Suzanne+Frachetti

=Overview:= I chose one or two sessions from each day to discuss below. In general, the sessions were informative and I definitely picked up some great ideas to use with my students.

Session Title--**"Free and Easy Bibliography: Scaffolding Student Research with Zotero"** None--I really was not impressed with this tool. I have used http://noodletools.com with students from 4th - 8th grade with much success and I think I prefer it to Zotero.
 * Monday **
 * Big Idea:** Online bibliography tool (but not as impressive as others I've used)
 * Links & Take-Aways:**

Session Title--**"21 Things About 21 Things: Lessons Learned From Staff Development"**
 * Big Idea: Technology staff development can be brief AND useful for immediate implementation, when presented in "bite sized chunks."**


 * Links & Take-Aways:**
 * Thought for librarians: Develop your skills as media specialists vs. "just librarians;" OR "technology innovators" vs. "keepers of books"
 * Thought for tech. teachers: Encourage collaboration with classroom teachers and act as a second pair of hands to make integrated tech.lessons seem more doable;
 * Thought for classroom teachers: Look for classroom applications of technology resources and focus on personal productivity and professional development
 * Design lessons that are self-paced, flexible, doable & conveniently accessible (i.e., online accessible)
 * Backward design--identify target group participants (needs, abilities, applications, etc.);
 * Chunk it--make it quick and easy for immediate implementation;
 * Mix it up--variety of freebies (web 2.0 tools) and expand use of paid resources (i.e., online db's avail. through LION);
 * Keep it simple (participants follow along and/or contribute via a shared wiki);
 * customize staff dev. for participants (for their role, grade/content, etc.)
 * Form a community of learners (& support);
 * Need to ensure participants have basic skills necessary to participate fully;
 * []

Session Title--**"Deeper Understanding Through Google Earth"**
 * Tuesday **
 * Big Idea:** Google Earth is a great tool to enhance and teach many different curriculum areas/topics.
 * Links and Resources so others can pick up on what you learned

Session Title--**"Google: 25 Things You Didn't Know It Could Do"**
 * Wednesday **
 * Big Idea:** Google is a very powerful research tool that can be used more effectively with these tips/tricks.


 * Links & Take-Aways:**
 * []
 * Quick info./shortcuts ( asterix = wildcard)
 * Google alerts ([] ) -can monitor specific topics & receive email updates
 * More search tools (click this link to narrow google searches) Ex.) "timeline" --helps pinpoint specific events within a broad topic; "wonder wheel" --helps identify and/or narrow topics to drill down to necessary/relevant info.
 * Advanced Search--can specify sources, language, file type and use Boolean filters
 * Custom Search Engine--awesome!! Can definitely use this to direct students to specific web sites for research.
 * Directory --provides search categories for younger students to "drill down" topics
 * Page ranking --"link: " lists number of pages linking back to a webpage


 * Keynote and other Special Sessions **

Overall, I enjoyed this conference and it was both overwhelming and invigorating to see the variety of ways technology can and is used to enhance the quality of instruction and engagement of students across grade levels.
 * Implications for your Classroom **

For this coming school year, I would like to expand my comfort level with various web 2.0 tools so I can create more variety and choice within my own classes and become a better collaborative partner with the teachers in my building. Specifically, I would like to create lessons/units using Google Earth, Glogster and blogs. I would also like to look for different applications of some of my old favorites like Animoto.

Additionally, I gathered some great ideas to use when offering technology staff development in my building, which I am planning to do this school year.