New Updates with iOS 11

Get the most out of the Apple devices in your classroom! Our district now has numerous iPads and iPods available for classroom use, especially at the elementary level. Now, our job as teachers is to put the devices in the hands of the students and help maximize their learning! iPad usage will be maximized when we can have students using their devices for production more often than consumption.

Apple recently rolled out an update to their operating system with iOS 11 and with it came some great new features that can be used in the classroom. Here are 4 new features that you and your students may find useful, as well as some other changes you may notice.

1. Scan QR Codes with the Camera App:

There are many QR code reader apps available for download, but now there’s no need to worry about finding one or whether it will work when you need it to. With the new iOS 11 update, the camera app will act as a QR code reader. All students need to do is open the camera app and point the camera at the QR code. The camera app will scan the code and provide a notification to access the content.

2. Record Your iPad Screen

This is a quick and easy way to have students document their learning on an iPad. We have a wide range of apps available that students can use to explain, analyze, describe, and/or draw what they are learning. Now they can also use the record feature to record their screen and voice too. Recorded videos will be saved right to the Photo app and can then be shared! This is also a great feature for those teachers who are incorporating flipped learning into the classroom. If you need help adding the record feature to the control panel, check out the video below!

3. Annotate screenshots

If a student is working in an app and has completed something to share with the teacher, he/she can take a screenshot and annotate over the image. A screenshot can be taken by pressing the home button and the power button simultaneously. Then when students click on the screenshot, which appears in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, a menu pops up with writing/drawing tools. Students can mark-up the image and then share with the teacher, including through Google Drive.

4. Scan Documents and Annotate

With iOS 11, you and your students can now scan documents with the built in Notes app and can then use the markup feature to annotate over what’s been scanned. Worksheets, graphic organizers, and other documents can be scanned by students using the iPad and then they can annotate over the document to complete their work. The scanned documents can be shared with other apps and with the teacher, which would be a great fit for those using Google Classroom in conjunction with the iPads!

Additional changes you may notice with iOS 11 include a floating dock for frequently used apps, augmented reality capabilities (with recently released apps), ability to use a split screen, and drag & drop for pictures, text, and links.

Check out this 4 minute video to see some of these new features in action:

If you need any help accessing these new features, please ask! Have you noticed anything new with iOS 11 that you really like or something you don't? Leave a comment and let us know!

Google Drive: Get your license.

Unlimited Storage, Access from Anywhere, On Any Device, Link, Share & Collaborate....

That is Google Drive.

• PC's can crash.
• Pbox is only available at school or through the VPN.
• Thumb drives get lost, or aren't where you need them to be.
• Email attachments can't be organized.

When our district went to Gmail, I was most excited about two things: its integrated use with Calendar & Google Drive.

Google Drive can house ANY file.  Then, you can LINK any file via Url to show & share with anyone.

Below I have a Google Slide Deck with more Tips & Tricks.  

Browse it at your own pace or watch the video tutorial on Google Drive below. 

Don't forget to submit for your Google Drive Badge when finished!  Badge Patrol is coming at the end of this week!

Google Forms with Guest Mentor Teacher

Last week we #Brokeout of the traditional lesson plan with #BreakoutEDU.  
This week the TechSpot is going to #Breakout of the traditional blog post.   

Mentor teachers are all around us here at SMA, and can give different perspectives on the integration of our Tech Tools.  Therefore we thought it best to actually give those teachers the mic and hear what they have to say.

Tune in to our first TechSpot podcast on Google Forms below.  

You can expect to hear about: 

• How the mentor teacher has already used Google Forms this fall in 3 different ways
• How we can use Forms for productivity and organization
• How we can use Forms for data collection and data-based lesson planning

You may watch, or just have it playing in the background while you work.  

Having trouble viewing the video?  Click HERE.

Need something different?  Check out these sites!

• Goformative.com
• different options for questions, unique layout, nice display of student answers to share with the class

  

  Go Formative

• Edulastic.com 
• great for math teachers as you can embed your algebraic symbols within a text set

Edulastic

How have you used Google Forms this year?  

Want to share another site you use for gathering data?

Leave a comment below!

Want to nominate a mentor teacher for next month?  Let us know!

jtamburlin@smasd.org
acatalone@smasd.org
avollmer@smasd.org

Break Out of the Traditional Lesson Plan with #BreakoutEDU

As teachers we all wish for the lesson plan that...

• Gets students out of their seats
• Has them motivated & engaged with the content
• Promotes collaboration
• Allows me to become a facilitator instead of a lecturer
• Values the learning process as much as the learning objective

That lesson is here, and in this post I am going to encourage teachers of all levels, and content areas to try one #BreakoutEDU this year. 

What is #BreakoutEDU?   

Breakout EDU is a teacher-created, clues-based, content-driven scavenger hunt.  

Students use critical thinking and collaboration to open a locked box (or two!).  To get the keys/codes they must correctly solve a series of challenging puzzles.

While www.breakoutedu.com  sells a kit with locks and a box for $100, you can easily create your own kit for under $50.  The best part... There are already some in the district that you can borrow!  Here is my DIY kit that I put together this summer.

My kit has a toolbox, several key/combination locks, a lock box, invisible ink pens and a black light flashlight.  You are more than welcome to borrow it at any time.

So how did I set it up?

