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Creative, Productive, and Personalized Classrooms
This session will focus on how and why you can engage students in learning and assessments. We will explore different types of assessments, methods of assessment, and tools that promote student choice and voice in learning. We'll also discuss how you can use assessments to provide students with opportunities to develop essential skills. Some methods we will cover include choice boards, genius hour, and PBL STEM activities. Join us to discover how to facilitate these methods and foster student agency in learning.
Rachelle Dene Poth is a Spanish and STEAM teacher and attorney. She is a frequent presenter at conferences on emerging technology and ways to benefit student learning. Rachelle has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Presidential Gold Award for Volunteer Service in Education. As an accomplished author, she has seven titles currently in print, and has contributed to multiple collaborative publications. She enjoys delivering PD, especially on appsmashing, AR/VR, SEL, STEM, project-based learning, and more
Artificial Intelligence in Education: What Do We Need to Know?
Learn how AI is being used in education, its implications for the future, and how it has impacted learning. Then, we'll explore resources for teaching about AI. You'll walk away with a better understanding of the ethical considerations of using AI as well as the benefits of using AI for education. The session will include an overview of what AI is, resources to introduce it to students, some key facts about the use of AI in our lives, and activities & courses to explore. Plus, we'll show you how to explore some useful AI tools and provide AI activity ideas.
Rachelle Dene Poth is a Spanish and STEAM teacher and attorney. She is a frequent presenter at conferences on emerging technology and ways to benefit student learning. Rachelle has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Presidential Gold Award for Volunteer Service in Education. As an accomplished author, she has seven titles currently in print, and has contributed to multiple collaborative publications. She enjoys delivering PD, especially on appsmashing, AR/VR, SEL, STEM, project-based learning, and more.
Engaging Students in Citizen Science
There is so much to discover in our natural world — too much for scientists to handle alone! To maximize efforts, scientists often recruit citizen scientists to help. A citizen scientist is a member of the general public or an amateur scientist. While issues with data validity and collection standardization can arise, much of the natural world would go unobserved without citizen scientists. Join us to learn about citizen science and how you can use it in your classroom to provide authenticity in projects, plus learn some tips for keeping your collections valid!
Integrating technology into the classroom will help meet students' needs for variety, stimulation, and accessing information. Today's learners are always connected, and the strategies to maximize that connection of technology, pedagogy, and self-care are critical. Hear from X-Factor EDU's four national authors on skills and strategies to make that idea a reality, concluding this series of sessions from the X-Factor EDU team.
Building Inquiry-Based Instruction
In the standardized testing era, students are too often asked to memorize facts and/or recall ideas without being expected to retain a deeper understanding of the information. Depth in learning comes from focusing on critical thinking, evaluating information, and tapping into students’ intrinsic curiosity. This session is designed to support educators in creating inquiry-based lessons with a focus on critical thinking and problem-solving skills, both of which enhance student performance in and out of the classroom. Applying and integrating inquiry-based lessons into instruction allows students to be independent learners and helps educators to increase the relevance of their lessons.
Matt Joseph is currently the Director of Evaluation, Supervision, Mentoring and Hiring in Brockton Public Schools. He is the CEO of X-Factor EDU and the author of several books. He has held many positions in education from classroom teacher to principal; this has given him insight into how best to support teaching and learning. He writes articles for national publications and is a frequent speaker at state and national educational events as well as the president-elect of MASCD.
Impact to Influence (Book Launch)
What does it take to create change that celebrates every student? Learn lessons from inspiring local and international figures who have created their own pathways to grow from impacting small amounts of students and teachers to influencing our field around the globe. Whether within or beyond classrooms, educators and administrators will explore strategies and pathways to make meaningful change for all learners.
As a Digital Learning Coach in Walpole, Massachusetts, Jed Stefanowicz provides job-embedded professional development and instructional coaching for academic technology. Through conferences, workshops, and coaching, Jed aims to engage and build staff/student digital learning capacity, keeping the focus on practice over product. As a 25 year elementary educator, speaker, blogger, and current Massachusetts Teach Plus Policy Fellow, Jed shares his passion for effective tech integration to transform teaching and learning, creating engaging and equitable digital learning environments and experiences that activate, innovate, and motivate digital learning. He is the Author of “Take AIM at Digital Learning: Activate, Innovate, Motivate” and “Impact to Influence”.
Introduction to Instructional Coaching
Even the world's most successful athletes, singers, and business people have coaches. Teachers and students alike can benefit greatly from the collaboration that is vital to a successful coaching model. Instructional coaching is a supportive model many districts are embracing. Join us for this session as we take a look at different instructional coaching models, why they're effective, and how you can implement them in your district. We will also provide many resources to get you started in the world of instructional coaching, and discuss why data should be the driving force to our instruction.
The SMILE (Shine, Motivate, Inspire, Learn, Elephants) model is not about using technology, it’s about leveraging educational technology as a tool for student success. Let’s explore the SMILE blueprint to look for ways to use edtech that supports learning, opens doors for exploration, and creates opportunities to think critically all while covering our content.
Laurie Guyon is an Integration Specialist for Schuylerville Central Schools in New York. She is an ambassador and expert on many classroom technologies such as Google, Flipgrid, Apple, Seesaw, and much more. She is a member of the NYSCATE Social Media Team and was inducted into the Volunteer Hall of Fame for NYSCATE in 2017. She has presented at numerous conferences and taught workshops on integrating technology. Laurie is currently enrolled in the SUNY Plattsburgh’s School Building Leader CAS program.
Innovative Teaching with ChatGPT: Empowering Teachers to Enhance Pedagogy, Not Just Efficiency
In this course, Alice Keeler will explore the ways in which ChatGPT can be used to empower teachers to enhance their pedagogy; encourage creativity and critical thinking; facilitate student-centered learning experiences; and integrate PBL activities. She will also discuss the importance of ethical use of ChatGPT by using it to facilitate deeper learning and not as a replacement for critical thinking or simply to make task more efficient. Join us to explore this cutting edge AI tool!
Alice Keeler is a former teacher, mom of 5, expert in EdTech integration & virtual learning, speaker, and author. Alice is passionate about student-centered teaching and using tech to build relationships, empower students, and make learning better. She is the author of “50 Things You Can Do with Google Classroom” and “Stepping Up to Google Classroom.”
Celebrating Biodiversity with Google Earth Activities
Let's explore the Earth's biodiversity through activities with Google Earth (whether online or downloaded)! These sample activities can show the diversity of climate and the diversity of the life that occupies different regions. We will even explore the human interaction with the environment and its impact on biodiversity.
Beyond the Bulletin Board: Reimagining Student Publishing
Redesign instructional objectives and outcomes to promote every student’s voice. Build beyond the bulletin board to capture & model processes, showcase & archive products, spotlight performance, and demonstrate practices. Reframe student publishing to showcase student-learning in a manner that is centered in equity, where every student’s voice matters and is heard through interactive print, video, podcast, and intentional edtech content-creation tools.
