Sphero the Classroom Hero

Robots in the classroom?

It’s not an episode of the Jetsons! It’s here in JeffCo! Sphero is rolling into our classrooms.

What is Sphero?

Sphero is an app enabled, programmable robot about the size of a baseball. This little robot might be small but it is mighty. Strong enough for you stand on, sturdy enough for you to drop...This little robot in a polycarbonate shell can even go underwater.

Sphero SPRK edition has a clear shell allowing students to see the sensors and electric motor - which can go up to 4.5 mph! Sphero connects to a Bluetooth enabled device like an iPad. Then, you can program the Sphero through an app to make it roll, spin, flip and change colors. Apps are available for iOS and Android...and there is even a beta Chromebook app.

Once in the app. students have the ability to build programs through simple drag and drop block coding. Not quite sure where to start? There are sample programs to help students (and teachers) explore. These built-in programs can be copied and personalized.

Why would I use it?

President Obama, in his 2013 Hour of Code kickoff speech, challenged Americans with

If we want America to stay on the cutting edge, we need young Americans like you to master the tools and technology that will change the way we do just about everything.

Everything is becoming more intelligent. Our phones, television and cars are now considered “smart”. We teach our kids core subjects - reading, writing, math. But we’re leaving out a key component in preparing students for the future. Coding is becoming a necessary 21st century skill. Why aren’t we teaching our students to speak the language of code?

Sphero enables students to become technologically literate through fun and engaging activities while shaping a brighter future.

How do I get started?

A great place to start is by joining SPRK Lightning Lab. Lightning Lab is a community of Sphero users sharing and creating together. There are lesson plans and pre-made Sphero programs ready for you and your students to personalize. Check out these creative activities!

For purchasing information, please contact Karrie Zanetti - kzanetti@jeffco.k12.co.us

Here are just a few!

• Studying the solar system? Use your Sphero to replicate the solar system
• Got a unit on Ancient Egypt? Build a chariot and see if your Sphero can pull your Pharaoh. 
• Combine Breakout EDU with your Sphero! 
• Use your Sphero to paint! 
• Bring coding and geometry together with your Sphero with angles or program through a maze! 
• Check out what Sphero can do for your Forces in motion unit. 
• Sphero can even be incorporated in ELA!

For more information go to Sphero’s website http://www.sphero.com/
Or follow Sphero on Twitter: @Spheroedu

Blend your Instruction: Begin with Embedding

So much to be done! So little time! The pressure on teachers to get everything done by the end of the school day is formidable. How do you cover the curriculum and allow students to be active learners? Take a baby step into the world of Blended Learning. Blended Learning is “blending” the best of both worlds...the face to face interaction of the classroom with the flexibility of online activities such as discussions, video instruction, content delivery, and group work. Whether it is through a 1:1 environment, or the use of just a few student devices/computers in the classrooms, blended learning will save you time and energy in effectively and efficiently covering the content that needs to be covered.

One of the most useful things in presenting digital content is to use a source’s embed code. You can embed many things to your webpage or learning management system, like Schoology, and get rid of paper and textbooks!

What is an embed code?

How is an embed code different than a link? An embed code allows users to take content and place it where they want. A link will take you away from wherever you are on a webpage or Schoology page and take you to the source. That’s not always most efficient or effective when you want students to use the information presented to them and do something with it, like submit an assignment or take a quiz. The best part of embedding is that the only thing you need to know is how to copy and paste.

What kinds of things can you embed in Schoology?

• YouTube videos
• Google Maps
• Google Presentations
• PDF documents

This presentation provides you specific steps in embedding 4 different types of content into a Schoology page, discussion, assignment or quiz.

Don't forget to:

Go Digital with Notes using Google Keep

Sticky Note Overload???? Digitize your notes with Google Keep.

This is an excellent tool to use for creating digital sticky notes. It is a clean, user-friendly interface. It only takes one click to write a note, upload a picture or create a to-do list through the web interface or through the mobile app. It’s as simple as tapping the note text field, and then start typing.

Google Keep allows you to color-code your notes and lists so you can easily categorize and find them. 

You can even include images in your notes.

