That's a Wrap!: Ed Tech Teacher Advisory Team

Last Tuesday, the Ed Tech Teacher Advisory Team wrapped up their final meeting of the year. This team was composed of 25 teachers representing grades K-12, in a variety of articulation areas, including Title 1 and option schools.

Over the course of three meetings, the team learned more about the new ISTE Standards for Students and looked specifically at tech integration, tech professional learning, and tech planning throughout their schools and in our district overall. Throughout these meetings, the team had the opportunity to discuss what technology integration currently looks like throughout the district, their vision for how they hope it can look in the future, and how schools are creatively tackling challenges while also celebrating the amazing things that teachers are already doing in their classrooms. Check out some of the things the team discussed below:


We’d like to thank the Teacher Advisory Team members for all of their great thinking and focus around thoughtfully integrating technology into classrooms and schools across our district. This team was an excellent reminder of the exceptional talent and vast knowledge that the teachers in our schools have when it comes to ensuring that all of our students will be successful 21st century learners. Make sure to follow the Ed Tech Team (@JeffcoEdTech on Twitter) to learn about more opportunities like this in the future.

Connecting Students & Families with Amazing Summer Activities

Reading

JCPL continues to partner with Jeffco Public Schools to promote our students love of reading and engage students in new learning opportunities.  Not only are they offering a  summer reading program for all  Jefferson County students, with loads of prizes, including free books & coupons to great places, but they also offer activities for all ages (including computer lessons):

JCPL Summer Reading Program - Kids, Teens & Adults

JCPL Summer Reading Events - Kids, Teens, & Adults

JCPL Culture Pass - provides free passes to a variety of museums and activities around the Metro area. (Butterfly Pavilion, Colorado Parks Pass, Denver Firefighters Museum, and so much more!)

Barnes & Noble - Offers a summer reading program that provides every student in grades 1-6 the opportunity to earn a free book and grow their love of reading!

MyOn - Title I - An online platform for all of our Title I students access to over 5900 books online at a variety of levels.  Most books are nonfiction, but over 1400 titles are fiction.  Students have easy access using any device that has web access.

Buncee, PebbleGo, PebbleGo Next & Capstone - Buncee, a web tool for educators and students to create and share engaging multimedia presentations, interactive lessons, digital stories and more has connected with Capstone to promote summer reading. They have opened up to provide teachers and students free access to Buncee, PebbleGo databases and Capstone books for 3 month! Teachers need to sign up to allow students access . What a great opportunity for our students!

Activities - A variety of events & activities for families around the metro area.

Denver Free Activities

JCPL Culture Pass

Farmer’s Markets in Colorado

Be sure to check with your local Parks and Recreation department to learn about additional opportunities for children and families.

Movies - Free or low-cost movies for families around the metro area & elsewhere.

Regal Theaters

Cinemark Theaters

Volunteering - A collection of various opportunities around the metro area for teens to volunteer.

Teens can Volunteer with JCPL

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Denver Botanic Gardens - Teen Volunteer program

Denver Zoo Teen Volunteer Program - closed for 2017 (Opens in January for 2018)

Volunteers of America - Youth  Volunteer Program

Children’s Hospital Junior Volunteer Program

Ed Tech Learning Opportunities at Jeffco L3- Registration Opens Today!

Mark your calendar!

August 7th, 8th, and 9th Ed Tech will be providing professional learning opportunities at Jeffco’s Academy for Professional Learning- L3.

Find your favorites and REGISTER HERE  starting today, May 9th at 4:30pm

View Ed Tech’s available sessions in the presentation below.

Questions about our courses? Contact Ed Tech
Questions about registration or other L3 opportunities? Contact the Center for Professional Learning

Say Aloha to New Ideas!

It's no secret that teachers learn much of what they know about technology integration from watching other teachers. But when teachers are isolated in their own room for much of the day, how do they get the opportunities to see the meaningful way their peers are using technology in the classroom?

That's where Pineapple Charts and #ObserveMe can help shift the collaborative culture of teachers within a school.

Pineapple Charts

In Hawaii, a pineapple on the door is a symbol of hospitality, warmth, and welcome. From this symbolism, the idea of Pineapple Charts was created. This school-wide system provides the opportunity for teachers to invite one another into their classrooms for informal observation, as a way to share ideas. On this weekly chart, teachers list activities and lessons they would like others to see. The chart is then placed in locations where teachers visit on a regular basis (lounge, office, work room, bathrooms, etc.). If a teacher sees a lesson or activity of interest, he or she visits the classroom at the indicated time and watches... no note taking, conferences, forms, write-ups, or time limits are required. The teacher just watches, learns, and gathers new ideas.

Pineapple charts can be a great way for teachers to see new technology in action. You might consider inviting others in to your room to see:

• Google Expeditions in action
• Teacher or student use of Google Forms to assess learning or collect data 
• Student-centered discussions or backchannel chats 
• Using Schoology or Google Classroom to facilitate a flipped or blended classroom model
• Differentiation using HyperDocs

Below are some examples of Pineapple Charts.

#ObserveMe

Robert Kaplinsky, an educational consultant and trainer, was increasingly concerned that teachers work in isolated environments, not often seeking feedback or ways to openly share successes. This concern inspired him to create a call to action to increase the collaborative nature of teachers in schools.  His idea? Post a sign outside of your classroom to invite other teachers in to see what you are doing. On this form, share a few areas for which you would like feedback. He also recommended providing an observational tool, such as the Jeffco Teacher Rubric, to make it easier for observers to provide feedback. Adding a QR code or shortened URL that connects observers to a Google Form is an excellent way to seek, collect, and analyze data.

But how does this connect back to technology in the classroom? Consider seeking feedback on your use of technology in the classroom!

• How often are students using their devices?
• How are your students spending most of their time on their devices? Are they using devices to improve communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking? 
• How is technology improving student learning and teacher facilitation?
• Are technology-based activities student centered or teacher driven?

Below are some examples of #ObserveMe signs.

For more information check out these blogs:

• Pineapple Charts: Cult of Pedagogy
• #ObserveMe: Robert Kaplinsky