As a Digital Learning Coach in Walpole, Massachusetts, Jed Stefanowicz provides job-embedded professional development and instructional coaching for academic technology. Through conferences, workshops, and coaching, Jed aims to engage and build staff/student digital learning capacity, keeping the focus on practice over product. As a 25 year elementary educator, speaker, blogger, and current Massachusetts Teach Plus Policy Fellow, Jed shares his passion for effective tech integration to transform teaching and learning, creating engaging and equitable digital learning environments and experiences that activate, innovate, and motivate digital learning. He is the Author of “Take AIM at Digital Learning: Activate, Innovate, Motivate” and “Impact to Influence”.
Digital Safety and the Impact on Student Mental Health
As all schools had to pivot to an online learning environment in 2020, students have been spending even more time online. The increase in screen time by our young people has exacerbated an already existing mental health crisis. From helping students focus on what they can control to encouraging creativity, educators can help smooth the path for students. In this session, educators will learn strategies they can use to encourage students, and their parents, to persevere through an increase in anxiety due to the additional screen time from digital learning.
Christine Ravesi-Weinstein currently serves as a high school Assistant Principal in Massachusetts, USA and previously worked as a high school science department chair for four years and classroom teacher for 15. She began a non-profit organization in June of 2017 aimed at removing the stigma of mental illness and promoting physical activity as a means to cope with anxiety. As an avid writer and educator, Christine became passionate about bridging the two with her advocacy for mental health. She has had numerous articles published nationally and presented at many conferences. She is an MACD Board Member and an author of several books.
Explore the three domains of digital learning: wellness, competency, and creativity as a framework to design instruction, demonstrate learning, and assess understanding. Create authentic opportunities to capture student voice, make thinking visible, build student agency, and reimagine what post-pandemic publishing looks like. Participants will use resources and collaboration to rebuild intentional, engaged, student-centered, and social-emotionally guided learning. This session looks at the components of digital citizenship as a wellness model, identifying tools and strategies to amplify all voices, provide authentic choices, and ensure that all learners are empowered to create their own content.
As a Digital Learning Coach in Walpole, Massachusetts, Jed Stefanowicz provides job-embedded professional development and instructional coaching for academic technology. Through conferences, workshops, and coaching, Jed aims to engage and build staff/student digital learning capacity, keeping the focus on practice over product. As a 25 year elementary educator, speaker, blogger, and current Massachusetts Teach Plus Policy Fellow, Jed shares his passion for effective tech integration to transform teaching and learning, creating engaging and equitable digital learning environments and experiences that activate, innovate, and motivate digital learning. He is the Author of “Take AIM at Digital Learning: Activate, Innovate, Motivate” and “Impact to Influence”.
Strategies to Prepare Students for Standardized Testing
Teachers and students alike may be feeling the pressure of having to properly prepare for spring testing. In this session, we will take a look at the different assessment types, plus test-taking strategies that will make students more comfortable in taking them. Let's grow our approach to testing so we can foster learning and showcase student knowledge.
Moving From Consumption to Creation
We often discuss engagement and students' active role in learning. If you looked at the classroom of the 50s, you would see desks in rows, a teacher in the front of the room doing most of the talking, books out on the desks, and students consuming the lesson. Should schools in 2023 follow this same model? The answer should be a resounding, very loud NO. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. In many of today’s classrooms, we continue to teach by delivering information that students are expected to consume. We can change this! This session will focus on tools and strategies to create active thinkers and learners.
Matt Joseph is currently the Director of Evaluation, Supervision, Mentoring and Hiring in Brockton Public Schools. He is the CEO of X-Factor EDU and the author of several books. He has held many positions in education from classroom teacher to principal; this has given him insight into how best to support teaching and learning. He writes articles for national publications and is a frequent speaker at state and national educational events as well as the president-elect of MASCD.
Digital Tools to Support Students with Autism
Did you know that April is Autism Acceptance Month? Join us for this session where we take a look at some great digital tools for working with students with autism spectrum disorder. We will discuss why digital tools can be so powerful when working with the autism community. We will also provide some activities, resources, and helpful websites! Of course, we will also explore why STEM and multiple exposures are so crucial for these students. Join us for autism acceptance!
Crypto, NFTs, Metaverse, Blockchain... What Educators Should Know
As an educator, are you wondering what these terms are? Do these ideas have anything to do with education? There's an internet renaissance taking place across finance, politics, technology, and other industries, called web3. Similar to the rise of the internet, web3 is changing the way people operate, socially and professionally. Come discover how your web3 mastery could open up new professional doors and empower your students to be ready for the next technology revolution.
Michael Cohen, The Tech Rabbi, is a designer, educator, and creativity instigator. His mission is to help educators around the world reveal their own creative abilities so they can empower students to solve interesting problems and become positive contributors to our global society. He is the author of the book Educated By Design, which outlines his principles for revealing and nurturing our innate creative courage and capacity. He is a national keynote speaker, advisor, and trainer. When he isn’t traveling the world sharing his message, he serves as the director of innovation for Hebrew Academy of Miami, where he leads STEAM and Entrepreneurship initiatives and programs
Create a Gamified Choice Board
In this session, join Alice Keeler to explore two popular topics in education: gamification and choice boards. Choice boards allow for increased student agency and amplify student voices by giving them different options for how to connect with the content. This is also a great way to differentiate learning and allow students to demonstrate mastery of a topic in a way that is best for them. Learn how to make this even more engaging and fun by gamifying the board!
Alice Keeler is a former teacher, mom of 5, expert in EdTech integration & virtual learning, speaker, and author. Alice is passionate about student-centered teaching and using tech to build relationships, empower students, and make learning better. She is the author of “50 Things You Can Do with Google Classroom” and “Stepping Up to Google Classroom.”
Google Tools to Support PBL in the Science Classroom
Project-based learning, in conjunction with the productivity and collaboration tools available in Google Workspace, can support and enhance student outcomes. In this session, we'll take a look at how a variety of Google Tools, including Google Earth, Google Maps, and Google Arts & Culture can support PBL experiences in the science classroom. These tools can helps students with all types of PBL tasks from research to publishing and sharing.
Bring STEM into Every Classroom
Preparing students with the essential skills for the future requires all educators to create a culture for learning that sparks curiosity and innovation. Bringing STEM into every classroom is essential. Explore methods and tools that will empower educators to provide students with opportunities in STEM while helping them develop essential SEL skills. This session will share methods and tools with wide applicability to get teachers started with STEM in every classroom and lead students to become creators and innovators.
Rachelle Dene Poth is a Spanish and STEAM teacher and attorney. She is a frequent presenter at conferences on emerging technology and ways to benefit student learning. Rachelle has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Presidential Gold Award for Volunteer Service in Education. As an accomplished author, she has seven titles currently in print, and has contributed to multiple collaborative publications. She enjoys delivering PD, especially on appsmashing, AR/VR, SEL, STEM, project-based learning, and more.
Michelle Blanchet, author of Preventing Polarization: 50 Strategies to Teach Kids about Empathy, Politics, and Civic Responsibility, will join us to discuss how we might use games to bridge the gap between SEL and civic engagement. We'll discuss gamification in the classroom as well as some activities and games that will take civics lessons to the next level while supporting students' social-emotional needs. Join us to discover how gamification can increase your students' engagement.
