Innovate RSD
Increasing Digital Literacy in RSD | February Newsletter
Inside You Will Find.....
A monthly snapshot of information pertaining to technology integration. You will find practical information and tools that you can use to enhance your teaching and accelerate your students' learning.
Items Included
- Website of the month
- App of the month
- Teacher Spotlight
- Monthly Challenge
- Training Event
* Please share your favorites with me and I will include them in future issues!
** In case you missed last months newsletter here is a link.
Websites of the Month: Graphite
View the video below to learn more!
App of the Month: Book Creator
Book Creator is also a great tool for teachers. Many students get inspired to write when they see their teacher as an author. You can find an example big book I created called "Toy Story" in the GLAD Resource group on Schoology.
Tools to help you get started
10 Ten Tips for Using Book Creator
*In the free version you can only make one book at a time, and can only export it as a PDF.
See example books below:
Book Creator Project on Animals
(You will need to be on an Apple device in order to open the book.)
Book Creator Project on Weather
(You will need to be on an Apple device in order to open the book.)
Free eBook with Sample Projects
(You will need to be on an Apple device in order to open the book.)
Teacher Spotlight: Lisa Staver
Hands On Tech
Lisa is a third grade teacher, and has been teaching at Davis Elementary School for the past fifteen years. If you were to ask any of the staff at Davis, they would probably say that Lisa is their go to staff member for technology questions.
One of the things that is unique about Lisa is how she has brought the technology to life in her classroom. If you were to visit her class you would see: a 3D printer, Makey Makey sets, lego robotics, an Ozobot, and an Osmo. Over the last five years Lisa has written multiple grants to bring these new technologies in to her class. One particular grant she has had a lot of success with has been Donors Choose.
Another reason I thought it was important to spotlight Lisa is because she is a highly effective teacher that models and applies technology standards. In case you aren’t aware of the ITSE (International Society for Technology in Education) Standards for Teachers, there are five key performance indicators that a teacher should meet.
- Facilitate and inspire student learning
- Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments
- Model digital age working and learning
- Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility
- Engage in professional growth and leadership
I believe many people would agree that Lisa often exhibits these standards in the work that she does.
I wanted to tap into Lisa's experience and knowledge, so I asked her several questions that you might find useful.
Q1: What is your advice for a teacher that is wanting to incorporate more technology in their class?
Lisa: Find one or two things your really like and get comfortable using them.
Q2: What is it you love most about incorporating technology in your class?
Lisa: It helps students and teachers think about learning in a different way, and they can demonstrate their learning in different ways. For instance, using Seesaw and Adobe Voice forces kids to use different skills, and you can easily obtain and share that evidence.
*Please note that I share this information with you in an effort to inform you of the tools available. My hope is that you will discover the tools that you are passionate about and enrich your professional practice.
ChatterPix Project- Saved to Seesaw
View project by selecting this link
What is Osmo?
Might be worth writing a grant for this engaging tool that is considered Time's Best Inventions of 2014....
More About Makey-Makey
Lisa has some innovative ideas on utilizing this technology in her energy unit coming up this Spring, and i will be sure to share more later.
February Challenge: Graphite
Completed the January Challenge?
Visiting Every School (In lieu of a training event)
Instead of having a training event this time, I have decided to schedule times where I will be at each school. Come with your questions, suggestions, and even devices you need support with, or simply stop in and say hi.
Please mark your calendar. I plan to be in the staff room, so that we can easily chat during lunch from 10:30am-1:00pm
- Alder - Monday, February 22nd
- Davis - Tuesday, February 23rd
- Fairview - Friday, March 18th
- Four Corners - Tuesday, March 8th
- Glenfair - Wednesday, March 30th
- Hartley - Wednesday, March 9th
- Margaret Scott - Tuesday, March 29th
- Salish - Thursday, March 10th
- Sweetbriar - Wednesday, March 16th
- Troutdale - Thursday, March 17th
- Wilkes - Monday, March 7th
- Woodland - Monday, March 14th
* Feel free to still book me for specific times as well.
You Can Book Me!
Shelley Frey
Email: shelleyfrey@rsd7.net
Website: http://www.reynoldsliteracytools.com/
Phone: (541)206-9379
Twitter: @shelleyfrey