Five Featured Digital Learning Tools
1. Powtoon http://www.powtoon.com/
Create animated videos and presentations to keep students engaged and motivated. Students can create a Powtoon after researching the impact of hunger (or other social issue) in a community.
2. WeVideo https://www.wevideo.com/education
Students and teachers can work together on the same video project, make changes, provide feedback, and explain their visual thinking during the creation process. Students collect images on a topic which they are researching. The images are then organized with text in a short video to be shared with the class and on the class webpage.
3. Ted-ed http://ed.ted.com/
Use engaging videos on TED-Ed to create customized lessons. You can use, tweak, or completely redo any lesson featured on TED-Ed, or create lessons from scratch. Teachers can use TED-Ed to help flip their classroom. Students watch the informational video at home so they are able to discuss in class the next day.
4. Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/
You can pin just about any image you find interesting on this site, but many teachers are using it as a place to collect great lesson plans, projects, and inspirational materials. Students can also create a board and collect articles and images on a topic they are researching. Boards can be shared with classmates.
5. QR Codes
QR codes (or quick response codes) are showing up with greater frequency in education because they engage students, allow students to check their own work, provide immediate feedback, and link videos/resources easily. If you’d like to get in on the trend, you’ll need a tool to create and manage the codes like Delivr and one to read codes, like any of those listed on this site. Students can also create and print QR codes with inspirational messages, or links to powerful videos on them to distribute to peers and community messages. (i.e. TED Talk: Diminishing the Single Story)
Create animated videos and presentations to keep students engaged and motivated. Students can create a Powtoon after researching the impact of hunger (or other social issue) in a community.
2. WeVideo https://www.wevideo.com/education
Students and teachers can work together on the same video project, make changes, provide feedback, and explain their visual thinking during the creation process. Students collect images on a topic which they are researching. The images are then organized with text in a short video to be shared with the class and on the class webpage.
3. Ted-ed http://ed.ted.com/
Use engaging videos on TED-Ed to create customized lessons. You can use, tweak, or completely redo any lesson featured on TED-Ed, or create lessons from scratch. Teachers can use TED-Ed to help flip their classroom. Students watch the informational video at home so they are able to discuss in class the next day.
4. Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/
You can pin just about any image you find interesting on this site, but many teachers are using it as a place to collect great lesson plans, projects, and inspirational materials. Students can also create a board and collect articles and images on a topic they are researching. Boards can be shared with classmates.
5. QR Codes
QR codes (or quick response codes) are showing up with greater frequency in education because they engage students, allow students to check their own work, provide immediate feedback, and link videos/resources easily. If you’d like to get in on the trend, you’ll need a tool to create and manage the codes like Delivr and one to read codes, like any of those listed on this site. Students can also create and print QR codes with inspirational messages, or links to powerful videos on them to distribute to peers and community messages. (i.e. TED Talk: Diminishing the Single Story)
https://multiplepathways.wordpress.com/2013/12/02/2-the-real-power-of-technology-in-schools/
Digital Learning Environment Inventory
Digital Learning Environment Inventory
November 1, 2014
This Digital Learning Environment Inventory is representative of teachers and students at Perrysburg Junior High School located in Perrysburg, Ohio. Information was collected from thirty-four teachers in a Google Form.
What tools, software, operating systems, and equipment are available in your school and classroom? (including but not limited to: videoconferencing, streaming, photos sharing sites, video sharing sites, document sharing sites, podcasts, blogs, wikis, social networking sites, etc.)
At Perrysburg Junior High School, all teachers are given a MacBook Air to use as their productivity machine. The laptops are running OSX Maverick (10.9.5). All students in grades 6-8 are given a Google Chromebook. With parent permission and a $75 insurance fee, students are able to take the Chromebook home daily. Students without permission store their device in the library overnight. Wireless access points are installed throughout the building to offer seamless connectivity to the network.
The Perrysburg School District implemented the Learning Management System (LMS), Schoology, at the beginning of the 2013-14 school year. Teachers are required, at a minimum, to keep record of their grades and post homework on this LMS. Many teachers use the LMS to do much more such as: give quizzes, post discussions, videos, links and submit assignments. Parents are given their own login information to access messages, grades and content which their child has posted.
Teachers and students are issued network accounts. Students use the Google Suite: Gmail and Google Docs along with Google Chrome. Teachers also use the Google Suite but are also equipped with the iWorks Suite: Pages, Numbers, iMovie, iPhoto and iTunes.