Google Drive Hacks You Didn't Know Were Possible
Unlock the full potential of Google Drive with Google Workspace expert Alice Keeler! In this course, you'll discover powerful tips and tricks to help you streamline your workflow, organize your files and folders, and collaborate more effectively. Whether you're a teacher struggling to keep your Google Drive organized or simply looking to take your productivity to the next level, this course is perfect for you. Join us to learn how to make the most of this powerful platform and say goodbye to a messy and cluttered Google Drive.
Inspiring Equitable and Empowering Assessment
Leading change in assessment and grading practices is not for the faint of heart. In fact, advocating for change can leave someone feeling isolated and demoralized amidst the status quo. In this session, learn how to become an inspiring mentor that starts a movement towards equitable and empowering assessment practices. We’ll discuss how to co-create a vision, invite others to think differently, leverage portfolios to amplify feedback, and launch an authentic defense of learning.
Festive STEAM Challenges for Elementary Classrooms
The holiday season is upon us! This time of year is the perfect opportunity to incorporate some festive fun into the classroom. Join us for our session where we will explore winter and holiday themed STEAM projects and challenges that elementary students can collaborate on. We will dive into the benefits of STEAM in the elementary classroom and then explore specific examples and ready-made activities to try with your students. From designing and building an igloo with consumable materials to sending robots on a sleigh ride, your students will be engaged from start to finish!
Creating Holiday Ornaments with 3D Design
It's the most wonderful time of year...for your students to get creative and design holiday ornaments! In this session, we will show you how your students can get creative for the holidays by incorportation 3D design technology as well as 3D printers to create unique and personalized ornaments for the holiday season!
Digital Tools to Reinforce ELA Skills
Are you looking for ideas to engage students in your ELA Class? Join us for a session where we will look at tools to boost your ELA lessons in all grade bands. We'll go over resources that can help you differentiate your lessons with tools like Kami, Padlet, and more! We will also provide resources with created material for you to customize as well as create a new lesson together!
The Relationship Between Innovative Thinking and Educator Mental Health
Two seemingly separate concepts in education, innovation and mental health, are actually more connected than one might think. Join us and Mandy Froehlich in this session to discover how innovative thinking and mental health are related, how educator engagement impacts climate/culture, and strategies that can provide healthy support for a greater chance to support innovation in the school.
Mandy Froehlich is an experienced Director of Innovation and Technology, technology integrator, and teacher, whose interest lies in reinvigorating and re-engaging teachers back into their profession, as well as exploring what’s needed to support teachers in their pursuit of innovative and divergent thinking and teaching. She consults internationally with districts and institutions in the effective use of technology to support great teaching, mental health support for educators, and how to create organizational change.
Introduction to CS with Makey Makey and Scratch
Banana pianos are fun, but customized inventions are even better! In this webinar, you will learn how to challenge students to code custom Scratch projects for their Makey Makey invention kits. Use Scratch to create and code sprites, learn coding tools to make custom animations, and use logic to make games smart!
As a creative, Colleen creates teacher-driven content for the Makey Makey team and beyond! With 15 years of experience in education and a lifetime experience as a maker, she still believes the world is her classroom and that maker education is transformative for students and teachers alike! Colleen is currently the Director of Content, Curriculum, and Community at Makey Makey.
10 Strategies to Support Teachers’ Development as Designers of Active Learning
Designing authentic, learner-driven activities is challenging. What strategies and technology tools integrate meaningfully into the array of delivery modes and accommodate learner variability? This session will showcase a list of tested strategies and top tools every emerging and practicing teacher needs to be an accomplished designer of learning.
Rachelle Dene Poth is a Spanish and STEAM teacher and attorney. She is a frequent presenter at conferences on emerging technology and ways to benefit student learning. Rachelle has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Presidential Gold Award for Volunteer Service in Education. As an accomplished author, she has seven titles currently in print, and has contributed to multiple collaborative publications. She enjoys delivering PD, especially on appsmashing, AR/VR, SEL, STEM, project-based learning, and more.
Curiosity takes effort. It takes creativity. It takes brainpower. And it leads to passion, purpose, and innovation. When there is so much on the line, how do we dare to be curious? Join us and Mandy Froehlich in learning how to awaken curiosity and why it matters in the our profession.
Mandy Froehlich is an experienced Director of Innovation and Technology, technology integrator, and teacher, whose interest lies in reinvigorating and re-engaging teachers back into their profession, as well as exploring what’s needed to support teachers in their pursuit of innovative and divergent thinking and teaching. She consults internationally with districts and institutions in the effective use of technology to support great teaching, mental health support for educators, and how to create organizational change.
Wakelet is a free digital curation platform that lets anyone organize content, including teachers and students. Join one of our very own Wakelet Ambassadors to learn how to get started using and integrating Wakelet's easy-to-use tools. You'll be saving, sharing, collaborating, and engaging others in no time!
Tools and Resources to Construct Meaningful Report Card Comments
Report card season can bring on stress and anxiety for students, teachers, and even parents. What can we do to ensure that the report card comments that we give are purposeful and provide students with opportunities to grow throughout the year? In this session, we will discuss the importance of meaningful report card comments and how these comments can be used to promote growth for our students' mindsets. We will share specific comments that focus on students’ efforts and strengths as well as strategies for improvement. We will also discuss how these comments can be differentiated based on grade-band, in order to provide students with the most impactful yet understandable tools for success.
Burnout and Demoralization: What They Are and How to Heal
Most people have heard the term burnout, but not as many are familiar with the concept of demoralization. Learn the difference between the two concepts, why it’s important to name what’s happening, and strategies for healing. Join us and Mandy Froehlich in learning how to heal from burnout and demoralization in teaching workspaces.
Mandy Froehlich is an experienced Director of Innovation and Technology, technology integrator, and teacher, whose interest lies in reinvigorating and re-engaging teachers back into their profession, as well as exploring what’s needed to support teachers in their pursuit of innovative and divergent thinking and teaching. She consults internationally with districts and institutions in the effective use of technology to support great teaching, mental health support for educators, and how to create organizational change.
Improving Elementary Literacy with Technology
Looking for more engaging literacy lessons? Want to try out digital storytelling in your classroom? There are so many educational literacy apps available, it can be hard to choose ones that will work best for your classroom. In this course. we will highlight a few of these tools that you can easily incorporate into your classroom, so that you can keep your students engaged while improving literacy.
Creative Storytelling with Robotics
Get ready for this twist on digital storytelling featuring robotics. In this cross-curricular workshop, we will discuss some best practices and things to consider when starting a storytelling project in your classroom. Then, we'll show you how to plan and code your device(s) to tell a story in a whole new way! We will also share some storytelling examples using one of our favorite robot friends, KIBO! You’ll get to try these skills out for yourself, so you too, can enhance your classroom's creativity!
