ITEC 2012

Spending three days at the ITEC (Iowa Technology and Education Connection) conference in Des Moines. Here's a link to my notes (ongoing):

• http://goo.gl/H1dG6

Student Video - Facebook Privacy

• NOTE: This video was not produced by Newell-Fonda students.

A Few Good Links, 9/19/12

• The Winning 1:1 Strategy
• 10 Observables of a Collaborative Culture
• Is 1:1 Reaching the Tipping Point?
• 21st Century Technology Learning Environments
• Ideas for Engaging Students in Active Learning
• Are You Ready to Save Public Education?

Updated: Google Drive and Docs for Teachers 2012

• http://www.scribd.com/doc/92629651/Google-Drive-and-Docs-for-Teachers-2012

Food for Thought (about social media policy) from Blue Skunk Blog

• http://goo.gl/6cLeA

Distributing Files via Google Docs (Drive)

Say you want to share a document out to a group of students.  You need them to be able to edit that document, but you don't want everyone editing (collaborating) on the same document.  You want each student to have a copy of their own that they edit and then share back to you when completed.

Here's what you do at your end:

1. Create the original document you want to share.
2. Share that document to the group of students, and make sure to give those students View privileges only (not Edit privileges).

When the document arrives in the student's Google account, it is owned by you (the teacher), and the student has only View privileges. He can't change it.  Here's what the student needs to do:

1. Check the box in front of the document to select it.
2. Click the "More" folder at the top of the window, and select Download from the drop-down menu.
3. Take the defaults in the next window, and click Download.  Wait until the download completes.
4. Now, the student has a copy of this file in the Downloads folder on his computer.  He owns this copy.  He need to upload this copy back into his Google Docs.
5. Back on his main Google Docs page, click the Upload button at the top-left, and choose Files from the drop-down menu.
6. Navigate to the file that was previously downloaded to the student's computer, and click Open.
7. Take the defaults in the next window, and click Start Upload.  Wait until this completes.

Now, the student will have a fresh copy of the document (it may have the same name as the original), and this copy is owned by the student.  The student can edit this copy, rename it if necessary, and share it back to the teacher when completed.

So, in summary, the steps are basically:

1. Teacher shares a document to students with View privileges.
2. Student downloads a copy of this document.
3. Student uploads that copy right back into his Google Docs account.

EDIT: One thing that's important to remember is that when a person clicks a link to a shared Google Doc, it will to into any Google account that's currently logged in on that person's computer.  Stress to your students to make sure they're logged in to their school Google account, before clicking the link to a shared document from a teacher.

CNN - My View: Don't Ban Social Media From Schools

The author of Social Media in Business makes the case for social media in school.

• Click here for the article.

He lists "10 important principles" to consider when implementing social media policy in schools:

1. Bring in experts
2. Make a clear written policy
3. Highlight past transgressions
4. Stive for accountability
5. Create a classroom page
6. Report inappropriate behavior immediately
7. Remind students of proper use
8. Assess policy vs. reality
9. Involve parents and the community
10. Bring the risks to light

Ted.com: Sherry Turkle on Being Connected, But Alone

Ted.com: Don Tapscott on the Four Principles for the Open World

On Social Media Policy

There's always much discussion about the appropriate use of social media in the educational environment, but there never seems to be much consensus.  One side focuses on the power of social media to enable communication and collaboration, while the other side focuses on the potential pitfalls and dangers of an open social media environment.  Here are some great articles and blog posts on the subject that have hit the web recently.

• Scott McLeod
• Scott McLeod
• Steve Tafee
• Doug Johnson
• West Des Moines Community Schools
• Chris Betcher
• Joe Mazza

EDIT: This one came out just after I posted.  I'm adding it now.

• Steven W. Anderson