Feedback Cards Utilizing Apple Classroom App

Since we have been a learning environment that utilizes iPads, we have used the "Classroom App" for monitoring students and their activity.  As a formative assessment option, we are utilizing the "Classroom App" and "Feedback Cards".  As a team, we can monitor and provide personal assistance to students with two teachers while one teacher conducts a lesson in large group.  Students are encouraged to place a "feedback card" on their "evidence notes". It is our hope that students utilize this to help us in knowing what they know.


Download Feedback Cards

PHS Live Video Announcements - Stop Auto Focus on iPad

We just completed day two of Friday live video announcements produced and created by students.  As anyone knows from the iPaddiction Nation, we use iPads.  We are using and might I add very impressed by Switcher Studio and the Switcher Pro app!



We are utilizing two iPad Minis, an iPad Air, a Mac, and a PC for production.  We chose to go this route because all of our students will have iPads and didn't want to purchase additional cameras, computers, and switchers.  We are utilizing a multi use device (iPads) to accomplish a task.  Our media teacher, Mr. Manning, announcers, Matt and Lauren, along with studio helper, Annika, are moving forward and starting to develop great content all while utilizing iPads!

As we progress to make it perfect, I noticed that "camera two", our main camera, was moving in an out.  I discovered that around 35 seconds the lens started moving in and out trying to refocus on the subjects.  After some research, I discovered that there is a "lock" feature on the iPad/iPhone camera.

The yellow lock is presented at the top of the viewer.  To remove, tap the screen.

Our team is looking forward to the next production!

Music Advocacy Project on iPads, Chromebooks, Laptops with Live Monitoring

Fantasy Geopolitics Draft Day

It all started with a Tweet by someone (can't remember) that touted Fantasy Geopolitics, the online game that includes everything from geography to current event articles to education gaming!  I looked into it and proposed it to Mrs. Brylski our Human Geography teacher.  We created a "teacher league" as a test run and realized right away that Fantasy Geopolitics was a legitimate contender for including during one of our units in social studies.

Set up was easy!  We created the league and acquired the "invite link".  We placed that link on Canvas, our LMS.  Students clicked on the link and entered our "code" for the league which required the students to create an account.  We used our school email address.  We had NO problems working on the iPad as you will see, but some students did open the "Fantasy Geopolitics" site "in Safari".
View a condensed version of the 35 minute learning experience.

To keep students interested in the three week game we will:

• Create discussion questions in Canvas 
• Require students to trade one country
• Reflect on one current event article from one or more countries that they own
• Create a reflection on the process one to two weeks into the game

The energy and enthusiasm by the students was evident.  We look forward to continuing the "gaming" of geopolitics.

What's Your Clock?

What: Lunch N' Learn
When: Tuesday During Lunch
Why: Integration Creates Efficiency

Top Tech Tool For iPad and Chromebooks

We have multiple devices in our district.  I am often asked "What tool can I use for..." and then the task is unveiled.  With that, I decided to create a Top Tech Tool Infographic.

I chose the Pro version of Piktochart for creating the interactive infographic.  The amount of icons to choose from and the ease of uploading my images was fantastic.  To make all the images uniform, I chose to use Publisher to create a shape on a document.  I was able to right click on the shape and format the shape with a "fill in effect" of a picture.  I then saved that picture as a new picture.  Worked perfectly.

A huge thank you to Tony Vincent for inspiring me to finally put this together.  His "Show What You Know" was the motivating factor for creating something that can be used by our district and the educational world.  I love his infographic because it provides tools for creating assessment pieces of knowledge.  I included a number of other "tech tasks" that always seem to be asked of me.  Reviewing each of these tools helps to support our teachers, because they can spend less time finding the tool and more time creating with it.  This impacts students in their educational setting.

I will continue to update the infographic if and only if a more efficient tool finds its way into my educational learning environment.

I have created a number of options that join the Top Tech Tool Infographic Family.

• The Top Tech Tool Infographic (Full Size)
• The PDF of the Infographic (Tools Not Accessible Through Links)
• The JPG of the Infographic (Tools Not Accessible Through Links)
• The JPG of the Infographic in High Resolution (Tools Not Accessible)

Chromebook & AirServer Professional Development

In the Pulaski Community School District, we believe one device is NOT good for all.  We believe that Chromebooks, iPads, iPods, VM Ware, and laptops all have their place in the educational arena.  Therefore, we have not purchased one device for all.  Because of that, our teachers have access to multiple types of devices.

