April Newsletter
Blended Learning Department
Embedded Files
In this issue:
In this issue:
SAMR/TPACK
Where will we travel next?
Did You Know? ISTE Membership
Best Practices: SAMR/TPACK
Monthly Checklist
April Digital Citizenship Focus
Professional Learning Opportunities
BL Resources
March Hiking Challenge Winner
Travel Challenge - Chance to win!
SAMR (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition) and TPACK (Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge) frameworks are a foundational piece of the Blended Learning Best Practices document, below. The various bullet points are grounded in practices that range from substitution to redefinition.
Did you know that there is a clear alignment between SAMR and Bloom's Taxonomy levels? The higher the Bloom's level, the higher your task will likely be on the SAMR levels. As you read through this newsletter, take a moment to reflect on your lessons. Do most of your assignments fall under substitution? Do your lessons incorporate the various levels of SAMR or remain at one level?
Blended Learning Best Practices.pdf
Where will our travel agent take us next?
Where will our travel agent take us next?
When visiting a local travel agent, you are likely to feel like the travel possibilities are limitless. You can travel across Europe and plan to be in a different country every day. Some destinations may be pretty low key, while others may include activities you never thought possible. When considering using SAMR to plan instruction, it can be looked at in a similar way.
Some tasks may be rather low-key, like reading a an article that was posted online. This hits at the substitution level. Yet, another task may take you to a location where you are standing at the ruins of Pompeii, exploring the unearthed remains and drawing connections to every day life there. Without technology, a task like this would not be possible and therefore would be the redefinition stage of SAMR. Ideally, you would have a variety of tasks and assignments that span across the levels of SAMR.
Did You Know?
Did You Know?
Did you know that all certified employees with an NCEdCloud account have free ISTE (International Society for Technology and Education) membership thanks to a partnership between NCDPI and ISTE? Your membership provides you with access to webinars, valuable resources, conference information, and networking opportunities. To utilize your free membership you will go to Clever > NCEdCloud > ISTE membership. You will have to walk through a few steps to get your account set up. Please see THIS short video that leads you through the process.
Best Practices: TPACK and SAMR
Best Practices: TPACK and SAMR
The article "SAMR: A Powerful Model for Understanding Good Tech Integration" states:
Good technology integration isn’t about using the fanciest tool, it’s about being aware of the range of options and picking the right strategy—or strategies—for the lesson at hand.
Here are a few things to consider as you look at when planning lessons in your classroom to ensure students take ownership for their own learning.
SAMR Introduction (Approved for use by Canvas Certified Educator)
SAMR Model: A Practical Guide for K-12 Classroom Technology Integration
Three Examples of Incorporating Technology into the Classroom Using the SAMR Model.
Monthly Checklist
Monthly Checklist
Consider...
Reflecting on a lesson plan to see what SAMR level/s you are hitting with the task/s you assign, using THIS planning tool. How could adjust that same lesson to reach higher or more varied levels of SAMR? (Approved for use by Canvas Certified Educator)
Using THIS checklist to see what level/s of SAMR your Canvas course is reaching. How could you make some small adjustments to reach the modification and substitution levels?
Checking out a VR kit from the blended learning department. These kits work directly with the Google Arts and Culture app.
Creating a virtual Field Trip/Tour using Google Earth or locate an existing tour, such as "The Geometry of Castles," or "Exploring Earth's Ecosystems."
Exploring how Nearpod and SAMR work together.
April Digital Citizenship Focus
April Digital Citizenship Focus
April Digital Citizenship Focus: We are critical thinkers and creators.
It's essential that students learn to think critically about the news and media they encounter every day. Students will demonstrate the ability to identify, evaluate, and use information effectively, find credible and trustworthy sources, and give proper credit. They will recognize how individuals and society are influenced by the media and the misrepresentations and stereotypes they sometimes promote. Students will reflect on their responsibilities and rights as creators in the online spaces where they consume, create, and share information. Read more about this topic on the Common Sense Education website.
Lessons for all grade levels are available on the Guilford is Cyber Safe website. Family resources in English and Spanish accompany the lessons, with additional languages available on the Common Sense website.
All lessons and activities are designed to be taught in person and should take 15-20 minutes. They are available in Google slide or Nearpod versions. More activities and the full lessons can be accessed on the Common Sense Education website with a free educator account.
A link to the Guilford is Cyber Safe website is in Clever. Staff must be logged into their GCS Google account to access the website. Links to Teacher Guides on the Common Sense website do require a free educator account.
Professional Learning Opportunities
Blended Learning Spring Professional Learning Opportunities
Blended Learning has released all Spring Professional Learning offerings. These self-paced offerings can be found in Performance Matters, by searching using the unique naming convention GCS-BLDLRN. All sessions run from February 13th until May 4th.
Contact Shannon Franklin with any questions.
Resources
Resources
BL Resource Website: Visit our website for all things blended learning. Locate your blended learning specialist, find out about our virtual course offerings,
District-Provided Tools Database: Want to know what digital resources we have for you? Check out the district's Air Table. You can filter to find the information you need.
Resources Document for Best Practices: If you like the Blended Learning Look-for document but feel like you need to know more, please check out our resource page that directly aligns with each of the blended learning focus areas.
Digital Learning Resources Canvas Page: Need help with one of our GCS district-provided resources? Visit our digital learning resource page to find video tutorials and instructional guides on anything from Swivl to Canvas.
Congratulations to Joanna Pendleton from Brightwood Elementary School for being selected as the Hiking Challenge winner for the month of March for her Canvas Discussion submission. Ms. Pendleton won a gift card for a dinner for two at Lox, Stock & Bagel and a free entrée coupon to Chick-fil-A. See below for our April Challenge. The next winner could be you!
A special thanks to Lox, Stock & Bagel and the Chick-fil-A on Battleground for their generous donations. We could not do this without our community partners.
Traveling Challenge
Traveling Challenge
Please submit a brief reflection of a lesson you have completed recently with students and how you might raise the SAMR level of one of the tasks. Use THIS LINK to submit your reflection. Once you submit your response, you will automatically be entered into a drawing for a prize.
For help determining how you might raise the level of SAMR, please access the resources throughout this newsletter.
**Last Day to submit your Traveling Challenge entry is Wednesday, April 26th.**
Want to receive our Blended Learning newsletter directly in your email each month? Sign up HERE to subscribe.
Follow us on Twitter: @BlendedGCS
Blended Learning Network:
Use #GCSBLN
Page updated
Report abuse