Here's to hoping the dust has settled by now and your year is going well!
Below is a short(?) laundry list of seven items I'm eager to share with you. All are important (especially #1) and timely for the month of October.
1. eduTech Survey 2015-16 eduTech survey
It's time to get some feedback about where you are in terms of instructional technology. This is a great way for me to gather information and figure out best ways to help address teacher needs. Either click on the link above OR complete the embedded form below no later than Wednesday, October 14.
2. BrainPOP
Big news about BrainPOP - it just got even better! Click here for more details.
3. Chromebook users
For students who are using Chromebooks this year, below is a clever video to show your class. It mirrors the expectations for how we move a Mac laptop. How to Move a Chromebook
4. Common Technology Experiences
Here's the link to the OUSD Common Technology Experiences, K-8. Remember working on this last spring? It's really "a thing" now and we'll be referring to it often. You have had access to just your grade level but this document will show the scope & sequence for all grades in the district.
6. Connected Educator Month
October is Connected Educator Month. This link will direct you to list of resources to help you start getting connected! 7. First. Time. Ever.
How fun does this sound? On Friday, October 30, join the fun with songs, stories, movement, laughter and learning during the first annual Largest Online Gathering of K-5 Classrooms.
A group of teachers joined a little thing called International Dot Day a few years ago, using the story, The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds to focus on the importance of creativity. The vision of International Dot Day was to celebrate creativity on the same day all around the world. The number of participants reached close to 800,000.
In four short years, the number is now at 3.8 MILLION -- and counting. This is the day to be a part of something bigger than your class, school, district, state, and country. Students are connecting the dots in ways no one ever imagined in 2009.
Whether you choose to use just one idea or have entire day planned of Dot Day activities, I'm certain the time will be well spent.
Visit the links below for ideas and join the millions of educators who use International Dot Day to Make Their Mark.
Welcome back!
I believe the phrase, "to hit the ground running", was never more true than with Orinda teachers last week. It's always an exciting time (feel free to insert exhausting, daunting, overwhelming, and exhilarating) - it's all true!
Please check out the information below as this post touches on a variety of tech related topics.
For your viewing pleasure:
Here is a great video shown at the New Teacher Orientation which can be appreciatiated by anyone starting out the school year with the mindset that "this time, I'm going to stay on top of things...".
Enjoy!
Have you already felt like Lucy and Ethel?!
Blended Learning - a PD opportunity for Orinda teachers:
We still have a few spots still available for teachers to take part in the exciting 8 week workshop about putting the theory of Blended Learning into practice. The cost of teacher participation has been paid for through a grant awarded to the district by the Rogers Family Foundation.
For more info about Blended Learning:
Grades 3 - 5: TTL4 should be ready by Thursday (9/3/15) morning. I will send you a spreadsheet with logins so you can have your students start typing! The spreadsheet will also include Google Apps and desktop logins. Think Central - online portion:
We're getting close to student access to this too and will keep you posted.
Coming Soon: International Dot Day
This is in less than TWO weeks! September 15 is The Day to Make Your Mark!
Such a fun way to celebrate creativity, no matter if you're teaching a TK class or 8th grade English. There are so many ideas to make this day a success. Start by signing up here and be one of
3 MILLION (grown from 1.7M a year ago) who plan on reading The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds and then making a mark of their own!
Digital Citizenship:
Please find our agreed upon Digital Citizenship lessons for each grade level:
Digital Citizenship is part of our K-8 Common Technology Experiences so be sure to carve time out for these important experiences. It really will make a difference.
Also, for grades 3 - 5, check out Digital Passport - a great way to students to apply their knowledge about Digital Citizenship (Digital Passport is also a tile found on the OUSD Home Page).
To learn more about getting started with Digital Passport, click here.
Donors Choose:
There's a log of talk about DonorsChoose, a great way to acquire items for your classroom.
While my focus (aka time) is with new teachers, Long Term Subs, teachers who have changed grade levels and teachers who are launching new applications, please don't hesitate to contact me with questions regarding Instructional Technology. I'm always happy and eager to help.
I found this video the other day which I think is
worth sharing - great to show your class at this time of year.
What we wouldn't give for more TIME. Time for just about everything, right?
For me, time to chat with teachers and show a few cool tips to infuse technology is something I relish.
In an attempt to reach out and spend some "time" showing and sharing, I am posting a "vlog" which will give me a chance to share some latest happenings in the eduTech world.
The idea is to watch at your leisure (when YOU have the time). Stop, pause, rewind and play at your convenience. My tech tips are plentiful so below is a list of topics with time markers to help you gain access to the portions of the video most interesting to you.
P.S. My intro talks about a link to a Google Doc but I listed the info below the video instead. One less link...!
Time markers and links are below. Fast forward to the topic of interest to you!
Have you ever wanted to get together with other teachers and talk about just ONE technology tool? Taking the time to share and find out what others are doing with said tool? If so, this may be of interest to you --
I'm super excited to facilitate the first "Birds of a Feather" Technology session this year. True (if I pay attention to the calendar), it's likely to be the last session as well. Nevertheless, it's sure to be a fun time to get together, share ideas and enjoy focusing on ONE topic.
