Try our new Techpalooza: eduphoria!

Oct 7, 2011 - Kerrville ISD Chief Technology Officer Joel Adkins is breaking new ground in making technology understandable. He has joined with Club Ed to offer new state-wide training, starting with the eduphoria! Suite.

Photo: Techpalooza godfather Joel Adkins prepares breakout sessions for his innovative training concept.

This year, many districts have started implementing the eduphoria! Suite due to packaging with the Region 20 Service Center. There is a specific application for every major department that runs the backend of workflow and school support in our schools today.

Facilities & Events is a building and inventory management part of the Suite. Help Desk is the ticket system for technology as well as a reporting tool for total cost on investment your district can use. PDAS is the evaluation tool most districts use for teacher evaluations. Formspace allows you to create online forms and track the workflow behind the path of where the form goes for approval. And the curriculum tools available in Aware & Forethought make it easier for instructors to track student progress through assessment data and lesson TEKs online. 

These are great tools together for overhauling workflow in a district, but what about training? How will you train your Maintenance office to implement an online Facilities calendar and inventory? How will you train department and campus secretaries to move from paper-forms to paper-less? What are you doing to get your staff plugged-in to develop and share best practices statewide? 

What if there was training offered to share the best practices of what districts are doing to implement and change district-wide workflow for the age of mobility?

Kerrville ISD is offering a one-day workshop to engage the people who will be using eduphoria! Suite. This workshop promises to train the people who will be managing the tools on the backend in order to make the experience as easy as possible for those who interact with it on the front-end. This isn’t a “techie-training.” This is THE training you want to send your HR support staff to, your curriculum people to, your Maintenance people to, and anyone who is ready to take the step to move their district into the 21st century using eduphoria!

Location:

Our training will take place at the Y.O. Ranch Hotel & Conference Center in Kerrville, Texas (http://www.yoresort.com/) which is only 45-minutes from the San Antonio International Airport.

Fee:

Cost per participant is $65.

To sign up with credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover):

Online at www.clubed.net

Go to Courses>Professional>Techpalooza

Or call 830-257-2218

Or email club.ed@kerrvilleisd.net

To sign up with check:

Mail to Club Ed, 1121 Second Street, Kerrville TX 78028

Payable to KISD

To sign up with Purchase Order:

Contact Linda Kneese, 830-257-4883

FAX 830-257-3797

Accommodations:

The Y.O. Ranch Hotel is offering a special room package for this training event - it includes the full breakfast buffet in the Branding Iron Restaurant!

Single room with full breakfast buffet - $89

Double room with full breakfast buffet - $99

To reserve a room:

Y.O. Ranch Hotel & Conference Center

2033 Sidney Baker St.

Kerrville, TX 78028

Phone: 830-257-4440 X 30

Fax: 830-896-8189

Toll Free: 1-877-967-3767

Use the code “techpalooza” to access the discounted room rate.

For all other information:

Joel Adkins

Chief Technology Officer

Kerrville ISD

TCEA TEC-SIG President

(830) 257-4883

joel.adkins@kerrvilleisd.net

Learning with passion

by Phil Houseal as published in the Kerrville TX Community Journal & Boerne TX Hill Country Weekly - May 12, 2010

PHOTO: Is there anything you can’t create with paper and paint? If there is, kids can use video, computers, legos, and clay in this summer’s adventure camps.


Looking for something for the kids to do this summer - something really different and engaging and interesting? That’s what Kathy Patterson was doing when she began offering Computer Explorer camps in the hill country four years ago.

Computer Explorers is a series of interactive science camps that lets kids literally get their hands on cameras, inventions, computers, legos, video equipment, and all sorts of cool tools to learn creatively and constructively.

"I have young kids, and was looking for things for them to do in the summer," the A&M graduate said. "I wanted to provide more educational activities. I had a passion for it. If we know even one child who decided to become an engineer because of these classes, it will be worth it."

So this summer, kids ages 6 to 12 can explore the world from the depths of the oceans to outer space. This year’s offerings are Multimedia Adventure Camp and the Science & Space Ca

At Science & Space Camp, Star Wars still rules. Patterson promises young space cadets might be the next George Lucas, by becoming the writers, directors, actors, animators, and special effects creators of a mini space movie. Then they switch to science, slipping on the white coat to become detectives who use forensics to solve crime scenes.

In Multimedia Adventure Camp, campers create their own animated cartoon strips while they explore the world around in three dimensions. This action-filled camp includes sections on building inventions, making up experiments, and writing stories.

The older youngsters take it a step further and add sound effects and music to create an original video game.

Patterson has operated this educational business for four years, and now has set up classes in Boerne, Kerrville, Fredericksburg, San Antonio, Dripping Springs, and New Braunfels. She has fulfilled her goal of offering learning with passion.

"Girls and boys get just as excited with these activities," Patterson said. "I have had kids crying because they didn't want the class to end."

Computer Explorers has been proven and field-tested nationally since 1983. The camps are taught by certified teachers and are based on sound educational practice, aligning with current curricular standards. Patterson is able to accommodate at-risk students and has seen students flourish "who don't always function well in a typical classroom."

But that is not why the kids love it.

"It is educational and fun," she said. "I think it challenges the kids, and they are learning in a fun way, solving problems that are challenging to them. You don't get to build things in many other school activities."

Just don’t tell the kids they’re learning - it might spoil the fun.

xxx

Science & Space Camp runs the week of August 2 in Kerrville and the week of June 7 in Boerne. Multimedia Adventure Camp meets the week of June 21 in Kerrville and the week of June 28 in Boerne. Club Ed offers summer camps and classes for kids and adults. To sign up, visit www.clubed.net or call 830-895-4386.

Club Ed is the Community Education program of the Kerrville Independent School District. Each year, we offer more than 400 classes with 3000 enrollments. The fall session begins in September. To sign up, ask a question, suggest a class, or apply to teach, call 830-895-4386, or visit www.clubed.net. Comment online at clubedcomments.blogspot.com, or follow us on Twitter @clubedtx.

Computers for “non-computers”

by Phil Houseal as published in the Kerrville TX Community Journal & Boerne TX Hill Country Weekly - April 21, 2010


PHOTO: John Lee, Club Ed computer instructor, helps introduce another new user to the world of computers.

Can you imagine not using a computer in your work or social life? What’s that? You still don’t use a computer? Then John Lee is the man to see.

Lee is a long time computer instructor who specializes in introducing the reluctant learner to the wonders of computers and the Internet. He started working with the machines back in the days of DOS and 10-megabyte hard drives. If you don’t have any idea what those terms mean, then Lee really is the teacher you want.

Lee’s specialty is guiding beginners - especially adult beginners.

“I get the most satisfaction out of helping people who are afraid of computers,” Lee said. “The first thing I do is to open up a computer and show them there is no little man inside that machine with a hammer ready to hit them when they touch the wrong key.”

The word most students use to describe Lee is “patient.” He makes sure his students understand a step before moving on. Some classes they will spend lots of time on “external digital controller mobile dexterity practice” - how to move the mouse.

Even though Lee had an extensive background in computing, he was reluctant to teach at first. He ran bulletin boards in the early days of the Internet, and built databases that were used in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. But it took a friend a year to talk him into trying his hand at teaching adult students how to use computers.

“I didn’t like talking to groups,” Lee explained, even though he used to speak to the press all the time in his role as a detective on the police force. But once in the classroom, he discovered he “loved teaching.”

“I love it because I like computers and I like helping people,” he said. “If you like those things it always helps.”

Lee teaches most beginning classes, including Introduction, Internet, Word, and Email. He has developed courses in protecting your data, dealing with spyware, and backing up hard drives. That leads him to a few top tips for computer owners.

First, backup your data.
Second, keep antivirus and spyware programs updated and allow them to run.
Third, use a program to clean off all temp files and defrag the disk.

Again, if you don’t know what any of this means, you should definitely sign up for a class. Even then, you will soon be unable to avoid using computers in your daily life.

