An informal learning community for educators worldwide. Our passion for learning and connected learning experiences help us to improve our teaching practices. #txeduchat features guest moderators every week.
Welcome to #TxEduChat! Tonight we're talking the best and the worst, the deals and the duds of edtech with the @EduTryGuys ! Introduce yourselves and tell us about the worst tech idea you ever used!
Jeremy Hill
eLearning Specialist at Richmond Community Schools
English teacher MS/HS for 20 years
Proud member of @EduTryGuys
I could not live without @CanvasLMS and @Office365#TXEDUCHAT
Good evening #txeduchat ! Kimberly, K-5 Reading specialist from north TX. Not sure I have had and awful tech idea, but I don't like having a tech training and there being no follow up!
Tim Arnold, e-Learning Specialist, Richmond Community Schools, Richmond Indiana (26 years in a social studies classroom) - Symbaloo helps me organize all the directions I go and get pulled in! #txeduchat
Intro: Marc Price; high school Social Studies @LearnatRHS and contributor w/ @EduTryGuys. Currently I'd be lost without @CanvasLMS but I'm really digging screencast. #txeduchat
Brian Bennett here from @EduTryGuys and @LearnatRHS in Indiana. I teach English and couldn't live without @Twitter on my phone. Looking forward to this chat with some great folks from Texas. #txeduchat
Kevin Schamel | eLearning Specialist from Richmond Community Schools in Indiana | my current obsessions is @useloom for creating and easily sharing screencasts! #txeduchat#RCSeLearn
Hey #txeduchat! Once upon a time an org assessed most new hires via Myers-Briggs to determine learning styles (LS) & tailor training to that. LS has since been debunked https://t.co/BB15RDv4qe
Isaiah Cox, spiritual advisor for @EduTryGuys A fine group of contributors who have an immense knowledge of education and in a combined effort have transcended their craft. Also @Jeremy__Hill runs the incredible RHS Tech Team. #txeduchat
R1- Attending conferences, Twitter chats, and professional development opportunities from @wearrrichmond are my favorite places to pick up tips. The Tuesday night #RCSeLearn chat and the Tuesday #ShiftThis with @JoyKirr have been wonderful. #TXEDUCHAT
A1: I always go to colleagues to find stuff! All of the other @EduTryGuys and my fellow teachers have a wealth of knowledge that I could not pass up #txeduchat
A1: So many different ways! Twitter chats, workshops, conferences, books, talking with colleagues and friends. And… seeing what students are using and if theres a way to use it in class #txeduchat
A1: luckily we have a great eLearning specialist that keeps me up to date and trying new things but my larger PLN is always looking for new tools, which is really helpful. #alwayssharing#txeduchat
A1: I get new ideas from Twitter and EdCamps. When I see something new, I make a note and look into it. If I love it, I pass it along to my staff. #txeduchat
Hi friends! I’m Caty from DFW. I used to try to use technology or a first day/week of school activity EVERY YEAR when nothing was set up, passwords didn’t match, etc. I am not a fast learner I guess. #TxEduChat
Isaiah Cox, spiritual advisor for @EduTryGuys A fine group of contributors who have an immense knowledge of education and in a combined effort have transcended their craft. Also @Jeremy__Hill runs the incredible RHS Tech Team. #txeduchat
#txeduchat A1 For the most parts tweets from my PLN intros me to apps, #EdTech & how to apply in education/training. The @eLearningGuild & networking at their conferences are good sources, too.
R1: Twitter is huge for me- hearing and seeing what Ts and Ss are having success with is gold. I also pick up lots of app tips from @jmattmiller blog! #ditchbook#txeduchat
#txeduchat A1b I'm looking forward to deepening learning about #arvrinedu applications & pedagogies at #realities360 later this year.. #cue18 was great too!
A little late tonight! Taylor Hernandez from frisco, Tx. 4th and 5th grade special education teacher. I can not live without all my Google tools! #txeduchat
Sliding in a little late! Long drive to Kansas from Indiana today.
Jason Clark, Social Studies, and Founding Member of @EduTryGuys!
I can't live without @CanvasLMS and @google - beautiful when paired up! #txeduchat
R1b: Don’t get caught in the trap of letting a new app dictate the objective-need to identify learning outcome and then align it with the tool that is designed to achieve it! #trudacot#txeduchat
A2 SeeSaw - As a district admin, I'm always looking for tools for our T's. SeeSaw sounds so amazing, I'm afraid if I start exploring it, it may be days or weeks until I get to my other work #txeduchat
A2 I have heard about @plickers but haven't taken the time to print up the cards to use. Would love to try @Screencastify but I need to learn more about it! #txeduchat
A1 - Also have to ask myself if there's evidence that this works...just because something is 'new' or 'pretty' or 'shiny' doesn't make it effective. #txeduchat
I will "follow" you - if you have any questions you just drop me a DM and I will get back to you as soon as I can :-) I hope you like this old Twitterland #TxEduchat
#txeduchat A2a I'm not a K-12 T.. I support PD for clinicians & other adult learners. Webinars are the main modality. I'd love to use something like @Flipgrid for authentic assessment & learning community development.
