Some Final Thoughts...

ISTE 2012 in San Diego was a very good conference. The weather was great, the food was great, and I learned some new things. In addition to the new things learned, I found many things that challenged my thinking or caused me to see from a different frame of reference. Most notably, was Tuesday’s keynote by Dr. Zhao. The whole idea that the true power in the American education system is innovation or creativity was a new perspective for me. It seems strange to me that other nations are trying to duplicate the “innovation” part of our system when all we generally hear about is the failures of our schools. Is it possible that all of this “high stakes assessment” is actually having a negative impact on the thing (innovation) where our students are world leaders? Clearly we need to investigate further so that we can be sure that our instruction has the highest level of rigor AND innovation possible.

Another final thought. I was a little concerned when I set up the blog. I wasn't sure how it would be received or how well it would work in the conference center. Looking back at it now, I’ve got to say… I’m very impressed with how it all came out. Everyone did a great job of blogging about sessions. The comments are also very good. I find that when you look at the blog as a whole, you get a good sense of the themes and value of the ISTE conference. Thanks to everyone for posting.

Jerry springer joined us in San Diego

SMART community learners

Students were exposed to Smart board lessons starting in kindergarten. Now in high school some of the students were offered a training in Smart and received their Smart certification. Although this was presented at high school level, when talking to the presenter he agreed that upper elementary students could create lessons. One idea was to ask students to take a lesson already taught that was not interactive and create their own interactive lesson or jigsaw the class, have them learn their content then make an interactive lesson to present.

Virtual field trips

Students first study and research subject matter using library, Internet, and then if possible interview a professional. The table is visited the students created their own School Safari. They researched animals using the library and the Internet, then they went to the zoo and interviewed zookeepers. From there they made a video to share this virtual field trip with others. Their presentation is bilingual! Great concept that could be used in different subjects. This would be a great way to use our community resources and partners in education.

DigitiZing Math Metacognition

This lecture was about ways to increase students' math problem solving skills through digital devices.

The presenter is from Illinois - I was meant to be here! I might I say, she was an absolutely captivating presenter!! I will be low on notes for this post as I was sucked in to her fabulous ideas. I've attached a photo with her info....this is place that I will frequent. I want to be a student in her class!!

Discussion highlights:
ways to help students find the path to the answer using technology.

Modeling Metacognition through videos
Differentiation through technology
Flipping the classroom
Shifting from teacher centered to student centered
Screen casting your lessons
Exit tickets using google forum
Using Skype to discuss math solutions to shared problems
Dan Meyer
Authentic math inquiry

Encouraged the use of FaceTime for the students to converse across states, globally.

Math academics
Mentor mob

Edmodo - silent discussions, feels safer to say things. Differentiated safe way to assignments

I am so pleased I went to this discussion!

George....Ignite 2012

Here we go! 1) if you go back and do nothing things will not get any better and may get worse. 2) digital delivery, gamification, customization, providing choice, rapid innovation and adaption, use brain science, employ open source, move to succes based education, move to test when ready methodology, 3) we are educators...we start from what we know and we move from there...we scaffold. What does your behavior say about your belief in the use of technology. Www.techwithintent.com 4) text compactor. Free website where ou can paste in text and then condense it to its essentials...it becomes dynamically written. Great use for Sped and other struggling readers.....this is good 5) Invisible Hearts Project. Collecting pictures of students who are committed to anti-bullying by making a heart out of your hands...great project check out website invisible heart 6) remind 101. Communicate safely with students Free apps through educreations 7) design thinking. Use the process to help problem solve and develop solutions to issues. Google design thinking 8) students would fill in the sheets. Now I just tell them what do waves do and they need to figure that out! EdTechInnovators. 9) Use Technology as a thinking tool. Voice thread...stay inspired. You can't inspire if you are not inspired. Fable vision Another great session lots of cool ideas....stuff to think about On the four hour plane ride home!

NR. Ignite

Give permission to play but be responsible to participate and contribute.

Resources for struggling readers
Simple wikipedia
Text compactor - text copy and paste to scale amount of text

Social Media- Invisible Hearts Project - students collaborate to send positive messages

Remind 101 - free texting tool
Educreations - white board flip lessons
Classconnect - all resources stored and shared
Design thinking - challenges and resources framed to generate ideas and develop a prototype - edutopia

See technology as a thinking tool
Students need a connection to an audience

Stay inspired, get out of your comfort zone!

