PLE Zen Den
Your Guide Toward Becoming a PLE Master
February Zenspiration
Are you ready for some football?! As we bid adieu to this (somewhat controversial) season of football, wouldn't it be nice if the teaching profession was as high-profile as the profession of football? Before you get too deep on me, the resemblances are a bit uncanny. For example, teachers work better when we play as a team, we celebrate gains--no matter how small and when we "touch down" with that struggling student, we celebrate! Don't forget to celebrate the small gains because they will ultimately lead to victory. In the meantime, enjoy a break from reality with the short video below. Go team!
Reflective Practice
His pause to reflect may have saved hundreds, if not thousands of lives. As a teacher, you impact just as many lives throughout the course of your career. Daily reflective practice should be a common part of your day, especially as it relates to a personalized learning environment. What is reflective practice? According to the Virginia Journal of Education, "Reflection is about critically examining oneself, and it is a facet of effective teachers." When connected to a PLE, it is important to take into account:
- analyzing a the events of the day: how did your formative assessment impact how you adjusted your teaching to meet the needs of all learners?
- changing course as an event unfolds such that the outcome is altered: how effectively did you adjust your teaching practice to allow for differentiation/personalization? Did you move your students into small groups, offer showcase a video instead of lecture?...
- seeking an explanation to how students are learning (i.e., problem-solving): if you could not reach a student, is it because you don't know their learning style? If not, assign a learning style inventory.
February Spotlight
This month we spotlight two gentlemen new to their buildings. Their energy and innovation have turned them from the rookies in their schools to those forging the path in personalized learning and tablet integration.
M. Jarrell Jones/Allen/ELA
Christopher Terzigni/Guilford/SS & ELA
Twitter: @MrTerzigni
Strategy Spotlight - "Backchanneling" Silent Talking
Backchanneling in education can happen in multiple forms. Having students post questions on Today's Meet while you are lecturing. Then you can answer them without disruption or let other students answer them. While students are watching a video, have them post comments and questions and let them respond to other comments and questions using 81dash.com or Padlet. This is a great opportunity to let students learn and grow from each other as well as implement formative assessment.
Below are different forms of backchannels:
1. Discussion feature on Tablet
2. Edmodo
3. Today's Meet
4. Padlet
5. 81dash.com
Amplify Market Spotlight - SyncSpace
Knowledge Nuggets
Did you hit ALWAYS when opening a file? No worries, all users now have the ability to quickly fix this issue.
- Open Settings
- Scroll to APPS
- Slide to DOWNLOADED or ALL APPS
- Find the app you authorized as ALWAYS
- Clear defaults. #easybreezy
Become a DEN Ambassador: If you are interested in being a part of this innovative program please click here: Search for DiscoveryEd and continue as you would with any other professional development.
Schedule change? Tablets sync with PowerSchool. This means that once you see the change reflected in your PS account, the tablet should update the following day. Be sure to restart your tablet daily to see changes.
Visit and bookmark this Amplify Troubleshooting link. The folks in New York update this site frequently and should be your first resort when things go wrong with the tablet.
Are you apps not working smoothly? Ensure they are up to date. Users should open the Amplify Market and click the 'person' icon in the upper right corner. There they'll see all of the apps that need a manual update. Teachers need to update Play Store apps by selecting MY APPS and manually updating. Please ask a PACE team member should you need assistance.
Is there a workshop you'd like me to repeat during your planning period? Just ask!
Here's a list of lessons you may have missed:
- Augmented Reality in a PLE
- Blendspace
- Digital Tools to Advance Formative Assessment
- Edmodo Snapshot
- Flipping with PowerPoint
- Personalizing with Discovery Education
- Personalizing with EDpuzzle
- Personalizing with Lensoo
- Personalizing with OneDrive
- Reaching EC Students with Read Alouds
- Task Rotations in your Content Area
February Transforming Learning Sessions Wednesdays @ GMS
- February 11: Augmented Reality in a PLE
- February 18: Blendspace (Early Release PD session)
- February 25: Infographics as Creative Assessment
February Transforming Learning Sessions Thursdays @ AMS
- February 12: Augmented Reality in a PLE
- February 26: Infographics as Creative Assessment
Tamika M. Davis, PLEF
Email: davist@gcsnc.com
Website: http://ple.gcsnc.com
Location: Serving Allen MS & Guilford MS
Phone: (336) 370-3287
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pace.plefs
Twitter: @zenPLEF