#DITCHbook was created by Ditch That Textbook author Matt Miller. The chat focuses on innovative teaching ideas and disrupting standard textbook education.
💥Slight Spoiler Alert! Quotes used from the movie!💥Welcome to tonight's special Infinity War edition of #DitchBook ! Please introduce yourself, what you do, where you're ditching from, & your FAV AVENGER from #InfinityWars
Hey #ditchbook! Louie from Lancaster stopping in! Middle School SS T, soon to be 5th grade in Philly next year. Excited to be here with @SteinbrinkLaura and #4ocfpln tonight!!
Normal Chat format tonight! Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 for questions. A1, A2, A3, and A4 for the answers. It's almost time to put our reflection capes on! #DitchBook
💥Slight Spoiler Alert! Quotes used from the movie!💥Welcome to tonight's special Infinity War edition of #DitchBook ! Please introduce yourself, what you do, where you're ditching from, & your FAV AVENGER from #InfinityWars
A1 I planned to use #Flipgrid to have Ss locate and share text features that they found in books. What better place than to do this in the Library? Given limited time and unusual setting, Ss did NOT use their time well. Nxt time explicit expectations needed! #ditchbook
A1: There are lots of moments where things didn't go as planned. Sometimes I think things flopped, ask Ss, & they LOVED it. Tried @StoryboardThat for 1st time as sub plans. Ss loved it but some finished WAAAAY too early. Others went in depth & created fun storyboards. #DitchBook
A1. I love love @AdobeSpark in my classroom, but had many account issues using a class account for my 6th graders under 13 at the beginning of the year. #ditchbook
Hey #ditchbook friends! Excited to join you for tonight's chat!
Matt here, head textbook ditcher from Indiana.
Fave Avenger: gotta be Iron Man. I do love a good gadget ...
A1: I accomplished a lot more this year than I expected, but for some reason, the website portfolio had kids start in beginning didn't really catch on and got neglected. #ditchbook
A1 I planned to use #Flipgrid to have Ss locate and share text features that they found in books. What better place than to do this in the Library? Given limited time and unusual setting, Ss did NOT use their time well. Nxt time explicit expectations needed! #ditchbook
A1: Hyperdoc has some nice activities but the delivery, organization, and time management was off. Kids ran out of time, needed more structure #ditchbook
A1. Tried a peer review “battle” game where students compared work products & rolled RPG dice based on relative work product strength (stronger draft = more sided die). Problem was the dice mechanic got too exciting, & students raced through the peer edits. Womp wah. #DitchBook
A1: As an Instructional Coach I actually plan some lessons for my entire building, so when YouTube videos for beginning of the year tech lessons weren't embedded correctly, the lesson went wrong for all 600 students! #DitchBook
A1: I had a plan to use Thinglink as a way for students to annotate a coat of arms. Realized they changed some settings - we started using Google Drawings to annotate instead #ditchbook
A1: As silly as it sounds it was a matter of not having tech charged so of course that was a flop! Not to mention when my embedded music was supposed to steer the lesson ship but didn’t play! Lost the moment! Ugh and sigh #DitchBook
A1: Worst case scenario - our entire network went down the day before 40%+ of our Ts were preparing to give their final exams on Schoology. Got the piece replace & back up and running after only one day. Ts adjusted well. #proud#ditchbook
A1: working on research projects in 1st grade and we didn’t think about Ss not being able read all he content they found, it went over their head. Lots of frustrations #DitchBook
A1: Memorable tech fail for me ...
I was demonstrating Google's Quick Draw in front of a BUNCH of people. Drew a flower pot. It then showed how other people drew a flower pot.
One of them was CLEARLY not a flower pot ... 🤦♂️😳 #ditchbook
A1: app smashing water cycles with @flipgrid for the first time this year was a pain. Started with google slides animations, publish to web, screencastified the animation with voice over then posted to flipgrid. Fun but one of those assignments that took to long #ditchbook
A2 My greatest tech moments have been allowing my Ss to use their #voice & #choice with #Seesaw! They can’t wait to use it! One 4th grader comes out of his shell when he uses video to share his learning! #ditchbook
I used a digital breakout paired with a hyperdoc over he Magna Carta- I focused on creating great clues to help Ss understand the document and make it exciting. We rare elected afterwards and I discovered they didn’t learn much. Too caught up in the breakout #ditchbook
A1: I love love LOVE @PearDeck but I somehow always manage to make dots/numbers/letters for drag/drop either teeny tiny or enormous. Or forget to convert a slide altogether and the kids can't type or draw! #DitchBook
A2: Most definitely the tech that had Ss HAPPY they got off the bus to come to my class was the day I rolled out @gimkit ! Not only were Ss engaged by the learning game CREATED by Ss, but their test scores soared with their engagement! The 'Kit's LEGIT! #DitchBook
A1: created a few hyperdocs for math extensions and didn't check the links on a student computer, every linked was blocked on their end...no hyperdoc that day :/ #ditchbook
#DitchBook A1 Fail this year. Doing a Mystery Hangout with a class from Spain. They could hear us but we could not hear them. Used old school paper to submit questions in front of camera. All worked out in the end.