Tom ignite

Increase engagement through gaming with levels and badges Personalization through choices and rapid innovation. The curriculum will be updated to include brain research. Intersection of real world and the digital world. We are all perpetual beginners. what is your relationship with technology? What does your behavior With technology say about your belief system. Text compactor- is a free website to compact the text. Text compactor is awesome and our teachers need to know it and use it, especially dual language kids. Changing the lense. Marzanno strategies linguistic, cooperative grouping and oncept maps. The invisible heart project is neat way to deal with bullies. Big projects need big help. EDUCreations white board app. ClassConnect- find lessons and links and share and search for content. Class dojo is a free app to collect information on students. Design Thinking- think like designers, discovery, inspiration, frame opportunities, ideation, build the experience. Edutopiatopia.org Don't worry be vague. Set and move target. Play the game between the kids want to get as and the teachers ant the kids to show the what they know. Students need to make a choice on how they show what they know. Allison White. Igniting creativity with staff and students. Authentic audience, social interaction, alternative expressions, multiple ways to show how they are thinking and learning. A very good session lots of information. A bit overwhelming. Stay inspired and get out of our comfort zone!

I sat through the ELMO presentation. I like how it worked with the response clickers. There were several

Kelly Birds On a wire wikispaces

Creative ways in which to incorporate technology and language arts skills. I loved how the students in this presentation conferred with an avatar to help edit their written work. My students would love this! Check out the site.

Nancy H . Birds on a wire wikispaces

Very interesting session on how to tie reading into producing videos so kids can learn literacy in a fun way.working with the library media specialists on various projects. Blabberize and voki implemented along with this....great site with videos that explain various reading strategies. Birdsonawire.wikispaces.com

Kelly Dr. Yong Zhao

I appreciated Dr. Zhao's presentation this morning. His take on the direction education is taking in America is right on! I don't care what anyone says, I do feel America has the best educational system in the world! We educate all students and build their confidence, too!

Nancy H IPAD Revolution Innovative Learning in the classroom

One of the best sessions which addressed using iPads in the classroom and demonstrated the apps out there. Using iPads with autistic children And special needs was heart warming how much better they are able to communicate and learn.

Technology and the Common Core State Standards

This session began with a discussion of the history of common core standards. The presenter provided several examples of technology included in the standards. Some of the content was specific to California but other parts apply to other states. Part of the discussion was related to the assessments. For California, the assessment is the Smarter Balanced Assessment. Illinois is part of the PARC assessment group. While there are two different assessment groups, the same challenges are faced by both. Technology is one important challenge to consider. Do we have enough computers? Do they meet the minimum specs? Do we have enough bandwidth?

SBAC is adaptive. PARRC is not adaptive.

NR. Technology and the Common Core

I am surprised how many in the audience know little about the common core! This is the first time technology expectations are embedded in standards education

CCS : Writing -Highlights

Use tech to produce and publish writing

Use Internet to collaborate with others

Demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills- type a minimum of 2-3 pages in a single setting

PARCC assessment items will use multimedia content.

Does ISBE have an IT readiness tool to collect current district tech level required for PARCC administration?

NR Poster. Art as a Primary

Great resource to integrate social studies,literacy and art.

Smithsonian Art Museum

Primary Sources

Http://americanart.si.edu/education/resources/guides

NR. Poster Session. Using visuals to deepen learning in assessments

Check out http://visual assessments.wikispaces.com

Take your current social studies assessments and edit them with visuals and defined questions to reach higher order thinking skills.

The many faces of the flipped classroom

A panel of 3 groups of teachers discussed .....
What the heck is flipped learning?
What's the best use of your face to face class time ?
Www.flippedlearning.com is a resource from one of the panel of teachers. (this guy was good - I bet this would be a useful resource).

A flipped classroom is a more efficient use of time for the students. It allows the teacher to hear more from the students.

A panel member felt that Students first exposure to new content shouldn't be given from the teacher. They should create and discover first. Getting the perplexed and confused at the beginning in turn can deepen their learning.

Definition of flipped classroom - letting students learn at their own pace- it allows students to guide the pace.

Key benefits
Flipped classrooms ensure that we are meeting the students needs. Learning is maximized.

A separate panel of teachers felt that frontloading with videos is a beginning step for a flipped classroom model. For example, In the English classroom, frontload t literature information before working with the teacher. This allows students to to pace themselves, pause, listen again, comment and process before the lessons lead by the teacher. It sounds very ENGAGING!!!

Professional development model
Teachers are sent videos on how to use a tool..... Then when the meeting occurs, it is time to discuss WHAT to do with the tools.
Videos should be typically short. A suggestion for time to take to view a video would be double of the video time. A student should allow 20 minutes for a 10 minute video to ensure the expectation of processing, thinking, reviewing, responding.

Benefits of a flipped classroom:
Individualizing the classroom
Reducing stress
Taking more risks for teaching
Student owns the learning
Closing the achievement gap
Empowers students to be problem solvers

My thoughts: the teacher needs to get comfortable with the feeling of control dispersing out to the students. From there, the teacher can scaffold learning and support the diverse, widespread range of abilities and needs that we all see in our classrooms!!

