Technology Tools for Teachers

Tips for Successful Grant Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 16:22:00 +0000

Did you know that there is more money available through grants than you have time to write? Teachers always need supplies, books, computers, iPads, software, science equipment … the list is endless! But, the possibilities are endless too.

There was a presentation on Grant Writing at ISTE 2015 that was taught by Cheryl Abshire. Cheryl was full of motivating and practical ideas on how educators can get more money into classrooms. Here are the top10 rules for successful grant writing:

1. Follow the rules of the grant. This is the most important rule! There is competition in getting grants funded and the grants that don’t follow the rules are automatically weeded out in the beginning. Grants that do not follow the rules are not read!

2. Students are #1. Share your vision of the impact this money will have on students and student learning.

3. Know what you want and be knowledgeable about it.

4. It’s okay to sound needy, but NOT desperate!

5. Share what you have tried in your classroom, and what you have done that applies to what you are asking for in your grant.

6. Many grants are given by corporations who are not in the education setting. Make sure your writing does not contain educational jargon they might not understand. Have someone read the grant who is not in education.

7. Use the format that the grant is asking for in the rules.

8. Don’t submit late. The grant won’t be read if you submit pass the deadline!

9. Get clarification by calling or emailing if you have questions about the grant process.

10. If your grant is funded, share your results with the company.

There are some great resources to find grants. Our EdTech website has a page on grant writing with tips, tricks, and information of grants available found at Grants to Fund Classroom Dreams. Cheryl Abshire also shared her website that has great helps found at Grants.

One last piece of advice from Cheryl that I have personally found useful: volunteer to read grants. It is quickly evident what makes a proposal rise to the top.

I hope this will motivate you to write a grant proposal and submit it for funding. You will never get money for your classroom if you don't ever ask for it!

Gamification and Digital Gaming in the Classroom

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 23:07:00 +0000

When I started teaching 6^th grade almost 3 decades ago, I quickly learned that if I could get a little friendly competition going, add some motivation for achievement, or add in levels of advancement to student learning, my job of teaching students became easier. Not only did students increase their knowledge, but classroom management issues were reduced, and students were happier and enjoyed school more. Until I attended an ISTE session on Gamification and Digital Gaming taught by Ryan Schaaf, I didn’t realize that Gamification is what I had been doing in my classroom for years.

Gamification is taking an element of gaming (incentives, levels, problem solving, time limits) and adding it to other experiences, like; simulations, multiplication fact learning, spelling bees, and incentives for 100% on tests, just to name a few.

Gamification can be done in any subject, and without digital devices.

Digital gaming requires digital devices, and can also be done in any subject area. Digital games are abundant and motivating for students, but the challenge comes with knowing the game your students are playing is actually reinforcing the concept you are trying to teach. Although it is time consuming, the teacher responsibility with digital gaming is to review the games students are playing.

One of the resources I received from the session from Ryan Schaaf is a link (click here) for a list of great digital gaming sites and specific concepts it is designed to teach. UEN also has a fantastic compilation of digital games (click here).

Just remember to take a few minutes to preview the activities in order to direct student learning.

Most of all: LEARN and have fun! It's contagious!

Getting Kids Coding – Even Elementary Age Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 22:55:00 +0000

I am not a coder, so I feel a little intimidated teaching coding, but here is what I can do as an elementary teacher: I can introduce kids to things they don’t yet know they love. I love that statement!

I attended a motivating session at ISTE called “Programming at All Ages” taught by Kristopher Velez (goes by Linus). I could tell by his presentation that he loves coding and he loves teaching coding to students at the American School of Bombay.

Here are some misconceptions of programming he is working to change:

Misconception #1 - Programming is just for people who want to get into computer science. Truth: Anyone can learn the basics of programming, which will only heighten their value as an employee.

Misconception #2 – I am a girl and programming is for guys.

Truth: Until typical stereotypes set in, girls show as much interest and aptitude for programming as boys do. In 1945, girls were thought to be better at programming and boys at algorithms. The woman shown below, Ada Lovelace, worked on early computers and programming in the 1800s.

Misconception #3 – Programming is mostly math.

Truth: Programming is mostly problem solving.

As an elementary age teacher, I know enough to get kids started and interested in coding. My first experience in coding was encouraging and helping teachers participate in “Hour of Code” this past December, and it was such a positive experience for me, teachers, and students that it has changed my view of coding.

Here are just a few coding resources available to give kids of all ages an engaging and fun experience with coding:

Kindergarten – 5^th grade

Code.org

Scratch Jr (free app)

Lightbot (free and paid apps)

I hope I have motivated you to get your students started in coding. There are resources available to help you, and very little preparation needed. If you need help or have questions, contact your Ed Tech. They would LOVE to help.

Successful Grant Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 22:43:00 +0000

Did you know that there is more money available through grants than you have time to write for? In the Education world time is at a premium, but still; it’s nice to know money is available if you have a little time. Teachers always need supplies, books, computers, iPads, software, science equipment … the list is endless! But, the possibilities are endless too.

