Please consider inviting Tony Vincent to speak to your school, organization, or conference. He custom designs each workshop and presentation to meet the needs of his audience. Tony has lots of share about these topics:
- Web tools / Web 2.0 / cloud computing
- iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, iOS
- Mobile learning
- Personal productivity
- Learning with 1:1 netbooks and laptops
- Podcasting
- Blogs
- Wikis
- Online publishing
- Social bookmarking
- Movie making
- Screencasting
- Google's tools
- Project-based learning
- Photography, images, and design
- Mac OS X & iLife
A sampling of the professional development opportunities Tony has offered are listed below. Each workshop and presentation is designed to be extremely up-to-date, practical, and tailored to meet the audience's needs.
Handheld computers are everywhere. From mobile phones to handheld games, it's a very familiar sight to see people of all ages gazing into screens that they can hold. Schools are discovering that handhelds like iPad and iPod touch make great learning tools. In fact, handhelds can play a big part in project-based learning. Not only do projects motivate students because they use exciting handheld technology, but they also lend themselves to student voice and choice. Be inspired to bring project-based learning into your classroom, learn strategies for creating effective driving questions, and see how an iPad or iPod touch can play a role in the the planning, investigation, and presentation of projects.
Learning in Hand with iPad
Engage today's students with the hottest technology around: iPad. Former teacher Tony Vincent has specialized in using mobile computers for learning for a decade, and he has useful information, strategies, tips, and ideas to share. Besides learning basic operation and care, learn apps and activities designed to improve student achievement. Participants will get loads of hands-on time and experience a variety of activities from a student's point-of-view. Examples include practicing math facts, math games and simulations, vocabulary flashcards, mind mapping, and creative expression. (workshop is also availabe for iPod touch)
Show What You Know: Digital and Mobile Tools
Nowadays teachers and students have a variety of ways to show what they know and to express themselves. Take a look at some of the hottest online and mobile tools for showing, explaining, and retelling. In fact, these tools can turn students into teachers and teachers into super-teachers! For his examples, Tony Vincent will use these tools to show you what he knows about mobile learning.
What Makes an Excellent Educational App?
With hundreds of thousands of apps in the App Store and tens of thousands in the Education category, it can be a challenge to wade through the junk to find the gems. Tony Vincent has been working with mobile apps for over a decade and has lots to share about what goes into a fantastic app for learning. We will analyze why some of the most popular educational apps are so loved and why others fall short. We'll also explore alternatives to searching the App Store to find the best apps, discover the top educational app review websites, and see examples of the best app developers have to offer teachers and students.
A recent survey of exceptional entrepreneurs found that they are obsessed with questioning the status quo. They are fearless about experimentation from a young age and are curious and creative. These qualities can be learned and teachers can model a culture of innovation in their classrooms. Tony Vincent shares many examples of how technology can empower educators to do things in new ways, including alternative ways to search the web, removing text from PowerPoints, and flip-flopping homework and lectures. There will be time for participants to share ways they have successfully (and perhaps unsuccessfully) questioned the status quo.
Today it's possible to film, edit, and publish movies all on iPad or iPod touch. See a demonstration and examples of how to create excellent educational films by using a variety of iOS apps to film, edit, enhance, and publish videos. Learn about tips and tricks for helping students memorize lines, improving sound quality, changing camera angles, improving lighting, and much more.
iPad II: Beyond the Basics
You already know how to use iPad and have probably found some useful apps for you and your students. Now's the time to be even more creative with iPads for teaching and learning. Come learn about useful features of eBooks, discover how to create an online storybook, and see how iPads can facilitate collaboration. Best of all, take a look at some of the hottest apps for showing, explaining, and retelling. In fact, these tools can turn students into teachers and teachers into super-teachers! Bring a fully charged iPad because iPad II: Beyond the Basics will be a very hands-on experience! Also, please know the iTunes password for your device so you can download free apps.
