Category: edtech

Best Practices: Motivation & Personalization

~ iMrsHughes ~ Leave a comment

“Studies report that reading in a digital learning environment is an incentive in younger and lower performing students that feedback in e-books and apps plays a powerful role for staying engaged and motivated.” (Roskos & Neuman, 2014)

“Because teachers have access to timely data…they can personalize learning for more students at any given time…” (Roskos & Neuman, 2014)

The use of Educational Technology allows teachers to assess students quicker, provide immediate feedback, and personalize learning in a way that is much more effective than before.  By using the right tools at the right times, teachers can capitalize on teachable moments and intervene with struggling students sooner rather than later.  This type of personalization makes learning more motivating! And lucky for us there are tons of tools waiting to help us!

Music:  If you’re not using music in your classroom to motivate your students, are you even having fun?  I know it’s not directly tied to the Best Practice, but music in the classroom sets a tone and creates an experience that is memorable and in turn motivating.  Typically, I’ll use a Pandora station appropriate to the text/topic we are learning about; however, sometimes I get a little more clever ::see also, annoying:: and I’ll find YouTube videos of certain songs playing for 10 hours!!!!  Don’t worry, we haven’t gotten there ever, but when we’re learning about sharks and the kids see I play the Jaws theme song for 10 hours, they definitely feel the tension!  Check out these top Pandora stations as recommended by teachers!

Collaborative Digital Canvas:  aka a virtual corkboard!  There are TONS of new websites that provide similar functions.  Students can log into the site and share text, images, websites, or videos relating to a certain topic.  Students become motivated to share their ideas or findings with their classmates, and it also gives the teacher a quick assessment of student understanding!

My Favorites?  Padlet, Dotstorming, Spaaze, Lino It 

Customized Video:  aka video with questions embedded!  Using videos in the classroom is known to increase motivation; however, I need to know if the students are understanding the information that’s being presented.  Cue in Customized Videos!  There are tons of sites created with ready-to-go videos or simple interfaces that make it easy to create such videos!

My Favorites?  EdPuzzle, PlayPosit

HyperDocs:  Think of this as a complete lesson in one Google Doc.  Each phase of the document has students engage with information in a different way either explaining, analyzing, sharing, reflecting, etc.  The beauty of a HyperDoc in the classroom is students can move at their own pace and use varying resources.  I can pull for small groups, differentiate my instruction, and allow the students time to fully explore a topic on their own.  Also, the HyperDocs community is VERY active and VERY generous.  They share a LOT!  Check out this site for some free templates and samples!  And this Padlet is just insane.  These people are amazing!

 

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Best Practices: Knowledge Through Text

~ iMrsHughes ~ Leave a comment

“Having children engage in books of high quality introduces them to new words, ideas, and events outside of their daily experience.” (Roskos & Neuman, 2014)

As teachers, our job is to expose students to ideas, concepts, and realities they have yet to experience.  Whether through class discussions, reading a novel, or analyzing a video, it is imperative to help student build knowledge of the world around them through the texts we choose to incorporate.  And the integration of Educational Technology provides opportunities for learning that were simply not possible before.  In fact, using technology to help create learning experiences for students is one of the Best Practices of the 21st Century Literacy Classroom!

Check out some of the links compiled below that can help your students BUILD KNOWLEDGE THROUGH TEXT.

Virtual Field Trips:  Check out the extensive list of virtual field trips on this blog post!  Tons of options for all ages and all subjects!

E-Books:  Yes, there are tons of websites available to make e-books with students, but to be honest, PowerPoint or Google Slides works just fine!  E-books can become companion readers!  Every time we visit a new location on Google Earth or find the answer to a question, have students create a new page of their Companion Reader!  Looking for additional ideas? Go here!

GAFE:  The Google Suite is the best and easiest way to build knowledge.  Reading a book and the students have a question?  Simple!  Google it!  YouTube it!  Google Earth it!  We have answers and virtual experiences to help our students build background knowledge in order to further understand a text by simply using the Google Apps for Education Suite!  

Share to Classroom Extension:  This Chrome extension pairs with Google Classroom users!  Teachers can push websites to students with one click!  Simply locate the site, click Share to Classroom, and select the Google Classroom you’d like to share with link with!  The website on your screen immediately is sent to your students and opens on their screens!  AMAZING!

Take a STAND!  One of my freebies!  After building the knowledge through the text, I like to have students formulate opinions on the things read!  Have students Take a Stand on the issue… literally!