You can create to-do lists, notes for lesson plans, take minutes from meetings, and basically anything you want to remember. Why use Google Keep? The main reason for putting your notes in the cloud is so that you have access to them anytime, anywhere you have an internet connection. That means you can assess and edit your notes from your phone, your tablet, Chromebook or your laptop...across all devices! Since it is a Google product, anyone with a Gmail or a Google Apps account has access, so there is not a separate login like with other tools.

• You can easily set reminders to receive notifications to complete a task. Simply click on the reminder button and select a reminder by date and time or reminder by location.
• It now supports real-time collaborative editing, so you can share your notes with others for viewing and editing. Simply click on the Share icon, type the email address of the person with whom you wish to share, and it appears is their Google Keep. Think of the power this feature has with students and the many ways they can benefit from this easy-to-use tool.
• You can also copy directly to a Google doc. 

Not surprising is that like other Google tools, Google Keep notes are also searchable.

Watch this video to see how easy Google Keep can keep you organized!

Get started by installing the Google Keep app from the Chrome store.

You can also install the Google Tabs for Google Keep extension from the Chrome store to further categorize your notes. This handy extension allows you quickly add a note to a predetermined color-coded category. You can click on a category title and see all notes associated with that category with just one click. No more wasting times looking through all your notes!

For more information on using Google Keep, check out this video:

Utilizing Technology for Formative Assessment and Differentiation in the Classroom

Alyssa Davidson teaches 9th grade Earth Science at Ralston Valley High School. Instead of relying on a predetermined lesson plan, Davidson uses formative assessment to guide student learning and direct instruction. I recently observed Davidson to see how she integrated technology and formative assessment into her instruction. Upon entering the classroom on Monday morning students were immediately engaged in the learning content. Davidson invited students to take a short four question Socrative quiz to help determine where they were in their learning. Davidson clearly explained to the students that no points were attached to the formative assessment. This made students feel at ease and comfortable to answer the questions to their best ability. The class then discussed the answers to the quiz questions. To stay mobile in the classroom, Davidson controlled what appeared on the class SMARTboard through her iPad. Airserver is an easy, inexpensive tool to enable mobility in the classroom. By using the AirPlay feature on your iPad and Airserver software onto the device that is attached to your projector (laptop or desktop computer with a wireless card installed) you have the ability to mirror content from your iPad onto your projector.

Students then used the data feedback from the quiz to determine the next steps in their learning. Davidson asked students who missed one or more questions or just wanted more instruction on the prior content to join her in one side of the room. Students who answered all of the questions correctly were allowed to move on and begin exploring a new topic. Davidson provided these students with reading materials and Ed Puzzle videos to hold their engagement. Ed Puzzle is a web tool that allows you take any video from YouTube, vimeo, Khan Academy, etc. and adjust it to meet your specific needs. Questions and comments can be added throughout the video.

As students moved on to their individualized content, Davidson started a Pear Deck Activity. Pear Deck is an interactive presentation tool used to actively engage students in social learning. Davidson has been using Pear Deck for a little over a year. She finds it very easy to use because the interface is intuitive and the customization options are limited. This forces students to focus on the content and questions rather than the appearance of the deck. While there is a free version available, Davidson prefers the paid version for her Earth Science classes. The drag-able and drawing questions are critical for diagram interpretation and she has the ability to collect more rigorous data about student understanding than the traditional multiple choice platform. Davidson recently surveyed her students and found that “Pear Deck was the activity in class that best supports student learning and is the most enjoyable. It has also made students more comfortable making mistakes. Since there is an ask again option, they know that if their response is incorrect or needs some editing, they will be able to revise it”.

Davidson’s classroom reflects a learning environment where students are curious, engaged and in control of their own learning. By utilizing tech tools, Davidson is able to provide a unique learning experience.
If you would like to try Pear Deck here are some of Davidson's tips for success:

• Use the free trial wisely, make the most of your 30 days!
• Read the Pear Deck blog, they share some fantastic content
• Show your students how to access the Takeaways at the end of your first presentation. 
• Email Pear Deck if you have questions, it’s a small team and they respond quickly. 

For more information on how to get started using Pear Deck in your classroom, check out the following video.

Need more help? Contact the Ed Tech Team