michael.hakkarinen's blog

As teachers we are always adjusting our instruction based on feedback from students.  What are they thinking?  Do they really get it?  Are we ready to move on?

These questions can be answered by body language, questioning, clickers like eInstruction CPS devices or ActiVotes and ActivExpressions.  These strategies and devices can take a time and cost a lot of money.  But if you have a Wi-Fi environment and a some mobile devices you can formatively assess your students quickly and FOR FREE with www.socrative.com

For more information check out the FCPS TRT Formative Assessment In the Cloud Training Page created by TRTs Aimee Satterlee and Anne Navazio.

 It all starts with a blank page...

 Thanks to the "High-Tech" Urbana Middle School Math teacher Arun Pereira, I just learned about a great website that provides quick and easy organization for all of your tasks.  With www.workflowy.com, you can create a basic outline full of all the things you need to do, and then zoom in and out on each item to add details and links.  You can make to-do lists, lesson plans, objectives, or anything else that will help you stay organized and on-task.  All of your items can then be shared with co-workers, friends, or family members who might be involved in helping you complete your projects.

WorkFlowy also works on your personal devices as an app on any iOS device, or use the Chrome Browser on an Android Device to access the Workflowy website.  (See the Workflowy Blog explanation for this here)

To get started, go to http://www.workflowy.com and create a free account.  Although the first impression you'll get is a blank page with a single bullet at the top, the tutorial videos available in the lower right hand corner will have you up and "flowing" in no time.  Take a look at the one below for an introduction:

Is your school upgrading to Windows 7?  Nervous about the new look?  Don't worry!

During the 2013 calendar year FCPS schools will be updating all of their computers from the Windows XP operating system to Windows7.

This upgrade will cause minimal changes to the programs you use, but may have a different "look and feel" than what you're used to seeing on your computer screen.  Each subtle change to your interface will also bring with it many new improvements and functions. For more information about some of these new features please log in to your employee portal at www.fcps.org and refer to the FCPS Techservices website at: http://techservices.fcps.org/windows7

We also have several handouts available for your review below.

Getting Around the Windows 7 Desktop
Finding Your Files in Windows 7

Windows 7 One Sheet Handout

Windows 7 also offers more keyboard shortcuts, and the capability to make your own!  
Learn how at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Keyboard-shortcuts

5 Things You Can Embed in Edmodo!
OK Enrichment Specialists, it's time to buckle your seatbelts and get ready for five new fast and exciting things that you can do with Edmodo. Welcome to "EmbedFest 2012"

1. YouTube Videos (www.youtube.com)
2. Animoto & New Hive Projects (www.animoto.com / www.newhive.com)
3. Quizlet Cards and Games (www.quizlet.com)
4. LiveScribe Pencasts
5. ThingLinks (www.thinglink.com)
Click here for detailed instructions from the ThingLink Blog

And if you're interested in learning more about using www.thinglink.com with your students, be sure to sign up for the FCPS TRT Instructional Technology District Training about Thinklink being held in February 2013.  Watch your email for an invitation!

INSTRUCTIONS

Let's start by joining the Edmodo group where I'll demonstrate exactly how to embed each of these 5 tools into our Edmodo group.  Today's activity will take place in the group "Embed-fest 2012".  I've created a request to join URL here: http://fcps.edmodo.com/join/39e961f5e8ab53e7be8207f55a92048f

Or, if you're already logged on to Edmodo, click the "Join" link in your groups area on the left side of the page and enter the code v2azjq

Once we have finished demonstrating how to embed each of the projects, go ahead and practice with some of your own accounts.  Embed as many items as you would like in this Edmodo group, we will delete it at the end of the training session.

 Carroll Manor, we are ready for takeoff... for a trip around the state of Maryland!

4th graders at Carroll Manor Elementary have started their STEM project about Maryland using Google Earth to show their understanding of the different areas of Maryland.  From the coastal plains, to the Allegheny mountains, the students are building their own personal tours of Maryland starting in Ocean City and ending in Garrett County.

Using Google Earth is not only fun and easy for the students, but it's also a great way to show how technology can be integrated with Social Studies.

