Edtech in the Middle
Gettin' Techy in Bayshore, Thompson & Thorne
--February- March -Issue #2--
Digital Learning Month
With Digital Learning Month underway here are some ways to get involved!
- DLM Challenge- #MTPSpride is celebrating Digital Learning during the week of February 19th- February 23rd. Throughout the week pick different challenges to try. We will be tracking via Twitter for winners and recognition so me sure to use #MTPSpride #MTPLSLD2018 and your building hashtag. Check out the challenges here!
- Quick Tip Tuesday- This month we will be launching Quick Tip Tuesday! Each Tuesday you will receive a quick and simple tip that you can use to enhance your instruction and challenge your students.
- Teacher Spotlight- Each Friday you will receive a short video of your colleagues spotlighting an app or tool they use and how they use it! Give it a try the next week and let us know what you think on Twitter using your #DolphinPride #ThompsonMSpride #ThornePride
- A Day Without Paper- We challenge you to go fully paperless on February 22nd! Give it a try!
- But How?
- Share out your resources via Google Classroom
- Transform a Worksheet into a PDF
- Use Google Docs, Forms, or Draw to create your own graphic organizers and handouts
- Use dry-erase markers on the desktops or cabinets
- Use slates and dry erase markers if available
This Month's Challenge! Join the New #MTPS Middle School Connection!
Join a Facebook Group exclusively for Middletown's Middle School Educators! This is a place for all #MTPSpride middle school teachers to connect their classrooms and share ideas with one another! If you are looking for someone to collaborate with, this is a great place to start! Please feel free to share and add other Middletown Middle School Teachers to the group.
--Tech Updates and Tools to Try--
App Smashing!
When you use multiple apps simultaneously or when you use them to create an ultimate final product, you are App Smashing. App Smashing is a powerful way to harness the digital talents of our students. Using Read and Writes text-to-speech tool along with an online annotator and curator called Scrible can help to create a more interactive and productive work space for your students. What a great way to help your students to use online close reading tools and increase their capacity for digital content and ultimately improve their comprehension skills. This is also a perfect example of how you can enhance their digital literacy skills!
Link to Scrible Website and Scrible Extension
HyperDocs
HyperDoc describes a Google Doc or Slides that contains an interactive lesson for students. With one shortened link, students can access a lesson that contains instructions, links, tasks, and many clever ways to get kids thinking
10 Internet Safety Tips for Students
Blogger Kathleen Morris shares:
- Integration “Dos and Dont’s”
- A toolkit of practical strategies
- Applying real world experience for our students using tech integration
--Middle School Educational Technology Specialists--
Teacher Technology Integration Specialist
Thompson, Bayshore & Thorne- Christina Requa ( RequaC@middletownk12.org)
Student Technology Integration Specialists
Bayshore- Donna Strobel (strobeld@middletownk12.org)
Thompson - Lauren Velez (velezl@middletownk12.org)
Thorne - Dana Webster ( Websterd@middletownk12.org)