Timothy Freitas

Here is a short PDF to explain how to set up your Discovery Education assignment and then be able to post it on your Blackboard account for your students.

How to link a Discovery Education video in Blackboard.

Wow! Is all I can say! This was truly a first for me conducting a blackboard session with my peers and having all my fellow ITRTs around supporting each other. I felt so good with the flow of things and when I didn’t quite know some of the answers my crew stepped right up to help with good pointers. The teachers who attended were equally as good since they kept right up with the pace of things and could see the possibilities with this new Web 2.o application. As I look back, and finally catch my breathe, I am eager to continue this push and progress to get even more teachers excited and ready for the blackboard application. I remember being in that position a few years ago, but now with all the support we can offer the teachers, I can only see good things happening for our students. I am blessed with the team and look forward to more PD days to come.

Wow, this was my first experience working with a teacher on an actual project and the students did a great job at their first podcast for Marine Science. Laura Duffy had students find information on the the coral reefs have been affected by various elements. She then had them do a storyboard and then begin the actual podcasting. It was such an eye opener on how creative students can be, and how much inexperience many of them have on creating and sticking to their storyboard. I have learned from the students and my colleagues on how to handle various technology hurdles. I am so thankful for the team I belong to because we ran into problems, they immediately responded and assisted as much as possible. I have learned some valuable hints and would like to thank Laura Duffy for allowing me to use her class as a test to see how a class could produce some good podcasting. I have attached an example of their finished work.

Keenan Podcast

Kalena Podcast

blackboard-advance-groups.movAloha e Team ETS-I! I just met with Sam Nihipali and have some blackboard updated information to pass on to you. There is a new setting in the Course Tools section called Advanced Group Management. This is where you will be able to create your groups and organize the student list. Good news…the list will be with everyone together so you scroll all the way through as you make your check marks to the list. It seems to be a little easier and should be teacher friendly. Please let me know if this helps you.Please refer the blogroll section to view this updated video.

Okay, so now I am getting a taste of how busy life can get as an ETS-I person…and I haven’t even gotten to the teaching part. This has been a good beginning with such a wonderful team. They are so helpful with calls and assisting me with this new position. I learned about new applications such as Jing, Quicksilver (thanks Nate!) and SnapZ Pro X. Neat new tools to help me help the teachers. I also was able to do a little teaching of setting up the blackboard accounts for many of the PE department. I thought maybe 6 would be interested, but now I have 10 to assist in the use of this very useful teaching tool. I also was able to sit in and listen to Renee explain how their 1:1 rollout will work and the instructions that will be given over the next few days to the incoming 7th and 8th graders. The KMS is on it! I am so impressed with how smoothly they have this set up, but I know they have put a lot of work into this project. And of course I would like to mention my supervisor, Darrin, who has been very supportive and given some great constructive guidance to me as I venture into this new realm of being an ETS-I person.

Being the new kid on the block, I was so amazed at how Mimi and Cy conducted the various lessons. Mimi did the new teachers training and covered some essential things new teachers need…KS connect, and basic computer useage. While Cy was across the room doing his training with teachers who had their MAC computers re-imaged.

I was also impressed with the comraderie that ETS has with a lunch time get together before the start of the new school year…the food was great! Hat off to the chef Chris!

And then after that great time, Cy allowed me to sit in on his Blackboard training and I was also able to contribute a little bit to get my feet wet. All in all, I truly enjoyed the support that is given and the appreciation teachers have for the training they receive at middle school. I strive to be as efficient and knowledgeable as my mentor and everyone else in ETS.

I look forward to Monday!

This was my first experience as part of ETS-I group and I came away with so much enthusiasm and information. I thought it was very productive, so much so that we were even doing some shop talk while at breaks, lunch, and dinner.

I came away with great information and understanding in things such as Web 2.0 tools, Personal Learning Network with Netvibes, and this KS Blog! I really would like to thank Darrin, Al, Cy, Nate, Mimi, Melia, and Chandell for a great experience and a new friendship.

Yesterday we were fortunate to have the experienced paddleboarder….Dean Tomita teach us how to paddleboard at Ala Moana Beach park. It was a great experience with Alan, Darrin, Cy, and myself. Another learning experience!

Yesterday was a great start to our new ETS-I Team and learning various elements that make up not just ETS, but ESS as well. I am very excited to work with this group of fine professionals.

Aia he mana’o maika’i i ke kino pa’a. This will be my new theme this year on my sites…what do you think?