I attended a course on Grant Writing at ISTE that was taught by Cheryl Abshire. Cheryl was full of motivating and practical ideas to get more money into classrooms. Here are the top 10 rules for successful grant writing:

1. Most important. Follow the rules of the grant. There is a lot of competition and the grants that don’t follow the rules are automatically weeded out in the beginning. They aren’t even looked at.

2. Students are #1. Share your vision of the impact this money will have on students and student learning.

3. Know what you want and be knowledgeable about it.

4. It’s okay to sound needy, but NOT desperate!

5. Share what you have already worked to get and tried in your classroom, and what you have done that applies to what you are asking for.

6. Many grants are given by corporations who are not in the education world. Make sure your writing does not contain educational jargon they might not understand. Have someone read the grant who is not in education.

7. Use the format that the grant is asking for.

8. Don’t submit late; it won’t be looked at.

9. Get clarification if you have questions on the grant; call or email. Don’t be afraid to do a little positive Public Relations while you are at it.

10. If you receive the grant, make sure you share your results with the company. They may have more money to give and remember you.

There are some great resources to find grants. Our EdTech website has a page on grant writing with tips, tricks, and information of grants available found here. Cheryl Abshire also shared her website that has great helps found here.

One last piece of advice from Cheryl that I have personally found useful: volunteer to read grants. It is quickly evident what makes a proposal rise to the top.

There will be an online Grant Writing course taught through the Ed Tech Endorsement program. It starts Sept. 1 and will run through December 16. My goal as instructor is that at the end of the 8 week course, you will have a proposal ready to go and have a grant that you can apply for and receive. Information found here. (IMPORTANT: You can not register for classes yet, but will be able to shortly!)

I hope I have motivated you write a proposal and submit for a grant. You will never get money you don’t ask for.

Developing the Innovators Mindset

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 19:19:00 +0000

In George Courous’ presentation at ISTE 2015 he spoke of developing the innovators mindset and thinking in terms of what kind of learning takes place in traditional classrooms. The notion that over time, we build students to become less curious and more compliant when we should be developing strong relationships and encouraging collaboration and creation. Courous reminded that working together is best and that "…the smartest person in the room, is the room."

The Innovators Mindset is the belief that abilities, intelligence, and talents are developed leading to the creation of new and better ideas. Educators that are innovators will likely be the biggest game changers in education. Teachers should ask themselves, “would you want to spend the whole day learning in YOUR classroom?”

Albert Einstein once said that “…the measure of intelligence is the ability to change." We need not just a generation of problem solvers, but of problem finders. This year in Canyons, let’s work to inspire students and find ways that technology can help open doors or make the work easier. Teaching students how to not only use, but leverage technology to their benefit is a change we must make. A 16 year old student pointed out that "…social media is like water; you can either let us drown or teach us to swim." Check out Courous’ page bit.do/innovatorsmindset or follow him on Twitter @gcourous for more ideas, resources and inspiration!

Digital Zombie Avoidance

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 02:52:00 +0000

Another excellent ISTE presentation I had the pleasure of attending was about “Surviving the Digital Zombie Apocalypse” by teacher, Mr. Carl Hooker. (Check out his page here.) He was as entertaining as he was informative and his message focused primarily around finding balance with technology. The idea was that people become “zombies” with their faces in their phones, too focused on what is happening in the digital world and less so on the real world around them. Hey, even walking and texting can be dangerous!

Some of the key points of his discussion involved issues with internet addiction, modeling appropriate technology use for children, setting personal limits and even considering periods of “digital nakedness” when tech is turned off or left behind.

While this may not be a surprise to anyone, his message was one that should be shared and seriously considered as becoming part of the tech-safety we teach students. We talk so much about using caution in sharing information and “playing” with online tools that we may have overlooked the need to teach and model when NOT to use technology and how to find a healthy balance between screen-time and other activities. Teachers, I challenge you to find ways to model and effective digital balance with your students as this is a life-skill we all need to practice!

Things To Try:

1 1.) Limiting Locations: Pick a time/ place when technology is not to be used

2 2.) Brain Breaks: Use a timer to track device use

3 3.) Digital Diet: Example- No Tech Tuesdays

4 4.) Limit Interruptions: Turn off non-essential notifications

Showcasing Great Schools

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 17:05:00 +0000

Of the many powerful presentations I was privileged to attend at ISTE this summer, one that made me reconsider how I think about schools was called “Use Google Tools to Create a Great School” by Rushton Hurley.

To summarize an intriguing presentation, he pointed out that there are many great schools out there that could be better by leveraging technology to their benefit. His presentation had a Google Tools focus and therefore most of what he had to share was how to best implement such things as using Google Forms to facilitate staff meetings and more. His idea of Google Docs as a collection and sharing tool in schools or districts is hardly new, which is encouraging as Canyons School District is working to implement this currently for both teachers and students.

Perhaps the point he made best was that we should be using tech tools to showcase successes in our schools rather than allow state testing to take the spotlight. Hurley claimed “…every teacher does something great at least once a year, even if by accident, and we should share it!” He went on to explain that the whole sense of what makes a great school is based on how well information is shared. I tend to agree. If we can use the tech tools at our disposal to showcase the powerful learning that happens in our schools we have created an opportunity for more than just pride. I’d like to look into helping share more classroom successes in my schools this year through images with clever captions and short video clips. In this endeavor I know I will need help, so I ask teachers and administrators; what ideas do YOU have? How can we show students and remind teachers they are important and there is more going on than testing in our classrooms?

Are You Tech Mobile?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 15:28:00 +0000

I’m a Mac geek. I love all my Apple products that I get to use everyday. When I got my first Mac Laptop, I was so excited to have a mobile device that could go everywhere with me. Then the iPhone came along and WOW, I could have every thing with me all the time, in my pocket. I loved it. Next came along the iPad. This was amazing because it was the perfect device. It was smaller than the laptop but bigger than the iPhone and so I thought that it was the best device to use. Well, Apple decided to introduce the iPad Mini and I fell in love with this device. It was the perfect size for all my computing needs. They only issue was that I couldn’t fit it in my pocket. During this time the iPhone also was changing. It kept getting bigger, faster and better.

I currently have the MacBook Air for my laptop, iPad Mini for my iPad, iPhone 6 for work and iPhone 6+ for personal. I love my 6+ and use it for everything. It is my total personal computing device. I just wish that Apple would allow iPad apps to run on it since it is large enough to run them.

Why am I telling you all of this? Well, I would like to hear from you. What is your ultimate device? Is it one device, is it a combination of some? Please post your comments below.

Code.org, a Bigger Presence in the District

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 18:09:00 +0000

Canyons School District has begun a partnership with Code.org that will aim to increase participation in computer science courses by women and underrepresented students of various ethnic backgrounds.

Code.org is a non-profit dedicated to expanding computer science education by making it available in more schools, and increasing participation by women and minorities. Their vision is that every student in every school should have the opportunity to have access to computer science education. Code.org believes computer science should be part of the core curriculum in education, alongside other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, such as biology, physics, chemistry and algebra.

“Code.org is excited to partner with Canyons School District to expand access to computer science. They are among the handful of districts leading the nation in this movement,” said Cameron Wilson of Code.org. “This partnership can help change the lives of the districts’ students by preparing them to think critically about real world problems and put them on a pathway toward the highest demand jobs in the U.S. economy.”

The partnership will begin in the Fall. Students at these schools will have increased access to computer science courses, curriculum and resources. The partnership will also provide new opportunities for professional development and training for Canyons School District teachers, in addition to creating a sustainable program via a community of support for the teachers. Camille Cole and other educational technology specialist in the district will be providing the professional development and training to our teachers.

President Obama does the Hour of Code

Green Screen in the Classroom

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 May 2015 17:25:00 +0000

ISTE 2014 -- Green Screens in your Elementary Classroom
--Nicole Zubiate - STEM Outreach Center

What is a green screen?

In film and video, a green background can be placed behind subjects being filmed. This allows a separately-filmed background to be added to the final video. Using a green screen is a fun way to enhance any video project. Filming in front of a green screen allows any project to be virtually transported to a new location or setting.

Why use a green screen?

There are many green-screen film projects that can enhance learning in the classroom. Using a green screen can make projects more fun, interesting, and effective. For example:

Flipped classroom - Are you filming a flipped classroom instructional video about math? Chemistry? Literature? Film in front of a green screen, then turn your background into your PowerPoint slides, lab demonstrations, or example problems.
Instructional process - Filming in front of a green screen can enhance your step-by-step or if-then demonstrations. Film lab instructions, the writing process, or a technology how-to first, then add yourself in later in front of a green screen to point out details and important information.
Reviews - Have students virtually jump into book pages, movie scenes, or works of art as they share your insights and opinions.
Globalize your classroom - Report or teach while virtually in front of historical events, next to important people, or visiting far away places.
Social studies, music, art, dance, plays, storytelling, digital journals - Teaching about the Pyramids of Giza? Studying Monet's Water Lilies? Performing Martha Graham'sAppalachian Spring? Why not do it all on location -- or at least use a green screen to make it look like you are on location?
Media - Professionals have used green screens to create commercials, public service announcements, newscasts, and weather reports for decades. Give your students the real-world experience of creating their own green screen media productions.
Claymation/Stop-motion animation - One of the most difficult things about creating an animation of any kind is keeping your background consistent. Using a green screen can help, and it can transport your characters to imaginary lands. (If claymation interests you, check out the book Fantastic Clay Critters for more ideas.)

How can I get a green screen?

You can purchase green screen kits on sties like buy.com or amazon.com. Some of them come with just the fabric green screen that you can tack to a wall, and some come with accessories like stands, clamps, and lights. If you do not have the money to spend on an actual kit, there are many ways you can get cheaper versions or even create your own:

Buy a canvas, paint it with Gesso (a paint primer), then use cheap green tempura paint to color it.
Cover a board (wood or strong cardboard) with green construction paper.
Purchase a foldout screen from buy.com or amazon.com instead of a full green screen kit.
Paint a room green.
Tack up green fabric on your wall.
Install green fabric on a shower curtain and install a rod so your green screen curtain can be pulled out when needed.
Purchase or create a lighting rig, and hang green cloth on it instead of lights.
Create a roller to roll the green screen out when needed and up when not needed. Try using an old projection screen. Be sure to attach, roll, and extend the green fabric so that it is tight.

When creating your own green screen, finding the right color is important. The correct shade of green makes it easier for your computer to remove the green and show your chosen background. When looking for potential green-screen fabric, paper, or paint, think of the color of a Sprite bottle for the right color.

Be sure to set up your green screen away from doors, windows, or adjoining walls. You want to avoid noise, uneven light, and interruptions to your filming as well as things or kids that can cause damage to your screen.

Is there a special way to film with a green screen?

You can film green screen footage with any camera, and no special camera settings are needed. It is actually the editing software you use that will remove the green you film and let your chosen background show through instead. There are some things you can do to ensure that your green-screen footage will turn out well:

Lighting - Make sure your lighting is even and coming from one type of source if possible. Avoid shadows and multiple light temperatures. For example, if you are filming in a classroom that has overhead lights and lamps, you may want to turn off the lamps so that there are not multiple temperatures of light that can change the color of your screen. Or, if the overhead lights are causing shadows, you may want to turn them off and use only lighting rigs. This, of course, depends on what lighting equipment you have available.
Camera shot - Be sure to zoom so that only the area of the green screen is in your shot. If portions of the wall behind your screen are in your shot, they will also show once once you have edited out your green screen.
Tripod - Keep your camera steady by using a tripod. Once you have begun filming, do not move your camera until the shot is over unless you want your background to appear to move. It is usually better to keep the green screen footage still, and add moving background footage later.

How do I edit my green-screen footage?

In most movie-editing software, you simply import your green screen footage and whatever photo or footage you want to use as your new background. Place the green-screen footage into your movie project, then place your new background behind it. (The order you place your footage and new background depends on the software.) Your software will then either ask you what to do with the two clips or will show a button to let you decide what to do. Look for a choice that either says green screen or chroma key. Selecting this option will remove any green in your footage and show the new background you have chosen in place of the green. Read your editing software's help manual for details.

Some apps have been created to help make editing green screen footage easier. Some of these apps require that the green screen footage be recorded within the app, while others can import footage from you device's camera or photo library. Some of these apps even have special effects built right in that are already green screen. Check out the following green screen apps, and give them a try:

Film Making iPad Apps

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 20 May 2015 22:52:00 +0000

As the school year is wrapping up, many parents are trying to think of fun activities to do with their children over the summer. Film making is an excellent activity that promotes creativity. Here are a few apps that can help make film making more innovative.

Green Screen- $2.99

Green Screen by Do Ink is a very simple way to create green screen effects without much effort. No longer are you stuck in the location you film. With this app, you can land on Mars, go on a safari, or visit the Eiffel tower. This app allows you to take live video still images.

Stop Motion Studio- Free *Add-ons available for an additional price.

Stop Motion Studio is a great app for anyone who would like to create a stop motion animation. Stop motion brings still images to life. You just set your scene, take a picture, move your scene a little bit, and snap another picture. You continue this process until you have built your entire video. It usually takes about 18-24 pictures per second to create a fluid motion. This app allows you to see a ghost image of your last image, so you know where to move the object for the next image. It is a simple app to use, and anybody can do it.

Collabracam- $4.99

Collabracam is a recording app that allows you to film and edit live footage on up to 6 iOS devices at the same time. It gives you the ability to film the same footage from multiple angles while controlling which device is recording at that precise moment. This app is compatible with Galileo giving you even more control of what is being filmed.

iMovie- $4.99

iMovie is an app that allows you to create quality movies or trailers on your device with very little prep. You can take picture or record video in the app or use footage from your camera roll. iMovie has built in themes that helps give any project character.

If you want to take your movie making to the next level, try app smashing. Create footage in more than one app, save it to your camera roll, and then compile it in iMovie.

*Remember, A movie is only as good as its storyline. Consider making a storyboard before you start. For ideas on storyboarding and tips creating a film, visit: http://edtech.canyonsdistrict.org/preparing-for-the-canyons-district-film-festival.html.

Happy Filming!

Phishing Scam Email

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 11 May 2015 16:25:00 +0000

During this past school year, our district, along with other school districts in Utah, teacher emails have been hacked by a process called phishing. What is phishing? Phishing is a fraudulent attempt to steal personal information usually in the form of an email. (Phishtank.com) This post is to help teachers understand what a phishing scam email looks like, what they should do if a phishing email is received, and suggest a few tips to protect teachers from Phishing email scams.

What does a Phishing scam email look like?

(microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/phishing-symptoms.aspx)

What should u do if you run across a Phishing scam email?

Canyons School District and any other school districts will NEVER ask you for your password, Social Security number, or other confidential personal information by email. If you have received a phishing email, forward it to spam@uce.gov and to the business impersonated in the email. You may also want to report the email to reportphishing@antiphishing.org. If you have been tricked by a phishing email and reported personal information, file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/complaint. Victims of phishing could become victims of identity theft and it would be a good idea to visit FTC's Identity Theft website.

If you are a teacher in Canyons School District and have received an email that you believe to be a phishing email, forward your message on to footprints@canyonsdistrict.org.

What can you do to protect yourself from a Phishing scam?

Do not respond to the Phishing email giving personal information. If you are in doubt about the email, call the company directly and DO NOT use the phone number listed in the email. Remember to never give sensitive account information to anyone, including friends and family, via email.

Do not click on links or download files, unless you are expecting the email. The links may be hyper-linked to malware software or copycat sites. If you think it's a legitimate email, go to the company's website or call them directly.

Just Try and You'll Succeed!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 04 May 2015 14:59:00 +0000

SAGE testing in now in full swing. Some schools started last week, and many more are starting today. The faculty at Draper Elementary created a fun video to motivate their students to try their best on their tests. Take a moment to view this awesome video, and remind your students "just try and you'll succeed!"

SAGE Tips and Tricks

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 06:00:00 +0000

Now that SAGE is fast approaching, here are some additional resources for teachers to use to prepare students:

1. Plickers - these are great tools and a lot of fun for students to review. (Ask your ed tech if you need any help getting started!) Plickers.com
2. iPad Camera - have students take pictures of each part of the scientific process in experiments. Have them interview each other after the pics are taken.
3. Haiku Deck- a great way to review. Have your students write reviews on core curriculum areas such as math skills, etc.
4. Flash card apps - these will help students with their speed in basic math facts which are necessary to solve more difficult problems. (there are many great ones)
5. Khan Academy - this is a great resource for practice, remediation, or drill.
6. iTooch Elementary - This is a great app for ELA, Math, and Science.
7. Bill Nye App - this is a great app for science. Kids will stay engaged while learning concepts that will be found on the SAGE.
8. Science Glossary App - just as the name implies, it is a great glossary of all science terms with some good examples.
9. Math Word Problems App - this app is for all grades from 3-up. There are haptic types of questions, just like those found on SAGE also.
10. Learning Games app - Again, this is for all grades from 3-up. There are activities in all subject areas including ELA, Science, and Math.

Top 10 Reasons to Share Student Work....Digitally

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 20:02:00 +0000

This week in our digital storytelling class we are talking about the importance of sharing student work, and since this is a technology class we are focusing on sharing projects digitally. I recognize that you can always find reasons for or against something, so this blog post is going to focus on reasons for sharing projects digitally. I received input from my fellow ed techs and created a top 10 list for sharing student work.

Note: Make sure that before you have students share anything online you have principal and parent approval. The last thing you would want to do is have students share work without getting the proper permissions.

9. Spark Ideas
Shared projects give other student (and teachers), world-wide, ideas on what they can do in their own classrooms. Sharing can spark an idea for anyone that watches or views the shared projects.

8. Confidence
Sharing work can help boost students confidence. Many students will even develop a sense of pride of the work they are sharing. However, be sensitive to the needs of your individual students. For some, sharing can be a cause for anxiety. If sharing openly, online is not for a particular student find another way he/she can share within the classroom or to family members.

7. Larger Audience
Sharing online allows projects to be shared with a wider audience. Friends and family all over the world can see what the students are creating.

6. Students Work Harder

Many students will put in more of an effort if they know their work is going to be viewed by more than the teacher and even mom and dad. Many students will work harder because they know that they will be sharing their work with their peers, and could even be seen by people who have similar interests.

5. Accomplishment

Students (and teachers!) will have a sense of accomplishment when they see their finished product. This goes with helping students build confidence about what they have created. They will be proud to show others what was created.

4. Celebration

We celebrate every athletic achievement like it makes all the difference in the world. Shouldn't we celebrate academic achievement and projects just as much. We’ll never have trophy cases, but we have lots of avenues for sharing projects.

3. ISTE Standards for Students - Standard 2

Standard 2 says, “Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.”

“Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.”

2. ISTE Standards for Teachers - Standard 5

Standard 5 says that teachers should contribute! “Contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community.”

If teachers want their students to share, they should set the example and share their creations/projects as well. Every reason listed in this top 10 list also applies to teachers.

1. Sharing is Caring
Finding ways for students to share their work is a way to show them that you actually care about the final product, and that they show off what they have done. You are letting them know to be proud of their work.

10. Promote Safety and Responsibility
We live in an over-share world, and many kids aren't aware of the dangers that are present when they share things to the internet. Sharing projects online can help teachers educate students and parents about digital safety and citizenship, and also it can be an effective way to teach students how to share quality work, and how to do so safely and responsibly.

7. Larger Audience
Sharing online allows projects to be shared with a wider audience. Friends and family all over the world can see what the students are creating.

6. Students Work Harder

5. Accomplishment

4. Celebration

3. ISTE Standards for Students - Standard 2

“Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.”

2. ISTE Standards for Teachers - Standard 5

Standard 5 says that teachers should contribute! “Contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community.”

If teachers want their students to share, they should set the example and share their creations/projects as well. Every reason listed in this top 10 list also applies to teachers.

