This was a great conference filled with too many interesting workshops to choose from.  Hopefully I can begin utilizing some of the useful applications I learned soon. http://itsc.oetc.org/index.php

The opening speaker was Cynthia Ulrich Tobias on The Way We Work.  The focus was on different Learning Styles - natural inborn strenths inborn, recognizing each person's and how to develop effective strategies for comminucating with each.  I really enjoyed her presentation and ended up ordering her book They Way We Learn and the audio of You Can't Make Me, but I can be persuaded

I attended the early Microsoft vendor presentations and was introduced to One Note, Photo Story, and Producer which I'll have to look into more on my own.

I attended 3 different workshops on handheld pda's, mostly put on by Kerry Clausen from the Eugene School District.  (kclawson@lane.k12.or.us)    While there I tried to soak up as much information about what they do as possible. 

Her great power point on implementing pdas in the classroom (Go under heading "Palms in the Content Area" power point at  http://itsc.oetc.org/index.php ) outlined a lot of specifics including management and instructional strategies that we've had to learn along the way.  It is posted on the main page for the ITSC conference linked at the beginning of this entry.  During these workshops we saw several programs being utilized, one of which was a stop watch shareware I was intrigued with. 

Keeping in mind that she had a complete class set of pda's in her room these are some things she's done:
      Changed the bottom buttons to memos, and the far right to notepad for quick responses.  She has her students have their answer written down in notepad before they can respond orally in class sometimes. 
     She has inputted historical events and the school year events for the school/class in the calendar on each pda.  Her class begins each day by looking at what's on the calendar and talking about it.  Love that idea!
      Kerry often uses the contacts for vocabulary including the meaning (not definition), and synonyms.  Sometimes drawing representations/symbols (non-linguistic graphic representations) in notepad.  She reminded us that you can create categoies for contacts.
    Also mentioned was a cursive practice program called CopyWrite for the pda which sounded interesting.

Recommendations for Purchasing: 
     Software -Participate $8, Kidspiration, Math Amigo, Herberts' Software like 50 States, Beret Study Buddy (it's like quiz whiz, but it will keep track of more data with a memo wi/in it and includes 6 different games, LDW software, Tycoon programs like Fish and Lemonade-this company will give a good deal to educators with bulk orders.  They recommended purchasing digital cameras that use SD cards like the pda's to easily go from pda to computer (with the card readers) to camera.  They tried the cameras that fit in the pda's, but they were too fragile.
     When nearing the end of the grant it was recommended to purchase things that would be hard for a school budget to justify like a couple extra keyboards per school, styli, projector bulbs, and a couple extra handhelds for each school. 

Kidspiration/Inspiration
with Jennifer Gingerich http://jgingerich.teacherhosting.com/blog/

This workshop was filled with a variety of teacher made applications/templates she gave us on cd for these 2 programs demonstrating more uses than just the brainstorming and webbing piece of the program.  Great ideas!  I copied them in our third grade folder on the desktop at school in a Kidspiration folder.  I didn't realize you could do so much more with Kidspiration than just the brainstorming piece of writing.

Her digital poetry looked great, too.  http://jgingerich.teacherhosting.com/blog/archives/2006/02/digital_poetry.html

FLICKR
http://itsc.oetc.org/flickr.php
     This was my least favorite workshop, just because it was not explained and as smooth as the rest of them I attended and the turn around time to use the uploade photos was a bit delayed.  Sounds like a great free method of posting photos on-line, but you have to sign up for the account and so do the other people you want to be  able to view the photos.
     Possible uses with children could be using pictures of a fieldtrip badge format (collage) on a class blog, to show school work to families, have students take digital pictures representing content writing a description.  Another photo tool is Gimp and Picassa.

Technology and Differentiated Instruction
With Linda Vanderford
http://itsc.oetc.org/linda.php

Wow!  What a lot of great strategies for management and instruction.  Some were review, but she usually had a new twist or application on them.  The best part was that she ran her workshop like you were being encouraged to run your classroom.  What a novelty in education!!!  See her outline/power point at:

She modeled and talked about Instructional Strategies:  Active Questioning, Think Pair Share, Centers, Muddiest Point or Key Learnings
and Management Strategies:  4 Corners, Colored Cards, Think-Pair-Share.

