PPS Instructional Technology

I have used Socrative , Lets Geddit , Kahoot , etc. and really enjoy them, each seemed to accomplish the task of quick online formative assessments well and each had it's pros and cons. Overall, I felt like my toolbox in this arena was already full. When I went to MACUL 2015 , I really wasn't looking for another online formative assessment tool. HOWEVER, I was at the SIGEE meeting at MACUL and my friend John ( @bcgeek ) introduced me to Formative ( https://goformative.com/ ). WOW! After a month delay, I finally got a chance to check it out and I am impressed. The user interface is clean and easy to use.  You can upload PDF, Word files, or Google Docs and easily convert them to an online assessment.  You can see students answering the assessment in real time.  The list goes on and on!  Try it out in your classrooms and let me know what you think! To get started, here is a quick introductory video: Or for my friends who find paper tutorials he...

Our next MACUL experience comes to you from our guest blogger, Malena Schrauben.  Malena is a science/computer science teacher at CMS and inspires me daily with her enthusiasm and drive.  A week ago, she presented at the Mobile Learning Conference at KRESA about how she uses Scratch in her classroom.  However, it wasn't just her up in front of the audience.  She brought along several of her CMS students to share in the experience and show the audience the amazing projects they have been creating to demonstrate their learning in her class.  I couldn't have been more proud of the students, or their teacher! Learning from my colleagues and teachers is one of my favorite parts of my job.  I am so lucky to work with these amazing Rock Star teachers.  Here is what Malena wished to share with all of us about her MACUL experience. I loved attending MACUL! I would say my biggest takeaway was the amount of collaboration that took place among strangers. B...

Many of us have combed the archives of T eachers Pay Teachers for the perfect resources that will help enhance our lessons and increase student learning in our classrooms.  Let's face it, we are all trying to find a way to work smarter, not harder, and curating resources from teachers who in the trenches is always a great place to start. Tech Tips for Teachers is a free PDF ebook that shares ways to use technology in the classroom from teachers who are actually in the classroom.  The book is broken into 3 sections: Prek-2, 3-5, 6-12.  Each page contains a tip by a different educator.  Definitely worth the read!

The makers of the DK books has now created a brand-new website geared at our primary students to help them explore and learn.   DK Find Out!  allows students to type in what they want to find out in a search box, then they will be taken to an interactive website with articles, like the ones in the DK books.  These articles include interactive pictures.  The website is currently in BETA, so I anticipate the wealth of information to keep increasing. Check out this great tool for students to use to enhance their learning, or add resources to a blended lesson.

Would you like to integrate 21things4students into their teaching and learning or do you plan on developing a course to improve the technology skills and awareness of learning with technology, then this is a must take summer professional development opportunity. 21things4students – Tech Boot Camp Offered across Michigan in August, 2015! 8/3 & 4, 2015 Kalamazoo RESA 8/6 & 7, 2015 Clare Gladwin RESD 8/11 & 12, 2015 Macomb ISD For more information, visit: http://www.solutionwhere.com/misdtraining/cw/showcourse.asp?4651 Target Audience: Grades 5-9 Teachers Join us for 2 days to get you started using 21things4students in your classroom! Explore the FREE resources of 21things4students - including curriculum, project based learning activities, tools/apps, assessments, teacher guides, and more! Network and learn from teachers currently using 21things4students in their classroom!

Susan Mann, world language teacher at West Middle School, wasn't sure what to expect when she headed off to MACUL.  She expected sessions focusing on ELA and Math and the other "Core" subjects, but what about Spanish?  Would there be anything at the conference for a middle school world language teacher?  YES!  Here is Susan's blog post: As a World Language teacher, I often feel left out of the conversation when it comes to technology. However, the MACUL conference pleasantly surprised me with all kinds of technology that I can use in the classroom. During the conference, I learned how to incorporate and tweak lesson plans in my Google Classroom , techniques for simplifying and automating rubrics, websites that allow students to record their voice and practice speaking in the target language, and how to use WEVIDEO in my classroom. The presentations were very informative and really inspired me as an educator to incorporate technology daily.   While the pr...

One of the main reasons that I can do what I do in my position as Technology Integration Specialist for Portage Public Schools is thanks to having an amazing Tech Director for my supervisor.  Dan Vomastek is very supportive of what we do to enhance learning in the classroom, and as a former high school math teacher, he understands that the whole reason we exist as a technology department is to support the teachers and the students on their learning journey.  Dan even jumped on the band-wagon and volunteered to share his perspective on the MACUL conference from the Tech Directors point-of-view.  Here is Dan's post: First and foremost, I'm thrilled to be a part of the transformation in teaching and learning occurring in Portage.  We have hit critical mass with the number of talented, motivated, creative, and resourceful staff getting behind the research-backed, blended learning movement.  They approached this conference with enthusiasm, and continue to press fo...