The district has utilized social media to connect with community members, parents and students.
Twitter: @PburgSchools
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PerrysburgSchools
Linked in: http://www.linkedin.com/company/perrysburg-schools
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pburgschools/
Google Plus.
The amount of technology in each classroom depends a lot on what the teacher requests. All of the rooms have a Epson projector while many of the rooms also have an interactive SMART board or Epson BrightLink projector. The Epson BrightLink projectors function in a similar way to a SMART board however they must be operated by the provided pen. The teachers that do not have the interactive boards have not expressed interest in having one in their classroom.
A newer technology that four teachers are using in class is an iPad with the software “Reflector”. Reflector is an Airplay receiver that allows wireless streaming of your iPad to a computer which is then connected to a large screen. It is a wonderful way to share student work with the class. Several special education teachers also have iPads that they allow individual students to use to practice specific skills.
Document cameras can also be found in the majority of classrooms at the junior high. These are connected to the teachers projector to display a variety of items. A few teachers also reported having digital cameras or iPods in their classrooms.
The following subscription databases are available for staff and students:
Follett eBooks - wbb03596.follettshelf.com
INFOhio Databases - www.infohio.org
ProQuest Databases - www.proquestk12.com
Gale Student Resources in Context - www.infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/perrysburgjrhs?db=SUIC
Ohio Career Information System (OCIS) – ocis.org
How does your school make use of school and/or teacher websites?
Our District has a webpage that is updated by the Director of Communications. This website has forms, lunch menus, board minutes, important links, pictures, contact information, calendars, and RSS news feed. http://www.perrysburgschools.net/
Each school has it’s own page linked from the main website that is updated by the secretaries. http://www.perrysburgschools.net/schools/perrysburg-jr-high-school Teachers are not encouraged to create a page outside of the district adopted LMS, Schoology. Schoology does allow for teachers to post information, assignments, share content and pictures along with update grades. The expectation is that teachers post updates weekly. The idea is to streamline the process which parents and students get information.
How are you currently utilizing technology for learning?
I am currently utilizing technology in my lessons daily. I am using our LMS, Schoology, to not only keep grades but also to communicate with parents, students and other teachers. I upload all of our class activities to folders to allow students the ability to share them with their family. If a parent asks what their child did in school today, their son/daughter can go to my course and show them. I also post all video and game links we use in class so they may be accessed later and shared at home.
Each week I post a challenge problem in the form of a class discussion. Students can post their explanation to the problem during the week and on Friday each student with the correct answer earns a treat. The discussion blocks other students’ posts until they post themselves. This prevents students from copying the work from their peers.
I am fortunate to have a BrightLink Projector in my classroom. I use this interactive board to always keep me facing the students and also have them use it to solve problems or manipulate tools. I have a document camera also attached to the projector to easily model how to use math manipulatives.
This is the first year I have used “Reflector” with my iPad. “Reflector” allows me to use the camera on my iPad to display on the projector. I walk around with my iPad and share student models that are not portable and able to be placed under the document camera. Sometimes I even use it to model appropriate behavior. “Thank you, Johnny for sitting appropriately in your chair today with your materials out.” The students love to see themselves on “the big screen”.
From the list of global e-learning sites included below, which are available and which sites are blocked by your firewall?
The following sites are available and accessible by teachers in the district:
Skype www.skype.com
iEARN www. iearn.org
ConnectAllSchools http://www.connectallschools.org
Peace Corps Speakers Match http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/speakersmatch/
ePals http://www.epals.com
Global Nomads Group www.gng.org
Omprakash http://www.omprakash.org/about
Primary Source www.primarysource.org
Edutopia http://www.edutopia.org
Global Education Conference http://www.globaleducationconference.com
Online Newspapers http://www.onlinenewspapers.com
The following webpages could not be found:
Outreach World http://www.outreachworld.org
The UN Works http://www.un.org/works/
The following webpages are blocked for students:
Skype www.skype.com
What sites and tools are colleagues in your building using?
