What I Learned At My First PLAYDATE

I spent the morning at PLAYDATE at TIES today.

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What is a PLAYDATE?

"PLAYDATE (People Learning and Asking ‘Y,” Digital Age Technology Exploration) is a space for us to come together and collaboratively explore these tools we’ve always wanted to learn more about. Modeled after an unconference or an EdCamp, the sessions will be participant-driven, exploration-based, and hands on."

This video helps explain what PLAYDATE is about:

Another blog entry coming soon with my learning from today, but overall I took away a few key ideas about what makes a PLAYDATE event successful:

1. Like an EdCamp, sessions are proposed and led by participants based on the interests of the group. 

2. Sessions are all about having a discussion, playing with the tool, device, software, etc., and trying things out. 

3. Time to just explore with no pressure is invaluable to thinking about how new technologies, devices, software, ideas fit it with curriculum and instructional practices. 

4. Having the new devices available allows you to explore and play without the pressure of having to vouch for the value-added component of something before you have even had a chance to try it out.  

5. People are key. Having knowledgable people who have tried things, devices, software to some extent already is critical. Being able to tap into their knowledge prevents you from floundering and losing out on the value of exploration with devices or software that have a lot of bells and whistles to figure out.

I give today a giant thumbs up and look forward to the next opportunity to play and learn.

Google Slides App For iOS

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Google continues to make the Google Apps For Education suite more iPad friendly as the Google Slides app for iOS debuted to the masses today! Slides along with Google Drive, Sheets, and Docs have enabled iPad users to tap into the collaborative power of Google apps like never before on iPads.

Google Slides has also added new features and options that were not available previously when accessing Google Slides via the Chrome iOS browser. Users can now create presentations on the iPad rather than being limited to just viewing them as well as continuing to work on presentations offline and having the new content sync back up once connected to wifi again.

These changes make using Google Slides more friendly than ever for schools and districts going 1:1 with iPads.

EdCampMN Reflections

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Today was a great day of informal sharing at EdCampMN at the Anderson Student Center on the Hamline University campus.

I participated in sessions on Voxer, edtech coaching, 1:1 Chromebooks, iPads in the classroom, standards-based grading, literacy resources, Twitter, and flexible learning spaces. The EdCamp model of informal group discussion and resource sharing instead of formal presentations offered plenty of opportunities to share work going on in my district and professional interests of my own.

I also had a chance to practice a little sketchnoting and uploaded my sketch here to share. I definitely see the value in visual note-taking and the connections between doodling and summarizing and how it can help students remember content better in the classroom. Sketchnoting also helps teachers document major takeaways from professional development conferences.

TPT Event - Is School Enough?: Engaged Learning in the 21st Century Classroom and Beyond

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On November 21, I will be attending the Is School Enough?: Engaged Learning in the 21st Century Classroom and Beyond event at the Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) Studios.

As a follow-up to the PBS documentary of the same title, this event will feature panel and audience discussion around the topic of allowing students to solve real-world problems and the value of engaging in projects outside of school.

SPPS Apps/Google Docs

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What is SPPS Apps (Google Docs)? Common Craft Explanation

What is available in SPPS Apps?
Docs
Spreadsheets
Forms
Presentation
Drawing
Mail
Sites
Calendar
Video
Contact List

Click here to create a staff account.

Click here to create a student account.

All secondary student accounts are already set up.
Google users need to be 13 to have an account, so if you teach elementary, you need to get parent permission to set up their accounts.

What is the advantage of SPPS Apps/Google Docs over a USB drive?
Collaboration
Knowing which is the latest copy
Always having access to your documents anywhere there is internet - Big Bang Theory Video
Easy distribution of assignments - paper-free
Allowing students to access work and assignments from any computer
Being able to collect work even if a student doesn't turn it in

Let's try editing a document together.

ISTE 2010 - Creative and Collaborative Choices for Publishing Student Writing

Learn how classroom teachers can collaborate with online resources allowing students to share writing with partner schools, get feedback from online buddies, and create literacy materials for others while focusing on improving student writing and reading.

GarageBand
Gatorcast

Old-Fashioned Radio Show

RealeWriter
Student book publishing made easy
RealeWriter website
RealeBooks library

XtraNormal
www.xtranormal.com
Text to Video Converter
MakeMovies



Websites
Publishing for a real-world, public audience makes a difference to students.

GoogleSites

Video Creation
iMovie
Windows Movie Maker
Photo Story
PowerPoint
Keynote

Comic Life
Comic book creation software
Interfaces with iLife to tap into your own photo library or import photos

Wikis
Collaborative webpage
Apple Leopard Server Software (OS 10.5 and 10.6)
Wikispaces - free account
PB Works - free account
Wet Paint - free account

Use usernames and passwords to limit access for student protection.

Wikispaces classroom examples
PBWorks classroom examples
Wet Paint classroom examples

VoiceThread
VoiceThread for K-12
Make photos interactive
Annotate
Leave comments
Tap into higher level thinking skills by providing evidence/support for your opinion

Blabberize
Upload a photo and make it talk!
Online Blabberize tool

UDL Book Builder
Book creation template