Twitter Chats Return!
By Don Langenhorst, Director of Technology
Happy New Year and Decade! Shelly Pagnotta has agreed to get our second year of Twitter Chats going at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14. Shelly will guide us in a discussion around differentiation dealing with the “I’m Done!” Conundrum: Dealing with Early Finishers in Your Classroom.
A Twitter chat is a Twitter based conversation with short tweets that include a hashtash; in our case #DedhamPSEdTech. You can participate from home or any location where you have online access. You will need a Twitter account and go to TweetDeck or similar site and login; filter tweets entering our hashtag #DedhamPSEdTech.
Here is the outline of the chat including the guiding questions which will help frame our time together; please review this prior to the chat including the three short articles on the fourth slide. Please join us in this powerful collaborative opportunity. Feel free to invite other educators to our chat. Let me know if you would like to lead a chat in the future and/or if you have any questions.
New to this Twitter thing and/or Twitter Chats? Please feel free to reach out to your colleagues who have joined and/or email Judy Foley (jfoley@dedham.k12.ma.us) or myself.
December 18, 2019 High School Staff Professional Development
MassCUE 2019 Dedham High School Staff Professional Development
December 18, 2019
Dedham High School teachers who attended MassCue 2019, shared their experiences during a 1 hour after school professional development. During the PD, teachers had the option of picking which presentation they wanted to attend. In addition, the presenters will provide follow up with teachers who expressed an interest in spending more time with a presenter(s) or visiting their classroom. Teachers feedback was positive. The teachers liked the option to pick different sessions and learning from colleagues.
Biggest Teacher Takeaways from the PD
I can create a historical Instagram using Google slides
You can adapt activities to use Google to keep privacy rights
Book snaps
Screencastify
Arranging my Google Drive
The emoji keyboard
With time, I will be able to create more personalized, technology-assisted learning experiences for students
How to use Flippity in the classroom to enhance collaboration and differentiation
How to set up comic book strip
How I can use the Read Write Extension in my classroom
Emoji keyboard and read write extension
How to use the VR goggles and apps that have explorations
Possibly use the 360 deg. camera for the class video (student course handbook)
Technology which exists that I was unaware of (360 degree camera)
360 videos are really cool
The add ons I can use for my Chromebook
There are tools we can use to record our voice for students to listen to and for students to respond to us.
There's always something new use in the classroom technology-wise.
Using priority in google drive
12/18/19 Professional Development Presentations
December 18, 2019 ECEC Special Education Staff Professional Development
ECEC Special Education Staff Professional Development
December 18, 2019
The Special Education teachers from the ECEC gathered together to explore topics that focused on iPads that are used in every classroom at the ECEC and as Augmented Alternative Communication (AAC) devices with students. The topic focused on the ability to adjust privacy settings, based on use, guided access and videos storage. The recent Apple iOS provides ample opportunity to control the content and restrict access. The teachers need to understand the balance between control and access. The teachers engaged in discussions and understood some of the options available for them for classroom iPad use and student use.
Next, teachers had time to explore some apps available on the ECEC library iPads. Teachers explored the newly installed OMOS app and had opportunities to use each of the four apps. Other teachers had time to continue to look at their iPad setting and other teachers created a Green Screen video.
Google Classroom and Sites District Usage Survey Results
Google Sites and Classroom play an increasing role in the way educators are sharing information with our students, families, and community. The opportunities and benefits offered through these platforms as a form of communication are something we are looking to promote and expand throughout the district. So that the District can provide more support and relevant training on best practices and applications, staff members were asked to complete a survey to help us learn more about the current use of Google Classroom, Google Sites and other communications channels used by our educators across all school levels.
As of December 20, 2019, 309 staff members responded. Below is a summary of the results:
