Technology Newsletter

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Permalink Reply by Nancy Bosch on November 20, 2008 at 3:38pm

Choose one thing, like blogs or pageflakes. Find out what you can, define the term and give a couple of links to good examples. You could use something like glogster.com or letterpop.com to email them a fun visual.

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Permalink Reply by Darcie Priester on November 25, 2008 at 5:51am

Nancy that's a great idea. I have my newsletter and I try to do tech tips and any free PDS I can find. I didn't think about giving them specific terms and then finding websites that support it. Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Colette Cassinelli on November 20, 2008 at 5:21pm

Last summer I attended Google Teacher Academy and learned tons of new things about Google tools - and I thought I already knew quite a bit!

MaryFran Lymch and I teamed up to write a weekly newsletter - Tech Tip Tuesday - that we email to our staff each week. We are 2 1/2 months into the project and going strong. Feel free to use any of our information from http://sites.google.com/site/techtipstuesday/

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Permalink Reply by Mark Cruthers on November 20, 2008 at 9:28pm

I can suggest a couple of web tools that are easy to use and free. Try Wiziq's (basic) virtual classroom and authorstream's web based power point viewing platform.

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Permalink Reply by Robin Martin on November 21, 2008 at 7:21am

I wanted to learn how to use Apple's Pages, so I started a newsletter for our staff. Printing it became a problem, so I exported to .pdf and email the pdf file to everyone. I print about 20 copies of the pdf file and leave them in the office for anyone else to pick up. Her are the first two issues, Sept and the Nov-Dec. Enjoy!
Both issues HERE: http://dailyconnections.wikispaces.com/TechTAlk

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Permalink Reply by phyllis guenther on November 21, 2008 at 10:39am

I do this on a regular basis! The teachers really like it. They really do not have time to search and find many of the items they are looking for or what is the newest items out there. It is usually about two pages. I go to the sites look at the sites and write blurbs etc. Make sure to have lots of pictures for the teachers. They love the pics so that they know they are in the right spots. Time to read is another thing. Most read on weekends or as a grade level they discuss when I send it out. Good Luck.. If anything you will learn more about technology.

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Permalink Reply by Charlene Hallman on November 21, 2008 at 11:12am

At my school, we have a "Tech Monday" on the first Monday of each month. Our three technology leaders, including myself, work with small groups of teachers to learn about new tools, websites, etc... We learn about things like movie making, podcasting, and so on. Instead of doing a newsletter, we then publish the websites we learn about and any related "how to" documents on our Teacher Resources web site, http://snipurl.com/690bo [www_trussvillecityschools_com] . This allows the teachers to have a specific place to go to when they are ready to begin using the technology we have learned about.

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Permalink Reply by Matt Greening on November 22, 2008 at 7:36am

Hi Wynelle,
Earlier this year i was in the exact-same position as you.

I decided to create an email-based newsletter, that was exremely well-received by the staff at my school.

Then I decided to practice what I preach. I have started a blog DIA-CONNECT which I publish (add to) when ideas come to mind! No deadlines like "Woah, it's near the end of November, time to whip up a newsletter again", no it's a case of adding ideas when they come to mind, and then posting them when I've explored and added to them further.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Records on November 23, 2008 at 2:06pm

I started this about a month ago in my school. I do a weekly(ish) newsletter that focuses on only one tip or tool. This allows the teachers to get a quick read on a tool that could be valuable to them and it keeps them reading week after week. I create a .pdf of each week's newsletter and send it to everyone's email. I also post the newsletter to my blog so that I can direct friends and others to the newsletter with out having to spam their email account. I have gotten several comments praising me for keeping it simple each week. I have several teachers that stop me in the work room and ask if I have a new tip if I am late to publish the newsletter. This has also started teachers talking about tech in new ways which was my goal in the beginning.

Hope this helps with your quest.

http://mrjrecordsroom.blogspot.com

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Records on November 23, 2008 at 2:47pm

I started this about a month ago in my school. I do a weekly(ish) newsletter that focuses on only one tip or tool. This allows the teachers to get a quick read on a tool that could be valuable to them and it keeps them reading week after week. I create a .pdf of each week's newsletter and send it to everyone's email. I also post the newsletter to my blog so that I can direct friends and others to the newsletter with out having to spam their email account. I have gotten several comments praising me for keeping it simple each week. I have several teachers that stop me in the work room and ask if I have a new tip if I am late to publish the newsletter. This has also started teachers talking about tech in new ways which was my goal in the beginning.

Hope this helps with your quest.

http://mrjrecordsroom.blogspot.com

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Permalink Reply by Darcie Priester on November 25, 2008 at 5:54am

I do have a technology newsletter as well and I try to identify one or two websites that will help teachers in their curriculum. I try to switch off and make sure I hit every curriculum...one week hitting Science and Math and the next week Language Arts and Social Studies. I also make sure to include the elective classes too. Here's my wiki where I store all my archived newsletters: http://teacherplustechnology.wikispaces.com

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Permalink Reply by Lynne H on November 30, 2008 at 10:08am

We do something called the I Can Cafe. Twice a month on Wednesdays we meet in the media center for 20 -25 minutes after school. We keep it short and sweet on purpose. A schedule is genreated at the begining of the year with the topics that will be covered so teachers can decide what they want to sign up for. (we survey them for ideas first) Each meeting covers one need and the teachers know that they will walk away with something they can use immediately. A handout accompanies each session and is posted online. Food is also always present (hence the Cafe part of the name) It started in the elementary division and has spread the middle and high school divisions. Topics have included Google tips and tricks, making a brochure in Word, blogging, Internet safety basics, Mac tips and tricks, etc... Good luck!

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