April 25, 2016

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Volume 4, Issue 17

Technology Conferences to Research

Technology Conferences Teachers should strive to be lifelong learners. In the pursuit of being a lifelong learner, it is important to look outside of your current professional network and find other opportunities to increase your knowledge. Educational conferences are a great opportunity to increase knowledge and our state has a great one to attend that is packed full of information to increase your technology use in the classroom. There are also a ton of other education/technology conferences around the world that you may be interested in attending. If you cannot attend it is good to check out the website after the conference for any free materials.

Save the Date!

West Virginia Statewide Technology

July 19‐21, 2016 This conference will be held at The Waterfront Place Hotel & Morgantown Event Center, Morgantown, WV. Register online NOW at www.wvstc.com. Keynote speakers are Kelly Reddin of Lego Education and Apple Inc.

ISTE  June 26‐29 Denver, CO  The premier educational technology conference.  500 Companies, 1600 Educators, 1000 Sessions iNACOL  Oct. 25‐28 San Antonio, TX  Blended Learning and Online Learning Symposium BETT  Jan. 25‐28, 2017  Excel, London  World's largest EdTech conference.  30,000 attendees.

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 17

SPRING 2016

State Wide Testing It is that time of year again. The time when the sun is shining, the skies are blue, and all we want to do is be outside.

To go with that thought it is also when our students have to take their state tests. We as teachers are trying to come up with ways to review a year’s worth of learning, while also working to teach those last minute items. At this time of the year when our students’ minds are all outside, we have to come up with interesting ways to get and keep their attention.

The best way I have found to hold a student’s attention for test review is to play games. There are several online games and apps that are available for free. I will briefly

Prodigygame.com This is an online game and iOS app that reviews math concepts for grades 1st‐8th. A basic membership is free for all but students have the option to purchase an upgraded membership. You as the teacher can use the planner tool to set what the students will be working on and when. You can also make assignments that students must complete. The students answer math questions based on the skills you assign to battle creatures and each other. I have been using this in my classroom all year and all of my students have shown great improvement on their STAR tests.

Peekaboo Books

Peekaboo Book offers a small free trial of this program from grades 3‐6. The students are giving a passage to read and then take a test with several comprehension questions. If a student does not get the answer correct the app shows them the correct answer and highlights the evidence from the text. There are several pay for versions of this app for each grade. Peekaboo also has several vocabulary app for all grades 3rd and up.

Matific This is an iOS and android app. This app is free and has math concepts for grades kindergarten through 6th. There are several different games and activities that are available to the students. You can sort the activities by either curriculum or book. I have students work on this app during math stations. They pick a topic that they have struggled with or we are currently working on. The downside to this app is that it does not seem to explain to the child why they miss a question but rather gives stars for correctly answered questions.

OPEN eBooks

This app is a digital lending library. Schools that have a high low socioeconomic population or are serviced

by Title I can now get this app and books for free. The books are not read aloud, but it does offer a larger selection to the students, encouraging them to read a larger amount and a greater variety of texts. I have been able to use this with my students that struggle to find something to read on their own and I have seen a greater interest in independent reading. I have some students that will read more just because they want to read on the iPad rather than a real book.

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VOLUME 4, ISSUE 17

SPRING 2016

Digital Citizenship Certified Digital Safety at its best!

Student Instructional Plan

Becoming a Common Sense Digital Certified School is the perfect opportunity for your school to demonstrate your yearlong commitment to digital safety. Why not share what you are doing to teach digital citizenship? You still have time to meet the deadline of July 1, 2016.

The instructional plan includes instructing at least two grades in digital safety using Common Sense resources. Teachers can use curriculum lessons and/or interactives found on the Common Sense Media site. The more grade levels involves, the better. For example, if your school plan includes two grades, a minimum of five 45 minutes are required. If your plan involves three grade levels, a minimum of three 45 minutes lessons are required per grade.

Benefits Schools experience their greatest reward in knowing that they have taken the extra steps to ensure safe online behavior in the whole community. Once schools qualify as a Digital Citizenship Certified School, they receive a vinyl school banner along with a digital badge to display on their website. For full details, visit www.commonsense.org.

Instructors and Project Lead Staff delivering instruction needs to complete the online PD and help communicate the important message of good digital citizenship to the staff, student body, and community. When applying, you need to submit three examples of your effort, such as student work, lesson plans, or screenshots.

Requirements

Parent outreach Educate parents on cyber safety and cyber etiquette in three unique ways. Schools can engage parents and the community through the use of newsletters, parent nights, links on websites, or by training PTO leaders or parent coordinators. All material can be found on the Common Sense Media website.

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SPRING 2016

Best App of 2015 by Graphite Common Sense Media Seesaw: The Learning Journal As the end‐of‐year conferences begin, you may want to consider showcasing your student work in a digital portfolio. Seesaw: The Learning Journal organizes all student work in one place, creating a folder for each student. Students can independently document learning with photos, videos, drawings, text notes, and links to other online work.

How does Seesaw work? Seesaw generates a classroom QR code for students to scan, which takes them directly to the class. Once in the classroom journal, students can upload or create pictures or videos of their work. Seesaw can also be used as an interactive whiteboard where students draw and save representations of their thinking, recording their voices for more explanation. After students upload their work sample, they find their name from the class list to add the content to their folder. Once teachers approve the uploaded content, parents can access their child’s work.

 Safe and secure site where teachers choose who can access the work  QR code login no student usernames or passwords  Student friendly; suitable for any age  Great way to capture and revisit a Running Record of a student’s reading or a mathematical explanation  Can improve daily communication with parents  Free

Meet the Authors 

Popplet

Create graphic organizers that capture your ideas with text, drawing tools, and images.

Students can export graphics as a PDF or JPEG.

Kimberly Cook, Technology Integration Specialist, Nicholas County

Think 3D

Schools, kacook@k12.wv.us 



Upshur County, kgaunt@k12.wv.us

Create and interact with 3D shapes. Students can explore geometric measurement and learn about the characteristics of geometric solids.

Matthew Hicks, Special Education

Sculpt

Kimberly Gaunt, 2nd Grade Teacher in

Design 3D sculptures, paint your creation, and add details.

Once finished, you have the options to share, publish or 3D print.

Teacher in Jackson County, mhicks@k12.wv.us

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