Professional Development – Page 2 – Elanco Elementary Instructional Technology

Summer Updates 2015!

elemtech Communication, Digital Citizenship, Google Apps, Professional Development, Resources, Updates July 22, 2015August 20, 2015 0 Comment

We are well into July, and it’s less than one month until our opening inservice day! I hope you’re all enjoying a summer filled with relaxation, time with family and friends, and lots of smiles.

Below are some updates from elementary instructional technology. It would be very beneficial for you to take some time over the next few weeks to read through the information listed here. Please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions!

Elementary Instructional Tech Info 2015-16 – This document has many “need to knows” for elementary teachers for the new year, including the digital citizenship pledge and kick off lesson we’re asking all teachers to address in the first week or two of school, info about Qwertytown and other content providers, and resources to support technology integration. (This doc is also a great example of how to incorporate a responsive table of contents into your Google docs!)

August 19 In-service Day – From 8 AM-12 PM on August 19, we will be offering sessions focused on instructional technology and teaching & learning. Many of your colleagues are running these sessions! For those of you new to certain content providers, sessions may be mandatory. Please read the schedule carefully. The tech day wiki and sessions can be found here. Please be patient and check back if a session you’re interested in does not yet have a session description listed.

August 21 – Get Googly!

On August 21, I will be hosting Google-centric training sessions at Brecknock Elementary School for all elementary staff. The sessions will cover a variety of Google Drive/Docs must-knows, Google Classroom info, Google Chrome tips and tricks, and best practices for staying organized and using Google Apps to its fullest potential. Choose the session that best meets your needs, and/or stay for all three! Topics may vary during the sessions based upon the needs of attendees. Register for these sessions in My Learning Plan, found in the District Catalog!

9:00-10:00 AM – Rookies – Google Drive basics, organizing files and folders, sharing and collaborating, the basics of Docs, Slides, Forms. Intro to Google Chrome and its features.

10:00-11:00 AM – Seasoned Players – You’re comfortable and familiar with the basics of Drive and the productivity suite. We’ll look at Research Tools in Docs & Slides and ways to promote collaboration in your classroom, and Forms for formative assessment. Google Classroom basics will be reviewed for use with supporting rotational learning in your classroom.

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Veterans – You know the basics that GAFE can offer, but how can you more meaningfully integrate the suite into your work with students? We’ll look at going deeper with Google Chrome using apps and extensions, and the use of Google Calendar to promote home-school communication via your Edublogs site, and advanced options like using Flubaroo to self-grade Google Form assessments and other Drive add-ons.

Wired Wednesdays – This year I’ll be offering digital learning workshops on scheduled Wednesdays from 4-5 PM. Please click here to learn more! Hope to see you there!

Want to stay updated on the latest posts shared on this blog? Enter your email address in the Subscribe to this Blog box to the right and never miss a post! You can also subscribe via RSS in your Outlook inbox. This is the space where I share information about instructional tech throughout the year, and the pages along the top navigation bar will lead you to information about the content providers and other digital resources we use here at Elanco.

Photo Credit: mountainpete via Compfight cc

Google for Education on Air – A Virtual Conference Worth Exploring!

elemtech Google Apps, Professional Development April 21, 2015Credly, google apps, professional development, virtual learning 0 Comment

Mark your calendars for Google’s Education on Air conference, hosted May 8 and 9. You can check out a number of keynote speakers and a diverse range of sessions for learners of all levels. The Google Apps suite is a versatile, feature-rich productivity, creativity, and collaboration suite, that all of our students and teachers can utilize. Please consider taking some time to learn more about how Google Apps can ignite teaching and learning in your classroom!

Click here to register for the conference!

If you participate in any of the sessions, email me and let me know what you’ve learned! And you will then be awarded with a Google Education on Air digital badge! 🙂

What’s a badge, you ask?! Haven’t joined Credly yet? What are you waiting for? Display what you’ve learned and the ideas you’ve applied to teaching and learning this year? Celebrated you!