Teachers reported using the following tools/sites:
*Word Processing
*Internet searches for lesson and content material
*Powerpoint
*Google Docs
*Video Access
*Online Lab Interactives
*Graphing calculators
*Digital Scavenger Hunts
*Schoology http://www.schoology.com
*Quizlet http://quizlet.com/
*Kahoot https://getkahoot.com/
*Brain Pop http://www.brainpop.com/
*Aleks http://www.aleks.com/
*Study Island http://www.studyisland.com/
*No Red Ink https://www.noredink.com/login
*Prezi http://prezi.com/
*You Tube http://www.youtube.com
*Flocabulary http://www.flocabulary.com/
*RazKids http://www.raz-kids.com/
*Paper Rater http://www.paperrater.com/
*Educreations https://www.educreations.com/
*WeVideo https://www.wevideo.com/
*Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/
Is there a system for evaluating student technology literacy in your school? If so, how effective or helpful have you found the assessment?
Our school does not have a system for evaluating student technology literacy in our school. We are however going to implement a digital driver license this quarter. All students will be required to complete two units. This program provides students with information on how to be a good digital citizen and also internet safety. https://otis.coe.uky.edu/DDL/launch.php
Gather suggestions from students on their ideas for integrating technology into their learning.
Taking time to listen to my students’ suggestions was very intriguing. The students came up with very creative ideas, although many are not practical, they are extremely innovative.
These were student ideas on how to integrate technology into their learning:
*Better wifi at school so sites will load faster
*iPads or Macbook Air instead of Chromebooks
*Thumbprint codes to unlock lockers
*No worksheets, only electronic files and folders
*Hover-boards to get around from class to class
*Ability to Facetime lessons when students are sick at home
*Unblock more websites such as: YouTube, Math Videos and Games
*Wifi on the bus
*iPads on the back of the seats on the school bus to be able to watch videos
*Less technology-we do too much now on Chromebooks and when it doesn’t work we waste too much time.
What tools that are not presently available, would help to achieve district objectives?
I do not think our teachers are lacking physical resources in their classrooms. Teachers are able to submit a written request for items they would effectively use in their classroom as long as they also include “how” they would use these tools.
It would be beneficial to have more support for teachers using technology. I believe that teachers would use more technology if they were showed how to use it to engage and enhance student learning. Many teachers do not submit a request for technology because they are not sure what tools are available. Most of our professional development is spent on special education laws or other state mandates “paperwork” and there is not enough time for technology support.
These are items the teachers would like to incorporate into their teaching with additional training /support.
*Using digital cameras
*Creating online tests and worksheets
*Finding interactive resources for students to access
*Creating simulations and animations
*Conducting and recording experiments
*Creating a podcast
*Creating a presentation
*Creating a scavenger hunt
*Research
*Incorporating social media as an educational tool
*Creating a visual aid
*Creating a spreadsheet
*Using a document camera
*Website design
*Keyboard shortcuts
Using your Digital Learning Environment Inventory, develop a solution or suggest an improvement customized to your circumstance and curriculum. Create, implement and evaluate one change in a globalized lesson plan to use technology for learning in a meaningful way.
Our class has two final weeks in the trimester, before we switch classes and I will have all new students. This was the perfect time to reflect on the concepts covered and to turn the teaching over to the students. The students brainstormed a list of topics that were taught throughout the trimester and were split into groups of three. Each group of students then selected a topic from the list and were tasked with creating a tutorial or video to “teach” that concept. Many of our concepts covered in class are introduced with a video so they are very familiar with this mode of instruction. Students were also given a list of Web 2.0 tools that they could use to create their tutorial. As a group, the students chose the tool they wanted to use. Finished videos, or projects, will be posted on the school’s LMS for all of the members to view.
Although the students need a few more days to finalize their projects, I do have a good grasp on how this lesson went. Since I have moved from a technology course to a math review course I have had a mental block with using technology. I discovered, after this week of reflecting on technology, that I should not fear using it in a math course. I believe I was trying to avoid it because I have taught it in isolation for so long and I was afraid it would take over my curriculum. I didn’t want to spend more time teaching technology when I have many math standards to cover. This lesson reintroduced me to the creativity that students were able to share as they produced an original piece of work. Students were taking ownership and were very proud of their tutorials. They are very excited to share their projects with their peers and then have them posted online. I would like to share these projects outside our school walls, possibly with a partner classroom in another country, and have those students provide feedback. I do not have a connection to another classroom at this time, however I hope to have time to research this and make it happen in the near future.
This website is not an official U.S. Department of State website. The views and information presented are the grantee's own and do not represent the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program, IREX, or the U.S. Department of State.