The teacher we sat next to told us about a great program their district is getting ready to purchase for their pda's "NoviiAnimator", http://www.novii.com/animator/   It is supposed to be like Sketchy, but with more capabilities.  Students can sketch a picture or representation, write a description, and record.  Sounds intriguing!  http://www.novii.com/animator/gall.htm

I won a drawing at the last dinner that was fun!  In it was a book "50 Quick & Easy Power Point Activities", "Fairy Tale Creator" software and a free copy of some writing software I had looked at that I was impressed with:  The Writing Companion.  It reminds me of Kidspiration except it takes you beyond that to organizing, editing, and publishing.  Some great features are text to speech so students can hear how what they wrote sounds, it can determine the readability level of what they wrote (so they can try to improve it by adding more vivid language and complex complete sentences, and it can be printed out normal or a poster size!)  $29 for each individual computer - more if you buy a bunch.

At the closing we heard Debbie Silver speak on "Paying It Forward".  Her presentation was a wonderful journey in education filled with funny, intuitive and tear producing examples of the impact educators on the world.  Her message was always pay it forward to someone, then their job is to pass that on to 3 additional people and so the good things go on.  I especially liked her story about the teacher having a rough day and going to the bathroom to find a few stolen moments in silence only to have a child follow her in there to talk while she ate her lunch.  Ha! 

      .       .      .       .

Sadly we didn't end up utilizing the valuable "Team Time" that was set up within the workshop schedule for all of our team to meet and share together. It would have been nice to hear about the successes that others have been experiencing with pda's in their classrooms as well as info they learned from their workshops that we could all benefit from before it got blurred with time.  Time is so precious. 
    Several of us did share what we've done in our classrooms, though, specifically with writing.  This I learned about what Heidi does in her 4/5 classroom:  She selects the "Evry-Day edit" from Education World, and saves it on the pda's for morning daily editing work.  Students edit the paragraph on their pda, compare with a partner and then correct together as a class.  She also copies the "Newsy Kid" from Education World and using the pda version of adobe copies it onto the handhelds for students to read, discuss and share insights with the class.  This feature takes a real news article of the week and puts it into kid language.  Great idea!
     Leanne has her students select one of their daily journal entries for the week and type it into word to go on the pda to edit.  Students then peer edit for corrections, then beam theirs to the teacher and she prints them all out as one document and they class edit them together on the overhead.  What a great way to apply editing in a real world way!

Adding Songs to the PDA Card

I added some songs to my pda through "Real Player", the program that came with it & it sounds GREAT!  I love playing music and listening with headphones to it.  It's amazing how good the music sounds. 

One problem that I can't seem to solve or find anyone that can help me with, is that Real Player changes the song from Windows Media Player to a Real Player file.  It has to be in MP3 format in order for Real Player to use it, but now I can't put those songs back into Windows Media Player so I can also listen to them in that organizer with the rest of my music.

For the future I think I can just copy the songs making an additional copy before I convert it to Real Player leaving me with the original in Windows to still use at a later time on the computer.

Anyone have any ideas for me?

Whew!  Have we ever been busy with the pda's!

Students are getting more comfortable using the keyboards.  The break quickly came and went and now we are preparing for our first round of state TESA testing with lots of lessons and review.  The pda's have not only been a great tool for this, but also a nice distraction for a break between content for the students.

We are working on our first writing piece utilizing the program "Idea Pad".  It continues to amaze me at how quickly the students pick up new programs and concepts with the pda.  They are incredible at learning with them and unafraid to step out on their own to try new things!  It almost makes me feel young again!  Ha!

November finds us publishing our Autobio Poems and getting them ready to share for parent conferences.  The students are anxious to put them on display for all to see!

Just recently after learning the different sentence parts of speech, we used the pdas for a version of Mad Libs called "Gone Mad".  This is where a short story is displayed with a variety of words missing that the students have to fill in the blanks of a list out of context.  It just says: Adverb, plural Noun, food, Adjective...etc.  Then when they are all done, the program inputs their words into the story and students get to share their results.  Usually these end up being hysterically funny!  First we started with a simple Mother Goose rhyme  where students recorded their own words on paper while I did an example on the pda displayed on the screen so they got the concept.  The next lesson  we reviewed parts of speech and they all got out their pda story of "Bears" with a list of missing words.  Once they completely filled in the list and read the story using their words they all wanted to share theirs!  This was a great fun lesson!