NR. The Flipped Classroom

What is the best use of teacher face to face time? Videos or other resources are used to pre-teach concepts freeing up teacher face to face time for more individualized learning. No more lectures!

A flip classroom hears more from the students.

Higher end of Blooms happens in collaborative learning. Lower end of Blooms happens in independent learning.

Students first interaction with information does not come from the teacher.

Identify what is good direct instruction.
Front load direct instruction (videos etc) whenever possible. Videos are helpful to parents for home support.

PD: Front load videos for teacher learning.

Embed inquiry to raise student interest and motivation and then front load videos to build background knowledge.

Flipping is just not about using videos - it is flipping the role of teacher and student with the learning process.

Tools are Cool but Leadership is Essential

Our view is predicated by the hat we are wearing during the conversation we are having. The tyranny of the unguents forces us to wear the hat we don't want to wear to often. We should be then CLO Chief Learning Officer. It less about staying ahead and more about moving forward. Perspective pedogogy and Practice Critical thinking, use and apply information you cannot google the answer Creativity, making unforeseen connections generating new applications and draw from different sources. Innovation, the application Of creativity. Literacies, students will be a able to access information in digital formats. Perspective Advocate- supporter, run interference on behalf of the teachers. Take to ownership and say I need this for faculty and staff and celebrate their efforts. Model- do we model in our faculty meetings. We need to use the tools we learned here. Share our learning curve. Be transparent. Just time learning. Mentor- this is about relationships. Focus on the willing. Coach- go in and help. Willing to go in and learn. Pedagogy Chose a variety of paths to get to the end goal. Have clear objectives. dig down to get to the essential. If we get to creativity and critical thinking. Learning opportunities that tech opens up. We have to create time. Practice What is it that students are going to know or be able to do? Not a lot new in this workshop. This was directed for experienced administrators but it was the basics of leadership. She didnt source her research

BYOD

This session was about allowing kids to use their own devices for learning. The presenter described a three year plan for rollout. He reported that the technology is the easy part. He discussed other key elements like communication, policy, and strategic technical options. There were some basic recommendations but it was mostly related to his district. I think BYOD will become more wide-spread in the next couple of years.

George- The Exhibit Hall

Check out the photo of our former Assistant Principal soon to be Principal of East Lyden High School, Jason Markey presenting his schools one to one computing with Google Chromebooks. Exciting adventure for him and a great resource for us as we move toward becoming a Google App district.

Met up with some people from Belikin and discussed iPad keyboards and cases for classrooms. Also met with a the people who designed our old handheld observation tool and found out that we can upgrade to their new system for a reasonable cost. We can do our Walkthroughs, teacher observations, principal observations, and other types of observations though the device. It is an inexpensive upgrade, $25 per device!

George. Keynote 2

Schooling needs to enhance the individual talent and enhance their strength. So, I think he is saying good teaching will take care of the standards by themselves. A real good teacher can teach students what they need to learn as well as allow them to grow as an individual It is my job as an administrator to create an environment that provides teachers with the professional learning and an environment that allows them to do just that. It is not a matter of should I teach skills or hold students accountable for learning certain things at the expense of helping them develop as individuals. Those two concepts are not at odds with each other. It is the balance ....the Zen.....of who we are as teachers that will allow students to "Embrace Their Chopsticks".

Terrific tools for teaching with Bloom's Taxonomy

Tools4blooms.weebly.com

This was a fast- paced session with a slough of fantastic websites and apps to use. The presenters started at Top of the revised version of blooms- creating. Here is a list with some descriptions of all the wonderful sites and apps to use in the classroom. Lots of info crammed in.....

Www.doink.com
Looks like paint. Students can draw their own cartoons to illustrate a concept. Example given was an erupting volcano.

Www.aviary.com
Edit images, create music to incorporate in projects. Many free music apps could be used too.

Storybird
Great with supporting creativity with writing. Lots of examples on the site.

App for iPad/websites :story kit ,story robe, toontastic, pimpampum, voice thread

Educreations
Turns your laptop into whiteboard

Evaluating
Shares back
Toonlet - students can create a cartoon and teacher can reply
Shelfari - spend a little bit of time with several books, create a book club, gets students excited about reading and sharing their opinions, helps students realize their opinions matter
Puppet pal hd app- students can make characters debate

Web conferencing

Analysis
Slide rocket
Quiz snack
Scale of the universe 2- great tool to lead to analysis. SUPER COOL!!!!!

Tiki-toki -make timelines with your students

Wordless - tagxedo - cut and paste information to get main idea, pit research papers

Popplet - app available
Idea sketch
Createagraph
Word sift
Wise mapper
Mindset on the iPad

Applying
Thing link
Creaza-mind mapping, you can create an account, you can create a cartoonists, add text bubbles, movie editor, audio editor - all free

I civics- you have to take information you know to play a game with your wealth of knowledge- students can simulate being the president, etc.

Glogster
Skitch
I motion hd

Understanding

Providing information for students by students
Understood it
Open culture - 500 free online courses
Quicklyst - organization note taking tools
Time maps- talking about history, civilizations have changed over time
Gap minder
Wikia
QWiki
Wolfram alpha
Geo walk

Remembering
Ixl
Quizlet
Lino - colorful post its
Word dynamo
Iprizewheel
Cork board.me

Terrific Tools for Teaching with Bloom's taxonomy

This was an interesting session. They went through each area of Blooms and brought us to web sources that can be used when teaching this part of Blooms. I thought Creaza and Aviary were especially strong tools. I also liked Tagxedo instead of Woordle. It does the same as Wordle but the cloud it makes is a specific shape. It was a lot of sites and apps in a short amount of time. They have an online site with links to each area of Blooms. Tools4bloom@weebly.com.

Web tools to make your classroom rock!

Presenter: Adam Bellow 42 million new websites since 2011------WOW!!!!!!! Have you seen them all? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ a word of advice: "Try 1 new thing 1 at a time if it doesn't work move on......" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Below is the site where the presenter put all the tools discussed in the session EduTecher.symbaloo.com Cool things to look into: Aww - a web whiteboard Mentimeter - instead of expensive 'clicker' systems Thinglink Schoology - social network for schools; similar to edmodo Tildee - how to pages- very helpful tool for helping staff with new tech tools Thinkbinder - way for students to collaborate with each other WeVideo - web movie maker it gets stored in cloud: collaborative more then one kid can be on it at once - use it from anywhere Present.me - presentation tool really neat: can help students review a lesson or see a lesson if there absent. Showme - another tool to present Synch tube Ujam Futureme.org - this is really cool check this out! Do you like pinterest? Check out educlipper So many cool things out there!

Keynote tom

I thought the keynote was very good! I really enjoyed the data between US and Chinia schools. I love the line a out how creativity can be destroyed and the fact that we do a good job building confidence in our kids. I really think that we are doing a great job with tolerance in our country and celebrating the differences people bring to the table. I agree that once we standardize the curriculum we are narrowing what it is that kids are capable of. In this era of explosive creativity if we standardize the content we will reduce the amount of time teachers can focus on 21st Century skills. Very thought provoking.

Fusing Library and Technology

Everyone is responsible for online behavior, teacher, student, LMS, parents.
Maybe we need to rethink the language we use. Do students really understand bullying? Need to use more than words. Develop empathy. (we could do this through our 8 keys)
Show digital citizenship through literacy. Several books were sited that deal with digital citizenship- Nim's Island and Operation Redwood.

When in doubt Communicate!

http://sfsanimalresearch.pbworks.com/w/page/26296452/ISTE%20Library-Tech%20Session

Dr. Yong Zhao in the house!

When organizations collaborate KIDS WIN! That's what it is all about--KIDS! Dr. Zhao spoke of how, in education, we are lost! We don't really know what the purpose of education is. "You have to know where you're going with it!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What matters most, scores or confidence? Interesting statistics between U.S and Asia Do we embrace Tolerance? - Creativity can't be taught but it can be destroyed! Resources- do we use in the way to increase creativity? ARE WE HEADED InTO AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP ORIENTED EDUCATION?

George - Using Google with Marzano Strategies that Work

Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works. 2nd edition to come out soon. Google Forms Google Moderator...(this is new) it is an online polling tool. Google Sites. Can be used as an online portfolio for students to up load their work. Check out this demo of using Google Docs and other apps for a student running for class president... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo_o5mjUSio&feature=youtube_gdata_player Example of a way to use Google Docs with an engire class....Have students subscribe to your Google Doc and then provide them with a task to do collaboratively. He gave an example of using Martin Luther King I Have A Dream speech where students collaboratively found metaphors and then explained them as a class. Once finished, he had the class review what was done and correct errors collaboratively. Google Drawing. Use it to set up a graphic organizer. Have students save to the cloud and present to the class. Google presentation. Students share presentations to the class and the watch the presentation and provide feedback to grade the presentation with a rubric. Google classroom lessons and resources...a great tool for helping students understand search tools Google Apps Education Training Center..self paced training. Google Science Fair We need to do this with out students. Maybe have Gifted teachers start and test it out.

I am at the Google Booth It is very informative. Lots about Google Chrome. I also liked the digital story telling section with anime. We learned a lot about Google drive. Stupaflyx is a great film editing site.

Students present at ISTE too!!

