Digital Learning News Brief
February 17, 2015
Digital Learning Spotlight - Student Feedback
If you are looking for a great and fun way to check for understanding/gather feedback with your students, try Plickers (www.plickers.com). The program works with your computer and an iPad, iPhone, or Android app. Students show their answer to teacher-created questions by holding up their Plicker card. The teacher scans the room with the ipad/iphone and the results show up "live" via the projector.
Kathy Grupe, Library Media Specialist at Academy at West Birdville, used Plickers with all of the 5th grade classes last week in the library reviewing idioms and figurative language. "The questions are so easy to set up and kids love seeing the results instantaneously on the screen - seeing if they got it correct or not," said Mrs. Grupe. She continued, "I just stood in one place in the front of the room and used my new iPad mini (from the Project Innovate training) and scanned 25 cards in a few seconds." What an innovative way to use technology to show student mastery of concepts.
Microsoft Lync 2013
Beginning February 20, MS Lync will be deployed to all staff computers. This Knowledge Base article provides basic information for getting started with Lync 2013.
Lync ties real-time presence information with instant messaging, video conferencing, and voice communication, and it integrates with Microsoft Exchange Outlook email and Microsoft Office applications.
What is an EdCamp?
An EdCamp is a user-generated conference, commonly referred to as an "unconference." It is a form of professional development which is flexible, based on the needs of participants, and led by the participants.
Alvarado ISD is hosting an EdCamp on Saturday, February 28, 2015 from 8 AM to noon. This free event is open to all area districts. Click here to register now. Space is limited and registration is required.
We hope to see you there!
Twitter Chat Tuesday Tonight!
Tonight we will be chatting about transitioning from a library to a 21st century learning commons. What does this mean for schools, what will the space look like, how will the librarian's role change?
Join us tonight at 8 PM to share and learn the opinions of others. If you have a chance you might even do a little Google-searching to see what other schools are doing.
What is the Digital Learning Team Reading...?
The Case for Blended Learning
In the role of a Digital Learning Leader, we must consider "what's best for kids?" This drives every decision we make and every training and program we roll-out. Where do we get all of the ideas and concepts we share? What shapes our thoughts as we explore new pedagogies and best practices to prepare students for a future of lifelong learning?
The Digital Learning team is participating in a new book study to learn in greater detail the components and implications of a blended learning environment.
If you want to learn more about Blended Learning, Khan Academy is one recommended source.
Click on the image below to view a short video.