Education Technology Certifications

This is an update to a posting I had back in March.

There are many ways to advance your professional education in integrating technology in the classroom this school year.

Our Teacher inservice work this school year includes a strong focus on technology integration.  It includes department-specific work at the high school and middle school, workshop-style sessions at the elementary, after-school opportunities, and Coaching through the instructional coaches we have in each building.  In addition, the G-N Schools have contracted with an Apple Learning Specialist who is facilitating many sessions this year.  Finally, the district routinely supports teachers to bring back skills learned from technology conferences in the area, including the ITEC conference in the fall, the AEA267 Learning with Technology Conference in the winter, and the Iowa 1:1 Conference in the spring.

The District also uses feedback from staff and students to make decisions in supporting technology integration.  This includes giving the Clarity Brightbytes survey each school year, which is a free service to all schools in Iowa.

Apple Vanguard Training
This is a cohort of up to 20 members who meet for at least 24 contact hours to complete immersive, engaging lesson activities that can be carried into the classroom.  These include learning about the extensive capabilities of the software built into all student and teacher devices.  It also includes work with both iPads and laptops.  

Our District currently has 2 different cohorts;  
     Teachers Cohort with 20 teachers from every building in the District
     Coaches Cohort with myself and our rock-star Instructional Coaches


Apple Teacher Certification
This is new, free, and online.  Work through a series of lessons and pass a short assessment to earn badges enroute to earning this certification.  Find out more at this link.  We have several Apple Teachers in the District

Apple Professional Academy
This involves an intensive week-long program focusing on using OS X and iOS devices (tablet and laptop) in the classroom.  It is intended for advanced users.  This takes place in Cupertino, California.  The G-N District has purchased 4 seats.  An Apple Teacher Certification is one of the prerequisites.

Apple Distinguished Educator
 This is a "relationship program based on excellence and leadership".  Here is a chance to be recognized for skills you have worked so hard to build.  Read more about it at this link.  This is the most prestigious recognition from Apple. 

There are two different Google Education Certifications, both described at this link.   
There are self-paced web training lessons with a test at the end.  They include:

                 Google Certified Educator Level 1  ($10 cost)

                 Google Certified Educator Level 2  ($25 cost)

                 Google Certified Trainer  (pass at least 5 of the skill exams - cost $15 each)

                 Google Certified Innovator (pass Level 2 first) - this is a really big deal
Besides the self-paced work, AEA 267 offers short courses throughout the year to help reach each of these levels.  

Apple also has certifications in   Productivity Apps (using Pages, Numbers, and Keynote) and  I.T. certification.   
These do have a cost.  And so that they are not left out, Microsoft has it's Certified Educator program.

Completion of each certification does not come with a trophy or check.  It reflects a level of expertise at integrating technology in the classroom.  It is possible to simply go through the motions at any level, but the real impact comes with transforming the classroom as described by the SAMR model.  These are great technology professional development opportunities that can be impactful in your classroom.

Apple Classroom

Our technology rollout this year, with an iPad assigned to every K-2 student, offers incredible opportunities for transformational learning.  There are many examples of great work going on across the District, using these tools to improve and enhance instruction.

Here, I have some tips to help you manage instruction efficiently.  They complement the inservice sessions we have been working on this school year.

Personalize the Teacher and Student iPads

Please change the iPad name on yours and your students' iPads.  This helps when it comes time to Air Drop files with classmates. Go to   Settings -> General  ->  About to reset. Many teachers have already had their student do this:  Have your students take a selfie and make it the wallpaper.  It is a quick and easy way to identify who belongs to each iPad.  Name tags are also located on the back, as well.

Apple TV

This gives you freedom to move around your classroom, where you want to be while teaching, and have a wireless connection to the LCD projector in the room from your laptop or iPad.  You no longer need to be tied to the wall.

Please ask if you need help with this.  It is a perfect complement with Apple Classroom.

