This twitter chat stands for "Wins And Losses Ed Chat" and will be a chat where students reflect on the previous week to celebrate victories and reflect on losses to turn them into victories.
Hey #waledchat! I'm Annie from Bethlehem, PA and I'll be your guest moderator tonight! I teach HS math and I'm so excited to be talking with you all about technology in our classrooms.
Hey all! Phil from Northern Virginia. I teach 6/7 US History I&II and am the founder of #waledchat! Thankful to @MsGiercykBASD for guest modding while I am at a rehearsal dinner for a best friend from high school! Would love to see @LevineWrites and @Teachintjay swing by!
A1 - I love using google docs in a shared document that students can type on. It’s a great way to share information among students and also use as a potential study guide if necessary. Fun way to watch kids enter information as well. #waledchat
A1: Gamification. Our building has gone 1:1 this year, so now I can implement gamification more than I had previously. Plus, the kids are engaged, collaborate, and have fun! #waledchat
A1: Allowed my Ss to take a trip around the world using Google Maps and Street View. They chose places that they were interested in and tracked their trip using the global grid. They loved getting to see the places up close from the classroom. #waledchat
A1-Just did a project where students acted like famous youtubers providing literary analysis & commentary.Engagement was through the roof bc I asked them to make videos that they might want to watch themselves.They loved that the medium(youtube) was so relevant to them.#waledchat
A1: We have been featuring @KerbalSpaceP as an option in our Lab. Teaches concepts of stewardship, problem solving, and budgeting while they build rockets. So many amazing discussions have taken place throughout the day. #waledchat
A1: @Todoist simplifies my life by allowing me to externalize my brain and be present with other people. This helps Ss because they get a very calm, focused, & deliberate teacher who is responding to the people in front of him and their needs not what's in his brain. #waledchat
A1: I recently discovered Boom Cards, an online website that incorporates educational games in a card format. It has brought so much engagement for my Kinders while reviewing skills. #waledchat
I love the concept of using google slides to gather information from many Ss at once-then allowing others to see information in real time in one central location. #waledchat
A1: Last year #DaringDecember started with tech challenges for staff. I am currently working on our second #DaringDecember challenge encouraging staff to try something new with technology and learn! #waledchat 👇It’s in the works!💚
A1 This week one win was creating an Aquarium in @MergeVR during our @Flipgrid Explorer Series 🚀🚀😀 We are currently studying marine habitats #waledchat
Today, all Ss completed a "Mathacognition" exercise (private google doc) identifying a goal to achieve before sem exams...and what specific learning opportunities (hmwk, peer collab., 1-1 help, etc....) they'll need to utilize to achieve that goal #waledchat
A1 I love using technology! A new win is starting to use the Desmos Challenge activities with my students in math. They liked using the site and consider it a keeper. #waledchat
A1. I love @Seesaw It allows me to check in with more students. It also gives my families a window into our classroom. My Ss have an authentic audience and receive feedback from me as well as their families. #waledchat
YES!!! Some of my best lessons come from things I learned student teaching!!! I often think about my friends who didn't have that intro and I wonder how they survive #waledchat
A1: Had my Ss create a PowToon today to summarize the characteristics of quadrilaterals. I haven’t used PoeToon before so it was exciting to learn from the Ss. #waledchat
That sounds like such an awesome lesson! I love that use of a tool they may already know for an educational use... cuts down on time needed to learn to use the tech too #waledchat
A1: I created a Twitter chat where students interacted as characters from Macbeth & were questioned by the witches. When you overhear high school boys who usually complain telling a student who was absent that they missed out on all the fun, you know it was a win. #waledchat
You are a color coder like me and I love everything about it! I just color coded my own folders this summer and it's a small change but such a difference! #waledchat
A2: The game was a celebration in a way... the PearDeck made it all click, so I let the point finding go on way longer than planned since it was working! We have also done more PearDecks recently since they like them and do well with them! #waledchat
That was a winner in my class, too. They also liked seeing Paris from the elevator shaft on the Eiffel Tower. There were soooo many places they wanted to see and explore. #waledchat
A2: Even more gamification! Also, students felt engaged and invested in our learning, so I was able to open up other avenues of learning—things that are more difficult and require more analysis. I consider that a win. #waledchat
A2: Haven't celebrated the success yet, but headed back into classrooms soon to help Ss take their personalization and content to the next level!