Mobilize for Productivity
As a busy school leader, you receive dozens of emails a day, deal with scheduling meetings, and have an endless to-do list. Never fear! There are tools, apps, and strategies to help you keep your head above water by helping you stay organized and connected. Productivity is described by guru David Allen as “advanced common sense,” and by applying some simple strategies, you can unclutter your inbox, browse the web more efficiently, keep a centralized to-do list, manage voicemails, and much more, all while being mobile.
Nowadays many of us carry mobile devices like an iPhone or iPad, keep a digital calendar, and work from multiple computers. Chances are you feel like a slave to email, having hundreds of messages in your inbox. You probably spend a lot of time online and might have trouble managing all of your files among your devices. Instead of blaming technology, let's use that technology to make you more productive.
The heart of many of our problems is our email inbox. A majority of the session will be spent learning how to spring clean your inbox and keep it that way. Other topics include keeping to-do lists, managing memos, improving meetings, boosting web browsing, and dealing with voicemail.
We're becoming more mobile all the time. Whether the information follows us in the cloud or we have a device that accesses that info, it's very helpful to learn how others are improving their personal productivity.
What iPad Can Do for You and for Your Students
Engage today's students with the hottest technology around: iPad. Former teacher Tony Vincent has specialized in using mobile computers for learning for a decade, and he has useful information, strategies, tips, and ideas to share. There are hundreds of apps for iPad that make it a fantastic teaching and learning tool. Spend the day learning iPad basics while exploring iPad's role in classrooms. You'll get hand-on and minds-on time with some of the hottest apps for teachers and students. Participants will learn about working with audio, images, comics, slideshows, video, jigsaw puzzles, eBooks, QR codes, puppet shows, and much more. In fact, the focus will be on workflows, that is, using a variety of apps to accomplish a task. Whether you have one iPad, a small set, or one for each and every student, you will leave with loads of ideas you can immediately put to use in your classroom!
21 Strategies, Ideas, and Tips to Reach 21st Century Learners
It's certainly a challenge to engage today's students. Learning theory shows that one of the keys to successful learning is engagement. Using Schlechty's "Qualities of Engagement" as a framework, Tony Vincent outlines 21 technology tools educators can use to increase authentic engagement. Learn ways to engage and motivate learners using freely available tools. Examples include polling students, illustrating concepts with crazy cartoons, creating jazzy slide shows, and touring the coolest sites the web has to offer.
Dead-Simple Blogs and Podcasts
Posterous.com is a free service where users can post to a blog simply by sending email. In addition to text Posterous makes it as easy as emailing an attachment to post image galleries and audio podcasts. See examples and just how simple it is to post text and multimedia online. Furthermore, witness how to submit your Posterous podcast for inclusion in the iTunes Store.
10 Things You Should to Know About Twitter
Believe it or not, Twitter can be a valuable learning tool for educators. However, lots of people admit to "not getting" Twitter. As a result, according to Nielsen 60% of U.S. Twitter users don't return to Twitter after a month. Twitter's value to busy teachers isn't apparent and many ask why they would bother with Twitter. To help you understand and use Twitter effectively, learn about the 10 things you should know to get you started using Twitter.
10 Things You Should Know About Google Plus
Google's social network can be a valuable tool for educators. Even though it shares characteristics with Twitter and Facebook, Google Plus has many features that you may not discover at first glance. Witness the value of Google Plus while learning about circles, hangouts, profiles, and posts.
Top Tips for Searching with Google
You probably use Google everyday to search the Web. Why not spend an hour learning how Google decides the order it uses to present search results. Also learn some of the best tips to refine your search to find exactly what you are looking for.
Radio for Kids, by Kids
The real power of podcasting comes from the creation of the audio programs that are posted online for a global audience. Learn about the making of two amazing podcasts: Radio WillowWeb and Our City. Gain valuable instructional strategies, recording tips, and useful techniques for creating podcasts with students.
