Jan 23 2009
InfoTech will soon be here! Planning for this event has already begun. We will once again be at the LA Convention Center. The conference is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2009. The theme for this year will be “Expanding Student Learning.” Start thinking about your student projects around this theme. More details will be available soon.
Jan 20 2009
The Los Angeles Unified School District and Renaissance Learning cordially invite you to join us for:
Partnering Technology & Curriculum To Improve Student Achievement
When: February 19, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: LeConte MS
1316 North Bronson Hollywood, CA 90028
RSVP by February 12, 2009
All participants will receive a NEO to take back to their school. Download the flyer for more details.
Jan 16 2009
This is a reminder to those of you interested in a free workshop on video editing using Apple’s iMovie program. Space is still available. Don’t miss this great opportunity. Read the December 17 post for more details.
Where: Local District 4 Office
When: February 19, 2009
Time: 3:00 to 5:00 pm
Register through the Learning Zone.
Jan 08 2009
Now is a good time to prepare!!
The Inauguration will be broadcast over air from KLCS via PBS. All televisions with older analog reception will still work on Jan. 20th. I suggest using KLCS because I have some reservations on using commercial broadcasters with the “enhancement” advertising we see too often in recent years during prime time events.
Suggestion # 1: get out your existing televisions and see if they work at locations you want to use for viewing on Jan. 20th.
Suggestion # 2: many households will be upgrading older televisions to Flat Panel models over the Holidays. Rather than take the older televisions to eWaste locations, bring them to school. Get televisions from relatives, friends, and neighbors for this event.
Suggestion #3: In the back of some televisions there may be video OUT and sound OUT ports. Similar to: http://www.ozauctionbroker.com/images/scart/port_detail.jpg Wire these to your LCD projectors and speaker systems for groups to have better views. Many of us will be going to electronic stores over the Holidays – a good time to get the wires needed for home (or spares) which can be used for viewing the Inauguration.
Suggestion #4: If multiple televisions or LCD projectors are used in a large area you may need to USE ONE BIG Sound system and turn other sources OFF. There may be annoying sound and visual timing delays with some televisions or computers. A video delay is somewhat tolerable, competing and delaying sound systems will definitely annoy everyone! The Inauguration will be webstreamed from KLCS via PBS LAUSD is working with KLCS to provide webstreaming. LAUSD will work to optimize KLCS webstreaming on that day. There is no way to predict quality and duration of webstreaming during the Inauguration.
Suggestion # 5: Provide Webstreaming of the Inauguration but have televisions for everyone ON in the same locations, too! Expect video and sound delivery timing differences in webstreaming and broadcast if used in the same location.
Suggestion # 6: Turn off computers not needed on Jan. 20th to reduce network traffic.
Interesting and unusual link for instructional use: US President Speech Word Clouds http://chir.ag/projects/preztags Can be useful to note culture, mood, and national and world events over the history of our country.
Related Link: http://www.klcs.org/
