...almost there...

The sign up sheet (for classes) is in the library--please come and sign up.  We're going to be following Music's model--doing A/B week for the half-day classes; full-day classes will come every week.  

Our original plan was to be open for business next week, but it looks like it will be more likely to happen the following week (17 - 21 Sept).  We would like to have the teachers & paraprofessionals come through an "orientation" before coming with the students since it is a little different from last year.

The center/"check-in" signs are ready.  Other than the SMART Board Center (which is mounted on the wood post near the SMART board), the center/"check in" signs will be placed on the floor near the center itself.  

SMART Board Center/"check-in"

SMART Table Center/"check-in"

 

iListen & iLearn Center with "check-in"

 Read to Me Center

 
At our TACT team meeting this morning, team members got a "first-look" at the *new* Multimedia Center. Next week, I hope to have the rest of the staff in for an orientation!

We're getting there...

I worked on the center signs and management stuff today. I have all the center signs ready to print...I just have to finish putting the "What we are doing in the __ center" things together and get them all printed, laminated, and put up.

 center choices/management

Helen and I were going to work on scheduling...and we did talk some about it...but then we got involved in the SMART board movement and organization so we can get those out of here tomorrow.  All of them are together by which hallway gets 'em...and are labeled (by hallway), too.  Hopefully, after the meeting in the morning, we can get them relocated to their *new* homes (and we can go back to work on getting this place ready to roll).

SMART boards
 

Meanwhile, while taking a break from creating activities today, Didi worked on identifying the Maryland Technology Literacy Standards that we will be addressing in our wonderful  Multimedia Center...so, thanks, Didi! :) 

In case you're curious, here they are:

Maryland Technology Literacy Standards

Smart Table

• Students will explore and use the SMART Table to enhance learning by acquiring new content or reinforcing skills learned in their classroom. (TL Prek A.1.a & b)
• Students will participate in the SMART Table activity to encourage collaboration. (TL Prek 3.B.1)
• Students will explore the Smart Table activities to support learning goals. (TL Prek 3.C.1.a)

Smart Board

• Students will explore and use the SMART Board to enhance learning by acquiring new content or reinforcing skills learned in their classroom. (TL Prek A.1.a & b)
• Students will participate in the SMART Board activity to encourage collaboration. (TL Prek 3.B.1)
• Students will explore the Smart Board activities to support learning goals. (TL Prek 3.C.1.a)

Computer Center

• Students will use a mouse to perform computer functions, use the keyboard to type letters and numbers, and recognize symbols and icons used to identify functions (such as the arrow, printer, etc.) to develop foundations in the understanding and use of technology. (TL Prek 1.A.1.a, b, c & d)

• Students will explore and use multimedia tools to express original ideas with print, drawing, digital images, sounds, and/or personal recordings. (TL Prek 3.B.1.a)

iLearn

• Students will explore and use the iPad and iPod Touch to enhance learning by acquiring new content or reinforcing skills learned in their classroom. (TL Prek A.1.a & b)
• Students will explore the iPad and iPod Touch activities to support learning goals. (TL Prek 3.C.1.a)
• Students will use the iPad and iPod Touch to explore a variety of forms of digital content to learn information about a subject/topic. (TL Prek 3.C.1.b)

I seem to have WON the battle with iTunes...for now.

It would appear that I have been successful in my quest to put the Read to Me books into iTunes (on my desktop) and sync with the iPods.  

I also wanted to make it as simple as possible for everyone to be able to locate which story they wanted to listen to, so...

First, you will click on the "Music" icon (on the iPod)...since that's where the audio files for the stories will be.

screenshot of iPod

Then, you should see something that looks like this:

screenshot of books

If it doesn't look like this, make sure the "Albums" view is selected.  You'll note that there is a picture of the cover of each of the books.  Hopefully, this will simplify things for the students.  I'm hoping they will be able to match (with a little help, maybe) the picture on the iPod with the actual book on the shelf.

On Wednesday, I'm hoping to sit with Helen and start working out all the scheduling and other fun stuff to get this show on the road.
 

Still preparing...

Continued to work on the Read to Me Center today.  All the books are organized by theme and there is a list of books for each theme with a *key* to the color coding.  Green dots = audio books on the iPod touches; Red/blue dots = books adapted with the Franklin AnyBook (the color dot corresponds to the specific one). 

books for theme 1 with book list

boxes of books organized by theme

Read to Me - Book lists by theme: 1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  10
All the audio files have been put into their folders...and now I'm trying to figure out the most efficient and easiest way to get the files onto the iPods.  The fastest way is to use the Dropbox...BUT, I'm afraid that is going to make it too hard for the kids to find the right stories.  So...now I'm attempting to sync them through iTunes.  iTunes has historically been a pain in the rear for me to use...but I'm going to give it a shot.  I have created playlists for each theme that I should be able to quickly sync at the beginning of each month.
 

syncing iPods
green dot = read to me center

Now I just have to get this big box of books all recorded with the AnyBooks and we'll be (almost) all set!

box o' books still waiting to be recorded

And, while I've been working on this center, Didi has been hard at work creating the activities for the SMART board and SMART table.  After some initial technical difficulties with getting the software installed (somehow installed a version that was entirely in Spanish, missing taskbar, fun stuff!), she seemed to have a more successful day than yesterday.