This first Birds of a Feather session is called "Appy Hour" and will be about how iPads are being used in the classroom. If you have any interest in learning how other teachers are using these devices, please consider attending. I'll have a few tips and tricks to share too.
Click on the Doodle Sign-Up link below if you're interested in joining this flock. The link will allow you to help decide on the best day to meet. I'll be in touch with all who sign up and we'll go with the majority. Please sign up by Monday (4/29) so I can start making final arrangements.
If this time of year is too crazy to even begin to think of adding this to your plate, no worries. There will be more "Birds of a Feather" sessions offered next year.
Three Bonus Items:
1. Ed1stop continues to run the SimpleK12 pilot (through June 1). Just log on to ed1stop and you'll find it under Announcements. It is FULL of amazing video tutorials for teachers.
In addition to SimpleK12, ed1stop is also running a new pilot from Infobase of new databases (through June 17). Science online Facts on File, American History Online Facts on File, Writer's Reference Center - all aligned to the common core. These are great resources for middle school. The World Almanac for Kids looks awesome for elementary.
Finally, we have a pilot going on with World Book Online, thanks to the OIS and District Librarian, Linda Odelson.
Go to: World Book Online
username: americas
password: clover
If you're cruising around in any of these resources and want to provide feedback, please complete the super short survey below. Feedback for Resources
2. For a recent video of a 30 minute conversation with celebrated author, Peter H. Reynolds, click on: Great chat with Peter H. Reynolds.
The video includes Peter reading The Dot as well as answering questions from students in Alabama. This was created on Friday, April 20 so there is some reference to the hard time Boston was experiencing last week.
3. Guerilla Girl - Posted just three days ago, here's a great video about people doing good deeds. This was created by Carol Whittaker, a parent of former OUSD students, Spencer and Olivia Whittaker. Very clever with a powerful message. Enjoy!
What I really want to call this post is "My Epic Fail". Instead, I've changed it to something a bit more positive (albiet not as accurate).
The "Epic Fail" title comes to mind when considering my original goal for this blog - keeping posts short and delivering them frequently. To say I've fallen short of my weekly goal is an understatement. I'm left with a couple of choices: drop the whole thing or look for ways to improve - perhaps adjust my goal. I suppose that's the one big drawback of goal setting. Sometimes, you have to accept the fact that you didn't quite meet it.
There are nine more chances (make that seven and counting) and so here's to posting a blog in April. And here's to your own goals, epic fails and all...
Below is a list of 10 very cool items of interest I think are worth sharing. There is something for everyone, I guarantee it!
1. YouTube - Now that we have access to YouTube.edu, no longer should you experience as many "Access Denied" messages. Continue to send requests to Ed Silvas for any specific videos you still can't access. So far, there hasn't been a single video I can't view. Stopping now for a little happy dance.
2. As Autism Awareness Month comes to an end, check out a cool resource FableVision is offering - there's an educator's guide plus a link to the awe-inspiring video (created by Peter H. Reynolds) called I'm Here -FableVision Learning.
3. While we're on the subject of videos, check out these links:
5. Fun news from ed1stop:
You may recall (during our grade level tech talks) that ed1stop started a new feature this year which allows us to research any CCSS digital standard and find resources to meet that standard. They continue to build this bank of incredible resources and now have ideas available for every standard for Language Arts as well as Math. You don't even need to log into ed1stop - just get to the website and click on the Common Core tab and select Digital Common Core. It's that easy! Keeping collaboration alive and well, each digital standard has an invitation to submit your own ideas for each standard. Ed1stop will give you credit for your hard work which helps to create a bountiful resource for all.
6. There's also a pilot available via ed1stop called SimpleK12. Log on to ed1stop and from there, you can join the SimpleK12 pilot. This looks like a fabulous resource for teachers. So many tutorials in every category imaginable at your disposal with just a simple click. The pilot lasts until June 1 - the next few weeks might be a good time to check this resource out.
7. Interested in developing a cool online quiz?
Socrative takes online quizzes to another level. One of its best features is the ability to add images to your questions and have short answer quizzes graded for you. A nice description of what this site is all about can be found here: Socrative Quizzes
8. A shout-out for Common Sense Media - Common Sense Media continues to impress me. Not only do they continue to add to the bank of curricular ideas, they have a common sense approach to sensitive subjects. For instance, check out this post about the recent news regarding the explosions at the Boston Marathon and how this kind of news affects our students.
9. Looking for something fun to do this summer?
Check out this link; CUE Rock Star Teacher Summer Camp. I've always wanted to attend one of these Rock Star Summer Camps and this year, one is being held in Alameda, specifically on the USS Hornet. How cool is that??
10. Some of you may remember last year's post about Caine's Arcade, the nine year old with unending charisma and inspiration. Watching this video makes me smile and so I'll close in hopes this give you something to smile about as well.
Doodle 4 Google 2013 is open for submissions! The annual competition invites students K-12 across the country to design their very own Google logo around this year's theme "My Best Day Ever..." The winning artist's doodle will be displayed on the Google homepage for millions to see, and the winner will receive a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology grant for his or her school.
Need inspiration? Check out this incredibly clever video:
