Crafting PLE
The Art of Creating Personalized Learning Environments
FMS Edition - March, 2015
Important Info
PLEF Schedule for March, 2015
Mondays - FMS
Tuesdays - JSGS
Wednesdays - FMS
Thursdays - JSGS
Fridays - WSA
If you need my assistance at any time, it's best to email me. Even when I am in the building, I'm often out and about.
News You Can Use
New Internet Filtering System - ZScaler
We had hoped to roll out ZScaler on Monday, March 9th, but due to some issues that needed to be resolved, it was pushed back to Monday, March 16th. Some things to remember when this happens:
Teachers:
- Will need to download two certificates here for any personal devices. Your tablet will already have the certificates.
- Each day you will need to log in from either Chrome or Browser using your GCS email credentials.
Students:
- The tablet will already have the certificates.
- Each day students will need to log in from either Chrome or Browser using the following:
Password: Date of Birth (ex., 01012001)
Known issues you might experience:
- Student tablets not checking in to or out of class - Complete a tablet ticket for assistance.
- Unable to access some apps - sign in on Chrome or Browser
- Websites that still need to be blocked or unblocked - Send the websites to Ms. Bonomo or Mr. Butler, along with how they are being accessed (tablet or computer)
If you have any other issues, please complete the tablet ticket, rather than sending students to the media center. It allows us to better keep track of the issues we are having.
NCTIES Recap
Words of Wisdom
Digital Amputations
For many of our students, their phones, ipads, tablets, etc. are like another limb to them. They use them everyday, and can't imagine life without them. And yet, we ask them to put them away when they come to school. Kevin Honeycutt says that's like a digital amputation.
We know that we can't just let students go wild with technology, though. We all saw what happens when restrictions aren't tight, but eventually (and for many this is true outside school already) they will have an all-access pass. We have to prepare them for the time when social media is readily available, they can download anything from the internet, and all of the information of the world, good and bad, is at their fingertips.
How do we do that when we don't allow students access to these things? Go analog. You don't have to log in to Twitter or Facebook to talk about appropriate posting. Students listen to music everyday - are you making sure they are getting that music from legal sites? And teach students how to determine what's true and what isn't.
The pictures below are from the classroom of a teacher at Ferndale Middle, who went with the theme of Social Media for the school year. She uses her bulletin boards to connect with students on their level, while teaching them about proper netiquette.
Challenge Corner
- Create (or request help making) a MakerSpace or in your classroom. I really, really wanna do this, so give me something, people!!
- Use Augmented Reality in a lesson. I'd love to see it live or in pictures!
- Tell me how you're incorporating digital citizenship in your classroom.
- Request help, modeling, motivation, resources, etc. in implementing PLE in your classroom.
To receive your prize, send me an email with the subject line "Challenge Accepted" and details of your challenge.
Teena Martin, PLEF
Email: martint6@gcsnc.com
Website: ple.gcsnc.com
Location: serving Ferndale Middle and Johnson St. Global Studies
Facebook: facebook.com/PLEFs
Twitter: @craftyPLEF