I am so excited to see you all next week! This summer went by very quickly but I'm hopeful you had a chance to unwind, spend time with family and friends and learn something new! Our team has been busy this summer preparing for the 2021/2022 school year. We're excited to announce that we have hired two new tech coaches! Join me in welcoming Tara Morcom and Gidget Dejesus to the team! They will be working together to support our secondary buildings. A detailed support plan will be shared once they're officially in their new roles. For now, please continue to reach out to myself, Garrett Derr or a DPRS with instructional technology questions. Speaking of DPRSs, we have restructured them into two positions; Digital Resource Specialist and Print Specialist. Each level (elementary, middle and high) will have a print or digital specialist supporting you. If you have technical issues with computers, iPads, projectors not working properly, please submit a Helpdesk ticket.
As a reminder, you are welcome to work on your required two-hour asynchronous Digital Citizenship course before next Tuesday, August 17. If you choose to do so, you'll be given time in your classroom during the allotted time in the afternoon. Please reach out if you have any questions! I appreciate you all! Have a wonderful weekend!
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The 2020/2021 school year was unlike any we've ever experienced. From many moments of doubt and uncertainty to teaching in ways we've never imaged, it was certainly a unique and challenging year. Synchronous and asynchronous instruction, virtual, hybrid and concurrent teaching were just a few of the words that come to mind when I think about this past school year. Oh, concurrent teaching... I'll never forget finding out that we were bringing students back in January but also allowing students to Zoom into our classrooms. So many questions flooded my mind. How is this possible? Do we have infrastructure to handle this? How will we manage students on Zoom when there are students in front of us that we need to focus on? How do we set rooms up for this to be a possibility? I can't imagine the questions you had and the mixed emotions you were feeling. Fortunately, like everything else this year we saw it through. Students returned and you learned to navigate between "Zoomies" and "Roomies" and provide all of your students what they needed to be successful. You learned to use technology in new and innovative ways to meet their needs. You dealt with safety mitigations and worked tirelessly to ensure you and your students were masked, sanitized and distanced. Through all of the challenges this year, you've been able to overcome the obstacles that seemed impossible in the moment. In writing this, it's officially summer break. You deserve this one. Take time to relax, reflect and unwind this summer. Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do to support our students. See you in August!
This post comes from motivation provided by Tara Morcom! Tara is one of the three amazing instructional coaches at McCaskey. We were discussing Schoology and assessment tools came up. Since our district has the Enterprise version of Schoology, we have access to the enhanced Schoology assessment features. Tara shared her desire to get information about these awesome assessment tools shared out so I thought this would be a great opportunity to write a post about some of the really cool features that we have access to as Schoology enterprise users! For this post, we’re going to take a look at the three highlight assessment types; highlight hotspot, image and text.
Highlight Hotspot The highlight hotspot enables you to upload images and define regions (hotspots) in that image for student validation. This is a great tool to use for identifying parts out of a whole. Application of this tool in the classroom could include cell structure, anatomy, geography and just about anything where you’d want students to identify sections or regions of something. When creating an assessment question using this feature, you’ll want to create multiple highlighted sections so that students will need to select the correct section out of given choices. If you want to ask multiple questions using the same highlighted hotspot template, you can copy the question and rewrite the question. This saves valuable time when creating highlight hotspot activities. If you’d like to learn more about creating your own, here’s a YouTube video explaining how to create a set of highlight hotspot questions. Highlight Image This feature allows your students to annotate an image. When students submit this type of assessment question, you get a copy of all of the mark ups they made on the problem. The best part is that you have access to a “Replay” button where you can view the process that your students took to solve a specific problem after they submit their work. This feature allows you to identify misconceptions and reteach if necessary. This is tool is great to use when you want students to show their work. Short answers, math problems, labeling, matching and annotating are a few ways this could be utilized. In order to create an assessment question using highlight image, all you’ll need is an image or screenshot to upload as your question. Once published, they’ll be able to annotate directly on this image in the assessment. To learn more, here’s a one-minute how to video. Highlight Text Need students to identify certain words, sentences or paragraphs in a selection of text? Use the highlight text assessment tool. Add your question and paste your text into the question setup field. The text automatically copies to the correct