Creating Videos

     You know that moment when you submit a grant request and at the bottom of the form, you realize they want a video about your project but they don't allow Powtoon? If you don't, I'll describe it to you. imagine you have spent a week day hours creating a media project for your college class and a specific grant proposal just to find out it won't work for this specific random grant you just found on the internet after days hours searching for additional grants. It's like a kick in the gut papercut slap in the face with a wet noodle! I know, that bad, right?
    Have no fear, Biteable is here! And since I just blew 100 bucks on Powtoon for my class next year, it was free! Did I mention that school is out, so I can't actually video my actual students doing actual work. Stinks right? Luckily, Biteable does not bite and is really easy to use. One drawback is it does not allow voice over like Powtoon.

Biteable Video

Powtoon Video

The audio is not great on this video. It is my fault it isn't any good. I will re-record it at a later date. The thing I don't like about Powtoon is you can't add your own video and it doesn't have produced stock footage to add to your presentation.

    Here is my vertict: Powtoons and Biteable need to come together and make a super video/presentation platform baby. I know that is really technical for a blog dedicated to technology in the classroom, but that's it in a nutshell. Until next time...

Technology Grant Writing

   

     Soon I will start my new job, at a new district, at new grade level. I am really excited to start this next phase of my career. I will miss interacting daily with my old friends at my old school. I will also miss the fantastic technology resources I had in my old classroom. I had a state of the art Promethean ActivPanel and a document camera. Not only did I have a classroom set of iPads for three and a half years, my room was right across the hall from the computer lab.  Needless to say, I was a little spoiled.

     However fabulous the technology was at my old school, I will be so glad to have a room with a lock on the door, a locking closet, and real desks. It doesn't take much to make me happy. In my new classroom, I will have a new desktop computer and a brand spanking new SmartBoard. What I will need is a document camera and some devices for my students to publish their work. We are a Google school and I want to take full advantage of the cool features of Google Classroom. No problem, I'll just flop down $7,000.00 and supply the class with everything I need. Who am I kidding, I'm a teacher! Heck, I'm lucky to have a new job. So what is a poor teacher in the state of Oklahoma, which has had the highest cuts in the nation in education since 2008, to do? Time to start grant hunting!

     With the blessing of my new rock star boss, I have permission to start pursuing technology grants. My professor is helping me polish up my first proposal that will be the foundation for all of the ones to follow. 

     I used to be in sales, so I know this is going to be a numbers game. Not only do I need to sell our school, our need, and my "expertise", I need to put my proposal in front of as many institutions as possible. I will spend countless hours in front of my computer searching for that elusive source of cash to propel my students into the 21st Century and beyond... I have a feeling Google will become my new best friend.

    Lucky for you, I started this blog. I will post my progress and provide links to grant opportunities. What better way to improve your readership than promising loads of dough for classrooms?