#waledchat
A2: Tweeted it out, shared with Ss and staff, made a connection with the student who made the video. Then a few days later talked to her class about how a simple video/idea had over 3500 views! #waledchat
A2 Ha! I shared it so other people could use it! That’s what I’m about; if it works for me, makes class better, makes life better, I want to offer it. And if it saves time..?? Gold. #waledchat
A2 - I have a column that is designated Shap’s Kudos. I enter comments next to each entry about something positive that I see has been learned or mastered. It’s real time and kids will comment back. #waledchat
A1: Today, Ss were reading about AK. I got to share my experience in AK by showing them some websites about the Iditarod (many of my AK friends are former or current Iditarod champs, & then I shared that I knew Jessie Holmes from Life Below Zero - friend & neighbor. #waledchat
A2: Getting to have excellent, real life conversations with my students is pretty amazing. Life is busy and demanding, but at points I am able to stop and listen to what they have to say, plus analyze their decisions together. #waledchat
A2: Staff that participated in the #DaringDecember challenge last year had their name entered into a drawing for a ⭐️fabulous⭐️ tech prize! We gave away 4 echo dots for classrooms. #waledchat
A2 We celebrated our win using @zoom_us by deciding to use this tool again for future meetings.
It’s great to have the capability to collaborate anywhere, any time! #waledchat
A2: we celebrate the wins of digital tools @SalemElementary by hosting “paperless” PDs throughout the year. Experts in our building showcase the tools they use in their classrooms. #waledchat
The only celebration I want to have is with students when they follow through on their plan. Tech helped formulate the plan....but I don't celebrate maps...I celebrate the journey. #waledchat
Love this! I consider myself on of the techier math teachers and I just love trying to share the new tools I find when they work in the classroom! #waledchat
A1 Adam jumping in late........I usually use storyboardthat for a project on the Rome but it was having issues. Ss began telling me what they wanted to use........because of them I love pixton, powtoon, and storyjumper. #waledchat
A1: I feel like I’ve come so far. In early years, I would have chosen a video, made them watch the whole thing, take notes, and then fill out a paper. “Now- this guy’s super boring but the info is good so only watch this small part so you can hear this”. #purpose#waledchat
A2 Showcased youtuber projects.Really great exp for the kids.Classmates shared what they liked,ideas theyd like to borrow,& gave some constructive feedback about areas that could be improved.Also had the esteemed instructional coach @ChristineDiGio4 in for feedback #waledchat
Game changers! @activelylearn has text w/ embedded questions, & you can push feedback & encourage revisions right away. @peergrade is a writing tool where students provide feedback on each other’s work using totally customizable rubrics. I’m seeing tremendous growth! #waledchat
In reply to
@MsGiercykBASD, @activelylearn, @peergrade, @activelylearn, @peergrade
#waledchat A2 When my Ss succeed they are usually celebrated with a Tim the Tool Man Taylor grunt. The kids love it! Since the early 90's I have gone to work and pretend to be @ofctimallen Tim the Tool Man Taylor. #ItWorks
A3: I tried doing a @Desmos card sort on rules of exponents... it was a great sort but I think it was too much too soon and the students were really overwhelmed and struggled with it a lot more than I was expecting #waledchat
A3: I was working with a teacher yesterday on @Seesaw. We couldn't figure out how to create a draggable template during our planning session. #waledchat
Hey #waledchat - hate to be missing out today but hadn’t slept well for several nights & then went on field trip to state capital today followed by basketball practice. I’m going to bed. See you next week!