The Ed Tech Salad- Great Ingredients that Combine to Make Teaching More Delicious

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 20:36:00 +0000

Since becoming an Ed Tech I have had the opportunity to explore a variety of amazing technology tools. Some of them are redundant and have caused me to see which tool does the job I need the best. My favorite tools play together. When integrating apps, sites, and/or programs effectively, I can make several tools work together in concert and so become a more powerful educational super tool! This Ed Tech Salad has purposeful blending of ingredients that make all the flavors better.

One example that illustrates this point is the recent adoption of Nearpod and my role in training teachers and finding the best ways to bring it into classrooms. Here's what I've learned so far: When I make a Nearpod, I use Haiku Deck to make pleasing slides. I use Doceri to create short whiteboard demonstrations. I use Kahoot to insert a fun game-like activity inside the presentation. Just as a good teacher works to integrate content areas together to give valuable context for students so learning is improved, efforts to make a tool more powerful include finding how they all tie together. I learned about Haiku Deck in my Ed Tech Endorsement more than a year ago. At the time, I thought it was nice and made pretty presentations, but hadn't given it much more thought since. It wasn't until I was preparing materials to share with teachers with the recent adoption of Nearpod that I saw Haiku Deck as a valuable aid in making professional-looking slides I could use in my Nearpod presentations. I found that I could easily export the simply made presentations in PowerPoint format and then drag that file to my Nearpod and use those slides for the presentation.

I have loved Doceri since I learned about it a few years ago. I had used it primarily as a live lesson delivery tool to control my computer that was connected to a projector. I knew about the capability to record lessons and use the whiteboard function to demonstrate concepts for students. I needed a way to have a whiteboard demonstration in a Nearpod presentation and this caused me to really explore how I can use these amazing capabilities Doceri offers in my Nearpod. The marriage of these tools has made them all powerful weapons in my teaching arsenal.

Where to begin? I've been most successful finding great tools when I start with a question. Here are some examples of questions answered by specific tech tools.

I would like to make attractive slides for my Nearpod presentation- what tool have I learned that can do this and export easily? Haiku Deck!
I would like to demonstrate concepts on a whiteboard and put that into my Nearpod presentation- what tool have I learned and can export easily? Doceri!
I would like to break up my Nearpod presentation with a really fun game- what tool have I learned and can do this easily? Kahoot!

These are all great tools on their own, but when joined together, they are a recipe for success. This learning salad improves as more ingredients are found. It really motivates me to pay attention to apps, sites, and programs that can empower my lessons to be more engaging. Instead of starting all over- I see how the new ingredient works with the ones I already love.

Photo Credit: _Nezemnaya_ via Compfight cc

Imagine Learning Interventions

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 20:44:00 +0000

Imagine Learning has some great intervention resources available for teachers! Teachers are able to drill down to individual skills that will help students who are learning English. Teachers access this information, and can print skills sheets to help students in a small group setting. The reports will also allow teachers to group students who need help with the same skill.

Here are the steps:

1. Log in to: imaginelearning.canyonsdistrict.org (see your Ed Tech if you don’t know your log in information)

2. Once you log in, you have several options: reports, skills lessons and management (see below).

1. Teachers can click on the color buttons to link to specific lessons you might want to use in a whole class or small group setting.

2. The Management link will allow you to view your students and check the progress they are making within the Imagine Learning Program.

3. The Reports link is the where the Intervention Resources are housed. Once you click on the “Reports Menu”, you will have two choices:

a. Growth lets you select your students to compare their growth in the Imagine Learning program with other students in your class, school, or across the district.

b. Click on “Action Areas” to access the intervention resources.

1. Once you are in Action Areas, there is a “How It Works” help sheet to walk you through how the interface works. These are always available from the “Tutorial” link.

Here are screen shots of what is available:

I hope you find this resource useful in helping students be successful in their challenging task to learn English!

Using Social Media Professionally

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 17:30:00 +0000

In today’s extremely social world it is increasingly easy to connect with family, friends, co-workers and the community. The good news is that this gives those of us in education an opportunity to communicate, share and grow as educators in a way that did not previously exist. Using social media to build a professional learning network (PLN), reach out to students and families and connect to the community at large is fantastic, but it is also important to remember your personal online presence.

Fair or not, as an educator, your personal life is on display a bit more than the average person. Personal Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter accounts can still be seen publicly in many cases and educators should exercise caution in posting, liking, sharing, pinning and tweeting. But does this mean you can’t have a personal online presence? Absolutely not, but it does mean that you may need to take time to adjust your privacy settings and be aware of tagging others in your social media activity.

On Facebook, for example, you might be only sharing with those you have approved friendships with, but do you know the friends of your friends? Chances are, you don’t. While you cannot control everything, it is wise to regulate your personal and professional online presence by changing your settings, reviewing postings, occasionally “Googling” yourself and using professional common sense in what you allow to be posted with your name attached.

If you have questions or concerns about the privacy settings on any of your accounts, see your Ed Tech or check out some of the helpful links below. Happy and safe posting to all!

