Class Dojo - club dojo app for iPad

• https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/teacherpal/id389584618?mt=8
• http://teach.classdojo.com/login#!/launchpad
• http://mrguymonsclassroom.weebly.com/2/post/2012/08/my-must-have-classroom-management-ipad-apps.html
• http://ipadschools.wikispaces.com/Managing a Classroom Set of iPads
• https://itunes.apple.com/app/pearson-dash/id471339475?mt=8

New items that can enhance classroom
1.Battery charger- wind up and it charges
2. DASH app.  Goes with Envision Math- videos/login and play games with each lesson
3. Ipad Mouse
4. iPad -Squidoo site....green alien guy

1. Socrative- test on iPad (also has an exit ticket)
2. UEN.org

• Star Quiz App from iTunes http://www.cosmicsoft.net/
• Socrative app--This is what I will center my part of the exploratorium around.  I thought I would have them do a pre-made quiz that I have made, and then get into groups to create one of their own that we can share around the room.
• UEN emedia  http://www.uen.org/emedia/
• http://www.greatsource.com/iwrite/index.html

Leadership Action Plan- November 5

Professional Development in the Building

I truly believe that I have become a better teacher because I take a professional development classes. I do have to say that my classes have not been in my building, except just lately with my ESL endorsement. This district is moving toward more in building professional development because Mrs. Shaw, my principal, stated in the last BLT meeting that we would be having this once a month in the future.  She asked for ideas of what we thought was needed.

Now my opinion would take this idea a step farther.  A class is a good thing, but I think one on one is the magic number for enhancing a teacher’s toolbox.  I would begin with a classroom schedule for each one with a yearlong plan.  Then use the Ed Tech to make up a list of resources that could be brought into the curriculums. For example, with writing, the district is awesome that Utahwrite and Myaccess are offered.  Inside of these programs are multitudes of great ways to help students.  Utahwrite has videos with practice time, while on the other hand, Myaccess has all the tools like a thesaurus to help students with wording, if you know it is there. Offering to teach 10-minute mini class to the students would really be a model for the teacher to later on do herself could be one idea. A list of ideas for each area, plus time the tech has available would be the best resource. 

Types of Professional Development I can Lead

Technology reminds me of a kaleidoscope, always brilliant but always changing. My bottom line is that what I used in my classroom as “so cool” yesterday, might be outclassed with a new idea tomorrow.  The trick is to keep learning and trying out ideas with students.  If they like it, they gravitate towards it on their own.  I feel like my responsibility is to keep adding ideas to their choices.  When a project needs technology, they have more than one way to address the need.

That being said, here is a good beginning of ideas I have worked with.  Some are ideas I came up with today, some I use year after year, and some are on the back burner.

1.     Teaching Teachers to Use the Ipad as a Textbook
2.     Applications that Work Well in the classroom
3.     Lesson Plans that lend themselves to Technology
4.     Technology Success Stories
5.     Putting Technology into Reading Street
6.     Flipping the Classroom
7.     Increasing Fluency using Garageband
8.     Award Winning iMovies for Contests
9.     How to Write a High Scoring Essay- Think like a Computer
10.  Storybird, A writing tool for students who finish early with their work

11. How to Run a Technology Club after School
a.     A yearlong club adjenda
b.     How not to make it boring

12. Applications I could teach
a.     Imovie
b.     Garageband
c.      Ebooks
d.     Word- Microsoft tools- I think these tools are valuable to the student because they are always going to be around as tools- and they offer so much now than the older versions.
e.     Comic Life
f.      Photobooth-Animation
g.     Stellarium (Stars-6th grade core)
h.     iDVD
i.       Sketchup (a little- my tech kids love it)
j.       Pages
k.     Pixelmator (a little- my teenage loves it- its like Photobooth)
l.       Illustrator (haha- the older version)

13. Online Tools

a.     Gmail- many tools are in this email application
b.     Weebly- Website
c.      VoiceThread
d.     iUniversity
e.     Apps and how they can help
f.      Twitter – learning and reinactment
g.     Dropbox
h.     Blogs
i.      Wordle
j.      Google+

This list is good for today, but tomorrow it could be outdated. 

