Instructional Articles

Teaching in the Clouds
Marcus Green, Columbia Middle School, DeKalb County Schools

Overview: Feeling limited in your computer resources? Check out what one teacher found he could do with technology available in his school district.

Where Do Wikis Fit in the Classroom?
Linda Gillot, McEver Elementary School; Hall County Schools

Overview: So, what exactly is a Wiki, and how would an elementary teacher (or any teacher, for that matter) ever use it in her classroom?

Have You Visited the New PLANET?
Phyllis Mills, Advisor Towers High School, Decatur, GA

Overview: What happens if you match a creative teacher with a technological resource and provide the spark to learn how to make the resource pay off in the classroom? Read what happens after attending a GaETC workshop.

Integrating Math and Technology- Entrepreneurial Business Plans
Christye Johnson, Towers High School-Dekalb Co. Schools, Atlanta, GA

Overview: Can you use common software applications found in your classroom to help meet your instructional objectives? One teacher found out she could. Read what she did after the GaETC conference.

Thinking “Outside of the Computer” Creates Quite an Engaging Classroom!
Tess Keller, Instructional Technology Specialist, Inman Elementary School, Fayetteville, GA.

Overview: Computer teachers looking to foster a fun and unique way to teach keyboarding and other computer skills will love this! Learn how to get the students out of isolation and moving in the computer lab for a nice change of pace!

Library 2.0 at the GaETC

Exciting Web 2.0 and Internet Tools for Use in the Classroom
Leora Wollner, Instructional Technology Coordinator, The Epstein School, Atlanta, GA

Overview: Can you Jing, Wordle or VozMe? These are some Web 2.0 and Internet tools that can jazz up your classroom. Included are links and annotations to give you a taste of these web tools.

Integrating Reading and Technology in an Early Childhood Classroom
Kathy Koporec, St. Martin’s Episcopal School' Atlanta, Georgia

Overview: A reading and technology teacher discovers many ways to integrate learning.

Speech Pathologist use Inkless Resources
Paula Sword, Henry County Schools

Overview: Visit many sessions and you too can come away with some awesome ideas. See what an enterprising educator found at the Conference.

Kinesthetic Computing
Jennifer Newton, McDuffie County Schools, Thomson, GA

Overview: Sometimes educators who regularly work at one level of the education chain can learn from someone from the other end. See what this educator from the secondary level picked up from the lower levels. You might be surprised!.

Integrating Technology IS Possible Despite Dwindling Budgets
Elaine McCaw, Dickerson Primary School, Vidalia, GA

Overview: The GaEtc this year offered several sessions that were helpful for those schools who have limited funds and therefore, have difficulty integrating technology.   This article describes some of the free websites that were discussed and describes how the information gained from the conference was disseminated to the faculty once the conference was over.

Back to Basics:  the Slate, Well . . . and a Projector/Computer
Diana Solomon, St. Andrew's School, Savannah, GA

Overview: Learn how a slate can help with classroom discipline, reviews, and everyday teaching by adding emphasis to a screen shot and more.  Easily adaptable templates for any lesson plan are included with the Notebook 10 software that the slate uses.  No longer do teachers need to be chained to their computers when sharing content off the web or from prepared documents saved on their computer.

One School's Implementation of Google Apps
Craig Ham, Westminster Schools of Augusta, Georgia

Overview: What happens when you see a good idea and have to implement it in your school system? See how one person faced the problem and succeeded in setting up an excellent resource for his system.

SO MANY BOOKS…BUT WHERE ARE THEY?!
Marsha Baucom, White Sulphur Elementary School – Hall County

Overview: Sometimes you can have too much stuff. See how technology helped organize print resources for one school.

Interactive Whiteboards and Google Docs
Susan Clark, Walker County Schools, Flintstone, Georgia

Overview: A technology teacher uses the conference to gain information on technology for use in her school.

Georgia Educational Technology Conference: A Reflection
Marsha Stembridge, Ben Hill County Primary School, Fitzgerald Ga

Overview: Reads like a "testimonial", but offers a picture of a planned visit to the GaETC Conference.

