Providing Professional Development to learn Technology

In order to meet teachers’ educational goals, it is important to provide professional development to help them select the most appropriate instructional and technical strategies. One of the main reasons why teachers that we meet refuse to use technology in their classrooms is because of their lack of experience in technology. They don't understand the technology and feel that the students would spend more time heckling them then learning.

Continuous professional development would help the teachers learn not only how to use the new technology but also how to apply it to their instruction and activities in the classroom. In order for teachers to become successful in using technology in their classrooms, they need to be provided with ongoing professional development to learn how to use these applications plus the needed time to become familiar with the software, products, and the many online resources.

Teachers find themselves as being facilitators and coaches and less as lecturers when using technology. The students take ownership of their own learning skills and become more as explorers and increase their thinking skills. Technology in the classroom tends to allow students to collaborate, therefore provides a positive effect on student achievement.

Matrix is a company that sells a great deal of classroom technology and we enjoy watching the students become more engaged while using it. Our goal is to help teachers become comfortable with classroom technology and have provided a great deal of resources designing professional development. Our goal is to help our teachers become more tech savvy then the students!

Because as you see with the future CEO of Matrix sitting with his Dad at work, technology is not intimidating!

A Great Joy

On of my greatest joys is going to a school site and seeing teachers using the solutions Matrix has provided. Earlier this week I was visiting Amador High School and I witnessed several teachers using the Interwrite Interactive Whiteboard. It was amazing to see the students actively engaged in class and paying attention to the material that the teachers presented.

It may seem strange that I mention this, since this is exactly the result that I promote when I do demonstrations of our solutions. However, seeing our solutions in action delivers a great sense of satisfaction and assures me that I am providing a valuable service to our clients.

Is Professional Development a thing of the past for Educators?

I've visited my child's elementary school classroom many times and see how much needs to be accomplished in a day. Curriculum goals plus all the other learning activities (library, assembly, PE, etc.) means that the teacher is doing all they can to fit this stuff in the day. The school day is fully booked - and that's not counting grading and other work they do to manage their jobs... and it's a lot. Recently, my local district's teachers had an in-service day following the Labor Day holiday, which I'm sure was a full day of trying to take in as much new and review information as possible. Yet, there are still so many things for the teachers to learn and understand so they can continually streamline their teaching styles as well as come up to speed on how to become more effective with the technology tools out here. Time constraints don't allow for all the professional development opportunities to be taken advantage of. I've taught tech classes to teachers, meeting after school, but turnout is generally low. Is continuing education a lost opportunity for educators?

MI University: Fall 2008 Class Schedule

Keeping our commitment to providing not only solutions but quality services as well, we have announced our Fall 2008 classes for MI University.

These classes will be held in our training room, which is located in our office in Sacramento. It can seat up to 80 people comfortably and provides a real time opportunity to see instructional AV technology products in action.

Demystifying the Computer : Basic Skills	$35	9/18 & 9/29, 3-5pm
Demystifying Email : Basic Skills	$35	9/25 & 910/6, 3-5 pm
Demystifying the Internet : Basic Skills	$35	10/2 & 10/13, 3-5pm
eInstruction WorkSpace -ExamView Edition®	$65	10/9 & 10/20, 3-5pm
eInstruction CPS	$65	10/23 & 10/27, 3-5pm
eInstruction Response	$65	10/30 & 11/3, 3-5pm
PowerPoint Introduction	$35	11/6 & 11/10, 3-5pm
Integrating Technology into Your Classroom	$35	11/13 & 11/17, 3-5pm

Even if someone has specific information or class content, we can work with them to present it for them.

Sometimes it just makes more sense to have someone provide training for you, given the time it takes to prepare the content and manage the administration.

http://www.matrixingenuity.com/Training-c119.html

Video Resources for Teachers

With our previous post Attention Teachers - Win $25k for your Classroom you have a chance to win $25,000.00 in eInstruction Interactive Classroom Makeover Contest. To compete you need to create a music video and send it in. To see the winners of lasts year's contest and examples of other videos visit: http://www.eimakeover.com/



Before you pass this opportunity by because you think it is too difficult to create a music video here is a list of resources for you to use:

Create Home Movies Effortlessly With Windows Movie Maker 2
Create Your Own Desktop Video Production
Creating Videos
Bbc - Learning Zone - Programme Listings
Education Kqed Public Media For Northern Ca
The Dv Teacher's Podcast Podcasts

Now there are many more site out there and I will keep on adding to this list as I find more. However, I do want to single out a website that I have used for years Index For Free, Comprehensive Audio And Video Course. This is a comprehensive website on cybercollege. com covering all aspects of video production, and includes quizzes, projects and additional readings.