A2: I had a young lady who was terrified in beginning of all the tech I expected her to use and asked if she could do all paper pencil. Now she does it all digital and taught me a few things. #ditchbook
A2. My students have loved creating documentaries via @AdobeSpark this year! Also loved screencasting their #Tourbuilders of different places around the world. 6th graders rock.
#ditchbook
A1: The there are many instances when technology hasn't cooperated with me. When we started using flipgrid for the first time @NBFelem, the laptops would not record Ss' voices clearly. Thanks to our phenomenal Tech support, we figured out a way around it. #ditchbook
A1: It happens often to teachers I am observing. The imp thing is not to panic. I understand. Just move on...it’s all how you deal with it because it happens to everyone #Ditchbook
#Ditchbook A1: I presented an entire PD on using screencastify and screencast-o-matic... Turns out none of the teachers could get the Screencast-O-Matic software on their laptops until a firewall was unblocked...whoops! ;)
A2: When I introduced my students to Evernote for their writing assignments. They loved being able to keep up with their writing and creating their folder portfolios #ditchbook
A2: despite my last tweet - digital breakouts were awesome and engaged the students and created great teamwork. Ss also had a blast creating Renaissance commercials using green screens and their phones. #ditchbook
#DitchBook A2 For us this year, a visit from John Stamos via FaceTime in our History of Rock and Roll class. Great question and answer session with our students!
A2: I planned a simple “tweet chat” answering math questions using Google Classroom not realizing how excited the kids would be. The Asst. Supt. Ended up coming in and joined the class to see what all the excitement was about. #ditchbook
A2: students loved the 9 week life science #PBL. They were tasked with creating a sustainable fantasy ecosystem for a movie and came up with the most amazing products. Movies, google sites, hyperlinked slide show presentations. The connections they made blew me away #ditchbook
A2: implementing tech is slow moving but Ss started to see Ipads as a tool and not a toy. And Ss made videos about their research projects (just recorded, too late for anything fancy) and watching quiet Ss come alive reflecting on video was fanstastic! #DitchBook
A2: It's got to be a virtual cultural exchange we did with a class in Valencia, Spain. My Spanish 3 kiddos did weekly video calls to Spain. It was AMAZING.
Here's a video of them talking about it ... https://t.co/DLWcQcHFMP#DitchBook
I’d suggest using links within the HyperDoc to ‘check-in’. Make sure T knows when they get to certain places so Ss know they’re being monitored and are getting more feedback. #DitchBook
A2: @Flipgrid lesson in which students reviewed a topic with embedded vids and created explainer vids with partners and props. They ❤️ed creating, watching others vids. #ditchbook
A2. Built a Zelda inspired “Lost Woods” activity using Google Forms. An infinite loop of repeating questions that keeps sending you back to the start until you answer each one correctly. Students LOVED (and hated!) it. #DitchBookhttps://t.co/QStrXIl3ex#DitchBook
A1: we did an @Ozobot#rollercoaster that was just a trainwreck- I threw it at the kids as a chance to build something from limited materials, but didn’t give them enough scaffolding in design, engineering or structure. #DitchBook
A2: I love going into classrooms when teachers are using gaming sites like @GetKahoot and @quizlet and the kids are so clearly engaged and enjoying their time in the classroom. #ditchbook
#DitchBook A2 The opportunity to have my cousin Kyle Cook of Matchbox 20 & Rivers and Rust visit. Told the students we were doing a FaceTime session but we surprised them with him visiting live. Outstanding opportunity for our students to interact with him.
Oh totally agree with the @gimkit , had so much fun when we started playing a couple of weeks ago, thanks to @SteinbrinkLaura for sharing the info about it #ditchbook
In reply to
@DMooreSpanish, @gimkit, @Flipgrid, @gimkit, @SteinbrinkLaura
A2: #ditchbook Using @Desmos online graphing calculator to have my Algebra students "discover" function transformations. Best comment was "now every graph makes so much more sense!"
