Teaching with Technology

Using educational technology to enhance the learning environment and increase student engagement!

Homework – A few reasons why I don’t assign it

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Hello, friends! I hope your school year is off to a fabulous start! For many of you, this is probably your first day back in the classroom. For others, myself included, the school year is already in full swing! I’ve been meaning to share this post for a few months now. Since we’re back to school I figured this was the perfect time to talk about my changing views of homework, and why I no longer assign it.

Here are the main reasons I don’t assign homework in my classes:

  1. My In-Class Flip –> A few years ago, I flipped my classroom and required all of my students to view instructional videos that I created for them at home. I found that students who completed the video assignments as homework were well-prepared for the class activities while those who didn’t, surprise surprise, were not ready to work when they came into the classroom. Instead of relying on many variables falling into place at home (more about this in point 2!), I decided to restructure my class time to include time for students to complete their instructional video and accompanying assignment. This is FANTASTIC for many reasons, but mainly because the students have multiple resources available to help them with content they may not understand from the video – their classmates and ME. Already this year I’ve found that I’m able to provide more personalized and individualized instruction for my students as they’re completing their flipped video assignments in class. I have tables organized into pods in my high school Social Studies classroom. While students are engaging in video assignments, I walk from table to table with my iPad or Chromebook and re-explain certain concepts, draw out examples, etc. It’s awesome to be able to engage with my students in a more individualized setting! I’ve even heard from students, “I feel like I’m actually learning something this year, and it’s only the 2nd week of school!” Score!
  2. I use A LOT of technology –> Instructional technology tools are fantastic and, used properly, can greatly enhance the classroom learning environment. However, along with using classroom technology comes relying on steady internet access. When I originally flipped my classroom and required students to complete videos at home, many students who didn’t complete their assignment at home had limited, if any, internet connectivity at home. How could I justify penalizing students for not completing an assignment if they didn’t have the tools outside of the classroom to do so? I couldn’t … and wouldn’t!

Basically, outside the walls of my classroom, I’m not in charge. I’m not in charge of the home environment of my students. I’m not in charge of whether or not my students work until 11:00 at night or if they have sports practices or games in another town.

I introduced this concept to parents and students at Open House this year. I told the parents and students present that I will not assign homework this year. I clarified my statement to specify that the only homework my students will have is what they don’t finish in class. AND … based on how my class is set up, if they have homework, they probably aren’t using their class time well 🙂

What’s your homework policy?

Thanks for reading 🙂

Utopia Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Kit – Review

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*In exchange for a review, I was given two VR/AR headsets and two decks of system cards from Utopia 360*

WOW! This is AWESOME! I was recently contacted by the great people at Utopia 360 VR and asked to review their VR and AR system. It. Is. SUPER COOL! As I high school Social Studies teacher, I knew I couldn’t provide a review of the products as they would be used in my classroom – while these systems are fabulous, they don’t quite fit into my extremely jam-packed curriculum! Of course, my most important job is not as a teacher, but as a MOMMY! So my daughters, ages 4 and 6, are helping me review the Utopia 360 VR/AR system!

Each box includes instructions for use (you really don’t even need the instructions – the kit is so easy to use!), a VR headset, a cleaning cloth, and a deck of augmented reality cards. Each deck of cards includes an instructions card with an access code for using the super-awesome augmented reality cards.

When my oldest daughter, Hanna,  opened the box, she immediately went for the virtual reality viewer, saying, “Mom, I need your phone, PLEASE!!” She was extremely excited to dive into the solar system and knew exactly what to do!

I downloaded the Space 4D+ app from the app store on my iPhone, entered my product code (found on the instruction card in the deck), and selected the “features” icon in the bottom right corner of the screen. I choose “VR-Mode,” and we prepared to take a journey through our solar system! There is no way to adequately describe her joy when she saw the sun, sounded out how to say Mercury, and bumped into the wall while spinning around to look at Jupiter. It was amazing to watch my 6-year-old become so excited about the solar system! Next, we went to the augmented reality cards. This was FABULOUS! Hanna LOVED being able to “make the planets come off the paper” and “spin them around” with my phone.

