WorkshopsThe Drs. Cavanaugh are available to present workshops on the following topics. To arrange a presentation, email firstname.lastname@example.org.
Some previous workshop samples on the left.
I can provide a wide variety of workshops on technology applications and integration, science, and assistive technology. The hours of the programs will be determined by what is needed. One hour provides enough time to introduce the topic and have a demonstration/presentation. The total number of hours is determined by how much interaction is necessary.
Assistive Technology for Education (1-6 hours)
Assistive technology is a wide-ranging educational tool that is growing in its use and importance, and is required for consideration in all IEPs. In this presentation, easy to find (or create) and use assistive technology devices will be demonstrated concerning their application to education. Learn how to incorporate these assistive technology concepts and tools into teaching for everyone. Discover about the wide range of assistive technology devices that are available.
Concept Mapping with Inspiration (1-4 hours)
Learn about the value of concept mapping as a learning tool and teaching strategy. Using a software program titled Inspiration, you can quickly create visual multimedia diagrams to represent knowledge, processes, relationships, and more. Learn to use concept mapping software as an effective study, research, assessment, and writing tool. Automatically generate outlines or create brainstorm maps. With this simple tool you can create web pages, transparencies, bulletin boards, images, and more.
Bookmapping: Melding Literature and GIS Mapping Technologies (1-4 hours)
In this session teachers will learn to apply what was once advanced technologies only for Geographic Information Systems, but can now easily be applied as educational reading activities. Learn to use interactive mapping tools to support reading instruction, literacy, standards, and content area reading. Online mapping tools, such as Google Maps and Google Earth, can be used to create interactive maps related to students' reading. These maps can range from an interactive map of story locations to comparison maps of the student's physical location to the story's location. Learn locations of free online resources that can be used to create individual or group online interactive maps, and the teacher or student can download the "story data" and "fly" the locations offline. During this session a variety of mapping technologies will be demonstrated. Instruction will be presented on using mapping tools as educational resources providing reading scaffolding for diverse readers.
Digital Cameras in Education (1-12 hours)
Hand-on instruction, ideas, and examples for comparing and using digital cameras in education. Learn the steps of operating a digital camera, then capture, edit and save images with the computer. Topic includes image formats for applications and options for displaying images. This session will offer techniques and examples of ways to apply digital photography in teaching. A digital camera can enhance students' educational experiences and make life easier for a teacher or administrator. Ideas and examples for all levels and content areas will be shared through demonstration and sample lessons. As a curriculum tool, digital cameras add a multimedia dimension to learning. Placing a digital camera in the hands of a K-12 student or teacher unleashes creativity and opens up new possibilities for all areas of the education spectrum. Beyond simply recording events, digital images transform documents, presentations, and communications into personalized, custom productions. Topics include student and teacher portfolios and printing on various media for creative projects. This workshop can also be adapted to focus on ESE, Science, Math, Technology, and Assessment.
Digital Video Booktalks
Learn how to use free software to create or have students create their own video booktalks.
Distance Learning Techniques (1-6 hours)
Interest in distance learning is on the rise among high school students, college students and professionals. Learn effective methods for distance learning environments. Workshop topics include Team Building, Methods of Assessment, The Online Discussion Forum, and Distance Learning for Field Experiences. A theme throughout is the need for planning in distance learning.
DVD Applications (1-3 hours)
Video is captivating, and interactive video is engaging. This workshop shares lessons and strategies that use the features of DVD for multi-sensory, multiple intelligence, multi-disciplinary learning. Learn how to repurpose entertainment video and turn it into a real educational experience for your students.
E-Books (1-6 hours)
Learn to apply e-book/digital text programs in creating interactive educational materials. E-Books are books that have been converted to digital format. Discover how to use free e-book software to create your own e-books and publications and locate and work with existing e-documents. With an e-book reader such as Microsoft Reader you have a system that remembers where you left off reading, and includes multiple methods of page navigation, allows for multicolored bookmarks, dictionary interaction, and whole book search features. You can personalize your e-Book with multicolored highlighting, font sizing, adding your drawings, and writing in personal notes.
Effective Presentation Design and Creation (1-12 hours)
Learn presentation design basics and guidelines for improving presentations using tools such as PowerPoint and HyperStudio. This workshop will also address the topics of using advanced features of PowerPoint to add animations, navigation, interactions, and multimedia to presentations Presentation software tool are powerful and adaptable products for creating custom lessons and presentations. Effective presentations follow established design principles and include interactivity. Design guidelines for creating better presentations include size, fonts, images, readability, distractions and more. Benefits of interactive presentations include sensory engagement through multimedia and easy reuse and updating of saved files. Tutorials, interactive lessons with feedback, review, and even testing, can be created as presentations.
