PLE Zen Den
February 15-19, 2016
SAMR MODEL - SUBSTITUTION
Substitution: a useful level in the Model for using technology to make life easier in the learning environment. There is definitely a place for substitution in the 21st century classroom. EdSurge says, "although these activities engage students and enhance learning, the level of tech integration is low: teachers are just substituting technology for things you could do without technology."
Examples of Substitution
Digital Note Taking
Ebooks
Online Assessments
Articles of Interest
- Rethinking SAMR: This blog post, written by a teacher, covers 4 common myths about the SAMR Model. "My big takeaway: I had seriously misunderstood [the] SAMR model of tech integration. In fact, most of my colleagues had also misunderstood it."
- A Guide for Bringing the SAMR Model to IPADs (1:1 devices): "When used effectively, iPads can develop thinkers and problem solvers. They can be used to transform learning inside and outside of the classroom, and offer limitless opportunities." *Image below is from this article.*
Use the buttons below to schedule a 1:1 meeting with me!
Almost all teachers at both Guilford and Allen have experienced the glory of Canvas. Be sure to use the link below to schedule time we can work together to fine-tune your course. Tigers, we have another day to MAKE IT GREAT on Feb 27. Click here to sign up to earn CEUs and $100!
As always, view the PLEF Instructional Coaching Menu to pick from a variety of resources to help you and your students grow. I hope your weekend was filled with love.
Monday: Allen (7th grade Math PLC in Hot Lab)
Tuesday: Guilford
Wednesday: WSA AM/Allen PM
Thursday: Guilford
Friday: WSA
You may now select a time that works best for your schedule. Click the link below for your school.
Great Teaching and Learning Spotlight
Great teaching and learning is occurring in every classroom in your building. Your peers are your greatest resource. Visit their classroom during planning to keep your ideas fresh. If you have something you'd like to share, email it to me and I'll feature it in my weekly updates.
A huge SHOUT OUT to the Guilford Tigers for giving up part of their Valentine Love fest to hang out with me this past Saturday. These teachers were all in and made the hours fly by. I'd especially like to thank Melanie Holmes, Aislynn Denny and Stacy Leicht for their assistance in helping teachers in a multitude of ways.
Content Spotlight - Writing
The more often students write, the more proficient they become as writers. RAFT is a writing strategy that helps students understand their role as a writer and how to effectively communicate their ideas and mission clearly so that the reader can easily understand everything written. Additionally, RAFT helps students focus on the audience they will address, the varied formats for writing, and the topic they'll be writing about. By using this strategy, teachers encourage students to write creatively, to consider a topic from multiple perspectives, and to gain the ability to write for different audiences. In the book, Strategic Writing, Deborah Dean explains that writing for differing purposes and audiences may require using different genres, different information, and different strategies. Developing a sense of audience and purpose in writing, in all communication, is an important part of growth as a writer.
RAFT assignments encourage students to uncover their own voices and formats for presenting their ideas about content information they are studying. Students learn to respond to writing prompts that require them to think about various perspectives:
- Role of the Writer: Who are you as the writer? A movie star? The President? A plant?
- Audience: To whom are you writing? A senator? Yourself? A company?
- Format: In what format are you writing? A diary entry? A newspaper? A love letter?
- Topic: What are you writing about Source
Check out MakeStickers.com. This site forces students to summarize in an artistically engaging manner. Consider letting these students post their stickers on a Padlet then turn it into a gallery walk using a QR code. Send me the link if you use this cool resource.
Need 2 Knows
Snag.gy is an image hosting service that lets you paste images from your clipboard directly online. Any kind of image, from raw data to URL paths, can be pasted in one step. Snaggy also has a simple built-in editor you can use before you share your image.
Tamika M. Davis, MLS MS
Email: davist@gcsnc.com
Website: http://ple.gcsnc.com
Twitter: @zenPLEF