Mike's+Project


 * [[image:mikeproject.jpg width="514" height="331"]] Screen shot from Mike's presentation

12/3 Latest Update** Dear Sojourners - Not being able to understand how to navigate around the wiki page..I wanted to update everyone on my project. In reality, I am working on three different projects at the same time.

Project one: updating our school's website - http://www.delhi.k12.ca.us/delhi/site/default.asp If you look under the parent information link, there is nothing happening - that is the problem. I wanted to have a link on the website that allows the parents to get a video download of what the high school is all about.

Project two: Media broadcast class. The high school still read the announcements over the PA system each day - very Riddle High (for you Grease fans). Last year, I began to discuss the possibility of broadcasting the announcements over the internet in a live broadcast format. I discussed the possibility with the computer tech department in the district. They assured me the backbone structure was capable of handling a direct internet transmission. The second part of the project was to secure the funds to purchase the necessary equipment. I applied for and received at $21,000 Carl Perkins Career Education grant. This grant became the seed money to purchase the needed broadcasting equipment to develop the media class. One of the key pieces of equipment to we purchased was a "[|Tricaster]". The Tricaster allows us to download any video transmission to a website. Click on the [|ESPN] link to watch the video link. The video links are generated by the Tricaster. This allows use to edit, link and construct a video transmission. As I write this e-mail, $21,000 of media equipment has just been delivered to my office, including HD video recorder, Tricaster, 3 Apple computers and all the accessories.

Project Three: EDFL 675 Project. After further discussions with my computer tech, we want to connect the ability to broadcast bulletins and information with a wiki type discussion forum. The computer techs are looking into the possibilities of developing the discussion form, our next goal is to connect the form to the district's website. We already have a "Parent-Connect" which allows parent to log in to the district's website to access their student grade, attendance and teachers. Our next project is to down load our discussion forum and video announcement broadcast to the district's website so parent/students and other administrator can access information from the high school.

How do three project connect to one-another? Right now, we have the ability to broaden the ability of the school to communicate via the internet by video linking and discussion forums over the districts website. Potentially, this will move the district primary means of communications, E-mails, to live broadcast. Soon, we will have the potential of doing live internet broadcast from the school to any parents computer.

With all that said, the computer tech I have been developing these projects with broke his ankle while hanging Christmas lights. I intended to have him with me as we link with the class on Dec. 13th. He is scheduled for surgery next week. Hopefully, he will be available! I will continue to press on and keep everyone informed.

[|horwood proposal.htm] I am working on getting the screen shots to show up, stand by. From: Anthony Gattuso Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 12:11 PM To: DMS Certificated Staff; High School Cc: Bob Hughes; Ruben Vega; Dustin McIntosh; Keith Porter Subject: Discusion forum for students

Teachers and Principals,

Many teachers have asked for a web forum that can be used in your classes. I had planned on having this ready a long time ago, but there were technical difficulties, and a ton of other projects, that prevented that from happening. Anyway, things are just about ready to go.

For those of you that are not sure what a forum is, it would allow you to have online discussions between you and students, and students and students, about whatever subjects you’re covering in your class. Here’s an example of how you could use it in your class. Also, see the pictures at the bottom of this email for a visual of what a forum looks like on the web:

i. Student 1: Amendment 4 says … and this is what I think it means…. 1. Teacher: That’s close, but don’t for about …. So, when taking that into consideration, expand on your explanation. a. Student 1: blah, blah, blah…. ii. Student 2: Amendment 1 says … and this ….. 1. Teacher: That’s a very interesting example of free speech here at school. Class, do any of you have any other examples of how you, as students, have expressed your right to free speech. a. Student 15: blah, blah, blah…. b. Student 21: blah, blah, blah…. i. Student 15: Well, this is how I see it…. ii. Student 10: Student 15 makes a good point, but I think…
 * 1) You teach government. You may pose the following questions as new ‘threads’ in your forum. A thread is a new topic of conversation:
 * 2) Teacher: List one of the amendments in the Bill of Rights. In your own words explain what that means to you personally, and give an example of how you’ve been affected, or potentially could be affected, by it. Since there are only 10 to choose from, each amendment may only be chosen 3 times.
 * 1) A different thread with a new topic.
 * 2) New thread. Student 8: I don’t know how to tell the difference between this and that. Please help.

While anyone will be able to read your forum, your students will need to login to post. Their accounts have already been created, along with all of their info (name, school, grade, etc). They’ll have the same username and password as their computer login, so it will be easy for them. Also, the students name, school, grade, and maybe other info, will show up on each of their posts, so if somebody posts anything inappropriate, you’ll know exactly who did it.

If you’re interested in a forum for your class(es), here’s what I need from you: 3. What period(s) and subject(s). 4. Do you want students to be able to only respond to your threads or can they also start their own threads? They need to be able to start their own threads if you want to allow them to ask for help from you or other students. The nice thing about the forum is that you can make your threads ‘sticky’, so that they always appear at the top of the forum. Then, no matter how many ‘help’ threads your students start, your ‘question’ threads will always be at the top.

Take a look at the pictures below to see what a forum looks like. If you have any questions, let me know.

Send me your info if you’re interested.

Anthony Gattuso Software Support Tech Delhi Unified School District 209.656.2009 agattuso@delhi.k12.ca.us

These pictures were taken from the following forum, in case you want to look at it live: http://forums.anandtech.com/default.aspx?FTVAR_SUBCAT=64&NoCookies=y&subcatname=Consumer%20Electronics