GoogleTools for Teaching and Learning
Julie Hampton, Mt. Bethel Christian Academy, Marietta, GA

Overview: If you use Google to help you teach, you may not be aware of ALL of the possibilities. Check out what one educator has to say on the subject of using Google.

Microsoft’s Producer: PowerPoint on Steroids
Marcus A. Green, Columbia Middle School, Decatur, Georgia

Overview: Jazz up your student projects with a super product! PowerPoint users will easily adopt this application.

Utilizing Best Practices in Instructional Technology
Kristy S. Patterson, Troup County Schools, LaGrange, Georgia

Overview: Need some good ideas on delivering quality instruction in your classroom? Read some excellent suggestions!

2007 Conference Articles

SmartBoards!  Promethean Boards!  Interactive WhiteBoards! Oh My!
Linda Fidler, Savannah Christian Preparatory School, Savannah, Georgia

Overview: What happens when an interprising teacher meets technology head-on?

A Picture-Perfect Classroom
 Connie Meeks Carter, C. B. Greer Elementary School, Brunswick, Georgia

Overview: Read some very creative ideas in using a digital camera in the classroom

“Squeaking” by with “Spritely” Building Blocks of Learning via Scratch
Diana Solomon, Media Specialist/Computer Teacher

Overview: Learn about a free program out of MIT called Scratch.  Teachers will enjoy the availability of resources, and students will enjoy the creativity they can exercise while employing critical thinking skills to make their own programs.

GALILEO: Georgia’s “Pot of Gold”
 Marsha Murray, Media Specialist, Oglethorpe County Elementary School, Lexington, Georgia

Overview: Read about a very useful Georgia resource written by an experienced user

If Computer Lab = Alien Place, Than Alien Place = a GREAT Place to Learn! 
Tess Keller, East Fayette Elementary School, Fayette County, GA

Overview: New computer lab teachers and seasoned computer teachers looking for refreshment…Read about several great ideas that can be utilized to liven up instruction and motivate students within your computer lab. 

Seeing Stars at GaETC
Margaret Eves, Library Media Director, Atlanta Girls'  School, Atlanta, GA

Overview: Take a look at an organized and well-planned conference yielded for one Georgia educator.

Save Time with GeorgiaStandards.org
Jill Adams, Jonesville Middle School, Bowdon, GA

Overview: Have a Georgia teaching certificate?  Need help finding teaching ideas for the new Georgia standards?  The award-winning GeorgiaStandards.org website could be the last stop in your search.

A Few of My Favorite Things
Renee Kitchens, Media Specialist, Jones County High School, Gray, Georgia

Overview: Read about some interesting technology products that may be of use to you in your school.

Expanding Our Horizons: How Technology Can Inspire and Challenge
Tina Cusker, St John’s International School, Waterloo, Belgium

Overview: A multitude of good instructional ideas working at an elementary school. Read how someone is pulling it all together.

Internet Filters: Helping Students Use the Internet Responsibly
Willard Ray Leatherman, The Heiskell School, Atlanta GA

Overview: Think your Internet Filter is working well? You might want to read this article to see what one educator is doing in his school.

Googlebots
Pat Duffy

Overview: Take a look at some of the special features useful to education from Google

Using Presentation Software for Digital Imagery in Every Classroom
Mary O. Lawson, Effingham County High School

Overview: Add Photostory to PowerPoint for your students to illustrate their academic technology projects.

My Seat-mate lives in China
Kathryn Woody , Dalton State College-ETTC

Overview: An international Internet project introduces students to the cultural  diversity of other nationalities. Students began to learn and understand the acceptable ways to interact with students of such different cultures. See what one reviewer has to say.

Implementing Moodle in the 21st Century Classroom
Kristy Patterson, Troup County Schools, LaGrange, GA

Overview: Ideas coming from the experience of implementing a system-wide application to serve teachers.

2006 Conference Articles

Maintaining a Student-Based Website Using New Tools
Maggie Smith, Bleckley County High School

Overview: Using a school-based website for your school? Consider some additional products for your "arsenal" of applications that may help you achieve success.