I absolutely love that the one, most important reason why we are all here -the students- are presenting to us!!

NR. Beyond Googling - Building a culture of Inquiry

Inquiry - not asking questions you already know the answer to. It is not just asking questions, inquiry is a process

Inquiry
Research
Collaboration
Presentation
Reflection

Inquiry involves choice, personalization (what we care to learn about) relevance, empowerment.

How is empowerment different than engagement?

inquiry - helps students ask powerful questions of their own design

How can we take the content we are responsible to teach and shift it as a inquiry process?

NR. Empathy. 21st Century Skill

Alan November - November Learning

Change filtering policy to support district's mission - interesting! Is this an area we need to review to support digital learning?

Don' t teach content for the first 5 days of school - teach how to search using Google.

Eli parser - youtube -Beware of filter bubbles - Ted Talk

Empathy - value others points of view. We need to teach kids how to access the other point of view We have the ability to connect kids with authentic conversations from around the world.

Twitter as a search engine? Twitter offers us the opportunity to become global communicators.

Resource: ePals - where learners connect

Schools libraries should be the hub for global communications! Jodie - what do you think?

Teach Students the Way They Learn

Teach Students the Way They Learn: Instructional Strategies Plugged and Unplugged

Presenter: Lori Elliott

Description - using social media to bring the real world into the classroom even if you have limited technology. Simple free or cheap tools...

The presenter started with a nice example of how things have changed with social media. Then she talked about differences between generations and the implications for the classroom.

Top 5 Implications

Use lots of visuals
Use games and challenges
Provide constant feedback and scaffold lessons
Include lots of socialization and movement
Make learning real and use digital tools

"learning needs to be real, not just relevant"

Showed cool photo tool photopeach - can make slide show, annotate it, and turn it into a quiz.

Nuseum website shows the front page of newspapers throughout the world. Has a map showing the publishing cities (requires flash) or you can see the front pages in a gallery.

URL: http://lorislatestlinks.com (requires flash, won't work on iPad); http://pics4learning.com; http://photopeach.com;http://newseum.com;

George - Assessing 21st Century Skills

Microsoft, Intel, and the University of Oregon are working on a way to measure 21st Century skills such as the collaborative problem solving process. Quality assessments need to be develod using the 80/20 ruless Developing a better way to measure 21st century skills and tasks for students. Using gaming strategies as a way to measure 21st century skills Using gaming algorithms to match up skills. 80% of time we fail in games. How to develop a gaming situation that allows us to measure up what is needed to be successful to demonstrate a 21st century skills. Fascinating....new assessments will look like simulation games and collaborative problem solving scenarios where skills will be used I concert and not isolation. Video on the vision of what the future holds for students currently in the 5th grade will eerie nice when they graduate from high school. Www.microsoft.com/office/labs Click on the link future vision. Data needs to be in the hands of the people who need it the most. The students! How do we get student achievement data in the hands of the students in a way they will understand it and use it to help them move forward.

3 creative ipad apps for the classroom

GarageBand
iMovie
Flip it

Flip it was fun and reminded me of stop motion animation. Students can draw out a concept, add color for effects, and then play it like a movie for final effect. Could be a creative way to assess understanding of a concept?... I could envision solving math problems step by step.....long division,etc. Science concepts too could be illustrated. It is free!

IMovie -what a cool way for students to create videos....a really exciting idea was students can create a book trailer to entice others to read it! There is a charge for the app.

GarageBand - adding background music to the movies....addicting. THere is a Charge for the app.

Nancy H Glogster.EDU

I think the kids would love using this for online posters and it follows them from year to year like a portfolio.

Teachers can load rubrics goals and timelines for expectations.
They can also download videos and parents can view it as teachers we have the choice to make it public.


It does have a $2 per student cost.

It is engaging for students!

Vicki - Pathway to Technology Integration

The power of online professional development: A Panel Discussion

Purpose is to change teacher practice through online professional development about technology integration. They created a model of PD in the county through online collaboration. Below gives an outline of the PD plan.

Module1 building knowledge and skills
-Focus on what is 21st century
learning?
-what does it look like?

Module2 Setting goals
- Created goals; similar to a action
research project
- created online
portfolios/website/web
2.0/discussion forums between all
teachers
- teachers functioned as a PLC
through online PD

Module3 21st century skills in action
- put their goals into action
- documented their journey online
tools

Module4 Reflecting for change
- took teacher action plans and put
them into ebooks available for
anyone


Used moodle, google docs, web 2.0 for communicating and collaborating between teachers

Key to making it work:

-Finding a colleague on the same page

-Failure leads to success

-Willingness to drop your teaching style for the betterment of your classroom

-Consistent support and communication from all participants

-Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate

Results:
-Student centered; roles have changed
-Increased student motivation and engagement
-Increased PBL
-Differentiation increased
-21st century skills

My goal:
I would really like to work on creating a place for teachers to collaborate and find resources between each other easily... I have began to work on creating a for the building but need more time to play and learn how to make it user friendly and motivational! Feel free to offer to help me :))

Something funny happened on the way to the future

The best times and the very worst of times.

