Nibs from Nancy

Recently you received a reminder e-mail from Karen Streeter about Tech Tuesdays. In the email she said, “As many of you know, on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 the Office of Instructional Technology & Media Services launched TECH TUESDAYS, a new division-wide technology integration training initiative. We have had a good response these first few weeks and look forward to continued momentum now that we have returned from the winter break. However, some classes are at risk of cancellation due to low enrollment. Please review our course offerings and enroll now.
The links to the online registration system, enrollment instruction video, and course descriptions can now be viewed anytime/anywhere from the PPS home page under the TEACHERS/STAFF - Professional Development Schedule.
In response to some of the questions that have been asked, I have prepared the following FAQ to assist you in understanding the Tech Tuesday concept, and the registration process.
TECH TUESDAY REGISTRATION: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Do I have to attend every week? No. While this series of workshops is called “Tech Tuesdays”, you may pick and choose which Tuesdays you would like to attend. Only register for the workshops that you want to go to.
2. Do I get recertification points for attending Tech Tuesday workshops?Yes. Because these workshops are held outside of the regular school day, you will receive professional development points. You will receive one point for each hour you are in class.
3. These classes are scheduled through April. Do I have to register now? You should register as soon as possible. Classes that are under-enrolled will be cancelled, and your registration might be the one that keeps a class from being cancelled.
4. What if the workshop I want to attend starts before I think I can get there?
Ask your principal if you can leave a little early. For example, you may teach at a late elementary school and want to attend a 4:15 session. If you ask, your principal might allow another teacher to dismiss your students so that you can leave promptly. With a little coordination it would be possible to get to the session.
5. What if something comes up and I can’t make it to the class I registered for? It’s easy to un-enroll from classes. Simply log back into the registration system, click on the hyperlink that says “Click here to cancel a course”. Choose the course you want to cancel and press cancel. It’s important to un-enroll if you can’t make it so that those on the waiting list can have the opportunity to take the class.
6. How do I register? Go to the PPS online registration system at http://orms.pps.k12.va.us/gosignmeup/ register to use the site and then you may sign up for workshops.
7. What’s my User ID (Username)? Your username is the same one that you use to log into your PPS email. When prompted to fill in your user profile, DO NOT change your username.
8. What is my password?
Your password is the same one that you use to log into your PPS email. When prompted to complete your user profile, DO NOT change your password.”
I hope that you will take advantage of thess training opportunities that are available to Portsmouth Public School educators. It’s a great way to learn some new things, and a great way to earn professinal development points. Here are copies of the listings and descriptions:

master-description-list
techtues_listings1

Hope to see you there!

Santa may have been really nice to you and put some neat little, personal techie devices under under the tree this year. Not to be a grinch or anything, but, I have to present a document that was just drafted by the Office of Information Technology that addresses the use of these personal computing devices on the district network. The following articulates the OIT’s position regarding such devices. Simply put….No can do. It’s not supported. Sorry, dude!
support-of-non-pps-owned-computers-and-pda

We’re back from Winter Break and ready to roll!   This is a great point in time to take a little look-see back to check-out where we’ve been and look forward to see where we want to go.  Hopefully, the looks-sees will reveal some needs and opportunities to include some technology in the classroom.  More and more resources are available to teachers that really make a big difference in instruction.  The Office of Instructional Technology & Media in conjunction with Information Technology has made infrastructure, hardware, software, tools and other techie gadgets available to support instruction.  There is something for any level of user to support all grades and content areas.  Plus, you have the bonus of having  live bodies in the form of a TRT to navigate the waters, and a TSS to help you with the technical issues that occasionally rear their ugly heads.  What kinds of techie things are available for classroom instruction? Digital still & video cameras, document cameras, COWS, Orchard software, Kidspiration/Inspiration, Office products suite, Movie Maker, PhotoStory 3, Discovery Education Streaming, Marzano Technology Integration, Internet Safety Resources, ScratchCat, Edugame, MCPS & Promethean Classroom support, Thinkfinity, 4 Teachers Family of Tools, PortaPortal, skeighty-eight different websites to support just about anything you can think of, Pinnacle GradeBook and  much more.  Got an idea for a lesson and need some help pulling some of the techie pieces into play?  Need some ideas to try a new approach to an old problem?  See your TRT for ideas, training, and support so that your classroom will shine in 09.

