In the past two weeks I have experienced the relief and joy that schools feel when they meet with Learning Exchange. Working with the administrator and tech staff, LEI built plans for four different schools to help them get started with Chromebooks and Google Apps for Education. We walked away from each school with customized plans specific to their needs and continue to build a relationship with everyone involved to make sure the school feels confident in moving forward with the technology and professional development.

 LEI prides itself on listening to customers and building relationships with everyone we work with. We create plans to help schools at any level of interest, whether they are learning about different devices and GAFE, have gone 1:1 and anything in-between. We encourage you to attend one of our events to learn more about us and different EdTech topics and who knows, maybe we can help you with your school’s needs and visions.

• How many computers are available to students in the building?
• How many hours of the day are computers available for testing?
• What is the bandwidth of your infrastructure?
• Is your network secure?
• How many students need to be tested?
• Are teachers knowledgeable about the technology that the students are using to test?

After collecting this information administration can begin to develop a testing plan and schedule. Doing a quick search on-line, I discovered, a Smarter Balance Technology Readiness Calculator. Here is the link: SMARTER BALANCE TECHNOLOGY READINESS CALCULATOR. This calculator will help schools estimate the length of time that will be needed for all students to complete testing.

Before testing begins, all computers/devices should be checked and updated if needed. Many technical glitches can be avoided and time during testing can be saved by preparing the devices beforehand. Teachers should be prepared for the new testing procedures. Instead of filling out bubbles with a #2 pencil students will need to use a keyboard and computer program. Discuss how younger students who lack keyboard skills can be helped through the log-in process.

Although this transition for schools might be tough, the benefits of the new testing will be worth it in the end. Moving to computer adaptive testing will get teachers quicker, more accurate results. Teachers will no longer have to wait months for test results, and will instead be able to differentiate instruction to meet student needs immediately.

So how can you get around this myth? What about changing the name of the proposal to stand for the learning outcome? One district presenting the idea of 1:1 named the program “One to the World”. The name represented that the students would use the device to access learning anytime and anywhere from experts all over the world. The device was a window to a new way of learning and that the teacher would facilitate and encourage 24/7 learning. The district continued to use the name “One to the World” in all presentations to parents, the community and staff members to show the value of going 1:1 and how it would impact student learning beyond apps and games. The more the phrase was used, the more people jumped on board with the idea and saw value in the district-wide change.

It’s critical to focus on the purpose and outcome of any district change and help others see the value in moving in a new direction. We cannot assume the community understands how teaching and learning occur in classrooms if they aren’t there on a daily basis. It’s our job to show value and explain the need to continue moving forward in this 21^st century world that we live in. So I encourage you to ask yourself, “What added value does your proposal’s name exemplify to the stakeholders you want to get on board?”

There are many factors that have to come together in order to successfully implement GAFE and Chromebooks.  Below you will see topics to consider and plan for when moving in this direction.

• Wireless infrastructure
• Budgeting for accessories:  protective cases, charging stations or carts etc.
• Setting a goal or mission: What do you want to change by implementing Google Chromebook?
• Writing the necessary policies: parents, students and teachers.
• Getting faculty, parent and community buy in: How are you going to get people excited and involved in the process?
• Tech Support needs to configure domain, set security settings, assign emails etc.
• Roll out: Start with a small group of users to help work out any kinks.
• Professional Development for everyone (staff, students and parents)

This process can not be the sole responsibility of one person. Schools seem to have more success when they form a committee of stake holders with the knowledge on motivation to bring change. In addition, schools should look outside of their organization for support. An easy way to start is by attending technology conferences or events (like the one recently hosted at Learning Exchange).

1.) The “internal” trainer needs to know they ARE the Internal Trainer. Leadership needs to clearly define their role and communicate to everyone they are the go to person. They then need the buy in from the internal person to commit to keeping skills fresh and communicating those skills to the rest of the community.