Apple Classroom

This is an important classroom engagement application.   It allows you to efficiently run your classroom and help your students while effectively integrating technology.  Your classroom iPads are a great learning tool and include many means for students to demonstrate learning. Download the app on your teacher device.  It is available on Self Service.  (It is not needed on your student devices)

Opening Apple Classroom will bring you to a screen that will look something like this.  These are the classes you have been 'assigned' to teach in Infinite Campus.  They have been transferred to this application. If you are a gen. ed. classroom teacher,  all of these rosters will be the same and so it does not matter which one you select.  If you are a 'specials' teacher, then all of these rosters will be different. A significant amount of behind-the-scenes work has been done to set this up.  If you are a 'specials' teacher, we may still have more work to do.

Please check this list with your class roster to make sure everyone is accounted for.  It is very important that all of your students are listed here.  Please let me know if your class list is not accurate. From here, you can -Monitor what your student are working on -Open an application on all of your students' iPads, or any subset of them. -Open a website that is bookmarked in Safari on your iPad -Quickly view/share student work on your classroom projector.

Please contact your instructional coach or myself about setting up a time to come in and work with you to become proficient with this amazing tool and learn about its other features.

Continue to explore effective instructional strategies using the vast library of iPad applications you have at your disposal.  Let me know if you want or need support in using them.  

Infinite Campus Messaging

(Thanks to Mr. Conway for this information)

How to send a message through Infinite Campus:

1) Log into Campus.  Click on your Campus Instruction page (if that is not already your default page.  You should see something like the picture below.

2) Click on the "New" button right above the Message Center.

3) You should then see the picture below.  Please do the following things on this page.

• Leave it as class message
• Leave the user/user group as user
• Leave a new template--- you may create templates but wouldn't have any at this time
• Look at all the delivery information and make sure it is what you want
• I always change the Sender's Email to my email address but it depends how you want to do it...

4) Type your message in the box like the picture below.  You will need a Message Subject.  After typing your message, hit the next button.

5) Below you will see the page where you can choose what class's parents you want to send messages to.  Please consider the following things below.

• You are in Term 1 so no need to check other terms
• Choose your class or classes
• Choose by checking below whether you want to send this to just the parents (Student Messenger Contacts) or the students too
• Hit "Next" once you make your decisions

6) Last but not least.... You will find this page.  Before you hit send, it might be a good idea to hit the "Review Recipients" button to see if you are getting all of the parent contacts you intended to.  You can uncheck someone if you want, etc.  If you hit close on that page, you can hit the Send button and it should go out to your parents.

PLTW Launch

Here are a few steps to getting you set up to teach on of the PLTW Launch modules.


1.  From your teacher laptop, log in to your PLTW account at this link.

From here, you can view all of the course content.  You have a teacher account already created.  You will need to 'Publish' the content you want your students to be able to view.  If you are working on Module 2, then it would be good practice to only make that module viewable.

2.  Your teacher iPad will include all of the teacher-viewable content.  Use the Canvas App.  It should already be installed on your iPad.  If not, go to Self-Service to install.

When you log in, enter PLTW as the school.   DO NOT put Grinnell as the school.  PLTW already has the content built and ready for you.

3.  Your students will need to be logged into their iPads.  This really should only need to be done once.  I have shared FV link / BP link that includes all of your student usernames and passwords.

Again, the school is PLTW (Project Lead the Way).  It is NOT Grinnell.

Your students have been rostered with usernames and passwords to login to Canvas.  Canvas is the Learning Management System for this coursework.

Students will have access only to the content that you give them access to.  Please do a test run to make sure everything is working well before jumping in front of the class with your lessons.  Students will need a little time to get acclimated to working with Canvas.

This video shows how to log in to a student PTLW Canvas account:

Apple Vanguard Cohort

Teachers and Staff:  

Please consider applying for one of 20 positions to become a part of a new Apple Vanguard Cohort yet this school year.

The Apple Vanguard Cohort is made up of like-minded Grinnell-Newburg teachers, leaders, and support personnel who are dedicated to the promotion of integrating technology into the classroom. The cohort allows for participants to deepen their knowledge around the Apple OS X and iOS operating systems and Apple creativity and productivity Apps. The goal is that each participant will go forward as a model and a resource for not only their campus or department, but also for the entire district.