answer field selection. Select the words or phrases that you want students to choose based on the question type. This works great for identifying parts of speech, figurative language, sentence types, poetic elements, theme, main idea, etc! So many options. You can also decide if you’d like to provide partial credit if students need to identify more than one element. Learn more about creating this assessment type on this website. Need help with any of these assessment features? Reach out to SDOLTECH! JOIN US for HOUR OF CODE with Code.org and CodeBytes! - December 3-9, 2020! We all know this year has been challenging and unlike any we've ever experienced. Code.org is here to help you make this years "Hour of Code" a little easier for you! They are offering five easy-to-digest, 20 minute interactive lessons called "Code Bytes" where students can join in and learn to code along code.org staff! Code Bytes are great for:
Episodes will begin Monday, December 7th. If you can't watch live, they will be available to stream shortly after airing. You can find the links and more information on this website. Episode 1 - Monday, December 7th Recommended for grades 6-12 American Sign Language (ASL) is a way to communicate without speaking. We’ll be training a computer to read sign language with our own images of ASL letters. Episode 2 - Tuesday, December 8th Recommended for grades K-5 Everyone’s invited to a digital dance off as we code characters to do your favorite dance moves in Dance Party! Episode 3 - Wednesday, December 9th Recommended for grades 4-12 A virus has infected Monster Town! We’ll code an Outbreak Simulator and make predictions about what will happen to the neighbors of Monster Town. Episode 4 - Thursday, December 10th Recommended for grades 6-12 Want to help your community? Learn the basics of designing a simple app in AppLab that you can immediately share with others. Episode 5 - Friday, December 11th Recommended for grades 3-7 Let’s dig into the world of Minecraft to help the Agent activate switches, place blocks, and clear obstacles to pick up items for the journey! Vocabulary tasks don't have to be boring! Through the use of technology, you can easily increase the rigor of vocabulary instruction in your classroom by promoting deeper thinking and analysis of new words. These type of tasks help students build meaning and understanding of complex vocabulary. With a little help from Keynote, you can turn that drab dictionary retrieval activity into a creative, fun and fab task! Vocabulary Animations Students use Keynote to add a definition of a vocabulary word and then use shapes to represent the word
Visual Vocabulary Students use Keynote to animate a word to represent to provide a visual representation of the word
Scavenger Hunt Students use place holders in Keynote to add examples or videos of different vocabulary words
Want more ideas on how to use Keynote in your classroom? Click this link for 20 Keynote Creations written by the SDOLTECH team!
Full disclosure. Limiting this list to just five reasons was a real struggle. To be honest, I could go on and on. I've been using Nearpod for a few years now and the benefits of this platform are undeniable. I went from exploring and using Nearpod occasionally, to launching multiple lessons a day. If you are struggling for ways to not only engage, but empower your students, I challenge you to give Nearpod a try. Our district currently has a district account and it's been worth every dollar. Keep in mind, however, Nearpod also offers a free silver version with unparalleled benefits compared to its competitors. In no particular order, let's explore five reasons why Nearpod is an absolute game-changer in classrooms across all grade levels and content areas. 1. Built-in Content and Activities So, maybe this is two, but it's so hard to limit this list to just five. There's no other way to put it — Nearpod's built-in content and activities are next level. When exploring the content, you will find anything from virtual field trips to PHET simulations. Let's talk about equity for a second. In a matter of minutes, you can have your students explore various parts of the world through virtual field trips that they otherwise wouldn't get to be a part of. Exploring landforms or bodies of water? There's a trip for that. Diving deep into a historical site? There's a trip for that. In water or on land, Nearpod has you covered. Empower your students with the built-in activities ranging from drawings to open ended questions to collaborative boards. Check them out below! 2. Reports Tab There's very little benefit of using digital tools if you aren't able to get a glimpse into student understanding. Thankfully, Nearpod has a detailed reports tab that allows you to gain insight into student work and their progress. The reports are so detailed that you could analyze each activity that students complete, download the results as a spreadsheet or PDF, and even share with parents or other staff members who have an interest in your students. Tip: If you have students working through a student-paced lesson, have the reports tab open to check in on their progress in almost realtime. 3. Lesson Library Don't have time to recreate the wheel? Lucky for you, Nearpod and many amazing educators have done that for you! Within the Nearpod Lesson Library, you will find thousands of lessons that can be used to differentiate and meet the needs of all learners. Nearpod collaborates with amazing platforms which provides you lessons from Readworks, Quill, Cricket Media, Newsela, Education.com, Desmos and so much more! Tip: Once you add a lesson to your own library, you can edit, add or take away from the lesson to make it extremely specific to your students. Consider sharing it with a colleague or grade level partner as well! 4. Search By Standard One of the best parts about Nearpod is how specific you can get when searching for a lesson. Search by standard with Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards, or National Council for Social Studies. Even narrow it down to your respected state, subject, grade level, or resource type. The possibilities are endless! 5. Live AND Student-Paced Lessons
