Are You In?

Second Semester EdTech Challenge

Jan. 31, 2017

It’s a new semester, so what better time to challenge yourself to try something new using technology in your classroom or teaching.

It doesn’t need to be complicated, special, or even GAFE related but what it does need to do, is put you slightly out of your comfort zone in an effort to make an improvement to your students learning or your personal teaching practices.

You decide how big or small you want to challenge yourself but the point is it’s a challenge.

Don't think you can do it?

Check out this post by Alice Keeler: I'm Not Techie to find out her biggest tip to becoming tech savy.

Browse the lists and links to past Tech Tuesday posts below for some inspiration.

Ask yourself the following questions:

What’s an area in my teaching, organization, planning, or communication practices that I would like to improve on?
How could technology help me to do this?

30 Ideas for Inspiration

Planning, Prep, Organization and Improving your Workflow

Sign up for a GAFE Account - if you haven’t done this yet this should be your one thing!
Forward your email from your GAFE account to your regular school account
Start using Google Drive to store your files
Add the Mt. Doug Shared Folder to your Google Drive
Start using Google Calendar
Add the Mt. Doug Public or Staff Calendar to your Google Calendar, phone or computer desktop
Start Lesson Planning in Google Docs
Share a lesson plan, idea, project etc. digitally using GAFE with a colleague.
Create a department or group shared folder in Google Drive to share resources, meeting notes etc.
Make Google Chrome your default browser if you are still using Explorer.
Log into Chrome with your GAFE account so that you can….
Check out the Apps and Extensions in the Chrome Webstore

Communication

13. Open a Twitter account to connect with other educators

14. Open a Twitter account for your class to tweet homework, assignments and announcements.

15. Send Alexis, Aaron, or Derek information we can share via the Mt. Doug Twitter Account.

16. Create a Teacher Website using The NEW Google Sites - so easy and they look awesome!

17. Save some Paper. Keep documents like course outlines in Google Docs and share them digitally with students. Post one paper copy in your classroom for reference.

18. Create a Class Google Calendar that you share with students and/or parents

19. Collect information from students, parents, etc. using a Google Form

In the Classroom

20. Sign out the Chromebooks rather than use the computer lab

21. Use Google Classroom for your class or just a project

22. Try Kahoot or Socrative for formative assessments - students love using their phones for these

23. Try a Google Form for a Quiz or to poll your class

24. Have students use Google Slides to create digital notebooks

25. Have students use Google Sites to create online portfolios of their work - Google Drive is also a great option for portfolios if you don’t want something published online.

26. Have students collaborate on something by sharing a Google Doc, Slideshow, or Drawing

27. Have your students check out a lesson on Khan Academy

28. Try an Hour of Code activity

Don’t like any of the above and have no other ideas, here are my last 2 (self-serving) suggestions:

29. Ask me (Alexis) ONE EdTech related question.

30. Read "X" number of Tech Tuesday Posts

My Challenge and Hopefully Yours

What am I doing for the EdTech Challenge?

This semester I am going to try to use technology, specifically GAFE, to help facilitate more collaboration between my students. Even though my knowledge base in this area is quite good, I have been reluctant to implement collaborative tools and assignments into my teaching. To be honest, group work makes me uncomfortable as it has never really been that successful in my classroom. So my challenge is going to be to try to incorporate 1 collaborative group assignment in all of my classes using a Google App.

~ Alexis

Are you in?

If you would like to accept this challenge I would love for you to let me know what it is and how I can help you with it.

Complete this form letting me know what you plan to do!

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