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Intro to the Macintosh Operating System
Essential Skills 1.2a

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Intro to the Windows Operating System
Essential Skills 1.2b

You will learn the basic skills necessary for using your Windows 7 computer efficiently.  Some of the topics covered will be file management, settings, finding and using programs, creating files, saving them and even backing them up.

Outcomes and Products: Teachers will be able to find their way around a Mac or Windows computer much more easily. They will be able to choose appropriate applications to create and manage documents.

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Creating Professional-Looking Documents with MS Word
Essential Skills 1.3

With Microsoft Word, it is easy to create great looking newsletters, posters and student handouts. We will take you through the steps to create worksheet or newsletter that you can use right away in your classroom.

Outcomes and Products: Teachers will create a document such as a classroom newsletter, poster, lesson handout, or form using Microsoft Word.

Workshop Resource Page

Word 2008 (Mac) Resource Page

Word 2007 (Windows) Resource Page

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Essential Skills: Module 2 Communicating Online (Websites and Email)

Introduction to AbbyNet (FirstClass)
Essential Skills 2.1

You will learn the basics of using AbbyNet to create, send and manage email. Basic skills covered will include: attaching and receiving documents, accessing staff conferences, managing your contacts list, and using proper email etiquette.

Outcomes and Products: Teachers will be comfortable using AbbyNet to communicate using email.

Intro to FirstClass Online Tutorial

Tips and Shortcuts Page

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Creating a Basic Website with AbbyNet
Essential Skills 2.2

FirstClass (AbbyNet) has a Web Publishing feature that allows teachers to create a classroom website, quickly and easily.  A FirstClass classroom website can be created in minutes and will only require a minimum of effort to keep it up-to-date.  The benefit to using a classroom website to communicate with students, staff, and parents is enormous. No more excuses for not know what was for homework, or losing a permission form!

Outcomes and Products: Teachers will create a basic one-page website for their classroom or department.

 Tutorial Resources

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Internet Search Techniques for Students and Teachers
Essential Skills 2.3

Many teachers feel inadequate when it comes to taking their students online to research a topic. Equip yourselves! We will explore excellent internet research skills that you can use the next day with your students.

Outcomes and Products: Teachers will be equipped to skillfully guide their students while researching using online resources (internet).

Resource Page
Workshop Slides

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Essential Skills: Module 3 Collaborating Online (Blogging, Media Awareness and Information Literacy)

Getting the Most out of AbbyNet
Essential Skills 3.1

Building on skills covered in "Intro to AbbyNet" we will explore the many collaborative tools built into FirstClass (the software the runs AbbyNet). This will include making mail lists, using Instant messaging, enhancing the look of your emails, using conferences to collaborate with students and staff, using the FirstClass calendar, using Mail Rules to eliminate unwanted email (spam).

Outcomes and Products: Teachers will be able to use the advanced collaborative features built into AbbyNet to effectively communicate with their school community.

Resource Page

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Using Interactive Online Writing (Blogging)
Essential Skills 3.2

Research proves that writing for an authentic audience will dramatically improve the quality of student writing as well as motivate them to write more often. Writing in a collaborative, safe online space provides the context necessary for students to flourish as writers. We will look at some excellent online blogging services where students can publish their work and interact with out student writers. FirstClass (AbbyNet) makes adding a collaborative writing environment to your classroom website easy. We will add an interactive component to the classroom website that was created in the previous workshop.

Outcomes and Products: Teachers will know how to use collaborate online writing services (blogs and wikis) to develop literacy skills in young writers.
Blogger.com

WordPress.com

WikiSpaces.com

PBWikis.com

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Information Literacy and Web Awareness
Essential Skills 3.3

Building on the previous workshop in Module 2 (Internet Search Techniques for Students and Teachers) this workshop will look at the anatomy of websites to help you recognize misinformation and hoaxes and determine the quality of the information students are finding.  We will also provide resources to help teachers develop the skills needed by young people to become safe, wise and responsible Internet users. We will cover online safety and responsible Internet use, online marketing to kids, privacy issues and authenticating online information.

Outcomes and Products: Teachers will be more skilled in guiding and advising their students while they are researching and interacting online.

Workshop Slides