Reading in Hand with iPad and iPod touch
There are many activities that help with reading comprehension and use iPad or iPod touch computers. See and experience multiple engaging activities for before, during, and after reading. From building vocabulary and background knowledge to personal connections, visualization, and concept mapping, try your hand at sample activities.
iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch are finding their ways into students' and teachers' hands. There are good reasons these devices are popular: tens of thousands of useful software applications in the App Store. Get hands-on time as Tony Vincent guides participants through using some of the best apps out there. Apps and education can go hand-in-hand!
Nowadays much of what we do can be created and stored on the web. Techies call this cloud computing, and it requires only a web browser and internet. Cloud computing offers an affordable way to engage students in learning. Find out about some new and favorite web-based tools that you'll be excited to use in the classroom.
The Personal Productivity Wiki
Learn about two concepts at once in this session! The first topic is productivity. As a busy school leader, you receive dozens of emails a day, deal with scheduling meetings, and have an endless to do list. Never fear! There are tools and strategies to help you keep your head above water. You'll learn about the tools and strategies through a wiki. A wiki is a website that anyone can edit and you'll see how reading from and contributing to a wiki can help learners dive into a topic. In this case, your topic is personal productivity.
Fun and Educational: Manipulating Digital Images
Turn any image into an online jigsaw puzzle. Put a photo of a student into a reading poster. Place your class on the cover of a magazine. Change a photograph into a cartoon drawing. Add picture frames and text to field trip photos. Learn how to do all this and more using free online tools.
Awe Your Audience: Tony's Tips
Wow your fellow teachers with compelling presentation techniques! Tony Vincent shares his insights on making memorable and effective presentations. He covers his presentation philosophy, Keynote and/or PowerPoint software features, slide design, handout advice, and much more. You'll leave empowered and excited to make your next presentation!
Sensational Slideshows and Dashing Documents with iWork
Pages and Keynote are powerful tools for Macintosh computers and is part of Apple's iWork suite. Learn how these two design applications can help you make stunning documents and presentations. Get hands-on time with incredible features like Instant Alpha and Actions.
Online Slideshows with Google Presentations
Google Presentations is a handy tool because there's no software to download and the slideshows are stored on the Web. Learn the basics, classroom ideas, and design tips. Please create a Google Account and know your login and password before attending.
Then and Now
A lot has certainly changed in the last few years in technology. Laptops used to cost big bucks, but today ultra-portable and cheap laptops can be had for $200. Websites are more interactive and fully encourage participation. There's little need to know HTML as online services now allow easy and instant publishing. Some software no longer has to be purchased and installed because we can do the same tasks online for free. iPods are physically smaller but storage capacity and capabilities have greatly increased. The pace of change only seems to be increasing. Let's examine changes in technology and society so that we can leverage these exciting trends in education.
Audio Recording, Mixing, & Editing 101
With today’s computers, it is easy to record voices, edit mistakes, rearrange content, add sound effects or music, and export as an MP3 file. Producing audio content can be a powerful motivator, and the software is free. The session focuses on Audacity, free software for Mac and Windows users.
Ten Tools for Teachers
Sure, as a professional you use your computer for email and web searching. But, there's so much more available online that educators absolutely love! Tony Vincent shares ten of his favorite resources. Learn about widgets for your website, software to capture images and video, social bookmarking, customized start pages, and more. Best of all, each of the ten tools are free of charge so you can get to using them right away!
Terrific Macintosh Tips for Teachers
Mac OS X is becoming more and more popular. It is full of useful features, many you probably don't know about. Learn about useful keyboard shortcuts, zooming in on the screen, adjusting the volume, grabbing screenshots, making zip files, and many more tip and tricks educators will find extremely useful.
