This past week Kicked. My. Butt. Nevertheless, it was quite a productive little week.
Monday
Because I don’t know how to stop giving myself more work, my massive effort to visit every teacher in his/her classroom to find out how I can help them integrate technology thoughtfully kicked off and I visited 20 teachers. #tired. I began to have feelings again for my iPad.
Tuesday
I am lucky enough to be considered part of the CAMP (Computer and Media Pathway – a CTE/CPA Distinguished Academy) Team and Tuesday we spent the day team building with students as a disguised method for teaching these kids about college. It’s called the Ropes to College and is an model example of why academies and pathways are good for kids.
I also submitted my workshops (2) and interest sessions (2) for the CLTA Conference “The Quest for Proficiency” in Ontario in March. You’ll be there right? Right?
Wednesday
Full-fledged, 100% fell back in love with my iPad. I was giddy. I was so crazy in love that I bought my iPad a stand so it can take it’s rightful place on my desk.
I also took 19 seconds of a different video and turned it into another fifteen minute activity, using Google Forms. Why had I never done this before?? Instant data! Click on the image to see the slide show. (Is it still a slide show if there’s only one slide?) And click here to see the accompanying form. (You’ll be asked to make a copy.) My next step is to add these little video gems into EdPuzzle.
And then we talked about the data which was a great way to practice numbers. Because there’s never not a good time to throw in a little number practice.
I also played around with Flipgrid, pretty much having the same experience as Colleen at Language Sensei. Except, today when I was listening to the responses, I had what I hope is going to be a brilliant idea: I think it will be more effective if they listen to their responses for the things that I heard over and over again. Instead of me giving feedback, they could hear it themselves and hopefully correct it. Jo Boaler said that your synapses fire when you realize you’ve made a mistake and when you correct it, so I’m hoping this will cause some synapses to fire twice which will in turn have some effect the next time they talk.
Today I made a Google sheet, which I’ll pass out in Classroom so they each have a copy and here’s the brilliant part, I used a formula so if a student answers “Non” to any of the things they should be listening for a message pops up telling them to re-record! At least I got the formula to work on the first try making me feel like my formula skills are improving. Click on the image to see the form. You’ll have to make a copy to see the down arrow (and my fancy formula skills.)
Thursday
Confirmation that the House voted to restore funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers. This is a good thing.
At my Technology Leaders meeting the meeting leader said he wants to do a book study of The Innovator’s Mindset by George Couros and he was so excited about the idea that I’m going to participate just because he was so enthusiastic about it.
Friday
Continued classroom visits with my love, iPad and catch up day for everything I haven’t been able to get to including starting the catalogue of the performance based assessments the World Language teachers will be giving in a couple of weeks.
Despite being beat up by the week, I can’t complain because I have the best job(s) in the world!