Cohort meetings will be facilitated by Karen Seimears, a Senior Specialist with Apple Professional Learning.

Meeting times will be during our monthly Monday inservice days.  Each member of this cohort must commit to at least 24 hours of training in either the OS X or iOS operating systems and a combination of any of these apps: Pages, Keynote, Numbers, iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, iBooks Author, and iTunes U Course Manager.

Meeting Dates include:

November  7th

December 5th

February 6th

March 6th

April 10th

May 5th

Who is an Ideal Apple Vanguard Cohort Candidate?

The ideal Candidate must be excited about using Apple tools in the classroom and comfortable sharing related information with colleagues in a professional development model. The candidate should be committed to integrating technology into the classroom in order to enhance student learning and engagement.  

Any Questions? .... Please ask any of the building principals, Karen Seimears, or myself.

Here is the Application.  

Please download or duplicate the form to make it your own.
Send it to me when you are finished.

Certified Apple Teacher

In your personal professional development, consider working toward becoming a Certified Apple Teacher.   This can be a way to build your teaching skills using these new and updated computers issued this school year.  This certification is free to complete. 

This certification may be achieved by completing a series of 8 'badges' either working on your Apple Computer (laptop or desktop) OR using an iPad.  You may choose to complete both.

You will need a personal Apple ID to start this certification.  This I.D. is for your personal reference and not something that you will ever be asked to share.  Your Apple ID will most likely be a personal email address.   Please let me know if you have any questions or if you have any difficulty creating an Apple ID.

For the computer, the Badges include:      Mac      Pages for Mac      Keynote for Mac      Numbers for Mac      iMovie for Mac      Garageband for Mac      Productivity with Mac      Creativity with Mac For the iPad, the Badges include:      iPad      Pages for iPad      Keynote for iPad      Numbers for iPad      iMovie for iPad      Garageband for iPad      Productivity with iPad      Creativity with iPad __________________________________		Profile Screenshot:
Plenty of resource materials are available in each of these categories as you work through the lessons, including Starter Guides and videos.  They are intended to be easy to navigate and follow along.  There is a short quiz to complete each badge. Earning this certification is also one of the criteria to be considered an Apple Distinguished School, which we will be working on.  More on this will be coming later. When you have earned your certification, please send me a screenshot of your profile page for my records, similar to what you see to the upper right. You may also add the Apple Teacher moniker to your electronic signature with your email.  Due to a recent change in licensing, the Apple Teacher image can no longer be used.   To the right, see screenshots of how to navigate to those settings in your Gmail account.		From your Gmail, look for the 'gear' icon in the upper right part of you computer screen:

For those of you who taught here last school year, there are some similarities with the 'Tier 1' online Professional Development work you completed using Canvas.  This is much shorter and is focused on using your Mac in instruction.

Again, this is self-paced and free.  All of the help resources will still be available if you need a refresher at a later time.  This link will get you started.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Email using a Google Group

Creating an Email Group using Gmail:

This can be used to send emails to a select group of students or staff.  It is nice to use if you will be sending multiple emails to the same audience.

	1. Open your email.  Click on the pull-down and select Contacts.
	2. Select New Group
	3. Give your Group a practical name
	4. Type the email addresses, separated by commas OR paste a list of email address that are desired in the Group

Change your password!

Have you changed your password lately?

Consider what the purpose of a password is.

It's the key to your documents, pictures, files, and everything that's personal about you.  Leaving your front door unlocked does not mean that someone with malicious intent will walk into your house, but it does put you at risk.  Protect your valuable digital data by changing your password often and using adequate password complexity.

Some tips:

**Your school Google password must be between 6 and 16 characters.

**Add numbers and other characters to make it more complex in a meaningful way.

**Your password should not be easily guessed by others.  Avoid common words.

**Do NOT write it down and tape it to your computer... I have seen this too many times.

Y0u c@n 3v3n use numb3rs @nd ch@r@ct3rs t0 f0rm w0rds th@t 0n1y y0u wi11 r3m3mb3r.


