Spring is definitely in the air – the buds are on the trees and the daffodils have poked their heads above the ground. This also means that the latest newsletter is out. Check it out here!
Category: Tools that Make a Difference
Lightbulb Moment – Conversation in the Round
Recently an email landed in my box with a link to a voicethread. For those of you who haven’t seen VoiceThread, it’s a handy tool for collaborative communication out on the web. But let’s start at the beginning. I was involved in a planning project with a school envisioning a whole flip of their library. Aaahh, “Martha…
iPad/iPod Apps ShootOut – Multisensory Blitz
District Pro-D arrived on February 22nd. Offered at two sites (Byrne Creek and Taylor Park) complete with video feed of our keynote to Taylor Park, it served as a reminder that connection, collaboration, ideas generation happen when we all come together. With over 110 sessions, it was an electrifying event. No small feat for a…
To Blog Or Not To Blog
Why blog? Your current process of emailing parents or sending written notices home works just fine! Why change you ask. What makes blogging so unique? Blogging accomplishes many goals that cannot be accomplished as well as email, paper notices or student planner comments. Yes, blogging is an easy way to share homework and expectations for projects…
Choosing Meaningful Apps (iDevices)
Thousands of apps come and go in the iTunes Store. Without concerted strategic effort, searching for that “just right app” may feel like a hunt for a needle in a haystack. Even when it is identified “educational”, what does that mean? Upon closer inspection, many of these are nothing more than repetitive practice at…
Learning on a Curve – Learning Tech Inquiry Team
So much to learn – that must have been the thinking bubble of each participant in our Learning Tech Inquiry group. It was a day to use the new technologies (laptops, ipads, software) and get a bit more comfortable. This is what we explored: Start with a bit of brainstorming ideas. We used Padlet (previously known…
Communicating – the Art of Presentation
Consider the many times you present an idea, or tell a story. Haiku Deck on the iPad, takes the art of presenting to a whole new level. Take an idea or a message; synthesize it to a few words that represent the deep understandings. Haiku Deck will use the words to locate images from Creative Commons that…
Informed Choices for Writing Workshop
Even though you may love Writers Workshop, the challenge comes in keeping track of all the confer/revision comments for planning purposes. We know that immediate feedback, specific and targeted will support our students’ approximation of great writing. How do you keep your ongoing comments on students? (I used to use post-it notes – hundreds of post-its.)…
Hot Off the Presses – January News
It’s blustery and nippy outside. What better time than to dig into our latest newsletter of the year! Filled with hot items, as well as keep you up-to-date with the latest workshops and learning sessions. And who can resist those little tips and tricks that make teaching life both easier and interesting. CLICK HERE…
Why Write?
Sometimes a picture says it all… While using ComicLife is a powerful tool to create comics, sometimes what’s required is a tool that has its own built in media library. There are many out on the web to choose. The one above is from LearnEnglishKids by the British Council. A range of panels, backgrounds, characters…
December – The Gift of Time
It’s December and most every hour is in high gear, trying to get those last minute projects merged in with winter festivities. And just this weekend, we got our first whiff of snow. Magic is in the air among the smell of gingerbread houses, mandarin oranges and other treats popping up in all locations. Not…
Getting Extra Mileage from Apps
One of the things I find challenging is the inability of the iPad to support multiple open softwares (like my laptop). Try using Side by Side. This allows you to split the screen up to four windows at a time. Read, research, download files and take notes can be integrated into a session. This app…
Linking Computer to iPads – Screenshare
No doubt you’ve run into many screensharing apps that connect a teacher computer to iPads. Join.me is a free screen sharing meeting site that is simple to facilitate. This can be used to enhance a lesson by sharing the teacher’s computer screen with student ipads [imagine the possibility of a student with visual challenges being…
App Support in Reading
Apps come and apps go. All of them serve a purpose. It is the teacher who makes “magic” happen through the lesson experiences. Our iDevices Blog is where you will see an ongoing vetted list of apps. (Click Apps Collection list) Please add to the list if you run across an app that you love. Here’s one you may…
Apps for Music or Other Ways to Enter Learning
These are some of the vetted apps that people have found useful. Please add to the list if you run across an app that you love. iPad Music Education Apps
Creating Your Story
Creating your story takes on many layers. Our lives rarely unfold in a linear fashion. There are twists and turns that make the journey interesting. Over the years, story has become more and more important to me and finding ways to capture them in their vibrancy is a never ending challenge. I came across a…
Power of the Many – Writers Writing
Thinking extends to greater possibilities when we’re together supporting and learning from each other. Our second session of dynamic writers took us through a series of activities to explore ideas of “writing, what it means to write in the digital age, identified the principles of writing workshop, … We had a bit of time to…
Adding Alternative Modes to Blogs – Connecting to Audience
Sometimes writing just text won’t do and you want to add some spice to get your point across. Or you’re thinking of how you might communicate more clearly to your audience. Like oral conversations, a variety of examples may be helpful to clarify thinking. One simple way is to use video and embed content…
So You Have All these Apps – Now What
The proliferation of ipad apps can be equally exciting and overwhelming. For the second time I’ve had an opportunity to share an “introduction to active ipad experiences” session in schools. The goal was to provide staff with collaborative fun, hands-on experience with a large number of apps that might support a variety of content curricular…
Learning, Learning Everywhere – Part 2
This is Part 2 of the learning opportunities throughout the year with more details in the Staff Development Calendar. Tech Snacks: This series of learning opportunities are offered as little snacks of possibilities. Come spend a bit of time (30 minutes each) to see and explore a variety of tools, objects, projects and ideas that…