A3 A practice that needs to stay would be having my Ss set personal reading goals. I was not as consistent this year as last year. I had a student ask me if they were going to get to do it again! #DitchBook
A2: @quizizz has been a game changer! Lots of positive feedback about self-pacing, images as choices, ability to assign as homework was HUGE. Ss were asking for one at the end of each unit! #DitchBook
A2 -Our Admin. team began utilizing Voxer to share verbal individual T feedback following our walk-through observations. Our T’s have appreciated the enthusiasm in our voices about the great things they are doing. Thanks @MrEugenePark for voxer tip@SteinbrinkLaura #DitchBook
A3: #EDUprotocols are my new "Not so Oldie but Goodie" thing that must remain, even if half of my lessons and tools disappear with a snap of the fingers! Starting the year with #FrayerAFriend and going from there! Love Love Love #EDUprotocols ! #DitchBook@jcorippo@mhebern
A2: Our Ss created comic books with Strip Designer. They did an amazing job putting together the story of the 1920’s. Tied together their study of the Great Gatsby. #ditchbook
A3. To be honest, this is my second year in middle school. I've done a lot of swiching in my first five years, and moving down to 5th next year. Hard to pinpoint an "oldie but goodie" I've used over and over... #ditchbook
#Ditchbook A2: 1 word: @bloxelsbuilder ! Ss created video games on different body systems, then played and then had "fan favorite"votes using Forms. They begged for more time. 🙂
A2 Teaching more #AR#VR this year definitely helped, being able to explore places and also create with @cospaces_edu@MetaverseApp led to tons of creativity and fun learning #ditchbook
In reply to
@SteinbrinkLaura, @cospaces_edu, @MetaverseApp
A3: My annotated maps about westward expansion need to stay. I love hand drawn maps. Although, This year I paired with an #eduprotocol for research and opened it up to Google MyMaps. #ditchbook
A2: we’ve been lucky enough to have several out of the box #GoogleHangouts with @EBTSOYP that have mesmerized the kids and took them to places they’ve only dreamed of... doing one tomorrow to Petra #DitchBook
#DitchBook A3 Our cultural collaborations! @1988project sociology class spoke with a class from Argentina 🇦🇷 over the issue of gender inequality. Students formulated questions and answered. Interesting to see similarities and differences between our countries.
A3. For a science teacher it’s creating graphs and tables by hand. It reinforces how variables relate. When the computer does it for them, they miss a lot of information. #ditchbook
A1 #ditchbook psych was researching Erikson & Piaget & had to pitch a developmenally appropriate toy for Santa's elves for different age groups, infant through adult. Student asks if "adult toys" related to "intimacy vs isolation" for Erikson 🤦🤣🤦
A3. Socratic Seminar is a keeper, no question. Timeless & incredibly valuable. BUT! I discovered @EquityMaps & #SpiderwebDiscussion this year, & I won’t even think about doing another seminar without ‘em. Gorgeous visual analytics of class seminar. Total game changer. #DitchBook
A3: I still love me some Kagan structures. Inside/Outside Circle, Showdown, etc... Print ?s from @quizlet or @quizizz , cut into strips, students ❤️ getting up and quizzing each other. #Ditchbook
A3: @nearpod is always good for the classroom win. Great for engagement, getting student data, and collaboration. I embed it in breakouts, gamified units, and flipped lesson. I also love that there always improving and adding more features #ditchbook
A3) In my poetry unit, there is a lesson in which we explore sensory detail by using our sense of touch to inspire a poem! With the lights dimmed and their heads down, they stick their hands in crazy concoctions! #ditchbook
A3: #ditchbook Even with all the new video options out there, I still love the results of my students using @Animoto videos to demonstrate their understanding of visual design principles and elements for @PLTWorg Engineering class!
A3: Keeping student interaction in the classroom, especially when using technology. I constantly reinforce to my teachers that going 1-to-1 didn't mean we were becoming an online school. Social interaction is still key! #ditchbook
#DitchBook A3 Also did a cultural collaboration with a class from Monterrey, Mexico 🇲🇽 over current issues facing both countries. They were interested in the new administration. Students learned to state opinions and learn to agree to disagree.
A2 #ditchbook the @RemindHQ or @seesaw selfie challenges. Give a list of vocab and a partner; be the first team back with selfies to describe the terms.
A3 Also using @nearpod@Buncee@Flipgrid@padlet we have used these regularly and they definitely help us all to collaborate more, promote Student choice and voice and definitely had increased student engagement #ditchbook
In reply to
@SteinbrinkLaura, @nearpod, @Buncee, @Flipgrid, @padlet
I taught middle school. In the beginning, I let them partner with another student when they were shy. It did not take long for them to open up. I always asked permission before showing a video to class so that made them feel better. #ditchbook
In reply to
@mrs_rieman, @Screencastify, @Flipgrid, @RecapThat
#DitchBook A3 Also did a cultural collaboration with a class from Monterrey, Mexico 🇲🇽 over current issues facing both countries. They were interested in the new administration. Students learned to state opinions and learn to agree to disagree.
