PPS Instructional Technology

Have you heard of Flippity? Yes, well, read on for some more coolness! No, well, go check it out then, Flippity.net .  (NOTE: Read to the end to get the best surprise!) Flippity uses Google Spreadsheets to store information, like student names, questions and answers, timelines, spelling words, and more. Then, Flippity displays that information in very visually interactive ways, such as a quiz show, flashcards, and crosswords, etc. Flippity makes information dynamic! Today, I want to write to you about the Random Name Picker. The basic Random Name Picker displays your student names in the form of a Spinner that, when clicked, will randomly choose a student. Need more students? Return to the linked spreadsheet and add them. Student drops? Spreadsheet to the rescue! However, the fun begins when you click on the tabs at the top of the name picker. You'll see lineups and groups and teams and more... Below, you will see a screenshot of the Groups of 2 and a scree...

View Post as a Google Doc Okay, so, you're using YouTube videos in your classroom and you’re wishing for a couple features… I wish there was a way to remove all the suggested videos and other distractions so my students could concentrate. I wish my students could watch a couple of videos in sequence in a self-paced manner. I wish I could show just a portion of a video, starting at one point and stopping at another. Wishes answered! Solution #1 Here are a couple of solutions for this first wish. Visit our tech tip on YouTube: A Gift and a Curse , and scroll down to option number two. Or...Embed your YouTube video into a Google Slide from the menu, Insert > Video. Yep, that’s right! Put your YouTube, or Google Drive Video, into a Google Slide and the only distraction in the room will be that one bee that gets in the classroom that causes students to run and scream. Aahhh! And, embedding your video in Google Slides leads us to… Solution #2 Th...

When I first started in my role as a Technology Integration Specialist four years ago, I was introduced to the concept of the Flipped Classroom and shortly after, Blended Learning. What I heard and read about each of these ideas piqued my interest and I had to know more. Subsequently, as more teachers and administrators within our district heard about the possibilities with Blended Learning, we began exploring what this model might look like in our classrooms. This six-part series will discuss what we have found Blended Learning to be and lays the foundation for Blended Learning that we use to train our teachers.  In my last article, we explored What Blended Learning is Not . In this article, we will look into the Keys for Success with Blended Learning. [Photo credit: Got Credit ] Let’s be real. The shift to Blended Learning in your classroom is going to require an investment of time and resources in order to be successful. Any shift in instructional style ...

When I first started in my role as a Technology Integration Specialist four years ago, I was introduced to the concept of the Flipped Classroom and shortly after, Blended Learning. What I heard and read about each of these ideas piqued my interest and I had to know more. Subsequently, as more teachers and administrators within our district heard about the possibilities with Blended Learning, we began exploring what this model might look like in our classrooms. This six-part series will discuss what we have found Blended Learning to be and lays the foundation for Blended Learning that we use to train our teachers.  In my last article, we explored What is Blended Learning?  In this article, we will look into what Blended Learning is Not. http://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/62631203.jpg Photo Credit: Anonymous Now, that we have some understanding as to what Blended Learning is , we need to process through what it looks like when we believe we are implementing ...

When I first started in my role as a Technology Integration Specialist four years ago, I was introduced to the concept of the Flipped Classroom and shortly after, Blended Learning. What I heard and read about each of these ideas piqued my interest and I had to know more. Subsequently, as more teachers and administrators within our district heard about the possibilities with Blended Learning, we began exploring what this model might look like in our classrooms.  This six-part series will discuss what we have found Blended Learning to be and lays the foundation for Blended Learning that we use to train our teachers.  Perhaps you have heard the new catchphrase in education, Blended Learning. Education is no stranger to catchphrases or pendulum swings, the same concepts creep up year after year as something new. Well, I believe blended learning is something different from the new kid on the block or that reimagined technique from days past. I believe we are at th...