 Students have also been using a program called "Math Card" to practice the facts they individually need to practice to pass for their next timed test.  All students are working at their own level going through the addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts.  So far no one is on division yet, but I know it won't be too long!  We use this for a review and warm-up before the tests. 

Currently I am working on getting the program "Farkle", a dice game, for the students' to use.  The demo has now expired but the students are clamoring to be able to play it.  This is a fun game utilizing probability in choosing whether to continue rolling hoping for more points, or pass and save the points you've already earned.   Wish us luck in acquiring it!

Four of us volunteered to go on a visit to Eugene to see some classrooms where the pdas were being used.  The trip was very beneficial.  We appreciated being able to see how others utilize the pda's and integrate them into their curriculum.  Susan Thurman and I visited Cresswell--a town of 3000 with one elementary, middle, & high school. 

Cresslane Elementary School was similar to our schools in numbers.  The staff were very friendly and helpful and the students were extremely well behaved throughout the school.  At first we thought it was just the kids in the classes we observed, but even walking down the halls between observations ALL students were very respectful of eachother, the school, and visitors.  Each time a class walked by us they were silent and kept their hands to themselves.  You could have heard a pin drop in the hallways even.

We observed Sherry's 2nd graders.  Students were drawing the 9 digits in touch math, writing their names, and then beaming their finished product to the teacher.  Then they completed a math worksheet using the calculator on the pda.  The class was very focused and busy working the whole time.

Michelle used Idea Pad with her students in the Learning Center to organize their  ideas for a writing project .  They were going to take an "autumn" walk the following day and were organizing what they would be watching for.  They used their 5 senses for the 5 sections.  They had just finished a similar project that they were overjoyed to share with us: their notes, published writing pieces, including a digital photo of them making it displayed out in the hall!  Using Idea Pad they organized their writing on how to make a rock pumpkin, and then they made one using stones they found outside.  First  they painted them orange, glued on a stick for the stem, a chocolate chip for the nose, glued on eyes, and then drew the mouth. 

June, taught 2nd grade, and was showing the kids how to make a new file for their spelling list for the next week.  Then she let them play a spelling Word Jumble on "Spell It" using this week's words.  Students were on task and focused.  The one student that had a pda taken from him was not following the teachers directions and still clicking on the screen instead of listening.  She quickly and quietly went over and took it from him, told him that he wasn't following directions and set it on the projector table.  She said that was the first time she has had to take a pda away this year.  It was very impressive to see their attention to detail.  Students were expected to treat the pda's with respect, stay on track, and not do anything that might hurt them.

 Lynn's was a 5th grade teacher that we observed after lunch.  She had her directions projected on the screen for the students when they came in.  They got their pdas out and began an activity called "Dicey Math" where students roll the dice on their pda and then have to multiply the numbers together.   Lynn shared with us that she likes to use pdas the most with writing.  She has the students complete their rough draft and then beam it to her.  Then she edits their writing by highlighting in different colors on her computer and then beams it back to them for corrections.  With the program "Docs to Go Pro "  the color is able to stay on the program.  She uses different colors when editing using red for spelling, yellow for capitalization, and blue for grammar.

It was reassuring to see that some of the classrooms were utilizing the same programs we already have been, (thanks to Stacy's updates and sharing).  Most teachers said their grant was written for integrating math, but writing had a lot of useful applications that they liked to use as well.  We were happy that our grant focuses on both math and writing.

It was a great opportunity to see some different ways of using the pda's and yet reassuring to know we are doing similar types of positive activities with our students.

Lately we have been using the keyboards to take spelling tests on the pdas - which the students just love!  We also have used the pdas to practice before the tests with "Spell It".  Students have used word jumble to prepare them for the tests really looking at how the words are spelled.

We've also used "BooksLog" to record our favorite AR books we've read recently.  Students record the author, # of pages, genre, rate the book, give a brief description of why it is being recommended, along with the AR level and points that it is worth.  Students really seem to reflect and take their choices of recommending seriously so that others will check out their suggestions.

We've also been practicing our math facts on the pdas which students seem to enjoy doing. 