Digital Learning Day is Coming! March 13, 2015

elemtech Connected Learning, Creation, Professional Development, Resources, Updates March 4, 2015Digital Learning Day 0 Comment

Next Friday, March 13, is Digital Learning Day, a day each year where we celebrate the ways technology can enhance teaching and learning and provide students with agency and voice in the classroom.

Learn all about Digital Learning Day here!

We’d love if you could share your digital learning activities on the official DLD website by completing this form! I’d also love to highlight the work you and your students are doing on this blog, so email me with the details/summary of activities and I’ll spread the word!

Perhaps your students will be blogging next week, or using Plickers or Socrative or Kahoot! for formative assessment in the classroom, or are creating digital stories using Storybird or sharing their learning via Google Slides or PowerPoint. Maybe they’re engaged in literature circle discussions via Wikispaces or connecting with one another in Edmodo or Google Classroom! Maybe they’re trying some activities from the ConnectED Are your students reading their favorite stories online via Raz Kids or BookFlix. No matter what the activity, there is surely something worth sharing with your school community on Digital Learning Day!

There are also a number of professional learning opportunities available to you through the Digital Learning Day Live! and other activities. Check out the website and learn more about how you can get involved! You can follow the hashtag #DLDay on Twitter to follow along with the day’s events, too!

Sharing from Pete & C

elemtech Communication, Creation, Google Apps, Professional Development, Resources February 12, 2015blogging, copyright, google apps, library, literacy, math 0 Comment

Pete & C was held this week and there were a number of great resources shared for all content areas and educators. I attempted to compile some of the highlights of sessions offered to share with you. Peruse the resources below and/or check out the main session listings for additional topics and resources. Let me know how I can help you plan to incorporate some of these ideas into your classes!

Tech Tidbits – Tinsel Edition

elemtech Google Apps, Professional Development, Resources, Tech Tidbits December 18, 2014google apps, Tech Tidbits, Videos 0 Comment

Lots to learn in the coming year! 🙂

Tech Tidbits #7

elemtech Connected Learning, Creation, Google Apps, Professional Development, Resources, Tech Tidbits October 28, 2014blogging, Connected Educators, copyright, google apps, Smore, Videos 0 Comment

It’s Connected Educator Month!

elemtech Communication, Connected Learning, Professional Development, Resources October 3, 2014October 3, 2014connected educator month, connected learning, PLN 0 Comment

Connected Educator Month officially kicked off this week, and there are many learning opportunities for you and your colleagues around the world all month long!

On the main CEM website, you can find a calendar filled with events to help promote connected learning. Events are hosted by organizations, schools, and classrooms around the world.

Looking to grow professionally through connected learning? The Connected Educator Month Starter Kit is a great place to start. It will provide you with background on the rationale behind this month and plenty of activities to help you begin connected or deepen the connections you already have.

Connecting with others via social media is one way to address just some of the following Spartan Digital Competencies:

SDC 2 – Communication and Collaboration with Colleagues

D. Shares and seeks ideas and resources from fellow teaching professionals.

SDC4 – Model Digital Age Learning

A. Exhibits a positive attitude and approach towards using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity within the professional culture.

B. Models and facilitates effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use digital information resources to support research and learning.

G. Models global awareness and cultural understanding by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital communication and collaboration tools (Skype, Google Hangouts, email, Global Read Aloud, Edmodo, etc.)

SDC 5 – Professional Growth and Digital Age Leadership

A. Creates a personal learning network (PLN) relevant to current professional responsibilities by:

Participating in and contributing to learning with members of local and global professional learning communities through the use of blogging, RSS feeds, education portals, social media and virtual environments.
Striving to become an innovative leader in professional learning environments

Interested in learning more about Twitter to form global connections, or using Google+ to participate in learning communities? Please contact me, either individually or as a team, and we will plan a learning event to help you get started! Don’t forget, while technology helps us connect on a global level, connections within your buildings and district and local colleagues should also be celebrated during CEM!

Other reads and resources:

Connected Educator Month on Pinterest

Edublogs published The Edublogger’s Guide to Connected Educators Month

Consider participating in the Global Read Aloud!

