DUSD - Homehttp://schoolweb.dysart.org/EdTech/Default.aspxDysart Unified School District Technology Site.60Dysart Toolkit - Google Docs All Dysart Employees have a Google Apps account. Your account is not accessible by going to Google.com There are three places that you may access your account:
  • On the Dysart Intranet Page - Click on Staff Google Apps Accounts
  • On Dysart.Org - In the Employee Toolbox [log in just as you would to your computer]
  • Now in the Dysart Toolkit
Google Docs allows the user to create Documents (word processor), Spreadsheets, Presentations (PowerPoint), and Forms (surveys, data collection) online. The user can then share and collaborate in real time on those documents. This also allows the user to safely store and organize their work. But more importantly, you can control who can see and edit your documents.

When creating document, you can create from scratch, start from a template, or upload your existing files. And the familiar desktop feel makes creating and editing simple.




 

 
Downloads
]]>http://schoolweb.dysart.org/EdTech/Content.aspx?conid=541Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMTWeb 2.0 Tools - Web 2.0 Tools
Web 2.0 Tools

What is Web 2.0?

Web 2.0 tools are those web-based tools that are social, interactive, collaborative, and creative in nature. A sample of web 2.0 tools can be found here.


Blogs & Wikis Kid Blogs
Edublogs
PB Works
Collaboration Google Docs
Delicious
Social Networking Grou.ps
Edmodo
Ning
Creativity edu.Glogster
Voicethread
animoto/education
Data Analysis Gap Minder
Show.Mapping Worlds
Video Jay Cut
One True Media
Stupeflix






 
 


Google Sites

YouTube

Embedding videos into your Teacher Web Page is easy!

]]>http://schoolweb.dysart.org/EdTech/Content.aspx?conid=485Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMTGrant Opportunities - Looking for Grant $$?Win $1,500 toward a trip to the NSTA conference and $1,500 cash
Delta Education/Frey-Neo/CPO Science Awards
Education Grants - Deadline - Aug 13th, 2010

The Delta Education/Frey-Neo/CPO Science Awards for Excellence in Inquiry-based Science Teaching will recognize and honor three (3) full-time PreK–12 teachers of science who successfully use inquiry-based science to enhance teaching and learning in their classroom.
Contact Information
Grant Organization: NSTA
Contact URL: http://www.nsta.org/about/awards.aspx#delta
Eligibility: PreK–12 teachers
Grant Deadline: Tuesday November 30th, 2010
Grant Value: $1,500 towards expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference and $1,500 for the three awardees


W.K. Kellogg Foundation Grants
Have an idea for an educational program that will aid students in meeting the challenges of adulthood? Kellogg Foundation grants can help your school support character building, academic achievement, wellness, and more.
Deadline: Ongoing.
Click for more information

K-12 Stem Funding
The Intel Foundation supports programs that deliver educational opportunities to students in the 21st century. The foundation particularly welcomes applications for programs in science, math, and technology education that are aimed at women and underserved populations. Deadline: Ongoing
Click for more information

Money for Music
The Fender Music Foundation accepts grant applications for established, ongoing, and sustainable programs that provide music instruction for people of any age who would not otherwise have the opportunity to make music. Amounts range from $500 to $5,000.
Deadline: Ongoing
Click for more information

$65,000 for literacy programs

$65,000 for literacy programs

The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy’s grant-making program seeks to develop or expand projects designed to support the development of literacy skills for adult primary care givers and their children.

July 28, 2010 | Posted in Education Grants  | Read More »

$250 for aerospace education programs

$250 for aerospace education programs

The Air Force Association Educator Grant Program is designed to promote aerospace education activities and encourage use of innovative aerospace activities within the prescribed curriculum. Each school year, the association awards grants to worthy projects that significantly influence student learning. The program also encourages establishing an active relationship between the school and the local Air Force Association organization.

July 28, 2010 | Posted in Education Grants  | Read More »

Up to $3,000 in cash and prizes for teachers who use data-collection technology

Up to $3,000 in cash and prizes for teachers who use data-collection technology

The Vernier/NSTA Technology Awards promote the innovative use of data-collection technology using a computer, graphing calculator, or other handheld tool in the science classroom. Each award will consist of $1,000 in cash for the teacher, $1,000 in Vernier Products, and up to $1,000 toward expenses to attend the annual NSTA National Convention.

July 14, 2010 | Posted in Education Grants  | Read More »


While you are making your end-of-the-year checklist, don't forget to add "apply for a WeAreTeachers microgrant" to the list. In under 5 minutes you will be on your way to winning $200 and a Flip Video™ or iPod nano® with video as well as over $2000 in extra prizes or a trip to Washington DC. With 7 microgrants to choose from, you are sure to find one that is right for you. Apply for a few WeAreTeachers microgrants. It might be the easiest thing you do all year!

Digital Learning
How do you transform your lessons for digital learners?
    
21st Century Readiness
What does 21st Century readiness mean to you, your students, and your community?
    
