Tech Topics
Ideas to help implement technology - just try ONE thing!
CPS Teacher Focus
Mrs. Leslie Lyles, Hartwell School
How do you get middle school students excited about math? Ask Leslie Lyles, a teacher at Hartwell School. Mrs. Lyles uses technology to keep her students interested and engaged on a daily basis. As a veteran teacher in the district, Mrs. Lyles is an expert teaching math to this age group.
A typical day in Mrs. Lyles’ room is rich with technology. Warm up questions are displayed using the projector, but modeled and explained using the interactive ebeam. Students log onto laptops to access Tenmarks, Springboard and Socrative for weekly assignments. Mrs. Lyles and her students both enjoy Quizizz, because it is fun and engaging. Mrs. Lyles is able to add appealing images to each question, and students can follow the leaderboard to see how their peers are doing. Students actually look forward to completing their math quizzes now!
During station time, students go to their class website, which Mrs. Lyles created using Google sites. From here, they can watch instructional videos on Virtual Nerd or Blendspace to further their understanding on current topics or those already taught. Her Algebra I students use graphing calculators as a tool during most lessons, and Google Slides during presentations for their challenge based learning.
Exciting things are always happening in this math classroom. Thanks, Ms. Lyles, for being an innovative educator!
Want to learn more about any of these helpful programs? We can schedule a training.
Driving Digital Learning - Tech Truck
The Tech Truck has reached all of the My Tomorrow Schools and is now in full swing at the elementary schools. Even if you don't have 1:1 technology in your room there is plenty to learn on the the truck. Everyone is sure to get ideas from those in the truck where there is something for all!
The truck is even expanding beyond the usual school day, This past week, the truck rolled up to Mt. Airy and Shroder on the Teacher PD day. During this day, K-8 Tech teachers learned a little bit more about what there is to offer elementary students at CPS. Visiting social studies teachers was next on the schedule. While at Shroder, teachers were able to sign up for 3o minute sessions throughout the day to learn about technology tools to connect to current events, student collaboration, tips for Capstone projects, and many other classroom ideas.
Click on the link to find out when we will be at your school: https://goo.gl/fWIa0V
Social Studies PD
Something for everyone!
Finding answers
What's Happening Around Cincinnati Public Schools
Digital Learning Pre-Algebra
Students in four of our elementary schools are taking 7th grade math! How? We’ve incorporated digital learning into our curriculum at Kilgour, Covedale, Dater High School, Fairview and Dater Montessori.
Our school system has embraced subject acceleration (formally accelerating a student in one subject area to the subject area one grade or more above) for years, but has always struggled with how to best serve 6th grade math students taking 7th grade math curriculum five days a week. In the past, a student took the curriculum through a distance learning class – Odyssey or Apex. This did not allow for community discussion or group work.
Digital learning has expanded this!
Two years ago, we started by having three Cincinnati Gifted Academy 6th grade students Skype with Wadeeah Nashid’s 8th grade class math at Walnut Hills. This year we expanded that idea. Two brave teachers accepted the challenge of becoming the teacher of record for 6th grade students ready for 7th grade math in their home school. Covedale has been formally accelerating groups of math students in grades 4-6 for ten years. To keep the movement seamless, Cindy Tisue has taught 7th grade Pre-Algebra daily to the group of accelerated math students. She has now increased her caseload by one and is Skyping with a student at Kilgour. Nick Shaver (Dater High School Pre-Algebra) Skypes with 3 Fairview students and 6 Dater Montessori students during his 7th grade Pre-Algebra AA class. Each day, the students from the two to three groups interact as if they are in the same room. Nick and Cindy maintain communication with the pilot schools either through a paraprofessional or a teacher assigned to the 6th grade students. It’s quite a task, but they have performed with exceptional skill!
There have been bumps and bruises along the way, but the main goal has been accomplished – students who need more challenge are finally able to grow!
Through Digital Learning, we are meeting the needs of all students and challenging them to achieve greater than before.
Dater High School
Kilgour
Covedale
Get Started Somewhere - Tech Tools for the Classroom
Formative
Would you like to save time while keeping your students engaged? Try Formative! This free educational site allows teachers to create interactive lessons which can be shared with students as classwork, assessments or homework. At goformative.com, teachers can create true/false, short answer, or multiple choice questions. Students can also show and explain their thinking. Teachers are then able to view answers as they are submitted. Responses are visible in real time on any teacher device, allowing immediate feedback to be given. This program is a great addition to stations and centers, and can make data collection quick and easy.
Formative can be used at any grade level, in any subject and on any internet enabled device. Teachers can access standards based lessons, or create their own by uploading documents, photos and videos. Students join a presentation by entering a simple code, so separate accounts are not necessary. There is need to collect papers anymore, since students can produce work from their device and send it directly to their teacher.
Find out more by watching an informational video and sign up today at getformative.com.
Kahoot
Are you looking for a fun and engaging technology tool to introduce in your classroom? Kahoot may be exactly what you are looking for. Kahoot is a FREE web-based assessment tool. Students love Kahoot because it is set-up to mimic a game show. Teachers develop multiple-choice questions, the questions are displayed, and students individually respond with what they think is the correct answer. Scores are kept automatically and are reported out in between each question. The result is a formative assessment that is actually really engaging!
Teachers must sign-up for a free membership. Teachers can complete their free membership information here. Once you have an active membership you can begin to create your own formative assessments or search the Kahoot library of public kahoots. You may want to view a quick video to assist setting up your first Kahoot assessment.
Students answer questions in real time. Their feedback results are immediate and show on their individual screen, (you can choose to display a leaderboard for a friendly classroom competition). The game pauses in between each question to allow for class discussion on any topics that may seem to need clarification.
Kahoot student results can be downloaded to your teacher computer or emailed. Teachers are able to analyze the results and plan for small groups, remediation, and enrichment as needed.
Newsmap.jp
With all the numerous ways to connect to current events on the internet, newsmap.jp allows you to see the trending news in a different way. Categories including World, National, Business, Technology, Sports, Entertainment, and Health have a contrasting color allowing you to search the topic more easily. The color format of lighter vs darker also plays a key role - an article less than 10 minutes old will appear lighter in that color scheme, while an article that is over an hour old appears darker in color - allowing you to know just how current the article you are reading is.
Newsmap.jp has articles from various countries, a simple click of a mouse button, allows you to gain a different perspective on the same topic. Changing the origin of the article can prove to be extremely useful in the classroom allowing you to stimulate discussion and debate.
Need Help with Implementing Technology?
Demonstration Classrooms
Demonstration Classrooms are innovative learning environments where students are involved in real world experiences through 21st Century standards-based instruction that incorporates technology into daily lessons.
Third graders at John P. Parker use a variety of technology that includes a computer table, Aquos board, eBeam, tablets, and laptops; these tools are used multiple ways in the classroom. Whole group, station work, and small group lessons are incorporated to differentiate instruction for the students creating a more engaging learning environment.
Students are active participants in their learning by using Google Docs, answering questions via a Kahoot review, and completing formative assessments using Google Forms. The instant feedback that is received from these items allows students to learn from their mistakes immediately and reassess their learning. Third graders are eager to come to their ELA class at John P. Parker.
If you are interested in observing an ELA Demonstration Classroom, please sign up with your instructional coach. You may also directly contact Veronica Cotton for grades 2-6 or Christina Cupp for grades 7-12.
For more information about the Demonstration Classrooms - please visit the website.
Ed Tech Tools Used at CPS
Ed Tech Tools List-Cincinnati Public Schools Favs
The list is updated on a regular basis - want to contribute to the list, email Megan Safko-Preslin at preslim@cps-k12.org
User Guides
Visit the Google My Tomorrow site, go to the new Staffnet, click on the Departments > My Tomorrow Staff Website under resources for principals and teachers. Once in the My Tomorrow site click on a specific section you are wanting more information, for example, technology and you'll find help guides for usage.
Blackboard also has user guides for CPS applications: login to your Blackboard account - find ITM District Training Resources.
The ITM Help Desk also provides user guides on their updated Google website.
What's Next?
Digital Learning Day - February 17, 2016
Want more information on Digital Learning Day - Join the discussion on Twitter #DLDay. Or go to the Digital Learning Day Website for additional resources to help you on February 17, 2016.
Need some ideas, here is what some of CPS teachers did last year on Digital Learning Day. It's the day to try something new - take the leap, and then tell us about it!
Information taken from http://www.digitallearningday.org
Opportunities to Learn More Tech in the Classroom
Mayerson Courses
Integrating Technology into Elementary Roundtables (2003.6512)
Tuesday, Jan 26, 2016, 04:15 PM
Mayerson Academy, Highland Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, United States
High School Technology Roundtables (1993.6456)
Tuesday, Jan 26, 2016, 04:15 PM
Mayerson Academy, Highland Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, United States
Google Classroom
Thursday, Feb 11, 2016, 04:30 PM
Mayerson Academy, Highland Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, United States
Blackboard Intermediate: Interactive Tools for 7-12 Teachers
Thursday, Feb 18, 2016, 04:30 PM
Mayerson Academy, Highland Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, United States
LanSchool Online Course - 2030.6718
Register with Mayerson.