It used to be about how we present information but now it is about how we interact with information. We live and teach in a ridiculous and amazing time buuut there are a lot of obsticals. Presenter thinks schools sucks the fun out of learning.

7200! Kids drop out of school each day. 400 kids an hour.

We have made school standard and very vanilla. Presenter EVERY STUDENT NEEDS TO BAVE AN IEP. we tell students what not to do and never tell them what to do. We need to start breaking the rules.

Standardized testing and common core standards mcdonaldize education and makes everything very vanilla. The charge president Obama has chareged us to make is to make education interesting.

He talked several minutes about Sal Kahn and how it is false advertising. Anybody who could be replaced by a robot should.

We need to empower the students to ask and answer their on questions. Cell phones are not toys they are tools The presentor talks for several minutes on why we should use Facebook as a tool Solutions Never ever say I'm just a teacher one bad apple spoils the bunch so stop being negative. Superman is never coming and we are the army to save the world. And so,let's do something. It is not about us it is about the students. GAC factor. Give a crap Talk less and do more Flip the classroom. Have kids produce. Training is essential and we need to do the staff development. You don't have to be superman but we can change the world.

Kelly Mobile devices in the classroom

Some snippets from a session on how to use mobile devices in the classroom:
Let the students decide which mobile device works best for them. Some students might prefer a laptop over an iPad - so give them the choice!

Make sure the device the student is using is responsive. What a turnoff it is for a student to have a tech tool that does not cooperate. We have all been there!

Students need to have access to mobile devices throughout the school day. How nice would it be for a student to be able to research a question they may have about a story they are listening to during a read aloud.

All things we need to keep in mind during the school day:)

Engage with Edmodo in the elementary classroom

There is a code to join the 2012 Edmodo group: 31mqzu

Connect also with the presenter, 3rd grade teacher/edtech cheerleader, Jennifer Bond.

Lots of basic information on what Edmodo can do, how to set up for students and parents. Also discussed best practices for safe networking.

Parents can connect to see their child's interaction on Edmodo and also the grade book for their child.

There is a relatively new quiz feature along with assignments, polls. In addition, There is a library feature to create files to organize and share with others on Google.docs adds easily into the edmodo library.

Edmodo communities is a nice tool to enter into and extend professional learning communities.

THe teacher can set up several groups to be a part of as long as keeping track of an assignment calendar.

Possible assignments:
Posting Student videos
Posting Pictures of different polygons/geometric shapes
Take pictures through science experiments for observation
Polls
Quiz
Teacher can embed a video for student viewing and reflections

Recommended to use the zapd app for aiding at home Edmodo use.

One more bonus of edmodo: If a student is absent, s/he can still feel connected by logging in from anywhere with internet access.

George. Google App Slam

This is a great session. Lots of fun stuff we can do with the Google tools. One of the things just discussed was doing running records using Google Voice. A real cool idea. Also, using Google sites you can do away with the typical poster board presentation and have students create a web page instead... Here is the link to their presentation it is worth checking out...check out the link Jerry posted. It's worth your time.

GTC Google Slam

This was a good session with loads of great ideas!!!! Take a look at the following link...


https://sites.google.com/site/iste2012slam/home/presentation-schedule

Mobile Devices

Interesting session on how mobile devices are used in the classroom and how area Chicago public schools are using them and finding great results with student learning and in poster section seeing all sorts of educational ideas

Expo-Tom

In the expo I spent some time with Dell and SMART. During one of the round tables I talked to Google CHROME and they were trying to sell us the chrome book. I talked to Dell about the Lattitude and how it compares to the Chrome book. They confined because of the investment we already have in the Lattitude that we would be unwise to go to something new. I also got to pilot the Lattitude ST tablet with Windows 8. I really wish this was out when we purchased our iPads it coincides with our net books much better than the iPad. The SMART boards with the built in projectors are reallyne way to go. Too bad we spent all that money to hang projectors in our classrooms. It is so tough to keep up with all of the latest tech.

Learn Now Lecture Later-Tom

The last post from Jodie was me. Silly iPad This session was really about a lot of the things that we are doing. Many of the attendees The final reccomenations from the research are Get to the heart of what stud es and faculty want Consider how to incorporate Different learning modules Explore new technology and how it can support student learning. Allow time for staff development and hire more technology coaches.