We have had iPads for a year at the high school, but today, begins the implementation of Chromebooks.  Therefore, Chromebook professional development is happening for about 20 minutes for all departments.  I will be combining this with the AirServer training so that teachers can project iPad screens so that all can see the contents.
Presentation Link

Three Act Math

Today, Mr. Mihalski and Mrs. Gulan provided the challenge of a Three Act math problem.  In preparation for this, I filmed the actual activity and used Camtasia to place the (Dan Meyer) timer and video together.  The students used iPads to review, investigate, and discuss the problem at their own pace.  The great thing about this was that it was messy.  Questioning and not giving was the theme by the teachers so that the students did the work!  It also begins to give students (even though they don't know it) the skill of explaining mathematical reasoning which will be an important skill when the Common Core State Standards SMARTER balanced assessment takes place in the future.

Once the video was created, I presented it to the teachers in the format of an email.
Below are the directions that the math teachers and I developed.  The questions are anticipated questions that we thought the students might come up with.  The math teachers determined the math that transpired from the footage, while the technology integration specialist delivered the video for classroom use.

Act 1: Show this video Students may need a slow version

Act 2: Allow students think time...take on questions.

  Questions that may be asked. 

     1.  How many steps are there?

      1a. How are the steps to be numbered?  Where is zero?

      2.  Do both teachers start on the same step?

      3.  Is Mr. Mihalski taking two steps at a time?

      4.  Do we want to know the step or the time that they will meet?

      5.   Is Mr. Mihalski really wearing two different shoes?

This will be messy.  Avoid telling the students the answers.  However, it may require some input from you.

Act 3: Watch the answer.

*I realize the time in the videos is inaccurate.  While it will be changed for next time, it gave students a great opportunity to use their BYOD and retime the action.  

For the students to view the video footage, I created a classroom blog with the teacher.  This gave the teacher a digital presence on the web.  See the students in action:

Teacher Progression of Implementing Technology

Modeling implementation of technology came full circle yesterday with the teacher that I taught the tech to now teaching her students.

Let me explain.

On October 31, our science teacher wanted to use iMovie and Skitch with two classes to demonstrate the transfer of matter.  She had never used either tool, but believed the use of these tech tools helped engage and solidify the concepts.  She believed that they helped so much that she wanted to implement the tools with other classes that she taught.

The great thing is that during yesterday's implementations, SHE DIDN'T NEED ME!  She felt confident from using the tools in other settings to simply not need any support.  She spent about seven minutes showing some features of iMovie and then let the students discover how they were going to use the app.  She also used the assistance by a student who had used iMovie!

Perfect!

I really feel that our district is teaching teachers in the correct manner.  Providing guided assistance so that they teachers become SPARKS to future teaching and learning!

Menu of Learning in Social Studies

Instead of the traditional format of lecturing the content by the teacher, Lindsey Wilcox & Heather McCumber created a menu of learning for their students.  Hear and see how iPads or computers plus a menu of options for learning allow the students to "take charge of their learning".

Multiurl.com To Group Multiple Links

On the weekends, I send our administration examples of integration of technology from the previous week.  I firmly believe that we need to share the great teaching and learning moments that occur in our district.  I recently found the site Multiurl.com  which allows shortening of multiple links into one link.  Customization of the shortened link is also possible.

My example this week:

• With Toolbar
• Browse List
• With Summary

I believe this site (service) could be a great way for teachers who may not have a digital presence (i.e. blog or site) to send multiple links that students should use.

While you can create an account, no account is needed.

Check out Multiurl.com

iPad In-service For Math Department

Racine School District Hangout Top Ten iPad Lessons

As global learning continues, I will be having a Google Hangout with some great teachers from the Racine School District.  These teachers are moving full speed ahead implementing iPads.  I would like to share ten learning experiences from the past year that were successful using iPads.

My Classroom Blog

1. QR Code Check Out
2. The Big Climb
3. Pic Collage For Reviewing
4. Creative App Carousel Hour
5. Enhanced Note Taking - Explain Everything App
6. Student iPad Created Video
7. Individual Instruction Based on Data Assessment
8. Twitter MVP
9. Shirtee App, Google Form Set Up Math Problem
10. Students Blog Reflection Before Quiz

Please remember, not everything that will be completed using any tech device will go as smoothly as planned.  Try to do what you can, with what you have, with where your at. In addition, if you are designing a lesson try to remember the following items.

edCampGB Final Thoughts

As my first edCamp got underway, I somewhat had an idea of what an edCamp is.  After experiencing it, I now know.

Educators.Relaxed.Collaborating.Learning.

Four fellow teachers joined me that really haven't been exposed to technology as much as maybe other people.  It was a thrill for them to become so excited about the format (relaxed) and the learning that they experienced.  We had a multiple hour conversation after the conference and really became excited about what can be incorporated. Awesome!

My personal experience was fantastic!  Meeting people from twitter was one of the best aspects,. but other aspects of the day rocked as well.

There are so many great options for the schedule, that it is always difficult to choose.

I decided to attend the Evernote, iTunes U, and Tech Coach Sessions.

