EdTech Friday at Poteet Junior High

Recently I was given the opportunity to create a 1/2 a day professional development day of training for Poteet Junior High. I nominated 4 different teachers to create a training on a skill or tool that they have successfully used in their own classrooms.

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My Goals for the training was:

• Maximize Teachers Time
• Spotlight the great Technology skills used in classrooms currently
• Use technology that was currently being underutilized

The training went very well and teachers felt like they learned valuable new skills. The best part of this training was empowering teachers to become technology leaders for their campus. One teacher presenter started the presentation by saying :

" I'm not sure why they picked me to teach  ya'll how to use technology because I'm horrible at technology, But I can do this So I Know you can do this! "

This teacher taught us how to use the All in learning clicker system. Our school received them at the end of the last school year. Most teachers had not received any training on how to use the clicker system. After this training session over half of the campus's teachers had successfully used the clicker system within two weeks!

The training also created a increase in teacher engagement with the technology department and involving them in  lesson development and design. 

Lunch & Learn Vol 2: Connecting with Students, Parents and Co Teachers

Lunch and Learn" Feb 20

How do you make testing modifications in your classroom?

This year there have been big changes to the STAAR test for students who qualify for modifications. There is no longer a star modified test. This makes the staar modifications that much more important for student success. I myself have had to be an oral administrator for the STAAR test and I have always wondered how the accommodation affects students. Basicly you have a group of students who qualify for the test to be read out loud to them. A teacher then has to read the question one at a time to the whole group. Students have to work as a group to complete the test. Students often finish at different paces, and fast students have to put their head down until the slower students finish. How can you get into the grove of test taking? How can you focus? If I was in school today I would qualify for this kind of testing modification. Which makes me cringe,  I would HATE having to wait for others , or have others wait on me !! So I was very relieved when I found out that the new STAAR with modifications would be completed on the computer.

Which makes me question, how can we simulate this in the classroom? Well at the time I'm not talented enough to recreate the exact testing environment. BOO! But I can make oral modified test for students on my campus. Recently I've been experimenting with different  chrome extensions and apps to make this happen. The chrome extensions had to much of a learning curve for my liking. Not close enough to the real deal to be worth the time to teach kids or teachers. 

I'm looking for a balance  between what teachers can create themselves and a recreation of the testing experience.  In the past students would be read to as a group by the teacher or teacher aid.  

My solution is a video created with wevideo or imovie. I took a photo of the question, added audio of the question being read out loud and then added a black image to add a buffer in between questions. This allows students to pause, rewind and fast forward test questions. . Students also can access the video via laptop or iPad. They also can stay in the classroom and complete the quiz at their own pace!  

Here is an example of a oral modification created for a unit test. The page is created on a google site, with a google shortener, qr code and google dive link to download.  Since creating this modification I have created some support materials for our teachers.

URL Shortners




QR Codes

I'll keep you updated with how testing is going using this  strategy. I'll be creating a video soon how to create your own quizzes and google site pages using my strategy. So come back soon to check it out! 

Introduction to Blendspace

Teachers and students collect different types of learning materials to create a learning environment using Blendspace. By being able to pull information from many different places over the web such as youtube, google drive, flicker, world wide web you can create a dynamic learning experience. Blendspace also offers a easy to use interface and workflow. Learning Outcomes Students will take control of their own learning Students will create Blendesace Accounts Students will create a Blendspace Lesson to present their Google 20% Project Students will add 5 different types of media into their presentation Students will create a quiz Demographic Junior High Art students in the 6th,7th and 8th grade. Rationale There are so many great tools out there to create content. Blendspace allows me to pull learning materials from many different kinds of sources and put them in one space. I want my students to be able to pull materials from all over the web into one place for easy use of viewing and collecting. Google 20% Project Presentation Students will be working on a Google 20%,similar to and Genius Hour. Both of these styles of projects give students the power to learn in their own hands. Students will create a proposal for a research project that they are passionate learning more about. I learned about the Google 20% project from other educators which led me to various educators to had started a movement in their schools and classrooms. Von Jan (20011) goes on to explain that “Google’s “20% Time”, was inspired by Sergey Brin’s and Larry Page’s Montessori School experience, is a philosophy and policy that every Google employee spend 20% of their time (the equivalent of a full work day each week) working on ideas and projects that interest that employee. They are encouraged to explore anything other than their normal day-to-day job. As a result 50% of all Google’s products by 2009 originated from the 20% free time, including Gmail. Real break-through happens when we are free from others’ expectations and driven by individual passion.” In my classrooms students will be given this opportunity to research and learn based on their passions. Students will be given the skills to be able to research and find reliable information on the web and other local sources. Students will use blendspace to create a collection of the materials used for their project. Then create a final lesson to teach others in their class about their own research and findings. According to ISTE Student Standards its important that students get experience working and critiquing others. “Students will demonstrate Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media” (Iste 2014) Getting Started Tutorials for Blendspace References ISTE standards taken from International Society for Technology in Education website. Received from: http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-S_PDF.pdf on 5/11/14 Jan, K. (2011, October 24). Pursue Passion: Demand Google 20% Time at School. The Huffington Post. Retrieved May 12, 2014, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/katherine-von-jan/unstructured-classroom_b_1024404.html