 

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Ed Tech & Literacy Best Practices

~ Christina Hughes ~ Leave a comment

From the start of my teaching career, I integrated technology into my classroom.  I used to be a rarity!  People would come observe me using tools and ideas that today are commonplace in schools across the country.  As education begins its transition into the 21st century, schools are quickly adapting by purchasing technology to aid instructional practices.  Teachers are beginning to use these tools to have students conduct research, create multimedia, and take the lesson plan to a different, exciting level!  
All of these are steps in the right direction.  However, we must remember that this venture into the new land of Ed Tech must be rooted in best practices.  
Using Roskos & Neuman’s article from The Reading Teacher as a guide, we’ll be discussing how educational technology can help teachers be more effective and engaging while being sure to implement best practices.

Best Practices in Reading: A 21st Century Skill Update by Roskos & Neuman
PIN: 

KFBQY

How can you integrate technology into your literacy block while still holding true to the best practices highlighted by Roskos & Neuman?

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Virtual Field Trips: Links Included!

~ Christina Hughes ~ Leave a comment

Looking to try virtual field trips with your class?  
Check out some of my favorite resources to really engage your students with the content!

1.  Google’s Virtual Field Trips
 
2. Google+ or Skype
 
 
3.  YouTube Virtual Field Trips
 
Atlanta’s International Terminal:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isxfYBSh2q4
 
Plimoth Plantation: The First Thanksgiving:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5qi3Meqy24
4.  National Parks/Monuments
5.  Other
 

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Google Classroom in June – 3 Essential Tips!

~ Christina Hughes ~ 1 Comment

If you’ve been using Google Classroom for the first time this year, you and I are probably sharing similar thoughts as the school year comes to an end:  What do I do with my Classroom?  Do I really have to start ALL over next year?




After doing some research of my own, I hope you’ll find these helpful tips to successfully finish the year with your online classroom.
Tip One:  Download all grades!

Most (if not all) of my record keeping has been completed digitally this year, but we still need to turn in our grade books in June.  This is one way to download your grades so you can have them all in one spot.  You can export them to Google Sheets, download one assignment as a CSV, or download all assignments as a CSV.  
Downloading Grades from Google Classroom
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Tip Two:  Create an Archive Folder

I’ll be archiving my Google Classroom from this school year, but unfortunately, in my Google Drive, the folder for the class will still be there. Therefore, my suggestion is to create an Archive Folder that you can literally move your Classroom folder into so you can have remaining access to those files, just not for your current school year.
Creating an Archive Folder

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Tip Three: Archive Classes

This is the easy one.  You can archive classes in Google Classroom which is amazing because then you can reuse the posts!  Reusing the Classroom itself, while tempting, is not ideal for K-12 education because there’s no flexibility when it comes to reordering assignments, etc.  Therefore, archiving and reusing posts is the way to go!

Hope these three tips help you close out your school year with Google Classroom!
Any other tips you’d like to add, please comment below!

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Six Twitter Hashtags you MUST Follow for Education!

~ Christina Hughes ~ Leave a comment

If you aren’t using Twitter to build your Professional Learning Network, or PLN for short, you are missing out on GREAT professional development!

Using Twitter, I have made contacts with educators from throughout the state, country, and even world!  Through these connections, I’ve been able to find ways to improve my teaching!  We’ve had virtual book clubs with classes in the Northeast, Skype debates with students in the Midwest, and discussion post conversations with teachers and students from the South.

How do you meet these educators?  Where do you make these connections? 

One word:  TWITTER

Hashtags are a great way to find educators with common content area, grade levels, and pedagogies.  Below are a list of some of my go-tos when searching for best practices (and new colleagues!) in education!


1.  #EdChat

The Mothership of all Education hashtags.  This is THE place to be, especially on Tuesdays. Every Tuesday you’ll find the stream completely flooded with amazing conversation through their weekly chats held at 12pm EST and 7pm EST.  For more information, click here.

2.  #ELearning

This stream is dedicated to conversations surrounding digital and virtual learning.  Tons of resources to share on this site focusing on digital learning.

3.  #EdTech

Similar to the #ELearning hashtag, but in my opinion, more active.  I find great resources here! Websites, apps, practical strategies for integrating technology.  Definitely worth looking into.

4.  #LrnChat

Exactly what it says… “Learn Chat.”  These are weekly conversations, held Thursdays at 8:30 pm EST, where anyone interested in learning can come to share ideas.  Chat topics include: Learning outside your comfort zone, Data, and Mentoring and Coaching.  Follow @LRNChat for more!

