Do No Harm! I think that is my big takeaway from my summer learning thus far. I have been focusing on how best to support teachers after the great influx of devices and tools over the last 2 years. Schools went from computer labs, carts, and shared devices, particularly at the elementary level to 1:1 in a matter of months. All the new tools: web conferencing, screen casting, LMS, digital curriculum, etc. The great shift happened, now what? I participated…
I am usually a pretty mellow person, tend to look for the positive in everyone, and assume the best of intentions in people. But I had an interaction on the vendor floor at ISTE that got my hackles up and I just lost it. The vendor was explaining their new STEM curriculum where everything is laid out step by step, the teacher could just “point and click” it was “foolproof.” WHAT!?! Are you saying teachers are fools! Teachers are learning…
For the last couple of years, I have primarily been dealing with devices; enrolling, managing, setting up apps and extensions and trying to keep track of ever-shifting inventory. I am afraid my people skills may have gotten a little rusty. I wanted to reconnect with my past self and get my head back in the game of supporting teachers and their students. So I enrolled in the Apple Learning Coach program. I think it is one of the best-run professional…
I have been quite busy preparing for a major PD initiative in supporting an ever expanding number of Chromebooks and more innovated use of Google Tools. I have to say Google has created a large number of pathways to learn it’s apps and to test ones knowledge. I like the idea of tests and certification on these tools. It would be a wonderful thing if schools using google apps required their teachers and new hires to be google certified teachers….
As soon as one school year ends it is time to get ready for the next. For me that means that I start getting materials ready for new teacher orientation and set up new professional development for the teachers. This year we are developing our self-serve PD using Schoology and will be adding badges to mark staff successful completion of the various topics. In prepping my material I review the old sites we recommend for teachers, as well as, look…
A new year means a time for reflection and a new start, as educators we get two every year. We start fresh each school year and get a boost mid-way through with the start of a new calendar year. I take the winter break to reflect on how the year is going and what type of course corrections need to be made. How will I make the most of the second half of the school year? How will I make…
After Hurricane Sandy effected the northeast I headed down to NJ to lend my folks a hand. The main highway I would normally take was closed in many spots so I had to drive north, across Massachusetts and then south. On my way I passed convoy after convoy of tree service, fuel tankers and power line crews from Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. Some had banners hanging off the sides of the trucks. “NJ here we come.” “NY you are…