MacWorld January 14-18

The annual San Francisco MacWorld opens Monday, January 14 and continues all week. Exhibit hall passes are available for $25. Also this year, Computer Using Educators (CUE) is sponsoring a two-day event for K-12, at $99 per day. For more information, go to the MacWorld or CUE sites.

Aloha, Hawaii!

Here's a fact I just recently learned: The entire state of Hawaii is one school district.

Members of the Hawaii Department of Education - including the state superintendent and curriculum director as well as several board members - visited two PAUSD schools yesterday (Nov 28) as part of a 2-day conversation with Apple. The group toured Palo Verde Elementary School and Jordan Middle School. Thanks to the following staff who shared their work with our visitors from Hawaii.   

Palo Verde:
Principal Eric Goddard
Trebor Winsow, Gr 3 , Online and Software Resources for Math
Kristin Page, Gr 4, SMART Board & PowerPoint for California Geography
Jenn Aza, Gr 5, Garageband and Descriptive Writing

Jordan Middle School:
Principal Suzanne Barbarasch
Leslie Goldman, Technology Mentor
Josh Spira, Gr 7/8 Math, SMART Boards Across All Subjects
Sue Pound, Gr 7 Science, Online Physics Simulations
Salma Kandil, Gr 6 Math & Science, iMovie project
Sue Morosoli, Gr 7/8 Broadcast Media, JTV Live Broadcast
Paul Gralen, Gr 7/8 Visual & Performing Arts, Video Production

SMART Photo Opp

SMART Board met Math Network for a full day session earlier in November. Teachers loved using this new technology and took turns working at the board. Math TOSA Staci Stoveland, at left, uses the board to demonstrate a problem in probability.

Reminder: Since SMART Boards are in some of our schools, any teacher can download and use the SMART Notebook software. There are some really good tools that you can manipulate from your computer and project using an LCD projector.

Download and install the software - for Windows or Mac.

Reminder: Silicon Valley CUE Conference on February 2

Join colleagues from around the peninsula at the 10th Annual Technology Conference, sponsored by SV CUE on Feb 2 from 8am-3pm at Palo Alto High School. This year's conference focuses on Web-Enhanced Learning and features Bernie Dodge as a keynote. Dodge currently teachers at San Diego State University and is widely known for originating the concept of webquests.

The conference features speakers, hands-on workshops, exhibitors and vendors. Since Paly is hosting this year's conference, PAUSD employees can register for free. Additionally, the EdTech department will pay for employees' lunches so the whole day is free!

Click here for more information and to register online. Contact Chuck Merritt at Paly with questions.

Teacher's Toolkit

Picnik (online photo editor)
Hey, it's not only a picnik but a piece o' cake! Upload your images, edit them online, add effects, shapes, frames, and text. Then save and share with others. Loads a bit slowly but then lots of fun. Think writing prompts, mini-reports, photo journalism and more.

System Requirements: Windows XP or Vista, Mac OS X, Linux
Cost: Standard edition free. Premium $25/year
Get Started Now!

Upcoming Workshops for Teachers & Staff

All full day workshops run 8:15 am to 3:00 pm at the 85A Lab on the Paly campus (unless otherwise notified). To register and receive sub codes, log on to Bob, click on the Workshop Registration link, select the workshop you want, and click on the Register button. You can also register for the 60-minute sessions online (or drop in).