While the features above probably dropped your jaw, I saved the best for last. We know that direct instruction can only take our students so far. It's not always differentiated, and most times it doesn't necessarily tap into specific student learning styles, interests, or passions. However, it's needed in many scenarios, especially when introducing a new concept or skill. This is where a LIVE lesson is perfect for your students! Want to differentiate or use Nearpod in small or collaborative groups? Launching student-paced lessons allows students to work through a lesson at their own pace and master the skills on their own time. With student-paced lessons, you can have students work from home or a remote location! Tip: Worried if students are staying on task during a student-paced lesson? Open the reports section to keep tabs on your students even from across the classroom! Don't take my word for it, check out Nearpod and start exploring today! Follow #SDOLTECH on Twitter to learn more about how we're empowering creative digital learners!
​By: Garrett Derr
This year, our technology team has been a part of our district's leadership academy in efforts to improve equity while also closing the achievement gap across our schools. At these sessions, a lot of ongoing discussions take place. We're often asked to use the prompt cards pictured below for a deeper level of discussion. During a discussion, you hold up the section of the card that explains how you feel — agree, disagree, more to add, or I have a question. On the back of the cards are prompts to further that discussion. I did not personally make the cards pictured below, but it sparked inspiration! I immediately thought of how powerful this could be if we used it for student discussions within the walls of our classrooms. Because Keynote is our favorite app, I made interactive prompt cards for teachers and students alike! Check it out below.
Feel free to use this with your students today! You can download the Keynote template here! Here's a link for the file in Dropbox as well. Have fun! ​ Follow #SDOLTECH on Twitter to learn more about how we're empowering creative digital learners! By: Garrett Derr At this point in the school year, I'm sure you've had plenty of time to explore the apps that work best for you and the ones that empower the learning that takes place within the walls of your classroom. You've heard us beat the Keynote drum and it's likely you've explored Pages, Clips, iMovie, and possibly even Numbers. I would venture to say that many haven't explored the possibilities within GarageBand and probably for good reason. It's a music app. There's not enough time in the day. It's overwhelming. The list goes on and on. But, I'm here to tell you that GarageBand is more than just a "music app". Would you believe me if I said you could use it across all content areas including ELA and math? Let's explore a few ways how you could use GarageBand to empower digital creative learning with your students! Fractions Are you having a difficult time introducing fractions with your students? Are your students struggling with the concept of the numerator and the denominator? Within GarageBand students can explore fractions using Drums Beat Sequencer. Customize the number of columns for students or allow them to create with the default settings. Check out how Mary Kemper's example! Teach the basics or allow students to show the simplest form of a fraction. Check out the image below for some inspiration. Not only do our students get to learn in a new way, but they are creating music in the process! Adding Music to Video The other day I was in a classroom where first graders were creating videos using Clips to show their knowledge of nonfiction texts. It was incredible. The only thing that would have made it even better would have been student-made music to go along with the videos. Of course they could add the soundtracks within Clips, but why not give them the chance to create their own? Within GarageBand, students can choose from a variety of instruments including drums, strings, bass, guitar, and much more. Adding music can help emphasize the video's theme or mood. Digital storytelling at its finest! Podcasting or Audio Recording GarageBand is more than just music making. Within the audio recording studio, students can utilize the audio recorder to capture audio or record a podcast. If you have students who need a challenge, allow them to share their knowledge with their peers by creating a podcast on a specific piece of content that they are learning in class. In addition to the studio, students can do enhancing voiceovers with intriguing sounds such as sharks, robots, squirrels, and much more. Check them out below! Enhance Literature and Poetry We often ask our students to engage in various types of literature and poetry. When it's time to create their own piece, wouldn't it be empowering for them to have self-created music to go along with that piece? When presenting or sharing that piece, they are sure to engage their audience. Another integration idea is to use Garageband's audio recorder to record fluency and to track progress! It's time to explore!
