AGHS+Updates+Page

= Here's What's Happening at AGHS =

**Beginner Promethean Training**- 2nd Round (First training was done on Sept. 18) Jessie and Jeff October 20, 2008 3-3:30

Jessie and Jeff October 27, 2008 3-3:30 Room 310 Toolstore, troubleshooting, activotes
 * Advanced Promethean Training**

Joyce and Jessie November 3, 2008 3:00-3:30 Room 310
 * [|Quia] Basic Training**
 * Quia Advanced Training** - planned

Rob and Nick November 10, 2008 2:45 - 3:45 Room 101 (Planning October 13th 2:45-3:45, Training Rehearsal October 20th 2:45-3:45)
 * Blogging for Beginners**

Jeff and Jessie February 27, 2009 Inservice Day AGHS Beginner and Intermediate Session
 * Promethean Board Training**

Joyce and Karen April 16, 2009
 * New Teacher Induction Technology Session - [|Using Wikis and Blogs]**

**District Goal:** __**Wikis, Blogs, and Google Docs**__ - used at the high school


 * Wikis** - used as teacher pages, department pages, curriculum sharing, presentations and for student projects


 * Blogs - used by teachers at the high school - Examples - [|Rob Gregory], [|Eric Schott]**
 * Blogging** - by teacher w/blogs and wikis ([|Edublogs.org] Class)
 * Blogging in the Social Studies Classroom** - In class blogging as historic figures responding to prompts and other student posts.


 * Google Docs**
 * English - "[|Letters to the President]"
 * English- Students are using the Presentation suite from Google Docs to create a group presentation on life in America during World War II.
 * English- Students use Google Docs to collaborate and write a modern version of __The Tragedy of Julius Caesar__.
 * Social Studies - Assignment for students to complete and email as attachment to the teacher.
 * English Shakespeare Class - students collaborated to rewrite and condense the script for Titus Andonicus, a Shakespeare play, that was performed at the "Shakespeare Festival" at Immaculata University on April 15, 2009.
 * Sharing Google Calendars -** between teachers and posted on the class wiki for student assignments
 * //__Google Earth__//**
 * Google Earth** - in English, Social Studies and World Language Classrooms
 * Google Earth** - LitTrips, Tours for SS, [|Ideas for Education]
 * [|Google Lit Trips]** - //**Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man**// in English Class - "Great Books"

__ [|Skype] __ **Used Skype in the German Language Classroom for AGHS students to talk live to students in Germany. Also demonstrated same live at AGSD Tech Fair, April 22, 2009.** [|Photo Story] in English Classrooms
 * __Videoconferencing__ -** AGHS **International Math Game Challenge, March 4, 2009 (cancelled due to lack of enrollment)**
 * [|iEarn]** **-** collaborative projects (info email to hs teachers list Dec. 2) Mexico/US Project
 * [|GPS Lab]** - in SS, Special Ed, and Tech Ed. (Looking into GIS Application and Google Earth)
 * [|Glogster]** - used in American Cultures 9th Grade, Students make own glog e-Poster, Topic: Desegregation
 * [|Voicethread]** in World Language Class. After reading a Spanish literary selection by García Márquez, Spanish 4 students created an original story with a partner in the same literary style, inspired by his great work, //**100 years of Solitude**//. After writing their story, they then uploaded all kinds of images to create a presentation on voice thread. They then recorded themselves telling the story while programming the voice tracks to play with the accompanying images. It was an interactive way for several people to partake in storytelling in Spanish and then share with the class for peer critique.


 * Digital Video** from the Horror Thriller Genre, titled "Top of the Stairs" for Film and Literature Class - created by students. Script was written, performed and filmed by students.

Literary Magazine called "Expressions", showcases students' writing and artwork. Produced annually by students. [|previous year example]


 * [|Activexpressions] Trial** - until the end of the school year, with option to buy. (2 sets of 32) [|Activexpression Teaching Tips]

Activotes are being used in Science for a review. Results are exported to a spreadsheet with referral to specific parts of a study guide.
 * Activotes** are being used in Math, English, Social Studies, and Science Classrooms.

[|Graphire Wacom Tablets] are available to use in Math, English, Social Studies and Science Classrooms.


 * ITLT Meeting Dec. 2, 2008**


 * What are 3 big ideas that would be useful for the ITLTs to address out of the data?
 * There is a strong connection between teacher comfort level with technology and student use in their classes. Teachers who are more comfortable with technology are more likely to have their students use technology in class.
 * As teachers become more comfortable with technology, we would like to see more student-centered use of technology in class.
 * Build on teacher strengths- some basic and some advanced-meet teachers where they are.
 * Encourage use of presentation software- 40% of teachers not using any


 * Does our current focus on wikis, blogs and Google Docs drive us to improving our performance as reported via PATI?
 * English- yes very valuable
 * Disadvantages of tech use- more planning time and time spent in class with an already tight schedule

I**TLT AGHS Team Meeting Feb.3, 2009 to develop 21st Century Task Force Matrix (GoogleDocs)**