This site is for Mrs. Stangherlin's classes at Salisbury High School.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Walsh and Lobach Win Editors’ Pick BrainyFlix SAT Contest

Meagan Walsh and Erin Lobach were the first two students to jump at the extra credit offered for entering the BrainyFlix SAT Contest.  The goal was to make studying SAT vocabulary fun by creating a short video that defines and explains the word.  Walsh and Lobach made and entered 2 films, and their carouse video won Editor’s Pick.  They won a monetary prize and award certificates.  Inside was a note to them from the Editors who wished them good luck on their final, something they talked about in their video.

Enjoy watching Harry Potter surface in Erin and Meagan’s carousing winning video.





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Thursday, May 14, 2009

Tech-Savvy Students Teach Teachers



Salisbury High School might be a small school , but it is big on star power.  Mark Attilio and Megan Heverly made us especially proud of them on April 17, 2009, when Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 held their first annual CFF Showcase.  Megan and Mark joined a large group of teachers from IU 21 to showcase two years of project-based learning in their English classroom. To Salisbury’s credit, many participants at the conference commented that since Megan and Mark were such knowledgeable presenters, they mistook them for teachers. Any who knows this team understands their professionalism in approaching a task. One of Mark and Megan’s favorite recollections of the day occurred when a teacher said to them, “You have no idea how much I learn from my students.” Their response: “We know what you mean.” That tells you how really good this team is: they are humble with their abilitity and knowledge, but so willing to share it.  Once again, they proved that Salisbury Students Are Tech Savvy, and consummate professionals as well. Students like Attilio and Heverly lead the way in true 21st century learning, creating partnerships in education that are dynamic, ground-breaking, worthwhile, and overdue.

Presentation resources are available on Megan Heverly’s Edublog.  The video they made uses SnagIt to screen capture their digital footprint.

IU Video(low quality) from megan heverly on Vimeo.








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Thursday, May 07, 2009

SHS J8 Team GUIDEs Their Way Into Top Ten in Nation

Guest Bloggers Brandon Aversano and Fatema Rajmohamed

It was an experience that the four of us would surely never forget. It all began when Jennifer Brinson, our Advanced Placement United States History Teacher, informed of us a contest titled J8. The J8 coincides with the global summit held by the G8 countries (United States, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Russia, and the United Kingdom) in July, in which the eight leaders of the most powerful countries in the world discuss key issues facing the world today. J8 is a national competition in which teams of four (ages 13-17) create and submit an application to the United States branch of UNICEF. The winning team would spend a preparatory weekend in New York during the month of May, and then travel to Italy in July to join other youth teams from the G8 countries. The J8 conference occurs during the G8 summit, allowing the youths participating in the conference to interact with the most influential and powerful political leaders of our time.

With our ears wide open as Ms. Brinson explained the components of the intense competition, we decided there was no possible way we were going to allow an opportunity such as this one to pass through our fingers. The four of us (Brandon Aversano, Olga Karounos, Fatema Rajmohamed, Melinda Lehman), set to work on an application that would take over a month to complete successfully. We began by downloading the United States application form on the J8 website. With numerous aspects of the application form, each requiring its own special time and attention, we decided to each research and create our own ideas for each category.

Our first challenge was deriving a team name that encompassed our mission and purpose in the competition, as well as the individuality of our members. Spending a good deal of time creating a name, we decided to ask Ms. Brinson for some advice. The team recognized how global the J8 competition truly was, and therefore wanted to emphasize this in the team name. Taking ideas from the categories in the application, we finally arrived at our team name, G.U.I.D.E. The pneumonic device stands for, Globally Unified Individuals for Diplomacy and Ecology. R.J. Stangherlin served as our coach throughout the entire process. Helping us synthesize our information, create a platform with depth and understanding, and allowing us to realize our potentioal, Mrs. Stangherlin was a crucial part to the entire competition. However, as integral as Mrs. Stangherlin was, she allowed the members of GUIDE to complete the project on their own terms, because after all, the J8 was looking for youth voices.

