K-12 Online Conference

1. Kicking it up a Notch: Parental Engagement in the 21st Century -
Leveraging web 2.0 tools to engage parents in non-traditional ways

The presenters of this conference focused on parents who discourage their children from using the internet because they believe there are too many "bad" things happening on the web. They talked about how parents can become more involved in their children's lives simply by setting up a Facebook account to get started, so that they can see first-hand how useful these tools are to maintaining communication. They also mentioned that students do more writing with these tools, than with school assignments.

2. Kicking it up a Notch: Connecting Classrooms Across Continents -
Planning and Implementing Globally Collaborative Projects

One presenter of this conference was from Thailand, the other from California. Together they talk about how to implement a global project such as using web cams to complete an assignment. One thing I learned from this conference was how precise you have to be with the other teacher. Make sure to establish expectations right away. You might be disappointed if the other teacher simply wants her students to use this tool as part of a homework assignment while you might want to base an entire unit grade on this one assignment. You might not get the level of commitment unless it’s established from the get-go.

3. Leading the Change Teaching Web 2.0 - Everything you need in one place

This presentation was difficult to listen to because it was kind of “all over the place,” but I did catch a few really handy website and tips for teachers in using the internet for research with younger students. The presenter recommended doing the research yourself, then provide students with links. The kids can branch off and explore only the websites you have provided. This way they have some freedom, but they are not wandering aimlessly around the web. Some sites she mentioned were www.doppleme.com, a site where kids can animate their own avatar; www.thinkfinity.com is a free lesson plan search engine sponsored by Verizon; www.kidsclick.com provides educational games such as Carmen SanDiego and Math Blasters (not free though…); and www.dolesuperkids.com teaches children the importance of nutrition and even provides some easy recipes.