Day 1 Collaboration Resources

Why Collaborate?................................................................................................................1Why Collaborate?................................................................................................................2Epals.com.............................................................................................................................3

ePals Project Handout......................................................................................................5Delicious..............................................................................................................................6

Collecting Resources.......................................................................................................8Blogging..............................................................................................................................9

Blogging Project Handout.............................................................................................10Collaborate with Each Other?............................................................................................11

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vmarkmann@mtsd.us

Why Collaborate?

Why do you want to collaborate?

How do you currently collaborate with your students?

How do you envision this collaboration?

http://www.online-stopwatch.com/

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Epals.com

http://www.epals.com/ - Global collaborative projects and blogging opportunities for students. Also, includes teacher supervised emails exchanges.

Click on Connect and search for a classroom by Map. Find a class that you would like to collaborate with. What class would you like to join?

Set up your Epal Account

1. go to www.epals.com2. click join

3. complete adult registration

Set up a teacher account:

User name:________________________________

Password:_________________________________

__________________@epals.com

Sample Teacher Profile

http://www.epals.com/docs/teacher_guide/teacher_to_teacher.pdf - A Guide to Effective use of ePALS

http://www.epals.com/content/ePalsSupport.aspx#s02 – downloadable guides to print, i.e., standards, teachers guide, Internet safety

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Set Up Email accounts for Students

1. Go to my mail

2. Click on accounts

3. Complete base name, list of names or student1, student2, and password (which will be changed by each student.

Once logged in

1. your email will be ______@epals.com2. go to projects and check out projects

3. What projects would you like to participate in_____________________________

4. What country would you like to correspond with?__________________________

You can begin by choosing a partner classroom and together, choose a project. Or choose a project, and then use ePals search tools to find a partner classroom. The projects are intended as guidelines. Feel free to customize them to suit your class and your personal goals.

Once you have a project and a partner, you should discuss and decide the following issues:

1. Project start and end dates; 2. Number of emails to be exchanged; 3. Subject matter of emails; 4. Length of time between emails; 5. Geographical focus of research (will students research their own country, their ePals'

country, or other areas of the world?) 6. Will students work alone, in pairs, in small groups, or as a class?

Notes/Ideas:

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ePals Project HandoutYour www.epals.com Account Information

ePals Project:________________________________Directions: You will log onto ePals.com and use the teacher supervised email exchange program. You will use the username and password listed below but you will change your password to have privacy. You will begin email exchanges with the person listed below. Read the assignment you will begin today using ePals.com

Your User name is_______________________________________

Your Password is________________________________________

Change your password on initial log in________________________

Your email buddy is________________ their email address ________________@epals.com

Country:____________________________

Assignment for today:

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Delicious

http://delicious.com/ - a social bookmarking site to save all your favorite websites in one spot on the Internet to use anytime, anywhere.

The following steps will help you get started:

1. Register at delicious.com

2. Bookmark websites with tags

3. Be social by sharing your websites with others

Log onto my site1. See my bookmarks: http://delicious.com/vmarkmann

2. See sample account created by students: http://delicious.com/gwums

3. Account for this class: http://delicious.com/mtsd

Teacher Activity:Log onto Account I created for this Workshop

1. log on http://delicious.com/mtsd

2. user: mtsd password: summer09

3. Add a site that would be helpful for other teachers in collaborating

4. Use the form below to compile your information

How to add an online bookmark

1. Click on “save a bookmark” upper right hand corner

2. Copy and past the URL and click NEXT

3. Type a description and give website a tag. Hint: use one word tags, ex. Epals not e pals.

How to edit or delete your online bookmark

1. Click on “Edit/Delete” button to make changes or delete bookmark

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Make a Delicious Account for yourself1. Create a user name and password

2. Begin bookmarking your own sites

Set up your teacher account:

User name:________________________________

Password:_________________________________

Add another teacher to your Delicious Account 1. Add another account to your network by searching for a person under “People>Go to a

User”

2. Type persons name in or add our account “mtsd” to your personal account

3. Create a user name and password

4. Begin bookmarking your own sites

Look for delicious Icon in the future to save a website1. Click on delicious icon to add bookmarks to your account.

Watch this video to set up your account http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x66lV7GOcNU

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Collecting ResourcesDirections: You will use this sheet to collect resources for our delicious account. Each group will research a minimum of 2 websites each. You will post your 2 websites on www.delicious.com . Give a brief summary of the website and why you chose it. Include your first name(s) on the website. This activity will show you how you can have students collaborate on a website while collecting data in a meaningful way. Log onto www.delcious.com and log on. User name: mtsd Password: summer09 Then submit your websites.

Website #1What is the ending of the URL? .com, .edu, .org, .net, .gov?When was this site created or updated?Who wrote the article or compiled the information? Is it a credible source, why?What is the purpose of this website?

Information that is helpful on this website

Website #2What is the ending of the URL? .com, .edu, .org, .net, .gov?When was this site created or updated?Who wrote the article or compiled the information? Is it a credible source, why?What is the purpose of this website?

Information that is helpful on this website

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BloggingIt is a simple and effective means of communication for anyone with an Internet access and an email address. Some sites don’t require any identification but most do. In order to keep students save, I monitor all blogging conversation prior to posting. Sites such as www.epals.com offer blogging privileges on their site automatically when registered.

Reasons to use a blog:

1. Post assignments2. Post handouts3. Host online discussions4. HW assignments5. Create a class publication/newsletter6. Get feedback

Teacher Activity: Log onto my website http://montgomerytsd.schoolwires.com/vmarkmann and add a blog. Write about an online project that you may like join. How can this collaboration help your students? You can make a comment or ask a question here too. Sign your name.

Directions:

1. Be on blog page

2. click on “View Comments or Post Comments”

3. add info into fields

4. click “Post Comments”Online Resource

http://edublogs.org/ -site to manage blogs for students http://www.teachingtips.com/blog/2008/07/21/50-useful-blogging-tools-

for-teachers/ - 50 useful blogging sites and tips

What unit of study could you use a blogging assignment with your students?

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Blogging Project Handout

Blogging Project:________________________________

You will log onto my website____________________________________. Look for blogging link in navigation bar on left.

Directions:1. Be on blogging page

2. Click on “View Comments or Post Comments”

3. Use your email address or you can use mine:_______________________

4. Develop and write your message

5. Post Comments (will not be posted immediately)

Blogging assignment for today:

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Collaborate with Each Other?

What is a unit you currently teach that you would like to collaborate with someone in our district?

Describe your unit?

Who can you create an epal relationship with?

What project can you work on together? Describe the project. Length of time? How would you communicate?

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