News February 2011 A Publication of the Nebraska Educational Technology Association Message from the President— A Thought About “About” started as a pair of friends with a and those reading the work. How William Bolen crazy idea and have now grown to exciting for students to realize the ESU 10, Kearney now having thousands of employees. power they have over their commu- What if the group has a great nity; that is if they take the time to website but when you read their define what they truly believe and Message from the President: “About” you realize there is some- share those thoughts with others of a thing moving this group that is not common belief. As a child we learn that all that they seem to be about? part of our identity is based on our Power through the Web last name. Did we have siblings that A Manifesto? The power of a simple “About” or a were great at math or couldn’t sit still Who we are and what we truly truly defining Manifesto is raising an in their chair? Our teachers would believe can be simple or complex awareness of yourself and sharing wonder if we would be the same. and can sometimes defined in a that with others. It builds your Without defining who we are, we manifesto. That’s a word we don’t authority and helps you connect often wander around and let others hear much anymore and sometimes with people that believe in what you define our destination. brings up visions of a ruler plotting believe in, thus becoming part of a to take over the world or of 1920’s similar community. What a great About NETA Mobsters. In a recent podcast, the opportunity we have to help stu- Software, Websites, Organizations, “Foolish Adventure” team talked dents define who they really are. People, you name it, most of them about how important a manifesto They have a purpose in this world have an “About” addendum in one can be in defining who we are and and they can help others aspire to form or another. Some of them are helping others to aspire to a com- new heights! They have the power brief and to the point, others are mon goal. We have the power of through the web to inspire others inspirational and encourage you to uniting others to move in the same like no generation before them. They join their cause. Who are we and direction and toward the same can unite with others to change their why should you care? If you go to the destination. world. What power! NETA webpage at netasite.org, you will find “About NETA” where you A manifesto is more than just As we help our students develop and can learn our purpose, goals and reading “about” you and what you realize their dreams, it is important vision. If you aspire to a similar believe. Defining what you truly that we help them see how the world purpose, you will hopefully walk believe will have a transformative sees them in the light they are along side us in our journey. effect both to the person writing it (Continued on page 9) Sometimes it is fun to read the “About” section of a web page as you Issue Highlights learn that this person or company is 4 nothing like you would have imag- 10 ined. You might learn that a group is dedicated to helping other disadvan- 14 taged individuals or that they strive 20 to change the world. Perhaps they 1 NETA News NETA Newsletter In this issue Published four times yearly. Contributions are welcome. Message from the President—A Thought “About” ................................ 1 PO Box 27, Waverly, NE 68462 Message from the President Elect—e3: empower, encourage, engage ........ 3 Phone (402) 540-1904 e-mail: [email protected] Vote Online! for 2011 NETA Officers and Directors .............................. 4 http://netasite.org iPads in the Classroom ............................................................... 8 NETA Officers and Board of Directors You’ve Got Text! .....................................................................10 Sue Oppliger .............. Past President Are We Running on Empty? .........................................................11 ESU 7 [email protected] GPS—Use in the Classroom .........................................................12 William Bolen ................... President ESU 10 The Learning Web Turns Seven! ....................................................13 [email protected] Renee Kopf ............... President Elect ISTE 2010 Report—Karen Cator & the New National Technology Plan .......14 Falls City Public Schools [email protected] Fab Five Websites ....................................................................15 Nicole Badgley ..................Secretary The New NETA Site! ..................................................................16 Arnold Public Schools [email protected] Tech & Learning—Permanent Records ............................................17 Rich Molettiere .................Treasurer Omaha Public Schools ISTE 2011 in Philadelphia—NETA Registration and Housing Options ..........18 [email protected] Susan Prabulos ................Board 2011 Calendar of Technology Conferences and Seminars ............................19 Lincoln Public Schools [email protected] NETA Spring Conference Preview ..................................................20 Bob Goeman ..................Board 2011 University of Nebraska Omaha BYOL Sessions at NETA ...............................................................22 [email protected] Conference Registration ............................................................23 Dawn Prescott ................Board 2011 Schuyler Community Schools NETA Membership Form .............................................................24 [email protected] Gregg Robke ..................Board 2011 If you can share a success story related to technology in the classroom, or a ESU 4 software solution review, we’d love to print it in a future newsletter. For [email protected] making the contribution, you will receive a 2011 Spring Conference T-shirt. Josh Allen .....................Board 2012 Papillion-La Vista Public Schools [email protected] Contact Sandy Blankenship, phone (402) 540-1904 or e-mail [email protected] with a short summary to see if your story Michelle Baldwin .............Board 2012 ❖ Millard Public Schools can be included in a future issue! [email protected] Jackie Ediger .................Board 2012 ESU9 [email protected] NETA is an affiliate of ISTE—The International Lenny VerMaas ................Board 2012 Society for Technology in Education. [email protected] Jason Rushing .................Board 2013 Lincoln Public Schools [email protected] NETA Executive Officers and Coordinators Nicki Noordhoek ..............Board 2013 Waverly Middle School Sandy Blankenship ...... Executive Director Dennis McIntyre ....... Site Coordinator [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Jane Davis .....................Board 2013 Tom Rolfes ................. Executive Liaison Lynne Herr .........Contest Coordinator Hershey Public Schools Office of the CIO-NITC ESU 6 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Jason Everett .................Board 2013 Mike Burns ............Exhibitor Coordinator Lucas Bingham .......... Web Coordinator ESU 10 [email protected] Louisville Public Schools [email protected] [email protected] February 2011 http://netasite.org 2 NETA News Message from the President Elect— e3: empower, encourage, engage Renee Kopf collaboration opportunities. NETA laptops, iPads and iPods in the Falls City PS 2011 will feature a new distance classroom and will focus on related learning strand that highlights a curriculum integration, instruction- To empower, encourage variety of choices that will take al best-practices, and policy related and engage our attendees at NETA students, teachers, and even com- issues that are well suited for a 1:1 2011, we have added two new munity to state, national, and even environment. strands for this year’s conference. global connections. Reaching out to colleagues through The Laptop Community Group is conversation either in person or via Tech Strand sponsored by NETA. The purpose distance learning allows us to Tech coordinators and support of this community is to provide a strengthen our ties to Nebraska personnel from around the state place for support, information teachers and students and to the share their experiences dealing with sharing, questions, sharing, stories, global community. Stop in and check technical issues, decision making and even some laughs about some- out these new strands in addition to processes, and software/hardware thing we all have in common. the existing strands we offer. success within their districts. Some Schools with laptop initiatives or of the session highlights of the 2011 those thinking of heading in that Conversations Strand tech strand include sessions on direction should attend. We all are This year we are introducing “round Drupal, staff development and going through similar situations, table discussions.” Think of it as a classroom design discussions, joys, obstacles and projects. You geeky fireside chat. It’s not a stand Mahara, Data Analysis, and two can find more information at: and deliver presentation. We are sessions dealing with Network www.netasite.org under “Sponsored not taking those types of presenta- Analysis Tools. Groups.” tions away; they will continue to be the cornerstone of the NETA As a reminder for those interested Assistive Tech Strand Conference. But we wanted to give in the technical side, there is a The Nebraska Assistive Technology you the opportunity to