In Episode 6, Katie and Michelle discuss starter lessons for teaching students laptop basics. Katie talks about her pre-school BootCamp and Michelle shares the first 4 days of classroom instruction. During the discussion, we compare and contrast out two methods along with what we cover (and what we’ve learned we should cover!)

Thanks to Tom Woodward, author of the Bionic Teaching Blog for the Episode 6 Intro.

Links for Learning

Intro Plugs

Iron Teacher Contest description

The EdRevolution Podcast

Kent Manning’s Blog post on CBL

Technology Operations Links

PCHS Computer Applications Pre-Distribution Outline and Laptop Basics Lessons

OHS Boot Camp, Battery Video, and Online Announcements,

OHS Mac InSTALL News (they’re in the bathroom stalls at OHS...really...)

PCHS Housekeeping Lessons for laptop cleaning and file management

Battery Best Practices from Apple

Twitter Shout Outs

rhays (Holdrege, NE, Technology Curriculum Consultant) @katiemorrow Started with a care and feeding type activities, ie. how to care for the laptops. next should be file management

glovely (Gail Lovely, Texas, A teacher, learner, leader, but mostly a curious soul.  Details? Speaker, PD leader, DEN Star, ISTE Mentor)

@katiemorrow open, boot, sign in, close, put away, charging, open file from server, save to HD & server and print... what? label for Laptop

brasst (Twin Cities, MN, www.tech4teaching.org/wpblog, Middle School Teacher & Technology Coordinator)

@milobo Talk about AUP and how it relates to them followed by hardware basics and navigating the machine; follow-up every week w/minilesson @milobo We always make sure the kids understand that the laptop is first and foremost a tool for learning, not a toy (however fun it may be)

ellsbeth (Liz Becker, Wyoming, Bio Instructional Coach and High School Social Studies)

@milobo 1:1 Always plug in after school, how to clean/care for them, DON'T leave in cars (temp & theft), school computer (not personal), etc

nctplarry (Larry Anderson, NCTP Director)

@milobo talk with students about responsible behavior, Ask students to journal about what they expect ethical behavior should be.

adamhoughtonnh (Adam Houghton, New Hampshire USA, District Tech Director in Northern NH, theemergingprincipal.com)

@milobo We use a script that each teacher reads that goes through the essentials for use. That way everybody hears the same message.

Download Adam’s script here: HCMSRolloutscript08.doc

julener (Tech Director, Tennessee)

@milobo We have summer laptop orientations--hand the laptops out, discuss policies (parents, too), then students-only 4 mini-classes w tchrs

thomasdaccord (Tom Daccord, Boston, www.edtechteacher.org, edtech consultant, author, teacher; webmaster of besthistorysites.net)

@milobo go over AUP, but don't teach tech. Instead, create small group skill activity: search, analyze, collaborate, create, present.