2.). The internal person needs to go to an external source to get fresh ideas. If they just keep doing what they do, the content and progression of usage will get stale quick!  Recently, Learning Exchange Interactive held a Google event where schools from around the state attended. The ideas that were shared were amazing! To see the excitement of the attendees leaving the event was priceless. They were enthusiastic to get back to their schools and districts to try to implant the ideas they heard.

3.) My last take-a-way was that leadership needs to bring in EXTERNAL knowledge to create a culture of fresh ideas of using technology. These external sources have experience with successful and unsuccessful schools who have deployed technology. They can consult on what works and what doesn’t. This is a necessary budgetary item that schools need to move forward. You got to pay to play!!!  If not you will be stuck where you are. Happy Exploring!

Twitter is a social media tool that many people use to share events in their lives or follow friends as well as celebrities to find out what they are up to. In that sense, Twitter might seem like another silly tool to stalk friends and share too much personal information BUT…if you consider this as a powerful tool to build your own Personal Learning Network (PLN) you’ll find out just how easy it is to get answers, advice and suggestions within seconds.

Just as people get feedback and/or advice from others on personal topics such as raising a child, venting about a job, or sharing life experiences with a spouse, educators can get feedback and/or advice from other educators around the world. For example, what if you had a question on why something wasn’t working right with a web 2.0 resource you are implementing? Wouldn’t it be great if you could post your question and get suggestions and help from hundreds of people who have experienced that same issue and can help you navigate a solution? What about if you are looking for resource ideas to use with an upcoming unit? Let’s say you want ideas of how students could demonstrate their knowledge for the end of the unit project and you post this on twitter and immediately get suggestions on different tools that have already been tested and loved in classrooms just like yours. Maybe you are looking for a class to be pen pals with from another state or even country. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you had people contact you saying they are interested in connecting with your class? Or maybe you are a new teacher looking for people to connect with to build a network of “experts” in a variety of areas so that you can learn from their experiences. The list goes on and on with what Twitter can do for you and if you let your guard down a bit, you’ll see just how empowered you can be with support from all around the world no matter what time of day it is.

Hopefully this short blog gave you something to consider and maybe even inspire you to try using Twitter. What was mentioned above just exposes the tip of the iceberg for what Twitter can do but I think once you get started, you’ll see what else it can do for you and just how powerful (in a good way) Twitter can be. If you would like to learn more about using Twitter as an educator or attend a workshop on the topic, contact me at lreas@lex-wi.com and I’d be more than happy to help.

Anyways,  Mimio has now counteracted this philosophy.  Mimio has created an “integrated solution” of products that allows schools to keep consistent branding all while offering different types of hardware.  We all know that every class is not the same.  There are different challenges to every room.  You could have a small room/Big Room, Sun glare/Dark Room, little workable space/ whiteboard wonderland.  Whatever you encounter, Mimio now has the hardware to allow you to adapt to your surroundings.  The best part about this, every bit of hardware is powered by Mimio’s award winning software, Mimio Studio.

The following are a list of Mimio’s products and some of the advantages of each:  (I will not mention Mimio’s newest product release because it isn’t available yet, but Teaser ALERT, it is a multi functioning surface :)

Mimio Teach: http://www.learningexchange.net/our-product/mimio/mimioteach/

Mimio Teach is still what I call mimio’s best product.  It is really the essence of how Mimio came on the map.  It is a bar that attaches to any flat durable surface (Whiteboard, chalk board, wall, ground).  Simply put the teach bar to the left of the projected image, plug in the wireless hub to your computer, calibrate 9 points on the screen, wha laa, you are now running your computer from the projected image.  As the interactive whiteboard market begins to fizzle out,(smartboards break, and you are faced with the expense of a new board or not), it isn’t going away.  The Mimio teach easily fits in where the Smartboard left off and you will find it actually does more.  Doing more with less, who doesn’t like that.