A2: I talked to several people at @tctela about using @bulbapp as a digital portfolio/blog. I want to go there and allow my kiddos to create that personalized space, and I’ve created my own, but I haven’t been able to take the leap quite yet! #txeduchat
A2: I'm never afraid! Worst case scenario it doesn't work... Or the wifi/electricity goes out. However, I have been wanting to try @GooseChase but haven't figured out exactly how to tie it in. Maybe for review? #TXeduchat
R2: No fear in trying an app - but reluctance to blog/vlog about things before trying out all the angles, devices, filters, terms of use, etc. #txeduchat
A2: I have been hesitant to have my 2nd graders roll out using google slides just yet bc they don’t understand all of the formatting but know the only way they will learn is to do it! Rolling it out in just a few weeks! #TxEduChat
R1: My big one is the BIG ONE - Twitter! It's Victoria (Ship) that boats Magellan from discovery to discovery. It's how you use and treat that discovery that matters! #txeduchat
A2 It’s not that I’m afraid, it’s the time and trial error. I want to do it all but don’t always have the ability to integrate everything with fidelity. #txeduchat
#txeduchat A2 We use FaceTime/Google Hangouts/Skype on a regular basis. Over the past 5 years we have worked to build a speaker program to engage our Ss and make history relevant. Here are some of our speakers.
A2: It's not fear that prevents me from using new tools; it's time. For example, my colleague @ygoteach introduced me to the AR platform @MetaverseApp but I my schedule has been crazy as of late. *makes sad face #txeduchat
R2- Today was the first time I have used @H5PTechnology . It was really cool- I just had not made time to try it, but @JoaniJoanis convinced me. #txeduchat
A2 As a DLS, I work with Ts who are hesitant to try apps others are using in their building. It's a great opening for me to help them learn the app, plan something, then model it with them with their Ss. #TXeduchat
A2: I'm never afraid! Worst case scenario it doesn't work... Or the wifi/electricity goes out. However, I have been wanting to try @GooseChase but haven't figured out exactly how to tie it in. Maybe for review? #TXeduchat
#txeduchat A2 We have also taken our Ss to Russia, Canada, France, Denmark, Sweden and Israel this year via Hangouts/Skype. Wonderful way to study geography and share culture.
R2: great timing on this question! I am hearing of more and more Ts using @Snapchat to engage and create content for Ps and Ss! Anyone have any contacts I can connect with? #RCSeLearn#txeduchat
A2: I’ll tell you that tonight I’m hearing about screencastify and I’m not sure I had heard about it before, definitely something to put on my spring-break to do list #txeduchat
Had a teacher look into this last week - we have it on the list (she needed more groups) for later - she actually developed her own with qr codes and @CanvasLMS quizzes. #txeduchat
#txeduchat A2c Maybe I could get permission from a presenter to do something similar to stream in a movie/documentary-like way to an external audience of educators..
I love them! But our district has been trying to push it as an intiative and been met with major punchback...Most folks like what already is in place...Thing is we are a 1:1 Chromebook District #txeduchat
Here’s the sell-either spend 30 minutes scouring the web for content that might fit the needs of your students or spend 29 building EXACTLY what you want with @H5PTechnology#txeduchat
A2: I’ll tell you that tonight I’m hearing about screencastify and I’m not sure I had heard about it before, definitely something to put on my spring-break to do list #txeduchat
Super relevant question and if we have any coaches or administrators here, love to get your takes on what you'd say to teachers in this spot... #TXeduchat
#txeduchat If all teachers were lucky enough to have @jeff_samuelson at their side when trying new tech, the world would be a far more techy place. 😀 (He's a teacher whisperer.)