Let me know what you think and good luck with the contest.

Computer basics....no assumptions

In an honest discussion with an educator I know, I was reminded that there are still teachers not necessarily bringing themselves any closer in becoming comfortable with using computers or other technology. Doesn't really matter what the reasons are behind that... but I can imagine that feeling of being overwhelmed when they have to deal with it.

In an attempt to help those people who would just like someone to hold their hand through becoming familiar with using their PC, managing their email, surfing the web for resources, we've put together a solution.

MI University will be offering a series of classes that will give a basic, crash courses on the following:
Demystifying the Computer - Basic Beginner Skills
Demystifying Email - Basic Beginner Skills
Demystifying the Internet - Basic Beginner Skills

Simple steps will be presented and no assumptions made about what attendees may or may not know. Just a bit of assistance for those needing to gain confidence with their tech skills...
www.matrixingenuity.com

Attention Teachers - Win $25K for classroom

Are you a creative teacher in a public or private school teaching primary or secondary grades in the US, Canada, New Zealand or Australia? Would you like to win $25,000 worth of technology for your classroom? Take a look at eInstruction’s latest makeover contest at www.eimakeover.com. Enjoy watching last year’s winners and start getting creative and join in on the fun.

If anyone has tips on helping teachers get started or become more creative, please post your thoughts.

Good luck and happy video taking!

Learn and End Hunger at the Same Time!

I occasionally encounter a website that grabs my attention so completely that if I am not careful, I will lose hours of my day. http://www.freerice.com/ happens to be one of them. Freerice.com is a website created by John Breen, on October 7, 2007 a computer programmer in Bloomington, Indana, while watching his son study for the SAT.

I can not remember how I heard of the site, it was a while ago, but, I thought it was a great idea. I love words and this was a fun way of improving my vocabulary and at the same time feed hungry people. "How?"you ask; "can you feed hungry people while playing a game on the Internet?" FreeRice partners with the UN to donate 20 grains of rice for each correct answer you give.

When you first visit the site you will see a word and four definitions, if you select the correct response you will donate 20 grains of rice, a tally is kept on the right side of the screen. As you answer more and more questions correctly the difficulty of the words increases, providing even more of a challenge.

At first, the site focused on English Grammar only, now they have added additional subjects, Math, Science, Language Learning, Art and Geography. This is an excellent resource for teachers to engage their students while benefiting the world.

How effective is this website? To date FreeRice.com has donated 42,243,701,230 grains of rice.
it takes approximately 20,000 grains of rice provide enough caloric intake to sustain an adult for one day. I will leave it to you to do the math.

Visit www.FreeRice.com and see if you can use it in your class.

Do you have a favorite website that you like to use in your classroom? Let me know, if I receive enough responses I'll do an article on it.

eInstruction was Interwrite... is now eInstruction... was Interwrite

Product name changes can throw us for a loop sometimes, especially when you are not tuned into the reason why they update. Company mergers, collapsing product lines, marketing, even whim drives these changes. I don't really get caught up in that spin; I just want the products and software that I use to be reliable.

Interwrite products are now eInstruction. The links to these manufacturers are getting sorted out, and is with any merger, it will take a bit of time for those to completely blend. The important factors, such as eInstruction tech support and Workspace software downloads are available without a glitch.

eInstruction released Workspace-ExamView Edition Software not long ago and you can download it for FREE. It has a bunch of new features that will bring current eInstruction (formerly Interwrite) Pad, Board, and Response users up to a new level. Some basic training video clips are available online but Matrix Ingenuity has a series of classes that we offer for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced users.

