Random Thoughts On 1:1 - Clicking Buttons

by Adam Britton

In thinking about 1:1, I just wanted to talk about a couple of things that will be important in our transition. First off, get to know Google! Secondly, don’t be afraid to click buttons!

Apparently, this Google thing is a pretty big deal. We will be using their services and they offer a wide variety of useful apps. We are only scratching the surface right now. Google has a lot of help menus, but these apps don’t really come with an instruction manual. My advice then is to sign into Google and click something that looks interesting. Take some time to explore. There is no doubt that it will take some time. But there are lots of apps that can do so many things that can enhance what you want to do in the classroom. I think you are going to feel left behind if you are waiting for training for Google features. There are basics that will be addressed and some folks are masters of other Google apps, but you have got to explore for yourself to see what will fit your classroom!

This segues into my next point...don’t be afraid to click buttons. Sometimes I feel like people are afraid that they are going to collapse the Google infrastructure with the single click of a button! Google isn’t stupid enough to give us that kind of power! It is also important to note that the Google products change as they are continually improving and adding new features to what they offer. Be flexible and adaptable!

I think one of the things that separates the “tech experts” in the building is that willingness to try out some new piece of software and click buttons. I don’t think of myself as a “tech expert.” If a student went back in the room in the library and changed on of the network cables and caused us to lose Internet access...I’d be clueless. However, I am definitely not afraid to click buttons. I think that comes from a lack of patience in dealing with my Father. My Father was not afraid to bring in new technology and try new devices or software in our home. However, his approach was to always consult an instruction manual. This was always too slow for me. I’d just think about what the device/software could do and then click on the button that made the most sense. That usually works about 75% of the time.

But please understand, clicking buttons is a frustrating process. It leads to a lot of dead ends and frustration. But eventually you work through the obstacles. All of a sudden, you have become a “tech expert”! This is how I’ve learned to use student response systems, screencasting, and now Google products.

In my latest venture, I am looking to create an app. I was inspired by the potential grant money in the “Straight A” fund that Mr. Hile has referenced in our numerous e-mails. Although I won’t bore you with the details, the short story is that I need to create an app. I’ve never done this before. I don’t have a degree in computer science or programming. Right now, ... it looks like a foreign language to me. But I’m going to be patient, I’m going to explore, I’m going to go click some buttons...

Take a peek inside Adam's classroom and hear how he has really become a "tech genius" ... also, discover what he really thinks of Debbie Fehrman, find out about the "Scott Beery" app and hear why Justin's the guy to go to (at least sometimes)!  ****************************************

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http:

//www.niu.edu/taconnections/images/articles/screencasting.jpg

Some screencasting resources from Adam:

Here's Adam's document with some screencasting tools ... give them a try!

Below is one of Adam's "Math Casts" he's working on for a potential "flipped classroom"environment next year:

1:1 Preparation: No Time Like the Present

What was Carol Sgambellone feeling so triumphant about last week?   







And Jake Hendershot and Parker Koch -- you two were looking very confident!







No doubt it was because they had just succeeded in getting their first Google Sites up and running. Why now? Well, the school year has truly gotten itself into gear, so it's time to start preparing for next year's 1:1 push out. What better way to start than by creating an online space for materials that students can access 24/7?

The three amigos above, and many other teachers including the entire 7th grade team -- who have collaborated on a fabulous team website --, are getting an early start on creating a great 1:1 environment -- and it's only September! (watch for a guest blog by this fun team in November!).

Back row: Ara Fee, Nikki Thompson, Ryan Fitz; Front row: Connie Mick, Traci Lausberg, Mary Stafford, Debbie Fehrman.

Now, since the school year is well under way,
it's time for some organized, school-wide 1:1 prep...

Based on Waiver Day department comments and ongoing conversations with teachers, here are your requests (mostly in your own words) for 1:1 training/development... and a plan for solutions to start us off:

The goal is to provide everyone with a variety of ways to learn and practice: just as our students need differentiation, so do we:

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Your request:  Training in small sessions on Google docs, sites & forms; access to help according to our needs and with designated topics.

Solution: Monday Google Sessions

To help accommodate busy schedules, Google training sessions will be held twice a month with the same info repeated the second session. This starts on October 7.  See a tentative list of dates and topics here. The idea with these is to make them as self-paced as possible so no one feels their time is wasted and so learners can return to the training at their convenience. 