J8 wanted us to create solutions on three pressing issues facing the world today including Climate Change, HIV/Aids and Infectious diseases, and a third topic of our choosing. Each of us researched the topics extensively on our own, and following this, we held morning meetings to compile our information and form conclusions on the best possible route for tackling the momentous problems at hand. Our solution for Climate Change consisted of limiting the amount of deforestation and promoting agroforestry business. Additionally, GUIDE suggested using alternative energy sources to curb the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. Gathering inspiration from conferences we have attended and even our own personal experience (Lehman’s time in Africa), we had a couple solutions for curbing HIV/AIDS in developing countries. Recognizing the importance and efficiency of microfinancing/microcrediting, we conveyed the very real possibility of implementing such a system in these developing countries to break the cycle of poverty, and therefore reduce the necessity to use prostitution as a means of obtaining monetary relief. The spread of HIV/AIDS would surely decline along with the decline of prostitution. For our third topic, we chose to tackle the problem of insufficient education in developing countries. GUIDE encouraged G8 nations to remove financial barriers (cost of notebooks, textbooks, pencils, pens, calculators) to disenfranchised families in developing countries. The adoption of a mandatory student teaching in developing countries, for students studying education in G8 nations, was also recommended by GUIDE.

UNICEF stressed their requirement for diversity in the application, and our team absolutely fulfilled this requirement! Aversano (17 year old male) brought his Ashekanzi Jewish background and his lingustic endeavors in a second language (Spanish) to the diversity of the team. Karounos (16 year old female) has a strong Greek heritage with comfort in the Greek language as well as Spanish. Rajmohamed (17 year old female) has a practicing Shia Muslim, speaking Gujariti (and Indian language), she brought another sect of language and culture to the table. Lehman (17 year old female), spent many years in Tanzania, Africa, assimilating to the customs and cultures of her surrounding; not only fluent in English and Kiswahili, she has experience with the French language as well. The team clearly embodied diversity, with strong ethnic backgrounds, and linguistic abilities in a myriad of languages.

Stressing our social commitment and love for community, we included the various activities and events the members of the team have completed. Each member brought unique benefits and individuality to the group, creating a diverse and interesting makeup. All the members have participated in different forms of community service, whether it be domestic or abroad, and each member had experience with political and governmental bodies. Encompassing a broad range of skills and talents, GUIDE was easily able to strengthen the overall reliability of the application.

Utilizing technology with the purpose of reaching a larger demographic of people, UNICEF required a piece of writing detailing our experience and ability with various forms of technology, and how we, as a team, would utilized this background to gain a broader audience. Working with modern 2.0 tools such as Google docs and Facebook, our team was able to successfully communicate numerous ways to reach more people. Proposing the creation of a 2 day LCIU course on global technology integration, the team showed how we could reach our community; and therefore our community could reach the world. GUIDE went above and beyond the requirements of the J8 and created supplemental material to submit along with the application. An animoto further emphasizing the points of our application, along with an xtranormal video, created the diverse application that led to an impressive placement in the competition.

After submitting on March 30th 2009, all GUIDE could do was wait in ernest. Receiving a confirmation of reception from UNICEF, we learned we would be informed of our status around April 30th 2009. The morning of the 30th each member anxiously arrived at school waiting to see the outcome of our hard work and anticipation. Unfortunately, the notification did not come. Dejected and tired, GUIDE lost some of the enthusiasm we had possessed from the start. Finally, on May 5th 2009, GUIDE received an email from UNICEF with the results! Excitedly, we opened the email. Inside we learned we had not come out on top, however, we had made the top 10! GUIDE WAS ECSTATIC! Our application had placed us in the top 10 for the entire nation. Feeling successfully and as if the entire process was worth it, GUIDE rejoiced in the outcome. Learning so much, debating world issues, collaborating on a team, utilizing technology, embodying diversity, and realizing the potential of four teens in suburbia, GUIDE felt the entire J8 experience was one to remember!







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Monday, April 20, 2009

Calling All Whiz Kids: Discovery Education/3M Young Scientist Challenge

Note: Copied from the Discovery Education Newsletter.
This is a challenge teachers and students might want to consider entering.

Now’s the time for students to enter the nation’s premier science competition for grades 5 through 8.  The deadline for the Discovery Education/3M Young Scientist Challenge is May 20, 2009.

Over the summer, judges will choose up to 51 semifinalists: one from each state and the District of Columbia.  Ten finalists will be selected to receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to compete in the final challenge in October. The winner will receive $50,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds ($25,000 cash value) and the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.” All finalists receive amazing once-in-a-lifetime trips. 

Nominate your students today!

Also, one teacher will be selected to win an all-expenses-paid trip to NYC to participate in the final competition as an honorary judge or host.For more information on the Discovery Education/3M Young Scientist Challenge go to www.youngscientistchallenge.com.




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Websites for Educators 04/20/2009


Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
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Sunday, April 19, 2009

The DEN Virtual Trifeta!

Note: The following post is copied from the DEN Newsletter.

