Digital Media is easier than ever to create with the software tools and Internet applications available today.   Ferryway teachers gathered today for the first in a series of six digital media workshops designed to build their technical skills in order to meet the Massachusetts’ technology literacy standards.  The workshops will increase the use of technology in Ferryway classrooms by providing high quality training and direct mentoring support.  Teachers are excited to integrate technology into their classrooms, especially since our expanded learning time initiative provides more time for project-based learning.

As the workshop instructor, I have a long history of collaboratively working with teachers to develop curriculum projects that use technology.  In fact, I’ve been in the Malden Public Schools since 1999 managing a number of federal, state, and non-profit grant projects to help teachers effectively engage their students with technology.   I have a strong belief that technology integration can produce gains in student achievement when it fits seamlessly into the curriculum.

Our first workshop was well attended by sixteen teachers and Ferryway principal, Tom DeVito.  Each teacher used an HP tablet computer (model tc4200) from the school’s laptop cart.  Teachers were able to logon and connect wirelessly to the Internet.  Here are some major highlights:

• Registered for a free teacher account on wikispaces.com
• Tried to view the Ferryway school Edublogs site.  Unfortunately, Edublogs was having major service interruptions due to a major site upgrade that had occurred over the weekend.  We will revisit this in our second workshop.
• Learned about embedded media by viewing slideshare.com, a slide presentation sharing site.
• Watched a short streaming movie on wikis produced by Common Craft.  These innovative movies use stop motion animation techniques to teach about technology tools.  Our student can create these types of movies using the Adobe Digital School Collection.
• Examined examples of Web 2.0 in education.  Teachers expressed interest in partnering Ferryway students with international classrooms.  The flatclassroom.com project is a good model.
• Introduced podcasting and recommended using wikispaces as a first step.
• Completed a short workshop evaluation survey.