I'll be interested to see what the current (now eInstruction) Pad/Board and Response users think of the new software... We'd be glad to show them what they have now...

Chris' Choice Software - Photo Story 3

I am starting a series on programs that I find cool. Cool by its very nature is subjective so for each program I will list what I think is cool about it and how you could use it in your classroom.

My first choice is Microsoft's Photo Story 3, you can find it here.

Photo Story 3 is a free program that allows you to create slide shows with your digital pictures and add various visual effects, commentary and music. If you want to make a video like Ken Burns then this is the program to do it.

I downloaded the program a couple of months ago, intending to try it out, I never got around to it until last week. I was at an event where pictures were taken, they were not great pictures, so instead of just posting them as a slide show on a blog, I decided to use photo story to make a video. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy and fun it was to create a movie from my pictures.

Here is how it worked for me.

I imported my pictures and put them into my timeline. I did have an issue here; the pictures were taken at the largest resolution and the file sizes were HUGE. So, I went back and changed the resolution to a more modest size 800 x 600, only because I wanted a smaller file size and it was to be posted on a blog. PS3 worked well with the larger files, albeit a little slow, but I needed something smaller.

After I imported the pictures I arranged them in the order I wanted them displayed, edited them for contrast, color, and red eye reduction, added motion and transitions, and then added a sound track. You can choose from music on your hard drive or have the program create a sound track. Here is where I have a small issue, while soundtrack creation is cool and customizable, the end result still sounds a little computer sounding and generic.

Once everything was the way I liked it, I added opening and closing titles and chose a format to publish it in. PS3 went to work and my movie was finished.

I had a great deal of fun with it and am looking forward to using it more often.

Here are a few ideas on how to use it in your classroom:

1. Have your students collect pictures and tell a story with them (a video collage) - add narration and music.
2. Pick a topic and have your students take pictures and make a movie that tells the complete story.
3. Watch a Ken Burns special and discuss with your students how he uses pictures to tell his stories. Next, have your students use the same methods.
4. Break your class into groups and give them all the same pictures and have them create a video. Have a showing of all projects and then report on how different and/or similar each video was.

Photo Story 3 What's Cool

• It is easy to use. Just import your pictures, add music, export and voila you're done.
• It is powerful. you can edit and change things to your hearts content.
• It is free. Yep it is!
• It is fun. Revitalize old pictures and tell a compelling story.

Tell me what you think. Are you using PS3 and is it working for you? Are you using another piece of software that you like? What are your choices for useful educational software? Do you have a fun story of using PS3 in your classroom?

Matrix Ingenuity will be offering training on using Photo Story 3.
If you are interested in taking a class please contact me at training@matrixingenuity.com or check out our website at http://www.matrixingenuity.com/ for upcoming training dates.

PS. if you want to see my video it is here.

Back to School

Here at Matrix Ingenuity we are always looking for ways to increase the value of our offerings and to address your specific needs. With that in mind we have created a "Back To school" special with you in mind.

We start out with an incredible deal on the Interwrite pad for only $475.00 including shipping and if you purchase 5 pads you will receive 2 hours of free training. (a $750.00 value)

Next we have your choice of projectors a NEC NP200 at 1024x768 with 2100 lumens for only $625.00 or a Sanyo PDG-DSU21N at 800x600 with 2300 lumens for $525.00. Both projectors are a great value.

If you have more specific needs remember that you can always call us at 916-857-0561 and we will be happy to assist you in any way we can.

eInstruction CPS Software Updated

eInstruction has updated their CPS software. You can choose to automatically update from the help menu or visit this link and download the complete version.

This update allows CPS to fully integrate with the Interwrite Learning Workspace software, allowing the Interwrite Bluetooth Wireless pads and the Boards to take advantage of the CPS suite of software, including ExamView.

Workspace Updates to Version 7.60

On June 30th eInstruction launched Workspace- ExamView® Edition.

