Thursday Thoughts: A Little More about LoTI

What is LoTI? What was the intent of the LoTI survey?  What is going to happen with my results?   

These questions are just a few that popped up at yesterday's building meeting. I hope the answers will help clarify some of the confusion, as well as open up a line of constructive dialogue about what teaching and learning looks like at Emerson, and how technology can best support both.  

What is LoTI?

According to the LoTI Website...

 "The Levels of Teaching Innovation (LoTi®) Framework was first conceptualized by Dr. Chris Moersch in 1994 as a research tool to assess authentic classroom technology use. Several iterations later, the original LoTi® Framework has transformed into a conceptual model to measure classroom teachers implementation of the tenets of digital-age literacy as manifested in the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T). The LoTi® Framework focuses on the delicate balance between instruction, assessment, and the effective use of digital tools and resources to promote higher order thinking, engaged student learning, and authentic assessment practices in the classroom--all vital characteristics of 21st Century teaching and learning."

What was the intent of the LoTI survey?
The survey questions are designed to create a digital-age professional development plan based on the LoTI framework and NETS-T developed and supported by ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education). I realize that the survey questions were a lot to digest and process, especially at 3:30 during a jammed-packed building meeting.  To help visualize what the survey was asking, I created a Word Cloud from all of the questions on the survey.  If you notice, the three major themes are students, digital tools, and learning. 

Those of you who have used Wordle before to create word clouds may remember that the size of a word is based on how often it is used, but the arrangement of the words is completely random.  However, I think the arrangement of this word cloud speaks to the intent of the survey, as well as that of  TIC (Technology Implementation Committee) and the ITCs who chose this survey to gather information.  Students are in the center of our minds, and the single largest influence on any decision that is made.  The digital tool's main purpose is to support the students in their own learning.   As you all have heard me say over and over again, it is not about the stuff.  It is what we chose to do with it that can either enhance or detract from student learning.  My mission always is and will be to work with you to impact student learning in a way that is meaningful and student-centered.

If you were left feeling confused or just want a reminder about the LoTI survey, check out this user-friendly LoTI "Sniff Test". It contains the 7 Levels of Teaching Innovation and a quick "cheat sheet" to finding your level.  Please remember, no one (even your ITC) is expected to be at the highest level of innovation.  The goal is to have you know where you are at, and hopefully find ways to help you achieve the next level.


What is going to happen with my results?
School and District data will be used by TIC (Technology Implementation Committee) and the ITCs to help guide professional development this year.  I also hope to be sharing these results with the staff soon. The plan is to administer the survey again in the spring for comparison data.  This data will be one of many pieces used to assess technology implementation in the district. 

The individual results are yours to reflect on and use as you see fit. I know that my own results gave me plenty of food for thought, as well as a few goals for my own professional growth this year.   If you are interested in digging deeper or still have questions, I encourage you to see me. We can work together to translate some of the survey's "standards speak", make a goal based on your results, and plan how I can best support you.

To access your LoTI results, click here for Log-in information.

Tech Tool Tuesday: REMIND 101

October is all about parent communication around Emerson, with the opening of the Parent Portal and Parent Conferences.  The Board of Education has also made communication one of the district's goals.  Many of us are looking for quick and easy ways to get class information out to parents (and students).

 Last week, I showed you a quick way to send a mass email through Powerschool.  However, not every parent checks their email all the time, especially if it is sent to an account that is full of advertisements and spam.  Nowadays, many more people turn to text messages delivered right to their mobile phone screen to get information. Certainly, that is the preferred mode of communication of our students.  

Now, there is a FREE and easy way to text parents (and students, if you choose) without ever having to share your personal phone number or even have them share their number with you.  It is called REMIND 101.  Basically, teachers set up an account and create a class.  They print out the pre-made poster giving the parents an access code and walking them through the sign-up process.  (It could even be a posted outside your conference room door to get them to sign up while they are waiting for their conference time.)  Students can also sign up to receive text messages to their cell phone, without ever having to share their number with you or vice versa. 

The Sugar Gliders have been using REMIND 101 with great success.  Examples of messages they have sent out were to let parents know that the parent portal letter was coming home and to look for the pre-conference questionnaire.  You could also use it to remind parents about field trips, remind them to check the parent portal when you have updated grades or even to share positive news.  

CLICK HERE TO SET UP A REMIND101 ACCOUNT.

Watch the short video below for more information.  Let me know if you want my help to get it up and running.

 

FAB FRIDAY: STEP it up Online

Since this information is also going out in today's Emerson Enquirer, I decided to send out my Fabulous Friday shout-out a little early.

STEP It Up Online!

This trimester, the 8th grade students have been using Emerson’s new Chromebooks in Mrs. Benson’s, Mrs. Glines, and Ms. Hrobsky’s L.A. Classes.   In preparation of using even more Digital Learning Tools (like Google Apps for Education and Edmodo), students explored what it meant to be good digital citizens and what expectations should be placed on members of their “Digital Classroom.”  The STEP acronym shown here is what came out of those discussions.  As the Chromebooks and other technology resources make their way around the school, I am looking forward to seeing all of Emerson’s students STEP it up.