For more information about building Google Earth Tours, check out our page on "Google Lit Trips"

At first glance it may look like the student on the left is texting on his phone during class, but he's actually texting on task.  Students in Mr. Van Bloem's AP English class at Walkersville High School are using Promethean ActivExpressions to complete a practice test on George Washington.

Class started today with each student receiving their own ActivExpression registered to their name, a copy of a reading about George Washington, and a paper version of a multiple choice test.  After reading the selection and completing the test on paper, answers are then entered into the ActivExpression.  Mr. Van Bloem's computer collects all the responses, which students submit at their own pace, and a bar graph keeping track of their progress is displayed on the screen.

Once the test is completed the students will receiver their individual scores as well as a chance to review any of the questions for which they entered incorrect answers.  Final scores are also tabulated in an Excel spreadsheet for easy grade collection.

Hoy, ala Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter School, los maestros están aprendiendo una nueva herramienta en línea para ayudar a motivar a los estudiantes y el seguimiento de los comportamientos positivos.

Today at the Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter School the teachers are learning a new online tool to help motivate students and track positive behaviors.  Class Dojo is not only free, but also easy to setup and use.  Students love keeping track of their progress and sharing their success at home.

For more information on using www.classdojo.com in your classroom, check out the FCPS TRT Webpage on Virtual Classroom Management at http://sites.fcps.org/trt/virtualclassroommanagement

You may also access the ActivInspire Flipchart we used in our training here.

A new tool available to FCPS teachers, www.dreambox.com, can help make math fun and engaging for your students.  Used either as an instructional tool for the entire class, or with individual student logins, Dreambox offers easy to follow lessons, practice games, and assessments.  The best part is that kids see each item as a game!

Dreambox recommends that when used for individual students, primary age children should spend one hour per week on the program while intermediate age children an hour and a half.  Although Dreambox lessons don't cover measurement or geometry standards , the rest of the Common Core Math Curriculum is supported.  The program is set up as a "partner for your math instruction", not a replacement.  After each unit of 5-12 lessons is completed by a student, the teacher can then see a detailed report of exactly where they are with numbers sense and operations.

If you are not planning to use Dreambox with individual student accounts, you can still make use of the free teacher tools and resources that work great on your computer while projected on a screen or Promethean Board for whole class review and fun.  Go to http://www.dreambox.com/teachertools to see all the free lessons, tutorials, and puzzles.

Welcome to the "Virtual Classroom Management" afterschool Technology PD Session!
Walkersville Staff Development Center / Lab 3 / 3:00-5:30 PM

This afternoon we will spend our first hour reviewing several tools you can use with your classroom computers & projectors, add to Promethean ActivInspire Flipcharts, or access for free online.  To get started, take a look at the Virtual Classroom Managament flipchart in ActivInspire.  Explore the free tools embedded from the internet.  Once everyone has arrived we will continue.

Today you will see two free online classroom management tools.  First I will demonstrate how to use the site Classroom Dojo, and finally take a look at Class Badges.  Although you will create a ClassDojo account and class this afternoon, you'll need to wait for confirmation from Class Badges before completing your account.

Finally, you'll have the last 30 minutes to work on your own with either web site or any of the tools from our TRT Virtual Classroom Management page.

Here's an algebra equation for you to solve...
Edmodo + Livescribe + X = Increase in student learning, solve for X

"X" can be found in Ms. Gray's Algebra classroom at Brunswick High School, it's teacher creativity with instructional technology!  Over the past semester the students in Ms. Gray's class can access all of the notes, materials, and handouts used at school when they log into their Edmodo group.  PDFs are posted each day with opportunity for students to post questions or hold discussions.

Students can either download and open each PDF or preview them easily in Edmodo. 

CPS Remotes, and a LiveScribe pen are also used in the classroom on a daily basis.  With the LiveScribe pen Ms. Gray can demonstrate and model problem solving under the document camera while also recording her voice and student participation.  The LiveScribe file is then uploaded to LiveScribe Online and linked to Edmodo as well so all of the class resources can be accessed from one location.

Click HERE to see Ms. Gray's notes from her Algebra 2 class instruction.