Via my connected colleague, Chris McCaffrey: “There’s nothing powerful about technology, the power lies in the hearts and minds with the people we connect. Social media just increases that circle of influence further than we could ever imagine.”

Get connected today!

You earned ’em! Now proudly display…. your badges!

elemtech Professional Development September 23, 2014September 23, 2014badges, Credly, learning, professional development 0 Comment

You’ve been working hard, learning about new ways to integrate technology into the curriculum, and getting systems and classroom accounts up and running. You and your teammates are learning more each day, collaborating with one another and working with district reousrce members to skillfully attain proficiency with the Spartan Digital Competencies. It’s time to celebrate your accomplishments!

What’s Credly?

Credly is a service that allows organizations to create and distribute badges for various accomplishments. Your friendly Elanco tech coaches will use Credly to build, manage, and share badges with Elanco teachers and admin to acknowledge your learning efforts throughout the year. Some badges are specific to a learning system, while others are general and include things like “Happy Helper!” for someone who helps colleagues with instructional tech, and “Growth Mindset” for someone who consistently shows a willingness to learn and grow professionally.

How do I get started?

Create a free Credly account (we recommend using your elanco.org email account) to save your accumulated badges and showcase your skills!

How do I display my badges?

Link to your Credly page on your teacher blog, or add a link in your email signature! We’ll be showcasing staff accomplishments on this Edublogs site, Elanco Learns. You can also right-click to download the individual badge picture files and print those images and display them proudly on your classroom door! And/or make stickers out of them! (A preview of things to come?? 🙂

How do I claim badges?

Each badge has a specific claim link and code. Many are applicable to a large number of teachers, so we will update you with codes and claim links as they become available. Others will be workshop/PD-specific and Tim and I will distribute those codes/links via email to the workshop participants.

After logging in to your Credly account, click “Claim Credit” at the top of the page, and enter the claim code provided.

Here are some badges to get your collection started! Click on the name of the badge to visit its direct link to enter your claim code.

(P.S. We’re operating under the “honesty policy” – please do not claim badges you do not truly deserve!)

Edublogs Experience 110-B6EC-F4E

Edmodo D7F-A5CF-EF9

IXL Setup 042-CC72-A59

ST Math 276-C08F-B8F

Edublogs-Kids 315-2C48-B44

Achieve Activated! D54-53E4-354

Xtra Math Setup 6A7-EDBE-053

Happy Helper 7EB-EE8F-F45

Google Drive Lesson Planning- Elem. 977-9322-383

Hooray for Hybrid! 36F-C731-C0A

If you have trouble accessing any badges via the claim codes, email me, and I can add you to the badge directly via Credly.

Please email Lyn or Tim with ideas for new badges! Be on the lookout for more!

Happy badge-ing! Proud of your efforts thus far this year and excited about what’s to come!

Tech Tidbits #6 – The first of the new year!

elemtech Professional Development, Resources, Tech Tidbits, Uncategorized September 8, 2014September 8, 2014blogging, google drive, resources, Tech Tidbits 0 Comment

Now that we’ve wrapped our heads around new content providers and devices and Edublogs and a redesigned Google Drive and all of that good stuff, you’re probably yearning to read more about the latest news from the world of edutech! Read the latest edition of Tech Tidbits below to learn more! Last year, I used a tool called Smore to create our Tech Tidbits editions. Since the free version limits a user to 5 flyers total (boooo), this year I’ll try using Tackk to curate and share with you!

Welcome Back Updates!

elemtech Professional Development, Resources, Updates August 21, 2014August 21, 2014blogging, BrainPOP, computer lab, Edublogs, IWB, Qwertytown, Smart Notebook 0 Comment

Photo Credit: Môsieur J. [version 9.1] via Compfight

Welcome Back!

Here are some informational items from your friendly neighborhood elementary technology integrator!

Who is Lyn and why does she have this blog? Hello! I’m Lynmarie Hilt, the elementary tech integrator/coach for Elanco. This is my second year in this role. I am excited to support the teachers and students in all three elementary buildings! To read more about the types of support I can offer you, read this page. On that page is a form that you can complete to request to meet with me, or to request classroom support time. Here’s the direct link to the Lyn request form. This blog is the main space where I post tutorials, guides, and ideas for using technology meaningfully in the classroom. Please use it or email me anytime you need anything!