Healing Through Self-Compassion and Micro-Resilience Strategies
Understanding who we are and how we can best take care of ourselves is one of the best ways to become our best selves and better support those we serve. In this session, we'll explore practical strategies for the four types of self-care, and discuss resilience strategies & activities that contribute to developing a strong foundation for healing. Join us and Mandy Froehlich in learning how to build strength through micro-resilience strategies.
Mandy Froehlich is an experienced Director of Innovation and Technology, technology integrator, and teacher, whose interest lies in reinvigorating and re-engaging teachers back into their profession, as well as exploring what’s needed to support teachers in their pursuit of innovative and divergent thinking and teaching. She consults internationally with districts and institutions in the effective use of technology to support great teaching, mental health support for educators, and how to create organizational change.
Educator Mental Health and Why We Emotionally Disengage
We work in an emotion-filled profession where empathy and passion are our greatest asset. However, what happens when those feelings are challenged or taken away entirely? How does this happen, and what can we do about it? Join us and Mandy Froehlich as we explore the reasons why educators become emotionally disengaged in the teaching profession.
Mandy Froehlich is an experienced Director of Innovation and Technology, technology integrator, and teacher, whose interest lies in reinvigorating and re-engaging teachers back into their profession, as well as exploring what’s needed to support teachers in their pursuit of innovative and divergent thinking and teaching. She consults internationally with districts and institutions in the effective use of technology to support great teaching, mental health support for educators, and how to create organizational change.
Whether you are from the Northeast, the South, Midwest, or the West, there is a general set of standards for computer science (CS) education. We will explore those standards and make them relevant to all classrooms and grade levels. In this session, we will define computer science and explore why it is a necessary subject. We will also explore the impact of computer science in our schools and discuss how to design and implement successful CS education.
Differentiating Instruction for ELLs Using Microsoft Visio
We all know that a picture is worth a thousand words. When teaching ELLs, providing visual aids is essential for their comprehension. Microsoft Visio, a diagramming program, can support this effort with its pre-made content such as templates, flowcharts, built-in shapes, and more. Join us as we explore how Microsoft Visio can be used to provide differentiated instruction for ELLs.
Modifying a Pre-Made Minecraft Education Edition Lesson
Minecraft Education Edition has many pre-made lessons for almost any subject. These lessons are great places to start. However, you may want to personalize the lessons to add quizzes and instructions that fit with your lesson and teaching style. Alice Keeler is going to guide you through essential tips for customizing a Minecraft lesson and distributing it to your students.
Understanding the NYS Computer Science and Digital Fluency Learning Standards
Computer science concepts are finding their way into every classroom at each grade level. That's where the new Computer Science and Digital Fluency Learning Standards come into play! If you haven’t had a chance to dive into the new NYS K-12 Computer Science and Digital Fluency Learning Standards, join us for this session as we unpack these standards and explore ideas and activities to integrate them into the classroom.
Level Up Google Classroom with Schoolytics
Google Classroom is great, but you’re ready to get more out of it! Join Google Classroom expert and author of “Stepping Up to Google Classroom,” Alice Keeler to explore ways to level up your Google Classroom experience. Teachers around the world use Schoolytics to better understand how their students are really performing on skills and standards, easily create progress reports, and share assignments with other teachers. Learn why Schoolytics is the tool that Google Classroom teachers have been wishing for!
Designing School Notices with Canva
Classroom or school-wide newsletters shouldn't be boring. Join us for this course to explore how you can keep parents, students, and staff up to date by using creative school newsletter templates available in Canva. With just a few clicks, we will dive into the steps for personalizing and publishing!
In today's session, we'll be learning all about digital journals. From benefits to important considerations, and even recommended tools, we'll give you all the information you need to get started with your students. Whether you're looking to switch over journal activities from pen and paper or want a unique activity to do with students, you've come to the right place!
Sharing Lessons in Minecraft Education Edition
Minecraft Education Edition is an excellent resource for engaging students in deeper learning opportunities. Education Edition allows you to download pre-created lessons as well as design your own immersive learning experience. In this session, Alice will walk through how to find ready-made lessons for Minecraft Education Edition and how to distribute them to students using iPads, laptops, or Chromebooks.
Teaching with Minecraft: Basics for Creating a World
Using Minecraft Education Edition starts with understanding some of the basics, like maneuvering in the environment, game modes, and more. In this session, Alice will help you to get started with creating a world. She'll dive into the differences between creative mode and survival mode with some discussion on when to choose which mode when using Minecraft Education Edition with students.
Taking Learning Outside the Math Classroom
Are you looking for ways to increase student engagement in your math lessons? Teaching math outdoors offers endless possibilities to teach math from a real-world, creative, and hands-on learning perspective. In this course, we will transform traditional classroom math lessons that focus on topics such as symmetry, geometry, data collection, and measurement to outdoor learning opportunities that are sure to make math more meaningful and interesting to your students.
Using Boom Cards to Provide Summer Challenges for ELLs
Many of us send home the traditional summer work like reading lists, math packets, and other review materials to help continue the learning for our ELL students. Why not make summer learning more fun and engaging with quick challenge cards? In this session, we’ll learn how to create and use Boom Cards to push out challenge cards for your ELLs to access anytime and anywhere during the summer.
Introduction to Minecraft Education Edition
Game-based learning, like Minecraft, can increase engagement and understanding for students of all ages. But what is Minecraft and how is it educational? In this session, Alice will introduce us to Minecraft Education Edition, the differences between Minecraft and Minecraft Education Edition, and how it can be used with your elementary to high school students.
Teaching Self-Regulation During Choice Time in Early Ed
As early as Kindergarten teachers can help students build independence, monitor their own behaviors and become self-directed learners. Self-regulation is a skill that begins in the early education classroom and can be acquired with proper support and guidance. In this course, we will explore strategies educators can use to help foster the development of self-regulation during "choice time" activities in the early ed classroom.
A classroom is not bound by four walls but instead is a place where learning is cultivated, led, inspired, motivated, built, and empowered (CLIMBE). Join educator and author, Dene Gainey as he demonstrates how learning can happen anywhere, whether individually, in groups, or as a whole-class discussion using Spaces, an innovative assessment and lesson delivery system. Part two in our series on Spaces, this webinar will dig deeper into the features, usability, and examples of how Spaces can be integrated into your classroom.
Learning happens in so many ways that are not always effectively demonstrated by a test. Learning is multi-modal! This webinar introduces you to Spaces, an innovative assessment and lesson delivery system that promotes, encourages, and inspires student learning in more ways than one. Join educator and author, Dene Gainey to learn about Spaces from set up to first use. As an educator, Dene makes it his mission to build bridges and fill gaps, not to mention motivate students to be “more.” In this session, we will discuss how to use Spaces to help students effectively learn and assess that learning - from project and problem-based learning to social-emotional benefits and portfolio building.
A Rube Goldberg Summer of Outdoor Fun
We’re heading into summer and there is no better place to take your Rube Goldberg Machine building than outdoors! Sandbox, water-play, planting, digging, and even playgrounds can be part of the kinetic fun! Join Jennifer George and friends as they discuss the joy Rube Goldberg and machine-building can bring to your summer programming.
