New iOS, Bell Ringer, and TESS

Great past few weeks of working with teachers using Nearpod and Dropbox, I hope that the work we have done will be of good use in your classroom.

You may have noticed that Apple has pushed out a new operating system (OS).  If you have not updated your teacher iPad, I would go ahead and do it.  If you need help, catch me on the day that I am in your building and I will help you.  After you update, you will have to update many of your apps too.  My favorite feature of the new OS is the ability to put unlimited apps in a folder.  If you do not know what a folder is, let me show you when we update your iPad.  On a personal note, love the new iTunes radio on the iPhone.

Polleverywhere.com has been around for a while, but I decided you use it again this week and wondered why I haven't been using this in PD.  Great tool for a bell ringer to send the kiddos an assignment right before class and their responses get send to you via the web, generating a platform for a great class discussion.  Explore on your own, or let me know if you need one on one instruction.  You do need a mobile device with wifi or a computer to make this work.

TESS has many technology components in the domains, specifically 2e, 4e, 4d, 3d, and 1d.  I am going to start sending you articles like the ones attached to my email, periodically to help you move up the scoring ladder.  I taught the SAMR method in one PD this summer.  It is TESS for technology.

S or substitution is the lowest level where you are just replace on technology for another that does the same function

A or augmentation technology is still a substitute that provides a functional improvement

M or modification  is technology that allows for task redesign

R or redefinition is technology that allows for new tasks that were previously inconceivable

If you Google SAMR in 120 seconds, there is a good video that gives a little more detail.

Finally, I have a website that I am building piece by piece that has step by step instructions for many of the PD's that I have conducted.  It is a work in progress:

https://sites.google.com/site/broukereynolds/

Off to a great start

The past few days of school have been a new experience being outside of the classroom.  I have had the opportunity to work with great teachers getting Dropbox integrated into their curriculum.  In general, I have had positive student feedback about using Dropbox to deliver students assignments rather than making so many copies.  I believe I heard "saving trees" on more than one occasion.  The downfall...wifi.  If your classroom does not have adequate connection, then it is frustrating for both the teacher and student.

Please contact me if you would like to set up a time to get your students receiving and turning in work via Dropbox.  The teachers I have worked with are Marty Allen, MB Cox, Angie Chandler, Tonya Wentzel, and Suzzette Patterson.  Check with them and see if Dropbox is right for you and your students.

If you are a Nearpod fan, I may have some good news.  I am checking into upgrading to make Nearpod more accessible, hopefully good details coming soon.