PPS Instructional Technology

On January 20 Malena Schrauben and Collin Nuismer , Middle School teachers from the Portage School District will provide an overview on Using Google Classroom for Online Blended Learning . Topics will include: Blended learning and how Google Classroom supports it Google Classroom from the Student and Teacher Perspectives Tools that work well with Google Classroom Time : 4:00 – 4:45 PM To register: Go to http://tinyurl.com/LearnMLO2015-16   Under “Webinar Date and topic” select: January 20, 2016 at 4PM Using Google Classroom for Online Blended Learning. How to participate: This Webinar is a live facilitated web based learning opportunity that is easy to participate in requiring that the learner have a computer with an Internet connection. Connecting information will be sent to you when you register. For more information email mksouden@gmail.com

Blended Learning in the Classroom Course Flyer This spring, our PPS tech director, our tech integration specialists, four of our middle school teachers, and one elementary teacher completed the REMC Blended Learning in the Classroom (BLiC) course. This 62 SCECHs course was really beneficial in moving many of us forward in our learning and understanding of Blended Learning. It offered background on what blended learning was (hint: it isn't just flipping your classroom!) and how to organize your classroom to get the most out of the time you have with your students. Although the course was amazing, it was a significant amount of work that would be challenging to complete during the school year without release time. Thankfully, the course organizers have heard our concerns and have decided to offer a "split" course that would cover the first three modules during the summer when we all have more time to think and process, then finish up the rest of the hands-on modu...

Kalamazoo RESA, Berrien RESA and the Southwest Michigan TRIG Consortium would like to invite you to Going Google , a Google training, on June 15th at Mattawan Middle School. Click Here to Register If you have any questions, feel free to contact Keith at ktramper@kresa.net .

Hey PPS Staff!  Only 18 days of school left!  Time to think about what professional development you would like to participate in this summer.  Here is the run down of what we will be offering through the PPS Tech Department.  Click on the KALPA course number to sign up for the June Trainings, or head to techcamp.site.portageps.org to register for the August Tech Camp. Courses Being Offered this Summer Google Classroom - Create, share, edit, and grade assignments...online! Instructor: Jessica Winstanley The latest addition to Google Apps for Education offers a simple, straight forward and - best of all - easy to use way to interact with students online.  Whether you have devices in your classroom everyday, or are just beginning to explore ways to use technology in your classroom or blend your class, Google Classroom allows you to create and distribute assignments, information, and resources to your students, as well as edit, grade and return homework, a...

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!

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 

Discovery Education Back-to-School:  Webinar Series  Register at http://links.discoveryeducation.com/BTS2014SERIES  Be the first to get a look at the new enhancements inside Discovery Education! This Back-to-School Webinar Series will highlight meaningful instructional strategies for leveraging digital tools, content, and resources. See the all-new Student Center, Board Builder, and the new Streaming Plus with support for the Common Core - complete with model lessons, assessments, and digital content designed to address Math and ELA Common Core standards. After exploring all that is available to you right now, we will end the series with lessons just for students. Back-to-School with Discovery Education:  8/6, 8/13, 8/21, 8/27, 9/4, 9/17  Deep Dive Sessions:  Common Core and Discovery Education Streaming Plus - 8/7, 8/20, 9/10  Discovery Education Assessment - 9/3, 9/18  Discovery Education Board Builder - 8/14, 8/28, 9/11  Di...

What to learn more about the great services offered through our BrainPOP subscriptions? Check out one of these webinars! Psst! There is more available than just videos! If you're having trouble viewing this post, you may see it online . Log On and Learn With a Free Webinar: Join Us August 27th for an Overview of My BrainPOP Getting Started With My BrainPOP Wednesday, August 27th at 3:30 pm ET Missed our August 6th My BrainPOP overview? Not to worry: this second installment tells you everything you need to know. We'll show you how My BrainPOP lets you create custom assessments, incorporate gaming into instruction, and keep track of student learning. You'll get a look at all the ins and outs, so you can dive right in. Note: this webinar is open to everyone, but My BrainPOP is available only to users with 24/7 school-wide subscriptions. Pre-register and Join • Password: moby Remember, we archive all webinars within a day or ...