Learn Now Lecture Later

This was a panel of superintendents and IT directors. Many of the schools are one to one schools. They talked about the reasons they moved to one to one and the benefits their schools have gained. They talked about hiring coaches and professional development and to get rid of the technicians. They also talked about that at contract time it is must to negotiate one hour after school each day for teachers to meet and collaborate.

The schools that were most successful extended the school day for teachers and students. It was interesting that the success was very much tied to the coaches they hired and what they calls elbow to elbow pd.

They also talked about cloud control and personalization and the use of a virtual server to get the universal apps out. They said at storage is not an issue because of Dropbox and other similar storage devices.

Finally they talked about the importance of engaging parents in the process.

Nancy R. Web connected Minds

Connectedness,constructivist learning and brain plasticity

How do we employ technology to take advantage of the positive aspects of brain plasticity (rewiring)

Mental practice alters the brain

We remain largely ignorant of how the Internet is changing us
How do you feel about this statement?

are we digitally altering our brains?
Brain friendly learning attributes are most important in creating healthy neuroplasticity: cognitive engagement repetition and social feedback are critical attributes needed in the classroom

Evidence of learning shared with an audience is constructivist learning. What is the connection between the common core standards and constructivist learning?

Check out ipopp.org. Brain friendly classrooms using global social networking to construct learning. Peer feedback is critical to brain development and learning.

Vicki - expo area

Found great resources through PBS kids which are free and aligned to the CCSS. Great parent resources also. Tools are geared toward early elementary aged students.

Very excited about the new app to improve fine motor skills called: Dexteria - I was able to try it out and it was awesome. It also collects data on each child uses it. The cost is $9.99 per app a little pricey but I think it will be a great fine motor practice tools for students. I will be purchasing this appfir Dean! They gave me a redemption code so if you would like to try it out I have it on my iPad!!


More to come a little overwhelmed!

Vicki- Google Earth Across the Curriculum

Handouts will be uploaded to ISTE website if you are interested.

Presenters: JoBea Holt & Kim Bernard
Time: Monday June 25

Food for Thought:

While waiting for the presenter to begin sat next to a fourth grade teacher from LA who's school has 1;1 laptop for 3-5 and 2:1 iPads for 1st & 2nd. The laptops are take home also. Picked her brain on the do's and don't. One piece of advice (which turned out to be more than one piece): there needs to be common language and procedures on usage, consequences, parent understanding of purpose and clear expectations for teachers "teachers should never use the laptop as a behavior tool!" Some good advice to discuss for plans in year 2 of low cost laptop implementation.

On to the workshop thoughts:

Two key things:
1: Know the tools
2: Know the Earth

There was a sales pitch for their books "Google Earth in the Classroom" there are three books for various levels.

Part 1 of book
- understanding Google earth
Part 2 of book
- how to use google earth in curriculum areas
Part 3 of book
- interdisciplinary areas of focus

Participated in a lesson:
Measuring America
- lesson is designed to integrate math some skills were
-identifying geometric shapes
- measurement using Google Earth Tools
- problem solving
-word problems

Very engaging, hands on but as a teacher you need to be well versed with all the various tools on Google Earth

The teacher resource book is $24.99 ; however there are free resources at the below website for teachers that include lesson plans created by other teachers

http://sitescontent.google.com/google-earth-for-educators/

Overall: Google Earth is a great, engaging tool for students that can be utilized as an individual tool, small group and whole classroom!

Mimio

Learned how to be more comfortable using my mimio pad in the classroom. Also, so encouraged to work with and download thousands of free already made mimio lessons at mimio connect.com. I immediately found a math lesson to use.

Podcast

Great ideas. News cast, principals corner, curriculum units - post on YouTube. May be a great way to do classroom news letters or school newsletters. This ties in with another show case using video to increase student learning and scores. Scores went up an average of 28 percent when using student made movies over just lectures.

Monday Session 1

Monday Session One

Session Title: brain Research Concerning Learning and Literacy in Today's Information Age

Presenter: Peter Scott

Description: This session is about connecting brain research for literacy & learning.

Highlights:

Showed an app called "access my library" This looks like it could be a cool tool for the iPads.

Discussed some basic brain research data... Nobody is good at multi-tasking, top ten things that engage students, selective vision, etc.

Top Ten
Working with peers
Working with technology
Connecting to the real world -PBL
Showing your passion for teaching and content
Get me out of my seat
Bring in visuals
Student choice
Understand the end user
Mix it up
Be human - have fun

Showed video "the invisible gorilla" to illustrate selective vision.

App - access my library

URLs - http://www.theinvisiblegorilla.com/. http://thefuntheory.com

Voice Thread

This is an app and a free website that sounds great for developing student writing and thoughts. Used in second language classrooms.

