Google Forms for teaching about your "Digital Footprint"!

Instead of a traditional "talk" with students about what is appropriate when using Social Media in the classroom, I created a Google Form with information/reminders about what is appropriate.  Underneath the information, I added a couple of questions that ask students to verify that they understand the expectations of using Twitter/other social media in my classroom.  Students will read the info on the form, answer the questions and submit it to me before we begin our first Twitter discussion tomorrow.  Take a look at the form below.

Remind101 - Keeping parents informed of class happenings!

This year I am using Remind101 for texting parents and students of important class information and reminders.  In the past I collected phone numbers, etc. from everyone to do this.  However, using Remind 101 has streamlined the process and made it much easier.

After setting up an account in Remind101, I created separate "classes" for each class I taught and for the parents of students in those classes.  With each class you get a subscription code that you can give out for people to subscribe to it. Once someone subscribes, Remind101 collects their name/info., which allows me see who subscribes. The teacher can also unsubscribe someone if necessary.  

I put my Remind101 subscription codes in my syllabus and will also put them out at parent teacher conferences tonight to advertise this optional form of communication to parents!

This is a screen shot of what will be displayed on the Smartboard in my classroom as parents walk in for conferences! (I have scribbled out the exact codes for privacy reasons.)

  

Generating Group Stories through TodaysMeet

TodaysMeet was utilized in my Spanish 3 classes to generate a group story for practicing the proper use of both the Imperfect and Preterite Past tenses.  To do this, I created a TodaysMeet room for each of my 3 sections of Spanish 3 and then linked the URL of each room to today's post on our class blog.  The whole activity worked seamlessly and students really seemed to understand better how to properly use the 2 tenses.  Definitely a successful activity, which I plan to use again in the future!

21st Century Learning - PCSD New Teacher Inservice 2012

For this year's new teacher in-service, I have chosen to highlight the following tech tools that I have found very useful in my own classroom:

• Polleverywhere

• Video  - Smart Recorder & YouTube

• QR Codes - Kaywa

Reflection - Red Raider Learning Academy - Day 2

Today's reflection questions:

How might 6 hat thinking (see here for explanation) be used within the classroom or with colleagues?

• I think that 6 hat thinking could be a great 'tool' for facilitating a discussion.  It recognizes the different hats we all wear at times and takes those into account.  The 6 hat thinking could help create better discussion by recognizing what everyone brings to the table and help avoid feelings of exclusion, hurt, jealousy, resentment, etc.  However, I do feel that if not facilitated well, it could hinder discussion.  

Describe when you have seen elements of the 4 stages of community (see here for explanation) in your community, school or family.  What stage is your school community in? 

• I tend to see the 4 stages of community, (pseudocommunity, chaos, emptiness and community) when "communicating' in life.  The communication could be actions, words or both.  I feel that I constantly see all 4 stages, depending on the situation, people, etc.  In my school I feel that throughout the year we go between all 4 stages depending on the issues that arise or are being discussed, but I do love when that stage of community is achieved!!      

Reflection - Day 1 - Red Raider Learning Academy

This week I have signed up to take part in the Pulaski Red Raider Learning Academy within my school district.  This week long academy will have many components including collaboration time, goal-setting, experiences, reflections and more.  I have chosen to do my daily reflections via my professional blog to hopefully share / pass on what I learn!  Also, if you have any comments on my ideas/thoughts/etc. please share them.  I love the feedback!!  So here goes...

Day 1 Reflection Questions:

• Where are you at as an educator?  I feel that as an educator I have come a really long way and have filled my "toolbox" with many useful teaching tools in 10 years, but I still have a really long way to go and will never be able to fill up my toolbox to the point where I won't need more!  I love learning, especially about learning and technology! It is fascinating to learn how the brain works and exciting to develop new tools to improve and motivate student learning.   Right now I feel that I am and will continue to be a builder of ' learning experiences' who continually needs to keep learning to improve and make those experiences successful!

• How have you gotten there? I have arrived at where I am at through the many experiences in my life and what I have learned from other successful educators.  I also feel that taking risks in my teaching practice and consciously working to improve have been huge factors in forming the educator I have become.
• What were the challenges and successes from the past school year? I did a recent blog post, where I reflected on the past school year and my thoughts can be seen by clicking here.

What a year!! - Going 1:1 with Android devices

This school year had both it's challenges and amazing moments!   The beginning of the year was a little rocky as we spent time figuring out the devices, glitches, procedures and other surprises that came our way.  However, the benefits and high points of implementing a 1:1 Pulaski Community School District 21st Model Classroom most definitely outnumbered the obstacles!  I have laid out some of the new 'tools' implemented in my classroom this year, student favorites (based on their informal feedback), and goal/ideas for next year....

New tools implemented this year:

• Class Blogs - A daily post was made each day to each blog that included the lesson, videos, links, activities, and any other resources needed by students.  
• Individual Student Blogs
• Video Lessons
• Individualized Listening Activities 
• Assessments via Google Forms
• Interactive Reading Activities
• Many Android Apps utilized throughout the year.  Click here to see a detailed list!
• QR Codes 
• New Problem Based Learning Units
• Soapbox for discussion
• TodaysMeet for discussion/back-channeling
• Class Dojo - Used to track student participation in the target language
• A SmartBoard and SMART software
• Video Documentation of new tools used in the classroom
• Youtube - used to upload all of the videos created throughout the year
• New Performance Based Assessments
• Google Forms to assess listening
• Google Voice - Used for speaking assessments
• Google Docs for collaborative writing assignments/projects
• Gmail - Used with students for 24/7 communication and for assessment purposes.
• Quizlet for online vocabulary activities

Student Favorites:

• Class Blog!
• Their own individual blogs
• Video Lessons
• Interactive Reading Activities
• Online discussions via TodaysMeet and Soapbox
• Google Forms
• Google Docs
• Google Voice
• Quizlet
• Choice in Learning/Individualized Learning!

Goals/Ideas for Next year:

• Re-design the classroom setup and create a more collaborative learning environment!
• Twitter Accounts for Students - Class created hashtags for discussion. / Open class walls to have discussions with other Spanish Classes & Spanish speakers. / Create an additional opportunity to teach about digital citizenship / Provide discussions in target language outside of the designated class period
• Enhance Individual Student Blogs and create more student discussion between each other's blogs.
• Increase Problem Based Learning Units
• Increase Performance Based Assessments
• More meaningful cultural lessons
• Tie other curricular areas into lessons to create deeper understanding and meaning
• TPR Storytelling Activities for each unit
• Increase use of Google Apps for assessments and activities

I can't wait to see what next year brings!! :)