Quick Collaborative Activities You Can Create in 15 Minutes
Looking to bring more collaborative learning opportunities to your classroom but not sure where to start? Join Monica Burns for a brand new webinar featuring quick collaborative activities you can create in just 15 minutes. During this session, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the free, interactive presentation tool Lumio. You'll hear how Lumio is different from SMART Notebook and how you can use this dynamic tool with or without a SMART Board. Attendees will get a chance to participate in interactive activities and create their own collaborative task during the webinar.
Matt's Maker Space: Legacy Inspires STEAM Opportunities
Makerspaces foster student independence, exploration, and love of creation. Join Jennifer, Noelle, and Anne as they discuss the impact and legacy of Matt Conover, Noelle's son, who died in 2002 from non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, just before his 13th birthday. Matt's Maker Space, founded by Noelle, honors her son's love of engineering and fosters STEM creativity and arts education throughout Pennsylvania.
Whether you are looking for a fun St. Patrick's Day activity, celebrating National Limerick Day, or simply exploring poetry in your classroom, this session is for you! Join us as we share interactive ways to incorporate technology into your elementary and middle school lessons using Lumio. We'll even help you prepare by sharing the history and patterns behind these much loved poems.
Turn Your Students' Love of RGM into a Career
Join Jennifer George and Brent Bushnell to discuss how to cultivate the next generation of inventors through joy and creativity. Brent is the Chairman and CoFounder of Two Bit Circus, which deploys STEAM-based programs focused on creativity and invention to inspire students around the world. Brent’s a Sir Edmund Hillary Fellow, a supporter of Clowns Without Borders and publishes on Twitter @brentbushnell; he and members of his team were part of the extraordinary build for OK-Go's viral Rube Goldberg music video for "This Too Shall Pass." Jennifer and Brent will lead an insightful talk about how kids who love building, tinkering, and problem solving can turn those interests into a career.
In this session, participants will learn how to create Rube Goldberg machines at home – or with items commonly found around the house. Joined by Jennifer George, we will preview the upcoming book: “25 Rube Goldberg Machines You Can Build at Home.” Guest speakers include Zach Umperovitch (builder), Tori Cameron (author).
Fight Photomath with Graspable Math
Are your students cheating on math problems by using apps like PhotoMath, Mathway, or other websites on their phones? This can be frustrating since it may be hard to determine what students actually know versus what they were able to solve with the assistance of their phones. Alice Keeler, math teacher and EdTech expert, will share with you the unique ways to use the tool, Graspable Math, to help students to develop procedural fluency. Make Graspable Math a part of your math classroom!
Creating an Add-on with Google Apps Script
Have you ever wanted a Google app to do something but found out that capability didn't yet exist? Chances are, you've run into things you would change if you could. Good news! Oftentimes, you can do just that with the Google Apps Script. In this webinar, Google Workspace Innovator, Alice Keeler will show you how to customize Google apps like Docs, Slides, and Forms through code. She'll also provide some examples of useful ways to customize and get you started with building an add-on to auto send customized feedback to students.
Culturally Responsive Teaching: Promoting Student Reflection
Culturally responsive teaching enables us as educators to build the connection between academics and students' cultural backgrounds. The key is to provide our students with daily opportunities to reflect and share their voices. Join us in this session as we dive into activities and reflection opportunities that we can bring into our classroom to get our students thinking about and sharing history, traditions, and experiences of other cultures and groups. We will discuss guiding questions for reflection and conversation starters to promote a positive learning environment.
Using Emojis to Manage Classroom Routines and Activities
Who doesn’t love a good emoji? You may already be using emojis in some way in your classroom, but did you know that these little characters can be a great visual cue for students as they work through assignments? Join us as we share suggestions for incorporating emojis into your pre-existing assignments and explore how these fun characters can even help you to manage classroom routines!
Culturally Responsive Teaching: Gamification
Through culturally responsive teaching, we can provide opportunities for our students to be engaged in learning and to process content in a way that best suits their individual needs. In this session, we will explore how to use gamification to get our student's attention and to enrich their learning experiences. We will provide examples of games that will keep students engaged in learning and that promote conversation and friendly competition. Let's discuss the power of games and incorporation repetition, problem solving, and making connections.
Certify Students with Certify'em for Google Forms
Go beyond a score and provide students with their own certificate of completionfor quizzes and assignments. You can use a Google Forms quiz and provide them with a custom certificate with a simple add-on. In this webinar, Google Certified Innovator Alice Keeler will show you how to install the Certify'em add-on. She will also provide examples and ideas for when an automatically generated certificate can be used with students and demonstrate how to set up and use Certify'em in Google Forms.
Rube Goldberg Cartoon Contest: Putting the 'A' in STEAM!
Join Jennifer George as she leads a lively conversation with illustrators Abby Merrill and Ed Steckley as they describe and quite literally illustrate how to draw Rube Goldberg Machines. Once your students have mastered invention drawing, take learning to the next level with the Rube Goldberg Crazy Contraption Cartoon Contest. We will discuss how the contest can add the Art into STEAM learning and how your students can enter.
5 Creative Ways to Use Google Slides
Sure, you can use Google Slides to present information, but you can do so much more with Google Slides! Aim to include at least one of the 4 Cs in your activities: creative thinking, collaboration, critical thinking, and communicating ideas. In this webinar, Google Certified Innovator Alice Keeler will show you five creative ways to use Google Slides with your students and how they can be used to include at least one of the 4 Cs in a lesson.
Increasing Critical Thinking Using Google Workspace Apps
Critical thinking can be measured using the Depth of Knowledge (DOK) scale, which ranges from 1 to 4. We often rely on lower level tasks; even science and math classes can lean heavily on DOK 1 tasks. For any subject or grade level, we all benefit from considering the DOK levels of our lessons and assignments. Learning improves when we provide students more opportunities to perform at a DOK 2 or DOK 3 level. In this webinar, Google Certified Innovator Alice Keeler will share activities using Google tools that can support increased critical thinking in your classroom.
MC: Google Advanced - Session 9 - Using Jamboard and Google Groups to Foster Student Discussion
Session 9 in our Google Educator Advanced Micro-credential will focus on providing students with new experiences to enhance discussion and gather ideas with peers. While focusing on Google tools such as Jamboard and Google Groups, we will look at various ways that students can collaborate and share their voices on group projects, book clubs, and even class debates. Join us to look at some new ways that students can enhance their discussion skills inside and out of the classroom.
MC: Google Advanced - Session 8 - Using Google Scholar and Chrome to Take Research to a New Level
Let's take research to the next level with Google Workspace. In Session 8 of our Google Educator Advanced Micro-credential we will dive into using different search tools within Google Workspace, such as Google Scholar and Chrome, to help students improve search results, cite resources, and even locate academic resources.
MC: Google Advanced - Session 7 - Using Google Sites and Gmail to Connect with Guardians
In our last session, we dove into keeping guardians up to date. In Session 7 of our Google Educator Advanced Micro-credential, we will continue to explore how you can use Google Sites and Gmail to connect with guardians. We'll explore all the options for embedding other valuable Google Workspace resources into your Google Site, including forms for all of your classroom needs!
