Techie Time with Tiff
Issue 9 - January 23, 2019
Who wants EDPUZZLE?
Personalized Learning Mini-Conference
On February 2, 2019, the Professional & Digital Learning Department will host a Personalized Learning Mini-Conference at our very own campus, Hofius Intermediate. Teachers, administrators, and others will be sharing their expertise in incorporating personalized learning experiences. In addition to learning more about personalized learning, participants can earn 4 hours of exchange day credit with prior principal approval. Registration is now available in Eduphoria. Don't delay... sign up today!
Tech Tools for the Classroom
Adobe Spark
Adobe Spark is a go-to classroom creation tool that I’m excited it is now open and available for students! The Spark tools are perfect for turning students into moviemakers, website creators, and designers who capture and share their learning with the world. Are you ready to use Spark across grade levels? The list below includes a handful of examples and ideas for using Spark with students. You can tailor these examples to the specific learning goals in your classroom. Students of any age can combine the Spark creation tools to make a multimedia product that captures and celebrates their learning. In this activity featured on Adobe Education Exchange, you’ll find steps for transforming a traditional science lab report. Perfect for middle school students, this activity asks them to document the steps they took to complete a science experiment using their voice and a variety of media.
Readers across the content areas can capture quotes that offer inspiration, connect to other reading experiences, or illustrate a literary concept they are exploring as a class. Here is a blog that shares their ideas for capturing book quotes blog.
Here are simple instructions on how to log in and get started with this great tool.
Printing Press
Printing Press from ReadWriteThink, is one of the most popular web tools for creating classroom newspapers, informational brochures and flyers to use in your instruction. Printing Press is very simple and easy to use. It provides several pre-made templates with multiple layouts from which to choose. There are templates for creating newspapers, brochures, flyers, signs, and posters. You simply choose the template that works for you, type in your text and add images. When you are done, you can share your final product in PDF format through email or you can save and print a copy. There is also a basic planning sheet that comes with this web tool to ‘help students gather ideas before working on this interactive tool.’
Check it out HERE!
20 Formative Assessment Tools
WorkPlace is Launching Soon!
Using Schoology Discussions
Schoology Discussions Online discussions through Schoology are a great way to bring in writing to any content area.
Check out these additional benefits of Discussions:
- Gives all students a voice, especially our ELLs new to the language, student who are normally quiet in a classroom environment, or those who need more time to compile their thoughts.
- Builds a community with peers and the teacher in an online environment.
- Creates opportunities for students to practice and sharpen a number of skills, including the ability to articulate and defend positions, consider different points of view, and create in-depth reflective responses.
- Empowers students to view and respond to their peers in a safe and respectful environment.
Best practices for facilitating successful online Discussions:
According to Margaret A. Martyn (2005), author of “Using Interaction in Online Discussion Boards,” “Productive discussion does not happen automatically—it must be planned” (p. 61).
- Define a Netiquette and Expectation Policy: In your assignment, provide a netiquette policy for all discussions and clarify what is expected from your students.
- State a purpose: Be sure to tie in your course learning objectives into the discussion and how you want students to achieve those learning objectives. Do you want students to demonstrate their knowledge of key concepts or share a personal experience that relates to the topic?
- Create clear instructions and grading: Clearly, state simple instructions and grading policy for participation in the discussion.
- Pose open-ended questions: Use questions that will encourage students to explore, compare, discuss and reflect in their responses based on their own personal experiences. This may ignite an open and continuing dialogue with their peers.
- Set limits: Think of how to manage your time in facilitating but also ensuring students are able to meet deadlines and posts meaningful posts. For example, set the length of student posts to a manageable amount for you and other students to review. For example, each post should be a minimum of 3 sentences. This will help students create an in-depth and reflective post within these parameters.
- Ensure teacher presence: Engage students by interacting with them within the discussions. Clear up any confusion or questions. Compliment good posts and conversations. Ensure students to voice their responses in a safe online environment.
Messages from the Warrior Repair Center
Got a New Student?
Tiffany Keiser
Email: tkeiser1@kleinisd.net
Website: https://techietiff.youcanbook.me
Phone: 832.249.5735
Twitter: @MsKeiser1