Outsmart the Summer Slide!
How would you inspire your students to keep reading over the summer?
    
English Language Learners
Share your ideas for teaching varying levels of English proficiency.
    
Professional Development
How do you work professional development into your life?
    
Brain Research
What exercises do you use to keep your students "brain fit"?
    
Early Childhood Education
How have you made a difference in the lives of young children?
    




Get Funding for Favorite Projects 
The Payless ShoeSource Foundation gives up to $5,000 to nonprofit organizations that propose projects involving the arts, education, and health and human services. From January through June of each year, the foundation will review requests from elementary schools and charitable organizations. Selections will be made in July, and the schools and organizations selected will be notified in August or September. Grant requests of more than $5,000 will be reviewed on a quarterly basis. 
Deadline: Ongoing, from January through June, annually
Click Here for More Information
Encourage Healthy Lifestyles 
The General Mills Foundation’s Champions for Healthy Kids grant program encourages communities in the United States to develop creative ways to help youth, aged 2–20, adopt a balanced diet and physically active lifestyle. Each year the foundation awards 50 grants of $10,000 each to nonprofit organizations working with communities that demonstrate the greatest need and likelihood of sustainable impact on young people’s nutrition and activity levels through innovative programs. In addition, the foundation sponsors up to 50,000 young people each year to participate in the President’s Challenge and earn the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award for their commitment to a physically active and fit lifestyle. 
Deadline: January 15, 2010
 
Profiles in Character
Every year, the Character Education Partnership honors 10 outstanding schools or districts as National Schools of Character. Reflecting America’s diverse educational system, the awards program showcases a variety of quality character-education programs and helps exemplary schools become mentors.
Deadline: December 1, 2009
Click Here for More Information
 
Lincoln Institute
Horace Mann and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will offer 50 teachers the opportunity to study the life and legacy of our 16th president. The fellowship is open to any full-time K–12 teacher of any subject, and no special knowledge of Lincoln is required. The fellowship features a five-day institute at the Lincoln Library in Springfield, Illinois., and it includes round-trip transportation, lodging, and most meals.
Deadline: February 12, 2010
Click Here for More Information
 
Write Letters About Literature
The Center for the Book wants to know what literature inspires your students. Co-sponsored by Target, the Letters About Literature contest asks students in grades 4–12 to submit letters about how a book, short story, poem, essay, or speech inspired them. Winners will receive a $50 Target giftcard and advance to the national level for a chance to win more!
Deadline: December 12, 2009
Click Here for More Information
 
Qwest Grant
The Qwest Foundation and AzTEA announces the 2009-2010 Qwest Foundation for Education Grant to be awarded to Arizona PreK-12 teachers who demonstrate an innovative use of technology with students. All AzTEA members who are Arizona certified PreK-12 school teachers are eligible to receive a maximum of one Mini-Grant award. (This includes public, charter, and private school certified preK-12 teachers.)
Deadline: Round 1: December 16, 2009
                  Round 2: February 17, 2010
Click Here for More Information
 
Integrate Technology into Academic Subjects
The Pitsco/Hearlihy/Foundation for Technology Education Grant recognizes and encourages the integration of a quality technology education program within the school curriculum. Criteria include evidence of an effective quality technology education program, documented success in the integration of technology education with other academic subjects and plans for professional development via the anticipated grant. To be eligible for the $2,000 award, applicants must be K–12 teachers who are members of the International Technology Education Association (ITEA).
Deadline: December 1, 2009
Click Here for More Information
 
10 Great Ways to Get a Grant
Experts reveal their top secrets to writing grant proposals that demand attention and get funding. 
Click here for More Information
 
Get Needed Classroom Supplies
OfficeMax is helping end “teacher-funded classrooms.” The company, in partnership with Adopt-A-Classroom, will host its annual A Day Made Better event on October 6, 2009. Last year the office superstore sent 1,300 teachers each a large box of classroom-supply staples that included scissors, glue sticks, chalk, pencils, pens, notebooks, tissues, hand sanitizer and even a digital camera.
Click Here for More Information
 
Improve Academic Achievement
The NEA Foundation’s Student Achievement Grants provide $5,000 to improve the academic achievement of students by engaging them in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve students’ “habits of inquiry, self-directed learning and critical reflection.”
Deadline: October 15, 2009
Click Here for More Information
 
The Dysart Education Foundation 
The DEF is once again offering teacher mini-grants for Dysart teaching staff. For information and application guidelines, visit the DEF website, which is accessible from the DUSD home page, or go to http://defweb.org. Click on “Employees”. 
Deadline: Mini-grant applications must be turned in to the District Office by the last Friday in October! 
Click here for More Information
 

Wells Fargo Arizona Teacher’s Partner Program Application 
Wells Fargo invites Arizona teachers in public, private and charter schools, kindergarten through 12th grade, to participate in the Wells Fargo Teacher’s Partner Program. Wells Fargo created the Teacher’s Partner Program to act as a catalyst for educational opportunities that will lead to academic enrichment and to encourage positive change in the education environment.
Deadline: The Selection Committee will review applications approximately six times per school year (September – March).
Click Here for More Information
 
