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TIS and THAT Volume 3 Issue 4 Lauren Fuhrman, Ann Fodor, Katherine Veazey-Keener
Office 365 takes over for Access “Teaching in the Internet age means we must teach tomorrow’s skills today.” – Jennifer Fleming
What can you do with One Note? One Note is the place you can store everything! Collaborating, organizing, and sharing have never been more accessible. One Note offers 1 Terabyte of storage space to all those with a k12.wv.us domain.
Q: How can you create and share?
A: By choosing the create option on OneDrive in Office 365, you can develop original office works. A compacted and clean version of the familiar office allows users to comfortably create documents that can be shared with colleagues with a few clicks rather than uploading, editing, and resending. Also under the OneDrive tab, you can upload, sync, share, edit and manage documents and folders. Sharing and online access prevents numerous downloads when editing documents. Changes are saved in real time and can be continuously visited and edited by authors.
Across the state, educators and other state department employees are signing in to Office 365. Using Office 365 allows for many more opportunities as far as development, collaboration, and communication. Not to mention, with Office 365 each user receives five downloads of the latest version of Microsoft Office.
Lync…the New Conference call. Lync is one of the new features accessible with Office 365. Lync offers a way for video conference calling between colleagues. You can schedule a conference call with a person or group of colleagues in Office 365 under the calendar tab by creating a new event. Lync meetings can also be recorded for easy reference.
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 4
OCTOBER 2014
Technology Integration with Quick Response Codes What is a Quick Response (QR) Code? A Quick Response, or QR code, is a revolutionary bar code that can be scanned using a smartphone or smart device and many tablets and laptops. Free QR code reader apps are bountiful for both Android and iOS devices.
How can I use QR codes in my classroom? QR codes link to a variety of outlets including websites, SMS messages, YouTube videos, Google maps, the iTunes store, Dropbox, and many more. Teachers can link a website, deliver a virtual handout, post instructional videos, review games, and contact information for parents using QR codes. The possibilities for technology integration are countless. Students are engaged with the new technology. As 1:1 computing is on the rise, application with the virtual world is paramount. QR codes are a fun and novel vehicle for learning.
(Above: Students graphing inequalities using QR codes)
Testimonials “QR codes are a lot more engaging for the students because it involves them being more active in discovery learning (9th grade social studies teacher).” “QR codes prove to harvest an atmosphere for collaboration and engagement (10th grade math teacher).” “I like using QR codes in class. I learn better with technology (9th grade student).” Want to try to generate your own QR code? Below are a few free online QR code generators: http://www.qrstuff.com https://www.the-qrcode-generator.com http://qrcode.kaywa.com 2
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 4
OCTOBER 2014
The West Virginia Support for Personalized Learning (SPL) framework is a state-wide initiative that suggests flexible use of resources to provide relevant academic, social/emotional and or behavioral support to enhance learning for all students. SPL is characterized by seamless system of high quality instructional practices allowing all students to sustain significant progress, whether they are considered at-risk, exceeding grade-level expectations or at any point along the continuum.
SPL is about… • • • •
• • • • • • •
Every student in WV being educated through a seamless system of high quality Instruction that maximizes learning; Understanding that solutions to needs are context specific; Having rich conversations about students that put their performance into a personalized context; determining whether an identified need exists for one student, a small group of students, or a large group of students and using this knowledge to form the most appropriate instructional response; The individuals closest to each student, collecting pertinent data and actively participating In designing the most appropriate response; Utilizing a problem-solving process to analyze possible reasons for a student’s academic and/or behavioral needs and providing the most effective configuration of support; Envisioning and articulating viable expectations for every student; Identifying and manipulating the variables that influence a student’s performance. SPL needs to be as dynamic as students, changing in response to the needs of every individual. As a process, SPL will broaden and add flexibility to the approach we will use to provide the most appropriate instruction for every student in West Virginia.
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VOLUME 3 ISSUE 4
What is Blended Learning?
According to teachthough.com (http://tiny.cc/o2x7kx) blended learning is defined as combining classrooms with online education. Online education is used to enhance and supplement traditional classrooms. Blended learning is a collaboration of many unique and distinct levels of instruction. Universal Design and Differentiated Instruction are part of the blended learning process.
OCTOBER 2014
Teachers, Need Online Resources? Universal Design for Learning is a set of principles for curriculum development that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn. UDL provides a blueprint for creating instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments that work for everyone--not a single, one-size-fits-all solution but rather flexible approaches that can be customized and adjusted for individual needs. From: http://www.cast.org/udl/
Blended Learning Resources you can use today: http://tiny.cc/c1y7kx
Favorite Resources: Blended Learning Tool Kit: https://blended.online.ucf.edu/
There are many resources to create your own blended learning classroom. https://www.schoology.com/ https://www.sascurriculumpathways.com/portal/ https://learnzillion.com/free_resources This video explains the thought process behind blended learning within the classroom. There are also videos on how to set up a classroom, many ideas on different models, platforms to use and how it is working. http://www.blendmylearning.com/videos/
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