Phishing scams, issues of authenticity and duplicity, inappropriate private information on public spaces, trolls, flames and cyberbullies are all very real threats online. Students and teachers alike have unfortunately fallen afoul of these threats, and the only real solution to creating safe and healthy digital citizens in schools and the world at large comes from addressing the challenges with learning solutions.

The Smokescreen site provides an opportunity to educate digital citizens of all ages about potential threats and best practices for maintaining an online presence. Presented as a series of discovery games designed for a teen audience, Smokescreen offers a series of interactive modules that help users explore threats and learn safeguards for their activities on the web.

Share Smokescreen with your own social network, online or in the classroom.

A couple of West Seattle High School students have shown remarkable zeal in addressing the problem, and built a solution that provides a “digital locker” for students that allows easy access to their work whether at school, home, or anywhere else in the world with an Internet connection. SlashDrive.net is a cloud-computing solution created by students Jacob Miller and Brendan Peterson to help make learning mobile. Originally called upmypaper.com, this web application has evolved into a powerful resource that allows students to register and create an account that provides each user with server space to store digital artifacts. Brendan and Jacob demonstrated exceptional digital citizenship in recognizing the need students have for mobile school work, but balanced this need against the districts responsibility for providing a secure network. Sensitive to the challenges the district faces in protecting the information integrity of the network, Brendan and Jacob restrict file types to prevent students from bringing inappropriate or malicious content into the district network. With currently over 300 users, this handiwork of two exceptional students is clearly helping fill a need and demonstrates that the students themselves share a commitment to their own learning and are willing to take responsibility for it.

Nathan Hale science teachers Matt Hinkley and Karl Englert are always searching for useful technology tools for their classrooms. One of their favorites is Google Tools for Educators. Google Docs is one component of the Google Tools suite (Sites, Calendar, RSS Reader, Picasa Photos, Maps and more). Specifically, Google Docs contains a word processor, presentation, and spreadsheet application. All 3 of these are stand-a-lone applications but also integrate well with Microsoft Office. Also in Google Docs is Forms, an easy-to-use survey tool. In addition, they use Google Calendar. All of these are available with a free Google account.

Here are a few descriptions of how these teachers are using Google Docs in their classrooms…

Google Tools: Google Forms and Spreadsheet:

1) During a 12th grade Environmental Science lab on organisms, Mr. Hinkley created a Google Form (a survey that puts the data in a spreadsheet and creates a graph) for students to collect and record the number of organisms in agricultural and natural areas they were studying. Students entered their lab data into the survey. Mr. Hinkley used the graphing feature in Forms to share the “collective” results with the class from his presentation station. As the students continue to add data Hinkley was able to update the graph to reflect the changes.

2) Mr. Englert uses Google Forms for students to complete an online Current Event assignment. Englert inputs the information and selects the type of questions required (multiple choice, open response, etc.). Once the assignment is ready, he embeds the Form/Survey (see picture below) on his Source class page for student access. As the students complete and submit their assignments, this work is compiled in a spreadsheet.

Click to view the sample images.

Google Tools: Google Documents (Word Processor):

1) Both Hinkely and Englert use Google Documents for students to collaborate on research projects. While working at their homes, at school, or in a library, students can work in collaborative groups to write and edit projects, like a “virtual meeting.” Using their telephones and or the build-in chat, students are able to have multiple people working on the same document at the same time. Also, because the students share their documents with Mr. Hinkley he is able monitor the progress of their work.

Google Tools: Google Calendar:

1) Karl Englert embeds a Google Calendar on his Source Class page to post assignments details, quizzes, tests, and other important class dates .

Notes:

1) Click here for more information about Google Tools for Educators.

2) Once students create a Google Account at home they can work on Google Docs from home or at school on student computers.

3) The instructions for finding and embedding the HTML code is on the Google Docs site.

Okay, but what is Twitter? The following video from the nice people at Commoncraft can get you started in understanding this service a little better:

So now maybe you have a better understanding of how Twitter lets you send quick sms messages of 140 characters or less, but you may still wonder what’s the point and what relevance does this service have for Education and learning?Apart from the seemingly trivial updates that in aggregate might serve to flesh out our lives to others interested in daily minutiae, it is pretty easy to ask what’s the point? However Twitter is better understood as a technology tool; it does not have a clear purpose, but rather uses. Twitter as a communication tool has been applied for Red Cross updates, news reporting, and professional knowledge sharing.

