Professional Development

ASFM runs a Master's program here in Monterrey through the State University of New York. Click here for Master's Course Info.

Staff attend inservice sessions on a variety of curriculum and technology related topics throughout the academic year.

This list is intended to help those staff interested in learning about these topics in a self-directed manner.

Useful Tools / Technology
Electronic Submissions	Learn how to setup your website and Mail to allow you to efficiently manage electronic student submissions.
Computer Use, or Using Your Computer	ASFM Specific Starter Guide Learn how to get started with Macs and OS-X Mac 101 - This Apple.com Website is highly recommended as a resource for learning everything about the tools which you have available.
Mac 101 - Changing from PC to a Mac	Steps for an easy switch for PC users, click here.
Timer for Computer (Widget)	This egg-timer makes an easy way to turn your computer into a timing device. Make sure you have your computer volume turned up. Click on the download link and follow instructions to load the egg-timer Widget onto your Dashboard.
Translation	Click here for instructions on using Sherlock to translate text between any two languages.
User Switching / Student and Teacher Logins on same machine	The Mac OS X operating system allows multiple users to be logged in at the same time on one computer. This feature is called User Switching.
Curriculum
Audio Recording as a Literacy Support Tool	The application, Audio Recorder, is available to teachers and students for recording reading, writing and oral language samples in a variety of contexts. It provides an authentic opportunity to collect audio samples while engaging students in their own learning. This guide explains how to use Audio Recorder and Garage Band to record, edit and publish student work.
Classroom Enrichment Options	This collection of Enrichment options for Grades N-5 is maintained by Kim Gruia.
Concept Mapping, Thinking Help, and Graphic Organizer Tool	(Kidspiration for ELEM or Inspiration for MSHS) Click here for Inspiration Quick Start Guide. Inspiration (in MSHS Laptops and Desktops in the library) and Kidspiration (in ELEM Labs 1,2,&4) are concept mapping programs which help students see the connections between terms, and events, as well as countless other applications. They are awesome for showing the connections between ideas, and cause-effect relationships.
Group Work Peer Evaluation	Please see the attached file for how to use the free version of SurveyMonkey to create online surveys for students to use when evaluating for Group Work.
Online Rubrics
Video to enhance student learning	Click here for more information about using video and editing tools to create projects to enhance student learning.
Grades/Comments/Report Cards
MSHS PowerGrade/PowerSchool	Refer to the staff manual for usage of this tool.
ELEM Reporting	Guide for Progress Reports, Report Cards, and Comments for teachers at ELEM Campus. Click on curriculum site grade level pages to see report examples.
Technology Tools
AlphaSmart Cart	(for keyboard, simple word processing, editing, and quizzes) Click for booking calendar. Click for more information and user guide. Alpha Smart Spanish Guide avaliable.
Using Calendars - iCal	iCal - Calendar Guide - This page explains how to use iCal in general and specifically for teachers to be able to program reminders at bell times. This guide explains how to use iCal for Planning.
CPS	Interactive response teaching is really enhanced using einstruction's CPS (Classroom Performance System). Use handheld student response devices to assess students or simply get feedback about your lesson pacing. More info here.
Data Projectors (LCD or DLP)	Display large size video or computer screens to demonstrate concepts or resources for your students. Click here for guide for using the projectors. Click here for booking information and policies.
Document Cameras	Document cameras are simply overhead, stationary video cameras that send a signal to a data projector. Click here for guide for using the document cameras. Click here for booking information and policies.
Email Guide	Learn all you need to know about email at ASFM.
Laptop Cart	Grade 4 & 5 Students have access to a Laptop Cart.
Movies/Photos/Pictures	iPhoto slideshow, iMovie, or Powerpoint -What should I use? Learn how to use iPhoto. (iPhoto in Spanish) Use iPhoto to add photo galleries to your staff website of events, student work, or curriculum pictures. Create slide show presentations with photos, music, and transition effects using iPhoto Learning to use iMovie
Science/Math Probes for Computers and Calculators	Click here to find more information for these MSHS devices in D204 and D205.
SMART Board	Interactive whiteboards coupled with a projector (available in A104, Labs 1-4) make a great learning/teaching resource. Click here to learn how to use this tool. The Teacher's Hub at the SMART Technologies web site has training resources for teachers. Wondering how to use an interactive whiteboard in the classroom? Consider these ideas. Click here for a rich collection of pre-built activities from the SMART Technologies web site (then look in Lesson Activities section).
Saving Data on a CD (mac OS X)	Steps on how to burn documents or photos on a CD-R.
USB Flash Drives	How to use these devices on a Mac.
Word Processing or Publishing	AppleWorks Word
Online Resources
BrainPOP	BrainPOP is a web site that features hundreds of educational topics covering English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Health, and Technology. Click here for more information on the BrainPOP site.
EdHelper.com	edHelper.com is a great website for finding activities and generating worksheets in any subject area from K-6, with some middle school options as well. Activities are also organized by theme and units, making it a useful tool for teachers. You will even find useful weekly prompts for a variety of subject areas at each grade level. Contact Liz Tapia for connection information.
edutopia.org	Edutopia contains a wealth of information and media (including video) about technology in education. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then watching one of these videos is a worthwhile endeavor. Edutopia is the web presence of the George Lucas Foundation.
Enchanted Learning	Enchanted Learning is a collection of children's educational web sites, handouts, and games which are designed to capture the imagination while maximizing creativity, learning, and enjoyment. (their wording, not ours) username: american2 password: qw3m65
Math Games Repository	Various math practice games aligned to your math curriculum by grade level, strand and quarter.
mathstories.com	mathstories.com is a useful website for problem solving practice. It includes opportunities with the different strategies being taught in class. Please see your team leader for more information. Here is a sample sheet.
Online Databases (Searchable Information for Students and Teachers) & MSHS Library Collection Online	ASFM subscribes to a number of online databases which are linked from our two library web sites. ELEM Campus (Look It Up) MSHS Campus (Resources) MSHS Library Collection Online ELEM Library Collection Online Statistics Website e-stat.ca (see mshs Librarian)
Online Rubrics	This site offers teachers pre-made rubrics and the option of creating their own.
Online Quiz/Review/Homework	This is just one method that teachers have available for assessments
unitedstreaming™	Video streaming service in each campus for teachers to find videos which enhance the curriculum.
Websites and Internet
ASFM Websites	Teacher website specifications Learn how to edit your ASFM teacher page (Netscape) \| (Dreamweaver - suggested) Learn how to add links and other things to your page (elem) (updated) Discover how to add a photo gallery to your page using iPhoto
Copyright	Ask school librarians for ASFM Copyright Guidelines
Searching	Searching in the Internet in Spanish
Web Quests	Using the internet in your courses.