Local District 4 Instructional Technology News

Feel free to type in your questions during this session.  I will do my best to answer all of your questions and/or concerns.

Google has made it easy to embed any book available on Google Book Search onto your website or blog. You can add a fully functional widget by using the following code:

<script type=”text/javascript” src=”http://books.google.com/books/previewlib.js”></script>
<script type=”text/javascript”>
GBS_insertEmbeddedViewer(’GkCpLIk7aisC’,600,500);
</script>

Simply replace GkCpLIk7aisC with the book ID you are trying to embed.  The book ID can be found in the URL of the book you want.  Here is a sample of The Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

If you have been trying to contact the Help Desk recently, you’ve probably noticed that your wait time seems to be getting longer and longer.  It used to take about 15 to 20 minutes to have your call answered.  Now it can be anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. Who has the time to sit by the phone and wait for someone on the other end to pick up? 

Instead of calling in your request, you can simply go online and fill out the Self-Service form.  To do this go to http://techsupport.lausd.net/selfservice.htm  You will need your Single Sign On account to log in to the system.  Your Single Sign On is the same as your District email account.  Once you are logged in, state the problem you are having and submit your request.  You will get a faster response from ITD this way.

This is a great opportunity for you to get 250 GB of free online storage for life.  Yes, I said for life.  At least that is what File Savr is offering until September 15. 250 GB goes a long way.  You’ll be able to backup your files and access them from any computer with an internet connection.  You can also share files with friends and family.  If you are a blogger and don’t want to use up your blog’s storage space, you can use this site to upload your pictures, files, movies, etc.

Just go to http://www.filesavr.com/deal.php to get your free 250 GB account.  This offer is only good until September 15, so sign up as soon as you can.

I have scheduled two workshops to help schools develop a school website using iWeb software. The software is included on Apple computers. The workshops will held at the Local District 4 office. Anyone interested in attending should register using the Learning Zone. Space is limited, so register early.

The workshops are scheduled for:

September 25 from 3:30 – 5:00 pm.
and
October16 from 3:30 – 5:00 pm

To register, go to http://lz.lausd.net. Click on the Courses tab followed by Class Offerings. Change the Program to list Local District 4 Professional Development and click on Search. You will then see the class listed as “School Websites using iWeb.” Click on the title, then click on the Enroll Now button.

Tags: LD4

I recently came across an article in the September 2008 issue of NEA on which technologies are hot, and which ones are not. It’s good to see that we are on the right path according to this article.  As a district, we have been implementing Web 2.0 tools for some time now.  I am seeing more and more teachers using tools such as blogs, wikis, Moodle and other Web 2.0 applications.  In our local distrct offce, we have been using Google applications and blogs to streamline our efforts of communication and be more effective in collaboration with each other and with schools.  I am also seeing schools purchasing more and more laptpos versus desktop computers.  The fact that classrooms are limited in space, makes purchasing laptops a better choice.  Below is the list from the NEA magazine listing “What is hot, and what is not.”
HOT

* Laptop computers
* Mini-computers that cost less than $400.
* Flash drives that let students load up computer contents and take them anywhere.
* Posting documents to a 2.0 site accessible from any computer using a program like Google Docs.
* Second Life, the virtual 3-D world of social networking, to interest students in classroom discussion. (They  can meet online for group work or network with students across the globe.)
* Second Life for professional development sessions that cross district and state borders allowing for national collaboration.
* Online collaborative Web 2.0 applications.
* Digital cameras to enhance classroom activity.
* Microblogging tools like Twitter.com for professional development. (Put a question out to the Twitter community and within minutes get answers back from across the globe.)
* Giving students school email accounts.

NOT

* Desktop computers (too cumbersome!)
* Proprietary software. It can be costly and clunky and it’s tied to one specific computer.
* Typed papers and hard copies of teaching documents. Sending documents to students and parents via email. Textbook-and-worksheet-only instruction
* Boring professional development sessions on uncomfortable folding chairs with people in your school only

Tags: NEA, Technology