Facebook Privacy Help

Instagram Privacy Help

Twitter Privacy Help

Pinterest Privacy Help

Photos for Class

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 16:03:00 +0000

One of the difficulties we deal with in using our technology to produce projects is finding appropriate photos. This is especially true in the elementary schools. It is not just finding appropriate photos as far as content, but also following fair use and copyright guidelines, and teaching students how to properly cite the photos in their projects.

A new website was introduced a few months ago that solves all of these issues. The site is called Photos for Class. Photos for Class was created by the people from StoryboardThat.com. This site is a great resource for finding appropriate photos. Here are the main things you should know about the site.

Photos for Class pulls it's images from Flickr. Now you may say, whoa, Flickr, have you seen the images you can find on Flickr, I don't think so. However, the Photos for Class people use Flickr's safe search mode to find the photos. They also use their own proprietary filters to keep searches safe. One thing that I really like that they do is they have a default response if someone searches on an inappropriate term. For example if you were to search for the term "sexy" on Photos for Class, the default response is to return pictures of adorable dogs (and they are cute). This is the default for searches of inappropriate terms. I tried quite a few searches and the lack of inappropriate results was impressive. One search term that I did use was "body", this search did bring up several images that were not appropriate. I found contact information and emailed the group. Within 30 minutes I received a response thanking me for the information and telling me that those images had been removed. When I checked they had been. They also told me about the Report Photo link.

Clicking on this link immediately removes the photo not only from your view, but from all future results. I found their response to my inquiry very satisfying.
Photos for Class only pulls from Creative Commons licensed photos. This means that the results you get from searches are photos that can be used in student projects without worry of fair use or copyright violation.
Photos for Class automatically attaches a citation to every photo that is downloaded.

Download result from Photos for Class

The citation includes the photographers information so gives them credit, it gives a direct link to the photo on Flickr, and then it includes the attached Creative Commons license. This helps students remember the importance of citing all materials they use in projects.

This is not a site that will have results for everything, but it the results you do get you can trust to be gathered through a safe search process and will be cited appropriately when a photo is downloaded. I now include this in my list of sites for finding images when asked by teachers.

Disclaimer: Neither I or Photos for Class can guarantee you will never come across inappropriate images, but they do a great job of filtering and give you a tool to remove a questionable image, so this has gone to the top of my arsenal for finding photos for projects. The most important safeguard when having students search for photos, is for the teacher to be very vigilante in monitoring the students activities online.

SAGE Writing - Are we ready?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 07:00:00 +0000

As I watch students and teachers preparing for SAGE writing, I am reminded that we are really not ready yet, but there are a lot of great ways to get ready!

1. Use a whiteboard app on the iPads. Have your students write introductory sentences, then switch iPads. Have them continue through the writing process. The kids will get a kick out of writing together.

2. Use the website "Wonderolopolis" and use the day's topic as a writing topic. It can easily be transferred into a persuasive essay if desired.

3. Have your students use their iPads and use the camera. Send them out to the playground, lunch room, or other common areas. Have them take pictures of students following PBIS and students who are not. Assign them to use the writing app Pages and write a persuasive essay as to why students should follow PBIS and the effects of not following it.

4. Have your students use the camera and interview a teacher. Have them write using the Notes app about this teacher and how teaching has shaped him/her. (Explanatory)

5. Use Utah Compose on a daily basis between now and the test. VERY IMPORTANT. Kids need exposure to the tool!

6. Go in with your students into the SAGE training test at least once. Make sure they know how to use the tools, such as highlighting.

Most importantly, make sure they know that writing is a great skill. It can be a lot of fun and can engage them if given the proper tools.

Happy writing!!

Reading and the Common Core

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 20:08:00 +0000

There are resources available that can help teachers determine the reading level for a text that educators can use that meet the the Common Core Standards. The Lexile range is used to determine the Lexile framework for reading. The following resources are available that will help educators determine the Lexile range of published works.

Lexile.com
This is a free analysis tool to help parents, educators, and students measure the Lexile ranges of books already published. This will help determine if books are age appropriate for students or if they will be too difficult or easy for students to read. The tool basically matches readers with texts! Creating a free account allows users to create and save reading lists that been compiled based on Lexile measures.

Level It Books
This app can be purchased for an iOS or Android and returns Lexile information after scanning the bar code of a book. The app also suggests a "Book of the Day" that students enjoy reading on a K-8 reading range. Books are also suggested on a high school reading level.

The resources below can be used to help students increase their reading abilities and their Lexile Levels using the Common Core as a guide.

Rewordify
This is a free online software that helps educators find text that is at a higher reading level for their students and also helps incorporate informational text into their curriculum. Student accounts can be created along with word games and lessons that will help students increase their vocabulary and reading skills.

AbiTalk
AbiTalk offers a variety apps on the elementary level that will help students with their comprehension, phonics, building sentences, and vocabulary. There is a Nonfiction Reading app that includes 20 nonfiction science stories and reading comprehension activities. This is a great resource to help students develop their reading skills.

DoGo News
This is a site for kids of current events and nonfictional articles written at appropriate grade levels for students in grades K-8. The articles are provided with common core state standard based activities and each resource also provides comprehension questions and a critical thinking challenge.

