October 7, 2016

TIS & THAT Volume 5 Issue 5

October 2016

Jump in and discover leaves, flowers, or fruit this fall with Leafsnap, then check out these other apps!

Ashley S. Doty With this iPhone and iPad app students around the age of 8 and up can place a leaf on a white background

then "Snap it!" With the resulting picture, students can view a list of possible classification matches and further investigate the leaves, flower, stem, and bark of the possible leaves. Students can then label their answer with a swipe and click to label their choice. Images can be stored and viewed in the collection setting. Collections are not able to be shared electronically. Leafsnap could be utilized in all core subjects, physical education, or as a fun project at home. http://leafsnap.com/

Lazy Monster get the wiggles out With Halloween around the corner you may find anxious monsters daydreaming about

the sweets that will soon be amassed as they attempt work in class. Release pent up energy with Lazy Monster. Try the free version or unlock all the short workouts for about $5.00. Do a premade workout or let kids create their own. In the premade workouts, the orange monster leads an exercise for 10 – 30 seconds, everyone rests with the monster for 10 seconds, and then the cycle repeats with a new exercise.

Lazy

Monster is great year round for all ages, including adults. Difficulty can be adjusted, reminders can be set, and workout's can be logged. Burn off extra energy or those Halloween sweets! Lazy Monster in the iTunes Store

Storytime with Heckerty and Zanzibar Students up to 5th grade will enjoy Heckerty's first story, "Meet Heckerty."

Downloadable from Google Play or Apple's App Store this app will read, highlight, and show interactive pictures of Heckerty, a witch, and Zanzibar, her cat, on their life adventures teaching about acceptance and other life lessons. Other App books can be downloaded for $0.99 or in packs for up to $2.99. Heckerty stories also come in book and ebook format. Select stories are also shared on their Youtube site: Heckerty on Youtube.

https://heckerty.com/

Skype in the Classroom Learning in the modern classroom is changing. Many teachers are frustrated as the required or available assessments have not caught up with their efforts of upgrading to new forms of learning. Skype is one of the new technologies that is being used to connect classrooms globally. How do we assess students who are using Skype to connect on a global level?

What assessments are available for teachers to assess the learning of a Skype conversation? Let’s discuss the Matching technology with the student Image credit: http://www.hercampus.com/sites/default/files/2013/02/20/tech.png

taxonomy of a Skype conversation.

Video conferencing requires a new

Helping Students with Disabilities Using TechMatrix Megan Amos

set of skills for students in the modern classroom. Students need to develop and exhibit communication skills for collaborative purposes, exchange of specific content,

Are you looking for assistive and educational technology tools and resources

information, or to simply be able to

to support students with disabilities in the classroom? TechMatrix

articulate and communicate thoughts

(www.techmatrix.org) offers just that. TechMatrix uses search criteria that

and ideas. A good Skype

matches the content area and grade level with a students’ disability. This

conversation must be free-flowing.

resource allows a teacher to look for assistive technology or research related

The transitions between listening and

to the content area that he or she may be teaching in the classroom.

speaking must occur naturally and

Looking for products to help teach fractions to students with Autism? The

demonstrate a depth of

search yielded four possible matches. Fraction shape-up was the first match

understanding and knowledge being

returned which is a program that operates on Windows. This program helps

shared. There is an exchange of open

introduce fraction concepts to students and helps them develop skills necessary for understanding and working with fractions. The website lists

operating systems, grade level, and any category that the program would fall into.

When using the same criteria to look at research tech matrix gave five articles related to fractions and autism. Some of the articles are classroom studies that have been conducted using best practices for teaching the content area.

Scholarly articles are also used as a resource.

smoothly. The conversation must

ended questions and answers. The students can be humorous but it must be understood on both participating parties. When interacting on Skype, students must be aware of their body language. Their body language must be attentive, show confidence, convey politeness, friendliness, and interest.

The student must also maintain composure during the Skype call.

The TechMatrix is a product of the National Center for Technology

The ability to speak with others via

Innovation (NCTI). NCTI is operated by American Institutes for Research

video conference is a new

and is dedicated to improving the quality and integration of assistive and

set of skills required for

learning technologies to enhance the learning experience for students with

the modern classroom.

disabilities and their classmates.

Professional Development Opportunities At little to no cost Brenda Cooper As educators, we are required to take a certain amount of professional development hours. Instead of boring lecture type courses, why not enjoy learning about topics that will enhance your teaching and engage students. Graduate credit may be available. Who doesn’t like pay raises? The West Virginia Center for Professional Development is offering a year long course entitled Infusing Technology.