Minute Trick Monday: PowerGrade Parent Email

This week, all Emerson parents and students will be given access to the Parent Portal.  The great part about this tool is that it creates transparency for the parents and students to know where they stand in any given class on any given day.

However, we know that there is a lot about what is going on in our class that a Gradebook snapshot can't show.  Sending an email message out to an individual parent or all your parents is a great way to keep them feel more connected to what is really happening.

Fortunately, PowerSchool makes it easy to send an email to an individual parent, a group of parents, or even every parent on your caseload right from inside your Gradebook!  It is as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Launch your Gradebook.

2. From the "Tools" menu, select "Email Students and Parents."

3. Follow the directions on the screen. *

  

Hint: You may want to compose the message in Word or Google first. Once you have edited it, copy and paste the message into the appropriate window. Selecting the email addresses last will prevent accidentally sending the message before you are ready.

To learn more, check out the PowerSchool page on my ITC site.

CHALLENGE: For those of you who have been asking how to access these email addresses through Gmail:

1. Follow the Powerschool Startup Directions to export student names and guardian emails from your Gradebook.
2. On the CSV file, delete the entire Section Name row.  In the new header row, change "Student Name" to "Name" and "Guardian Email" to "Email."
3.  Follow the Google directions to import contacts from the CSV file you created.

 

Summer Special: August 1st Pep Talk

Today is the day we all must start to face the truth:

Summer can't last forever.  

With the first day of school right around the corner, now is the time to decide what we want this school year to look like.  Here is a little pep talk from one of my favorite YouTube sensations: the Kid President.

This school year, what will be our Space Jam?

Tech Tool Tuesday: Google Apps Reseach Tool

Did you know that you can search for information and images from right inside your Google Doc?

In any Google Document or Presentation, click "Research" in the "Tools" menu.

A Research panel will appear on the right.

Research Tool Example

For a general web search, type into the search bar and hover over one of the snippets until the buttons appear.
    Preview opens a snapshot of the site.
    Insert Link adds a hyperlink in your document.
    Cite adds a citation in the correct format to the footnote of your document!

For an image search, click on the gray square on the left of the search bar and choose "Images." Then type into the search bar.

To add the image to your document or presentation, simply drag it over to where you want it.  Google will automatically insert it and create a link to cite the image source!

While I love the citing and quick add features of the tool, the best thing about it is how quickly students can find Free Use images.  All they have to do is click on the little black arrow under that search bar and choose:

Free to use, share or modify, even commercially.

Now, students (or teachers) don't have an excuse why they can't give credit where credit is due, or take images that don't belong to them.  They can do what is right without ever leaving their document window.

Minute Trick Monday: Finder's Fee

COMMAND* + F

For today's Minute Trick, I am pulling out my favorite hidden keyboard shortcut.  We all know command+x for cut, command+c for copy, and command+v(Think Velcro) for paste, but do you know command+F?

This keyboard shortcut can be used on any document, website, or window to search for text.  First, a generic search bar will appear in the top right corner of the window.  As a you type, the matching text is highlighted.  It even gives a count of how many times your query appears in the window. You can use the up and down arrow to find the different places you appear.

This comes in handy whenever you are looking for a needle in an electronic haystack?  For example, looking for a specific name in a spreadsheet (a student score in building map score spreadsheets?) or a specific piece of information in an website article.  If you are writing the same email to different students' parents with the same information but have to use pronouns, you can copy the email text into a new email then find all of the "he"s and turn them into "she"s.

In my classroom, I had students use this shortcut when writing dialogue to find the very overused word "said" and replace it with more descriptive words.  You can also have them find all of the times they used pronouns or this/that to help improve their clarity.

Go ahead and try it right now.  Hold down the command and f at the same time.  When the search bar appears in the top right corner, type "command".  Do you see the highlighting?  Can you move through all the different places it is used?  BONUS:How many times do I use the word command?

*Remember, that the command button is the open apple button on older laptops.

Answer: 9 times, the word command was used.  Oops, now it is 10.

Thursday Thoughts: Taking Risks

Is it a coincidence that this quote showed up on my Facebook wall after coming home from watching many of our Emerson alums perform at the Maine South musical today?   It was quite the experience to see these kids we knew all grown up and fearlessly performing on stage.  It also reminded me of something I had noticed previously from the Student Technology Survey results.

When asked how often they are asked to do the following things at school:
    83% of our students said they were always or often able to problem-solve.
    80% of our students said they were always or often able to be creative.  
    76% of our students said they were always or often able to collaborate with peers.
    48% of our students said they were always or often able to take risks.

I'm not sure if the kids were giving us the answers that they think we want or if this is how they truly view what is happening in the classroom.  Either way, it revealed that we have an opportunity to show students the value of taking risks in their learning even if the "right answer" isn't guaranteed.

Personally, I have learned a lot about the benefits of positive risk-taking this year.  Every time I suggest a new idea for your classroom or vice versa, you are asked to take a leap.  While there have been many ups and downs, I have tried my best to have the successes outweigh the failures and appreciate your willingness to always keep trying.