Whatttt? Apps on a Laptop?

This is exactly how I felt when my mentor attended a Google academy class last month. So I had to set out to explore this fact. You may know exactly what an app is..one of those things on a iPad or your phone. But today you can also find apps on your regular ole' computer screen too!
                                         
Google Chrome allows you to "download" apps right to your chrome screen. Okay so download is not the right word, a better word is Bookmark. Which means these little babies don't take up any of your space and if they are being bad you just reload the tab/screen. 
An App is defined by a program that is run completely inside a web browser. Some of the most loved Chrome Apps that are loved from teachers in my school and myself are the password saving ones. 

Do you recommend any? is what I'm currently using and it works great! Plus you can use it on different kinds of devices and computers systems.
Here is an example of what the chrome web store looks like. I'm currently researching different apps for a Photoshop and photo editing loving post.                 

Personal Growth: 5 Goals for Professional Development

As I'm completing the course, Technology for Staff Development at American College of Education. I think about my own personal goals for professional development and growth.  I wanted to share my goals so I could look back and reflect on them at the end of the year. 

I would like to be able to learn to create professional presentations using Camtasia or Adobe’s Premiere. Both of these programs are expensive and I will have to put aside time to learn. But being able to create a visual presentation will help me create well rounded professional development.

This year I was blessed with the opportunity to attend many different educational technology conferences. I would like to make a goal of being able to bring back the knowledge and skills to my peers. Because of this class I believe i will be able to create better learning opportunities and materials for my peers.

Recently I have learned how to use Twitter to better connect with my education technology peers, creating my personal learning network. Be a connected Educator keeps me up to date with trends and emerging technology. A goal I have to further develop this personal learning network.

At the beginning of every year the technology departments host a training day. Its my goal to use the skills and steps used to develop a curriculum. I would like to survey the staff on my campus at the end of the school year to assess their needs. Then create a program based on those needs.

My last goal is one that I have been dreaming about for years. I would like to submit a proposal to Texas Computer Education Association for the 2015 conferences. 

Developing a PD Curriculum: Using Less Paper: Edmodo and Google Drive

As a student I'm completing the course, ET5063 Technology for Staff Development at American College of Education.  I will be graduating from ACE with a Masters in Education Technology in March of 2014. In this assignment I have development a curriculum using a blended learning environment with a two week timeline.

Using Less paper: Edmodo and Google Drive

Teachers will learn how to use Edmodo to create a classroom that will use less paper by using Google. This class will be taught using a blended learning environment. I will model the strategies taught by using documents that were created with Google drive. Learners will have a optional open lab environment available to them at a specific time. This will give teachers the extra support if needed to create the documents required for the class. 

Learning Objectives:
The learner will explain the steps of connecting their Edmodo account with their Google drive. This will allow the learner’s accounts to interact with each other. The learner will understand the steps of creating documents with google drive to support their lesson objectives. This will let the learner digitize handouts that are normally discarded after their use. The learner will demonstrate the process of distributing documents to students through Edmodo.

Welcome Video:

Do you need a Refresher on Edmodo?

Video: Do you need a Edmodo Refresher? Optional

Group Discussion:  Please Introduce yourself to the group.

Group Discussion : How do you currently use Edmodo and Google Drive in your classroom?