Why do I love the DEN?  Let me count 3 ways (all FREE!) and an DEN Trifecta first.

1. Spring Into Action at the DEN Virtual Conference
Spring Into Action with the DEN during this unique (and free) professional development event where you have the flexibility to attend online or in-person at one of many regional events hosted by the DEN Leadership Councils.

When?
Saturday, April 25, 2009 9 AM to 3 PM EDT
Where?
Online or in-person.

How much?
Free.

The day will feature a special presentation from Chris Lehmann, Principal of the Science Leadership Academy in the School District of Philadelphia as well as a great lineup of sessions from STAR Discovery Educators and the DEN team.

Registration is open so check the blog for all the updates.

Second LifeImage via Wikipedia

2. New DEN Headquarters in Second Life
Join us on April 24 at 8 PM EDT for the ribbon cutting ceremony for our new DEN headquarters in Second Life.  Our new DEN headquarters is a virtual replica of Discovery’s World Headquarters in Silver Spring, MD - complete with the HD theater and the T-Rex.  Put on your virtual dancing shoes and come celebrate with us!

3. Visit our Virtual Booth at FETC Online
Before we Spring Into Action at the DEN Virtual Conference we will also be participating in FETC’s first online conference.  Stop by our virtual booth on April 23 from 11 AM to 7 PM EDT. For more information check out http://virtual.fetc.org.







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Websites for Educators: Imagine the Possibilities

Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 hosted a Classrooms for the Future In Action Showcase on Friday, April 17, 2009 that provided a snapshot of the impact of CFF technology integration in core-curriculum classrooms in Carbon and Lehigh Counties.  Fifteen school districts from all three Cohorts, including 8 part-time and 10 full-time CFF Coaches attended.  Pennsylvania has over 430 teachers and 14,000 students impacted by the affordances of Governor Edward G. Rendell’s robust vision and leadership.  We can only imagine the possibilities if the additional monies proposed in the Governor’s 2009-2010 budget are received.  Special thanks to Cathy Enders, Beth Breiner, Michael Cichocki, and TJ McKeon (IU 21), Dave Marra (Apple), Michael Torrenti (einstruction), and Katherine Walraven (Taking It Global) for making this day another IU 21 success story.

The following links represent most of the resources shared during the Showcase.

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.







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Thursday, April 16, 2009

Websites for Educators 04/16/2009


Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
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Monday, April 13, 2009

Cutting the Edge in LIfeSmarts

Does anyone cut the edge in technology integration in foods better than students in LifeSmarts?  I think not.  When two students entered with sushi, I was interested.  My first shusi experience was in Hawaii, where, frankly, it just does not get any better.  Wrong!  This sushi came with an SHS creative twist: it’s candy.  Looks like the real deal, but it’s actually just a mirror image.  And possibly even better.  More calories, but definitely more fun.  I don’t have the recipe, but if you ask Mrs. Bothwick, I’m sure she’ll share.



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Looking for Lots of Extra Credit for Q4?  Dear Mr. President

Our friends at Tech4Learning are sponsoring a timely contest--Dear Mr. President.

With today’s struggling economies and natural resource questions, the government needs your help. President Obama has named you as his chief student adviser. What issue would you like him to address in the near future? Why? What should he consider?

Create a 21st-century position paper to share your issue.

Deadline: Thursday, May 14th, 2009

Judging
Entries will be judged by a panel of artists and computer experts for creativity, originality, and style!

Entries could include:

* issues web sites
* print advertisments
* documentaries and docudramas
* and more!

Prizes
Prizes will be announced and awarded on Monday, May 18th, 2009!

1st place - Ages 4-8
iPod Shuffle for you & a pizza party for your class
1st place - Ages 9 and up
iPod Shuffle for you & a pizza party for your class
2nd place - Pizza party for your class
3rd place - 2 gallon specialty popcorn tin for your class
Honorable Mention (2) - Tech4Learning mug of candy

Submissions and Requirements
This contest is open to K-12 students around the world. Submit your entry as a single file or combination of files in the following formats:

* Pixie (.pxi)
* ImageBlender (.ibf)
* Twist (.twi)
* MediaBlender (.prt)
* Frames (.fra)
* WebBlender (.wbs)

Please send your entries to:

Your submitted file should include your first name and school in the file name and must include a text box or text layer with the following information:

* Your first name and last initial
* Your age
* Your full school name
* Your city and state

Don’t have these Tech4Learning tools?
You can download a 30-day evaluation for: Frames, ImageBlender, MediaBlender, Pixie, Twist, or WebBlender






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