Quality Professional Development, 10-1-14

I loved the fact that we have staff members so willing to share.  First, I want to thank eighth grade math teacher Marie Betten for showing the staff how to upload PowerPoints to Google drive and convert them to Google Slides while maintaining all of their style and functionality.  Eighth grade ELA teacher Dawn Medendorp's excitement was very evident in an email to me earlier this year.  This little "upload & convert" trick was first shared to her by our Director of Technology Lane White.  In a world of complicated and complex problems, it's amazing how one check box can make the world of difference between possible frustration and overwhelming excitement.  My second thanks goes out to sixth grade math teacher Stephanie Shaffer for her willingness to share how she has used Kahoot! in her class.  Kahoot! is a web based formative assessment tool that she used with Chromebooks in her classroom, but can also be used with student devices.  Once your account is created, not only can you create your own Kahoots, but there is a library of over 3,000 that have already been created by other teachers that you can favorite and use, or add them to your library to modify or edit.

• Teacher site to create account: https://getkahoot.com/
• Teacher site to login after creating an account: https://create.kahoot.it/
• Student site to play and enter game pin: kahoot.it

I'm looking forward to seeing how teachers in our building and others around the world are using Kahoot! in their classrooms.  Comment below or message me on Twitter or Google+ if you have used this tool in your classroom or have other great TechKnowledge that you would like to share.

Google Drive with Campbell Elementary

On September 29, I was given the opportunity from Principal Andy Hogston to present some basics of Google Drive with the staff at Campbell Elementary.  I sure could have used a little more time to talk about the Power of Collaboration that Drive allows for teachers....and students.  They Met the New Drive and looked at how they might be able to use the new drive and the collaboration tools to their advantage.  Looking forward to getting back over there for a follow up and to answer any questions that they have....and to talk about Google Calendars with invitations.

Schoology Presentation at Whitehall High School

First, I want to thank Dale McKenzie, principal at Whitehall High School, the opportunity to come in and speak to their Tech Coaches, Bryan Mahan and Andy Malbouef, about the power of Schoology as a Learning Management System (LMS).  As there are many LMS choices out there, including Moodle and Edmodo, I have found that Schoology is the one that really goes beyond all of the others.  It has a social media feel so that students feel comfortable and is fully featured so that teachers get everything that they need to run their classrooms how they need to.  I would highly encourage all teachers who are ready to jump in with both feet (or just put a toe in the water to test the temperature) give Schoology a shot.

Quality Professional Development, 9-10-14

What a great morning blending technology into a little QPD.  After a little research and some help from a few communities on Google+ I was able to find a great new tool called BrainRush from a fellow educator, Maria Kilgore, in Elgin, IL.  One of the coolest interactive learning tools I have seen in some time.  If you are looking for an interactive web tool that allows for flashcards, placing items into categories, sequential order, or creating hotspots on an image, this is the tool for you.  As always, best part is that it is FREE and are able to log in with your Google account.  No extra usernames or passwords to keep track of.  Great for educators who are GAFE.  Lots of games that are already created, broken down into content area and Common Core. We used the Bucket Tool to place information into a few of the dimensions for the new 5D+ Teacher Evaluation Rubric.  I'm looking forward to seeing how teachers in our building and others around the world are using BrainRush in their classrooms.  Comment below or message me on Google+ if you have used this tool in your classroom or have other great TechKnowledge that you would like to share.