In Education, Twitter can be used to provide quick updates where information sharing is integral to a collaborative process. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Twitter is that it is based on SMS or text-messaging, and not dependent on computer and Internet access. In most school settings, one-to-one access is unavailable, and yet increasingly students have mobile phones with SMS capabilities. Thus far most schools have tried to draw a line at the schoolyard gate and hold ground against the entertainment aspects of student technologies that “distract and disrupt” learning.  However, it may be the case that schools and educators need to learn to leverage the technologies students themselves bring into the classroom to help students responsibly understand how to apply tools like mobile phones and Twitter to increase their productivity and learning.

RSS or Real Simple Syndication creates a feed from a web server hosting content to allow users to readily subscribe to frequently updated information (For more information about RSS, view this short video). This stream pulls content into an aggregator or Feed Reader like Google Reader, iTunes, or newer web browsers.

One popular way of distributing RSS content is by using podcasts. Podcasts are simply audio or video files that have been made available on a web server via a RSS stream for download to an aggregator. A podcast does not require an ipod, nor does it require iTunes. However, ipods do allow your content to become portable, and iTunes offers an easy way for users to find and manage podcasts.

Once you have identified how rich media like video or audio can support the curricular goals of your classroom, there are a few considerations that can help support the effective use of these tools in an educational setting.

There are many sites that offer free content, but some of the sites that offer the largest variety may be difficult to use with students because the user-generated nature of the content means much of what is available may not be appropriate for students. Some of these sites such as Youtube also face restricted access because of proxy filters or firewalls that are often used to meet FERPA and CIPA requirements. Many teachers can be frustrated about the availability of content on district machines, but the nice thing about the Internet is that most content exists in multiple places and so with a little bit of google-fu you should be able to find the resources you need on an unfiltered site.

Teachers that intend to become savvy about using rich media in the classroom should become comfortable searching in other locations such as educator-driven resources like
Teachertube, Edutube, Research Channel, etc to find RSS feeds. Using delicious can be a great way of doing filtered searches leveraging the work of others, and it can also be a fantastic way to manage bookmarks through the web. (Check this bright idea for managing feeds) Alternately, it is also possible to use resources like idesktop.tv to download videos that then can be played in a compatible media player.

There are essentially two ways of managing RSS feeds for video or audio content, either via desktop software, or a web-based model. Both have benefits and drawbacks.

Desktop Software
(i.e., iTunes)
Pros

• Available in Seattle schools.
• Accessibility of content can be determined immediately through podcasts in iTunes store
• Easy to organize and manage content
• Easy to use interface that also plays rich media content

Cons

• Machine-based- must use the machine with the software and files

Web-based
(i.e., Google reader, delicious)
Pros

• Accessible from any machine with Internet Access
• Resources are mobile and not bound to a single machine

Cons

• Some web-based readers are filtered and unavailable within the school district
• Web-based readers still require a compatible media player to view resources

As a final note, no teacher should ever show students content that they have not thoroughly reviewed for its appropriateness and relevance to student learning, and all copyright considerations should be observed.

Here are some reasons to use a classroom blog:
1. Post materials and resources for students and parents
2. Host online discussions based on books your students are reading, discussion topics from your classroom, etc.
3. Create a class publication such as a monthly newsletter that can be read online.
4. Post student projects and writing for peer and teacher review.
5. Share your lesson plans and web links
6.  Integrate multimedia of all kinds
7. Organize projects, events, information
8. Get feedback from fellow teachers, parents, students which builds a community around your classroom.

Blogging with your classes

The Seattle School District does not block EduBlogs. Go there and sign up for their free Blog. You can use this site for audio casts as well as video.
If you want to get email for your students that is not blocked by the district go to Gaggle.net
If you want your students to work from a different email at home, Edublogs recommends gmail from Google and their great help source, The Blogger, tells you how to do this.

Tutorials for Edublogs:
Quick Guide to get you started: edublogstutorial
A complete tutorial with updates from Edublogs support in pdf format: edublogging

Copyright and Safety:
When you or your students are blogging there are copyright issues and safety issues to consider. Here are some sites that will help you deal with both.
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998.
This law explains how a child’s privacy is protected online. Working with children and blogs, this is a must-read item.
Copyright and Fair Use.
This simple primer gives the basics on copyright and fair use laws as it pertains to the Internet. Any teacher posting on the Internet should take the time to read this.
A Teacher’s Guide to Fair Use and Copyright
Another helpful guide to fair use and copyright, this one is specifically designed for teachers. It also includes a chart for fair use to post in your classroom.
Discovery Blogging Rules
An extensive set of rules for classroom blogging which includes clearly defined consequences to breaking the rules. This list can serve as a model for the rules in your classroom.