Below are the steps to changing your Google password:

	From your Gmail, click on the gear in the upper right corner.  Select Settings.
	Select the Accounts tab
	Select Google Account Settings
	Select Signing in to Google
	Click on password.  Notice that it shows the last time it was changed.
	Choose a password with strong password complexity.  Type it in a second time to confirm and then click on Change Password
Be aware that all emails sent or received from your school Google account are archived as required by the State of Iowa.

Summer 2016 Technology PD

Are you looking to build your classroom technology skills?  Here are some professional development opportunities for the summer of 2016 around Iowa:

If you are know about a great course or event that's not on this list and should be, please let me know.  I will get it added.

June 6 - July 15    Programming with Scratch

          Online course, available for grad credit ($100), free for everyone else

         meant for classroom teachers

         taught by Ben Shafer, CS Instructor at UNI

June 6 - July 8  Teaching in a 1 to 1 Environment
          Instructor:  Bob Munson
         Objectives:
         *    Participants will use research to develop a view on the impact of 1 to 1 environments.
         *    Participants will develop a plan to manage students' digital behavior in a 1 to 1 environment.
         *    Participants will learn to evaluate instruction through the TPACK lens.
         *    Participants will learn to evaluate instruction through the SAMR lens.
         *    Participants will use the 4C's to evaluate tasks and relate to current instructional trends.
         Sign up at this link: 

June 20-22    TICL  
        Technology Integration and Classroom Instruction Conference

        PLAEA & NWAEA 

        Storm Lake, IA

June 21-22  KPEC Technology Conference

         Keystone AEA
         at the Grand River Conference Center

         Dubuque, Iowa 

June 27  Google Summit

        AEA Course #15118

         available for credit

         8:30-3:30

         at Lincoln Intermediate School

         Mason City, Iowa

June 28 - Oct 5    Using iPads to Support Early Learners (PK-2)

        AEA267 Course #15236

         June 28th 9am-1pm 

        June 29th 9am-1pm 

        June 30th 9am-1pm 

        October 5th 4pm-7pm

        at the AEA 267 office in Marshalltown

June 26-29  ISTE 2016

          Denver, Colorado

July 6, 7, 8   iPadU: Slide to Unlock Learning

         Grant Wood AEA

         Cedar Rapids, Iowa

July 14   EdCampSurfIA

         There is no charge to attend and child care is provided.      
         at the Surf Ballroom
         Clear Lake, Iowa

July 25, July 26,  Nov 7    Using iPads to Support Early Learners (PK-2)

        AEA267 (Course #15236, Section 29700)

        Instructors:  Kay Schmalen (AEA267), Michelle Haberman (AEA267)
                          assisted by Amy Harmsen and Bill Gruman
        June 25th 9am-3:30pm 

        June 26th 9am-3:30pm 

        Nov 7th 2pm-5pm

        Hosted here in Grinnell

--–

Oct 9-11, 2016  ITEC Fall Conference

         

Quicktime Basics

There is a great little program on your Apple computer, called Quicktime, that can really do some big things that are often overlooked.  It is often thought of as just a video player, but the free 'Mac' version has several other capabilities.

Let's walk through a few of them.

Go ahead and Open Quicktime

It's notable that nothing really seems to happen when Quicktime is opened.  There is no window that opens like you expect to see with other programs.

At the top of your screen you will see this ->

and in your Dock at the bottom of the screen you will see this icon ->


It's ok.  It is open.  There just isn't a window that opens up right away.

There are 3 recording options:

Movie Recording Records from your computer's webcam (or attached camera) Audio Recording Records only audio Screen Recording Records a video of what is seen on your computer screen.  The audio is optional.

_________________________________________

As you begin, be sure to check your settings.  These are found by selecting the little mark to the right of the record button. The Facetime HD Camera is the built in camera on any Apple product. Unless you have another microphone plugged in, you will be using the built-in microphone.

_________________________________________

When you are complete, the Stop Record button is found at the  top of your screen.   It  looks like a circle with a square in the middle of it. Once stopped, the video will pop up on your screen to review and save. File -> Save will let you save your recording where you would like.

