Microsoft+Teacher's+Newsletter

Microsoft Innovative Teachers Newsletter September 30, 2009

Welcome to the Classroom Teacher Edition of the Microsoft® Innovative Teachers Newsletter. The Innovative Teachers program < [] > provides free, high-quality classroom learning and professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers.

U.S. Innovative Teachers Forum 2009 "This was a great opportunity for professional development and collaboration among a group of creative educators."

Last month, 36 outstanding teachers from around the country gathered at the Microsoft Silicon Valley campus to share creative insights, collaborate on project ideas, and get a preview of new technology tools for teaching and learning.

Keynote speakers included Linda Darling-Hammond, author and Charles E. Ducommun Professor at the Stanford University School of Education, Rich Crandall, director of the K-12 Lab at the Hasso Plattner Stanford Institute of Design, Les Foltos, director of the edLAB division of the Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology, and Mary Cullinane, US Education Director of Innovation and Business Development, Microsoft Corporation.

Over the next few months we'll share the experience with you. We'll publish the Virtual Classroom Tours created by the teachers who attended the event, and articles and resources provided by the Forum speakers.

When the date is set for next year's forum we'll provide you with a template and application guidance. We hope that YOU will apply for the 2010 Forum!

Columbus East High School Teachers Autumne Streeval and Harriet Armstrong to represent U.S. at Worldwide Forum in Brazil

Autumne and Harriet (pictured above) were selected by this year's judges to represent the United States at the Worldwide Innovative Teachers Forum. In November they will travel to Brazil to showcase their project and network with teachers from around the world. Autumne and Harriet are two-time winners; they were also chosen to attend the Worldwide Forum in Finland in 2007. Their project, "Industrial Revolution Tic Tac Toe", connects students to real world learning in creative ways. Differentiated learning strategies were incorporated into the project from the ground up, as they developed it using principles of universal design for learning.

The Teachers' Choice Award went to Valerie Fasy, Diane Heitzenrater, and Stacy Rotchford from Keith Valley Middle School in Horsham, Pennsylvania. Their project, "Not So Simple Inventions", guides students to work collaboratively to design a Rube Goldberg-like machine which completes an everyday task. Students include the six simple machines in a ten-step design and make it "work" using advanced custom animation tools in PowerPoint.

You can download both of these projects, and others created by forum teachers, from the Innovative Teachers Network.

Join the Innovative Teachers Network < [] >

Already a member? Log in here < [] >

Go to the Communities section of the site, and join the 2009 Innovative Teachers Forum Community. Then click on the 2009 Forum Virtual Classroom Tours folder under Shared Documents.

--

--

Fresh Ideas for a New School Year

Windows 7 - Your PC, Simplified < [] > You told us to make Windows 7 easier to use, and we listened. Find out why you should consider adopting Windows 7 for your personal computer and your classroom.

Your PC, Simplified < [] > Take a tour of Windows 7, explore its features, and learn what makes it different than your current operating system.

NECC 2009 Windows 7 Introduction < [] >

IT administrators at your school can test Windows 7 in a 90-day free trial < [] >

Plan for H1N1 Absences with a Classroom Online Workspace < [] > If the H1N1 flu virus keeps your students away from the classroom, continue the learning online by using Office Live Workspace. It's easy to get started with tips from this resource. You can share assignments and distribute handouts, post presentations, and enable group collaboration.

Visit Microsoft Education Labs < [] > Are you curious by nature? Opinionated? Slip into the Microsoft Education Labs. Explore the concepts and prototypes found there and tell us what you think.

Prototypes - these are concept tests, so they may be a little rough around the edges:
 * Microsoft Live Services Plug-in for Moodle
 * Math Worksheet Generator

Concept Videos:
 * Collaborative Learning
 * Classroom of the Future

--

Sign Up for Your Own Innovative Teachers Newsletter < [] > If a colleague has passed this monthly e-newsletter along to you and you'd like to subscribe for yourself, just fill out a brief form to sign up. It's easy to do, free of charge, and you can cancel any time.