My youngest daughter, Molly, was MUCH more interested in the 4D+ Animal Zoo kit! Just like the Solar System kit, we opened the box to find a virtual reality viewer, instruction manual, lens cleaning cloth, and a box of augmented reality cards. After downloading the Animal 4D+ app on my phone, Molly chose an animal card to “play with.” We put the “M” card with a picture of a monkey on the floor by her, I launched the app and placed my phone in the virtual reality viewer. She put on the VR headset and looked down at the card. Her reaction was “WOW, Mom! The monkey is moving and making sounds!” I asked her what monkeys like to eat most, and her response was, “Mom, you know monkeys like to eat bananas!” We found the card with a picture of bananas and put it next to the monkey card. Through the VR viewer, we watched the monkey reach out to grab the bananas. I LOVED watching Molly trying to “pet the monkey.” Augmented reality is just so awesome!

The girls and I had SO MUCH FUN reviewing these great products together! Are you interested in purchasing your own 4D+ Augmented and Virtual Reality bundle from Utopia 360? Click here to get your hands on these awesome products!

Thanks so much to the great people at Utopia 360 for allowing my daughters and I to have such fun with your product!

Thanks for reading 🙂

Dear First Year Teacher – A Letter to Myself as a New Teacher

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Tomorrow, I start my tenth year teaching. TEN YEARS. It doesn’t seem possible! I still feel like a new teacher – excited and nervous for the first day of school. As I mentally prepare for heading back to the most important job in the world, I’m thinking back to my first year teaching. I was 22 years old and had just graduated from college about 3 months earlier. I was SCARED TO DEATH! As a way of reflecting on what I’ve learned during my teaching career to date, I thought a letter to myself as a first-year teacher would be fun! Enjoy!

Dear First-Year Teacher Bethany,

I write to you today from the future – yes, you survive your first year teaching! I hope to share with you some wisdom that you’ll learn over the next few years as you work in the most important profession and strive to inspire and encourage your students to become the awesome people they’re meant to be.

First – chill out on the worksheets! And by the way, calling them “sheets of fun” isn’t fooling anyone. Your students don’t like to complete them, you don’t like to grade them, they’re boring and – be honest, are they really effective? In a few short years, you and your students will have access to a wealth of technology that will allow you to encourage your students to create, communicate, collaborate, and think critically like never before!

Soon, you’ll learn about something called the “flipped classroom,” and it will transform that way you view your role in your classroom. You’ll begin to think that moving from a “sage on the stage” to a “guide on the side” is a better instructional strategy that will help you more effectively meet the needs of your students. It. Is. AWESOME! To implement this new strategy, you’ll inadvertently create a YouTube channel – don’t freak out, it will be one of the best things you’ve done for your classroom! You’ll randomly create “raps” about Government concepts, allow your students to use your iPad to record you (yup, you get one of those, too!), and then you’ll put it on YouTube for the world to see! You shed your shame and fear of looking goofy, and your classroom is better for it!

Yes, you will continue to doubt whether or not you’re actually making a difference or accomplishing anything in your classroom. Try not to worry – I know, it’s easier said than done – because you’re doing a great job! Soon, you’ll learn that your classroom will be moving to a 1:1 learning environment with every student using a Chromebook. At first, you’ll be a bit nervous about having these devices in your classroom, but THEN, you will dive headfirst into the world of educational technology, and you’ll LOVE IT! Educational technology tools will give all of your students a voice, even those that never say a word (you know who I’m talking about), and help you provide a more engaging, individualized learning experience for your students! You’ll even start a blog, join Twitter, and share your experiences and ideas with the world! Not kidding! You’ll travel to conferences and workshops and PRESENT your ideas and strategies. You’re also an adjunct instructor who teaches Educational Technology and History/Political Science classes online. YES! YOU!

You’ll also write a BOOK. And it will be PUBLISHED. WHAAT?!

Outside of your classroom, you’ll finally marry Issac 🙂 and you will have two beautiful, fabulous, smart, kind, and wonderful daughters and you’ll name them Hanna and Molly. Don’t worry, Mom and Dad are fabulous grandparents and help you SO MUCH. Brittany is a great help, too – she gets married and is, as of this letter, pregnant with your nephew!

As I write this to you, Molly is sitting on my lap playing on her iPad and Hanna is enjoying her first day of first grade. Issac is working hard, as usual, and I’m chugging coffee. You start to drink it without creamer, soon!

A few closing thoughts: I’d tell you to stop stressing, but we both know that’s pointless. And stress can be good for you – I know you work best under pressure. Don’t compare yourself to anyone. Do you. You’re doing a great job, for real. Keep going!

