Blogger's Navigation Bar Workaround

Before you start using Blogger in your school as a web page, you are going to have to deal with the Navigation Bar at the top of the page. Unless you host the page with your own provider, Blogger has this navigation bar to help you surf the blogs. The unfortunate thing is that some sites are not for kids, so you don't want them randomly searching the 'net by clicking on "Next Blog". The easiest thing is to have your Network Admin block the url http://www.blogger.com/next-blog?navBar=truee

At http://betabloggerfordummies.blogspot.com/2006/10/navbar-in-beta-blogger.html there is a way to remove the bar totally using CSS, but it removes all reference to Blogger and removes your tool bar with your sign in and help stuff. So not only will Blogger not like that, but neither will you. It also irritates others who are surfing by clickin on "Next Blog" because there is no button on your page, meaning they will have to use the arrow key back to their page and go again. Not too bad, but they do get irritated.

So, keep these things in mind before you use Blogger as a school tool. We want to keep kids safe, administrators happy and parents assured that we are mindful of the dangers out there and are doing our very best as responsible educators!

Glitzify

So how about some glittery text on your site? Go to http://www.familylobby.com/create-glitter-text-graphics.asp and create the animated text for your website. It creates the html for you to insert in your web page. My "Talk n Tech" image is an example of what you can get. It's easy and it's free!

Posting Podcasts

As you can see on the sidebar, I have posted my class' Friday Funcast two ways. The top one is what I finally accomplished by going to the Add a Page Element and clicking on Configuring HTML/JavaScript and entering the html content provided by GCast. The one under that was made by clicking on Feed in the Add a Page Element section. However there, I could only add the html that linked directly to the feeds and not to the javascript, as I was limited to fewer than 500 characters. I may play around with that a bit, but since the first one was so easy, I guess there is no need.
On Aug. 6 and 9 I will help you make a page like this one, with a podcast link, too! Hope to see you there.

Tech Thoughts

These are by no means definites, but a jotting down of ideas and possiblities. Look them over and see if there is something you would like to integrate with your curriculum. None of these is done in isolation for the sake of technology, but as a means to a goal in the curriculum.

Thoughts on Technology for 2007-2008

K:
use of mouse
turning on and off machine
Pages of safe sites for teachers and students to facilitate mouse use
Language arts pages: letters, numeracy sites
Publish stories on website.
Use of camera
Publish a picture and sentence
Use of drawing program
Audio taping
Kindergarten yearbook
Project: Gingerbread Man (Flat Stanley spin-off)

Grade 1:
Continued use of mouse
Drawing, copy, paste
Highlighting text, changing font, color, size
Publish stories on website
Puppets for LA
Audio taping
Project: Moose on the Loose, Fifth grade buddies

Grade 2:
Publish stories on website
Highlighting text, changing font, color, size
Drawing, copy, paste, transform
Videotaping of experiments, math etc. for students
Slideshow
Language connection – School in France
Project: Owney, Moose on the Loose, Third grade buddies at FM?

Grade 3:
Fourth grade buddies at FMS
Spanish connection – Schools in Spain, Peru, Argentina and/or Mexico
Digital cameras
Publish writing
Slideshow


Grade 4:
Third grade buddies at DNS
Videoconferencing: towns in Maine, France
Industry in Maine: connect with Forestry, Maine Potato Growers, Maine Guides - Vicky M., Lobstering/Fishing
Digital cameras
Publish writing
Slideshow

Grade 5
Connect with schools in Spain, Peru, Argentina and/or Mexico
Videoconferencing with Owney schools around USA
Yearbook committee
Digital cameras
Publish writing
Slideshow

Schoolwide:
Project per grade level
Updates to grade level web pages
LULU publish collection of stories/poems.
Podcasts of children telling student created math problems, stories, news of school
Establish del.icio.us sites for teachers
Wiki
Weekly email to teachers with new websites related to their current studies
Email list of parents: groups to send news of school, and web pages of interest, notification of updates
Videotaping of special events, lessons for absent students and parents, steps in a process, etc.
Viewer in hallway of recent pictures taken by students, or pictures of staff, welcome message in hall...

Possible programs to incorporate:
Letterboxing, Lulu, Portaportal or Del.icio.us, Gcast, Scholastic, Blogger, Wiki
Podcasting team
Videotaping team
Lulu publication of student writings
Music: GarageBand

Talk n Tech

So here goes!
What do you want to Talk about Technology-wise in the schools?
What do you hope to accomplish this coming year?
What do you already do that involves technology?
What do you know your kids know when they come to you?
What technology skills would you like them to have when they leave you?
How important do you feel it is to be able to do what they are doing?
What would YOU like to learn to do this year?

Okay?

Now this does not mean that I don't have any ideas meandering through my brain, but it does mean that I know that I am not the only one with thoughts on this subject. And I'd like to know what your thoughts are. I may be able to steal, or use, them.

So when you get a moment, please jot down a word or two and post here. Your posts will be public, but only by those who know this URL...every other staff member at FMS and DNS.