Our school has Tech Friday every morning before school. We explore a different topic, app, or site each Friday and share various tips, tricks, and experiences with technology with each other. Many of our PLT's are dedicated to technology as well, and are either led by our instructional coach or building tech coordinator.
We also took time on Saturdays to come to school for 'Brunch and Badges' to work together to earn our Apple Teacher Certification. Our entire staff eventually achieved this honor!
This is only the beginning of my 2nd year of teaching with technology, so I am learning right alongside my students daily. Last year, we had to trouble shoot many issues, such as how/where to store the iPads, charging procedures, and I needed to establish, teach, and post rules for use. This year, we are integrating the use of SeeSaw for Schools to build student e-portfolios. This is both my and the students first year using this platform so we are very much learning together!
We enjoy using tools such as Skype to speak live with other classes around the country and learn about their school and community and how it may differ from ours or speak of current events that may be happening. Last year, we had pen pals from South Carolina that we wrote letters to every month and Skype'd live with twice during the year. My students were fascinated by the fact that they lived right by the beach and went there so often!
This year I plan to use Skype to go on virtual field trips, participate in International Dot Day, and invite authors to visit with us a couple times a month.
Our school hosted a Family Tech night that I ran a booth at. The goal of Tech Night was to familiarize and help students and families feel comfortable with our 1-1 iPads, inform families of ways we will be using them in school and ideas on how to use them at home, and set clear expectations for use. Families could ask teachers any questions they had, receive help setting up anything on the iPads if needed.