I've sure noticed a great improvement recently in students completing assignments so that they have time to use the pda's for a short 'free time' between lessons.  Initially I hadn't even thought of that as being a bonus!

Tonight 4 of us from the different schools, shared with the ESD board what we've been doing with the handhelds in the classroom.  It went very smoothly and quick.  It was also fun to see/hear what other teachers have been doing.

In homeroom I made a template for an Autobio Poem I have my students do each year and beamed it to all of the student pda's as a Document.  The students were very eager to be handed their keyboards and most remembered how to open and set them up.  Some of the keyboards didn't have the batteries put in the right way, so after a little problem solving we got them off and going.  Students had already used the on screen keyboard previously so using the actual keyboard took a little getting used to - but they did great!  We hope to finish them soon and put them on the computer so students can add graphics to their poems before publishing.

Lit. Block was the first to get to print!  As a Spelling review before the test students reviewed their spelling words and typed the 3-4 hardest ones into a memo ending with "by" and their name.  Then they each came over to the printer and made it print.  It was so cool!  They loved it and couldn't wait to bring their paper home to share with parents!

      A week later students had the option of taking their spelling tests on the pda's using the keyboards...boy were they excited just for a spelling test!

For Open House I had to laugh to myself when the 4th student through the door shouted "Where are the pda's?"  They were anxious to get another opportunity to use them and share them with their families. That sure is a highlight. What a motivational tool for school!

So far my class has  used Hiddenseek for SS, jigsawed vocabulary words with memo for SS, typed memos with the screen keyboard, beamed new programs to each other like Noah's Ark and Book Worm (Mrs. Wade beamed it to me & the kids had to teach me how to play!), and each of my students typed in their own contact information using the school as the home address on their pda.  Much to the students satisfaction many of them are passing me on the Book Worm levels!  This is a program where the user connects random letters together to spell words.  Most kids LOVE it!

Mrs. Wade is working on the program "Type to Learn" with the students during media time and the class is anxious for their first expereince using the keyboards.  We are just waiting to get the program for the keyboards uploaded to the hand helds.

I only had one hair pulling lesson when I tried to do too much in too short of a time frame for my kiddos. They didn't have a problem with it, but I was frustrated. Other than that I think all the kids would agree they have been a wonderful experience!

On the first day of school students had their own pda checked out to them and in the palm of their hands!  We learned the expectations and key points in using them in the classroom.  Students learned about navigating to home and used the MBD Monkey Math review to get used to using the stylus.

There were lots of ooh's and ahh's again - this time from the students and then silence as they gained confidence in using them.  I was so awed that I had to take some pictures to capture their intensity.  Not one student looked up from their screen for some time.  You could have heard a pin drop on our carpeted floors!

The second week of school my Lit. Block got to use them for the first time and again...lots of ohh's and ahh's!  Students are so careful and treat the pda's like glass.  I think it really impacted them when we told them that they are more expensive than an X Box.  They asked me if they were more expensive than "something" I didn't understand and suddenly felt very old as I didn't know what they were talking about, so I just said "Sure!" 

I beamed a couple new games to them like: Noah's Ark, Sequence, and My Guess for problem solving and establishing familarity with the pda's.  Students quickly became very attached to using the pda's and asked daily if they got to use them.

Miss Crain, Mrs. Ruby, and I decided to set up a schedule where each of our classes get to use the pda's 3 half days a week.  Our class uses them Monday pm, Wednesday am, and Thursday pm.

After the Eastern Oregon Institute Teacher Classes the first week in August, teachers participating in the grant met and got to pick up their hand held computers.  A couple teachers had used pda's before, but most of us hadn't.  We were so excited!  It was like Christmas opening up our boxes and trying to imagine how we would integrate this technology into our classrooms!

August 9th we all loaded up and made the trek to Eugene for our conference/training.  We had a great time participating in workshops and hearing about how other teachers all over the state were using pda's in their classrooms.  There was a lot of "Ohhhh!" and "Ahhhh"ing going on.  We came home late Friday night exhausted with our pda's full of activities and our minds reeling from all the ideas and possiblities of promoting learning with hand helds.  We all reaffirmed each other repeating what we were told by the leaders- that we weren't adding more things to our curriculum, but utilizing a different technolgical tool to engage students in learning.  Experienced teachers made it sound like "magic" focusing students.