A3: Early on with iPads (8 years ago) I tried to use google earth but couldn't really get past one second awe moments when we zoomed in on certain locations. It really didn't transform their learning. #waledchat
A3: I really wanted to create a @Flipgridmix tape with a group of 2nd graders this year....had an amazing plan but 👎🏻... I quickly realized I needed to take it a little slower. 😬😬 #waledchat
A3 1st time I tried to have students do screencasting (their voices recorded over a google slide presentation) the audio didn’t record for about half the projects. Some issue with exported audio tracks not meshing after the upload. Big headache. #waledchat
A3: First time I tried to use @Flipgrid, we realized many students could not access the cameras on their chrome books. That’s fixed now, but it was super anticlimactic at the time. #waledchat
A3 Today! While I in an OER meeting, most chrome books stopped working. Evidently they weren’t completely completely completely plugged in (though I checked and they certainly looked like they were!). A two-hour sub plan stopped for half the class at one hour. #waledchat
A3 I was getting ready to do a Gizmos from @ExploreLearning and realized that I never had my students join or sign up. I had to stop, get them all logged in, and set up. LOL time was up by the time we all got settled. #waledchat
A3: I tend to over prepare, so I make sure I'm proficient with the tech first. However, there's not much I can do about the internet going down - that's usually when we move to a Plan B lesson that doesn't require tech. #waledchat
A3: I think anything I tried before my "Let the Students Play With the Technology Before Making it an Ed Tool" policy was implemented. I always think I can "teach" Ss the tool, but they get confused by me. I just get out of the way and let them figure it out now. #waledchat
Those moments. Argh. I can feel your pain. In your mind, things look so perfect, but in practice...it's rough. Stick with it. They will get there and do amazing things! #waledchat
A2: I smiled. Ss respect and work for you when you are transparent. I celebrated by giving the directions individually and got to see each of them giggle when I told them how boring the guy was!!! Love love it when I see them giggle and laugh so innocently! #waledchat
I can't remember passwords. Google made me reset mine this yr. Came back from Thxgiving, couldn't remember new password. Reset it again, then remembered previous one..can't stop auto-typing it all week. There is no computer problem that can't be solved with a hammer. #waledchat
A3 I remember several times as a teacher trying to force technology into my lessons and it didn’t work as well.
Allow technology to enhance your lessons and not just be a substitute for another instructional method!#waledchat
A3 - The first time I tried padlet, it froze constantly and ended up frustrating most of the class. Great app, but didn’t work with the lesson I used. One key tip!!! Master one or two before trying a million. #waledchat
A3: I once had a very, very old, slow computer. I really enjoy using technology, so that was a frustrating time period. It brought new meaning to the term crash and burn. :) #waledchat
We used Do Ink to do newscasts in a current events class I taught. That's a tool that requires a bit of student exploration before they fully grasp using it. #waledchat
In reply to
@Eric_Carlin, @PrincipalRLA, @MsGiercykBASD, @DoInkTweets
A2: We ended our first round of Boom Cards with a "Good Job" cheer. There were many smiles, giggles, and my favorite, cheers for their classmates who had 💡 moments! #waledchat
A4: In the moment, I encouraged students to work with a partner and my coteacher and I did damage control... in the future, it's definitely made me think about how we practice and sometimes I wait until a little later in the lesson/unit to add certain tech tools #waledchat
A4: I told the T that I would research it. I found the answer through a @YouTube video on a blog. This is the true power of a collaborative internet. #waledchat
They've been phased out at my school already but from what I heard they were a lot of bells and whistles but they hadn't gotten the training to know how to make them worthwhile as educational tools #waledchat
A3: A technology loss this week was storyboardthat - it worked for some students and not for others. It wouldn't load. In class of 29....... #waledchat
A4 We communicated through Remind. I adjusted the expectations after hearing they tried prelim-solving on their own. Proud of them for knowing they could find solutions and contacted me after they struck out. #waledchat
A4: I actually adapted on the fly changing content while the first group worked. By the 2nd run through things were much smoother and successful. #GrowthMindset#failforward#waledchat
A4 - Asked the kids for suggestions for solutions to the audio prob. They had great ideas! Ended up giving the option of recording audio separately and manually playing it or using another app to export. We recovered pretty well so it was still a positive experience. #waledchat
A4: Figured out that Ss are far better at figuring out how to use technology than I am at "teaching" them how to use it. Let them play first, then add the educational use to it later. Far more successful approach. #waledchat
A4: I had to pause & go back to my objective. The point of the lesson wasn’t a tech tool—it was the development of an academic skill. We can still honor that objective without making videos. #waledchat
I had this issue a lot with Scratch in my large computer science classes - it's tough when the tool is so great in concept but just logistically not working for some reason! #waledchat