Virtual Reality VR for Education

Virtual Reality in the Classroom

I like the description of Virtual Reality as a 21st Century version of the old Hasbro Viewmaster slides that I remember from growing up.  At least, that's how I can relate them to people my age.  There is much more to it in the modern version though.

I've had a chance to test out the Google Cardboard, the entry level of a wide range of virtual reality experiences that students can take on in the classroom.  I bought 3 of them from Knoxlabs to use at home and share with my colleagues for less than $10 each.  They provide an immersive, engaging experience for students, although only one at a time and for a short experience.  Depending how they are used, they can have a place for classroom use.

My favorite application so far is Google Street View, which is available on the iTunes and Android Stores.  With it, the view can experience an immersive experience anywhere in the world that is pictured within Google Maps.  At this point, this includes much of the world.  Don't expect to tour North Korea or maybe the family farm you grew up on, but it is really good.

Other applications include:

NYT VR allows the user to experience the biggest world news events in an immersive envrionment.  Free is also the best price here.  This would be very worthwhile with current events lessons.

Do you want to check out videos in VR?  Check out VRSE.  It will really blow your mind.

VR Cities - tours from around the world

ABC News VR -

Timelooper - this is close to a downloadable time machine.  each experience is a separate download.

YouVisit - this is the education component of the application

Guggenheim Museum VR

Wild Eyes


Recall what I mentioned earlier about the Hasbro Viewmaster? It's still around, although it joined the 21st Century, too, as it is also a Virtual Reality viewer.

If you get queasy at 3D movies or the big iMax theatres, you may have a little trouble with VR.  It does take a little to get used to.

Are you looking to go for high-end VR?  You can try out an Oculus Rift or read this review for a list of others.

_____________________________
Side notes:

Jump on the VR bandwagon!  EdTechnocation has a blog to get you down the road.

Google Expeditions is frequently mentioned as a program to go after for VR in education  curriculum.  Been there, tried that - they have been overwhelmed with requests and don't appear to have any plans to come to Iowa in the near future.  We can try again later.
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Components of this blog taken from
Reality revisited: Getting started with virtual reality in your classroom 
by Mareen Yoder   4/6/16
Virtual reality in the classroom just got affordable
by Mareen Yoder    11/27/15
ISTE

Evaluating Your Sources

Do your resources pass the CRAAP test?

The CRAAP Test is an evaluating process that can help a researcher decide if a source is authentic, accurate, and reliable.  It was developed at California State University.

We all 'know' that not everything on the Internet is true, but can easily fall into a trap of fallacies.  Facts are often skewed to promote a particular agenda, especially on social media.  This little guide can help to avoid misconceptions and inaccuracies, especially in regards to online resources.

Components include:
            Currency
            Relevance
            Authority
            Accuracy
            Purpose

Here is the original print document that includes all of the key questions that students can refer to.

This handy rubric provides a quick and easy web evaluation tool.


Do you want to test out your students' search skills?
   Here is a list of 10 fake websites to try out:

1. Tree Octopus
2. Dog Island
3. Dehydrated Water
4. Martin Luther King Jr.
5. The Onion -may include adult content
6. The Currant
7. Pets or Food
8. DHMO.Org
9. All About Explorers
10. Bonsai Kitten
11. Male Pregnancy
12. Debate.org
13. Mankato

Authenticity issues are nothing new;
Read about how The Discovery Channel recently had some trouble after broadcasting 'fake' shows as real, but were actually intended for entertainment purposes only.

Even back in 1938, Orson Welles had many radio listeners afraid of invading aliens in his rendition of War of the Worlds.

Chrome Extension: Reword

Can students police themselves from the kind of language that would be associated with cyberbullying?

There is an interesting Chrome Extension called Reword that flags hateful words.  It may be worth a try on your students' computers.  It may be just the reminder needed before clicking on Post, Publish, or Share.  The Reword website indicates that it works with YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.  It is very easy to install and does not require any type of password to add.

