Detox From Tech

As readers of iPaddiction may have gathered from the last six years of blogging, technology is a great tool when used correctly to consume, collaborate, critically think, create, and contribute in an educational and personal setting.

However, as with all things, moderation is key!  Lunch N' Learn will focus on six simple steps that can be taken to take a mental break from technology.


Go ahead!  Try them!

Additional Resources To Be Successful:

👍Steps To Help Guide The Process

👍7 Hobbies That Keep Tech Workers Sane

👍The Importance Of Non-Tech Related Hobbies

👍9 Ways To Start and Stick To A Digital Detox

👍5 Reasons You Need To Unplug After Leaving Your Job

Highlights of Detoxing (if only for a small amount of time)

• Set achievable targets of time off
• Commit to changing one habit at a time
• Store the tech device in a different room than you overnight
• Make an effort to give others your attention
• Find a detox buddy
• Tell everyone what you are doing

To complete the above image which is also an interactive website and part of my collection, I used Canva which continues to produce!

Tech Gift Ideas 2015

Lunch N' Learn provides multiple learning opportunities for our staff. From classroom teaching strategies and workflow to fun ideas, it's an opportunity for our staff to learn about technology.

Today, with the "shopping season" about to be upon us, I am providing ten technology tools, that for the most part are $60 or less, to our staff.  Two of these tools, The Tile App and Google Cardboard, will be experienced by the staff during Lunch N' Learn.

If providing a technology tool to one of your loved ones is on your horizon, consider these options.


Celebrating Christmas!  For me it's Christ's birth and providing gifts to loved ones and friends just as gifts were brought to Him after He was born.  These technology gifts may just be what brings a smile to someone on Christmas Eve or Morning!

Apple Core

It's been announced that we will have an "Apple Core" training team in our school district for the first time staring this school year.  Twelve people working toward teaching other staff members in our district specific technology skills to enhance student learning.

Apple Core Technology Training Team

Engage, enhance and accelerate learning for all students with the iPad.

To accomplish our mission, your role would be to

• Become experts in using iPads for student collaboration, creation, critical thinking, content consumption, digital citizenship
• Assist staff in being effective users of iPads both personally and professionally as outlined above.  
• Help build confidence of staff in using and integrating iPad apps and content with all curriculum through instructional coaching,  training, conversations and positive attitudes.  
• Research and share best practices with technology integration and bring innovative ideas to the training team and all district staff
• Assist in training staff, specifically those whose classroom would see an increase of devices each year

Being a member of an innovative group of people will continue to challenge and stretch me so that I can learn and instruct all at the same time.  As a member of the 2013 Apple Distinguished Educator class, I'm reminded of the saying on our shirts.

"To educate, I innovate."

I believe this group will be the essence of the same people that are ADEs.  How awesome will that be!

Some of our specific tasks include.

Apple Core Team Tasks

Training

• Train PCSD staff in iPad content and websites including but not limited to
• District Apps
• iTunes U
• Integration with GAFE
• Learning Management Program
• Train staff on effective ways to integrate technology/personalize learning using the frameworks of SAMR model and 4 C’s.

Planning

• Participate in planning around the implementation of the Pulaski Digital Learning Plan
• Participate in the planning of professional development for professional staff

With this plan, our entire school district will move forward.  I look forward to the challenges that this responsibility provides.

Let's go!

Flex Mod Digital Sign & Countdown Preparations

During certain times of the day, monitors in our building will have digital announcements.  We are planning to use Google Sign Builder.



The daily announcements will run using a Google Presentation that can be updated at any time.
Our example:


Once set up, the slide show will switch to a countdown clock (red) and black background which will run at our designated times.

Our designated times are currently set for this schedule.

Between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM, we will display some form of wallpaper such as below:

 


A HUGE thank you to Mr. Westphal for taking our ideas and making them happen.

n2y Winner, Mrs. Morgan!

Technology can present itself in so many ways.  n2y and Symbolstix is a technology tool that has revolutionized Mrs. Morgan's classroom learning environment.

In September 2013, Mrs. Morgan approached me with the idea of entering the n2y contest in which n2y wanted to hear how the Unique Learning System was utilized in classrooms across the United States.  After understanding the task at hand which was filming and producing a video telling the story of how the Unique Learning System has helped Nalia become verbally engaged in learning, I agreed to help.

Part of the job of a Learning Support Teacher & Technology Integration Specialist is thinking about and enacting the best work flow for a task.  My initial thought was to use iPads and Skitch to tell the story.  However, I knew I needed to talk with Mr. Manning, a media teacher.  He immediately recognized the importance of the story and decided to become an integral piece to the puzzle.  From him, I learned how to transcribe each video clip (we used Google Docs so that both of us could work on the document).  Transcribing allowed us to tell the story through the teacher, students, and parents.  Our final product was well received!

The reaction of Mrs. Morgan and her students is priceless.  Congratulations, Mrs. Morgan!  You deserve it!

View Celebration that was created completely on an iPad Air with iMovie.

CPM Tech Resource Training Day

Our teachers use CPM and time was granted to them to investigate the technology resources.  Our teachers were granted three hours of instruction and investigation time, along with food, to become more efficient with the tools to better meet the needs of students and parents.

There are three parts to the technology resources.
Teacher Resources
Student eBook Resources
Assessment Resources

View Presentation

StoryboardThat Provides Digital Plot Diagrams For Students

Our eighth grade students were learning about "plot diagrams" and constructing paper and pencil creations from the story.  I spent the day with four teachers about a month ago and upon hearing this, I searched for a "tech tool" that could provide a digital option for creating a story board featuring

• Exposition
• Conflict
• Rising Action
• Climax
• Falling Action
• Resolution

The free site allowed our students to create three storyboards up to six squares each.  Some students told their story in six squares and others used twelve and eighteen squares.  Students were totally engaged and thrilled to create and comprehend story Plot Diagrams through StoryboardThat, on Chromebooks.

Click To View Larger Version

Click To View Larger Version

Impact On Students:

Creativity: Students creating a complete story with the correct "plot diagram" elements required students to think, question, and create.

Critical Thinking: Students were required to understand the elements of "plot diagrams" and think through the elements of their story so that they coincide with the beginning, middle, and end of a plot diagram.

In-Service Shareshop

We are always expressing how as teachers we would like to see more time to work on projects or plan with our fellow teachers. A brilliant move by our Technology Instructor Director was to make time for a Shareshop.

Shareshop: an amount of time devoted for teachers creating or completing a
technology project that was learned about through an in-service
session.

Over fifty staff members joined us in the Library, worked on tech projects, listened to music, and had fun doing it!