Screen Sharing Made Easy

I am a nerd for screen sharing, as I have to teach software programs often.  Most of the time, we force our students to squint across the room at our projected screen, moving a tiny mouse cursor around, clicking here  and there. We hope that our students can 1) See what we're clicking, 2) Remember what menu each option is under and 3) Pay attention to something abstract and far away.

The solution? ... join.me!   Join.me is a free (trial) software you can install (local install, don't need network administrator rights) and share your screen. I believe the trial allows you to share with up to 9 screens (iPads included) and seems pretty quick.

Ideally, you would share your screen, students would log on to their workstation, and view your screen while you demo (they watch, close up, while they listen).  You could also "hand over" control and allow them to present to the rest of the class (maybe they found a trick or shortcut), or maybe you want them to share their slideshow (PowerPoint, Sliderocket) with the group on more than just the projector.

Try it! They also have a blog (I stole the banner) here.

Websites? We can - with Weebly!

If your school does not provide an adequate website creation service, turn to Weebly.com

Weebly is an intuitive, drag-and-drop, EASY way to quickly publish a website. Plus, it's free!

Weebly offers you up to 5 free websites for your account.  My district provides a decent web-building software, so I have a sample Weebly for when my students create sites.

The free version allows you to have photo galleries, YouTube videos, slide shows, text and pictures, and multiple pages.   My 8th grade students figured it out in no-time, and didn't need much help.

Plus, Weebly's help section has awesome, screenshot-guided help for each topic.

Pros: free, easy to use
Cons: requires an email address to sign up, limit of 5 sites per account

PS:  Your students can create custom, amazing logos with www.cooltext.com for free!

55 iPad Apps for Teachers

55 Free iPad Apps for Teachers

I am not a big fan of sending people away from a site, but the list above was compiled on March 13, 2013 and is fantastic.  

Obviously, some of the apps have hidden costs or attempt to persuade you to "go pro," but many of them are truly useful, and free!

Google Earth, Edmodo, PBSKids, and TeacherKit seem like some good ones to begin with.  

Welcome!

Mr. Kulibert @ SMS

Hello!
As I wrap up my seventh year of teaching Technology Education, I find myself miles from where I began.  Out of college, I considered my degree in Technology Education to be one that would expand the minds of my students, allow them opportunities to grow as people, and succeed in a highly-competitive, technologically rich world.  I was right.    

Now, as I have taught a range of Technology related courses, from Kindergarten and 1st grade Computer Lab (basic keyboard, mouse, internet skills), to Keyboarding & Computer Applications (Grade 4), and 6th, 7th and 8th grade Introduction to Technology (a New York State middle-school required course) .... I find myself teaching adults!  How did this happen?!

As the economy shrank, my position shrank. Luckily and thankfully, our district found grant money and I was reinstated to full-time status as an Instructional Technology Coordinator assistant.  This means I have lots of new tasks and duties, many of which allow/require me to work with teachers.  So far, it's amazing.  I'm learning so much about how technology can be integrated into all subject areas, the strategies that work, the ones that don't, and finally, finding out what teachers need and want to be successful technologists themselves.

Therefore, this blog is a chance for me to both organize and communicate what I am learning.  We do so many things behind closed doors, with autonomy, that we all become islands.  Well, consider this blog your rowboat.

I hope it helps!