#OKCPS - The 12 Days of Twitter

This is the blog post I wrote for my department's blog post advertising the upcoming Twitter PD, The 12 Days of Twitter. Join us!

The 12 Days of Twitter

December 12-23, 2016

Are you ready for another educational technology learning challenge? Join us from December 12th - December 23rd for The 12 Days of Twitter. You will become a Twitter star in twelve days. Each day a new task will be posted on the OKCPS ETS Blog for you to complete.

Here’s how to get started!

1. Visit the OKCPS ETS Blog on December 12, 2016 to read about the first task.
2. Then, visit the blog daily to read about the new task. Complete the daily task and share it on Twitter using the #OKCPS12Days hashtag.

If you would like more information about getting started with Twitter, check out this blog.

For more information, contact Mandy Green at 587.0315. See you on Twitter on December 12th!

#OKCPS Hour of Code Cohort Wrap Up

Each year I work with a cohort of teachers interested in the Hour of Code. We work through three to four types of coding and then their culminating activity is to host an Hour of Code event on their campus. Last year we had six teachers complete the cohort and activity. 

The first week we explored Unplugged Coding or coding without technology. We learned about and explored programming, debugging and more all without a tech device!


The next week, we explored four different web-based coding programs. This allowed for differentiation as well as a wide variety of experiences.


The final week, we explored Code.org and set up classroom accounts.


We will be wrapping up our cohort by hosting Hour of Code events in classrooms as well as on campuses. Stay tuned for Hour of Code events updates!

Increase Your Productivity - November Ed Tech Updates

Microsoft Outlook Productivity Tips

1. Categorize Emails - There are 4 D's when it comes to categorizing your emails. When you receive an email, categorize the email under one of the following categories:
       a. Delete - Delete the email as soon as possible. 
     b. Do it - Complete the task required by the email.
     c. Defer - Put the email on a "to-do" list with other tasks.   
     d. Delegate - Move the email and task to a colleague. 

2. Create Action Folders - Outlook folders may be created by project, person or purpose. When creating these folders, consider adding a "Pending" and "To-do" folder.

3. Flagging Emails - Not only can you drag emails to folders but you can also take advantage of the priority settings. First, select the email, then click on the "Follow Up" icon which is located on the menu ribbon. You will see a menu of priority settings pop up. Then, select "Add Reminder." This allows you to set a due date or time reminder to complete the task in the selected email.

4. Using Rules in Your Inbox - By clicking on the Rule icon on the menu ribbon, you can create new rules for your inbox. This will allow you to create a folder and have all email messages sent to that specified folder. You can also create a rule to send all messages with a specified title to a specific folder. Essentially, Outlook Rules automatically sort emails for you!

BONUS 
Have you ever run out of storage in your inbox? Try Archiving!

Reinventing Learning

Over the summer and last week I had the chance to present about Reinventing Learning. This session is about 21st century skills. Last spring, our district identified 8 high-impact instructional practices. One of the practices we identified was 21st century skills. This practice includes making real-world connections, using multimedia tools, digital citizenship, HOTS questions and flexible grouping.

As a former CTE Counselor and current Ed Tech Trainer, I prefer to focus on real-world connections and multimedia tools. These two areas can engage students, motivate students as well as make learning relevant and visible!

Some of the tools we explored included Skype in the Classroom, Virtual Fieldtrips and digital storytelling.

I changed the presentation from summer to fall to incorporate hyperdocs to promote more engagement, interaction and critical thinking.

#IMMOOC - Powerful Learning First, Technology Second

Being an Educational Technology Trainer, we often are bombarded with questions about using technology in the class. Teachers will email and state they are teaching a lesson on nouns and verbs but they want a technology activity to go along with it. I usually start by asking questions about their lesson and how it is framed. I ask more questions about what engages their students and motivates them. I then ask they question, "How can we make this more effective?" Not every lesson activity needs to involve technology as we have many other useful tools to teach with in this day and age. There should be a connection between the learning taking place and the technology being used. The technology tool does not drive instruction. If we are looking to improve instruction and student outcomes, then the technology tools we use should provide support. When I work with teachers, I use good questioning to help evaluate the lesson as well as the tools used framed from a student/learning outcome viewpoint. 

I love the quote in the book, 

Technology should personalize, not standardize.

Digital Storytelling in the 21st Century

Last week I had the opportunity to present at my district's Fall Focus. It was a great professional learning conference for our teachers. I decided to present on digital storytelling.

Why Digital Storytelling?
The world is full of stories. Digital storytelling allows us the chance to tell our story in a creative manner. The images in our digital stories are impactful and help the audience remember the story. 