Video: Introduction to Google Drive

Video: Introduction to Google Docs

Video: Introduction to Google Presentation Video: Introduction to Google Form

Formative Evaluation Due

Optional Lab Day: Teachers have a Choice to come to and open lab to work on assignment. Learner will reinforce skills they have learned.

Assignment Due Monday Morning: Transform a Handout, Presentation, and Form using google drive. Preferable create materials that you were going to hand out the old fashion way to use in your classroom.

Week 2:

Group Discussion : Share out your experiences working on this assignment.

Video Edmodo Attaching Google Drive

Video Edmodo Posting Presentations, Handouts or Forms

Video Edmodo Creating a library & sharing

Optional Lab Day: Teachers have a Choice to come to and open lab to work on assignment. Learner will reinforce skills they have learned.

Final Assignment Due Monday

Students will create Libraries, and post the three assignments to their classrooms.

Summative Assignment Due

Ed Tech TLC Group

I recently read Dexterous Diva's blog post THE SMART BLOGGERS GUIDE TO PROMOTING YOUR POSTS IN 7 MINUTES and was very inspired by the idea of a TLC Group!   TWEET - LIKE - COMMENT. After talking with the Diva herself  and some new friends I meet on #EDtechchat the Ed Tech TLC group was created!

Interested in a community of bloggers who supports one another on many different levels? Then we want you!

Here is how it works:
1. Join our Facebook group where we share our new ed tech Post and Blogs.
2. Request to Join the group
3. Commit to logging in and Tweeting - Likeing  and Comment to our group member Blogs !

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask!


To learn more about how to get your blog rocking for 2014 check out the Dexterous diva website and VIP program!

http://dexterousdiva.co.uk/access-areas/

Ways to Make your Ipad Cart Easy to Manage

As I start the new school year I eagerly look forward to when the class set of iPad roll into my art room! As I patiently wait, I want to share with you a few tips I learned last year.

 1. Use a Rules and Guidelines Lock page 

 Make your rules and guidelines easy to find. I created a Lock page with our rules so its the first thing students see when the turn on the iPad. I would love to share with you my lock page for free to use in your classroom! My design won a District High Five award and will be used across my district! I have also include a easy to use QR code!  Which makes it easy for you to load the Lock page and backgrounds to your class set of iPad s. Simply use any Qr code reader on your i pads to come directly to this page. Then click on the images you would like to save to the iPad's.

 2. Assign students to an Ipad for accountability 
Most iPad sets I have seen have been numbered. My iPad set has a tiny number on the back. I wish I had a nickle every time a student flipped the iPad to the back to see its number. So why not make it easy on yourself and your students by using a Numbered Background! I created a numbered background that matches my iPad Lock page. You could also Google image search the number and use the image as a background. Having a easy to see number allows you to double check that students are using the correct iPad a all times. So when iPad number 4 is found left on the desk and not in the iPad cart, you know which student to talk too. Click here to view the class set of Numbers You can also take this a step further by creating a custom background for each iPad with the students name on it.

 3.  Know how to Lock a student into an App
This was a life saver last year! You can lock students into an app using the Guided access feature. To set this up go to your settings>General>Accessibility> Guided Access> ON> Set Passcode.
I had the same passcode for all of my iPads and I just kept it very secure! I didn't want to have to change it on all 30 iPads! Then when the student is getting off task you can click the home screen button 3 times and it will ask you if you want to turn  on the guided access.  Then when you want to leave the app you will enter in the password.

 4. Create folders for your Apps

Take some time and create folders for your apps. Technology is great but when your trying to teach a lesson and a student is tempted to play chopsticks or take a couple of selfies it takes away from your lesson objectives! I created folders to make it clear which apps students can use and when. Some of the labels i use are; Free Time, Restricted, 3D Art, Drawing and EDU. Then when we use the iPads I let them know which folders they can access for their projects. The Restricted folder includes the messaging, Gmail, settings, notes, and other default apps that students do not need to access.  To create a folder simply select an app and hold it until you can move it. Then slide over another app that you would like it to be in a folder with. The folder will be created automatically and then you can rename it.  I will be asking my best behaved class to help me with this task!



What do you do to make your life easier with an iPad cart?