Pictures I have uploaded on my Picasa account. These pictures can be used for Judaic instruction and teacher training

When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices, and demonstrate how these best practices can be applied in the real (i.e. physical) and virtual (online) classroom for both teaching and teacher training. The combination of face to face instruction in a physical setting and online learning is called blended learning. In this section of the blog we will describe how the internet can serve as a supplemental resource for instruction and the mentoring of pre-service and in-service Jewish educators. In this post we will continue our discussion on how  students in a Judaic Studies blended learning classroom can use Picasa to enhance learning.

Assumption: The teacher or mentor teacher has a interactive white board (i.e. SMART Board, Promethean, etc.), a Tablet PC (also called a Slate or Blade), a computer presenter or computer with internet access attached to an LCD projector in the classroom. It would be ideal if students or mentees had access to their own laptop computers as well.

Note: Although Picasa can be applied in the Judaic Studies blended learning classroom, it can be also be used for training pre-service and in-service Jewish educators for professional or staff development. It is our hope that Jewish educators around the globe will form an online community of practice, a CoP, a group of people who share an interest, a craft, and/or a profession, to enhance the delivery of instruction and training of Jewish educators. For example, here is a CoP you might want to join. 

Note: Picasa can also be used in a face to face classroom without adding the online component.

What Is Picasa?

According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picasa), Picasa is an image organizer and image viewer for organizing and editing digital photos, plus an integrated photo-sharing website, originally created by Idealab and owned by Google since 2004.[1] "Picasa" is a blend of the name of famed Spanish painter Pablo Picasso; the phrase mi casa for "my house", and "pic" for pictures (personalized art).[1][2] In July 2004, Google acquired Picasa and began offering it as a free download.[1][2]

Where is Picasa located on the web?

Click here to learn how to install Picasa on a Mac.

Click here to learn how to install Picasa on a PC.

Click here to see the pictures I have placed on my Picasa account.

On the next post we will introduce a new web-based photo presentation tool, photobucket.