Subscribe to this blog using the button on the top righthand side of this blog’s sidebar if you’d like to receive email notifications whenever I post something new!

BrainPOP account information was emailed to all elementary teachers. Please let me know if you did not receive these district elementary credentials.

Qwertytown accounts are in the process of being updated for the new year. Students can use their current logins, but new students will not have access until the rollover is complete.

About the “Computer Lab” Special – First, please welcome two new faces to the world of elementary technology, Jessie Huddle (Blue Ball) and Mary Romanello (New Holland) who will serve as our building computer lab/cart teachers. Both are new to the role and eager to get started! Please remember: you, as the classroom teacher, can direct your students to complete any and all project work during computer lab special. Did your kids start a presentation in class or a writing piece and they need more time to work on it? Would you like your students to have more time to work on blog writing or collaborative writing in Google docs? Or to create a digital story that you started together in the classroom? Simply tell your class’s computer lab facilitator, and that 45 minutes of class time will be devoted to your students’ project work. Yes, there will be activities designated for lab time, such as Qwertytown and other computer-based learning experiences and digital citizenship lessons, but please know as the classroom teacher, you should plan to have that additional 45 minutes of project work time for your student whenever needed. If you’d like a certain type of project kicked off in the lab, such as the introduction of Little Bird Tales, Storybird, or using other presentation software like Google Slides or PowerPoint, please submit a request form to work with Lyn so she can schedule that lesson.

Edublogs – The teacher websites currently associated with our Elanco website will be removed in October. If you have not already done so, you need to establish an online presence to promote home-school communication using Edublogs. Do this now! Do not wait until October! Trainings were offered over the summer, and now that school is beginning, it will be imperative that you schedule time with me to get your Edublog site up and running. If you did not submit a request form to have a new Edublogs site created for you, click here to do so.

If you already have an Edublogs site, it IS live! Simply share the URL with your students and families and they can visit your blog directly.

Student Blogging with Edublogs – Next week, information will be shared with all elementary teachers about how to get your students started with Edublogs if you are interested in developing a classroom community of bloggers this year. Reminder, we will not be using Kidblog for student blogging. Even if you’re not ready to set up your students’ blogs at this time, save that email so you have the directions handy when you’re ready to do so.

Smart Notebook – By visiting the Software Center on your laptop, you can download the new Smart Notebook software to your computer. This software is much more functional and has many more features than the Easiteach software that comes with your Enoboard. We will offer Smart Notebook trainings in the coming months. Feel free to play around in the meantime! There are many tutorials online and I will add resources as I find them to our Interactive Whiteboards page.

Copyright-friendly Media – I am thankful Dr. Hollister reiterated the importance of using copyright-friendly material on the products you and your students publish. I created a Blogging Resources Symbaloo for you to find copyright-friendly images, music, and video banks, as well as guides and best practices when it comes to using other people’s work in your publications.

LanSchool – I generated the CSV files you need to build your class rosters in LanSchool and emailed those to Gr. 3-6 teachers yesterday. If you and your team are new to LanSchool and/or you would like a refresher on how to use LanSchool, please schedule time to meet with me. Here are LanSchool resources and reminders on how to upload class lists.

Student Start/Homepages – When students in Grades 2-6 log into their computers and open a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Chrome, they will now see the Spartan Cloud Portal as their start page instead of Symbaloo. Students will need to then log into the Portal to have access to their “apps” and shortcuts. K-1 students will continue to see the Symbaloo K-2 page. (1st graders will have to sign into the Portal once their devices arrive.) Generic usernames for each building will have the Symbaloo K-2 mix as their start page.

IXL, ST Math, Achieve – I’m going to add tutorials and links to user guides and resources to this page as they become available. Hang in there as we get to know these new content providers and let me know if you need anything!

I think that’s all for now. I wish you all a wonderful start to the school year, and I’m very excited to work with you and your students!