“Using a computer now opens up so many doors,” Lee said. “I can’t think of anything you can’t do with a computer.” That includes telephone calling, texting, taking and sending pictures, and listening to music. Lee noted he even uses an application in his phone while on the golf course that tells the distance from the hole and suggests which club to use.

Lee also runs Lee’s Computer Works, where he sells, repairs, and refurbishes new and used computers. He even makes house calls.

As for that reluctance to teach? Well, Lee has taught since 1996 and in 1999 was named Outstanding Community Education Instructor by the Texas Community Education Association.

See what happens when you overcome your fears of trying something new?

xxx

Club Ed offers all levels of computer classes, including one-to-one training that can be scheduled at any time. For information or to sign up, click www.clubed.net, or call 830-895-4386.

Club Ed is the Community Education program of the Kerrville Independent School District. Each year, we offer more than 400 classes throughout the Texas Hill Country, along with online courses, business and individual training, and after-school and summer camps. Comment online at clubedcomments.blogspot.com, or follow us on Twitter @clubedtx.

Technology?

by Phil Houseal as published in the Kerrville TX Community Journal & Boerne TX Hill Country Weekly - April 7, 2010


Can you imagine swapping your SUV for a horse and buggy?

Your microwave oven for a wood stove?

Your vibrating Barcalounger for a stone bench?

How about your cell phone, Internet, email, and Facebook for... well... for silence?

That last scenario happened for many of us living west of Boerne last week.

Returning from lunch on that Wednesday, we automatically fired up our web browsers, downloaded the news, and checked our email.

I received one from a colleague with the subject line: “Food for thought on social media.”

The link took me to a YouTube video. It was a fast-moving, four-minute show on how our interconnected world, especially the so-called social networking movement, was changing the way we lived, thought, and worked.

“By 2010 Gen Y will outnumber Baby Boomers.”


“If Facebook were a country it would be the world’s 4th largest.”


“Wikipedia has over 13 million articles.”

The factoids whizzed past at the speed of light.

“35% of book sales on Amazon are on the Kindle.”

Fascinating, I thought, at the speed of flesh.

Then something happened. The computer show “hiccoughed.” The downstream stopped streaming. In technical terms, my computer froze.

“The phones don’t work!” came a cry from another room.

“I can’t read my email,” came another.

“Retry, resend, reboot,” I said. I might as well have added, “Resurrect,” because it wasn’t happening.

That of course was the day our web unraveled. All five cell carriers went down, no long distance telephone calls went through, and outgoing email went round and round, chasing its digital tail.

Later we learned that a line had been severed west of Boerne, hurling vast reaches of the hill country back to the dark ages of the early 21st century. For the rest of that day, our communications was limited to those within range of our vocal vibrations. We could not teleconference, video conference, page, text, beep or tweet.

We could only talk, and listen.

The ripples went wider than conversation. People could not use ATMs, buy gas, or take online courses. Stores could not ring up sales; banks could not receive deposits.

The impact affected all ages. After school, I saw forlorn youngsters sitting on doorsteps hoping mom remembered to pick them up. Girls at the dance studio - usually busy texting between classes - were sitting in groups and giggling face to face. One even was writing a note using pencil and paper! The loss of signal was an event for them, like canceling school because of snow, or hauling out the kerosene lamps when the electricity goes out.

Thankfully the system was up by the time we went to bed that evening. If it had lasted longer than a day, we might have had to take extreme measures to communicate, such as writing and mailing actually letters.

And no, the irony of losing our social network in the midst of viewing an online stream of how social networking was changing the world did not escape me.

And perhaps there are all kinds of lessons and aphorisms that could arise from this event.

Like the fact that all communications for our entire region travels through a piece of fiber no larger round than a quarter.

Or how quickly we move from “what is a cell phone?” to “I would never need a cell phone” to “I can’t leave home without my cell phone.”

But the big lesson?

Sometimes the lights go out. Sometimes the phones go dead. Sometimes the car breaks down.

But I never want to go back to hitching up the horse every morning.

xxx


Club Ed offers classes from social networking to hitching up the horses. For information or to sign up, click www.clubed.net, or call 830-895-4386.