Consider having your students add it to their browsers and keep the conversation going about working to eliminate cyberbullying.  This works with the Chrome browser only.

Read more about it in this NPR article.

MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro

Here is a comparison between the technical features and capabilities of each model of Apple notebook computer.  As a reference, I've added a column for the 4-year-old MacBook Pro that I am currently using.

Managing your Apple Accounts

Here is some clarity behind the different Apple accounts that you may be managing on your devices, both personally and on school devices.  All accounts are free to set up and do not have to be connected to a payment system, such as a credit card.  The school district has several accounts and will have one that works well for your classroom devices.

Accounts include:
        iTunes
        iCloud
        App Store
        Apple Online Store

	iTunes Account Any item that can be put on an iPad or iPhone comes through this account.  It is free to set up and does not need to be connected to a payment system.  The school district has several accounts running.  You likely have a personal one, as well.  There is no cost to set one up. It is possible to have applications on your iPad or iPhone that are 'owned' by different Apple iTunes accounts.  To change the default account, go to   Settings  ->  iTunes&AppStore If you want to download updates to any iPad applications, you must use the same iTunes account used to 'purchase' the application.  The operating system (iOS) can be updated from any account and should be updated regularly.  'Free' still counts as a purchase with these applications. If you downloaded an application using a personal iTunes account and want to switch it over to a school account, you will need to delete the App off of the device first and then download it through the school account. Updating the iOS (operating system) on your iPad can be done either through  Settings -> Software Update.  However, this does not often work when it is skipping across multiple generations, such as moving from version 6 to version 9. There are some significant changes coming up regarding how applications can be deployed to a group of iPads.  Our setup here for the remainder of the spring will likely change in the fall.  There are also some great classroom management tools being rolled out, as well. If you like to use the built-in Calendar, it can be synced to your laptop Calendar also through iTunes.
	iCloud Account This is highly recommended for all of your personal Apple products.  It is the 'cloud' backup that can be used to back up photos, music, calendar, notes, and many other important files.  It is a very important for mobile devices.  For your desktop or laptop though, you should use some type of external storage device. Since the district has a large number of iPads connected to a single account, it is best to leave this turned off on student devices.
	App Store This store has a large number of free and purchased applications and updates just for your laptop.  It does not have to be connected to a credit card and can be the same as the two accounts listed above.  It may be found by selecting the Apple in the upper left corner of your screen and going to App Store. Our teaching staff does not have access to this right now.  Students do not have access either.
	Apple Online Store For the most part, the store at www.apple.com is the place to go for all of your hardware needs.   Personal items may be purchased through this store.  Hardware requests for your classroom are to be done through your building principal.

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Google and Microsoft function is a similar way with their online stores.   Like Apple, there are a significant number of free applications and tools available.  Google has a App Store built into it's Chrome web browser that you may want to check out.

There is a software request form on the school's website that can be used to request applications for purchase.

There is a lot here to read through.  Let me know if you have any questions about managing your Apple accounts.

Locking an iPad App

How to 'Lock' an iPad application:

iPads and iPhones have a tool called Guided Access that allows you to restrict a user to a single application.  This is often desired when you allow young fingers to use your phone, but works well in the classroom, too.  A passcode is needed then to turn off Guided Access.
(Teachers:  It's best not to give out this code since students could then change it)

Here's how it works:

Below is a screenshot from iOS 9.3 in the Settings, showing where to turn on Guided Access:

Once it is turned on, go to Passcode Settings 

                  Set a 4-digit code that will let you 'unlock' an application.

                  This can be different than the passcode you may have set to get into the iPad.

Navigate to and open the application you would like to lock.

             'Triple-click' the home button.

Several options appear at the bottom of the screen to select from

             Hardware Buttons:  toggle on or off your sleep or or volume buttons

             Time Limit:  access time to the application can be limited here

In the upper-right corner of the screen, select Start (or Resume)

To 'unlock' the application

             'Triple-click' the home button

              Enter your passcode

              Tap End in the upper right corner of the screen

Innovation & Change - Part 1 of 3

Innovation takes on different forms and depends on each person's perspective.  It can be defined as the act or process of introducing new ideas, devices, or methods.  In education, highly effective teaching does not necessarily require a teacher to be innovative.  However, to grow in a world that is heavily influenced by technology, innovation is a key to maintaining highly effective schools.  In other words, innovation is required to create change.

