Course Descriptions

Ed-Tech Creations offers 2 categories of EZ-Training units. The courses in each category are described below, generally listed in increasing skill-level order.

	Basic Training—8 units that demystify your computer and get you going with the software you have
	Integrating Technology—Additional units for educators that highlight 3 approaches to integrating technology

Basic Training

Computers at H.E.A.R.T.™
Human Emphasis Among Recent Technologies

Demystify the computer by learning concepts that apply to all applications. Use word processing or painting basics to familiarize yourself with the common elements of all computer work—disks, files, windows, menus, message boxes, and help features.

Productivity Power™

Part 1: Use word processing, drawing, and painting tools for your own needs. Learn how to create illustrated letters, notices, or any other printed document. Part 2: Use spreadsheet and database tools to keep your own records and generate reports. Learn how to calculate budgets and maintain records digitally (such as for an address book, medical or insurance information, or any collection or hobby). You will also create a customized form letter and presentation slide show.

S.E.A.R.C.H Those CD/DVDs™
Specific Explorations And Research Cause Headway

Preview and evaluate general interactive references, such as general multimedia encyclopedias, as well as more specialized resources. Master hands-on techniques for effectively finding the information you want—browsing, searching, and accessing special features. Become more adept with those DVD menus; see the scenes you want.

T.R.A.I.L.S. to Information™
Telecommunication Research And Information Learning Skills

Introduce yourself to the Internet's World Wide Web by practicing point-and-click browsing, using keyword search engines, and exploring informational sites suited to your needs. Follow a set of recommended strategies to best enable you or your students to learn research skills and construct knowledge.

C.H.A.T.S. With Others™
Communications Happening And Telecommunication Skills

Explore representative Web sites that use the power of the Internet to communicate with others around the country and world. Use application samples to plan your own or class participation in peer e-mail, discussion groups, online experts, electronic expeditions, or collaborative project exchanges.

Get Real With Media™

Discover how to bring reality into your computer work with actual photos, video, and sound recordings. This workshop provides practice using a digital camera, camcorder, and scanner, as well as transferring the results to a slide show or document. The basics of graphic, audio, and video editing are also introduced. These techniques can help anyone create more interesting, meaningful, or exciting documents and screen displays.

Digital Images that Deliver™

Discover how to master graphic editing software. You will learn painting tools, selection methods, and how to make basic edits to any image or photo.
Expand your skills by using layers, applying photo retouching tips, and exploring advanced effects, such as filters. Finally, learn about color management and file optimization, so your images will deliver quality results wherever you use them.

Motivating with Multimedia™

Whether on the Web or in any software product, multimedia can effectively communicate, attract attention, and enhance an experience. Involving students in creating their own multimedia engages and motivates them as they learn. View samples of K-12 student projects, and discuss how multimedia fits into the project process. As a parent or teacher, review your role in helping the learners in your life.

Integrating Technology

Integration—Let's Count the Ways™

Review various methods, types of software and Web sites, and classroom applications for integrating technology into your curriculum. Learn how to evaluate products and tools and discover the best integration possibilities for student projects and activities. Participants will create their own technology application plan for implementing one new computer activity or project in the next school year.

The R.E.A.P. System of Integration™
Research - Explore - Activities - Projects

Review various methods, types of software, and classroom applications for integrating technology into your curriculum. Use your own software collection to learn how to evaluate products and discover the best integration possibilities.

C.L.A.S.S.Y. Teacher Tools™
Computerized Logistics Achieve Simplified School Years

Part 1: Use word processing, drawing, and painting tools for your own needs. Learn how to create illustrated notices, lesson plan templates, homework checklists, student certificates, rubric grids, and newsletters. Part 2: Use spreadsheet, database, and word processing tools for keeping your own records and generating reports. Learn how to calculate grades or budgets, produce progress charts, maintain student records, customize form letters, and presentation slide shows.

 

P.R.O.J.E.C.T. Process
People Resources Objectives Joining Educational Computer Technology

Follow specific guidelines on how to plan realistic computer projects that focus on curriculum and student needs. Implement the project process to create multimedia documents and slide shows presentations.

S.T.A.R. Projects That Work For You™
Study-based Technology Abilities Reign

Use a unique set of proven, recommended project models for K-12 to plan specific computer projects for any grade or subject. Explore actual samples and available software tools to customize project models to fit your classes and teams.

Multimedia Authoring C.H.A.M.P.S.™
Communications Happening And Multimedia Project Skills

Learn how to use multimedia authoring programs for all subjects in grades 4 and up. Assume the role of a student creating a hypermedia computer presentation with graphics, sounds, animation, and video.

L.I.N.K.S. To Your Own Web Site™
Lasting Impressions Necessitate Key Screens

Discover how you and your students can plan, develop, and implement your own Web site, along with appropriate reasons to do so. Use Web publishing software to produce screens with text, graphic, and special effect elements.

F.O.C.U.S Activities™
Focus On Content Under Study

Select a recommended software product that relates to a specific area of study in your curriculum. Explore all aspects of the software, determine how you can best use it with your class, and develop your own activity plan or project model.

P.R.O.B.E. Science Explorations™
Precise Results Obtained By Experimentation

Use the computer to "do science" and get better results than you can in other ways. Perform probe-based software experiments, manipulate simulation variables, and explore Internet sources for real-time data collection and analysis.

Communibilities™ for Technology

Explore a range of activities and projects that use computers to build personal skills important for all students—something that can benefit all on both a personal and global level. This workshop is based on a collection of sample applications that have been successfully used in the classroom. It provides a framework for teachers to ensure that their students’ use of technology is balanced within four areas of communication—self, others, information, and environment. Learn to integrate technology in a way that fosters successful students, family members, and responsible citizens.

The Mediator in Your Classroom™

Let The Mediator work for you—this interactive multimedia framework can be both an exciting project for your class and a new instructional tool for your students. Learn how to design multiple media forms (text, graphics, animation, audio, and video) to introduce, review, reinforce, and extend 4 topics of your choice. Review the process of having Ed-Tech Creations fully develop your custom software or guiding your students to develop the media themselves. The Mediator can be produced for any grade level or subject. As a project, it is best suited for teachers and students who are very comfortable with using software and managing files.

C.U.S.T.O.M.™ Course Package

Customized User Selected Topics Or Materials

Create your own set of training units to provide teachers with the skills and information they need to comfortably and competently integrate technology in their curriculums. All Ed-Tech Creations workshops and coaching sessions feature hands-on training and classroom solutions based on years of actual experience. Each unit can be customized to use comparable software and actual resources that you have available. Any one workshop or coaching session can be extended to provide more in-depth or advanced technical support.