Evernote: We discovered that we could make a class account and had many people using the account on iPads at one time.  Updating and adding to a note worked flawlessly.  We talked about the benefits of Evernote over other options, due to the ability to upload everything: words, pictures, videos, links, audio.

iTunesU:  This was really an introduction to what iTunes U is.  I enjoyed learning about the "Beyond Campus" and "K-12" section.  I added

• AP European History  (For introduction to our high school AP teacher)
• TED Education Creative Problem Solving
• Google Apps in the Classroom
• Apps for the Classroom
• On The Road To Implementation Common Core with Common Sense
• Common Sense Ending Cyberbullying and Online Cruelty

I will be share the iTunesU resource with our teachers some time during the year as a Tech Tool Tip.

Tech Coach:  Discussed strategies for teaching teachers technology.  We focused on

• ISTE standards
• How to move the non users in our district to users
• Offerings of teaching tech in our district, learning at different times (Learn @ Lunch)
• How we obtain our resources, Twitter, Google+, Facebook, ZITE app
• How we save the resources we find, Evernote, Google Docs, Diigo, all over the place :)

Overall, the day was fantastic and many resources were obtained!

Our tech director would like to incorporate this edCamp idea into a day of professional growth for our teachers in our district.

We can...more details to come!

YouTube Is Not Just For Stupid Stuff

I believe that I have utilized the power of YouTube to positively enhance lessons and brand my classroom in a positive way.

I would like other teachers to know about the great uses of YouTube and created a very in depth presentation on uses of YouTube, setting up a YouTube channel, and downloading/reusing videos on YouTube.

iPad (Mobile Devices) It Ain't All About The Device

SITA 2012 will be the place for me to present on this topic.  Below is my slide deck that illustrates everything.  I have kept each slide simple...too many words on a slide can be annoying.

Looking forward to the dialogue that will take place when people join me for this great topic!

edCampGB Why Haven't You Registered Yet?

As we get closer to edCampGB, you may be unsure of what it is!

Watch.
 
  Now Register.

iPad Integration Year 1 Summary

As of today, our classroom sessions have ended.  It has been one amazing and engaged school year!

389 Blog Posts
60,775 Pageviews
859 Published Videos of iPad use and our classroom
19,521 YouTube video views

Let's look back at the most popular blog posts of the year.

Number 5 with 652 views:
QR Code Check Out  Note: this post was the first post that really showed me the power of Twitter.  You can read the post for details, but I saw a tweet, had an idea, put it into action, and BOOM it blew up on Twitter and this blog!

Number 4 with 2,581 views:
Creation Apps Used On The iPad  Note:  Received an email from a fellow teacher and shared the answers to her questions with the world!

Number 3 with 2,588 views:
Teaching Teachers Who Will Use 1:1 iPads in 2012  Note:  It truly has been an amazing experience to share my lessons learned with others.  It really isn't about what we do, it's about changing the culture of education.

Number 2 with 3,923 views:
8 Burning Questions About iPads in Class (Answered!)  Note:  This was my first major post to hit the thousand view mark.  It really taught me the power of blogging and how if a blog post has good content, it can be beneficial for so many people.

and the Number 1 blog post with 4,303 views is...(drum roll)
Google Docs on the iPad  Note:  At the time of this post, Google Docs was working very well with iPads.  Now, that's not the case.  I hope it gets better, soon!

While those numbers are staggering for me as just a teacher who is trying to give back to the educational community, the real numbers that I cling to are...47, 30, 3, and 1 .

47 - Students
30 iPads
3 Educators
1 Amazing School District

I really felt like we met the needs of ALL children.  The quiet who can provide a view and voice through apps and online discussions.  The loud who can shout there thoughts through creative apps!  The creative who can flourish through daily displays of their talent.  The shy who can have a voice to the world through blogging.  The film stars who love getting videod about a technology or academic find that they can share.  The list can go on and on and on.

For the sake of our children, whether your classroom has 1 digital device or millions, think differently, help less, and demand students to think and create more.  This was evident in the student responses to "What was the best learning experience of your year?"  See the responses below.



A special thank you to all the readers of the iPaddiction website and the friends that I have made through Twitter!  So many ideas so many times implemented!

As for the future, my district has allowed me to become a Grade 6-12 Technology Integration Specialist which means I will have the awesome opportunity to work with teachers to transform their educational settings with technology.  The possibilities of the future are enormous, and I will continue to share everything!

Old and New Technology! Which Would You Rather Use?

Students Searching For Triangles

In order to place a real feel on this, students took iPads outside to discover triangles in their world.  Students found real triangles which they applied the Pythagorean Theorem to find a third side.  We also used estimated measuring tools (hands and shoes) to find the lengths of the legs.

After we found the measurements, students used the Skitch App and paper/pencil to calculate the hypotenuse.



***UPDATE: After three years from the original post above, Mr. Isham took this to another level by having the students find the triangles outside, but returned inside to explain the process for finding the hypotenuse using Explain Everything.

See some student examples here and here.