Terrific Technology Ideas to Use in the Classroom or Media Center
Christina Badowski, New Mountain Hill Elementary, Fortson, GA

Overview: This Media Specialist shares ideas she gained from attending workshops covering SketchUp, MovieMaker and the interactive white board.

Keeping Georgia on Our Minds
Jacqueline W. Jordan, W.L. Parks Middle School, Atlanta, Georgia

Overview: Online Encyclopedias offer a rich collection of instructional resources. See what's happening in Geogia in this area.

Switching From Defense To Offense In The Fight Against Cyberbullies
Michael Rhodes, High Meadows School, Roswell, Georgia

Overview: Take action and become more proactive in helping prepare your students for the cyber neighborhoods that are bound to become just a way of life.  Many schools go on defense, as they should, to protect there students and themselves from websites like MySpace, FrontPAge, etc.  But students are many more times likely to use these sites outside of school even if they were not being filtered and blocked from within school walls. The following article looks at one idea on how to guide students through the cyber neighborhoods and how to not be abused by or become a cyber bully.

Why and How to Take Great Digital Photos: An Enlightening Hour with Leslie Fisher
Sallye Martin, East Fayette Elementary School, Fayetteville, Georgia

Overview: Some excellent suggestions on using photography with a digital camera for your consideration

Geometry, Google Sketchup, and Family Math Night
Heather Kloer, Computer Teacher, St. Thomas More School, Decatur, GA

Overview: Google Sketchup is a powerful, flexible, and free program which can adapted to use with math students studying geometry from the primary through middle school grades.

Using CSI to Teach Map Skills
Alisande Mayer, Media Specialist, Moulton-Branch Elementary, Valdosta, GA. 

Overview: With the rise in popularity of crime scene investigation, teachers have the perfect tool to use to help teach and expand their students’ understanding of the use of maps and map skills to locate information. Learn how one media specialist created a lesson to expand knowledge of map skills using this latest entertainment trend.

Updating Copyright Information
Jolaine Sims, Media Specialist, Buchanan Elementary School, Buchanan, Georgia

Overview: A media specialist tells how a copyright session at GaETC helped her keep herself and the faculty and staff at her school updated.

Photo Story Is Worth A Thousand Words
Tonia Clark, Media Specialist, Atlanta Public Schools

Overview: Photo Story is a fun, simple, and cost effective way for students and teachers to create multimedia projects with digital images.

Using Technology in the Media Center
Donna Jo Austin, Library Media Specialist, Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, Atlanta, Georgia

Overview: Looking for simple ways to use technology in your media center or classroom?  Try a couple of these ideas for fun projects!

MP3 Simplified For the Every Teacher
Bonnie Furnanz, Savannah Christian Middle School, Savannah, Ga.

Overview: Some ideas on what to do with MP3 files in classrooms. Well worth a 'look-see' if you are considering adding additional technology resources to your classroom activities.

Tablet PC – in My Classroom?  How Will That Work?
Linda Fidler, Savannah Christian Preparatory School, Savannah, Georgia

Overview: Consider an interesting alternative to a standard computer for your classroom.

The Perfect Recipe
Martyne Rea, Savannah Christian Preparatory School, Savannah, Georgia

Overview: Incorporating interactive technology into the classroom can increase student achievement, stimulate student learning, and provide the teacher with an alternative when presenting new concepts or reviewing old.

The FREEloader's Session on Educational Software
Brenda Wade, Miller County Middle/High School

Overview: Sometimes you get what you pay for--sometimes more. Check out a description of what happens when someone punches the 'free button' and applies the resources in school.

Creating Professional Looking Multimedia Presentations
Willard Ray Leatherman, The Heiskell School, Atlanta, GA

Overview: Looking for some neat software for yourself or your students? See what one teacher has to say about Media 8.

Digging into Georgia History with the Digital Library of Georgia
Jill Adams, Jonesville Middle School, Bowdon, GA

Overview: Having a hard time finding supplementary materials for Georgia History classes?  The Digital Library of Georgia could be the end of that search.

Advantages of a Centralized Catalog for School Media Centers
Kristy S. Patterson, Troup County Schools

Overview: Excellent background on decision-making for district-wide media center cataloging process

There are additional Instructional Articles for you to read in the Archived Section

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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