Drum roll please............. PPS Tech Camp Registration is Finally Open for Portage Public Schools Staff! Yes, you read it right!  You can now register for Tech Camp 2014.  After our inaugural year last year, we took all your suggestions and feedback and have come back with a mini-conference that is bigger and better!  This year we are expanding the camp to two and a half days.  You can register for one day or two days, the choice is yours.  We have lengthened the session times from 50 minutes to an hour and 45 minutes to provide more time for exploration and hands on learning.  We are offering the option to buy lunch onsite, so you can stay and participate in great round table discussions.  Finally, we are opening up the labs Friday morning for those of you who want to come back and try out all your new skills and ideas in an environment where you have tech support available to help, coach and trouble shoot with you as you work.  So much f...

You know we are getting close to the end of the school year when we start advertising and open registration for summer technology training!  We are so excited to offer our fantastic PPS teachers and staff some great hands on training opportunities this summer.  Sign up for one or many.  Come by yourself, or bring a friend. Whether you are a proficient user, or taking your first baby steps with technology, there is a class for you.  So many choices, so little time.  We look forward to seeing you there!  Click on the number link to register for the class in KALPA. Don't know your KALPA login?  Please contact Kelly at kmilliman@portageps.org. Questions about the courses?  Please contact Jessica (jwinstanley@portageps.org) or Paul (pmurray@portageps.org). June Courses Being Offered Technology Open Lab Free Choice Work Session : Do you have a project involving technology that you want to work on this summer? Do you want to work on your webpa...

KRESA is able to offer some great FREE PD opportunities to Administrators and Teaching Staff  during the months of May and June. Various programs are available with descriptions and registration links in the  Google doc linked here .

Would you like to learn more about helping students blend their digital and non-digital lives into a healthy, inspired appoach to living?  Then this may be the MOOC (massive, open, online course) for you. When does the course occur? Spring semester, 2014 (January 12 to May 4). Taught by? Myself (Jason Ohler), President’s Professor and Professor Emeritus, Educational Technology, University of Alaska; Professor, Fielding Graduate University, Media Psychology PhD program. Through? The University of Alaska Southeast, School of Education How to register? Professional Development Course, ED 593. Contact: Cathie Thomas (cathy.thomas@uas.alaska.edu) from the Professional Education Center. She will give you directions about how to sign up. The free MOOC. As mentioned above, come to this website for the course materials. To join the discussion, join the Google+ Community Digital Citizenship MOOC 2014 . To learn more: http://www.jasonohler.com/wordpressii/

Start your New Year off right by registering for Blended Learning in the Classroom a free course for classroom teachers of students of all ages and administrators. The course begins online January 22 and ends May 9. Register at: Blended Learning in the Classroom . During this course you will: Experience active and timely practice Engage in learning, application, review, and revision of your own content Begin developing your own blended environment For more information check out http://www.remc.org/blendedlearning or contact blendedlearning@remc.org Sponsored by REMC Association of Michigan with support from the MACUL.

Here is the December newsletter from Atomic Learning. http://al.atomiclearning.com/ecard-2013?elq=70e71c0370f74cbda5e44cfc195efea2&elqCampaignId=803

Over the last couple years, many of our technology tools have come from Google thanks to the Google Apps for Education initiative.  Your tech integration specialists have offered training on a wide range of Google topics including, GMail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sites, Blogger and more.  We realize, however, that it is not always possible or easy for you all to attend trainings.  Also, some of you prefer to learn at your own pace and on your own time.  If you fit in to one of these categories, then Atomic Learning will be the resource for you.  They have short online tutorials on a plethora of topics including all things Google.  Here is the latest Quick Tip sheet from Atomic Learning: The link from the quick tip is: http://goo.gl/DgvVMz

Are you looking to increase student engagement in your classroom? Do you want to effectively blend within your classroom to incorporate online elements? This free Blended Learning in the Classroom course is for all types of educators - administrators, teachers of all subjects, teachers of all levels! Participate in this FREE 16 week opportunity to begin transforming your classroom (*optional: 61 SCECHs for a minimal fee) As a participant, you will engage with a learning cohort in a blended course and begin developing your own blended learning environment to implement with your students. Participants will: • Experience active and timely practice • Learn with a small cohort of fellow educators • Engage in learning, application, review, and revision • Develop blended lessons in your existing classroom • Submit artifacts to your cohort for sharing and improving Q: Who is this course for?  A: Any Michigan Educator Q: How does this course meet?...