Technology: A Catalyst for Learning

Presented by the MEH Digital Learning Team

March 30, 2012

Two ses The format of the March 30th professional day allows teachers to attend two digital learning sessions from an assortment of teaching and learning categories.

Assessment • Intro to Google Forms • Student-Developed Google Sites

Communication • Sharing the Power of Project-Based Learning

• Grow Your Personal Learning Network

Collaboration • Google Docs: What, Why and How

Productivity • Google Calendar: I’d be lost without it!

• Google Sites for Teachers

Curriculum Support • Digital Word Walls

• Exploring Discovery Education Streaming • Digital Dioramas... & More

• Building Visuals Models

• Make Studying Easier with Quizlet The sessions highlight how digtial tools can be used to support, enhance and, potentially transform teacher pedagogical practices. While all of the sessions utlize digital tools, the emphasis is always on the teaching and learning, the use of the tool is secondary... it’s not HOW do you use the tool that matters... but WHAT you do with it to help students. We hope you embrace the learning with an open mind and a risk taking attitude. Sincerely, The MEH Digital Learning Team

Are You Ready

For Some Digital Learning?

Digital Dioramas… & more (S1.1) Presented by Brett Sparrgrove

Session 1 (8:30 – 9:30)

A diorama can be a fun and creative way for students to showcase their learning about an event, a process, and more. However, you can leave the shoe boxes at home and have your students create Digital Dioramas. Learn how to use PowerPoint (yes, PowerPoint) to create digital dioramas and discuss strategies for sharing those dioramas with the world! This engaging, hands-on session will also provide additional “I didn’t know you could do that with PowerPoint” ideas. PRE-REQUISITES or MATERIALS: None

Sharing the Power of Project-Based Learning (S1.2) Presented by Lauren Glass Session 1 (8:30 – 9:30)

DESCRIPTION: Why do we need to share the process of learning? And how do

we go about doing that? In this session, you will learn the importance of

documenting a classroom learning experience and the best way to show off the

awesome things that happen in your classroom! Learn how reflecting on a

lesson can help both student and teacher understand material on a deeper

level, and how documentation can be used for SOL review.

PRE-REQUISITES or MATERIALS: Any pictures of your kids doing project-based

learning. Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word and digital camera use is helpful, but

NOT required!

Digital Word Walls (S1.3) Bring your words to life with Animoto Presented by Seidah Ashshaheed Session 1 (8:30 – 9:30)

What better way to learn vocabulary than by creating a pictorial dictionary with Animoto. Students can create their own pictorial flashcards or present their vocabulary words as a final project to show mastery. Teachers can introduce new words using Animoto, or create a quick review using this visual interactive system! Come in empty-handed and leave with your own finished product. PRE-REQUISITES or MATERIALS: Please sign-up for a FREE Animoto Educator’s

account http://www.animoto.com/education Bring 5 content related vocabulary words

to use in your presentation.

Session 1 (8:30 – 9:30)

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Google Calendar: I’d be lost without it! (S1.4) The basics and timesaving tips & tricks Presented by Maureen Taylor Session 1 (8:30 – 9:30)

Whether you want help with the basics of working with Google Calendar or want to learn some neat shortcuts/tricks/tools for the more experienced user, this session is for you. Learn how to share calendars with others, embed calendars into other websites, sign-up for computers labs, use GCal on your smartphone, and more. PRE-REQUISITES or MATERIALS: Know how to login to your schoogle or google account(s), any dates or events you’d like to put into a calendar if you’re creating one for the first time.

Exploring Discovery Education Streaming (S1.5) Presented by Lisa Mueller Session 1 (8:30 – 9:30)

Discovery Education (known by many of us as the old United Streaming) is an incredible resource of videos such as Planet Earth and the Magic School Bus. For beginners, come build your own collection of relevant videos and clips to have immediately available year after year. For more experienced learners, take this opportunity to learn about the other features of this site including STEM resources, puzzle maker, creating student access and at-home assignments, and how to embed content. The possibilities for this site are endless - if you are not using it, you really need to give it a shot! PRE-REQUISITES or MATERIALS: Know how to login to your DES account. If you don’t have an account, you’ll need this passcode to register: http://bit.ly/GRebvi

Google Docs: What, Why and How (S1.6) Presented by Farrell Kelly Session 1 (8:30 – 9:30)

Every student in school now has access to schoogle tools, and most have a

natural facility for using them. We’ll look at how students can use Google Docs

to share and collaborate in their written and project based work, and how you

can use it as a tool to drive both formative and summative assessment. Let’s

put the dazzle back in documents!