As technology integration specialists, Paul Murray and I love to watch teachers learn, grow and spread their wings in regards to using technology in the classroom.   Kristen Gavlas and Johnna Kline , first grade teachers at Angling Road Elementary, are two teachers who inspire us everyday with their enthusiasm and willingness to take on new adventures and challenges.  They have been our guinea pigs for our Android Tablet pilot and helped us evaluate the merits of touchscreen chromebooks for the younger students.  We have tagged them in the past to present at our PPS Tech Camp and this year we pushed them to bring their enthusiastic presentation to MACUL.  They didn't disappoint.  I feel blessed to have sat in the audience and watched the magic they bring to a room.  Here is Kristen's MACUL reflection: A terrifying and exhilarating experience all wrapped up into one.  As a first time presenters, I was terrified!  We, Johnna Kline and myself, pr...

Even those of us who have been to MACUL several times, each conference brings with it new learning and new experiences.  This was the case for Amy Cote, media specialist at North Middle School.  Here is her blog post about her experience at the MACUL 2015 conference . While I have attended MACUL many times before, MACUL 2015 in Detroit provided a new opportunity for me.  A couple of my colleagues from the 'East Side' invited me to present a "Listen and Learn" session with them all about school libraries and librarians.  It was both nerve-racking and fun as none of us had ever presented at such a large conference before.  All went well in the end, with only one technology glitch and a full room!  Many people stopped us after the presentation and thanked us for sharing our information.   After that was over (thank-goodness it was Thursday morning) we could focus on all the great learning opportunities MACUL has to offer. Among other things, I atten...

Our friends at Kent ISD have new webinars available this month. All webinars are free to attend. How Edify can Generate Real Time Data Without Generating Real Time Tears April 13, 3:30-4:30PM Learn More and Register: http://j.mp/1FC6BSW STEM in the Classroom - Design Thinking April 15, 4:00-5:00PM Learn More and Register: http://j.mp/1amTwUP Digital Literacy for Educators April 21, 3:30-4:30PM Learn More and Register: http://j.mp/1coY8vd Building a Collaborative Community through Classroom Learning Labs April 29, 3:30-4:30PM Learn More and Register: http://j.mp/1NxLiLY The Flipped Classroom- How to Turn Your Classroom Upside Down April 29, 5:00-6:00PM Learn More and Register: http://j.mp/1I6j7Nl 

Our next post in our Learning Together at MACUL series, Sheila Clothier shares her MACUL experience as well as some great tech tools for supporting our readers. Sheila is a fourth grade teacher at Central Elementary School and is one of our Chromebook 1-to-1 Pilot teachers.  When you talk to Sheila, she will be the first to tell you that teaching in a 1-to-1 environment was a huge leap of faith for her.  She is an amazing, gifted teacher, but has never claimed to be on the bleeding edge of the tech world.  Anyone who states that they can't use technology in their classroom only needs to sit down with Sheila for 10 minutes or walk through her room and you will soon realize that tech isn't all that scary after all!  Here is Sheila's blog post on her MACUL experience.  Thanks for sharing, Sheila! I was amazed with all the possibilities of using technology in the classroom with language arts. During the conference, I refreshed my understanding of Google Cl...

March 18-20th was the MACUL (Michigan Association of Computer Users in Learning) conference in Detroit. This year Portage Public Schools was well represented! We had seven staff members presenting and over 25 teachers, principals and staff members in attendance! There was so much exciting learning going on during these three days that we knew we had to capture and share the experience and knowledge with all of you! Each of the attendees were given the opportunity to be a guest blogger and shed some light on what they learned at MACUL. Over the next couple weeks, we will be sharing out their experiences! Thanks you to all our guest bloggers who stepped up to the Learning Together at MACUL challenge! Our first guest blogger is Kevin Luteyn , fourth grade teacher at Moorsbridge elementary. Kevin is one of our chromebook pilot teachers and was looking forward to learning some new tools and techniques to bring back to his fourth graders. Here is his post: MACUL was again a grea...

PPS 6-12 Instructional Staff: As quarter 3 comes to a close, I wanted to remind you of the procedure for adjusting or overriding a gradebook calculated grade at the quarter level. To begin the process, first click on the 'Quarter 3' column header options button and choose the 'Enter Term Q3 Grade Adjustments'... If you need to enter in an I or NC or other special code, click the drop down list widget in Override column for a student, and choose the code from the list as shown below. If you need to change the letter grade a student is receiving, either enter a new letter grade in the Grade column OR enter in a percent adjustment as shown below.  (note that the gradebook will calculate the other) Regardless, NEVER choose a letter grade from the drop down menu - if you want a new letter grade, you must create it by altering the percent as shown above.  If you choose one of the letter grades (note they star...