During the summer break, we will be performing a much needed upgrade to the network at all buildings which will increase the speed we have to the Internet. The upgrade will most benefit the buildings that currently experience the slowest access (Locust Corner, Monroe, and the Central Office) but will benefit all buildings in the district.

Some of the key features for this upgrade:

• Faster computers: Although it seems like some of our computers run slow, most of the time it's the Internet access that's actually slow instead of the computer itself. Once the network upgrade is complete, NRE, NRMS & NRHS should experience 10x the Internet Speed. Monroe Elementary, Locust Corner Elementary and the Central Office are currently on very slow links and should experience 130x the Internet Speed once the upgrade is completed!
  
• United Streaming - District Wide: With the faster speeds come the ability to access streaming video for buildings that didn't have the Internet speed necessary before. This valuable web-based application provides lesson-based and standards-based educational videos from any computer, anytime. The network upgrade will also provide faster video streams with less choppiness for all buildings.
  
• Distance Learning - Video Conferencing: A great tool for presenting dynamic content to your classes. With our video conferencing equipment you can literally connect to anyone in the world and present standards-based material that will make a strong impact on your students. Dramatic improvements have been made to this equipment to improve reliability and performance.
  

This project is expected to be completed in June 2008.

Ms. Meyer has utilized several live interactive video conferences into her classroom yesterday and today.

Mrs. Meyer’s 5th grade class participated in a program via distance learning that discussed transportation in the Ohio region prior to 1825 and how the construction of canals changed the lives of many Ohio residents in many ways. The 45 minute video conference was an excellent educational experience for children that allowed them to ask questions and be included in other activities during the session.

Clermont County ESC is offering a FREE course on Internet Safety to all Clermont County teachers.

The 2 hour course reviews the following:

• Keeping Students Safe from Predators
  
• The Child Internet Protection Act
  
• Email Use and Security
  
• Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights
  

This course increases awareness on the importance of recognizing the dangers of children using the Internet.

Please let me know if you're interested in this course.

Our Internet Service Provider (HCCA) has updated our web filtering software to a new product called Web Washer. You’ve probably noticed the new ‘block’ screen when you’re accessing web pages that were available before the upgrade.

Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any web sites that you need unblocked from the filter. I’ll just need the full web address (example:www.yahoo.com) to unblock the page.

Have you noticed how much paper you waste printing from the Web? Between the random blank pages with only a line or two of text on them, and pages you print just to save a paragraph or two of content, chances are a lot of trees have given up their pulp while you gather and print information from the Web.

With HP’s Smart Web Printing, you’ll get rid of all those extra wasted pages. This free Internet application is a convenient and user-friendly solution to this annoying and expensive problem. It enables simple, predictable Web printing and gives you control over what content you want to save and how you want it printed.

Smart Web Printing gives you the power to:

• Save paper and ink
• Take control of your Web search findings
• Organize your compiled Web content to suit your needs
• Get more accurate and useful prints

HOW IT WORKS

Surf the Web and keep multiple Web pages open as you research. When you’re ready to compile and print your research, choose the content, graphics or images you want by selecting Smart Web Printing from your Web browser’s toolbar, and simply dragging your cursor around the object you want to save. Then you can print it immediately; it’s scaled to match the size of your paper. Or you can place the clip in a Clip Book for editing later.

Smart Web Printing is available now free for everyone, even if you don’t currently use an HP printer.

DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL

Click here to download and install

The video page is now available on the district web site. Be sure to view our new district video page for recently uploaded school related videos such as:

• The New Richmond High School Fight Song recently completed by Jim Robinson's Video Production Class.
  
• Video footage of the New Richmond High School Troubadours on their recent trip to perform in Chicago.
  
• The NRHS Band performances from Fall of 2007.
  

Click here to access the video page.

Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any school related videos you’d like to see posted to our video page.

Sherie Davis has found an exciting way to utilize an iPod Nano into her classroom by having particular audio-based exams podcasted to her students:

“Did my homework with the new ipod. I bought the iTalk accessory from Circuit City (online) to record the tests on the iPod. Just got it yesterday so I was able to record a science test for the trial. It was very simple to use!!! After recording the test, I plugged the iPod into the computer, copied the file into my documents and then through the student (S) drive, pasted a copy of the test -into an individual student folder. Works great! Plan on putting into use for the next test!!!! Thanks so much!”

Ms. Mays & Ms. McConnell have two new free applications they are using with their students that were recently installed:


Picasa is a free software download from Google that helps you:

• Locate and organize all the photos on your computer.
  
• Edit and add effects to your photos with a few simple clicks.
  
• Share your photos with others through email, prints, and on the web: it’s fast, easy and free.
  

Tux Paint is a free, award-winning drawing program for children ages 3 to 12 (for example, preschool and K-6). It combines an easy-to-use interface, fun sound effects, and an encouraging cartoon mascot who guides children as they use the program.

After being extremely patient while waiting for her Airliner to be repaired, Connie Hammer has found several exciting ways to integrate this new technology tool into her classroom.

With the AirLiner slate teachers can interact wirelessly with their SMART Board interactive whiteboard from 52 feet away. The battery-free tethered pen allows them to control any software application, write notes and highlight information in digital ink.

SMART’s AirLiner wireless slate enables our teachers to instruct from anywhere in the classroom and allows students to interact with information from their seats. Multiple slate users can write at the same time as someone at the SMART Board interactive whiteboard.

Thanks to grant money from E-Tech Ohio, we were able to purchase and create a new computer lab at the New Richmond Middle School. The lab features 25 new HP computers with Windows XP. This is the third computer lab at NRMS at gives us a total of 13 computer labs in the district.

Ms. Cahall (NRE), Ms. Davis (NRHS), Ms. Hammer (NRE), and Ms. Snouffer (NRE) all received new iPod Nanos for utilizing podcasting in the classroom this week!

I’ll have more updates soon that include the various ways these iPod’s will help deliver educational material to their students.