Chrome books

Had never seen one before. SC school district has 1200 chrome books which are replacing their net books. They have found these to be more durable than iPads. Chrome book is a browser with 16 gb. I would love to try one of these. This district has made the switch from group wise to gmail. Students have their own accounts

Internet safety

Kentucky students used Netsmarts to develop their own Internet safety program. Student driven, great ideas.

Cooking up literacy

New website, a rather long html, I might add, where you can find a collection of tried and true classroom technology recipes to build literacy.

They gave me a free one year subscription to spelling city too! Woot-woot!!!!!

Using technology to improve teaching elementary mathematics

We are at the elementary math with tech. Math landing introduces a strong foundation.

Www.mathlanding.org

This a great free place to go for teaching math - a gateway if you will. All resources found on this site are aligned with NCTM and the common core standards. It is easy to search by standard, topic or grade level. Once you search, there are several online resources ready for you to click on and use with your students. This site seems easy to use and a bit refreshing for the teacher who is worried about the time it takes to search online for appropriate online resources.
A teacher can create private or public groups in mathlanding. In the group, the teacher can save the resources they searched and want to keep handy in folders. In addition, other teachers can join the online group created and share. This would be a great way to collaborate with our plc's. Assessments can be saved in the folder created - again an easy way to collaborate and be on the same page with your Plc.

George- Ignite

1) infinite thinking.org. If you can find it in two minutes in the web, don't test it. Webshow sponsored by CUE. Teachers integrating technology.

2) Creative writing stories recorded on iPad/ipad as dramatic radio stories.

3) sticker attached to laptop that when removed it says stolen property! Joplin MO story....incredible!

4) performing skits turned into movies. Students enacted to do better because performance was for real people and not just the teacher. Nextvista.org

5) What if thinking? Change from yeah but thinking.

6) mentor mob.org. Web 3.0. Organizing information and helping make sense of all the information. Check out the website...it looks interesting.

7) Get off the testing train and teach the tests concepts in innovative and engaging ways. Not just test prep.

8) Will technology improve the learning gap between rich and poor? It is actually a rising tide where the rich get richer. More affluent communities take advantage and integrate more completely. Thereby getting bigger bang for the buck with technology than lower income schools. Justin Reich. EdTech Teacher

9) 19 bold ideas. Need to find the deck for this to share with others.

10) Buck Institute for Education. new media www.bie.org. Project based learning site and repository of ideas.

11) Start story telling by giving student a joke. Movie making. Edcamp? You are not creating Spielbergs!! Project based learning never look for perfection it doesn't exist!

We are at the elementary math with tech. Math landing introduces a strong foundation.

Conference Kickoff Celebration

Listening to last evening's keynote speaker, Sir Ken Robinson and guest speaker, Marc Prensky only reaffirmed my feelings about how much standardization of schools has taken away the freedom and creativity of the educator. It is important for teachers to instruct in a manner that is meaningful and beneficial for their students and not let test scores narrow our focus of the curriculum. Technology is the tool that will help us expand our students world.

Nancy R Key Note Thoughts

Growth with learning does not occur without a loss of confidence- teacher and student alike when using new technology.

Face the loss of confidence through different questions because technology enables personalized learning.

How can teachers have all the answers when the Internet is involved?

How and when are students questions indicators of their passions?

George- Q & A after the Keynote

There are more allowances for creativity in the current system than we realize. We need to take advantage of the ability to be more creative and flexible with the current system.

How can I take what you need to do and help you see it through your eyes?

It not a matter of everyone just doing what they want. It's a matter of doing what they need in a way that the learner sees personal relevance that ignites their passion for finding out more.

George Keynote Sir Ken Robinson

My key takeaways.....

Technology has the ability to allow students to learn and find their passion.

Machines don't have passion or empathy. Passion leads to achievement.

Teachers need to listen, respect, and succumb to digital wisdom.

Engagement... How does personalization enhance engagement and how do you use technology?

Great education has always meant group work and collaboration. Technology is a way to allow us to personalize the great educational strategies in order to touch the individual passion of students.

So....here are my thoughts....how do you balance the skills that need to be taught in order to help the student be able to find their passion? Kids need to know how to read, communicate ideas, and work with numbers in order for their minds to be released to explore their passion. Kids who have limited access to be able to do these skills have limited access to be able to explore their passions. I think that finding that appropriate balance is what we need to explore.

Jodie and shanon taking in the keynote speaker, day 1

Keynote

Here we are at the keynote along with thousands!!!

Many of the comments fit well with the book "Mindset" Keeping kids I'm the growth mindset is vital.

Sleeping tonight

Comments to follow in the am. Blanket tug a war!!

Kelly's first post

Hey I'm learning something new!

Blogger App

This is from the blogger app. It seems to work well.

Conference Start up

Hi all this is being published on the blog with the Blogger App for the iPhone. It works great!