I asked teachers three survey questions:

1. Describe an innovative way that you have seen technology used in your building.
2. What limits innovations in this District?
3. What can we do with professional development to foster innovation in this District?

Surveys often have some type of bias, whether intended or not.  Here, when the questions were posted last fall, the idea was to provide an opportunity for discussion on how we could work together to continue to grow and develop instruction for our students using technology.

Here are responses to the first question:

At the K-2 level, I see technology used as an engaging instructional strategy. We have a math program called Mega Math that is a resource from our Math Expressions series. Included in Mega Math is a wide variety of games that can be differentiated for student use. Students are motivated to play the games, and they are designed as skill practice that aligns with our instruction.

I have seen other teachers use Skype in their classrooms to connect with a student traveling overseas.

Students who are using Pow Tunes, iMovies , Garageband, and Keynote.

Using computers to program little robots.

I have seen the ALEKS program primarily in Math 7 and Math 8 courses throughout the current academic calendar. However, I have read on Canvas the ways teachers are using technology in their classrooms. Students are often times required to look up primary sources to learn about different topics and to write paper on their findings.

I am not sure of what others are doing with technology.   We discuss what we do at our level.  We use youtube a lot for science and math songs and short age appropriate videos.  We use the smartboard for our social studies lessons with Scholastic.

I think the biggest way technology has changed the building is how we use Google documents etc. to share everything now.

I have seen a teacher use cards similar to QR codes and scan students holding up the cards with her phone to check the students' answers. She instantly had feedback on how many students got the question right. Sorry, I don't remember the name of this program.

Second grade students are learning computer coding skills in computer lab.

Used to track what students are doing/how they are doing at the moment they are doing a task on their computers.

The most prominent way is the online classroom platforms (Canvas; Google Classrooms; etc.). I have seen students use technology through a variety student generated projects and presentations. Communication is streamlined with the use of technology in the building and there is a much freer and quicker exchange of information.

I have seen students learning how to code robots and use 3D printing technology.

It was fun to see the students programing the robots used in Mrs. Schade's room.

Kahoot. I had never seen that used before.

GarageBand is used to record and play excerpts from songs at various tempos, allowing students to practice playing their recorder parts slowly at first and then faster as they become more comfortable with the piece.

I used Garageband to allow students to create an original composition.

During first grade PLCf, Allison Peace introduced us to the OSMOS app and materials.  These can be used during intervention time.

One innovative way technology has been used at Davis is through Google Presentations.  A social studies teacher has her students learn about the various US Regions and then they become experts on a topic.  Together they work in groups to create a Google Presentation.  Each member is in charge of contributing to the presentation and a certain number of slides.  The great thing about Google Presentations is it allows each member to work on the same document all at the same time.  Additionally, each group member can view the work of others instantly!

A classroom teacher recently used skyping to communicate with a previous student who now lives in another country. Students have started using code.org lessons.

During first grade PLC, Allison Pease introduced us to the OSMOS app and materials. This can be used during intervention time.  We will be getting these for use during our intervention time.

During 1st grade PLC Allison Pease introduced us to the OSMOS app and materials. We will be getting these to use during intervention time.

A classroom teacher recently skyped with her class and a previous student in another country.  Our second graders are doing "code.org" lessons.

I have used virtual business for restaurant management, sports and entertainment, and on-line workbooks.

Making Meaning presented as Keynotes instead of just from teacher lead discussion.

I feel that the use of technology in our building is acceptable.  We all utilize our smart boards constantly and I never want to teach without one again!  Teachers are always connecting lessons with youtube and adding depth to what we can't "show" the kids in our rooms.  I have seen teacher Facetime with students/parents that are in other parts of the country or across the ocean!

Msny teachers use technology to do their attendance and calendar.