I got the framework for my scavenger hunt off www.breakoutedu.com/games*.  Mine was called "The Mystery Box".  The teacher who posted it had all the instructions ready for download, and a short video displaying how to set it up. From there, I adapted it to fit our needs by personalizing the story and creating clues with meaningful content.  Our story about the box was very simplistic.  As it was the first day of school, I created a story with pictures of how our principal found this box in a closet over the summer.  It came with instructions on how to open it, but they were all in Spanish... etc etc.

Each of my classes raced to figure out how to open the box.  It was a competition to see who could open it first.  One class did it the first day, and the other had to brainstorm about the clues overnight and attempt to find the codes again the next day.  

My students were required to reflect on the game in an "Exit-Ticket" fashion.  (#BreakoutEDU suggests oral "Discussion Cards") Both of these practices allow the students to evaluate their performance regarding collaboration and critical thinking, adding closure to the lesson.

So you ask .. "Hey Coach, Where is the Tech?"   

Adding technology to a scavenger hunt such as #BreakoutEDU facilitates & adds variety in design and implementation.  

The Mystery Box involved:

• hidden QR codes that the students scanned for clues
• the use of the Internet for research to answer clues
• a Google Form with data validation 
• With data validation, students HAD to get all answers correct before the form would allow them to submit. The response for a form submission gave them a hint to unlock the box.  Look for next week's post on Google Forms to learn more.

Several SMASD teachers have already executed a #BreakoutEDU like HS Algebra teacher, Mrs. Beck and the Elementary teachers in Tech ShowCase Display #12 .  Mrs. Gornati also plans to have a Thanksgiving Day Breakout this fall.  

Are you ready to earn your #BreakoutEDU badge?  

1. Go to www.breakoutedu.com/games.

2. Search for a game by content area that you can use as is or adapt.

3. Print out resources & watch the tutorial.

OR ...   Say  "Hey Coach!  I want to do a #BreakoutEDU"  and we will help you along the way!

*You may encounter that you need a password to search for games.  You can register on the site for free to get it, or I can email the password to you.  I didn't want to post it here, as they want to keep it away from the students who could find the clues and ruin the fun!

Are you one of the teachers already Breaking Out?  

Tell us about it in the comments below and don't forget to get the badge!

All-New TechBadging

Welcome back to a new school year!   This year the TechSpot is back to bring your yet again your TechTuesday blog posts full of new apps, tutorials, showcases and the All-New TechBadge Program.

First we would like to Congratulate all of our former TechLevel earners over the last two years! These teachers went above and beyond to try something new in their classrooms with the end goal of providing a 21st Century Education for their students.

Congrats to the following:

Tech Level 1 Teachers:

Mrs. Eckels, Mrs. Bauer, Miss Defilippi, Mr. Snelick, Mrs. Penn 

Mr. Gavazzi, Mr. Demuro, Mrs. Defilippi, Mr. Henry, Miss Klein, Mrs. McMackin, Mr. Wurm, Dr. Millinder, Mrs. Beck & Mrs. Wensel.

Tech Level 2 Teachers:

Mrs. Sines & Miss Fera

Tech Level 3 Teachers: 

Mr. Brooks, Mrs. Gabler & Miss Stolarski

Thus, the goal of the TechLevel Program was met.  As you can see we have truly built a team of teachers who are great resources for all of us when it comes to tech integration.  So now, it's time for something new!

The All-New SMASD TechBadging Center is here.  (In Beta... or perhaps Alpha stage, but it's here!)

The Badging Center is a place for you to earn/request specific badges based on your savvy tech skills and know-how in the classroom.  It is time to celebrate SMASD teachers and their efforts!  Your badges will be displayed on your classroom door and/or website for other teachers to see.

The Goal?....  We want your TechEfforts to be contagious.  We want  you to learn from each other, but first we need to know what awesome things are happening behind your classroom doors.  

How to get started: 

1. Go to the TechSpot Badging Center.
2. Select a category: Communication, Google, Assessment, Flipped Learning, Social Media... etc.
3. Find a badge that you already deserve, or want to earn.If needed, use links to tutorials and/or meet up with a teach coach to learn more
4. If you haven't already, start using the tool in your classroom
5. Fill out the badge request form
6. Anxiously await the arrival of your digital and print badges
7. Display them proudly on your door & website.  
8. Share what you know with others.

Check Out the Badging Center Now!

The End is in Sight!

Today marks the last Tuesday for the 2016-2017 school year! Check out our "featured post" for some reminders of ways you can clean up your digital files, wrap up this year, and prepare for next year!

This year has been a year of big changes and we would like to send out a big THANK YOU for sticking with us- whether you took time to read the blog, contributed comments, tried something new, and/or just hung in there through all the change! We're looking forward to what next year will bring. If you have any questions or concerns over the summer, please feel free to e-mail one of us. Have a great summer and we'll see you in the fall!

Thanks again for all you do!
          Angie, Jen, and Amanda

Gmail Resources

With all of our email changes this week, there's no new blog post. However, we thought it would be a good idea to have all of the Gmail resources we've created so far in one place. Below you'll find links that will be great references if you get stuck or if you have questions about the new email changes. 

Link to Slideshow: https://goo.gl/H3PLZM

Link to 10 min- Video (Slideshow with narration): https://goo.gl/5cTn5J 

Link to printable tips: https://goo.gl/Uhac0X

Thanks for bearing with us through the change!