Learn, Create, Connect
News and Updates from the MASD Technology Integration Committee
Wed., Mar. 27, 2019
Spring forward!
I'm almost afraid to say it, but I think Spring might really be here! I know in my yard, the robins and other birds are out in force, searching for food and nest-building materials. This time of year can get a little frantic for us, too...PSSAs, Keystones, AP exams, finals, cornerstones, field trips, concerts, transition days...they all lay ahead. With so many disruptions to the regular schedule - and the promise of summer just a short marking period away - it can be a challenge to keep the classroom relevant and engaging. What better time to take a risk and try something new? Read on for a few ways to learn, create, and connect between now and the end of the year!
In this edition...
- LEARN: Book Talk/Blog Talk - A few great reads I want to share
- CREATE: Adobe Spark Video - Get access to the premium version for free!
- CONNECT: Bring Experts Into Your Classroom OR Turn Your Students into the Experts
Book Talk/Blog Talk
The Newcomers: Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in America by Helen Thorpe (Literary Nonfiction)
In 2015-2016, journalist Helen Thorpe spent a year embedded in Mr. Williams' English Language Acquisition class at South High School in Denver, CO. Her goal was to learn about the lives of newly arrived immigrant teens and to document their transition to life in America. Thorpe not only observed the students at school, she went on to develop relationships with many of their families, meeting them in their homes and learning the often heart-breaking stories of their lives in their native lands and the difficulties they faced as they built a new life here. While nonfiction, The Newcomers reads like a narrative, and at times I had to remind myself that I was reading about real kids in a real classroom. The setting of this book might be Denver, but I'm sure many of our own students have similar stories to tell. If you are looking for some insight into the plight of refugees, The Newcomers is a great place to start.
Say Something! by Peter H. Reynolds (Picture Book)
This new picture book by the author of The Dot and The Word Collector uses simple language and colorful illustrations to encourage everyone to find and use their voice. Not much for talking? Paint your ideas or build something or plant a garden! This book is perfect for all ages, to spark conversation about the messages inside all of us and the variety of ways we can share them with the world.
Cult of Pedagogy by Jennifer Gonzales (Blog)
The tagline for this blog is, "Teacher nerds, unite." If you are passionate about teaching at any level, you will find something here. From blog posts to podcasts to videos, there is something for everyone, all organized into topics and indexed to make it easy to find what you need. Check out the "Start here" page and good luck climbing out of the rabbit hole!
Turn Ideas into Videos Quickly and Easily with Adobe Spark Video
WeVideo is a great platform for student video creation - especially if the student wants to use effects such as a green screen or special transitions. But sometimes less is more. Sometimes you just want to share a message with minimal fuss, but still have the end product look good. Enter Adobe Spark Video.
Try_Adobe_Spark_Video.mp4We now have access to the premium version of Adobe Spark (Post, Pages, and Video) by logging in with our district Google accounts. This applies to staff and students, but it's not as simple as signing up with your masdstudent account. If you'd like to have your account added to our district Adobe Spark account, email Anne Reardon and I'll be happy to get you started.
Bring Experts into your classroom - or - turn your students into the experts
Our Digital Learning curriculum requires our students to learn to leverage technology to build their own learning networks, reaching out to experts who can extend their learning beyond the classroom walls. Teachers across the district are facilitating these experiences by Skyping with authors, scientists, historians, and more. There are lots of ways to make these connections, starting with people you know in real life. Reach out to friends and family who work in a particular field and ask if they'd be willing to communicate virtually with your class. Contact students' parents to see if someone has expertise they'd be willing to share. Beyond your own circle, Twitter can be a great way to find new contacts. Several of our teachers have found experts by contacting people they follow on Twitter and simply asking if they'd be willing to talk to their classes. Skype in the Classroom is another great resource for making connections.
But don't overlook the "experts" who might be hiding in plain sight, right inside our district. Currently, we have a class of second graders who are studying the solar system. In addition to research with books and databases, students are recording their questions about planets using Flipgrid. Ninth graders in some of the Earth Science classes at MASH are serving as their experts, responding to the second graders' questions and helping to deepen their knowledge. The freshmen acknowledge that it's hard being the expert, but what better way to extend their own learning than by teaching another. And the second graders are getting a first hand look at how the content they are learning today is building background for what they'll learn in the future. It's a win-win!
If you want to try connecting your students with experts - or if you want to give your students the chance to become the experts, I'll be happy to help facilitate those connections.