Taking Adventures While Staying in the Classroom

Last year we had Google Expeditions visit our school and grades 3-6 took virtual field trips all over the world. We loved this experience so much and wanted to be able to use it in the classroom.

Using the Cardboard and Goggles to take a Virtual Field Trip!
















This year Google Expeditions released it to be compatible with APPLE products. We can now use them with our IPADS as the teacher takes them on a virtual field trip. Our school has IPAD buckets to check out for teachers to use. So far this year I have taken kids to museums, North Pole, under the water, and so much more!

These students took a trip to the North Pole.










These students were looking at different animal bones in a museum.







You can view over 400 Expeditions that are available: Click Here

You can go to this page and see lesson plans that correspond with some of the Expeditions: Click Here

Google Expeditions

Download the Free Apps Clicking the links below:

Android

Apple

TECH NINJAS

This school year we went 1:1 Chromebooks with our 5th and 6th grade students. I wanted to be able to empower students to teach others about the Chromebooks. Tech Ninjas was born!

I created this symbol from the settings wheel and transformed it into a Tech Ninja.

How did I choose Tech Ninjas?
I created a form and bookmark to pass out during Library time for any student who was interested.

How often do we meet?
We meet about 3 Mondays a month at Lunch time.

What do we do in Tech Ninjas Meetings?
I teach them tips and tricks. They are required to teach them to their classmates and teacher.
I have taught them how to do specific things to help their classmates when needed.
We have worked with Ipads and apps that they can use with their classmates and teacher.

What is the job of the Tech Ninja?
They are to be helpful to their classmates and teacher when a problem arises in the classroom.
They are to teach tips and tricks to their classmates.
They are to attend meetings to learn more information and ask questions or tell us what problems are occurring in the classroom.

We had T-shirts made and dog tags for each Tech Ninja.
Dog Tags: Need Help? Ask a Tech Ninja!
Shirts: Electric Green with our Tech Ninja Symbol with #TechNinjas on the front of the shirt.

I have had great compliments and feedback from Teachers about the Tech Ninjas and how well they are doing.

Earn a Badge for That!

This school year, as the eLearning Specialist I implemented "Earn a Badge for That."

Teachers are doing great things in their classrooms and outside of their classrooms with integrating a Blended Learning environment and integrating technology. I wanted to showcase all the great things they were doing with their students as well as becoming life-long learners. 

I have two buildings that I work in so I created a Google Form they must fill out to earn badges. The form sends me an email letting me know someone has filled it out and then at the end of each week I add the badges to the teachers special page.

 In the primary building I hang all K-4 teachers papers and badges by the mailbox. In the intermediate building I hang all 5th and 6th grade teachers next to their classrooms. My principals, special area, and guidance counselors also participate.

I create specialized badges on the tasks they complete. For instance if they completed the task of using a Google tool then they would fill out the form and I would give them the badge that matches their google tool used.

I create all my badges using OnlineBadgeMaker. I print them off 9 at a time using the wallet size printer settings and use a scrapbooking 2" circle tool to cut them out quicker.

At the end of each grading period I have a random drawing for prizes. If there name gets chosen they get to pick from the following options.

My teachers are challenging themselves and realizing how many amazing things they are doing, as well as what their colleagues are doing. It is pushing them to try new things and be life-long learners just like their students!

Learning on the LOO...

I was sharing resources and ideas of using technology in the classroom with teachers in Madison County, IN. A couple of the teachers then told me I should start a blog so I can share my ideas with other teachers. I have contemplated for several months and decided today is the day! Now I am sitting her thinking where do I start...

This school year I have decided to do a few new things. The First one is to get rid of sending tons of emails and focus on sharing information in a place where everyone goes throughout the day...THE RESTROOM! After working with one of my other eLearning Coaches "Learning on the Loo" was developed and shared in our elementary buildings. In my two buildings I do a Learning on the Loo for STAFF and another one for STUDENTS(4th-6th graders). 

This is an example of my first Learning on the Loo for STAFF.

I then decided I was going to work with the 4 C's of Technology.

I created Learning on the Loo papers on each of the 4C's for Staff.

To create all of my Learning on the Loo papers I use PiktoChart.

I then place them in slide sleeves and have students add the new ones each time in the restrooms.

Above is a photo of my Communication Learning on the Loo for the STAFF

Communication Links:

       COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS: Twitter, Google Calendar, Remind, Facebook, Smore, Class Dojo, Symbaloo, Bloomz, Google Classroom, CANVAS, Google Hangouts, Skype

       COMMUNICATE WITH STUDENTS: GoFormative, Kahoot, PollEverywhere, Google Classroom, Socrative, TodaysMeet, Padlet, Skype, Google Hangouts, Google Forms, Remind, Quizizz, Plickers, CANVAS, Google For Education Suite, Symbaloo

For students I have created several different Learning on the Loo papers. 

To promote CODING, I created this Learning on the Loo for Students

Student Links for Coding Websites: CODE, Scratch, Tynker

Student Apps for Coding:  Lightbot Jr., Lightbot, Scratch Jr, and Hopscotch

I created this one to accompany the Staff's papers about the 4C's