Instructional Technology Newsletter
January, 2017 - 6th Edition
This Month...
Happy New Year! We have completed another successful trip around the sun and 2017 is underway!
A new year often means making resolutions for personal growth. This year, why not make resolutions for technology in the classroom? We have compiled a list of 17 things that will not only help with technology integration, but will also give you evidence for your TKES platform.
IT Coach, Angela LaPlante, has a great blog post to help with moving forward with technology integration. Read it here.
TKES Domain- Planning
1) Access bookmarks, notes, storage and other apps across mobile and desktop devices (Google Drive, OneDrive)
2) Join and follow a Virtual Learning Professional Network (PLN - Facebook, Twitter)
3) Organize content across social media platforms (Youtube channels, Pinterest boards, Symbaloo webmixes)
TKES Domain - Instructional Delivery
4) Flip your classroom to increase time for learning
5) Prepare students to locate and organize digital content (TED-ED, NewsELA, Podcasts, DiscoveryEd, YouTube)
6) Provide opportunities for students to learn from and about others outside of the classroom (SKYPE, Google Hangouts, electronic penpals)
TKES DOMAIN - Assessment of and for Learning
7) Design original products to demonstrate learning (graphics, presentations, podcasts, videos, websites, and apps)
8) Build digital portfolios to demonstrate learning over time
9) Develop and share tools that automate feedback (Google Forms, EduPuzzle, GoFormative, Socrative, Kahoot)
10) Facilitate self-paced learning (virtual classroom, website, HyperDocs)
TKES Domain - Learning Environment
11) Post content, polls, assignments and host discussions using a virtual classroom (Google Classroom, Edmodo)
12) Enable students to access your virtual classroom during class time (using computer "centers", BYOD, COWs, or labs)
13) Establish a digital process for peer review and feedback (collaborative docs, backchannels, discussion forums)
14) Encourage exploration of new technologies to promote collaborative problem solving
TKES Domain - Professionalism and Communication
16) Participate in and contribute to virtual PLN discussions
17) Maintain an updated blog/Website/class presence online
ISTE Standards for Students
Empower your students and with the ISTE Standards - download this FREE classroom poster.
ISTE Standards for educators
Here is our Happy Dance for all finishers of Cohort activities in Quarter 1 and/or Quarter 2!!
Who are they? Check out our Wall of Fame below and consider joining them by participating and finishing quarterly activities. We have many Happy Dances saved up!
We will be recognizing those that complete an entire quarter of activities in each newsletter. Each time you complete all activities for any particular quarter, you will receive your digital badge, certificate, and your Wall of Fame will either be started or updated. Don't miss out!!
Automating Assessment to Differentiate Learning
Mercedes Josey ... Jarvis Dean ... Alexander Roth
Creating More Authentic Lessons using G-Suite
iPads in the PK-2 Classroom
Angel Harlin ... Melanie Coleman ... Belinda Adair
Monica Eve ... Heidi Schaffner ... Meredith Sanders
Janique Darden ... Jennifer Norrell ... Renee Rabbitt
Audrey Newsome ... Belinda Adair ... Letha Moore
Monica Eve ... Malik Jasper ... Heidi Schaffner
Suzanne Sweeney ... Meredith Sanders ... Connie Hinely Janique Darden ... Shanicka Washington-King ...Jennifer Norrell ... Ladonna Campbell-DeLoach ...Akilah Payne ... Cashala Bowers ... Sariah McCall ...Mary-Elise Ulin ... Colleen Bibby ... Wonza Williams
Transform YouTube into MyTube
- YouTube Access: Log-in requires district email on YouTube page. Click the Sign In button in the right hand corner.
- Chromebook Log-in: Students log-in with district email and password - Teachers log-in with district email and username.
- Classroom Website: There are several options and the requirements vary from school to school. Our department supports Weebly and Oaktree. Use the links provided for instructions. WEEBLY OAKTREE. If you need guidance on what your website should include, here is a great resource.
Parent Communication: Positive communication between parents and teachers helps improve academic performance. You may want to consider using either of the following:
- Google Forms: Google Forms
- MIMIO: Tutorials
Basic tips for google Drive
Movers and Shakers in Education - check out these amazing educators for inspiration and innovation!
- Edutopia - Hosted by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, Edutopia has plenty of well-indexed information on how technology can be used in classrooms.
- Cycles of Learning - Ramsay Musallam recognized how useful hacks could be in classrooms, so he set up Cycles of Learning to share practical education tech hacks to make teachers’ lives just a bit easier. Who doesn't like easier?!
- Participate Learning- Check out all that Participate Learning has to offer educators.
- ITC Blog - We aim to provide timely and usable information.
- Learning in Hand is an educator's resource for mobile and digital learning created by Tony Vincent.
- TeachThought - full of articles for education
- Ditch That Textbook - "I’m Matt Miller. It’s my passion to equip teachers to thrive in this new era of education and think differently about the craft of teaching."
- Alice Keeler a must read. Full of resources and ideas.
- Vicki Davis - Cool Cat Teacher
Get Connected with Educators in SCCPSS and Beyond!
If you are a Twitter user (whether just getting started, or been Tweeting for years), click on the link below to join the SCCPSS Twitter Tribe to share resources, get a peek at their classrooms, and build your Personal Learning Network. Add your Twitter handle to the list so that others can follow you. Does the idea of using Twitter to connect with other educators sound interesting? Join the 20 day Twitter Experiment anytime, anywhere!
Want to Connect Using Facebook?
Interested in using public Facebook pages to connect with parents and the greater Savannah community? Join the Social Media in EDU Learning Cohort to begin your journey and receive guidelines and support along the way.
Are you Reading?
What is going to make our newsletter something you look forward to each month? We are asking for your input! Please use the link below to submit your ideas.
Know Your Instructional Technology Coach!
The Instructional Technology Department is responsible for coordinating, organizing, and facilitating the effective use and integration of technology within the schools in order to increase student performance.
Instructional Technology Coaches
Media Services
Carol Tarnowski - Library Media Technology Coach
Deborah Hargroves - Media and Broadcast Trainer (part-time)
Lakeshia Bostick - Media Support Assistant (912) 395-1124
Program Manager