Instructional Technology Newsletter
April, 2017 - 9th Edition
This month...
Our April newsletter is filled with recognitions, tips, tricks, and other useful information.
In this month's edition, we spotlight:
- Innovative Educator
- Mini-Grants
- Shout-Outs
- Technology Resources
- Cohort Wall of Fame
- Tech Bytes ...and much more!!
Sariah McCall - innovative Educator
In schools around the country, the push for technology integration is all the rage. Buzz phrases such as “bring your own device,” “digital-age learning,” and “engage students with technology” are making headlines, but what is true technology integration?
Effective technology integration is not about installing the coolest new app, trying a fun website, or blogging about which tablet is the best. It is about instruction. It is about giving students the opportunity to learn with powerful tools that transform the way they learn and how they show what they have learned.
Sariah McCall is a 2nd grade 1:1 iPad teacher and the Innovative Educator for this month. Click on the link provided below to learn more about Ms. McCall and how she integrates technology within her classroom.
2017-2018 Mini-Grants
Get ready to Create, Innovate, and Collaborate!
Reminder: Proposals are due May 15th before midnight!
The Global Kind Project
The Instructional Technology Department is promoting The Global Kind Project that "invites preK-12 classrooms to reflect on our individual and collective roles in building a more empathetic, positive and inclusive society." This project also supports everyone's role in helping students become Digital Citizens. Teachers, register your classes and use the many resources that are provided to assist you and your students complete 4 weeks of kindness.
Find Educators to connect with using #GKP17 on social media
Join our kick-off #TheEdCollab Twitter chat on April 20, 7-8PM EST
The 500 likes campaign
We are giving away books from awesome educators! Is there a catch? YES there is! We have set a goal of 500 likes on our Instructional Technology Facebook page. Like our page and your name will be entered into a drawing to win a free copy of "Ditch That Textbook" by Matt Miller. Matt Miller is an amazingly innovative educator who is currently co-hosting the rapidly growing podcast, “Google Teacher Tribe” with Kasey Bell of “Shake Up Learning.”
Less than 70 likes away from a winner!
17 Things in 2017
If you remember, the first newsletter of this year listed 17 things for you to try this year. Each of our remaining newsletters will focus on a TKES Domain and provide information and resources to help you complete at least one of the listed suggestions.
TKES DOMAIN - INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY
1) Flip your classroom to increase time for learning
- Learn more about what it means to flip your classroom
- Other Resources for Flipping - Flipped Learning Explained, Flipping the Elementary Classroom, Flipped Classrooms at Clintondale High School (Inner City)
2) Prepare students to locate and organize digital content (TED-ED, NewsELA, Podcasts, DiscoveryEd, YouTube)
- There are several ways for students to save and organize digital content: Symbaloo, Google Drive folders, Bookmark Folders, YouTube Playlists
3) Provide opportunities for students to learn from and about others outside of the classroom (SKYPE, Google Hangouts, electronic penpals)
- Teachthought provides several ways to use SKYPE in the classroom. Open up the walls of your classroom!
Tech for The Reading Class
Classroom Apps
Use the link to find the best Classroom Apps for your students. All Classroom Apps are recommended for teachers, by teachers!
5 Ways to Master Technology
BreakOut EDU
Not all tech is created equal. When choosing something new to add to your class routine, consider what you'd like to accomplish, then pick a tech strategy that best supports your goal. Read more HERE.
CONGRATULATIONS to all finishers of Cohort activities in Quarters 1, 2, and/or 3! Who are they? Check out our Wall of Fame and consider joining them by participating and finishing quarterly activities to receive your digital badge and certificate.
Plickers Tutorial
Interactive WhiteBoard - Level Up!
IT Coach Dru has a challenge for unpacking and setting up your MIMIO and IT Coach Yolanda offers a challenge for learning more about the capabilities of your MIMIO.
Using G Suite to Create HyperDocs
Refer to the visual below as a constant reminder when developing HyperDocs.
Want to collaborate with other teachers in the district while creating HyperDocs? Join the Creating Authentic Lessons Using G Suite for Education Cohort. Also consider joining the HyperDocs group on Facebook for collaborating beyond the district!
Join the Tribe!
The Google Teacher Tribe Podcast will be a weekly podcast designed to give teachers practical ideas for using G Suite and other Google tools that you can use in your class tomorrow. We will offer our favorite Google tips and tricks, important updates, and effective strategies for K-12 teachers. But wait…there’s more! We will also have interviews with innovative and inspiring teachers.
SCCPSS School Facebook Pages
Movers and Shakers in Education - check out these amazing educators for inspiration and innovation!
- ITC Blog - We aim to provide timely and usable information.
- Edutopia - Hosted by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, Edutopia has plenty of well-indexed information on how technology can be used in classrooms.
- Cycles of Learning - Ramsay Musallam recognized how useful hacks could be in classrooms, so he set up Cycles of Learning to share practical education tech hacks to make teachers’ lives just a bit easier. Who doesn't like easier?!
- Participate Learning- Check out all that Participate Learning has to offer educators.
- Learning in Hand - is an educator's resource for mobile and digital learning created by Tony Vincent.
- TeachThought - full of articles for education
- Ditch That Textbook - "I’m Matt Miller. It’s my passion to equip teachers to thrive in this new era of education and think differently about the craft of teaching."
- Alice Keeler -a must read. Full of resources and ideas.
- Vicki Davis - Cool Cat Teacher
- Kasey Bell - Shake Up Learning
Are you Reading?
What is going to make our newsletter something you look forward to each month? We are asking for your input! Please use the link below to submit your ideas.
Know Your Instructional Technology Coach!
The Instructional Technology Department is responsible for coordinating, organizing, and facilitating the effective use and integration of technology within the schools in order to increase student performance.
Instructional Technology Coaches
Angela LaPlante ... Dru Piersol
Gillian Riley ... Melissa Milligan
Libby Miller ... William Harris
Media Services
Library Media Technology Coach
Deborah Hargroves - Media and Broadcast Trainer (part-time)
Lakeshia Bostick - Media Support Assistant (912) 395-1124
Program Manager