Give yourself a gift that will keep on giving for years to come. Building your own Personal Learning Network (PLN) is one of the most valuable gifts you can give to yourself. What is a PLN? A Personal Learning Network (PLN) is comprised of the various influences that affect your self-directed, personal learning to help you develop personally and professionally. These influences include the people, tools and resources which can be accessed asynchronously to improve your skills and knowledge, and shape your attitudes. With a PLN, your ability to manage people, information and resources to improve teaching and learning are enhanced. You will make connections with people that can assist you with everyday classroom considerations. Utilize some of the resources, services and support made available to you through the PPS Office of Instructional Technology and other sources as you develop your PLN.

table-pln-10gifts

Amidst all the hustle and bustle that accompanies this  holiday season, I have paused for a brief moment to look around and attempt to process where I am at this moment in time.  Who are you?  What have you learned? What difference have you made in this world?   Life is an interesting thing, full of unexpected twists and turns.  It can change quite abruptly, without your consent or even your knowledge.  It makes you realize that despite your best efforts to act as captain of your ship, you are meerly the deck hand, carrying out the tasks and will of the true commander in chief.  I find that as I grow older, there seems to be an inverse relationship between life experience and wisdom.  I thought that as I grew older, I would become smarter.  Instead, life teaches you that what you know and understand is minuscule compared with absolute truth.  Given my obvious limitations, I have found solace in a few basic truths about the world in which I live.

1. I have been blessed.  As a teacher, I cannot boast of mansions, or other  tangible treasures; paychecks of teachers do not promote that lifestyle.  However, I have been given gifts, talents, associations, opportunities and experiences that make me truly rich.   I  use what I have been given to try to affect my world by doing what I can to touch the lives of others.  It is to that end that I give thanks and praise to my source.

2.  People are more important than things.  In today’s world, so much emphasis is placed on things.  Houses, cars, clothes, collectibles, vacations, things that really hold no value at all.  The people in my life are  my treasures.  Family, friends, and co-workers are more valuable than any tangible item.  Distance, time and life changes can’t erase the impact that people make in the lives of others.  If I were to come into tangible wealth, but turned my back on family or  others in need, then I would be the poorest of the poor, possessing nothing.

3.  Life is short.  Our sense of time  and self-imposed  values sometimes impair our vision and affect our judgment about the truly important things in life. We can spend inordinant amounts of time on things that really do not matter, while important things are left to their own devises.  Differentiating between the biggies in life and the trivial pursuit  of self-serving satiation seems to be something that many struggle with daily.  Life is a flash.  A brief moment in which we make a mark, and then we are gone.   We have a mission.   It is our job to understand what is is, and how to carry it out.  The clock is ticking.

That’s it…. distilled down to a few lines on a blog. At this moment in time, I can say that I have been blessed with people and experiences that have given me true gold.   It is my hope and prayer that the season will bring you joy, and that the new year will bring true riches in your lives.

Beginning Tuesday, December 2, 2008 the Office of Instructional Technology & Media Services is launching TECH TUESDAYS, a new division-wide technology integration training initiative.

All PPS teachers received an email from Karen Streeter  announcing the inititative which contains the  following:

1. Tech Tues Listings = a PDF document listing the dates, titles and times for all workshops through April 2009
2. Master description list = a PDF document with complete descriptions of all classes being offered through April 2009
3. ORMS Instructions 2 = a WMV file that will play in Windows Media Player which describes the process for using our new online registration system

All F2F classes will be offered at Wilson High School and will begin at either 3:15PM or 4:15PM. You can enroll in these classes online while at school or at home at http://orms.pps.k12.va.us/gosignmeup/  

  If you need assistance or more information, please see your TRT.  Hope to see you there!

First Place

Walking down the corridors of Churchland Primary, you can see evidence that students are getting the message about Internet Safety. Contest winners and additonal colorful entries are mounted on the walls for all to see. 

Third Place

Second Place

Portsmouth Public Schools has an online community that serves various interest groups.  Created by teachers for teachers, this network provides a place for discussions, and a way to share, learn and grow.  The main page is available at http://ppslearningcommunity.ning.com/ and there are several groups available like Science, English and more.   Supporting Library Media Specialists, I created a group for Library Media specialists, which is available at http://ppslearningcommunity.ning.com/group/lms.  Want to see my homepage?    Go to http://ppslearningcommunity.ning.com/profile/NancyButler.  Check out what folks are up to on the NING.  Not sure about the whole web 2.0 thing?  See your TRT and they will get you up to speed in no time flat.