Pick a Project! -- Increase Student Engagement in Your Classroom

1. Take Attendance

Use this link or your Starred Drive in Google Drive to take attendance on the spreadsheet

Explorers: Since we just came off of a project cycle, we'll take a look at Skitch (agenda here).

2. Pick a Project!

You DO NOT want to integrate technology in your classroom just for the sake of technology, but you SHOULD be cognizant of lessons or material that might be a bit lackluster. These dull spots are the perfect places to insert some shiny tech applications to increase excitement and motivation in your classroom!

Our OBJECTIVE today is to identify a dull spot in one of our units and create a lesson utilizing technology to increase the student engagement and understanding there.

We've "studied" Socrative, Padlet, Skitch, and EdPuzzle lately, but you are certainly not limited to these apps or sites. Get creative, work together, and make magic happen in your classroom!

3. Publish To Inspire!

Committing to a project by putting it in words will help keep you accountable, but the main reason we share what we're working on is to allow others to be inspired by our ideas. Teachers come up with great ideas, and creativity breeds creativity. Share out so others can benefit!

Created with Padlet

4. Your Challenge

Let this project roll around in your head until our next Tech Tuesday, or work on it a bit between now and then. The choice is totally yours. We'll have work time again next Tech Tuesday, and we can't wait to see your new lesson!

5. As Always, Leave Anonymous Feedback Here!

SAMR -- An Introduction (DCMS & Comanche New Teachers, 11.4.15)

1. Introduction

SAMR is an acronym that stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition, labels that define the levels of tech integration for any given activity.

Our OBJECTIVE today is to understand SAMR well enough to be able to evaluate and justify the level of tech integration in our own classrooms. The appropriate question isn't, "Are you using tech?" The question should be, "Why are you using tech?" Understanding the SAMR levels helps us articulate the depth of tech integration and the benefits of that level.

Let's start by exploring the SAMR levels via an introductory video and handouts.


SAMR as explained by creator of SAMR Dr. Rueben Puentedura 
SAMR Document
SAMR Instructional Decisions
SAMR Flowchart
(Thanks to Blue Valley Educational Technology for the use of their fantastic materials!)

2. SAMR On Our Walk Thru Document 

 

 

3. A SAMR Sort

Let's use this Padlet wall and content partners to practice applying the SAMR levels. See the Padlet wall for instructions.

4. Apply SAMR to YOU!

Use the same Padlet wall from above, but this time, you and your partner think of an activity from your content area. This could be a common activity, or it can be something specific from a unit. Take the activity through the 4 levels of SAMR. Show us what the activity would look like at the Substitution level, the Augmentation level, the Modification level, and the Redefinition level. Create a sticky note with your names on it and the activity in the 4 different levels.

5. Finally...It's NOT a Contest!

Use technology with your students at the APPROPRIATE level for your students and the task at hand. There is no prize for hanging out in the deep end every day -- you'll be frustrated, and your students will be exhausted. Move back and forth, in and out, as needed. Use the prompts on the Blue Valley SAMR Instructional Design document as a guide and as justification for your SAMR levels!

6. Your Challenge!

Be MINDFUL of how and why you are using tech in the next week. Being able to articulate, even to yourself, that you are using Kahoot to increase engagement or Showbie because it tends to motivate students to complete their work is powerful. It will also open up the creative floodgates, and you'll soon be thinking of other ways to increase efficiency, engagement, and motivation in your classroom. Technology is a hook; don't be afraid to use it at whatever level works!

7. Leave Your Feedback Here! It's Anonymous!!

Blended Learning 3 -- Videos!!! (CMS Electives, 11.4.15)

1. Take Attendance

Use this link to get to the attendance sheet in Google Drive (clunky!), OR go find your attendance sheet in the STARRED DRIVE of your Google Drive (if you starred it!).

 2. Your Challenge From 10.28.15

Last week's challenge: Work today to start getting set up and challenge yourself to do something SMALL using your system. This way, you'll know what questions you have! So...? What questions do you have or what did you run into?

3. Moving A Step Forward -- Videos!

 One major reason for moving your classroom into the digital realm is so that you have a way to STORE and DELIVER video content easily to your students. Videos of lessons come in quite handy when a student has been absent or when a student needs more time with the content. Getting yourself set up digitally is HALF the battle. The other half is MAKING SOME VIDEOS!!

Our OBJECTIVE today is to understand a few video tools that are easy to use well enough so you can begin to create some of your own videos. We'll do this by looking at a teacher-made video using the iPad video camera and a Show Me video made with the Show Me app. If time allows, we'll quickly demo the Show Me app so you can get to creating!

4. Use the iPad Video Camera -- It Really Can BE That Simple!

Making a content video does NOT have to be difficult. Many teachers simply prop the iPad up close to the whiteboard and get started. Consider your very own Rachael Friess! What are the pros and cons of this type of video? What are some important tips to make these successful? Here's another example from Mr. Castro, DCHS.

5. Use a Whiteboard App

 Some teachers try to combat the "cons" of iPad videos by using a whiteboard app. There are many good apps out there, but one of the simplest to use is Show Me. Let's see what Show Me can do, and then you can decide if you want to download the Show Me app and/or set up a Show Me account on the laptop. Here's how one teacher uses Show Me to create content videos for academic vocabulary.

6. Your Challenge!

Play around with Show Me enough that you're comfortable making a short content video. Don't worry about it being perfect. Bring your video back to team time so we can learn from each other!

7. Want To Leave Feedback?

Do it here