, Internet links, and tables

• Creates Word and Excel documents from notes.

• 97% accuracy rate

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Wireless Adaptor• Teachers can connects a

desktop or notebook to a high-speed wireless network

• Instantly creates an access point

• Very compact and easy to store

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Contact Information

Therese Turman 404.407.6305therese.turman@gtri.gatech.edu

Margie Brown 404.407.6069margie.brown@gtri.gatech.edu

www.f3program.org