Last week’s BPS professional development day highlighted the power of Schoology and Twitter. These two tools were leveraged by our district to deliver content and to openly share the learning that was happening among teachers. Schoology, a learning management system, was the tool of choice to smoothly share resources with teachers throughout the day. Presenters uploaded their materials to the February 15 PD Schoology course for easy access by the 698 teachers enrolled in the course. If teachers weren’t able to attend a session, they can find the information in Schoology anytime, anywhere. Schoology organizes and streamlines content, which makes it a consistent way to share materials and resources efficiently and effectively.

Led by our District Instructional Technology Specialists, Building Technology Coordinators and iPad Academy teachers, the #bpsne hashtag was brimming with tweets about the learning that took place during the day. By utilizing Twitter, Bellevue Public Schools was able to share the incredible day with each other, along with educators and community members near and far. Miss the Twitter fun? The tweets from the day were captured in this archive and available for anyone to access anytime.

Through the generous donations of our PTAs, two Bellevue elementary schools implemented iPad gardens this month. All classroom teachers at Leonard Lawrence received 3 iPad minis per classroom and each primary teacher at Fort Crook received an iPad Air from their respective PTAs.

Along with the iPads, teachers have received training and classroom coaching on how to utilize the iPad for teaching and learning. Students use the iPads as a rotation station or individually. Teachers also use the iPads for whole group instruction by projecting the iPad using the Reflector program on their computer.

Let's take a peek into and see what is happening in these classrooms.

Students are:

• used the ChatterPix APP and the Seesaw APP to take pictures and record my kids sharing two pieces of their work with their parents at P/T conferences last week! Parents loved it and so did the kids

• sharing their final writing samples using the app SeeSaw

• practicing Words Their Way by creating Stick Around Puzzles of Word Sorts

• learning how to use Stick Around and iMovie for learning with an iPad coach and returning to class to be the expert and teach their peers. This is the train the trainer model that is efficient for the iPad coaches and also empowering to the students.

• using apps to learn and practice their sight words.

Teachers are:

• using the Reflector 2 app and projecting the iPads so the entire class can see the iPad screen. For example one teacher used with a fraction app for whole group instruction and passed the iPad from student to student to demonstrate the fractions.

• using screencasts to pre-record spelling tests and then students take the test by listening to their classroom teacher using headphones, pausing and rewinding as needed

• Creating Stick Around Word Sorts for students over Words Their Way lists

We are looking forward to what the future holds as more technology is placed in the hands of our students.

Are you attending NETA? Did you know NETA membership is FREE? Check out this great conference and ask your principal if you are interested in attending. Join NETA for FREE by clicking here and filling out the form.

The content below is from the NETA website at netasite.org.

The 2016 Spring NETA Conference will Offer:

• Over 190+ featured, breakout, interactive and hands-on sessions to choose from on Educational Technology

• Nationally recognized Speakers

• Admittance to a Maker Fair

• Playgrounds where YOU can Learn the Newest Technologies

• Exposure to Over 100 Vendors

• Networking Opportunities to Expand YOUR Professional Learning Network to Continue Learning All Year

YOU will learn about technology in education and how you can implement it directly into your school/classrooms starting NOW!

YOU have the opportunity to share what YOU learn with YOUR staff members- YOU can be the change agent!

We hope you’re able to join us April 21-22, 2016 at CenturyLink Center Omaha for Nebraska’s Premier Educational Technology Conference!

The 2016 National Education Technology Plan (NETP) was released in January. It sets a national vision and plan for learning enabled by technology by building on the work of leading education researchers; district, school, and higher education leaders; classroom teachers; developers; entrepreneurs; and nonprofit organizations. It was written for teachers, policymakers, administrators and teacher preparation professionals.

President Obama announced on 2/1/2016 a new initiative called “Computer Science for All”. It proposes $4 billion over three years for states and $100 million directly to school districts to train 50,000 new Computer Science teachers and expand access to Computer Science curriculum for students.

Are you looking for new ideas when it comes to differentiating your learning objectives for students of all levels? Check out The Differentiator, a tool created by Ian Byrd, founder of Byrdseed.com, where the overall focus is experimenting to create differentiated objectives. Based on Bloom's Taxonomy, Kaplan and Gould's Depth and Complexity, and David Chung's product menu, this tool will provide plenty of ideas and generate a modified objective. The best part is you have the ability to change the thinking skills, content, process, product and so much more to make it your own!

Use Twitter to be connected! If you are a tweeter, remember to tag your tweets with #bpsne and #tt4t so more teachers can see what is happening in your classroom. Sharing is the name of the game! Remember there are lots of great chats to explore to connect with others in your content area. Just pull up the hashtag and enjoy the conversation.

Jeanette Carlson

jeanette.carlson@bpsne.net

Twitter: @mrsjcarlson

Ann Feldmann

ann.feldmann@bpsne.net

Twitter: @annfeldmann1

Jeffrey Bernadt

jeffrey.bernadt@bpsne.net

Twitter: @jeffreybernadt

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