Preparations

Today, I worked more on getting all the books ready for the Read to Me Center.  I think I have it pretty well organized now.  Here is the list of books that will be in the Read to Me Center (hopefully, the link works).


For the books that will be accessible on the iPod touches, all the audio files have to be pulled from the CDs...







and put into a folder for that theme.  

Some of the audio files are on cassette tapes--for those, I've enlisted the help of my friend, Mr. Lewis.  He is going to digitize those tapes for me so I can get them ready for the iPods.

The books themselves also have to get some additions...
Books with green dots are the ones with the audiobooks on the iPod touches.

labels for books

green labels for audiobooks on iPods

Books adapted with Franklin AnyBook
(the pen-like thing on the left)

The blue dots (or red dots) correspond to the Franklin AnyBook (the white, pen-looking thing on the left) where the book has been recorded.

West's handy-dandy steam cleaner

I also did a little steam cleaning...the rainbow carpet (where all the kids sit) was looking really icky.  So I brought my steam cleaner in and gave it a good once-(twice)over.  If you see the carpet up on chairs, that's why...it's drying. :)

drying (and, hopefully, cleaner) carpet

The Centers

So here's the idea for each center...

SMART Table

SMART Table Center
# of Students: 4
In this center, students will explore different theme-related activities including exploring different pictures (and videos) of things, playing matching games, and working on asking & answering yes/no questions in the "narrow it down" activity.  This center will require adult assistance with most of the activities...and to make sure the table is approached and interacted with properly.

SMART Board

 SMART Board Center
# of Students: 6-8
In this center, students will explore different theme-related activities through the interactive features of the SMART board.  This center is one that will likely require adult assistance...not only to make sure the students are using everything properly, but also to model and encourage different language opportunities.

iListen & iLearn

iListen & iLearn Center
# of Students: 4
In this center, there will be 2 - iPod touches (with headphones) and 2 - iPad2s (also with headphones).  On the iPod touches, students will have the opportunity to explore different listening activities.  These include listening to audio stories and different types of music and sounds.  On the iPad2s, students will be able to learn and practice different skills using a variety of apps.  Each month, there will be different sounds, music, stories, and apps.

Read to Me

Read to Me Center
# of Students: 4
In the Read to Me Center, students will have the opportunity to use two pieces of technology to interact with theme-related books.  Two students will be able to use the Franklin AnyBook - a pen-like device that works with 'dot' stickers that are recorded and placed inside books.  Students using this device can "read" books at their own pace, turning pages and touching the dots as they wish.  The other two students will have the opportunity to listen to books on the iPod touches (with headphones).  This center will require some adult assistance initially...but, it is my hope that this support can be faded as students begin to understand what they are to do.

Computer

Computer Center
# of Students: 2
In the Computer center, students will work in pairs (or individually) on literacy and pre-writing activities.  The activities will be theme-based and often incorporate the  use of different types of assistive technology devices such as a touch monitor, IntelliKeys (and adapted keyboard), and switches.  This is a center which should be accessible to all of our students.  Again, initially, participation in this center is going to require some adult support.

I'm very excited to get this up and running...but it's a lot of work to get started.  I hope that we will be able to start having classes visit us after Labor Day.  

It is also my hope to make weekly updates to this blog that include samples of things created by the students and photos...so stay tuned!

The Plan

The plan for the multimedia center is a little different then it was last year.  Here's a little summary of what you'll see when you come in.

There will be 5 centers this year (we've added 2 to what we had last year).  They are:  

1. SMART table
2. SMART board
3. iListen & iLearn 
4. *Computer
5. *Read To Me

*These are the new centers.  The iListen & iLearn center has a new name, and will work a little differently...but it's not new.  It's the center with the iPod touches/iPads.

More detailed info about each of the centers will be included on a subsequent post.

Initially, many of these centers will require a good deal of adult support...at least until the children get the hang of how everything works.

The other big change from last year will be the managements of the centers.  Instead of having everyone rotate through all of the centers,  this year students will be able to select the centers in which they would like to work.  We will have a center management system that will allow for students to see how many people are allowed in a particular center and which centers are open.  Again, it will take a little while and some adult support in order for everyone to learn the system.  Activities in the centers will only change once per month...so students should have ample time to explore all the activities in all the centers in that time.