Send Custom Feedback from a Google Form to a Google Doc Report
Google Forms is an amazing tool for allowing students to submit answers and letting you see all student responses in one place. Forms saves you from wasting time opening individual documents and also provides you with the data you need to adjust instruction and differentiate. The feedback features in Google Forms are okay, but you can make them even better with Google Apps Script. If you can copy and paste you can code! In this workshop, Alice Keeler will introduce you to the basics of coding with Google Apps Script and help you to skip using email as the method for communicating feedback to students. Instead, provide a feedback document that you coded yourself!
Student Engagement with Google Tools
Student engagement matters for learning. Google Workspace apps such as Docs, Sheets, Forms, Slides, Jamboard, Classroom, and more do not create engagement by themselves. Additionally, paper activities do not always translate well to a digital medium. Google Tools certainly have the potential to create an engaging learning environment when they are paired with pedagogy around what creates engagement. In this workshop, Google Certified Innovator Alice Keeler will show you tried and tested engagement strategies utilizing Google tools.
MC: Google Advanced - Session 4 - Using YouTube to Curate Digital Instructional Materials
It's time to use YouTube to support different learning models! There are several ways to enhance your lessons using YouTube and its features. Join us for Session 4 of our Google Educator Advanced Micro-credential where we will take a look at how to take advantage of the variety of tools within YouTube.
In this second session of our Google Educator Advanced Micro-credential we will focus on the tools within Google Workspace to help keep your Google Docs and Slides organized. Join us as we explore what we feel are the most valuable features within Docs and Slides that will support you as you create engaging activities for your students!
Project-Based Learning (PBL) with Google
Join us as we explore how Google can improve the quality of your project-based learning activities. We'll cover how you can use Google Workspace for Education to create PBL activities that promote critical thinking, communication, and collaboration in your classroom. In this course, we'll focus on features that support research, gathering (and analyzing) feedback, and presenting knowledge in your classroom.
Better Progress Reports in Google Classroom
Google Classroom is helpful for digital interactions and managing student work with Google Drive. However, one of the weaknesses of Google Classroom is the lack of reports. Classroom teacher Alice Keeler will show you how she uses a free teacher account in Schoolytics.com to create and share better progress reports with students and guardians. Use Alice Keeler's Chrome extension designed to make it even easier to share progress reports and feedback through Google Classroom.
Rube Goldberg Machines with iBlocks
Learn how to use the iBlocks framework to guide your students through the Engineering Design Process, first building context and understanding around Rube Goldberg, simple machines, and then how they come together in a Rube Goldberg Machine. IBlocks content leads students through the planning, design, and construction of their machine and finally, the testing and evaluation, where students learn the importance of refining, remixing, and redesigning.
Redesigning Holiday Packets Using Google Workspace
An extended break, such as a holiday break or summer vacation, can be a recipe for academic regression. In an attempt to prevent any possible regression, most teachers send students home with stapled holiday packets filled with academic activities. Join us as we share strategies and discuss the benefits of redesigning holiday packets using Google applications.
Culturally responsive and sustaining teaching are paramount in today's classrooms to ensure equity, inclusivity, and growth for all learners. Discover how to help the growing population of ELLs attain success. In this session, we will focus on helping ELLs reach content objectives by crafting observable and measurable language objectives. We will look at specific methods and resources that will assist you in creating pathways of learning for your ELLs.
EdTech Essentials: Assess with EdPuzzle
In this session Monica Burns, author of EdTech Essentials will introduce the benefits of formative assessment with digital tools. Participants will explore how digital tools provide a special benefit for students as they increase student opportunities (frequency) and options (choice) to share their learning. This session will focus on formative assessment best practices and how to check for understanding using the resources within EdPuzzle.
Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 plans are instrumental tools in getting formal help for students in K-12 education with learning and attention issues. While they both focus on giving all students equal opportunities to learn, they are used for different reasons. IEPs are for special education and 504 plans are for physical access to learning. Join us as we go over these differences in depth and give you strategies to help you meet every student's needs according to their plans.
How to Integrate Technology into Your Rube Goldberg Machine
In this session, David Fox, creator of the “Rube Works” app, will talk about bringing the Rube Goldberg experience to an app in a fun and inspirational way. Alefiya Master from MAD-learn will talk about the importance of app development in STEM education. Twelve live attendees of our Rube Goldberg OTIS series will be selected to receive Rube Goldberg early reader chapter books for their school libraries!
Using SMART Board to Support Literacy
Looking for more engaging literacy lessons? Well, look no further than your SMART Board. There are many features on the SMART Board that can bring your literacy lessons to the next level. You will learn how the SMART Board can foster comprehension, engagement, and collaboration among your students. Come explore how to use SMART Lab to quickly create literacy activities.
Fostering Cultural Awareness in Your Students
Influencing the way students view the world, and how they connect with the people they meet, is just as important as learning how to read, write, and solve math problems. In this session, we'll look at some tips and tricks to help teachers foster supportive learning environments where students of all cultures feel included. We'll also discuss how to incorporate cultural differences into activities and lessons that help students become even more well-rounded members of their own community
EdTech Essentials: Collaborate with Lumio
In this session Monica Burns, author of EdTech Essentials will introduce the benefits of incorporating collaborative learning experiences into tech-rich lessons. This session will focus on best practices for fostering collaboration through interactive activities in Lumio.
Project Based Learning with Microsoft
Let’s explore how Microsoft can improve the quality of your project-based learning activities and promote critical thinking, communication, and collaboration in your classroom. In this course, we'll cover how to use Microsoft’s free tools to promote the key elements of project-based learning (PBL), such as research, gathering & analyzing feedback, and presenting knowledge.
EdTech Essentials: Assess with Nearpod
In this session Monica Burns, author of EdTech Essentials will introduce the benefits of formative assessment with digital tools. This session will focus on formative assessment best practices and how to check for understanding before, during, and after instruction using the interactive presentation tool Nearpod.
ClassFlow is an in browser lesson building application created by Promethean. In ClassFlow you can create lessons, assessments, and assignments that are easily accessible at home or on the go! Join us as we go over the basics and discover what ClassFlow has to offer to help make your classroom more interactive.
EdTech Essentials: Curate with Wakelet
In this session Monica Burns, author of EdTech Essentials will introduce the idea of curation and the role of an educator as a curator. Selecting “just right” resources for students is an essential practice for educators to help make sure the needs of all students are addressed. In this session, we’ll explore how to pull together resources that connect to curriculum goals while supporting the needs of all students with the free tool Wakelet
Rube Goldberg Machines in the Digital World of Minecraft
Join the team from Rube Goldberg Inc and Minecraft global ambassadors they discuss bringing STEAM into the digital world of Minecraft through Rube Goldberg Machines. They will discuss the minecraft.edu tutorials based on simple machines and how those lessons will culminate in a digital Rube Goldberg Machine Contest with NASEF set in the world of Minecraft.