Areas I Need Help

I struggled with some tools during this class because they required a time commitment to learn. This is a trick question because if I was asked to teach any tool I would be ready to do it.  It is important to feel like you need help, because teachers will come to you with that feeling, and you must not downplay that emotion. You must be warm and willing to spend time.  I see when the application or toy is more important to the teacher than the learner and then a decision needs to be made.  How important is it to learn.  That is why we do a variety of options when we teach, like bring a “paper” handout so they feel like they have an anchor to something they are used to.  Then bring them into the 21st century with links to find it again.

Areas:

1.     GPS (This is one area I would have liked simple paper instructions.)
2.     Copyright- I spent a long time reading about it this summer…still nervous
3.     Creative Commons

Informal Professional Development

Teachers feel overloaded but they love learning new things.  Another idea would be transition time videos. It would be a great tool to teach students new information that is available.  Many times, we lose time in the day when we move from subject to subject.  Teachers do not need or want more work for them, but giving students more ideas and tools always helps the teacher.  When the student is engaged, the teacher feels good about their teaching.  It could be as simple as making the required words in Reading Street or the math book into a transition video.  Then as they move subjects, it could play.  It would be like going to the movies and waiting for it to start.  I have all the questions and answers memorized by the time the previews start. Coming up with ways to integrate into their already busy life without stress would be the ideal.

Continued Professional Learning and Lifelong Learning

MY FAVORITE thing I did this summer was Twitter.  I learned more from following the #ISTE12 online and made a page on my Weebly. http://mcshinsky.weebly.com/iste12.html  It took me three times being taught in the Ed Tech Endorsement program before I got how valuable a tool Twitter is.  Love it! Not only do I read about what others think is important in education but follow people and see how their mind ticks.

My plan is to keep listening, learning, recording, and most of all sharing what I find. My students are always happy for Wednesday when I come and share what I have learned.  You keep professional by having the next generation become professional. Knowing more than someone else is not my plan of happiness, sharing what I know is how I’m content.

What kind of learner are you?  Students learn in different styles.  Link:http://people.usd.edu/~bwjames/tut/learning-style/stylest.html

Vicky Allen:  Skype vistor
Did 5 things wrong to begin with...to see if we noticed.  1. She is wearing a hat that blinked 2. She was late 3. disorganized 4. Didn't have eye contact 4. Off topic 5. Didn't know about your technology

Basically:  Lighten the mood, now, close your eyes in imaginary trip and will ask questions.

1. Go to your favorite workshop room in your mind.  You are early. You are watching the speaker, post its, markers, projector,  posters around the room, time comes to start. Welcomes and introduces herself.  Then the hashtag #Allentech2012  Remember the pre-reading and pre...then take an everywhere poll, then it shows live. (Allowed input)

2. Workshop- need to allow people to be interactive. Get people ready ahead of time so that you can talk.

Next senario:

1. Back to the presenter.  The presenter showed video clips, discussion, audio files, flash drive back up video (things happen , had a back up). Twitter feed up on the projector screen.  See responses. Had to work with new people. Worked in collaborative soft wear and worked together to produce something.  Presenter is walking around the room and facilitating.  Show and explain what you have learned. Post a comment and reply to someone else's response.

Learning Styles:  Why is that important?
We need to learn how to work with each other as adults.

Website that promote learning of what you are reading:

http://www.wordle.net/
http://www.abcya.com/
http://tagul.com/
 http://www.tagxedo.com/

Places to Explore:
http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/home
Jeopardylabs.com
buildyourwildself.com (Avatar builder)

Apps

AppsGoneFree   (mostly free and games) Go quickly because the good apps go fast!
AppShopper   (can build a wish list and see what is 
CollabraCam (controls 4 ipads to video at one time)
Cornell Notes
Phoster- build posters

http://www.primaryaccess.org/
note shelf....Ipad app   write with your finger to take notes on your iPad

Leadership Action Plan

Leadership Skills for Technology Integration

A school is a community.  Inside that world are a variety of people who come with different skills and experiences. When new ideas are introduced into this neighborhood, many reactions happen. At a time of change, I believe the first leadership skill is trust.  Teachers need to rely on the ability and feel confidence about the messenger who is bringing the new ideas into the school. A feeling of willingness to help a teacher, even if you have to do it over and over again, is valuable to opening the door to allowing more training in the future.  Teachers talk.  The school community will make a decision how they feel about the leadership of the technology specialist based on what happens with teachers individually.