PRE-REQUISITES or MATERIALS: Know how to log into your schoogle account.

Session 1 (8:30 – 9:30)

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Grow your Personal Learning Network (PLN)(S2.1) Using Google Reader & Twitter Presented by Brett Sparrgrove Session 2 (9:40 – 10:40) Expanding your PLN will open up doors to sources of information that will supplement your knowledge about the world. Understanding and harnessing new technologies to create and grow your PLN is imperative for connected educators. Google reader and Twitter are central tools for maintaining an effective PLN. This session will introduce both tools, demonstrate how they fit into a PLN and provide time for teachers to “tinker” with both. PRE-REQUISITES or MATERIALS: know how to login to your schoogle account.

Building Visual Models (S2.2) Creating Animated Sequences in PowerPoint Presented by Kathleen Johnson Session 2 (9:40 – 10:40)

What did I see? What does it mean? What do I know? As teachers we often

use models as physical representations of mental and/or abstract concepts. In

the classroom they can serve as tools for thinking and to visualize and make

sense of phenomena and experience. In this hands-on session you'll learn how

to use Powerpoint as a visual tool to reveal student learning. You'll be given

the tools to engage your students in thinking about their own thinking as they

create models to explain content specific phenomena.

PRE-REQUISITES or MATERIALS: None

Google Sites for Teachers (S2.3) Presented by Lisa Mueller and Maureen Taylor Session 2 (9:40 – 10:40)

Have you been wanting to create a website but find that time is never on your side? Or do you think that it must be a difficult process only accessible to tech savvy individuals? Come spend an hour with us on Friday morning and we will make sure you leave the session with a functional website tailored to you. PRE-REQUISITES or MATERIALS: Know how to login to your schoogle or google

account(s)

Session 2 (9:40 – 10:40)

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Make Studying Easier with Quizlet! (S2.4) Presented by Amy Burling & Amanda Blanchard Session 2 (9:40 – 10:40)

Why Quizlet, what is it, how will my students benefit? Watch and learn…. http://vimeo.com/37550831

This session will show you how you can have interactive and engaging content

for your students to study on Quizlet in just minutes!. You can create flashcards

or search from millions already created by other users. Once you make a set of

flashcards, your students can study in 6 different and fun ways (from flashcards

to games). Extend the functionality of Quizlet by having students set up free

user accounts and join your group/class.

PRE-REQUISITES or MATERIALS: You will need to bring a list of vocabulary words & definitions (paper or electronic) that you will use in 4th quarter.

Student-developed Google Sites (S2.5) Presented by Leah Partridge Session 2 (9:40 – 10:40) Websites are powerful tools for sharing information. We use them all the time;

some of us have our own website that we tell students to use to find

information. What happens when we give students the license to create a

website? Check out several student created websites and learn some tips to

helping students be successful in their endeavor. This session will include time to

play with google-sites, learning how to incorporate some of the most popular

student tools. These can easily be applied to your personal website!

PRE-REQUISITES or MATERIALS: Know how to login to your schoogle or google

account(s); Some familiarity with google sites is beneficial, but NOT required

Intro to Google Forms (S2.6) It’s not just for surveys Presented by Farrell Kelly Session 2 (9:40 – 10:40) Google forms, a specific subset of Google Docs, has a lot of potential - it’s got an

easy to use interface, it collects and collates data for you, and you can tweak it

to do take home quizzes, response assignments, or a lot of other things your

heart may desire. Students have access to create these forms, too, and their

potential for project-based learning is high. Practice creative ways to drizzle in

data collection that’ll sizzle not fizzle!

PRE-REQUISITES or MATERIALS: Know how to log into your schoogle account.

Session 2 (9:40 – 10:40)

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