Rube Goldberg Machines in the Classroom
In this session, Jennifer George shares how teaching Rube Goldberg in the classroom levels the playing field for all learners of all ages. She will talk about the history of the Rube Goldberg Institute for Innovation & Creativity, the origins of the Rube Goldberg Machine and the machine contests that the family has run for over 35 years. She will also introduce a variety of new offerings that exist for all grade levels that want to get started creating Rube Goldberg Machines in the classroom.
Literacy Apps for Early Education
With the many educational apps available, and your limited time to research, how do you know which ones are going to benefit your students the most? During this course you will learn some helpful guidelines on how to choose quality literacy apps for early education. We will then take a closer look at apps that support early literacy skills such as Epic, Dela Kids, and Starfall Learning to Read. Join us to explore features like differentiation tools, personalized learning, data collection, and more.
pi-top[4] Foundation Electronics Kit
Second video in the series ... using pi-top[4] and Python programming to activate sensors and components in the Foundation Electronics Kit.
Creating Schedules for Students with Special Needs
It's the beginning of the school year! We want to start our students off on the right foot, but how do we ensure that they get the best possible start? For many students, organization and having a schedule to follow can mean a more focused and productive day. In this course, we will take a look at how to create, distribute, and keep schedules for special needs students. We will go over tools, tips, and tricks for creating and maintaining consistency to help you and your students start the school year right.
Measuring Student Engagement with Google Classroom
Join Alice Keeler for this special Google Classroom session on how to get simple reporting for teachers that will save time and better support students. You will see how Google Classroom data can be used to track patterns in student engagement and performance over time, identify students disengaged from learning, and more!
Getting the School Year Started - Coding in K-8 with Wonder Workshop
In this webinar (part one in a series), you will learn about the importance of computer science for K-8 students, as well as some practical examples on how you can get started this school year as a classroom teacher, a library/media specialist, and even a school administrator. Join Bryan L. Miller, Senior Director of Global Strategic Outreach at Wonder Workshop, creators of the Dash, Dot, and Cue robots, as he takes you through ways to get computer science going at your school or district. Bryan is an international keynote presenter and speaker in the areas of computer science, robotics, maker spaces, play, and edtech toys. He has worked with thousands of educators across the world in learning about the importance of computer science and integrating it into the curriculum. The fun doesn’t stop there, as this will be a series of continued webinars covering other topics in Coding in K-8 with Wonder Workshop.
Google Jamboard Jams are free web-based files that lives in your Google Drive. If you are not already using Google Jamboard, you will want to add this to your teaching toolbox. Join Alice Keeler for this session, which is an intro for teachers on how to use Google Jamboard app in the classroom. It will cover everything from the basics of how to navigate to lessons/activities you can use today! Alice will also cover some important pedagogical considerations to help you know when and how to use Jamboard. Some participants in the live session will receive a copy of Alice’s new book, “Teaching with Google Jamboard,” which contains over 90 teaching ideas and comes with sample “Jams” that you can use to help guide you and your students toward greater proficiency with Jamboard.
Back to School with Google Forms
Google Forms is the greatest thing since sliced bread. You know the basics of creating a Google Form but what else can you do to leverage the learning power and student engagement elements of Google Forms. Let's go over how to reuse your Google Forms from last year, including why and how to use branching Forms. Join Alice Keeler to start the school year off right by upping your Google Forms game!
Google Workspace for Education: Google Sites
Google Sites is a structured wiki and webpage creation tool offered as part of the Google Workspace for Education: Google Sites applications. Google Sites is a tool for anyone to be able to create simple websites that support collaboration between different editors. We'll show you how to get started with your site and how to take advantage of the many tools to make resources available to your students, parents, colleagues, and school community!
Google Workspace for Education: Google Meet
Are you looking for a dynamic video conferencing experience? Whether you're meeting with students, colleagues, or parents, Google Meet has you covered! In this course, we’ll review the basics of setting up a Google Meet, how to start activities like Breakout rooms and Polls, and much more.
10 Google Classroom Tips for a Student-Centered Classroom
Google Classroom is a game changer in how we teach, but only if we take advantage of what is now possible compared to what before was difficult-to-impossible. How can we leverage Google Classroom to give students more voice and choice? How can Google Classroom allow us to create more authentic learning experiences? Join Alice to discuss these challenges with a more student-centered approach and how Google Classroom can help.
EdTech Essentials Part 2: Creation and Collaboration with Digital Tools
Join educator, author, and speaker Monica Burns and the OTIS for educators team for part two of this three-part webinar series that will explore essential EdTech topics alongside actionable tips and favorite tools. Learn strategies for supporting students as creators and how to design learning activities for movie making, ebook design, website building, podcasting, and more. In this session, you’ll explore how to support students as creators as they work together with their peers.
MC: Assistive Technology Certification Session 11- Equity & Ethical Concerns
When it comes to Assistive Technology, it's important to consider appropriate funding and sources. In session 11, we will review and discuss equity and ethical concerns and the impact on our students. We'll also explore federal assistance programs in relation to AT and how to best share this information with other members of our school.
MC: Assistive Technology Certification Session 10- Assessing Needs & Technologies
Join us for Session 10 of our Assistive Technology certification to learn about assessing need, IEPs, and more. When it comes to AT, there are many working parts. These can include determining who will join discussions and serve on the child-study team, routine opportunities to meet and analyze the need for AT in different areas like handwriting, communication, recreation, and self-care to name a few. As well as selecting a designee (usually the Special Education teacher) who will illustrate the need for AT in the IEP document itself. Don't miss out!
MC: Assistive Technology Certification Session 7- Hardware & Telecommunications
Did you know that Assistive Technology is any piece of equipment that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a person with a disability? In Session 7 of our AT certification, we will explore examples from low-tech AT such as communication boards made of cardboard or fuzzy felt to high-tech AT including special-purpose computers.
MC: Assistive Technology Certification Session 5- Designing Effective Learning Solutions
The Universal Design for Learning aims to eliminate or reduce barriers to academic success. In session 5, we will explore learning solutions and how to design and implement the most effective lessons for our students. In addition, we will discuss the importance of UDL and its place in the educational setting. We'll also explore how to best incorporate Assistive Technology into daily lessons in order to create the most meaningful learning experiences.
EdTech Essentials Part 1: Curating Resources and Expanding Classroom Walls
Join educator, author, and speaker Monica Burns and the OTIS for educators team for part one of this three-part webinar series that will explore essential EdTech topics alongside actionable tips and favorite tools. Learn about free and low-cost resources for student consumers that connect to reading, viewing, and listening experiences students have online. In this session, you’ll explore the tools and the strategies for curating content for students with an emphasis on expanding classroom walls with digital resources.
Cleaning Up Your Google Classroom to be Ready for Next Year
The best way to be ready for Fall is to clean up your Google Classroom now so you do not have to worry about it later. This session will provide you with practical tips on how to manage your current Google Classroom to help you be ready to use Google Classroom in the Fall, including tips for cleaning up Google Drive, saving your student work exemplars, and lessons learned for how to better structure Google Classroom for next year.