GIMP: Free Alternative to Photoshop
You've heard of Photoshop--it's that expensive professional image-editing and graphics creation software. There's a free alternative called GIMP for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. Discover how powerful and useful GIMP can be by working hands-on with image retouching, graphics creation, and animations for slideshows, handouts, and websites.
Become a Podcaster
Anyone can publish a podcast nowadays, so why aren’t you? Learn from an experienced podcaster about this wonderful form of communication. With Radio WillowWeb and Our City Podcast as guides, Tony shares from his experiences from podcasting with students. Working together, the group will create a sample podcast episode while learning valuable tips and techniques along the way. You’ll leave energized to start your very own podcast!
Learning Through Projects
Project-based learning is a great way to engage students. Not only do projects motivate learners because they use technology and answer real-life questions, but they also lend themselves to student voice and choice. Learn the basics of project-based learning while exploring the role of free online tools in questioning, investigating, and sharing projects. The goal is that you will leave inspired to engage students in quality learning through projects.
Come on Down! Game Shows in the Classroom
Make reviewing curriculum engaging when you host game shows in your classroom! You can find PowerPoint templates for popular game shows online, like Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, Jeopardy, Hollywood Squares, and Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Many of these templates even come with music and sound effects. After playing some game shows, participants learn to create and customize PowerPoint templates for use in their classrooms.
You’ll Love Wikis: Creating and Using Wikis
Teachers love wikis because they are websites that are quick to set up and easy to maintain. Students love wikis because they facilitate collaboration and online publishing. Participants in this session will set up a free PBworks site and learn how to add pages, hyperlinks, images and video
Listen Up, Teachers!
There are over 150,000 podcasts just waiting to be listened to. It’s good news that many of these free audio programs are made especially for educators. Learn about finding, subscribing, and listening to podcasts for professional development. Get great ideas for lessons, learn about new technologies, and think critically about your profession through podcasts.
Make Marvelous Movies
Bring your digital camcorder if you’ve got one and let’s make a movie! Sure, software like iMovie makes it easy to put together a video. However, there are techniques you can use to make ordinary movies spectacular. Learn about tips and tricks for helping students memorize lines, improving sound quality, changing camera angles, and much more.
Web Widgets: Interactive & Self-Updating
Web widgets can bring new life to a classroom site. Web widgets are little bits of code you embed into a webpage or blog. Once a widget is placed on a page, it can grab updated information or display interactive content. Learn about places to find, customize, and use free Web widgets that display their information right on your own page. Examples include word of the day, daily riddles, educational videos, audio files, photo albums, games, and polls. Your website or blog will thank you for the fresh, new content!
Mmmmm, Delicious! Online Bookmarking
These days teachers are using more than one computer, which can cause frustration when trying to access and organize their favorite websites. There's a tasty solution to having bookmarks spread among several computers: delicious.com. Delicious is an online bookmarking site that is used by thousands of educators. Not only will participants set up a free Delicious account, they will learn about some of the best websites out there for teachers and students. Participants leave with dozens of resources bookmarked, including lesson planning sites, online learning games, online manipulative.
What Has Tony Bookmarked Lately?
Tony Vincent spends a lot of time online on a quest to find useful websites and resources for teaching and learning. He uses Delicious.com to save, organize, and share the treasures he finds. Join Tony as he showcases some his best and most interesting bookmarks from the last few months.
It is Better to Give Than Receive
“Share unto others as you'd have them share unto you.” You’ve taken the time to put together some great slide shows, lesson plans, and videos. It only makes sense to share them with others! There are hundreds of websites that offer users a place to share what they create with others on the web. These sites end up being great repositories of media for educators to learn from and use as examples. Discover which websites have the best treasure for for educators and the easiest to use. Categories include Videos, Writing, Photos, Slide Shows, Files, Bookmarks, and Lesson Plans.
Become a Blogger
A blog is a website that is easy to update. No longer do students or educators need to know HTML or complicated software to have a presence on the Web. Learn about why blogs are such incredible tools for teaching and learning.