A4: As much has I want to become proficient with the SMART software, I don't find a necesity in making the board interactive. I know it would benefit me, but I feel like I just can't be proficient the way I'd like #waledchat
A4 For me and technology there will always be fails in the beginning. I keep trying, ask for help, and then finally get there. Thankfully knowledge is all around us and things can be figured out! #waledchat
A3: Today! Turns out, my Smartboard decided to change the view from my computer. While I could have fixed it within minutes, I didn't waste instructional time and turned my interactive Smartboard activity into a partner game! #waledchat
Another most important point!! Why are you using it? Should always be grounded in learning, empowering, assessing or reflection. Never just a time killer. #waledchat
A4 Explained my faux pas and apologized to my Ss as we worked to set them all up with accounts. Now, I make a mental note...and a sticky on my laptop doesn't hurt, to make sure that we are all set the day before. #waledchat
A4: Honestly, I pulled up @padlet in the moment and updated the link in Google Classroom. My students were very patient. Also, I had them answer a quick question using the question tool in google classroom as I set up Padlet. Always have a backup plan #waledchat
A4: Practice and a welcomed upgrade to the paid version. It allows me to relate to Ss when I have them try something new or record video responses. #waledchat
A4: We are always breaking down what we get to do each day in our Lab, good and bad. If we are not in a reflective posture, complacency and stagnancy can set in. #waledchat
We had a little fail today☹️. We’ve been using Live:Air iPad app to stream Live Video Announcements to our YouTube site. This morning after streaming, we learned YouTube shut us down temporarily and our video didn’t archive. #oops#waledchat
A4: Tech is great, but it's not my be-all-and-end-all. There are so many other ways for teachers to teach and students to learn. I use tech as a support rather than the main attraction. #waledchat
A4: Thankfully the students bailed me out.........offering suggestions of things they used in the past. Pixton, scratch, storyjumper, powtoon - great ideas! #waledchat
Such an important realization!!! We aren't using technology for technology's sake, we're using it to teach something specific, and that's where we need to keep the focus! #waledchat
A5: Nothing like a good game of Madden on the PS4 to help me unplug from school and fill my pitcher! We need rest. If we don't rest, we are like a candle in a vacuum... we extinguish ourselves. #waledchat
A5: I know its more than one but, #GSuiteEdu is definitely a set of tech that I can't live without. Always something changing, always excited to dive in and learn of new spins on uses of the tools.
#waledchat@GoogleForEdu
A5: DownDog is my favorite app for relaxing... it's free yoga app with tons of options, I get a new practice every single time and they're so well done! Definitely helps me unwind after a long day. #waledchat
It was one of my most favorite classes/experiences as a teacher because they eventually got very creative with how the used the screen to enhance their story telling. #waledchat
In reply to
@Eric_Carlin, @PrincipalRLA, @MsGiercykBASD, @DoInkTweets
Yes! I'm not above admitting to my students that I made a mistake and showing them what it looks like to bounce back. They need to see it to be willing to try it! #waledchat
A1: Giving students choice. For example, rather than giving them an article to read I post several options on @Newsela that way they can practice skills by reading something that interests them. #waledchat
A5: Google Calendar helps me keep everything organized. I also love Google Draw. The versatility of it is endless. Personal level, I love my @YouVersion Bible app. #waledchat
A5: Creating things with @DoInkTweets is always uplifting. Green screens can add so much to your story. Even create an eskimo on the roof of the building who was delivering an elf on the shelf for K Ss last year! #waledchat
A5: I can't adequately express my gratitude for the PLN I have on @Twitter . It's been really energizing to have so many Ts who desire to connect and share. This attitude has really saved me the from losing my mind the past 2 months. #waledchat
A5 - I love Spotify!!!! Music isn’t thought of as technology. It should be. One of the best and easiest ways to boost moodvsnd positive community. #waledchat
A5 Siri is so good at reminding me of things throughout the day! Now I use Boomerang to email myself a week or few days before something months from now! I’m going to appreciate it then, too, I’m sure! #waledchat
Yes to this entirely!!! Those people that I have connected with on Twitter have pulled me through some tough days of teaching and inspire me to keep going! Thanks ##waledchat
A5 My phone. I call and checkin on my kids on my way to my second job. My Mom also sends pictures of what they did during the day so I am not missing out. #waledchat
Spotify definitely helps bring music into your life on the daily, I'd support it as a super important tool (though I was a music major so I may be a little biased!) #waledchat
A5: I get a lot of inspiration and energy from my Twitter #PLN. There are so many amazing educators with excellent ideas, advice, wisdom, and positive messages that I always feel I'm in the company of not only colleagues, but friends. #waledchat
Thank you all for chatting with me tonight!
Please follow new friends you connected with and join us again next week!
@MrPStrunk, thanks for handing me the #waledchat reigns for the night
Thank you again to @MsGiercykBASD for moderating for me tonight! I look forward to being back next week "live and in person" with you all! Until then, have a great week! #waledchat
