Security

This week we reviewed security online.  We are so vulnerable.  Why do people want my things?  Many times it is just because they are able to do it.  More often than not it is because they want to sabatoge or they want to obtain information.  Wow do we have plenty of information at our fingertips.  As a Special Education teacher I have a responsibility to maintain many records and keep them safe! 
Our technology department is top notch.  Last year we had a problem with the secrutity software always wanting to push updates and it really slowed us down.  This year we have a new server and it has changed the speed.  It is so important to have the updates everyday because there is a new threat everyday. 
Another discussion this week is the concern with intellectual property.  As a teacher we share everything and take for granted that everyone wants to do the same.  Watch out...not everyone wants to share. 
On a personla note it is important to save and back up EVERYTHING!  I can't stress how important it is to have security software and to back everything up.

Week 7

This week we explored different types of software that promote active learning.  There are many options available to students.  As a Special Education Teacher I struggle finding a way to engage the students, finding material that is on a level that they can follow their grade level peers as well as understand the content.  Across the curriculum I have difficulty finding a way for students to read the content because it is not at their level and they do not seem to care or find what they are learning relevant.
Through simulations, drill - and - practice, math manipulative activities and digital storytelling, there are many options teachers can use to engage students.  Digital storytelling is popular in the classroom.  Across the curriculum, teachers are able to incorporate a 5 minute story on the topic.  Through Discovery.com and many other online sources, te4achers can access a short story and display it on the computer to project it in the classroom.  I use this in the classroom now.  It brings the material to life.  As long as you don't over do it!  Do not do any one thing for too long.  Just like book work, not everyone learns best this way.   

http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/index.html

21st Century Skills	Digital Storytelling
Digital Age Literacy	Digital storytelling allows a student to be informed and visually literate on numerous levels.
Inventive Thinking	Digital storytelling requires creative, independent, and inventive thinking.
Effective Communication	Digital storytelling involves collaborative, social interactive, and personal communication.
High Productivity	Digital storytelling utilizes cutting-edge, productivity tools to create high quality products and results.

File Management Software
I am very lucky to have such a great technology department in our district.  I have found that he is someone to keep very happy.  Every time I see him I try to have his favorite Mountain Dew and candy bar :).  He is very aware of what is needed to make things work.  It is one thing to want to incorporate storytelling, simulations and the like in your lessons, but it is another thing to have all of the tools to make that work.  For storytelling to work, you must be able to download it with a compatible software.  Although computers are usually ready to go, there have been times where I have not been able to display something because it needs to be saved a certain way or use a certain program to "translate" it.