Digital Tools
There are many tools to use and the key is to find the right tool for you and your story. When deciding on a tool to use in your digital story, evaluate the devices you have available to you as well as how you want to convey your message. A few of my favorite tools are Adobe Spark, Powtoon and YouTube. This is also a great time to discuss digital citizenship with your students. 

Here is how we explored digital storytelling at Fall Focus.

#ETCoached Blogging Challenge - Week 5

This challenge has been great. I love reading other's blog to keep up with trends across the nation and/or world. 

I plan to keep blogging by participating in other blogging challenges, sharing presentations as well as bout the awesome things I see our teachers doing in classrooms. 

#IMMOOC - School vs Learning

When I look at this picture and reflect, I think about Chapter 6 - Engage Vs Empower. I think about school as something you do as opposed to learning which is what happens. Another view might be that school is the motions and learning is the outcome. School is about learning facts whereas learning is about inquiring and asking questions.

Learning is a life long skill. The ability to learn and unlearn is a pressing skill in the 21st century of education. 21st century learning emphasizes in depth understanding built upon interdisciplinary themes. We must integrate these skills to help prepare students for the workforce of the future.

#OKCPS Hour of Code Cohort

“Computer Science is a liberal art: it’s something that everybody should be exposed to and everyone should have a mastery of to some extent.” — Steve Jobs

What is Hour of Code?
The Hour of Code is a movement around the world to help every student have the opportunity to learn about computer science. Code.org provides lesson guidelines for the Hour of Code/Computer Science Education Week.

Computer Science Education Statistics
According to Computer Science Education Week, there are almost 2,000 open computing jobs in Oklahoma, but we only had 411 computer science graduates. 71% of new STEM jobs are in computing and 8% of STEM graduates are in Computer Science.

According to Code.org, there are 1,319 teacher accounts and 54,798 student accounts across Oklahoma. 

Let's start teaching computer science to not only engage students but also allow them to have an employable skill upon graduation.

Hour of Code Cohort
All OKCPS teachers are invited to participate in our cohort which has a culminating activity of create and Hour of Code project in your classroom or on your campus. Check out THIS flyer for more information. The three sessions will be Unplugged Coding, Code.org and new this year, Scratch.

#ETCoaches Blog Challenge - Week 4

BLOGS
I love reading blogs from other educators. I learn so much from bloggers and their ideas trigger other ideas for me. 

I enjoy hearing what others classrooms, districts and organizations are doing to change teaching and learning. Blogs also inspire me and help me create new ideas to change teaching and learning in my district.

My Favorite Blogs...Currently
Shake Up Learning
George Couros
Ditch That Textbook
Free Tech 4 Teachers

@IMMOOC - Innnovation

I have always viewed innovation as trying something new and different. I grew up with parents who encouraged trying new things and finding new ways to accomplish a task. When I compare my career as a psychotherapist to an educator, I struggle with innovation in education. The field of psychology is constantly reading, researching and trying interventions to fit the perspective of clients. Juxtapose, education where it seems we teach to 1985. In my current state, the view is, if it fails, never try anything ever again. Failure is a change to regroup, rebuild and try again!

I like the definition of innovation being something new and better. Innovation in education is not just technology tools, but changing our we teach and how we learn. Moving towards innovation requires having relationships, being connected and listening to the needs of others. Innovation cannot happen in a vacuum, it happens in community.

#ETCoach Blog Challenge Week 3

As an Ed Tech Coach, I love sharing cool new tech tools to engage students and transform teaching and learning. 

1. Hootsuite - This tool allows users to manage multiple social media networks and profiles. 

2. Canva - This tool allows you to create infographics, flyers and more. The tool is very intuitive and simple. 

3. Adobe Spark - Adobe Spark lets users create and share pictures and videos. This is a great tool for digital storytelling.

4. Plickers - This is a great tool for classrooms without a response system. Plickers require printed plicker cards and a teacher mobile device. It is great for formative assessments or exit tickets.

5. SMART Notebook - This tool allows teachers to create engaging and interactive lessons for students using the SMART board. 

#ETCoaches Blog Challenge Week 2

My current role is that of an Ed Tech Coach. This year we are having a shift in our role and responsibilities. Change can be hard initially, but is welcomed. 

Strengths It is hard for me to talk about strengths since I tend to be very tough on myself. However, I feel I am intuitive and have a good sense of what is going on within the system and it's functioning. 

Challenges A huge current challenge is the transition of our roles & responsibilities at work. We are shifting our role to a more global role to make large systemic changes rather than working 1:1 with teachers or putting out one fire at a time. I love our changes, but when just a few people are making the change and the system is not, it makes it VERY difficult.

I love my role in terms of sharing the good news of our district. I do have the opportunity to work in schools and I get to see the awesome things teachers are doing to transform learning!