With all this in mind, take a moment and think about what you would attempt in your classroom with technology if you knew you could not fail* Feel free to let me know what I can do to help make your answer a reality.

-If you want to experience a little "Where are they now?," stop by the LRC to check out the "Legally Blonde" program.  As you know, the musical itself is playing this weekend if you want to see it first hand.

-If you want more information about the Student Technology Survey, it was part of the April 8 BATC Report to the Board found here.

*My answer was starting this blog since I am not nearly brave or talented enough to sing on stage like our former students.

Web Link Wednesday: Shop around the Coach's Corner

       From the start of the blogging journey, I want to make it clear that I have by no means cornered the market on good ideas on teaching, technology or anything else for that matter.  Without a doubt, the large majority of I present here will have originated from someone else.  

     While I am "officially" Emerson's Instructional Technology Coach, there are six other ITCs in this district who have so much to offer the Emerson staff.  These are people who I regularly look to for great ideas and inspiration.  I encourage you to shop around their sites to see for yourself.

As a team, the ITCs designed the Coach's Corner to be one-stop shopping for District 64 staff.  You can access it from any of our sites, as well as the district staff portal.  Here are some of my personal highlights:

• Amanda Pelsor, Carpenter's ITC, is a Google Goddess. She also has some great "Step-by-Steps."
• Amanda Walsh at Lincoln is leading the way with Edmodo resources.
• If you are looking for Formative Assessment support, turn to Roosevelt's Caroline Schaab.
• Those of you who have used Wordle and want to take it further, Rachel Lebuz from Washington has a whole list of Word Cloud options.
• Carrie Bellen, Franklin's ITC, was the person who first introduced me to Triptico, a set of free classroom tools that are perfect for the Smartboards.
• Michael Johnson paved the way for this blog with his own Field ITC Blog.  

On the subject of blogs, check out the latest posts from the other ITC's blogs under "Blogs I Follow" on the right side on this website for even more ideas and inspiration.

No matter the source of inspiration, please let me know if there is something I can do to help you bring it into your classroom.

    

Tech Tool Tuesday: Emerson Google Docs Naming System

Student: "I know I turned it in."

Teacher: "I don't have it."

Student: "But I know I turned it in."

Teacher: "Did you write your name on it?"

Student: "Ahhh...."

We have all this conversation countless times with students in our paper classroom.  One of the things that teachers struggle with is finding papers coming in from 100+ kids, whether by hand or electronically.  It turns out the solution is all in the Name.

As I have worked with teachers using Google Docs with their students, we have come up with a simple naming system that helps you, as the teacher, find documents that students have shared with you through Google Drive.  This EMERSON NAMING PROTOCOL looks like this:

Per#   AssignmentTitle  LastName

Per# is the two-digit period number (i.e. 02, 10).

AssignmentTitle* is the exact title assigned by the teacher, with no spaces. 

(i.e. IntroPaper).

LastName is your last name (i.e. Smith).

Assignment Example: 02  IntroPaper  Smith

Remember, Google is built around the search.  Whether images on the internet or documents in your drive, searching is what Google does best.  Once students create documents using the Emerson Naming Protocol, you can use the document's name to search inside your Google Drive.

-If you search "AssignmentTitle" (ie "IntroPaper"), all assignments from any class/student will appear.
      *For easy access later on, you could organize them in the folder by selecting them all and clicking the Folder Icon. For more on organizing Google Docs, see Monday's post.

-If you search "Per# AssignmentTitle" (ie "02 IntroPaper"), all assignments from that period will appear.

-If you search Last Name (ie Smith), any assignment from that student will appear.

Disclaimer: In order to make this work, the AssignmentTitle needs to be unique to that assignment.  Also, every student needs to spell things correctly and share the document with you when they create it.  I usually pull up the Per# AssignmentTitle search up on the smartboard so kids can check that their document was named and shared correctly.

Here are some Google Classroom Poster to help getting your students started.  If we can create some consistency across all Emerson classes, creating/naming a Google Document becomes as natural to students as putting their names on the paper.  It may not end the age-old question "Did you put your name on it?" but it may help Emerson students and teachers know how to answer it.

Minute Trick Monday: Command+Click

COMMAND + CLICK

How do I organize all the Google Docs that people have shared with me without moving them out Shared Folders? 

  This question is one that I have been asked a lot as people's "Shared With Me" list has been getting longer and longer.  The trick is to hold down the COMMAND key when organizing your files.

Here's step-by-step directions on how to take a doc that is in your "Shared With Me" list and move it into a folder that you create in "My Drive." 

1.  Find the desired shared file.  (Hint: You can search for it by typing any word in the doc into the Google search bar in Drive.)

2.  Click on the box to left of the File Name in the Shared with Me list.

3.  Click the File Folder icon above the list to open the ORGANIZE window.

4.  To add the file to a folder in your drive, hold down the COMMAND button and CLICK on the desired folder(or click "create a new folder") in your drive. 

You can use this same tip if you want to organize any Google Doc into more than one file at the same time.