Unlike most of us, our students have never known a world without computers and digital networks. This summer one of our teachers heard at a conference, “Technology is only technology if it has been developed since you’ve been born.” So while we may become tense this fall implementing new “technologies” rest assured that our trusted students and fellow teachers will help guide us to a higher level of education.
Use this opportunity to save your laptop’s battery by keeping your laptop closed. We’ll work with them together later in the session. Thank you.
Use the following question and answer script as an agenda for today’s session.
Ø Should I use MS Outlook as a student work flow management tool?
o No. It is not practical to use for this purpose without a very advanced level of expertise in Outlook and even then there is an easier way manage the student work so we advise don’t waste your time with it.
Ø I still want to learn more about MS Outlook. Will I learn more about it here?
o Yes and no. It will not be addressed in this session, but there is a session on Atomic Learning that would be great for that purpose.
Ø Other then this session is there any other session that covers topics such as student work flow management or easy online course material creation?
o Yes. DCPS has a server reserved just for a web program called Moodle. Jack Barrett is teaching a course in that this week.
o If you’ve already missed it see http://moodle.dcps.net to learn more on your own time.
Ø Can we see an example of a course made in Moodle?
o Sure. Let’s look at Susan Smith’s Moodle 101, one of Miriam’s courses, or Jack’s Graphic Communications course.
Ø Will the student login procedures be the same on the laptops as in the labs?
o Yes. To better understand it lets look at an example of how senior Bobby Handsome would login to his computer and email.
Ø How will students know how to use their email features?
o Rather then try to explain to each student verbally the procedure. Simply refer to the well illustrated link shown here. http://www.dcps.org/technology/elearning/XP%20Web%20Outlook.pdf
Ø What is the student saving procedure?
o Each student has a personal storage place on our school servers. This storage place, commonly called a “network folder” or “personal drive”, is only visible to each student upon login with his or her own password. This network folder can be seen from any computer in the school that requires them to first login as themselves. It will be seen by the students as the (H:) drive. Note: some computer labs still require “lab logins” whereas students will not see their content like they do on their laptops. They can save any file type from any room to this folder, but it can’t be accessed away from the school property at this time.
Ø Are the teacher network folders just like the students?
o Not exactly!!! You can save any file type there and read it from any place in the school, but other than that they are very different.
Now you may open your laptop and double-click on “My Computer”.
o Teachers will see drive (W:) which has four folders already.
§ Assignments Folder
· Be selective of how much and what you store in this folder. This is not a secondary hard drive, nor is it meant to be a permanent home of your documents.
§ Drop box
· Teachers do not place files here. Students save files here to be turned in to teachers. Once submitted by a student it is not retrievable by that or any student, nor is it even visible by any student.
§ Resources
· i.e. book lists, syllabi, WebQuests, ESS hours, email login procedures
§ Tests
· Similar to assignments folder with the difference of how rapidly you place in and take out the item because it can be manipulated by the “think smarter, not harder” students.
Ø With 180 students retrieving and submitting work for six or more courses will we not be muddled in unorganized file chaos?
o If you’re not careful you will be. You will have to create new folders inside of these main four folders for each of your blocks. Folder names should have course name and block identifiers. Examples are “Chemistry Blue1” or “Chem 1stBlock”.
Ø We know students can’t access and retrieve files out of the “Drop Box” but what about the other three folders?
o Unless you protect those files they are fair game to every student that wants to take them.
o Only “Save As” to the teacher folder after you have the original copy saved on your hard drive.
o Always right-click on the file after you have placed it in the teacher folder and make it “Read Only” so that once students download it they are forced to save their own copy if changes are made.
Ø When I get back to my room will I be able to print just like I always could?
o Wouldn’t that be nice!
o Teacher local printers (usual inkjet) that worked last year should still work again this year. Just plug them in and print.
o However, any networked printers (usually laser) must have drivers reinstalled one by one. You can do this by going to http://cow.dcps.net. These instructions will be covered at each high school’s opening day.
Ø When and where are students allowed to print?
o Students can’t print from their laptops until our schools decide where to put our eLearning printers and what our student printing policies will be. Then computer operations will lead us through student driver installation.
Steps to work on today
1. Create your own course folders such as Chem1stBlock with the four given teacher folders.
2. Copy (don’t move originals) documents, images, presentations, favorites, spreadsheets, or any other file you use in class into the appropriate folder you just created in step one.
3. Select each file you’ve copied to the new folders and right-click them to modify their properties to “Read Only”.
4. If time allows, talk to you neighbor about what a wonderful presentation this has been and how you wish all PD could be just like this.
Thanks for attending this MANDATORY session and reading this entire agenda!