Overview & Outline of the New Features:

ExamView integration – View questions from the ExamView® Learning Series or publisher test banks on the Workspace page for instruction or assessment using student response pads

1. Enhanced Tools – Create gradient backgrounds and snap to grid to make your Workspace pages colorful and aligned. Also, learn about the enhanced text box tool, free form fill and capture tools, stamper, picture pen, and right-click menus.
2. Gallery Interface – Drag and drop images to personalize your collection into customizable folders
3. Toolbar Customization – Easily customize your toolbar by dragging and dropping the icons you want to have easily accessible
4. Device Manager – Graphics-enhanced device manager makes finding your devices easier than ever before
5. Preferences – Tab-based preferences makes finding options faster and easier

Click here to download the “How to Guide” for the new features of Workspace 7.6.

TextMark or If you can't beat them....

If you look to the left you will see a new addition to our blog. It is a TextMark widget and it allow me to communicate using text messaging.
What is cool about this is that now you have a method of communicating with your students in a method that they all understand and use, even if you do not want them to use it. Many times I will go into schools and see students texting, under a signs that say "No Cellphones" or "Students are not allowed to use cellphones during school hours."
I am not advocating letting students use cellphones in school, I see how disruptive it can be in training sessions. However, by having your students subscribe to this easy to use and free service you can notify them of homework changes, tests or any information that you might need to get to everyone. It also allows students to ask questions and receive responses anonymously, which can encourage greater participation.

Check it out for yourself subscribe and start receiving alerts on your phone.

Be aware that standard text messaging rates apply for you service provider.

Embracing 21st Century Learning

Matrix Ingenuity spent the 15th and 16th of May at the Technology Conference for Administrators, presented by Fresno County Office of Education' Instructional Technology Services. The conference was held at the beautiful Tenaya Lodge.
Here is a video of our booth. (Shot with the very cool Flip Video)

We want to thank everyone who visited our booth and here is the best part.

Congratulations to our booth winners:

• Kimberly Bonjorni from Clovis Christian Schools who won the Interwrite eInstruction School Pad
• Tracie Baughn from Coalinga Middle School who won the Flip Video Camera.

Let us know if you were at the conference and what you thought.

Win a Classroom Makeover

Here is your chance to win $8000 in eInstruction Classroom Technology!



With eInstructions "Content Meets Technology Sweepstakes" you could win a complete Classroom makeover including:

• Interwrite Workspace with ExamView™ reader


• Interwrite Board™


• Interwrite Pad


• 32-Pad CPS RF Clicker System


• One year subscription to ExamView Learning Series


• Epson PowerLite 400W Projector


• Epson Short-throw Projector Wall Mount


• Free installation and training

For more information click here and to enter visit here.

Good Luck!

Teched Winners!!

I want to thank everyone who visited Matrix Ingenuity's booth at Teched 2008. It was a pleasure to meet you and I look forward to speaking with you in the future.







For those of you who signed up for the giveaways here are the winners:

• The winner of the Flip Video Camera is David Grannis

• The winner of the Interwrite Pad is Larry Kendall

• The Grand Prize Winner is Jennie Batiste

Congratulations to all of the winners and enjoy your prizes.

Let me know what you though of Teched.

Teched Day 3

Teched 2008 is over and I am posting from the comfort of my office. Ahhhh, the joys of home and being in familiar surroundings.
Although I am happy to be home the show was great. It is refreshing to see so many teachers, administrators and classified employees interested in technology. If you visit this site, http://www.techedevents.org/2008-updated/TechEd2008TruncatedProgram.pdf, you can look over all of the sessions that were offered. As you can see there are many new and interesting methods for engaging students in the classroom.
I also had a chance to meet several vendors offering innovative solutions. Keep checking back, as Matrix Ingenuity tests these solutions I will be letting you know about the new solutions and how they can be integrated in your school or classroom.

If you visited our booth or attended Teched let me know what you though.

Day 2 at Teched

Heyyy! where is day 1? I will tell you it was a long day and to top it off there was no Internet available when I got back to my room. But Today! Today I made provisions and am happily posting an update.

As I mentioned, Day 1 was busy, Mike and I setup the both and got ready for the opening session, we have a good location, we are across from the the vendor theater and where the food is served for the attendees. We had lots of visitors and they all signed up for the giveaway of the Flip Video camera. http://www.theflip.com/ to check out the device. I am posting a picture and video taken with camera and it was bell of the ball.

