Using an LMS in Flex Mod

We believe at Pulaski High School that a Flex Mod schedule is the best schedule for students.  In the last two weeks we have had Liberal High School in Kansas and SPASH in Stevens Point visit us to see how our schedule works.

We are in year three and believe and LMS (learning management system) is essential for students and staff to maximize classroom and personal learning time (PLT) for a positive learning experience.

Below is the presentation that outlines some major ways we utilize our lms, Canvas.  No matter what lms is used, a "one stop shop" for course resources is essential for success.




I created the presentation in Keynote and exported it to YouTube.

Flex Mod Feature - Course Phasing

I was asked by our assistant principal to create updated videos that help others to understand the features of a flex mod schedule.  Two years ago, we created a series of videos called "40 Seconds With Flex Mod" which asked a question and got an answer.  This was created to inform students and parents while we prepared to enter the flex mod schedule which was eight months away.

We started the flex mod schedule in the fall of 2015, and we felt it was time to "tell our story" as it pertains to our unique schedule.

The process for completing the video started with filming of the three phases of the course.  I used the S1 Shoulder Pod iPhone Mount, an iPhone 6s Plus, MacBook Air, iMovie on a Mac, Canva, and YouTube.

The Process:

• Determine the meeting times of Chemistry for an entire week.  We always think of courses in weeks and how it looks.
• Capture video from Large Group on Wednesday using the S1 Shoulder Pod and iPhone
• Capture video from Small Group on Thursday using the S1 Shoulder Pod and iPhone
• Capture video from Lab on Friday using the S1 Shoulder Pod and iPhone
• Transfer video into three different folders on the MacBook Air utilizing AirDrop (amazingly fast and efficient)
• Import video into iMovie and edit
• Confirm names and spellings of students in movie via Chemistry teachers
• Create a YouTube Thumbnail in Canva
• Upload the video into YouTube (two places: PHS YouTube and my YouTube channel) and add a customized YouTube Thumbnail

Making a video takes time!  Everything does!  However, the tools are present that help the process to be efficient.  Hopefully, the final product(s) can be something that transports a viewer to the experience and walks away with a better understanding of the subject.  You owe it to your learning environment to "tell your story".  I look forward to seeing what you produce!

I would like to publicly thank Mr. Manning, PHS Media teacher, who I've had the fortunate opportunity to spend many hours creating videos so that we can tell our school's story. He has truly taught me so many video producing skills in the past five years.  I really didn't know what I didn't know!  However, that's the beautiful thing about a high school.  In a sense, it's a village or city with every profession who has a master trades(wo)man.  There is always someone who knows something about something.  And as teachers are always willing to do, they help people understand how to make, fix, or create something.

Flex Modular Scheduling - Here We Go!

On Wednesday, our school board approved the implementation of the Flexible Modular Schedule for the 2015-2016 school.  With that, let the planning begin!  We will be meeting in a few short weeks to develop a plan for the upcoming school year.  This plan will focus on ALL the items that need to be completed prior to the schedule impacting our staff and students in August of 2015.

I had the fortunate opportunity of presenting in Westside School District in Omaha.  While it was great for me to give information to teachers and administrators in Westside, it was EQUALLY advantageous for me to receive a tour of their high school and to have a twenty minute conversation with staff and administration on how they conduct their modular schedule in a high school of 1800 students.  They have implemented the Modular Schedule since 1967.

I have compiled a video of the tour of the school.  I used an iPad Air and iMovie on the iPad to edit the movie.  I also used my iPhone and the included Voice Memos app to record the principal and assistant principal providing valuable, candid statements and advice.  I used Garage Band to clean up the audio (we were in a noisy area).  Exporting the "podcast" to my iMac and uploading to Google Drive worked great to get the information to others.

Creating a public Google Drive Folder compiles the recordings into a very presentable format.

WATCH & LISTEN to the conversation!

I am planning to document the continued progress of this journey.  The Green Bay Press-Gazette has already written a story about it! Please join in the conversation on Twitter #FlexMod as I know that the Sheboygan School District and maybe others are implementing this schedule as well.

I am proud of our high school and our district!  This isn't going to be easy, however, nothing great every is!