1:1 Classroom Management

Our May 1:1 Staff Meeting focused on classroom management. The Prezi I used is embedded below, but here is a summary of things to consider in preparation for next year:

• A 1:1 classroom that truly integrates technology will change over time.  Instead of remaining a traditional, teacher-centered environment, the classroom will become more student-centered; instead of being assignment-based, the classroom will become more project based -- with more choices to show what has been learned and more choices for differentiation.  And all that's great -- but this shift can only happen if the teacher learns to let go, at least a bit. 
• Remember that students are used to education being something that happens TO them, not something that they have to make happen, at least partially, on their own.  This means students will sometimes push back. Think about it:  the world of 1:1 learning is new to them too; it's a big shift and they have not been handed an instruction book. 
• This is why it's important to give lots of consideration to expectations.  Teachers do this all the time anyway, but with 1:1 there are a few more things to consider when it comes to routine and protocol, so it is important to set expectations early and really condition the students to meet them.  For instance, in Block 1, students will be asked to log in upon entering every day and begin a start-of-class activity.  But in Block 2, the teacher wants to begin each day with a group discussion, lecture, or activity -- the computer might not be used at all on some days.  Unless you set the routine, it's hard to blame students for walking into Block 2 and logging right in.  
• And what about headphones?  All the students will have them, and it's been my experience that they will always have at least one ear "plugged in" at all times unless you say otherwise. And if students log in at the start of class routinely, they WILL be listening to music whether you want them to or not and usually have it as loud as possible so their peers think they're cool. This makes getting and keeping their attention more difficult than ever; also, many students find it easy to keep at least one ear secretly "plugged in" while the teacher is giving instruction -- without without the teacher even noticing it.  Do you want this? So what is your expectation regarding headphones? Headphone use is just one of the expectations that must be considered.
• The computer must be a tool in your classroom, not the be-all and end-all.  You are still the teacher and you must control computer use.  In that vein, consider what will work best for you in terms of preventing off-task behavior:  Manage By Walking Around (MBWA) or Read All The Screens (RATS), and then arrange your classroom accordingly.  Also, if possible, keep your room set up a fluid one that can adapt to classroom purpose.
• Finally, keep in mind that students may struggle with taking more control over their learning, and teachers may struggle with letting go and accepting change. STRUGGLE, however, DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A BAD WORD: let struggle be part of your and your students's growth as you start the 1:1 journey together. 

Screencasting/ Flipping Tools

Using video and screencasting tools is a great way to teach, learn, and share.  At LVMS, for instance, we all know that Adam Britton has been working all year on some 1:1 videos he hopes to use as he works toward a flipped-style classroom next year.  Melanie Strock has created nearly a year's worth of self-paced projects which incorporate videos she's made, as well as research and student creation of music and sharing spaces.  Likewise, Kristen Dennis began incorporating how-to videos that allow her to be many places at once and to manage student learning in great ways. Carol Strock's students have also recorded various how-to videos for use next year with new students.

There are many tools available to help increase efficiency in the creation and implementation of media in the classroom.

Adam and I did an after-school session on some of these tools.  You can access them below or by clicking on THIS LINK to get your own copy.  You can also find more information on FLIPPING your class by clicking HERE.

Included are examples from our teachers and other information.  Enjoy!

Waiver Day Information Video on Why & When to integrate Technology

Our Waiver Day was cancelled and instead made a calamity make up day, but there was some information that we planned to share on the day that we now have to find a new way to share.

One of those bits of information is for those still trying to get a grasp on their place in the whole 1:1 thing.  For them, these two questions come up quite often: What should be my purpose for integrating technology, and How do I know when integrating technology into my lesson is a good idea?

Well there are a couple of mental "checklists" that I've found useful in helping me answer those two questions.  I planned to share them, as well as illustrate them with digital tools as examples, on Waiver Day.  

Since it's not something that could now be done in person, I thought, Hey, why not put them in a video?  I share those lists in the video below, along with an email from the parent of one of Sara Lang's students (thanks for letting me share it, Sara) that I think is right on the money and proof positive about why what we're doing with our 1:1 program is so important.

Also, I've made a list of resources to illustrate one of those checklists.  They include some sites and functions I incorporated in the video, as well as interactive sites I've found that you may want to add to your arsenal of digital tools (I also tested them all out on the Chromebook). I'll add more interactive websites as I find them.

The checklists give me a lens through which to view technology, and I hope they'll provide you with a little focus as you consider why & when to integrate technology. 


         

Just a bit of FYI related to this video. I knew it was possible to add links (hotspots) in Youtube videos, and since I always like to challenge myself to learn/try something new on every project I start, I thought I would make the 1:1 video more interactive by adding places where the watcher could click on the actual video to get more information.  I made the video with that in mind.

Well, to quote Gomer Pyle (remember him?!), Surprise, surprise, surprise! 

When I went to add those hotspots, I realized that now only certain types of links can be embedded in a Youtube video (like links to Google Sites, for instance) -- but not just any link I wanted to use.  So I had to go back earlier this week and do some re-editing to the video to adapt to that little surprise. For this reason, the page of resources is linked under the posting date of the video on Youtube.

Jazz Up Your Website

If you're looking to "jazz" up your classroom website, here are some ideas presented at an after-school session.

Peruse below or CLICK HERE for a link to get your own copy of my session resource sheet.

Ask for help if you need it -- I'm glad to help.

 

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.