Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Avon Presents at SOITA Technology Conference


The Avon Local Schools were proud to be a part of the SOITA (Southwestern Ohio Instructional Technology Association) Conference at the Dayton Convention Center without leaving my office in Avon, Ohio. With a short month in December and an all day in-service the next day this would have been impossible to be done onsite. Instead I was able to practice what I preach and provide the audience with the same if not a better presentation from my office.

The topic was getting the most out of your videoconferencing system. The focus of this session was classroom to classroom collaborations and other uses for your IVC unit. We started the session off with an exciting game of IVDL jeopardy and discuss the various ways that my district uses IVC to enhance (not replace) our existing curricula. Video clips from team teaching and classroom projects were used to demonstrate our usage. A special visit from “Duct Tape Man” demonstrated that multiple video formats can be used with any vender’s product as we tried to show that it is the content that makes the videoconference.

I hope that the audience enjoyed the presentation and that it leads to future IVC collaborations. We hope to see our friends in Southwest Ohio online again in the future.

Thanks again SOITAhttp://www.soita.org/

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Avon Heritage Students take a ride on the Polar Express


Dressed in the PJ’s and their chair lined up in rows resembling seats on a train the third grade students from Mrs. Michelich’s 3rd grade class at Avon Heritage South prepared for an interactive journey to the North Pole on the Polar Express. Presented by the UNITE Consortium of Columbiana County.

On an over-night holiday train the students improved vocabulary, sequenced events, recognized characteristics and features of different types of literary forms and genres and identified the theme of a literary text. Narrated by Mrs. Straub of the Columbiana ESC the students were treated to a fun and valuable experience.

The students shared hot chocolate and had a silver bell to signify the end of the story. As each student rang their bells it was obvious that all shared the Christmas spirit was the sound ringing echoed the room.

Avon Heritage South is a proud and active member of the UNITE Consortium with half of the buildings teachers previously at Avon East which was award their equipment through the Telecommunity Adding Partners Grant as part of the UNITE Consortium. Avon continues to be a part of the group with Avon East and Heritage South Elementary Schools.

Thank you Columbiana County for a great program!

Monday, December 05, 2005

LCDLC Updates & Opportunities 12/5/05


For a complete listing including our past opportunities, visit our web site and view our VC Classifieds at http://lcdlc.lorainesc.k12.oh.us/vc_classifieds.htm.
1) RUSSIA VIDEOCONFERENCE
2) WVIZ/CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA PRESENTS PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN - VIOLINIST
3) HOLIDAY TRADITION CONFERENCE
4) A VISIT WITH MRS. CLAUS
5) CAREERS OF CONSCIOUSNESS: SERVING PATIENTS IN THE 21ST CENTURY
6) THE ENVIROSCAPE – WATERSHEDS & POLLUTION
7) READ ACROSS AMERICA BY TWICE – LAST CHANCE
8) CHAPTERS PROJECT
9) WORLD WIDE POETRY JAM


1) RUSSIA VIDEOCONFERENCE (See Attachment “Russia Videoconference.doc”)

We invite your middle and high school students to meet Patricia Carr via distance learning to learn about her visit to Russia, exploring the similarities and differences in cultures with the former Soviet Union.

Carol Straub, Ed.S.
Distance Learning Education Department
Columbiana County Education Service Center 38720 Saltwell Road Lisbon, Ohio 44432
330-424-9591 ext 170

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2) WVIZ/CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA PRESENTS PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN – VIOLINIST
Ohio ATM Network Sites Only
DL Liaisons, Advocates and Tech Coordinators:
Please share the attached information with your teachers regarding the Cleveland Orchestra Invite.
Thank you.
John
John R. Ramicone Director of Distance Learning Services-WVIZ/NOTA 4300 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44134-1191 phone: 216-739-3940 fax: 216-398-4245 email: jramicone@wviz.org
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3) HOLIDAY TRADITION CONFERENCE
Cost: Free
Live stream and participate in the virtual chat room

Holiday traditions have always varied between cultures and regions. Now, thanks to Internet2 and videoconferencing, we are able to share holiday traditions beyond borders that once existed. In the tradition of Internet2, Megaconference, and Megconference Jr. we ask you to participate in the first ever Holiday Traditions Conference.

Program Schedule: http://www.cermusa.francis.edu/holidaycon/

Sign ups for the Holiday Tradition Conference via Videoconference are closed, but classes can still watch the program through a lived stream through windows media player. Information on the webcast can be found on the following hyperlink.

http://www.cermusa.francis.edu/holidaycon/Streaming.htm

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4) A VISIT WITH MRS. CLAUS

30 minutes for grades K-4

This program allows your students the opportunity to visit with Mrs. Santa Claus. She will read a short story to the students and then they will have the opportunity to ask questions about her, Santa Claus, and the North Pole.