MC: Apple iPadOS - Session 6 - Keynote
Apple's Keynote is a great application — it's the one you've been seeing throughout this micro-credential! In this session, you'll learn how to create engaging presentations to make the most of your lesson content. Join us as we take a look at a full presentation and show you how to incorporate some of the great features Keynote has to offer.
Using Nearpod for Remote Instruction
Nearpod is a powerful tool for lesson delivery that includes interactives, a variety of media, and even integrates with different programs like G Suite, Microsoft Teams, Flipgrid, and much more. In this course, we will be covering how to use Nearpod for remote instruction lesson delivery. Whether it be synchronous or asynchronous instruction, Nearpod has you covered!
Socratic Seminar Using Microsoft Teams
A tried and true method of discussion and critical thinking, the Socratic method can be a great way to engage students in dialogue even while learning digitally. In this course, we will take a look at how to use the Socratic method with the tools and features of Teams to engender thoughtful, open debate.
GeoGebra Tools for Math Practice
Interested in learning how GeoGebra can help increase math achievement in your class? In this course, we’ll explore the website and how it can help you introduce and provide opportunities for students to practice different math concepts including geometry, algebra, tables, and graphing.
Getting Started With ClassDojo
In light of the times we are living in, teachers continue to search for effective distance learning tools and platforms. Join us as we explore the basics of using ClassDojo, a free school communication platform that teachers, students, and families use every day to build close-knit communities by sharing what’s being learned in the classroom home through photos, videos, and messages. We will cover creating an account, setting-up your class, inviting students and parents, and finally take a look at what students see on their screens.
Things to Consider: Virtual Graduations
The end of the school year is filled with celebrations for our students, staff and community as important milestones after a year(s) of work culminates in graduation and moving up ceremonies. This session will review things to consider as you plan virtual celebrations for you students and staff. We will review practical examples as well as a provide a checklist of options as you decide the best course of action for hosting and organizing virtual celebrations in your school.
This session was run live for NYCDOE educators, some content is specific to NYCDOE, but all ideas are useful for any school or district.
Co-Teaching Remotely with Google
Google has a number of education tools from Classroom to Drive to Hangouts Meet, and everything else in Google Workspace for Education, to support co-teaching during remote instruction situations. In this course we’ll provide an overview of how to get started with distance learning including how to teach online using the Google Workspace for Education applications, and how to collaborate with co-teachers and service providers to provide high-quality learning opportunities for your students while teaching remotely.
Civics - Type of Elections: School Board Elections
As citizens and/or residents of our local communities, it’s important to understand the different types of elections that we have the right to participate in. As residents of a local school district, you have the right to vote how school budgets are enumerated and spent. School board elections and budget votes tend to vary between states and even local municipalities — join our session as we dig into the details!
Part 3 - Learning Python with pi-top: Conditionals & Loops
Why did the turtle cross the road? Well, probably to attend our Python session… but what’s more important is HOW the turtle gets to the other side of the road. Session three of Learning Python with the pi-top is all about control flow. We’ll show you how to use a classic computer programming application called Turtle Art (hint: it comes pre-installed on your pi-top). Join us to gather resources for teaching control flow with the pi-top that includes turtles and so much more!
Creating Your Own STEAM Makerspace Program: Ideas & Considerations
Were you unable to attend our session at ISTE 2018? Well, here it is! Makerspaces are becoming cornerstones of schools’ STEAM offerings. From low-tech buildable options to high-tech coded 3D prints, and some things in between, we’ve got a session to help you figure out what’s right for your solution. Bring your imagination and flex your creative muscles!
Effective Instructional Leadership - Introduction
Among the Many and Varied Goals and Expectations of the School or District Administrator is to Need to Demonstrate Effective Instructional Leadership at the District, School, and Classroom Levels. Research Provides Several Strategies that can Assist and Support the School or District Leader in their Efforts to Improve Performance and Create a ‘True’ and ‘Inclusive’ Academic Learning Community. This Series of Admin Sessions will Focus on Some Key Strategies and Steps that can Implemented by School and District Leaders in the Efforts to Identify and Establish Clear Academic Goals, Expectations, and Plans that can Benefit their Entire School Community
Did you watch our Intro to Scratch course? Did it leave you wanting more? Or maybe your already using Scratch in your classroom and you want to take it to the next level. Whatever the case this course will help you get there! Join us as we explore more of the scripts that Scratch has to offer and create more complex code!
Join us as we explore OneNote Class Notebook, Microsofts collaborative workspace. With this tool every student has a personal workspace, a library for handouts, and a collaborative space to work on with peers. In this session we will show you how to get started, how to organize and deliver your lesson plans, and provide individualized support to all of your students.
Using the SMART Board for Early Childhood Literacy
In this session, we will look at how literacy teachers can inspire and motivate students using online resources and technology through the SMART Board. We'll take a look at some tips and tricks you can use to make decoding and phonics simpler for your students. We will explore different online resources in order to create lessons and then dive into the SMART Notebook software to explore various features you have access to in order to build custom activities with your students such as the gallery and SMART Speller. By the end of this session, you will come away with multiple skills to begin generating differentiated multimedia lessons for whole class instruction and center use.
Intro to Promethean ActivInspire
Promethean ActivInspire is a software designed to help teachers make the best use of their interactive whiteboard. In this course you will learn to use this software to write, manipulate, and annotate your desktop and to make your own flipcharts. Along with getting to know the basics of creating an engaging Flipchart Page, you will also learn some more advanced features such as linking to the internet, using pre-made templates, and importing other presentation or interactive files into Activ Flipcharts.
Differentiation Tips for SMART Notebook
Discover how technology, specifically your SMART Notebook software, can help you address the diverse strengths and weaknesses of the students in your classroom. We'll provide background information on differentiating instruction, along with strategies and resources to help you differentiate planning, instruction, management, and student assessment. This session will focus on creating additional supports to complete SMART Notebook activities for a variety of learners in your classroom.
Its Hour of Code Week! In this course we will be exploring some new and exciting coding applications to take you and your students beyond the hour of code activities provided by Code.org. Join us as we move away from those online coding programs and towards using robots, specifically the code-a-pillar and the bee-bot. With these affordable resources your students can see their coding skills put to work!
Valuable Digital Tools for Algebra Instruction
Algebra is a curriculum area that depends largely on visual concepts and comprehension. Join us during this course where we discover a variety of digital tools that can assist with enhancing visualization techniques while teaching algebra to a variety of grade levels. We will feature tools like GeoGebra, Fluid Math, Desmos Graphing Calculator, and more!
pi-top[4] Robotics 102 with Further
In this video, we move beyond the basics of Python programming and your pi-top[4] unit. From the pi-top Further website, we take a look at Courses, where teachers and students can explore programming concepts through Robotics, namely “Robotics 102” where our Prax robot imitates human qualities!
pi-top[4] Robotics 101 with Further
In this video, we move beyond the basics of Python programming and your pi-top[4] unit. From the pi-top Further website, we take a look at Courses, where teachers and students can explore programming concepts through Robotics, namely “Robotics 101” where the robot becomes a Mars Rover. Check it out!
