As we wrap up 2015, I want to say what an absolute honor it is to work alongside such dedicated, talented, and risk-taking teachers. I look forward to working with you in 2016 to continue to bring innovative practices in math instruction/technology integration to our district.Here are a few tips and tricks for ed tech tools that you might want to explore over the Winter Break. The tools focus on networking to expand your Professional Learning Network (PLN), lesson delivery, assessment, and bonus engagement tools. Pick and choose which tools you think would lend themselves to enhancing your instructional repertoire!
Expanding your PLN (Tools 1-3)
On the first day of Winter Break, my math/tech coach gave to me, tips on using Twitter effectively:
Twitter is essentially a news feed of only the news that you care about. Through Twitter, your professional development happens on your time based on what you find relevant. You can follow experts in math and technology, connect with colleagues both near and afar, participate in Twitter chats, and join other professional communities that brach off of Twitter groups (i.e. Voxer chat groups- see below).Tips for getting started:
- When you sign up, don't succumb to the Twitter pressure to follow celebrities. Only follow people who are relevant to your professional growth. Start by uploading a photo (don't be an egg!) and writing a few words about who you are in your bio.
- If you want some suggestions on people to follow, here are some lists I've created:
- CUSD math teachers
- Math Gurus (people/companies I follow for inspiration and ideas)
- Ed Tech Inspiration
- Follow me! @LindseyBlass1
- Just watch at first- it is totally acceptable to be on Twitter and not post!
- Join in conversations with people. Include handles (Twitter usernames) using "@" so they receive notification that you are communicating with them.
- Use hashtags to follow a topic, conference, or to engage in a Twitter Chat
On the second day of Winter Break, my math/tech coach gave to me, Voxer as a walkie talkie:Voxer is an app that you can run on your phone or computer that acts like a walkie talkie. Recently in education, many people have begun forming specialized Voxer groups to chat about topics of interest. Think of Voxer as a personalized podcast which allows you to participate in professional development while you clean your house, work out, or drive around running errands.
Interested in trying out a Voxer group? Twitter is a great way to connect with others and find a group that is relevant to you. Otherwise, just reach out to me! I participate in a Voxer group for teacher leaders, one for TOSAs, an Ed Tech Book Club group, and a Math/Tech chat group. I can help you find a group that works for you!
On the third day of Winter Break, my math/tech coach gave to me, Google+ Communities:Google Communities are a great way to share resources and learn from others. Within our district's Google Apps for Education account, we are able to establish private communities so that posts are only shared within our district. We currently have communities for our tech coaches and for math.
Join our community or create one of your own! You can search for the math community (CampbellUSD Math Connection) when logged in with your CUSD account, or contact me or Amanda Haughs to join!
Lesson Delivery Tools (Tools 4-6)
On the fourth/fifth/sixth day of Winter Break, my math/tech coach gave to me, tools for lesson delivery:
Nearpod
While Nearpod is not a new tool, they are constantly adding new features that make it an instructional tool that can't be resisted! With Nearpod, you can take any boring old powerpoint lesson and make it interactive with components such as "Draw it" slides, embedded assessment and polls, video and web searches. Students submit their responses to you, and you can project those responses on the other students' screens. Just think of the great opportunities for error analysis with this tool! You can use live sessions where you control the students' screens during instruction, or homework sessions for self-guided lessons. While some features are only available with the subscription, many of the features can be used with the free version.
In my last post on Desmos, I described the Activity Builder tool (the Nearpod of the graphing world). Desmos has many other fun and fabulous features. To learn more about how to use Desmos in instruction, watch some of their existing tutorials. You and your students can use your CUSD Google Apps for Ed credentials to log in to Desmos. Also make sure to check out their latest tool Marbleslides (just launched on Monday- click here for Michael Fenton's blog post on the tool!). I know many teacher have expressed interest in receiving additional professional development/collaboration opportunities with Desmos, so this will be high on my priority list when we return from break!
Geogebra is another fantastic tool that allows for digital modeling with mathematics. Like Desmos, you and your students can use your Google login information to access lessons. One additional feature Geogebra has is that it allows you to submit assignments via Google Classroom- woo hoo! This picture shows a lesson that Pedro Garcia at CMS did using Geogebra to model transformations (translations, rotations, reflections) by designing mock video games in Geogebra.Assessment Tools (Tools 7-9)
On the seventh/eight/ninth day of Winter Break, my math/tech coach gave to me, tools for assessment three:
This game-based assessment system is a guaranteed crowd pleaser! With suspenseful music and a very streamlined platform, the students quickly jump into assessments with the eagerness they have when playing games.
Google Forms
This tool allows you to go beyond multiple choice/true false assessment and create meaningful assessments that will allow you to assess in depth understanding of concepts. This blog post from Alice Keeler describes in depth how to create your first form!
Plickers
This is the perfect assessment option for a quick check in since the students don't even need devices! Students are given QR style cards, and they respond to multiple choice questions by holding the card up in a certain direction. You then scan the student responses using your phone or iPad to instantly see how the class responded. You can also look at individual data by assigning numbers to your students.
Engagement Tools (Tools 10-12)
On the tenth day of Winter Break, my math/tech coach gave to me, engagement with Bitmoji
*Please note that Bitmoji is for teacher use only (not for under 13).
On the eleventh day of Winter Break, my math/tech coach gave to me, a tool to make Memes for free:
Take your Bitmoji to the next level by adding text to make it a Meme! The Mematic IOS app allows you to add personalized text to any picture. Memes allow you to use humor and style to engage students.
On the twelfth day of Winter Break, my math/tech coach gave to me, Green Screen by Do Ink:
The IOS App Green Screen by DoInk will turn any wall of your classroom into a Hollywood studio. Simply cover the wall with green paper and record in front of your homemade green screen. You can then place any photo or video that you want as a backdrop to the video. Use this tool to make engaging videos for your students, or even better, allow your students to create the videos! Do you already have your students explain their problem solving through screencasting? Imagine a screencast or math problem in the background while your students stand front and center presenting their explanation (a la weather person style). Please continue to let me know how I can support you and your students! Happy holidays!
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