Here is a picture of our booth

Day 2

Even busier, it was a full day of sessions and visitors. Today's big draw was the Crestron system and the Interwrite Pad. With the DVPHD we can project 4 images simultaneously on the screen it is very cool and more than that it is useful. Take into consideration video conferencing, the basic setup requires at least 2 monitors one for the video coming from the site you connecting to and the other is a local monitor to check what is being sent. With the DVPHD you have one box and it can display both images on one screen.

Our giveaway today was an Interwrite pad and our winner was Larry Kendall, Here is a video of Michael Dessaso Sr. Vice President, presenting the Pad to Larry at the conference.

Tomorrow is day 3 and then we head home.

Let me know if you attended Teched and what was the best part!

Matrix Ingenuity is Heading to TechEd

The Matrix Ingenuity Team is taking the show on the road and heading to Ontario, California for the 13th Annual Technology in Education Conference and Exposition. Our team has set-up an awesome display to show some of the coolest technology out there. We are showing the InterWrite Bluetooth Wireless Pad, a wonderful technology that frees teachers from their board.
Along with the educational solutions, we are displaying awesome Audio/Video solutions from Crestron.
Visit us at booth 433 and sign up for a chance to win some exceptional prizes.

Let us know if you are heading to TechEd and we will look out for you.

Laptop Survives Being Run Over By a car

We have several products that seem to do a great job in our very tough classroom environments and one of the newest additions is the New! RM Mobile One Classbook

New! RM Mobile One Classbook

Link The RM Mobile One Classbook has been especially designed for the classroom and has been remodelled, re-engineered and reinforced to meet all of the challenges the classroom environment can throw at it.

Spill and Splash Proof Keyboard as standard
Drop Tested from 6 feet
Easily Removable Keyboard
Hard Screen LCD
Integrated Webcam
Magnesium alloy lid
Anti-trip cable
External battery charger and more!



Our teachers appreciate the durability of this laptop. If you are interested in learning more, please contact us and we can provide pricing and additional information! Watch the video too!

Free Interwrite Training

So the Super Bowl wasn't so super if you were a Pats fan! It is a rare accomplishment to go undefeated and it didn't happen this time, maybe next year.
This brings up a tough lesson to learn, no matter how much training and practice you have it may still not be enough.
So what do you do......? Go out and train and practice some more!!!!

As a matter of fact I believe training is so important I have refused job offers because of the lack of training or no training at all.

There are things better then training. “What?” you ask. Free Training!

We are offering free training on the Interwrite Workspace Software click on this link for more information and to sign-up.

http://www.matrixingenuity.com/InterwriteTraining-sp8.html

Take advantage of this offer. It is a $150.00 value and seats are limited.

Let me know what you think! About the game or about training, I look forward to hearing from you.

Going Green with Da-Lite

Da-Lite Screen Company is offering a new service to customers who purchase a screen from them. Started on January 1st, 2008 Da-lite will now recycle your current screen for just the cost of shipping.


Here's how it works:
Give us a call or order your screen online at Matrixingenuity.com

Let us know what size and model screen you need recycled

Da-lite will send all of the packaging materials

Package up the screen and send it back to Da-lite in Indiana

• Not a bad deal.
• Let me know what you think!
  

Macworld - The GOOD part!

There were several cool products at the Expo.

Interwrite Learining was there with the bluetooth wireless tablet, whiteboard and personal response system (PRS). It was a busy booth and there was a lot of interest in the PRS, both as a testing device and as a method to collect homework.

NEC had some new products including a wrap around wide screen display. It is not a flat screen as you can see but a rear projection. Neat concept, yet sad, as I do not have space on my desk for it....Yet!

Canon was there with their large format printers 44" wide and up to 75' long. The images were sharp and while I was at their booth they were printing this beautiful banner! They also displayed there consumer and professional video cameras, HD is out there and its stunning. I am looking for a new video camera for podcasting and I think Canon may be it.

Continuing along the lines of video Pod casting, I saw two excellent software programs from Vara Software. http://www.varasoftware.com/ The videocue 2 allows you to enter your script and read it like a teleprompter as you look into your video camera. They were using the built-in camera in the top of the screen and it worked like a dream. The other product they had was a software based live broadcast studio. It has a robust feature set and you can do some neat things.

