***News Flash***
 

·         Win a Netbook for your classroom or  a Flip Video Camera

Help your students create digital artwork, podcast, or video about Internet Safety, (bulling, net etiquette, social networking etc )
 Use resources on Thinkfinity, or NetSmartz or other Internet Resources to create lesson plans that will guide your students to create an Internet Multimedia presentation.
 Post your projects here: http://sp.mdtechcenter.org/redline/WebSafety/Lists/Safety%20Contest/AllItems.aspx

o   You’ll need a user name=  archteacher & a pswd  = sharepoint
You’ll be able to attach your file right on the form as you fill in the information

o   When you go to the website: Choose New, New Item and put in the information ,as well as your attachment with the multimedia project.

o   You’ll be able to view your project as well as other by choosing each entry and clicking on the attachment.

·         Other rules:

·         Podcasts or Videos are not to exceed  90 seconds
Art work must be computer generated
The prize winning teacher (submitting the project) will become guardian of the netbook computer or Flip Video (All multimedia tools are for classroom use but where the equipment is kept is up to the winning class/teacher.)
You may submit more than one project per educator/class
 All grades are eligible from pre-K through high school
Members of the Maryland Chapter of the Verizon Pioneers will judge the contest and award the prizes

·         Entries must be submitted by Nov. 15, 2009 and awards will be announced by Dec. 18.

Professional Development through MSDE approved Re-Certification Courses

This summer, more of our educators took part in MSDE courses run by the Division of Schools to  meet re-certification needs than ever before. Classes were given in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Frederick, Westminster, Emmittsberg and Harford counties.  Sixteen courses helped nearly 300 educators keep their MSDE certification.  Course evaluations confirmed the excellence of instruction.   Some of faculty offered courses with full scholarships to the participants.  We are truly grateful to Carole Duff and Marge Potter of Notre Dame Prep, Kelly McDonald, of St Margaret School, Tim Wedra of Teachers and Technology, Judy Robison of St. John Catholic Prep, Libbie Kendall of Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Sue Lakomy of St John School, Rachel McMullin of Mother Seton School, Paul Kellerman of Mt. St. Joseph, Cathy Ellis of St. John Regional and Lisa Cohen of Maryvale Preparatory School. All of these educators spent countless hours preparing and executing courses to help meet the needs of their colleagues. A sincere thanks seems inadequate for the service they provided.  

Technology Showcase  March 8, 2009 at Calvert Hall College, High School

This year the Tech Showcase will be held at Calvert Hall College.  Although there is no formal title yet, the  theme will be Free Tools for Educators and Their Students (And other interesting ideas.)   As always, we will feature great projects of our teachers and their students.  There will be keynote speakers, hands-on workshops, concurrent sessions and poster sessions. Plan on attending and encouraging others from your school as well. We'll open  proposals for presentations in October and extend the sign-up date through November. I know there are many of you who could present using the tools of Twitter, Facebook , Blogging, Podcasting, Video casting, Google tools, Community Clips, Microsoft freeware, Skype and Jing etc. I am hopeful that we'll have presentations on Global literacy, cultural literacy and Internet Safety. Think about it? Please consider presenting. Let your school and your students shine!

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Flip Video Cameras must be returned by Aug 31 or ASAP

If you borrowed a Flip Video Camera this summer, please return it to:

 The Media Center,
Seton Keough High School,
1201 Caton Avenue, 21227 
c/o Mrs. Julia Rogers

Or to the Central Office,

The Archdiocese of Baltimore
Division of Schools
320 Cathedral Street,
Baltimore MD 21201
 c/o Dr. Carole Redline

Please be sure your name is clearly listed on the return.
 If you need to make other arrangements to return the cameras, contact credline@archbalt.org   Hope you truly enjoyed the camera for your summer exploration.

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Thinkfinity

This summer about 40 technology coordinators and teachers explored lesson plans and resources made available through Thinkfinity , http://www.thinkfinity.org/home.aspx  All who took the time to explore were amazed at this important resource that covers the best lesson plans and web links for teachers and students from kindergarten through high school.  Just as an example go to  http://www.thinkfinity.org/home.aspx and type in the word Bullying and see what happens. You, too, will be amazed. Then type in a topic from your current curriculum. You’ll be glad you did!

National Bullying Awareness Contest for AOB Schools;

National Bullying Awareness Week is week of October 4.
National Anti Bullying Week is the week of Nov. 16
Let's use the time frame between Oct 4- Nov 20, anytime within that period,  to launch a contest dealing with the elimination of Bullying.

There are so many great resources on this topic for your students regardless of their age. All our school communities should be involved in stopping the problem of bullying whether on the web or in the classroom.  Every school should be making plans to teach Internet Safety, which is directly related topic. First steps involve discussion with the students.  Let the kids be the ones that shape the policies. Consider having your students plan and run a program for their parents.