A school needs a vision and direction. A leader is one who can help people see where they are going.  In technology, we need to first have the tools put into the schools so that it builds the hope that they can really be part of the future.  I know of schools in our state that only have computer labs without computers in the classroom.  The teachers know they only get a short time each week using this lab. I am totally grateful for the vision my principal and district have who are not only willing to put them in the classroom but also to fix them when something goes wrong. Technology integration needs a team of people who believe in the same vision and are willing to put the best in the hands of children.

A leader is someone who is willing to learn. Working as a team is invaluable to the whole piece of community thinking. Knowing how to work in a group and to give and take is a skill. In technology, we need this leadership skill because one person cannot be an expert in all areas of technology. Developing relationships with others creates the ability to find value in others and find strength when operating as a leader.

My Strengths/Weaknesses

            A weakness is only an opportunity to make it into a strength.  Who I was yesterday is an addition to who I will be tomorrow. My strength from childhood that I carry with me is a positive attitude. I carry a will inside me to see people succeed and feel good about how and what they are learning. I expect to win. I have high expectations and work to be the best. That said, I feel one of my strengths is that I don’t judge other people.  All my life, I have been able to walk into any situation from poverty to wealth and never look at the package but at the heart. I love to learn.  Some times that becomes my weakness, because I have to remind myself that not everyone likes to learn new things like I do.

My sister was a beauty queen and I wasn’t.  I decided then, if I couldn’t be beautiful, I would have a great personality.  So I know a weakness of my leadership skills are my looks, but on the other hand, I do my best to be fun, reliable, and willing to serve.

I am good at mixing the old and the new.  I am really good at putting technology into a regular curriculum. Also, I’m a good teacher. However, I know that I want to teach too much in a small period of time.  I believe that I students can do two things at one time and that students should help each other to learn. That being said, that can be my weakness.  Some people need more time to absorb information. I believe that I am a good leader of others.  What I don’t know, I will learn.  What I do know, I will share. I know how to connect with others and build relations.

Challenges

Life sometimes feels like a hike.  At times we have to climb mountains. I believe that challenges need to be taken a step at a time. My biggest teaching challenge this year is two new different curriculums each day. Not only do I teach two grades, fifth and sixth- English side, but they added math in fifth grade also. I am taking this endorsement, but was required to take the ESL endorsement starting in September also. This all being said, time is my biggest challenges. I’m grateful that my students, fellow teachers, administrator are wonderful. Even with my plate being full, I enjoy what I do and what I’m learning.

In the area of technology, the area of challenge is trying to help other teachers put one more thing on their plate.  It seems like this year, teachers are drowning. In the teacher’s lounge they are venting with groaning voices. On the other hand, my students are hungry for new ideas, skills that help them express themselves, and wanting to be part of the technology movement. This brings up the challenge of how to make both teachers and students happy.

Stakeholders

Bottom line, the student/teacher becomes interchangeable in the learning process.  In technology, I find that it is important to teach the student that they need to become the teacher. I encourage them to share what they learn. They are so important in the quest for the movement of ideas.  The classroom teacher on the other hand should learn new things, be part of a social network so that are always aware and sharing.  It provides an atmosphere of learning.  So the stakeholders in technology are each other.

Information on the School/District Culture

My school has many experienced teachers.  Because they have been teaching for so long, it creates teachers who are secure in they way they teach. New ideas don’t have to throw away teaching methods that work, but should enhance what works. The new common core/math programs are requiring students to reach up and be college ready.  These programs are district based. Personally, I love the vision our district has for students. Students are so ready to learn. Parents want the best for their children, but many students in our area are heavily involved in competitive sports. Also, many parents are both working or are carrying the family finances.  Together this makes for parents not begging for their children to have homework every night.  This puts more emphasis on learning in the classroom. In my ESL class we also have in our district students with 80 different languages and the highest dropout rate is our English language learners. In our district, 21% receive free/reduced lunch, 22 % are minority, 5 % are language learners, and 4% are homeless. This puts our teaching in perspective that even if we have come a long way, we have so many areas to be aware of and work with. I believe our district and my school are amazing and welcoming to the new ideas in the area of technology. From the beginning of the Engaged classroom to years later now, our school has really been growing in technology.  Now we are working towards an Ipad lab for our school. So to put these ideas all together, I feel privileged that my school and district are on the cutting edge of change and that we embrace the idea that students can be college ready.