Evernote Peek

noreply@blogger.com (Janae Hunt) — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 19:50:00 +0000

With Spring approaching standardized testing looms on the horizon. How do you prep your students for the test? Do you make reviewing the content you've worked on all year fun? Evernote Peek is a great app that turns reviewing into a fun activity!

Evernote Peek is a fun tool that takes your notes and turns them into flashcards...but not just any flashcards. This app uses your iPad's Smart cover (if you have one) or an on screen version (if you don't have one) to display the content in sort of a game style format. It's very cool!

It's really easy to set up*.
1. Take notes in Evernote (on your computer, iPad, or phone)
2. Open Evernote Peek and sign into your Evernote account
3. Select the notes you wish to turn in to flashcards and it does it for you. Here are some tips on how to set up your notes.

One of the really cool things about this app is that it has the capability to add voice notes! You'll see a great example in the video below. There are also a bank of notes already created for you to draw from (like the periodic table, world capitals, etc.), or you can create your own. This app would be a great way to review as a whole class, or for independent practice.

If you were going to use this in an Elementary classroom for independent study you could set it up this way:

Create a class Evernote account
Prepare the notes ahead of time
Have your students sign into the class Evernote account when they open the app
Have students download your notes to begin using Peek

In a secondary classroom for independent study you could use Peek like this:

Have students create their own Evernote accounts using their CSDdocs accounts
Have students take or copy notes on the topic of study
Have students sign in to Peek and download their notes to begin studying

*Click here for more detailed instructions on how to set up Evernote Peek.

SAGE Writing Summative Test

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 22:56:00 +0000

The time of year has come that we begin to look at preparing for the end of year SAGE Summative tests. The SAGE Writing test window for Canyons School District is February 2-10. As teachers begin to prepare for administering tests, the EdTech Department has been working hard to prepare training and support for the teachers and students. A few things that will help prepare your students for the writing test is Utah Compose. Utah Compose will help your students learn, use and practice writing skills with instant feedback. Visit the department webpage or ask your EdTech for more information. In regards to the preparation for the actual test, students should explore in the SAGE Training Test. This training site will allow students to explore the format that most closely represents the actual test. New features to be aware of include the dictionary feature and the tutorials. The tutorial videos are a great resource for students to explore the question types. The dictionary feature allows students to choose from a list of similarly spelled words as well as look up the definition. There is also a thesaurus to find synonyms. More information will follow and include testing information on the English Language Arts, Science, and Math tests that will occur April 20-May 30.

Timelines made easy!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 02:26:00 +0000

I love timelines and maps, it's the history teacher in me, but they lack an interactive piece that my mind craves, it's the Ed Tech in me. As a teacher, I used timelines all of the time and had my students create a timeline for the American Revolution and Civil War. Students can read a textbook but all of the dates will get lost (In our textbook there are 52 dates or years in the paragraphs from the French and Indian War to the signing of the Declaration), but the visuality of a timeline helps show cause and effect over time and increases comprehension of the topic. No matter how great the timeline, I always wished it was interactive. A timeline with large pictures, links, videos that added depth, and embeddable.

Thanks to my PLN on Twitter I found a great tool for making timelines, Timeline JS. Timeline JS makes building visual and interactive timelines easy and its free. It can pull media from twitter, Flickr, Google Maps, Youtube, vimeo, and soundcloud to name a few.

There are only four steps to making your timelines interactive (listed below). The website does a nice job walking you through the steps. If you would like help with step 4, embedding the timeline into a Canvas or a classroom website contact your Ed Tech.
1) Download a Google Spreadsheet template and fill out the spreadsheet.
2) Publish the Google Spreadsheet to the web.
3) Paste the "publish to the web" url on Timeline JS's website.
4) Copy the embed code and add it to your site.

Whether you are creating a timeline for your students to interact with, having your students create their own timeline, or having your students collaborating on a Google Sheet to make a class timeline, Timeline JS makes it easy and fun.

My Sample:

Other tools that can be used for timeline creation:
Facebook (Article), Infographics (Sample), and Hstry.co (A vertical timeline)

Timelines are not only for history class:
1) Have students plot a story your reading in class
2) Have students create a timeline of their family or their future
3) Have students create timelines about famous people in your subject area.

What are some other ways you can use timelines in your class? Tell me in the comments below.

Made with Code

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 22:13:00 +0000

With the Winter Break quickly approaching, it’s time to Code the Holidays. Google has created the website, https://www.madewithcode.com, where you can code the light sequence for a Christmas tree. After your code sequence meets your satisfaction, you can click the done button and submit your project to the Google website. Okay, okay, now here’s the best part… Your light sequence will actually appear on a tree in the nation’s capital! You pick which tree, and Google will give you the date and time it will be displayed!

If coding tree lights isn’t your thing, then try out some of the other project that Google’s Made with Code has to offer. You can construct your own unique snowflake, create a 2D or 3D Avatar, or even build your own musical beats.

Made with Code has something for everyone. It's entertaining, educational, and anyone can do it! The website contains resources for other coding websites, as well links to at-
home projects.

Enjoy your Winter Break, and don't forget to Code the Holidays!