The Sequel: This is the blog post that doesn't end. Yes, it goes on and on my friend.

During the 2012-2013 school year I wrote a blog post that I updated throughout the year to capture what technology looked like in my classroom. Since then I have been to three GAFE Summits and many EPSB Community of Practice Sessions. So, while it is only two years later, I feel it is time to do this again! Please join me on my journey!

School Set-Up

Before students arrive in my classroom, there are a number of things I do to get my classroom technology ready. This year I'll be adding Google Classroom to the mix.

Computer Code Cards

In division one it is tempting to write student's usernames AND passwords on their nametags or have them in other visible places in the classroom. The issue with that is it is not encouraging digital citizenship in regards to password safety. 

While it is not perfect, I use computer code cards instead. Each student gets a laminated card to keep in their desk. It has all their usernames and passwords, as well as the computer/laptop/tablet number they have been assigned. I also like to sent home a copy as well. 

When introducing the computer code cards, I want to talk about passwords and keeping them private. I like CommonSense Media's K-2 lesson about powerful passwords. 

iPod Music Centre

I try to start the day with music. I play music during independent working time, when appropriate, especially during art. I had a small iPod that was not being used at home. So I loaded it up with a number of playlists: 

• Good morning music - mellow music with no lyrics for when students enter class.
• End of day music - exciting music, like What The Fox Say, for when students leave.
• Movement breaks - music that students can move to for a break.
• Curriculum songs - songs that relate to math, science, etc. 
• Songs to borrow from - traditional songs that we can use to make up new songs (for instance last year we used Row, Row, Row Your Boat to write Melt, Burn, Cook, Boil to show what the class learned about hot temperatures. 
• Whole albums - I have a number of children's albums I also uploaded (such as Raffi, Michael Mitchell)

I used the iPod a bit last year, but  I would like to turn it over to student helpers more this year. 

Headphones

Each year I include headphones in my supply list for parents. However, some headphones that arrive do not last long. As well, there are occasionally students who do not bring any initially. So I always have about 5 extra headphones for use in class. As well, I offer to sell them to families who did not send them at cost. I buy them at dollar stores. The over the head type are not always at the dollar stores, so I stock up when I can find them. August-September is a good time of year to look.

Google Classroom

Our district now has Google Classroom. However, I believe that it will no longer be invite only soon. I set up my class and took the tours that popped up as I did so. I also looked at Google Classroom Set Up and Tips For Teachers. I turned the email notifications off as I do not think this is needed in grade two. 

What It Does (based on my initial experimentation)

• Allows you to share items from your drive with students, much like Doctopus does. 
• Allows you to post announcements on which students can comment.
• Allows students to submit their work easily, much like the hand-in option on SchoolZone
• Allows you give feedback to students on their submitted work. 
• Allows you to record the grade you give an assignment. 

What It Does Not Do (as far as I can tell)

• Give parents access, like SchoolZone
• Embed a classroom calendar
• Replace ePortfolios
• Give you access to a "student view"

Google Classroom - Set Up and Tips for Teachers from John Sowash

SchoolZone Set-Up

For the past few years I've tried to go as paperless as possible for classroom-home communication. So I have tried to maximize my use of SchoolZone. I post topical items in the news and events sections. I use the resources section as a database and archive. 

This year I have created one entry in resources with headings for each subject area. That way I can add to the entry as needed while still keeping it easily to navigate for parents. 

September: First Weeks Of School

Usernames, Passwords, Memberships, Oh My!

More information coming soon.

Class Writes on The Blog

More information coming soon.

Logging In For The First Time

Second week of school! Get helpers!

• RazKids!

Spelling Online

• SpellingCity (multiple times)

Blogging

• Kidblog - writing comments

Repetition

October

Chromebooks in Div 1...NO WAY???

NO WAY!

So often, teachers of grade one students hesitate to have their students use technology. After all, they reason (with perfect truth), my kids can’t find the letters on the keyboard and they can’t spell their names, much less use a password.

However, many of our students are now coming to us with an innate understanding of technology. They are familiar with (or have used) smartphones, tablets, gaming systems, and computers. Those who have not had the means or opportunity to use technology in their homes are disadvantaged, and so need even more to be introduced to technology to create some equity between the haves and have nots.

WAY!

Younger students CAN use technology...and it’s easier than you think!

Enter Chromebooks: cheap, efficient and, after some initial set up, easy for younger students to use.

Set up:

CHANGE PASSWORDS!

1. The district gives students these lovely passwords like baxdr24, difficult for adults to remember, nevermind students. Have your students think of simple, spellable words or phrases. My favourite is to pair their favourite colour with a simple animal and include a pair of numbers (such as your room number), remembering to ensure that you have eight characters: bluedog23, redcat23, yellowbird23. This allows for innumerable password combinations.
2. For younger students, the teacher can change their passwords by logging into Schoolzone as that student. Grade three students can usually change their own.

First Login: This is best done with an older ‘buddy’
.