5.  #BYOD

A hashtag for those of us in Bring Your Own Device settings, corporate or education-based.  This hashtag shares strategies for roll out, policies, and an overview of things to consider.

6.  #NTChat

#NTChat was the first place I started on Twitter.  It’s the New Teacher Chat.  The stream is dedicated to best practices in education, not necessarily technology based!  Bi-weekly chats on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 8pm EST.  Topics include teacher coaching, lesson planning, and classroom management.

Any of your favorites that I left out?  Share them below!

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Going One-to-One? Use this guide for integrating tech!

~ Christina Hughes ~ Leave a comment

Since the addition of Chromebooks into our school this year, the pressures of using technology throughout a class period pulses through the halls.  Teachers, novice and veterans alike, are finding themselves on a frantic search for technology tools to integrate into their lessons… but at the end of the day, are we finding the RIGHT tools?

The following is the process I am seeing many educators go through:

  1. Find a website/tool that seems appealing
  2. Think of a lesson or content that is upcoming
  3. Create a way to integrate the tool into the lesson
As a result, students are using technology and at times, creating things that seem very impressive.  Yet, when scratching the surface of the product, it is clear the learning objective was not the focus  – using technology was more important than students learning the content.
At the end of the day, though teachers are USING the technology, it is not being used in a purposeful way; it is simply being used.  
When looking to integrate technology, the process needs to flip.  It must start with the learning objective.
  1. What is my teaching objective?
  2. How will I know when the students have mastered the objective?  What skills do they need to acquire and/or demonstrate?
  3. Can technology make this process more effective, engaging, simplistic/advanced?
  4. In what ways can technology support this lesson?
  5. Which web tool can help me achieve this goal?  
My best piece of advice:  at the end of the activity, reflect.  

What did the students throughout this process?  

The answer should be your learning objective!

Don’t forget!  Good teaching is good teaching.  Trust yourself as a professional.  The decisions made about your lesson plans should always focus on achieving mastery of the skills/content on the student’s end.  
Keep that UBD mindset from your undergraduate classes fresh in your mind when integrating technology!
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Looking to change your thought process?
There are several great infographics to help teachers sort through this process since it CAN be overwhelming, especially to those new to technology integration.
I’ve included several resources below to help through this thinking process!
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4 Must-Try Websites for Your Middle School Classroom!

~ Christina Hughes ~ Leave a comment

Our school just went one-to-one this year, and though I’ve been using technology in the classroom for years, I’m finding this year it’s different.

Before, I’d sign out the laptops and have them for a week.  This was just enough time to complete a project for students.  Technology for project creation… that I was rocking.

But technology for everyday use in the classroom?  That’s another story. 

Thankfully, these four tools have played a crucial role in my classroom.  Instead of letting technology take over my classroom, I’ve been using it as a way to assess student learned daily!

Socrative:  Using a unique class code, students can join your virtual class.  They can take quizzes, play games like Space Race, and even use an Exit Ticket.  My go-to is the Quick Question.  As I’m lecturing, giving notes, or reviewing a model, I can pose a question verbally to the class, and click “Quick Question”.  The students’ screen will change, allowing them to type in a response using any device.  All student responses come up on the board, and I can select whether or not I want to display student names.  This is great for creating those teachable moments!  Assess right away and address right away!

Padlet:  Formerly known as Wallwisher, Padlet is a virtual corkboard.  As a teacher, you can create a “board” and send the link to your students.  Students simply double click and can create virtual post-it notes with text, hyperlinks, images, and even videos!  I’ve used this to help build background knowledge on a topic – it has been great!

Blendspace:  I’ve been using this for independent station work or reviews of certain topics.  Teachers can create their own “spaces” – a webpage with multiple tiles.  Tiles can be text, websites, videos, powerpoints, PDF files, questions for assessments… and more!  Teachers can easily find resources for the tiles within Blendspace and students can easily navigate through the teacher’s resources to complete the given task!

Formative:  Formative is a tool I just found recently and it’s completely revolutionized classwork.  Again, I have a classcode I give to the students.  When they log into my class, they can find my assignments and get to work.  I can upload PDFs or Word Documents and then annotate them with text, videos, and most importantly, questions.  As the students go through the document and answer questions, the teacher screen changes.  I can watch every student type their answer to each question in real time  – and message them to have a conversation about their work without changing screens!  Think of it like watching mini Google Docs on one screen. IT IS AMAZING!

Are there any Must-Try websites you use in your classroom?

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