Effective use of the Word Processor (1-6 hours)
This workshop is about how to take your word processor and make it a more effective writing tool for educational purposes. Topics in this workshop include more effective use of text, including size and structure, how to effectively incorporate images to prevent distraction, tools that can be used for evaluating writing, and how to incorporate special characters and formatting options to create better documents for students. This workshop will also include how to use a word processor in the evaluation and leveling of reading material and applications of the word processor as an interaction tool between a student and teacher.
Interactive PowerPoint (1-6 hours)
Learn methods for designing interactivity into digital presentations by incorporating menus, buttons and feedback into PowerPoint for web, CD-ROM and computer delivery. This session will overview purposes of digital electronic presentations in education, including for large groups, small groups and individuals. Interactive PowerPoint is effective for tutorial, testing, review, simulation and concept instruction. Participants will learn through demonstration, discussion and handouts how to design and use buttons, menus, and feedback into PowerPoint for navigation and education.
Internet in Education (1-6 hours)
This workshop will be a hands-on tour of the resources available for educators wishing to use the internet to enhance course work. Participants will be introduced to the world wide web and how it can be used as a classroom resource. Activities include navigating the world wide web, listserves, search engines, and visiting educational web sites.
This workshop can also be adapted to focus on ESE, ESOL, or any specialized course area: Math, Science, Social Studies, etc.
Online Research (1-6 hours)
Learn about methods to effectively incorporate online research into education. In this workshop you will learn ways to evaluate information on the web for student and classroom. Experience how different software applications can improve your research methods. Learn about more effective ways to use search engines and what the differences are between engines. Learn how to cite work from the web.
Repurposing Entertainment Video for Education (1-4 hours)
The goal in repurposing a feature film as a teaching tool is to provide an educational event which is still entertaining. The outcome of using a repurposed feature film should be to increase a studentís experience with certain concepts of content or to provide a common background for students to work from. This workshop will cover the topics of: Selecting a Film, Applications for Repurposing, Challenges of Repurposing, Preparing for Use, and Effective Methods of Presenting a Repurposed Film. Sample lessons will be provided to all attendees.
Teaching Science with Science Fiction Films (1-4 hours)
Science fiction has always been a staple of motion pictures. It can be described as a branch of movies in which scientific discoveries and developments from elements of a plot. With this workshop science educators can learn to use the excitement and fun atmosphere of the science fiction movie to his or her advantage. Learn effective methods to incorporate science fiction films as an effective and motivating teaching and learning tool for science. With this workshop teachers will receive a book containing lessons that are designed to help students translate science fiction into science fact.
Technology for English as a Second Language Classes (1-3 hours)
Classroom technology can motivate and enhance learning in many exciting ways. Students in ESOL classes have made significant educational gains through the use of technology, including video, word processing, digital cameras, and sound. This session presents a few examples of how to incorporate effective technology for ESOL students.
Technology Enhanced Literature Circles (1-3 hours)
During this session teachers will learn strategies for applying and integrating technologies into the literature circle. In this enhanced literature circle students are exposed to standard literature circle concepts with technology integrations that allow or require the students to use technology tools such as search engines, paint programs, concept mapping software, and chat rooms. The technology enhanced literature circle assignments that have been developed are: Discussion Coordinator; Vocabulary Elaborator; Literary Expository; Graphic Illustrator; Graphic Organizer; Background Researcher; Web Researcher; Media Hunter; Mapper/Tracker; and Connector. Each job assignment has integrated technology applications
Text to Speech Tools and Online Libraries (1-5 hours)
Learn to apply Text-to-Speech software to assist all students with reading, writing and research. Text-to-Speech is a software/hardware application that converts text in a computer to artificial speech that is spoken through speech synthesizers or computer speakers. Discover resources for free Text-to-Speech software, digital books, documents, and publications.
Using the Word Processor for Writing and Readability Analysis. (1-3 hours)
Did you know that MS Word can run a readability analysis on writing? Learn to use the built-in features of Word to analyze the grade level and the readability of written material. Use this feature to analyze student work, level books, and find grade level appropriate resources.
Web Accessibility (1-6 hours)
Learn about ways to evaluate whether web pages are accessible to people of all abilities. Discover tools that can help with the evaluation process, such as site validators and testing with screen readers. Learn about some of the simple techniques that can drastically improve the site access. Find out how web pages can be structured for accessibility.
Web Evaluation for Education (1-3 hours)
Because the web is an important source of information in schools, teachers and students need skills for evaluating web sites. For a specific learning goal, thousands of web sites may exist, but not all of them will be appropriate. Web sites are written at a wide range of language levels, for a variety of purposes, and for diverse audiences. Learn about what a teacher needs to consider about web pages as they relate to their educational needs. A great many web pages contain information that is not appropriate for student needs because of misinformation or bias. Learn about tools that can enable students to make assessments on a pageís worth for the academic endeavor by judging the pageís authority and currency, its publisher and purpose, and its objectivity and accuracy.