1. Click on ‘Add User’ and then enter the student’s @share.epsb.ca address and new password.
2. The buddy can then help the student take their picture for the login screen.
3. Open Chrome and click on the three bars in the top right-hand side of the screen, scroll down to Settings and click ‘Always show Bookmarks Bar’.
4. Have the buddies enter any website you wish your students to access regularly, and drag them to the bookmarks bar.

Record the number of the Chromebook each student is on. Now that you have set up the Chromebooks, it becomes much easier for students to log in. The opening log in screen shows the profile pictures of the last 18 students to log into that Chromebook. Students now need to only look for their picture and type in their password. In order to facilitate this, have your students assigned to certain Chromebooks, so they always get the same one. 

Give students a way to manage their passwords themselves.

Voila! 

Part Two: Symbaloo!

What if you have many more sites for your students that will fit on the Bookmarks Bar? Enter Symbaloo, a bookmarking site that seems designed for younger students. It is designed so that all the bookmarks are on coloured tiles that carry the name and symbol of websites, making it easier for students to find the site needed. Sites can be placed on different coloured tiles. The screenshot below shows a Symbaloo with Language Arts sites on orange tiles and Math sites on green. Now, students need only remember one site address, or have only one site listed on their Bookmarks Bar.

Symbaloo is an easy site to use, and FREE! You can search for Symbaloos that have already been created by grade level or subject and use those, or create your own. 

Examples:

Grade 1 Grade 2 Math                 Grade 3       National Geographic eBooks

See this tutorial on how to set Symbaloo up and enjoy! It is easier than you think!!! Let us know how you have used Symbaloo or Chromebooks in your class!

Reflection On EPSB EdTech Tablets in Schools Session

Managing school sets of iPads & Android Tablets

So I went to the session on managing iPads and tablets because was not just about iPads, which so much of the discussion about tablets in education is often about. However, I was the only user that did not have iPads. So I did not find any solutions to my Android tablet woes but I did come away with some ideas, mostly from Randy Lyseng. Many of his ideas apply to any tablet device.

Good Reminders

• schools tablets do not work the same as our personal tablets
• The example given was ask someone to use their tablet for a day. They are like our smartphones, they are personalized devices with personal information. That is very different than a device shared among many users. 
• tablets in schools are rarely 1:1
• they need to be supervised devices
• no matter the device, you cannot purchase apps easily

Things to Consider Before Use

The message that stood out for me was: protect your investment. 

• buy cases
• consider screen protectors 
• possibly re-purpose an old laptop cart for storage
• store securely
• label devices
• bar code devices

Start Small

The messages that Randy gave around starting small really apply mostly to iPads but there are some ideas that relate to Android tablets that are used in EPSB. 

• iPad:  start with one page of apps and organize into folders.
• Android: for the amount of time and energy involved with Android apps I would say even start smaller, maybe start with a handful of apps, no folders. 

• iPad: be picky about the apps you buy, pick apps that will provide the biggest bang for your buck.
•  Android: at the moment in EPSB spending money on apps on the Android tablets is financially unmanageable when multiple users are involved.

• iPad: encourage student to same apps at home by having an App of the Week.
• Android: being an Android school, it would be best to have ones that exist on both platforms, for while we have Android tablets at school, likely  many students will have Apple devices at home.

Have a Plan

Think about how the tablets will be used. Do not only consider general classroom use but also how they can be used for intervention or enrichment.

Consider your special needs and English language learner students and consult with ILS consultants. When thinking about using tablets with special needs students, he suggested using SETT: student first, then environment, then the task and finally the tool. You do not start with the tool and work from there.

Management

When deploying tablets at your school, have one person or team to manage them.  The lead technology teacher should work together with the ITS analyst. 

Final Thoughts

I would argue these are things to consider not just before using tablets in schools but before buying them. Often people see how useful and easy to use these devices are in a home/personalized setting which is not the same in a school setting. 

I would also argue look at how much the devices cost to purchase and include in that total the tablet covers, apps, (and in the case of iPads the laptop to configure them all), etc. I think that in some cases that tablet will still be the tool the makes the most sense but I think in many cases other technologies are better choices at this point in time. 

New School? New Technology!

Started at a new school this year? What are the technology questions you should be asking? What technology preparation should you be doing? Here are some ideas!

1. Do an inventory of what technology is in your school. 
2. Talk to the technical analyst or lead technology teacher. I think understanding HOW things work will help you problem solve when things stop working (or even to know when to stop problem solving because it is not fixable by you). Possible questions to ask:
          What are some ongoing technology problems? 
          How old is the technology in the school?
          What is the plan for technology in the school?
          How reliable is the wireless?
3. Find out the procedures for accessing the various technology. You may need to talk to the librarian, the technical analyst, principal, lead technology teacher and others! 
4. Find out the subscriptions and cloud computing programs the school has access to. Thing to find out:
          Who manages the subscriptions/programs?
          What setup is required for you/your students use the subscriptions/programs?
          Are there programs you are REQUIRED to use?
5. Learn about the technical savvy of your new community. Are the parents and families happy to go paperless and receive everything from you via the Internet? Do many of your families have limited access to technology. Are there any on-going community issues around technology?
6. Have an open-mind! Like all things about moving schools, things are not going to be the same as your old school. There will be things you miss and things you do not miss.