This year’s course has already started, be on the look-out for information on next year’s registration. Visit www.wvcpd.org and search Infusing Technology for more details. Graduate credit is available at the end of the

course if requirements are met. Examples of courses offered: - Digital Tools to Promote Family Engagement and Student Success - Technology Tools Every Teacher Needs - Digital Formative Assessment to Engage Your Students - Web Tools to Encourage and Support Reading and Writing - Digital Creativity and Collaboration to Enhance Student Projects The Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) offers a variety of professional development opportunities. For

a membership fee of $45 per year, you get access to 80+ hours of PD, have access to PD in robotics for educators, and offer a variety of certifications. Examples of courses offered: - Tech for Math October 12 @ 11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

- Curriculum Design October 17 @ 4:00 p.m.

- Library to Makerspace October 19 @ 11:45 a.m.

- Is It Trick or Treat? Web Tools Can Be Fun, Too! October 26 @ 11:45 am Edtechteacher.org offers free live webinars, innovative projects and lesson plans, technology tools by subject, and

app recommendations for mobile devices. A host of information all at the click of a mouse.

The Future is Now; Biometrics in the Classroom Phillip J. Rutherford

How many times have we as educators asked our students if they understood a concept; only to be answered by vacant stares and slowly nodding heads? How many times have we taught, and retaught, and reviewed a concept only find that a large portion of our class was unable to pass the assessment? Science may have the answer to monitoring student understanding in the form of biometrics.

Technology may soon be available that will utilize a variety of sensors to monitor everything from eye movement, body temperature, perspiration and pulse to determine a student’s level of engagement as well their understanding of concepts. This technology will give educators instant feedback as to how much time students were looking at the teacher, textbook, technology device, or other distractive elements to allow educators to refine their teaching to best engage individual students.

Biometric data sensors will also allow administration to track student movement in school facilities, from the time they get on the bus in the morning until the final bell at 3, perhaps improving overall school safety and discipline. Students can use biometric data to securely sign into technology, check out books or technology from the library, or even pay for their lunch.

How soon will this technology be available? Some sources say it take anywhere from five to fifteen years before we have full nationwide integration. Some school districts are already pioneering this technology this schoolyear in the form of “engagement pedometer� wristbands. Thanks in large part to investment by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, several schools around the country will be debuting these wristbands to try to ascertain their students level of engagement with the schools technology programs.

This new technology does have critics. Many claim that the constant monitoring of students is an invasion of privacy. Proponents of the technology argue that the possible benefits far outweigh the risks. Regardless of your stance, it looks as though this bit of science fiction may soon be science fact in a classroom near you.

Sources: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-12/news/sns-rt-us-usa-education-gatesbre85c018-20120612_1_gatesfoundation-veteran-english-teacher-teachers-feedback/2 http://www.storyleak.com/biometric-classroom-monitor -students-eye-movements-conversations/ https://katrinawirth.wordpress.com/tag/biometrics/ http://www.edutopia.org/blog/five-future-education-technologies-nick-grantham

Megan Amos has been a Special Education Teacher at Lumberport Elementary School for three years and has been teaching for eight years. She has an almost two-year-old son at home who is the absolute love of her life. She has been married to his daddy for five years, but has been together for fifteen years! She is currently working on her specialization in mathematics through Marshall University. She is excited to blend technology with her teaching this year!

Brenda Cooper is a 20 year veteran music teacher for Fayette County Schools. She is

currently assigned to Ansted Elementary School where she teaches general music to Pre-K through 5th Grades. Brenda has been married to her husband Chris for 19 years and together they have two beautiful daughters, Kaylee and Kendra. Brenda received her AA in Music Performance from Potomac State College of WVU. She then went on to Concord University where she completed her BS of Education in Music. Over the years, Brenda has directed many different bands and choirs, conducted private lessons, and worked in local churches providing music. She is currently a 2016-2017 TIS Candidate.

Ashley Doty is currently in her seventh year as a Physical Education teacher at McNinch Primary School in Moundsville, WV. She has her Master’s in Education, Technology Integration from West Liberty University and teaches dance and tumbling in her spare time.

Phillip Rutherford Phillip Rutherford has been an educator with OIEP for 12 years. He currently teaches science and special education at Barboursville School in Cabell County.

Contributors