#symchat Archive
#symchat conversations focus on classroom integration of SymbalooEDU, the educational version of Symbaloo developed for students, educators and schools.
Wednesday March 16, 2016
Welcome to | Please state your name and where you are from. As always please don't forget to use the hashtag
Welcome to | Please state your name and where you are from. As always please don't forget to use the hashtag
Just getting starting . . . where are you from and what is your area of expertise?
Evansville, IN --- eLearning Coach for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation
Good evening 4th grade teacher from PA
Greetings /ers Barbara here from Florida/St Lucia Tech Integration Specialist, Computer Educator, Curriculum Dev/Coord
Any other "ters" going to join us?
Hello, I'm a teacher librarian from Georgia.
Hi used to live in Brunswick, GA for a long time! Miss it!
Let's explore the time period after standardized testing on the days of testing and after all testing has finished.
Q1: When you have concluded standardized testing for the day, what types of activities do you try with students?
A1: We aren't allowed to teach any new content or review for upcoming tested content. I try to steer teachers to
Q1 Continue to teach non-testing grades in flex rotation, so it's work as usual. I try not to see testing grades during those wks.
A1 Continue to teach non-testing grades in flex rotation, so it's work as usual. I try not to see testing grades during those wks.
A1 I've already seen testing grades 2-3 wks prior for review lessons.
What an oxymoronic thing that we can't teach new content, or review upcoming content. Talk about hand's tied!
A1 We unwind via (age and school appropriate of course) :-)
Q2: How could technology support instruction after that testing time? Bonus point for links to specific resources! : )
Elementary Up No one, including self, wants to hear the words TEST
A1) I would usually do something fun. Who's line was a fav in my room.
Great idea! Trying to keep things fresh is tough.
Q2 Our technology Ts assist grade levels with any project-based learning for final assessments or portfolios going on.
A2) having a LMS allows us to have content that Ss can access / work on at their pace.
Q 2.5: What was behavior like after testing? Three of my schools kept it together FOR testing, but afterwards struggle bus!
How many Tech Ts do you have? Student choice on projects? https://t.co/n0h8A0C6hj
Q2 Our technology Ts assist grade levels with any project-based learning for final assessments or portfolios going on.
And Ss are "tired" from all the tests. We (NE) hit them hard in the spring.
What's your LMS? is going to roll out
I think that is universal!
Currently it is Moodle, past school was
4 integrating/supporting technology- 2 Gifted Ts, Stem Lab and myself. We work w/ & independent of classes.
Interesting. When
died, we have had a gap. Most teachers like
Wow! That is a lot of support!
Collab is flexible- sometimes needed sometimes not. Our class Ts are gr8 integrationists and PBLers.
I like schoology because of the tools and integration of standards to align to content.
Are you a school district?
Who provides the pd for Ts? How often?
We had the opposite. Seemed like the whole building was on edge afterwards.
A2 Most of what I do is ongoing and situational. Right now working on Office365 w/5th graders. Will continue that work.
Full time or in addition to another position?
That's awesome. I am such a snob that I have refused to dabble into LOL!
1 year instructional coach position (crazy story)
AMEN! I don't know who gets more stressed, Ts or Ss?
A 2.5: We keep them real busy with events and field trips.
Right! I try to provide Job Embedded Professional Development. Ongoing!
I went from 1st grade, 5th grade, 6th grade science, to eLearning Coach. Love the journey!
is a system k-12 initiative for us. We just began using it this year.
This was the first year to see it through that lens. I have a 3rd grader, and that is the start of testing in Indiana.
Q3: When standardized testing has concluded for the week, what types of things do you complete with students? Like on Friday?
A3 I get each student a bottle of bubbles, and we go outside and have fun. I'm surprised some Sts never used bubbles before
We parents tend to transcend that stress to our kids & they seem to got it under control. That's what my son says
How is it going - High teacher buy in or Ts dragging feet on it? Any positive tips for shareout?
Our Ts like to give Ss app exploration time on iPads on Fridays.
Very insightful young man! My daughter was more stressed about getting to school for walking club in the morning.
A3) I usually have it planned to start a project based unit
No different from the day's testing. We look forward to going home taking care of w/t is to come for the next wk.
A3: Several schools (K-8s) are giving extra recess, or ice cream for good behavior after testing. One thing I don't like - movies.
Getting admins onboard is key (and teaching them).
A3 Also time for me to roll out Summer Reading Program w/ public library system.
Bring on the tools and try things you wouldn't normally try!
Do students pick? If not, what parameters do you set?
They've seen O365 Notebook used off campus and want use it to reduce paper between admins and staff.
Not a fan of movies either. I say get them up and going in a GREAT GAME. +endorphins=Less stress=increased lean/g
This is a really awesome program for kids. Keep it up! Kids and adults alike, really do benefit!
Do you use at all? Just so far into Googleland, curious what life is like out of my bubble.
Q4: When standardized testing has concluded for the school year, what becomes your focus for those last few weeks of school?
A3 Big obstacle to EOY PBL is scramble to schedule labs & carts for tech projects. Campus is not 1:1.
last year I tried allowing them to study whatever they wanted. Mixed results.
A4: Definitely delve into project based learning this time of year.
A3 Labs and carts are scheduled for testing consistently throughout Apr and May.
I bet. Some high flyers really excelled I bet. Others probably needed more than a gentle nudge.
True. Hard to use technology if no devices are available. LOL!
A4 I'll finish writing projects with lower grades and roll out Scholastic Summer Reading Program.
Yeah, had a Ss compose and perform their own piano piece. but also had some... 😁
A4. Evaluate teaching methods/styles. Ask Ss how they felt and what they hope to see come next yr.
Q5: OK - Testing time is over. Top 3 project based learning ideas YOU would use?
Would love to get our district either using that or Canvas LMS, starting w/high school. Used Haiku in CA
Have BYOD 3-5th but platform issues make it hard for classroom mgmt & PBL. New paradigm for class Ts' planning.
A4.2 When Ss are getting set for summer, plans of TEST 4 next yr is @ the back of the mind. Get cools ideas 4 class learn/g instead
We looked at a ton of diff LMS. I wanted even though it is not a true LMS.
There is some strength to that Googleclassroom doesn't have
I prefer I-search, Genius Hour or Big6 (light). Came from system that also heavily previewed next years curriculum
True. What I like about is that it is so intuitive. All teachers can use!
I'm hoping we can pilot a number of interested T's w/ - are many ways to create workflow
So far we are using it for Collaborative Conversations! So far so good!
A5. +Makerspaces (wholeschool/communty based) Coding for All (Ts, Ps, Ss, Commty) Making awesome learn/g w/ low tech tools
Skipped over it. O365 is managed by SIS & ea kid has dummy email for log in. Collab & cloud memory r super easy.
Gotcha. Will keep that in mind.
Q6: Quick question - vs. Who is your winner?
Jumped in late due to other needed duties at home. Testing is something I try not to comment on much. Given reality. Work beyond it
I hear so much about coding, but haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet. Pros?
Gotta head down to dinner. Thanks for letting me join in!
Answer choice C! It seems like teachers like one or the other. Opinionated.
It's more than Tech. It's life, it's fun, its gr8 integration across the curriculum. Anyone can :-)
What a fast moving hour! Thanks for participating. Looking forward to next time.