Multimedia Resources for Blogging:
Remember: The multimedia resources can be used with other multimedia projects, too.
Sound and Photo Conversion Sites:
Pain.Net freeware that helps you manipulate images to post on the blog or use in other applications.
Zamzar: a free online file conversions site. It converts images, documents, videos and other files from one format to another in order to post to the Blog

Audacity: a free cross platform sound editor and recorder especially useful for the Dells.
Audacity tutorials:
Audacity Quick Guide to get you started audacity
Remember that you can use the Audacity software for storytelling, too.
Audacity Tutorial for Podcasters: This is comprehensive, but broken down into easy sections.
http://www.how-to-podcast-tutorial.com/17-audacity-tutorial.htm

You will need to download the LAME MP3 encoder from Audacity to change sound files to MP3 for the web.
1. Under “For Audacity on Windows”, left click on the link “libmp3lame-win-3.97.zip” and  save the zip folder to anywhere on your computer.
2. When you have finished downloading the ZIP folder, unzip it and save the file lame_enc.dll that it contains to anywhere on your computer.

Voice Thread
This is an amazing tool that allows you and your students to make a presentation, put it online and comment on it. You can comment on a document as well. This embeds well into an Edublogs site.
Take a look at, What is Voice Thread? on their site to get a feeling for what this tool does.

AcidXpress is a free download from Sony that allows you to make your own music on a Dell.
Note: Sony has other options that cost money for those who want to do more with this   software.
The Levelator is a free cross platform program that allows you to adjust the sound of downloaded loops, and effects. (Nice for both Dells and Macs)

Online Resources for Royalty Free Music and Sound Effects:
Four Bees has free sounds, graphics and more.
StoneWashed.net has free sound effects and loops that are identified as .wav or .mp3.
Royalty Free Music provides sound loops for podcasts and audio casts.
For more music go to http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com/free-music-resources.html
Partners in Rhyme is a great site for all sorts of multimedia projects that need music from different genres. They have loops and sound effects as well.

Let me know how Blogging is working for you and your students. I’d love to link to some of your great Blog sites when you are ready.

1. Eva La Mar presented at the 2008 NCCE conference in February. Her website has information on how to use Garage Band. Included are some forms to help with planning and organizing: Planning, Process Planning Guide, Storyboard Form, Status of the Class

2. Priscilla Lewis from Shoreline School District has a tutorial.

Click on Documents tab

Click on NCCE 2008 Priscilla Lewis’ Session Handout: Podcasting with Garage Band 3.
3. Learning in Hands has information on finding, subscribing, listening to and creating Podcasts.
4. Apple has an easy to follow video tutorial for iLife Garage Band ‘08 
Under Browse Tutorials scroll to the bottom and click on Create a Podcast

Del.icio.us

More information about Social Bookmarking on the IT Blog

Delicious Classroom Example

Note: Teachers can create a Delicious account, install the Delicious buttons, and make changes using a teacher login. Student logins can view a Delicious site but not make changes.

To Create a Delicious account

1. Go to Del.icio.us or delicious.com
2. Click on the Register button.
3. Complete the registration form.
4. When the account registration is completed a new window will appear. In this window, click the Install Button Now link. This program will install the buttons that make using your Delicious account easy.

The folks at Common Craft created the following movie describing RSS and how to use a feed reader (aggregator) to check for updates to sites, whether they are blogs or news sites (which can have multiple feeds relating to topics).

Bloglines and Google Reader are a couple of aggregators that aren’t blocked on CWS machines. You will need to sign up for an account, if you don’t have one already, to use either of these. A site may use any of these buttons or buttons for specific feed aggregators to have a user subscribe to the site. There are different types of feeds so to subscribe to that site’s feed just click the button and copy and paste the address into your aggregator where subscriptions are added.

Get started by:

- Adding the feed for this blog to your aggregator. Scroll to the bottom of this site, click on the words “RSS Feed” and then copy and paste the url into your aggregator.

-Take a look at the feeds from the Seattle Times

-News from National Geographic – look for the feed buttons on the right side of the page

To those of you already using a feed reader please comment by sharing one of your favorite education or technology related subscriptions!