Mimio Projector: http://www.learningexchange.net/our-product/mimio/mimioprojector/

Mimio Projector has been out for about a year now.  It is an interactive projector that takes the same technology the Mimio teach has, but combines it with a short throw projector.  It comes in single or duel touch and really works well with retrofitting classrooms.  When  want the all in one option, this is a great projector for you.

Mimio Display: http://www.learningexchange.net/our-product/mimio/mimiodisplay/

Mimio Display is Mimio’s newest invention.  All in all it is a Touch TV.  Pretty cool huh?  If projector shadows are a problem, Mimio display is the product for you.  In the summit, we were in front of a 65 inch display.  It seemed to be fine for my 20/15 vision (Thanks Lasik), but you do have the availability to zoom in to make things bigger.  You now have a really sweet looking display in your room and you can run you computer as if you are sitting behind your desk.  If used correctly these types of displays will take over the interactive market.

Mimio Mobile: http://www.learningexchange.net/our-product/mimio/mimiomobile/

For all of you hipsters that think tablets are the tech of the future in the classroom, I have news for you.  Mimio now has a MimioMobile app the will work for Ipad and android device along with a chrome version that will be out early next year.  You can now take your interactive whiteboard lessons that were created FOR YOUR STUDENTS and push them out to these devices through the MimioMobile app.  Imagine using a device and not just doing a free app that was created for the masses.  Now you can do something specifically designed for your kids designed by their  teacher.  It is a novel concept I know, but it has been overlooked too many times when schools try to roll out mobile devices.

As you can see Mimio has done their homework to what is playing out in the market.  I give them Kudos for their ever growing product line.  Now it is our responsibility to get a good return on investment for this great technology.  How are we going to do that?  We train our teachers to use this technology.  Oh my gosh, Learning Exchange Interactive has all kinds of training on all kinds of hardware?  Wow, contact us and we would be happy to see where you want to go and put the PD in place to get you there!!! http://www.learningexchange.net/professional-development/

Happy exploring everyone!!!

• Identify and test the electrical outlets in your classroom
• Inventory technology hardware (What is missing? What is broken?)
• Set-up and test all equipment
• Check for software upgrades
• Locate any on-line resources, digital files/lessons/activities that you plan to use this school year
• Consider how you will store/organize/back up these items as the year continues

• If you are using a projector make sure that the image is bright enough, large enough and focused so that the student in the back can see the material that is being presented. If there is sound, is it loud enough for students to hear (considering additional noise from talking, pencils, fans)? Think about how much students miss when they can’t hear or see content!

• Secure all cables/cords to the wall or floor. There are products available at many office supply stores that safely cover cables on the floor so that people will not trip over them.

• Make a list of people that you can go to for help with technology issues.

• Create a rules and classroom routines that will prevent damage and/or loss of equipment.

• Have a back-up plan. What can you do if you experience a tech issue in the middle of class?

• Reach out to your technology support staff, product vendors/websites, and on-line communities to see what exciting new resources are available this year.

• Research professional development opportunities that you could take part in to learn how to better implement technology that is available to you. How can you improve this year?

This is the problem. Schools think that the device will fix the problem in education and students will magically score higher on standardized tests because they are using technology. Technology can be a powerful tool for education but it can also be a powerful distraction that doesn’t serve any purpose of the lesson objective. There is a lot that needs to be thought about and planned before diving into the device and apps and especially before devices get into the hands of a child. Here are some questions and thoughts I would like to present to a class of teachers:

• Develop a Vision & Plan
  • What do you want to accomplish?
  • Who will you go to if technology doesn’t work?
  • What resources do you have?
  • How do you see you and your students using the resources available?
• Classroom Management
  • What expectations, rules and consequences will you put into place?
  • How will you handle idle time when technology is not being used?
  • How will you make sure everyone is on task?
  • What is Digital Citizenship and how will your students come to understand it?

Thinking about these questions and reading articles of what other teachers do in their classrooms helps create a safe and focused learning environment. It may take a lot of mental energy but it’s important to do so otherwise that first day could lead to a lot of stress and anxiety for all involved.