Q4: Challenge Question! Share the wealth time! As you reflect on this year, describe an AH-MAY-ZING tech tool you want to try next year. What's YOUR Hulk? #DitchBook
A1: I was doing a lesson during an observation that built off another lesson that I evidently didn't teach this particular class lol. We had to backtrack. #DitchBook
A4. I would love to give @peergrade a better shot next year! Never gave it the chance it deserved this year in my SS class. I think I could definitely use in 5th grade self contained. #ditchbook
A4: My HULK I discovered this year is @peergrade ! Ss submit a writing assgnmt, Peergrade assigns EACH S 3 2 review based on rubric/Qs I establish. Ss then review what peers said & can dispute a item from the rubric, all under my control. It's a Freemium, so try it! #DitchBook
Q4: Challenge Question! Share the wealth time! As you reflect on this year, describe an AH-MAY-ZING tech tool you want to try next year. What's YOUR Hulk? #DitchBook
A1 My firsties this year did a study on the Philippines and had all the digital resources in G Classroom. I had sent the videos through view pure and didn't realize the links expired. My launch of the blended learning failed.
#ditchbook
#Ditchbook A3: Kahoots are an "oldie" (in my book) but still a goodie...we use it for fun trivia review games...even had a trivia night all year review party with it on last day of school
#ditchbook THIS. This happens to me all the time. I share something in a PD and then get the dreaded....”um mine doesn’t have that button/page/option” 🤦🏻♀️
A4: I really want to do @Seesaw, I saw it from the parent perspective at my sons school and love it. I have to keep my mind focused on one tech tool or I get off track and don't do any! #ditchbook
A3: Most definitely keeping interactive notebooks. I'm in the process of ditching traditional textbooks but have found that building our own "textbook" with manipulatives, etc. has been invaluable to many Ss #DitchBook
#DitchBook Kyle Cook sharing views of music with our students in the History of Rock and Roll class at North White. A very memorable day for our students!!!
A4: Working with @Schoology AMP to get better data from student assessments. Also working on more AR/VR. I have a drone & a 360 camera - I’m sure I can create some ridiculously cool things with those. #ditchbook
A1-Coordinated a Google Hangout with some A’s in the area, however realized too late that a majority of them didn’t know how to use Google Hangout or what it was. Lonely meeting! #DitchBook
A4: @Desmos is a tech tool that I already use often, but it's one that I want to utilize much more than I do for more personalized learning. #Ditchbook
A4: Twitter is my new amazing tech tool! 😂 I'm jumping on to build my #pln and want to incorporate it into my #professionaldevelopment next year to make it more personalized for my staff. #ditchbook
A4: We are rolling out @Schoology next year at my school. I’m excited to see how it can be used to share, facilitate discussions, and efficiently deliver content, drive instruction. #Ditchbook
Q4: Challenge Question! Share the wealth time! As you reflect on this year, describe an AH-MAY-ZING tech tool you want to try next year. What's YOUR Hulk? #DitchBook
You'll love it! So many great things with Google Classroom! Use the About Tab for info you need your students to have easy access too frequently. #DitchBook
I just got home from my high school's graduation ceremony, the seniors are the 1st group that I played @GetKahoot with 4 years ago, and it is still a favorite! #ditchbook
A4: I just went to the #CPSIPC18 conference and im thinking of switching to Schoology next year. (I said this last year but now I mean it........I think) #ditchbook
A3: one of my favorite lessons of all time is to have kids write stories based on #HarrisBurdick by #ChrisVanAllsburg I am going to have kids create gifs or animations based on them next year. #DitchBook
A4. I used some FlipGrid this year but got some good constructive criticism. Plan to use it more intentionally next year. Any ideas (for Spanish)? #DitchBook
A4: I just want to keep expanding my own knowledge of tech tools that I can model for staff and support them with using @Flipgrid@Seesaw@edpuzzle and more... #Ditchbook
This chat was FANTASTIC, #DitchBook folks! Checking out a teeny bit early for a super early wake-up call for the #techez2018 conference tomorrow. Can't wait! See ya!
Hey, #DitchBook 'ers! This is the end of our regular chat. Grow your #PLN & follow fellow DITCHers from the chat! Have a great weekend & get ready for @mr_middle_2 at the helm next week!