What makes a student feel like they are part of a community of new ideas? How can students join this technology tsunami and be surfing on the wave instead of being pushed around in the undertow.  It begins with a teacher that is willing to weave new methods into the core information that needs to be learned. They need to be willing to let students explore in the playground of online media as they stand on the sidelines being the cheerleader of learning. My students love the new equipment that I place in front of them.  Many have become experts in flipping and twirling on the new toys. Some have fallen on their faces, but most have enjoyed the new techy playground equipment and feel like they are experts at them. What is most meaningful to me is when my students are engaged in learning. What helps my students most is feeling safe with what I give them to explore .  What I use the most is what my students have clung to. In other words, I allow a flood of ideas to come into the classroom so that when the tide changes, my students are manning the boats with a portfolio of options instead of floating in a kiddy life jacket.

Reflection
We worked in groups on a project called infographics. I personally like the project but I am a visual person. Being this creative isn't everyones cup of tea. I went back to my sixth grade class and tried an introduction of 15 minutes with them.  They enjoyed seeing what they were, but like teaching someone to do an essay, this would take time.  It is a mix of art + data.  In our world of gathering data, I see a need to put it somewhere.  I love the idea going visual.  It is also entertaining. Now let's talk time. When I am creative, I find it necessary to sit and let ideas gather.  As I read, I see pictures.  Then I play with them on the page with a pencil and eraser. When our group worked together on one, not everyone thought in pictures.  I did, but I always think that way. One thing I really like is the possibilities of helping people get a snapshot of data.


Leadership project
We will be doing a leadership project where we teach five peers something in technology.  We need a lesson plan and will be observed by our teachers. Personally, I do this every week with about 25 fifth and sixth graders in my volunteer Tech Club every Tuesday at 3:00 to 4:00.  I don't create a lesson plan for endeavor but we are actively engaged for an hour.  I'm thinking about doing Flubaroo because of the benefit to teachers, but I would have to set up five teachers with a Weebly and Gmail account before I taught the class. I'm down with that. Teachers need something that will make a difference instead of something they can't use but once. On the other hand, I love to give new ideas to students and let them work and play with the new technology item.  It is their level of play.



Class Notes
Darrin Draper-Skyping
Take aways

• Technology changes teaching and learning.
  
• The room is smarter than the teacher...because we let the world come into our class room. We have become facilitators not all knowledgeable.
  


• I don't think that technology is necessary but it should be used to reach our goals not just for technology sake. The teacher needs to a purpose in your technology.
  


• This technology changes people...when invisible instead of the purpose of the lesson.
  


• If a teacher is not sharing what he or she knows, there is no education happening.  Education is sharing and is about being open.- David Wiley
  


• We need to share with people who are less fortunate. 
  

Self Start
What are 2 leaders you admire?

Engaging in Professional Growth and Leadership

Video: Youtube- Here is to the crazys because they change things.

Leadership 
Next steps:
1. Have a goal
2. Be persistent
3. Enjoy incremental gains in desirable directions
4. Let go of total fulfillment

Apps:
Springpad- free
[email protected]

Infographics
http://www.michaelfullan.ca/media/13396086820.pdf
http://piktochart.com

springpad.com
leadership part

[email protected]     teacher
[email protected]       teacher

Every teacher in our class gave a presentation.  Here is what the teachers loved and ones I enjoyed:

1.  Clickers..for immediate feedback.
2. My access- Amazing Prezi...and was sent her copy to me because it was so detailed with information
3. Aracademics- Class leader board...math facts  kids love it  Cost:  She got it for 1/2 price...$77.50 for her students...with 31 students
4. Pixie-  a mix of kid pics and keynote project and podcast--loved the Phases of the Moon assessment
5. Poll everywhere- kids like it
6. Skyward assessment
7. Polldaddy - has lots of options- only 200 responses per month

I used myaccess this week to assess writing with my 6th grade students.  They loved utahwrite.com a lot last year, but they really have enjoyed the new assessment for writing.  It gave us a chance to review best writing skills.  I also learned to asses on Reading street.  I didn't realize that they had a test for each unit.  I also gave these to my students. I was pleased.  I really appreciate the teachers who spent time with Aimsweb because I didn't know that you could asses fluency and keep a record.