So, the final tech tool for this year was the screencast-o-matic. This tool proved to be a bit tricky. First, I had an issue accessing the website from BOTH Internet Explorer AND Firefox. I of course chose my work day to be Sunday, as I unfortunately often do. As I was not connected to the school network, Internet Explorer would not let me update the Java plug-ins needed. Secondly, Firefox was not downloading the necessary Java plug-ins either.
Problem solved as Monday rolled along. When I went to school and bothered our Media Specialist, being on the school network allowed IE to update Java without any super important passwords. The Media Specialist found that Firefox has disabled some Java settings due to security reasons and simply typed in enabling Java in the help bubble (now why couldn't I think of that?).
Talking into a microphone did not entice me in the least; however, I do see some awesome future applications to this tool. See my screencast-o-matic at this link. I created a link to show students how to access their school gmail account. I frustratingly find that students do not know they have a school email. Go ahead and send your PC students to the link to walk them through the process!
Future uses: I would like to create a video showing Park Center teachers how to access student reading scores in whole class sections. Then I would like to show teachers, in that same video, the Word document we use for placement in English classes. This will be a good video to have on hand as the years and trimesters start.
I would like to create a video showing basic Word formatting for papers (some of my students do not know how to truly double space!). I would then be willing to share this with other English teachers.
Another English/Reading teacher and I have discussed recording some lessons to show students if they are absent as another "re-teaching" method so our class time is not used constantly catching absent students up.
That's all for now. Here's hoping I win the Kindle.
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