Second Life @ Boot Camp

These screen captures were from our Second Life Day of Boot Camp. The first section included the basics such as using arrows to walk, communicating, focusing the camera, accepting notecards, using landmarks, and teleporting. We went on some virtual field trips to Genome Island, the Great Wall of China, a Mayan Temple, the Spaceflight Museum, Virtual Harlem, the Vietnam Wall and many more. Then came the building lessons!

Summer Technology Camp

Enjoy this video of our camp experience.

Thursday: Web 2.0 Tools

Web 2.0 refers to the idea that you can create content on the Web; you aren't limited to just consuming content. There are thousands of Web 2.0 tools. Here is a directory of a few of them. Some Web 2.0 tools require you to create an account.

During today's session we'll look at the following Web 2.0 tools:

delicious
JogtheWeb
tinyURL
drop.io
twiddla
jigsawplanet

Delicious links for Jog the Web exercise

Elsewhere in this blog you can find screencasts on how to use Delicious and Jog the Web.

How to Use Jog the Web

Jog the Web allows you to create "tracks" of related Web sites that are easy for students to navigate.

Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io

Adding a Bookmark to Delicious

When you create a Delicious account, you can access your Web bookmarks from any computer with an Internet connection. Here's how.

Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io

Video Editing

On Monday of Boot Camp, we'll cover the process of creating a video. Here are examples of ways to display video projects on the Web.Here is a slideshow we'll discuss. Then we'll edit a video using Windows Movie Maker. Here is a list of web sites that have tutorials for Movie Maker. One of the best is this one by Atomic Learning.

Web 2.0 Tools

On Thursday of Boot Camp, one of the sessions will focus on Web 2.0 tools. Web 2.0 is the concept of using the Web to create content and not just consume it. Click here to see a list of Web 2.0 tools. We'll use some of these during boot camp.

Boot Camp Teachers in Second Life

Second Life is a virtual world that is cutting edge technology and during boot camp, 19 teachers got a chance to experience "Life on the Grid," for themselves. Since PESD has a private island on the teen grid, we need to make sure teachers are up to speed on what is new in technology. During their brief stay in Second Life, teachers learned how to move, communicate several ways, work their cameras, gesture, teleport, and build with the primitive shapes called prims. They searched their inventories and applied textures to what they built. They also learned how to sit, fly, and clean up after themselves!

Tech Camp Begins

The Spring Technology Boot started this morning. Eighteen PESD teachers are at Monterey Park School learning how to use technology tools that can be integrated into their lesson plans.

Day 3: Web 2.0 Tools

We'll look at a small sample of all the Web 2.0 tools on the Web. These are tools you can use for creation, communication, and collaboration. Here is a table showing just a few tools. Here is a video about Jog the Web, a tool we'll examine in greater detail.

Mini Camp Evaluation

Please click on the link below to fill out the on-line evaluation form for the Technology Mini Camp. The last item is very important. When you fill in the technology subjects you want us to focus on, it will held us to plan future Technology Camps.

Day 3: Web 2.0 and Blogging

Linda will introduce you to blogging using the Google Blogger tool. When you are finished, you should have a completed blog. To check out some of PESD's best blogs, check out these URLs:

• http://msshores.blogspot.com/
• http://tiffanigambino.blogspot.com/
• http://violetpurplepink.blogspot.com/
• http://mracedosclass.blogspot.com/
• http://pesdalps.blogspot.com/
• http://lowellmediacenter.blogspot.com/

John's focus on this day will be Web 2.0 Tools. Stay tuned for more info from John.

Day 2: Video Editing with Movie Maker

On Day 2 we'll cover the process of creating a video. Here are examples of ways to display video projects on the Web.Here is a slideshow we'll discuss. Then we'll edit a video using Windows Movie Maker. Here is a list of web sites that have tutorials for Movie Maker. One of the best is this one by Atomic Learning.

Day 1: Podcasting with Audacity

One of the Day 1 sessions is about using Audacity to create podcasts. You can see examples of podcasts here. Here are some links to web sites where you can learn more about Audacity. And here are links to Web sites when you can download music loops to use in your podcasts. These music loops are in the public domain, so you won't violate copyright.
In this session, you will use the audio-editing program Audacity to create a podcast containing an interview, music, and sound effects.