Club Ed is the Community Education program of the Kerrville Independent School District. Each year, we offer more than 400 classes throughout the Texas Hill Country, along with online courses, business and individual training, and after-school and summer camps. Comment online at clubedcomments.blogspot.com, or follow us on Twitter @clubedtx.

Don't be a Maxine

by Phil Houseal as published in the Kerrville TX Community Journal & Boerne TX Hill Country Weekly 12/9/2009

“Exactly when was it, Mom, that you become so afraid to try new things?”

That was the blunt but loving query I asked my 80-something mother, Maxine, during a recent, infrequent, phone conversation. I was chiding her for not getting on her computer and learning how to use a basic email or a Facebook account.

You see, my mom used to be an intrepid explorer. As a young girl, she was the oldest of five sisters living on a farm in Iowa. She left the farm in her teens to study business in the state capital, married a sailor, and raised nine kids. She chased down wild horses, cooked and canned, and tended a huge truck garden.

Her reply? “If I do get on email, will you talk to me more often?”

“Every day,” I said honestly. I am still waiting for her to do it.

But other seniors are not waiting. They quickly discover that computers are easy to use, and once on, they can not only correspond with their children, but they can see pictures and videos of their grandchildren, look up old classmates and war buddies, and make new friends who share their interests and hobbies around the world.

It is understandable that computers intimidate some from a generation that was born before airplanes, television, and indoor plumbing existed. If you are one of those who just don’t feel comfortable trying a computer, don’t worry. We have courses and instructors designed just for you. For 20 years we have offered Computers for Beginners, and trained hundreds of people of all ages and backgrounds how to join the computer revolution. That course literally starts with learning how to turn on the machine and how to move the mouse. By the end of the course, students are playing games, writing letters, and emailing friends.

From there, the options are up to each student. Many go on to learn more about email, how to fix old photographs, how to use digital cameras, how to make greeting cards and signs, and how to use word processors and spreadsheets.

How about shopping online? It sure beats getting out in the crowds and traffic, and is completely safe. And shopping online doesn’t mean you bypass the local economy. There is probably not any local store that doesn’t have a web site you can use.

I like to listen to classic radio programs, with my favorite the George Burns & Gracie Allen Show. In the 1940s, advertisers mounted a mock campaign to increase safety in the home. They titled it “Don’t be a Gracie,” referring to Gracie being prone to accidents.

With all apologies to my mother, I plead with you non-computer users “Don’t be a Maxine.” If you are hesitant to use new technology, come in and sign up for a class. We promise to be gentle. And if you have someone in your life who shares my mother’s distrust of computers, urge them to try something new by getting them a gift certificate for a Club Ed class.

Who knows? The first person they email, might be you.

xxx

For a last minute gift, how about a gift certificate for a class in Club Ed? One lady gave her 70-year-old mother a certificate for sky diving! For information, call 830-895-4386 before Dec 18.

Club Ed is the Community Education program of the Kerrville Independent School District. Each year, we offer more than 400 classes throughout the Texas Hill Country, along with online courses, business and individual training, and after-school and summer camps. Comment online at clubedcomments.blogspot.com, or follow us on Twitter @clubedtx.

The Cure that kills - No "anti" to this virus

The Kerrville Daily Times reports that a new anti-virus protection program for your computer is actually the virus. When you install the free version, it infects your computer, then prompts you to buy the full version in order to fix what it broke. People are paying $40 to $100 for this scam. (see article at http://dailytimes.com/story.lasso?ewcd=d6ee2c70d7d5eec1)

Club Ed offers classes that help you understand your computer, protect it, and most important - BACK IT UP!

Link: www.clubed.net
Go to then then
Learn How To Back Up Your Computer - Premium [CH27]

Imagine losing years worth of work, projects and presentations that you thought were safely stored in your computer. What a nightmare it would be! Don't let this happen to you! Learn the techniques to back up your computer so you will still have your important information and be able to get your computer back up and running. We will answer questions such as, what data should you back up, how often should you back up and the most efficient and cost effective medium for backing up onto. Be prepared! Certificate Issued.

When your computer is sick... Club Ed is the cure!