This next picture is of Software Bisque's booth. http://www.bisque.com/ They have a series of astronomy software products that are comprehensive to say the least. For both the beginner and the expert they have a solution for you.

I suppose that since I am writing about Macworld Expo, I should say a few things about Apple's offerings. They had the whole line-up there, Ipod, IPhone, and the rest. They were showing of the Macbook Air, a super thin notebook. It was slick and there are going to be a lot of happy travelers, when they get their hands on this beaut.

Overall, the show broke even, not too many breakthrough items, but a lot of solid products that address various niche markets.

What did you think?

What was your expectation?

What cool things did you find?

Macworld Expo 2008

I went to my first Macworld Expo today. It wasn't what I expected and I am sure that the biggest buzz will be about the lines to get badges.

This is the line to get into the EXPO, Cool huh! Now, if you were to look down the street to the right you would see another crowd this size waiting to get in. It was a mess.

Another Picture of the line, this time inside:

Well, it has been a long, long day and although the Expo started off slow, there was some cool stuff there and I will share that later.

Tell me what you thought of Macworld.

Macworld Expo

I have a GREAT job. One of the benefits of this great jobs is that I can attend trade shows and various training and then I can share what I learned with all of you!

Tomorrow, is the opening day of the Expo and I will be in attendance. Several of our partners will be there, Interwrite Learning, and NEC are two that I am looking forward to visiting with. I am also excited to see all of the audio and video editing equipment plus all of the new gadgets. (What can I say, I am a Geek)

I will be taking some pictures and I will share them and what I have learned when I get back.



Let me know if you were there too and I look forward to hearing what you thought was the "Latest Greatest."


Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Arthur C. Clarke (1917 - ), "Profiles of The Future", 1961 (Clarke's third law)

New Year's Resolutions

Well, it’s the 3rd week of January, how many of you have broken at least one of your New Year’s Resolutions? I haven’t, I am not bragging but you have to make Resolutions to keep them. Several years ago, I gave up resolutions for good. Oh sure I have goals for the year, but resolutions, never again. Why? Too much pressure, too easy to quit, too, well, you name it and I’ll find an excuse.
I am a firm believer in continuous improvement.
Yes, it is very business sounding, however if you think about it, why create obstacles for yourself. If you start out the year with the resolution to exercise at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes and you don’t do it, you fail. Also, why the New Year, when most of us need corrections throughout the year.
Here is how it works for me! One of my goals is to exercise more, I would like to work out 3-4 days a week and I can tell you I am not currently doing so. I am however working out 1-2 days a week and that is more then I was a month ago and next month I will try to work in another day or work out longer each time. So when I look back I see improvement and not failure.

The solutions Matrix Ingenuity offer are the same, they are always in the process of continuous improvement.
Our training and support http://www.matrixingenuity.com/Training-sp10.html is always being modified and perfected to provide you with the highest quality and the most enjoyable experience MI can offer.
Interwrite Learning is an excellent example of the continuous improvement system. Their Interwrite Workspace software is being enriched everyday, they take user feedback and any issues that arise and improve the software, and they provide the upgrades for free.
Matrix Ingenuity’s website http://www.matrixingenuity.com/ is also under continuous improvement. Changes are being made every day sometimes they work and sometimes we need to make changes, but we are striving to improve.
This blog http://www.matrixingenuity.blogspot.com/ too is a new endeavor and if I haven’t bored you to tears yet, I have improved since last week. (I didn’t even blog)

Remember the addage:
"Good, Better, Best, Never Rest. Till good is better and better, best"

How can you work continuous improvement? I look forward to your response.

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Arthur C. Clarke (1917 - ), "Profiles of The Future", 1961 (Clarke's third law)

Welcome to Matrix Ingenuity's blog

We are starting the new year with exciting news! We have opened an e-commerce site to assist our existing clients in purchasing products and services.

Our main goal of the blog is to discuss our favorite topics related to classroom technologies and products With so much many choices of technology offered we wanted to have a way to comment and provide our thoughts and experiences.