A classroom teacher recently skyped with a previous student in another country.  Students have also started using code.org lessons.

Students walked around building taking photos of pushes or pulls. These photos were then used to sort under headings for "Push" and "Pull".

To be honest I only know what is going on in my classroom or those who teach the same grade and subject as mine. We do not get time or an opportunity to share amongst our colleagues what we are doing in our classrooms.

A classroom teacher recently skyped with a previous student in another country. Students have also started using code.org lessons.

During 1st grade PLC, Allison Pease shared the OSMOS materials.  These can be used during our intervention time.

Students creating iMovies and slideshow presentations to share their learning.

I think the use of Finch robots in technology class is innovative and something completely different than what students normally get to do.

Kids collecting data to then prepare a student lead lesson. Then preparing a presentation to their peers with activities and questions.

Honestly, I don't get a chance to see other teacher's classrooms and we don't share that at our PD, so I only know what I have done in my classroom or possibly other teachers close to me.

I have seen that in 7th grade science, Josh Ellis will introduce topics and have links built into the document for the students to go to read articles and information about subtopics.  Students aren't search all over the place for information that might not be reliable.

We are infusing technology in CTE courses all of the time: CADD, CIM, CNC, etc.

Our building uses 1 to 1 laptops. We share docs, have online courses, we use Canvas, Google Classroom and I use a smartboard to engage my learners.

I have seen many presentations created on GarageBand, imovie, etc. that back in the day would have just been a janky poster hanging on the hallway.

The problem is that I don't know what "innovative" means here. People have students make powerpoints, or write papers on google docs, or graph functions, or Skype with people in China, or make movies of their work. All of these are cool things. Are they "innovative"? Not really. They have all been done before, and most of them don't fundamentally change how we educate students. Which is fine - fundamental change is actually not needed right now. We are slowing making modifications that are slowly working, and that is usually how things change. This desire for constant "innovation" is unhealthy, I think.

Innovative ways technology has been used in the Ag Ed Department is by using the Hydroponic system, lab quests to test water quality, imovie, iphoto, google.doc, google.spreadsheets, etc...

Music notation, audio recordings, presentations and projects.

Students are beginning to use a drone for various projects in classes.

Preparing for assessments. Collecting data for labs.

Bill Gruman has been a great help to me. He has been in my room several times this year, helping me understand the technology and how to set up different labs to use more technology.  He is a great asset to our district and I am very thankful he has been helping me out.

Google Classroom

I was doing an 'old-school' review with my students using white boards and markers.  Bill gave me the idea to use an online software that does the same thing, but is more engaging to the students. Great idea!!!

I have seen teachers have students do amazing presentations, Art Projects using computers, blogs, etc.

I'm not sure about innovative ways I've seen technology used, but I've heard of interesting things being done with technology. I heard about an Econ class Skyping with an Econ professor in another country. Students have participated in Hour of Code online.

The economics class skyped with a professor in china.

In both the varsity and concert choirs, Roger Henderson has given students a musical theatre task to research a musical and do an innovative presentation about the musical that incorporates the research. Several students have consulted me on this project and I have been impressed with their ideas and work. The project is fairly wide-open which allows students to experiment and incorporate a variety of technology options in a very creative way.

One teacher had her interior design students use a computer program to redecorate her hallway.

In the past I would see a lot of projects that revolved around utilizing pen, paper, tagboard, markers, etc.  It has been nice to see a lot of projects created that utilize technology tools such as iMovie, YouTube, GarageBand, and more.  The unfortunate part is that some people want to buck everything and still glue macaroni to construction paper - fun times!

Use of blogs to get student responses.

I really haven't since we don't really get to share what we do with others, maybe Canvas/Schoology

I believe that there are great examples, but I don't know where I would have learned about them. I don't believe that the teachers have ever been asked to actually "share" with the staff community how they are using technology and what the find really functional and engaging for students.

The new $3,000 Drone purchased by our district, however, I have not seen any implementation of it yet.

My physics students used Vernier sensors to make sure the tennis racket stringer was properly adjusted.