Google training sessions will start at 2:30: The "presenting" part won't be designed to take more than a few minutes, and then teachers will have sandbox time for independent or small group practice.  You can be in and out in half an hour or so OR stay later to practice or get more help. If you are already experienced in the topic for that month, I hope you'll come anyway to be an extra set of helping hands and to give a rah-rah!  to anyone who needs it. 

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Your request:  Regularly planned connections to technology (after school); a time and place to share our expertise with each other.
Solution 1:  Open Doors

I have heard from a lot of you that you would find benefit in knowing what other teachers are doing and would like to share with them in return. 

One example:  Jeff Wills approached Scott and me about opening his doors to anyone who wants to observe him in his 1:1 environment.  You can see how he manages students and find out how he organizes himself and deals with "bad technology" days.  Just see him for a time/day. 

(Who else wants to put yourself on the list of open doors?  let me know)


Solution 2:  Professional Idea Exchanges (P.I.E.)

P.I.E. is an informal, teacher- driven share session.  Know of a good online quizzing system?  Have ideas for managing a class in a 1:1 setting?  have you found online source for digital projects?  Are you using Edmodo or another information platform you love?  Do you use Twitter? Want to talk about screencasting?

Simply demonstrate/ show examples/ enthuse for a bit about something we can all use this year or next. The Idea Exchanges can also be used to check out what we've just heard about, talk tech, share other resources, ask questions, solve problems, etc.

Since P.I.E. is teacher driven, teachers will need to volunteer themselves to take turns/"sign up" to take a session; however, because P.I.E. is an informal gathering, there is no need for a lot of preparation.  It's meant to be a no-stresser. 

  P.I.E. = colleagiality and informality.

These gatherings can be held bi-weekly or monthly after school for half an hour or so.  (I'll organize the sign up for this -- I'd love some suggestions as to frequency and days)

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Your request:  Time during the day to practice (not after school)

One Solution:  Department & Team Meetings

Although completing other curricular work is a primary use of Department Meetings, some of the assigned time can also be set aside for creating 1:1 materials and planning, as well as for observing at the high school. See Scott to request/plan this. 

I would also love to work with a department tech leader (see below) to find resources and ideas that can be shared with the department and practiced during department meeting days. 

Weekly team meetings, of course, are another place to practice, share, and get assistance.  Please let me know how I can help.

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Your request:  Create "team tech leaders" for help during team meetings.

Solution:  Who are the people in your team/ department who have a bit of a handle on the tech thing?  Please talk it out and choose someone at the team and department levels to be part of a LVMS Tech Leader Team.  I'd ask that person to please stop by and let me know it's you or to email me before Friday, October 4. 

This person can serve as a conduit for information as the 1:1 gets closer, help out during training sessions, and inspire. I will also work with this leader to brainstorm some tools/ sites, etc. specific to your grade or subject area.  

Teams can work on 1:1 tasks/ tools during team meeting and department meeting times with a focus provided by the Tech Leader. 

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Your request:  Individual help for those new to using technology

Solution:   I want everyone to know my "red" door is always open and my walking boots are close by. I am eager to work one-to-one and in small groups with teachers. Please feel free to set up a time to meet with me -- once in a while or regularly -- to work on Google apps or other technology applications. Maybe you just want someone close by as you build a website in case you get stuck.  Perhaps you're looking to solve a particular classroom problem and wondering if a tech tool could provide the answer. Let's talk!

I'd also enjoy working with your classes. Have a project in mind that incorporates technology for learning? Maybe you can bring your class into the computer lab and I can co-teach with you or be a presence/ question answerer/ helper. We all know scheduling computer lab time can be hit or miss this year, but keep looking forward to next year -- you may not be able to take the learning goal all the way this year, but it's still a great time to experiment or do mini-versions of longer projects you'd like to teach next year.

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Hopefully these solutions will get us all started in the right direction in preparing for the 1:1.  As we get closer to 1:1 lift off, some more elements will be added.  What else can we do? Please stop by or email me and pass along your ideas & thoughts to flesh out our 1:1 planning.

Here were our website builders during the process: 

 

Carol, Parker, and Jake didn't have their websites built in the first ten minutes they sat down.  But they did have a vision and a purpose. And when any of their first steps got them in a ditch, they just helped each other out of that ditch... and kept moving forward, together.

While no one will force you to come to training sessions or P.I.E. gatherings, it's still crucial that we all take individual responsibility for developing skills that will help make the 1:1 initiative a success. From what I've witnessed so far, the LVMS staff support each other and are impressive collaborators. I know we are READY to make this happen... and there's no time like the present.