Last week Paddy Muench, STEM extraordinaire 6th grade teacher at Reynolds, asked me if there is a space where teachers could share all the cool things they have been making in their classrooms. I though, "huh...our iCloud drives are FULL OF STUFF!" So, I started uploading them to this Padlet to make them easily accessible to all SDOL teachers. Most of what you'll find are learning materials SDOL teachers have created, but we've also sprinkled in things the Apple community has created that are free to use.
Creativity doesn't happen on our own. At the heart of learning is working together to design the best, most empowering learning for our students. And a little inspiration is usually just what we need! Be encouraged to follow the "Give One, Get One" rule. Share your creations too by tapping on the PLUS and uploading your own files. Download files by tapping on a tile and selecting the correct app to open into! Swipe left and right to view all content areas! We will definitely keep adding, so check back! By: Garrett Derr One of my favorite parts about teaching students how to use technology is that.....well.....I don't really have to teach them much. In other words, they just "get it". And if they don't quite "get it" right away, it won't be long until they figure it out. Our students are living in a world where technology is a way of life. What once worked in classrooms years ago, might not work any longer. What works right now, might not work in the future. As educators, a part of our job is to provide and teach our students the skills they need to be successful members of society. Whether we like it or not, technology is an absolute necessity in the classroom today.
According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 77% of jobs today require some technology related skills. Imagine what that number will look in 5 years from now. 10 years from now. 20 years from now. Let's not wait any longer. Let's start now by tapping into our student's inner-creative minds today. And, for those who are looking for a good starting point, I'm going to recommend an application called Apple Clips! This app can be used to allow students to create video content across any subject area. The best part? It can also be used across any grade level! Let's explore a few creative ways to use Apple Clips in the classroom. 1. Create a timeline of a historical event Students are often asked to recall key events that have occurred during important windows of history. Rather than simply have students students recall or recite their knowledge of a historical event, allow them to create to show their knowledge. You will be surprised with what students can create from scratch! When I taught second grade, we explored the history of Lancaster city by taking a tour downtown. Upon our return, I asked my students to create a video that highlighted some of the key events that they learned about during the tour. I was blown away by the final outcome! Students learn best when they create! 2. Explain a process or cycle By fourth grade, students are asked to understand the water cycle and the significance of each stage. Using Clips for a project involving the water cycle not only allows them to create, but it helps create connections to the world around them. Have your students capture photos of precipitation when it is occurring during the school day. When the sun comes out, have them add to their Clips video what it means to evaporate. The possibilities are endless! 3. Create a book talk/review This one might be my favorite. Often times we ask our students to read literature that takes days or weeks to finish. I had students in first and second grade who couldn't put down their chapter books! We often forget the importance of checking in or monitoring for understanding. Having students create a Clips video to share key details that take place in the story is a great way to promote comprehension! If the book doesn't take days to read, have students create a book summary and rate the book based on how much they enjoyed it. Be prepared for some hilarious rationales! Check out the photos above for some inspiration! Shoutout to Mrs. Herr's second graders from Wharton Elementary! 4. Document a project or experiment Every Friday afternoon was STEM day for my students. The excitement and hype was real! Students love the chance to create and explore with hands-on projects or experiments. If I could go back in time, I would have recorded some of these amazing projects. The trial and error that took place allowed my students to understand the importance of perseverance. Why not document the process of a project or experiment? This is also a great way to showcase exceptional student work! 5. Teach a new concept or skill Last, but not least, consider using Clips to teach a new concept or skill. Chances are, you've done enough direct instruction for the week :) Rather than drill home another concept or skill, create a video that allows students to learn a different way. Do you struggle with teaching potential or kinetic energy? I would bet a video documenting examples of the two would improve student understanding. Better yet, if you have some students who need a challenge, allow them to create a Clips video and share it with their peers! |
Wes EmletCoordinator of Instructional Technology Gidget Dejesus Instructional Technology Coach
@MsGMDeJesus Tara Morcom Instructional Technology Coach
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