Prepare Students for Success in the 21st Century
The Verizon Foundation is in the business of improving lives in literacy, knowledge and readiness for the 21st century. Schools seeking grants from the foundation must be prepared to track and report program outcomes as well as specific results that demonstrate measurable human impact. The foundation only accepts electronic proposals through its Apply Online process.
Deadline: Unsolicited proposals reviewed on a continuous basis from January 1 through October 31, annually
Click Here for More Information
  
 
Help Students Become Technologically Literate
Under the Enhancing Education through Technology (Ed-Tech) State Program, the U.S. Department of Education provides grants to state educational agencies (SEAs) on the basis of their proportionate share of funding under Part A of Title I. The primary goal of this program is to improve student achievement through the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools. Additional goals include helping all students become technologically literate by the end of the eighth grade and, through the integration of technology with both teacher training and curriculum development, establishing research-based instructional methods that can be widely implemented.
Deadline: Visit the Web site for details.
Click Here for More Information
 
Create an Outdoor Science Classroom
Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, International Paper and National Geographic Explorer! classroom magazine have partnered to create an outdoor classroom grant program. The program provides K–12 public schools with additional resources to improve their science curriculum by engaging students in hands-on experiences outside the traditional classroom. The program is managed through the Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant program.
Deadlines: Vary
Click Here for More Information
 
 
Promote Diversity and Community Building
The Open Meadows Foundation provides up to $2,000 in funding for projects that are led by and benefit women and girls; reflect the diversity of the community served by the project in both its leadership and its organization; promote community building; and promote racial, social, economic and environmental justice. To be eligible for a grant, applicants must have limited financial access or have encountered obstacles in their search for funding.
Deadlines: August 15, 2009 and February 15, 2010
Click Here for More Information
 
 
Increase Understanding of Environmental Issues
The Captain Planet Foundation is accepting applications for projects promoting understanding of environmental issues. The foundation funds as many projects as its annual resources allow. Generally, the range of grants awarded by the foundation is $250 to $2,500.
Deadlines: Grant proposals are reviewed over a period of three months from the date of the application submission deadline: September 30, 2009, December 31, 2009, March 31, 2010 and June 30, 2010
Click Here for More Information
]]>http://schoolweb.dysart.org/EdTech/Content.aspx?conid=467Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMTWeb 2.0 Tools - Blogs and Wikis
The ability to easily collaborate and publish has been realized with the availability of wikis and blogs. These free online tools allow students to collaborate with one another, publish authentically, and receive feedback from a world-wide audience.

In addition to the ease of publishing, blogs and wikis have a feature called RSS that enables users to subscribe to the published work. Whenever the work is updated or commented on, the user can be notified through a notification system on the computer.

Several instructional examples of blogs and wikis are linked to the right. Blogs and wiki help documents and training videos are linked below.








]]>http://schoolweb.dysart.org/EdTech/Content.aspx?conid=141Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMTLinux - Linux is here!

Linux

Over the years, Dysart has done a fantastic job keeping computers up and running! Even computers that have been refreshed or replaced with new ones are still available for school's to use in their classroom. Sadly, computers do not age like wine. They become extremely slow making even the simple process of turning on and logging into a frustrating task for students, teachers and support staff.

In addition, licenses for Windows XP and other Microsoft products cost the district $40 per computer each year. Due to budget cuts and attempts to save money wherever possible, Dysart is forced to remove Windows and Microsoft Office from 3,000+ computers. Overall, these computers will save the district over $124,000 each year.

Now, instead of being simply retiring our old computers, Dysart is launching a new initiative; Linux.

Linux is a free open-source operating system that will allow these old machines to boot faster, load programs quicker and still allow teachers and students to get a lot of great use out of their old computers!!
 

View a comparison of WindowsXP programs
to what's available in Linux.

 

 

TOP
 
FAQ's

How do I log onto a computer with Linux?

Can my students and I still access Study Island?
In Firefox, where do my downloads go?
How do I add the printers for my site so I can print?
Can I print from Firefox?

When opening Firefox, why don't students open to their school site?
Why teachers and staff open Firefox, why doesn't the Intranet open?
How do I get to the Intranet?
Can I print my Google Docs in Firefox?

Where are my network drives?
Where are my bookmarks?
Can I use Extended Desktop?
How can I check my voice mail?
How do I show United Streaming clips?
Why can't I log onto my Linux computer?
Can I use my AverMedia document camera software?
Can I use my web cam as a document camera?
Can I install my own fonts?
In firefox, how do I save images on the internet to my H: drive?

Why can't my students access Library Lookup when logged in as the school's lookup account?
How do I connect my Linux computer to a projector or an external monitor?

How do I change my computer login password?

Can I use my Gyration wireless mouse and keyboard with a Linux computer?
How do I create a shortcut to a website on my desktop?
TOP
 
]]>http://schoolweb.dysart.org/EdTech/Content.aspx?conid=470Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT