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My Education Cooperative Classes

My Name is Rita Partridge and I teach classes in Professional Development for the Education Cooperative in Walpole, Massachusetts. Below is a list of the classes I teach and a small description about them. If you take one of my classes you will be using this page as a resource for the class and for any assignments outside of class.

Demystifying Computer Coding with your Students:

Why We Should Be Teaching Coding In School

Course Description: Computer Science provides a foundation for virtually any career and coding is the basic skill used by programmers. In school, coding lessons give all students a chance to experience the world of computer programming and the opportunity to try coding for classroom assignments. From mathematical thinking and problem solving to creating presentations and functional programs such as computer games, coding is an integral skill that intrigues and challenges students. It promotes higher level thinking skills, troubleshooting, and collaboration in students. In addition, the coding skills students learn will apply to a wide range of other courses and disciplines. This course is designed to demystify "code". Learn the basics of coding to be a maker, a creator, and innovator. Experience coding yourself and learn how to present it to your students! https://partridge-tec-wiki.wikispaces.com/Demystifying+Computer+Coding

100’s of Digital Pictures? Great Ways to Use Them and Share Them!

Course Description: Have you been clicking those shots for years? Would you like to learn the many ways to use them? Then this class is for you. Today our computers can access so many resources on the internet for digital pictures. I have researched for the best sites for classroom use and will share them in this class as well as show you how to use them. Together we will explore digital editing and storage sites, slideshows, and collage opportunities and more. We will also explore ways to enhance your own collection of pictures with resources on the web for digital photos. Copyright issues will also be covered as we work on planning lessons and projects for your students. All that you learn in this class about using photos can also apply to your personal collection of family digital photos too!

WIKI or BLOG Which one is for you?

Web 2.0 tools have been enhancing education in many ways. In this class each of you will be asked to try two web 2.0 tools with your students and compare their uses. Course Description: Wikis and Blogs are part of the Read/Write Web. Blogs are a place where conversations and reflections are or can be added to daily. The readers are engaged and are asked to think and respond. Wikis began as a quick and easy way for people to publish on the web. They are best used with both teachers and students contributing to the content. Both of these tools have a place in education. In this class we will explore the uses as well as create accounts for each tool to use with your students.

Beginner Podcasting with GarageBand What is a Podcast?

Podcasts are audio broadcasts that are downloaded onto iPods or other MP3 digital audio players. The programs are similar to radio programs, but because they are downloaded on the player, they can be listened to whenever it is convenient. Course Description: Podcasting is a wonderful way of allowing children to share their work and experiences with a potentially huge audience over the Internet. A podcast is like a radio show. However, instead of being broadcast live, a podcast is recorded and then distributed over the internet, so that you can listen to it whenever you please. Come explore the available podcasts on the internet and learn how to make a simple podcast with your students.

Cool Web Tools to Jazz up Your Lessons I Course Description: Most teachers have heard of web 2.0, but are not sure how these free tools can be helpful in enhancing curriculum in their classroom. And there are so many choices out there that it is difficult to decide which tool, or even if a tool can be helpful to you. In this course we will explore new tools for Presentations, Social Bookmarking. Slideshows, Instructional Videos and more. We will begin with tools to organize your web research and move on to tools that will showcase your research and end with some interactive tools to use with your students.

= = Scratch Programming Course Description: Most people view computer programming as a tedious, specialized activity, accessible only to those with advanced technical training. Scratch is a new graphical programming language, created by MIT that aims to change that thinking. Scratch takes advantage of advances in computing power and interface design to make programming more engaging and accessible for children, teens, and others who are learning to program. In this class we will learn how to use the program as well as explore the value and uses of this program in the classroom.

Gmail and Google Applications Anyone with a gmail account also has access to a suite of software programs for free. Educators can take advantage of these free tools and also utilize a sharing feature to use with colleagues. Free Google products include: iGoogle, Gmail, Google Reader, Picasa, Calendar, and documents such as text documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Come and learn how these tools can enhance your productivity and simplify your life.

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