Google Images + Google Drawing + Lucid Press = Publishing Options and Success

On Monday, we have one of the best days in our school year pertaining to professional development.  I am part of a group of teachers from our district that are willing to teach other teachers in our district trending innovative teaching strategies that include emerging technology tools.  All of our teachers get to choose three different tech sectionals throughout the day.  We also have lunch and "a sandbox" running opposite each other for emerging tech gadgets.

My first presentation for the day is an overview of the great iPad creation app, Explain Everything.  I have presented this before during the first semester Apple Core trainings, but all of the attendees are new to the details of this tool.


My second presentation is an "first time" presentation of Google Images, Google Draw, and Lucid Press.  Our district is on the verge of moving away from the Microsoft products for teachers.  Our students haven't had Microsoft for three years.  I really like the SlideCarnival template that I used. It is my intent to show new creation options for teachers to create "Microsoft Publisher" type products.  Some items that I focused on:
Google Images:

• Size
• Color
• Type
• Time
• Usage Rights

Google Drawing:

• Integrating With
• Docs
• Sheets
• Slides
• Layering
• Tools

Lucid Press:

• How To Connect To Google Drive
• Creating
• Templates
• Tools
• Publishing

Apple Core - Experts At Your Fingertips With TED Talks & YouTube

In using TED Talks and YouTube some quick resources can help you.

• Organizing Experts
• Transcripts
• Cutting Videos
• Back Channeling

Insert Video Into Explain Everything Setting

We are inserting video into Explain Everything.  It's important to have one setting checked correctly.

Fantasy Geopolitics Draft Day

It all started with a Tweet by someone (can't remember) that touted Fantasy Geopolitics, the online game that includes everything from geography to current event articles to education gaming!  I looked into it and proposed it to Mrs. Brylski our Human Geography teacher.  We created a "teacher league" as a test run and realized right away that Fantasy Geopolitics was a legitimate contender for including during one of our units in social studies.

Set up was easy!  We created the league and acquired the "invite link".  We placed that link on Canvas, our LMS.  Students clicked on the link and entered our "code" for the league which required the students to create an account.  We used our school email address.  We had NO problems working on the iPad as you will see, but some students did open the "Fantasy Geopolitics" site "in Safari".
View a condensed version of the 35 minute learning experience.

To keep students interested in the three week game we will:

• Create discussion questions in Canvas 
• Require students to trade one country
• Reflect on one current event article from one or more countries that they own
• Create a reflection on the process one to two weeks into the game

The energy and enthusiasm by the students was evident.  We look forward to continuing the "gaming" of geopolitics.

Imperialism Takeover - iPad Consumption

We are really trying to focus our learning opportunities with iPads to be "more than just projects".

Mrs. Brylski, Mrs. Krause, and Mr. Emmerich, our World History teachers, allowed seventy-five students using iPads or personal devices at the same time to effectively research the "best African country".

View how it's done.

Digital Learning Day Resources For Teachers To Use Within Canvas

On Tuesday, March 1, 2016, all Juniors will be taking the Wisconsin state-wide ACT assessment at Pulaski High School.  All Freshman, Sophomores, and Seniors will have a Digital Learning Day.  We've informed parents that students may stay home and complete "Tuesday Only" material via Canvas or come to school and use a "PLT" resource area to complete the day's learning opportunities set forth by the teachers.

While worksheets, lectures, and digital links can be connected quite easily to Canvas, the Discussion Tool and Edpuzzle will provide opportunities to truly engage students during this time.

Some tools that will contribute to the day's learning.
Canvas Discussions:
Ideas For Use:

• Provide a link to a reading via URL or PDF and pose writing prompts and questions
• Students will not see other student responses until they post their ideas
• Require students to reply to a certain number of students
• Grading the initial responses and replies to students is accomplished using SpeedGrader
• Provide an image or video for watching and required response
• Post a file of any type

Canvas Discussion Video Tutorial

Canvas Text Discussion Tutorial
Complete Discussion Guide For Educators
How Do I Create a Discussion?

Edpuzzle is also an amazing tool that can help with a video resource.
Details:

• Monitor exact student watch time
• Add questions and comments 
• Questions will grade themselves
• Comments can be text or audio
• Prevent students from SKIPPING portions of the video
• Create own content through a screencast
• Upload a video from TEN different areas

Edpuzzle Video Tutorial


Edpuzzle Presentation Tutorial iPaddiction Blog Post

Tundra Toolslam 2016

Last night at the Tundra Toolslam, I presented Flipboard to about 80 people at the Neville Museum.  Ten innovative educators, five minutes each, one tool at a time!

View the presentation
View all the tweets

So grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with this awesome group! #tundra16 pic.twitter.com/W8e4Ej2KQD

— Jennifer Zurawski (@tweets2jen) January 28, 2016

Wow @recessduty sure knows how to work a crowd! Great demonstration of @Flipboard! #tundra16

— Josh Gauthier (@mrgfactoftheday) January 28, 2016

"I want to be their flavor!" Quote now immortalized during #tundra16 by @RecessDuty pic.twitter.com/VdWvLo5KXT

— Jonathan Spike (@Mr_JSpike) January 28, 2016

Find one tool and stick with it!

PLN Under 2000

Everyone knows the famous people in the educational Twitterverse!  Those voices that have ten-thousand, twenty-thousand, even fifty-thousand followers.  However, there are plenty of educators on Twitter that have less than 2,000 followers that have amazing insight into educational practices.

This reminds me so much of our classrooms.  There are always one, two, or possibly three students that speak all the time.  They may or may not have good insight, but they definitely take most of the energy from the room.  Leaders are needed, but their are many quiet voices in the room (and on Twitter) that have loud thoughts that can change the world.

I encourage you to find a few teachers and educational voices on Twitter that may not have thousands of followers and see what they have to say.  They may just inspire you to create the next great thing!

May I introduce you to @RMWynkoop, @JulietDPark, and @mh_coach.

3 Digital Artifacts Every Graduate Should Have Before Leaving High School

As we progress through our Flex Mod homeroom, we have a Universal Learning topic every Thursday.  This Thursday, we are presenting students with "3 Digital Artifacts Every Graduate Should Have Before Leaving High School".  I incorporated an iRig Mic, iPad, and iPad stand to record the "guest speakers".



Appreciate George Couros for some direction.

Global Issues: Flipboard for Current Events Finalized With a TED Talk

Our Global Issues class with Mrs. Schartner began a journey at the beginning of the year to learn more about current events.  Mrs. Schartner and I discussed the power of current events using the iPad and decided to utilize Flipboard.

Throughout the semester students discovered issues through articles and reflected on them.  The iPad and the Flipboard app was an amazing tool to engage students with global issues that they may not otherwise be interested in.  I personally use Flipboard for gathering technology news related to education and have created three of my favorite magazines.  

Students also watched numerous TED Talks on Global Issues throughout the semester similar to the one below. 

Fast forward to the end of the semester and students combined two global issues articles they found through the Flipboard app and created their own personal TED Talk.  

On Stage. In Front of Peers.  TED Talk.  Our Students.  Watch Some of Them.

Second Semester Students did an amazing job! Students added images.