Remember Psalm 46:5 – it’s true!

Love,
You

 

Thanks for reading 🙂

 

 

Teacher Goals for a New School Year! 2017-2018 Edition

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It’s that time of year again! The month when teachers have to start retraining our bladders, setting alarms, and (if you’re like me) getting used to skipping an afternoon nap – that’s a tough one! I’ve been so fortunate this summer to attend many great PD sessions that stretched my perspective and challenged me to create an awesome learning environment for my students. Check out a few of my teacher goals for the 2017-2018 school year!

ONE WORD: ENGAGE 
After reading Matt Miller’s Ditch That Textbook toward the end of last school year, the idea of using one word as a focus for what I wanted my students to do in my classroom really stuck with me. After thinking about my goal for my students, I came up with ENGAGE. Why engage? I want my students to be constantly engaged and conscious of what’s happening, not only in our classroom but in the world around them. I never want them to become bored or complacent in my classroom or in their lives outside of school. I always want them to be on the edge of their seat, figuratively speaking, both inside and outside of my classroom, ready to make their contributions to the world!

STUDENT-CENTERED LEARNING 
My classroom is a flipped, blended, and gamified learning environment where I hope all of my students can learn and succeed. 2017-2018 will be my fourth school year flipping my American Government classes, and I feel like my version of the “flipped classroom” has been evolving over time. My first year flipping, I created videos that were WAY too long to hold my students’ attention (and be effective videos) and requiring students to view videos at home. Now, my videos are 3-5 minutes long (mostly!) and my students view them as a Bellringer/opening activity in the classroom. I LOVE my in-class flip! As an addition to my in-class flip this year, I’m planning to present my units as HyperDocs. I tried this last year with my Executive Branch unit, and it was very well received by my students. They loved being able to work at their own pace, review information as needed, and view all of their unit assignments at once.

A question that has always plagued me about moving toward this individualized instruction is: what do the students do if they finish before everyone else? I’m planning to offer a Passion Project option to my students, as well as other extension activities, including a “Hashtags through History” bonus activity! More on that later 🙂

STUDENT CHOICE 
Thanks to access to a variety of fantastic technology tools, my students can create projects that classrooms of the past could barely dream about. Why, then, should I limit my students to creating and submitting the exact same project as evidence of their learning? This year, I plan to focus more on offering students choices in how they prove they understand a concept. No more one-size-fits-all assignments where students are required to create a Google Slides presentation. I plan to create a “You Choose” bulletin board that includes a variety of options for projects, including (but not limited to!) Google Slides presentations, screencasts, Adobe Spark or Canva infographics, and MORE! I was totally inspired by the Show What You Know Bingo activity from the HyperDoc Handbook, and created my own!

TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNICATION 
I am NOT great a parent communication. There. I said it. This is definitely an area where I can improve, and I plan to do so by revamping my Google Site. I want my Google Site to be a communication hub where parents can view websites and information that their students will use, classroom expectations – what students and parents can expect from me and what I expect from my students, and a place where I can share the day-to-day happenings from our classroom. I hope my Google Site can serve as a springboard for increased classroom transparency and communication!

Thanks for reading 🙂

New Updates to Google Classroom – August 2017

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I love opening Google Classroom to find that Google has added MORE fabulous features to one of my favorite programs! 

 

This post from the Google Classroom blog lists a number of new features that launched today. However, my FAVORITE features are the ability to …

  • view a list of individual student work. By simply selecting a student’s name, teachers can not only see a list of the work that was assigned and the status of that work. Teachers can also email students and their parents/guardians directly from this page! 
  • enlarge the class code to display. This will prevent me from having to enlarge my Chrome browser to 200% or constantly repeat the class code while my students are joining their Classroom section!
  • to reorder class cards on the Classroom homepage. This is a welcome addition to Classroom, especially if you’re like me and you like to have your classes displayed in the order you see the students during the day!

Teachers can also transfer ownership of Classroom sections and award partial points for student assignments!

I LOVE opening Google Classroom and noticing new features! It’s like Christmas morning, Google Classroom edition!

On another note, I’m hard at work on my new book, Using IT. My goal is to be finished writing before school begins … in about 3 weeks … and for it to be published early next year!

Be sure to join this mailing list to receive updates from my book!

Thanks for reading 🙂