Digital Learning Bytes
Lynwood Unified School District ~ Back to School 2016
Lynwood Educators' Technology Summit
Over 75 Lynwood educators participated in our first Lynwood Educators' Technology Summit (LETS) on June 17 at the Microsoft offices in Playa Vista. Teachers celebrated digital learning by sharing their best practices and hearing ideas from fellow educators. We are grateful for the Lynwood IDEA2Educators who stepped forward to present at the event. We are appreciative of our event co-sponsors, Microsoft and Educator's Cooperative.
Computer Science & Coding
Several elementary schools incorporated the Google CS-First program into their Summer Bridge curriculum this summer. Google CS-First uses Scratch programming to encourage students to develop their critical thinking as well as their coding skills. The CS-First programs will continue during the 2016-17 school year. We look forward to increasing the number of students learning coding in the classroom.
#iCanCode is a new initiative for our youngest students. Two TK-Second grade teachers per site were trained on Code Studio as well as several iPad apps to assist their students with block coding similar to the CS-First program for our 3rd-8th graders. Students will learn to use the block coding to program robots in their classroom. We are very excited about this program and hope to grow the initiative next year.
Early Childhood Embraces Technology
This summer we had the opportunity to train our preschool teachers on a variety of apps to use on their iPads with their students. Building their phonemic awareness, letter and number recognition and introductory math skills at an early age will help better prepare them for kindergarten and beyond. Teachers are excited to check out iPads and integrate them into their centers.
Summer of Learning
This summer, Technology Services participated in two days of Professional Development, as part of the week long Summer Institute. Attendees learned from an array of vendors, fellow teachers, and Digital Learning Coaches. Teachers were eager to learn new 21st century tools to amplify their lessons. Topics covered ranged from "#HackGoogleClassroom" from LUSD Digital Learning Coaches to "Technology to Improve Writing" from Turnitin. Visit summer2016.mylusd.org for access to resources from the presentations.
In mid-August teachers were offered a four hour "EdTech Bootcamp" to prepare for the new school year. Teachers were able to delve deeper into Aeries Gradebook, GAFE, and Web 2.0 tools. Based on the feedback from teachers, Google Forms and EdPuzzle were the two most popular tools during the Bootcamp. Resources from the EdTech Bootcamp can be found here.
Professional Development Opportunities
Whether a new teacher or a seasoned one, we have many professional development workshops planned for you this year.
Our IDEA2Bar is an opportunity to receive one on one support on Google Apps for Education and Web 2.0 tools. We have changed the format this year where we will be at school sites on the first Thursday of the month and at the district technology center the third Thursday of the month. Check our website for dates and locations.
We will also offer PWR (Principal Workshop Request) PD to all schools. We offer PD in a variety of formats from whole faculty to a grade level group. We are available during your planning time (before school for elementary, during for secondary) or on the first two Wednesdays of the month from 2:00-4:00.
There will be more GAFE training this year as well. There will be a registration and application process for these opportunities.
- IDEA2Educator training is similar to the Google Challenge of last year, where teachers will learn how to use GAFE tools in the classroom.
- IDEA2Innovator is for those teachers who have completed the Challenge and are looking to enhance their knowledge of technology pedagogy and assist in developing lesson plans that incorporate technology tools for their students.
Please visit digitallearning.mylusd.org for further information.
Try this IDEA
EdPuzzle is a Web 2.0 tool for teachers to make videos more interactive. You can crop your video, insert your own audio and comments and even stop the video to insert questions for your students! Bonus, this tool can connect to your Google Classroom making assigning the videos to your students a quick step! Check it out at Edpuzzle.com. Also add it to Google Chrome from the Chrome Webstore!
IDEA2 Bar
September Dates for all LUSD teachers:
- September 1, 2016 @ Will Rogers Elementary
- September 15, 2016 @ District Technology Center
Time: 3:00-4:30
Digital Learning Coaches
Email: digitalcoaches@mylusd.org
Website: digitallearning.mylusd.org
Phone: (310) 886-1491
Twitter: @lusdIDEA2