The Verizon Pioneers, a National Network of Community Service Volunteers, will offer great multimedia prizes for schools who submit student work on the topic of Internet Safety. They will judge, digital artwork, podcast and vodcasts and hopefully, award Flip videos or mini net computers to the winner’s school. Stay tuned for more details during National anti-Bullying week.  Start thinking about this project now.

Podcast or Video broadcast do not have to be long or complicated as this example click here  for a podcast from Pacer kids illustrates http://pacerkids.org . There are more examples on this page: http://ideas4us.com/resources3.htm   For most you will not need a user name or pswd but if you do, use archteacher for your user name and sharepoint for your pswd.

 Involving our students in such a project is an important step in raising awareness and eliminating some of the problems involving this serious issue. Please consider participating!

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ERate

As you know, even though you may have received approval for eRate funding, you must continue to fill out eRate paperwork in the timeframe that USAC asks. During the summer, you should have received paperwork detailing how to fill out the final forms, Form 486 and Bear Form. This is truly the easiest part of the process but one that some schools miss due to summer vacation. We hope no school misses this critical step this year.  We owe a great deal of thanks to Julia Rogers, Director of the Media Center for all her hard work in assuring help for our schools. Julia has truly become an expert on the topic of eRate and is willing to give of her time freely in the service of our schools.  Her latest presentation is available on http://ideas4us.com click on eRate in the menu bar and login with the user name archteacher and pswd of sharepoint. You'll find Julia's latest presentation as well as many other resources.

Meetings for the new school year ((2010- 2011) will begin in November and continue in January. We will hold these meetings at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. Because there will be new requirements dealing with your documentation of teaching Internet safety, the first meetings will be held from 9am to 2pm. We'll hold our regular eRate meeting in the morning and give you Internet Safety requirements after lunch. (This is a new time-frame contrary to the half day meeting listed on the AOB calendar because of the New Internet Safety requirements) Mark your calendar and plan to attend.

Nov 5th: At the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen (9am to 2pm)E-Rate Meeting
(Form 470 SY 2010-2011) & Internet Safety Requirement

January 12: At the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen (9am to noon)
E-Rate Meeting-Form 471SY 2010-2011

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Sixty-one of our school have current technology plans that meet all the requirements of eRate. These plans have been carefully constructed to address Goals and Strategies, Professional Development, Budget, Inventory and Evaluation. Plans must be update
d and approved every 3 years.

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Internet Resources, Safety and Ethics Project

On October 10, 2008 the “Broadband Data Improvement Act” / “Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act” was signed into law. For our schools this means that elementary and secondary schools having computers with Internet access must conduct instruction on Internet safety including lessons on cyber bullying and appropriate online behaviors on social networking sites and in chat rooms.  CLICK HERE to review the Children’s Internet Protection Act, (CIPA) 

In the new school year, all school systems must be able to certify when and how they are teaching these important online safety skills. According the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), certification must be presented when schools apply for eRate in the 2009/10 school year.

Annual C3 Conference:
http://www.edtechpolicy.org/C32009/

Cyberethics, Cybersafety and Cybersecurity ( Internet Cyberethics, Cybersafety , Cybersecurity)
University of Maryland, October 1-2

Mark Cohagan, Director of  Technology at Mt. deSales Academy,  will represent the Division of Schools
in a presentation about the important work begun this summer.

Breaking News: Due to our work in the field of Internet Safety this summer, teachers and administrators  of the Archdiocese of Baltimore are invited to register
(FREE of charge) the premiere conference in Maryland on the topic of Internet Safety. Please register with Dr. Devina Pruitt-Mentle, not online, for free admission. The only request is that you seriously consider your attendance and not sign up as a maybe I'll go proposition.

TOP 10 REASONS TO ATTEND  the 3C Conference
http://www.edtechpolicy.org/C32009/

1. A thought-provoking opening keynote placing Internet Safety within the Digital Literacy Domain. http://www.edtechpolicy.org/C32009/. 

2. A chance to hear firsthand about legislative bills - current and pending, and to learn more about the implications for educators, parents, and students.

3. A chance to meet with a broad range of cyberethic, safety, and security curriculum providers who are available to answer questions and provide demos.

4. Practical hands-on sessions with multiple perspectives on topics ranging from social networking, cyberbullying, identity theft, and best security practices.

5. Participatory mini-workshops that allow you to drill down further on topics such as: Understanding the latest internet safety topics and concerns, evaluating web sites and citing sources, hot safety topics including sexting, cyberbullying, malicious code pop-ups, to the hands-on practical security need to knows and how-to's

6. A chance to see firsthand new cutting edge interactive games/environments that promote responsible behavior.

7. A chance to learn about the many FREE state-of-the-art online resources.

8. Two content packed days devoted specifically to providing educators, parents and law enforcement with best practices resources and strategies for promoting proper behavior in the areas of cyberethics, safety and security.

9. A plethora of resources, goodies, and end-of-the-day prizes.

10. Priceless networking opportunities with some

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