Cost: $50.00

Contact: Theresa Neuser
tneuser@cesa7.k12.wi.us
595 Baeten Road
Green Bay, WI 54304
United States
Phone: (920) 617-5641
Fax: (920) 492-5965


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5) CAREERS OF CONSCIOUSNESS: SERVING PATIENTS IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Hello Everyone.

You received an email from me about 2 months ago about a Career Series that unfortunately I could not get paid registrations. HealthSpace has generously agreed to go ahead and offer this one for FREE. Please send out to your school contacts on Monday and encourage registration for this great career panel for high-school students coordinated by HealthSpace Cleveland with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

They can register on the CILC site or email me directly. Thanks so very much.

Sandy Kreisman

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6) THE ENVIROSCAPE – WATERSHEDS & POLLUTION

Program Title: “Lake County Solid Waste Management District
The Enviroscape”

Cost: Free

Grade(s): 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 for 60-90 minutes

Using a 3x3-floor model, Students create a "real-life" city while discussing and demonstrating sources of pollution. Students will gain an understanding of watersheds, run off, and point/non-point source pollution

Objectives: Students will:1. Gain an understanding of watersheds.2. Identify point-source pollution.3. Understand the effects pollution has on a community.4. Learn about "eco-friendly" solutions and products.

Contact: Lara Gonzalezlgonzalez@lcswmd.com7820 BroadwayMerrillville, IN 46410United StatesPhone: (219) 769-3820 ext. 103Fax: (219) 769-3890


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7) READ ACROSS AMERICA BY TWICE – LAST CHANCE

Paul Hieronymus has completed the site verification for the consortium and will be happy to assist any teacher that would like to be a part of the RAA program. Teachers that would like to signup will need to contact Paul for the consortium pin # required for signup.

Local contact: Paul HieronymusHieronymusP@avon.k12.oh.us
440.829.8273

Take your students ‘Across America’ to celebrate Read Across America!
March 1-3, 2006
Cost: FREE

Virtually travel across America for the NEA event, Read Across America - use interactive video to connect your class with a class from a different area of the United States, and read to each other. Your students can take part in the two-way video Read Across America event that connects classrooms to classrooms around the United States. The activity is sponsored by the TWICE organization, in cooperation with the NEA.

This activity is open to all K-12 students in public and private schools who have access to two-way interactive video equipment (ISDN or IP). If you are unsure whether or not you have access to this type of equipment, check with your school's technology coordinator. Your class will be matched with a class from a different area of the United States and each class will exchange reading activities. Classroom to classroom connections will take place the week of March 1-3, 2006. Each connection is scheduled for an hour: 15 minutes for testing connections and introductions; 30 minutes for the reading activity (15 minutes per class); 15 minutes for exchanging information about respective schools and communities. Activities can range from reading a favorite book passage, to a “battle of the books” format.

Activity Ideas: Skits, Plays, Raps, Songs, Illustrations, Dramatizations, Student created books, “Battle of the Books” just to name a few.

To learn more about the RAA Event visit http://www.twice.cc/read/index.html

Video Introduction can be viewed at http://dl.remc11.k12.mi.us/RAAOverview.wmv


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8) CHAPTERS PROJECT

Cost: Free
http://intercom.noeca.net/chapters/index.html
Through the NOECA InterCom Chapters project, teachers and students can collaboratively write chapter books that are then presented via video distance learning.
This is how the Chapters Project works:
-A title for the book is established. - Class A writes the first chapter. -Class B writes the second chapter.-Class C writes the third chapter. -All classes write their own conclusion to the chapter book based on the previous chapters.
-Each chapter should be written based on the previous chapter(s), unless your class wrote Chapter 1. The characters and plot should carry throughout the chapter book.
-Each chapter must have a beginning, middle and end. The end of each chapter should provide opportunities for something new to happen in the next chapter.
-All classes present their final chapter in an interactive videoconference. Classes may choose to "act out" their final chapter. The final chapter presentation should take no longer than 15 minutes for each participating class.

Contact Kathy Mohr at kathy@noeca.net or 419-627-1439 x224.


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9) WORLD WIDE POETRY JAM

Friday December 9th 7:30- 11:00 am Central

We are trying to have an open mic poetry celebration in this conference. If your school has students who like to write poetry and participate by reading their poetry please contact

Michael Cunningham
Del Valle High School
mcunningham@del-valle.k12.tx.us

512-268-4598

We are also having schools send in to us audio MP3 poems if you want your stuff heard and not have ITV equipment. We can provide a DVD copy if you would like after the event.