A2 As a DLS, I work with Ts who are hesitant to try apps others are using in their building. It's a great opening for me to help them learn the app, plan something, then model it with them with their Ss. #TXeduchat
A3: The first time that I ever used @textivate I totally overwhelmed my students and myself. But after playing around with it for a few years now I can’t imagine my class without it! #txeduchat
A3 It wasn't necessarily the tech that failed, but the setting. Used #Flipgrid on a Text Features Search in the Library. They acted like they had never been in the Library before! Went much better when I moved the activity back to my classroom. #txeduchat
A3 Seems like the idea in edu is that tech will fail before given a chance to succeed...Have a backup plan always and don't let the failure outweigh the opportunity #txeduchat
R3: First, always, always have a plan B. If students know you are always looking for new ways to engage them in content and move from consumers to creators - they will give you a pass. #txeduchat
A3: a few years back, I had students collaborate on a Google doc with no guidelines so they spent most of the time writing over each other’s work... I love MS Ss! #TXeduchat
A3: I would often try new things with my 6th graders. They liked to recommend things so we would check it out. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it was blocked. It is okay to fail, just move on. #txeduchat
A3: I usually fail when I don’t take the time to try things and play a bit first. I throw in tech like FlipGrid without playing with the site, and then don’t use it again bc of the flop. Summer is my time to try! #txeduchat
A3: Is it a fail if you try something new? 🤔 There have been tons of times things went wrong. My projector refused to connect to my laptop all last week. It makes life more difficult, but there's always a way to make it work. #txeduchat
I just remember when I first tried to use it, I thought it was a little difficult/laggy to edit slides online, but will try importing a presentation and adding formative assessments #txeduchat
A2a: I'm always concerned with protecting our kiddos digital safety when using different apps. Denver Public School has a great list of FERPA-approved apps #txeduchathttps://t.co/wZuGgk3gNG
Yes, Congressman John Lewis. He actually spoke to our 1960s class about Civil Rights, Selma and the March on Washington. Very Powerful! Can’t get that in a textbook. #TXEDUCHAT
R3: First, always, always have a plan B. If students know you are always looking for new ways to engage them in content and move from consumers to creators - they will give you a pass. #txeduchat
#txeduchat A3: Define fail. Always have backup plan and filler activity for use if trouble-shooting is necessary. Working through tech issues with students is actually community-building. 😬
#txeduchat A3a At a conference a couple years ago I tried using an engagement technique I learned through #cue from @jcorippo.. creating 15 google Slides and leaving it editable by anyone & sharing w/everyone. At cue lots did. For me, 0?
Research is how I normally use tech and of course I had a major research project being done on O365 and everything was cut off for the students. Luckily i was able to have them get on Prezi to make a presentation #txeduchat
A3: I tried to create and use hyper docs with my students and learned that simply putting a worksheet on technology doesn’t make it better. Come a long a way since then! #txeduchat
A3: I think all of us have had "the Internet's down" moments. I always have a Plan B (and even Plan C sometimes) in place for when tech causes trouble. #txeduchat
R3: lets be honest, rarely do we ever have a flawless experience with edtech, right? Whether it’s device, network, or platform issues, something typically goes less than perfectly, but I value what is going right and make accommodations for what isn’t #txeduchat
#txeduchat A3b For my audience [instructional designers] I think it was either few had used Slides or my top wasn't engaging enough for them to play with the presentation. Maybe trying it again..
#TXeduchat Such kind words from @ToshMcGaughy who completely rocks at her craft. I'm better at what I do because of working with her for far too short a time!
#txeduchat If all teachers were lucky enough to have @jeff_samuelson at their side when trying new tech, the world would be a far more techy place. 😀 (He's a teacher whisperer.)
A2 As a DLS, I work with Ts who are hesitant to try apps others are using in their building. It's a great opening for me to help them learn the app, plan something, then model it with them with their Ss. #TXeduchat
A3: When it crashes and burns in my room - we discuss the failure as a class and what we could've and will do to work around the failure - tl;dr, we learn from it! #txeduchat
#txeduchat A3: Define fail. Always have backup plan and filler activity for use if trouble-shooting is necessary. Working through tech issues with students is actually community-building. 😬
A3: I tried to create and use hyper docs with my students and learned that simply putting a worksheet on technology doesn’t make it better. Come a long a way since then! #txeduchat
Change is hard...trust me, I understand. Does your district have a comprehensive training plan in place to show Ts how to use Chromebooks and @GoogleForEdu? #txeduchat
Not a fail if you ask me! The more we show ourselves as willing to put ourselves out there and take risks, the more our Ss will follow our lead. #TxEduChat
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! That’s an awesome learning experience for those kids! And a digital tool made distance irrelevant thing. Seriously, awesome #txeduchat
A3 - If the lesson is focused on the learning objective, the success/failure of tech will have limited effect on the learning. Plus, you can learn what not to do...lol - #failforward#txeduchat
A4: I evaluate effectiveness on a few things. Engagement is huge! If my students don’t like the tool or if it’s a pain for them to use, it’s not enhancing learning. Efficiency is also important. Tech should make learning more accessible and should provide equity! #txeduchat
A4: reflections! A meaningful reflection at the end of a lesson can speak volumes. I love letting me students be an evaluative part of any lesson! #txeduchat
A4: I always ask: is this tool increasing student engagement? Is it causing students to think more deeply and have higher levels of learning? And does it allow for differentiation and student choice? #txeduchat
#txeduchat We have also had international collaboration. Our HS CE class debated with a class in Monterrey Mexico over current issues affecting both countries. On Wed 4/4 @1988project sociology class will be working with a class from Argentina over the issue of gender inequality
A3: I tried to create and use hyper docs with my students and learned that simply putting a worksheet on technology doesn’t make it better. Come a long a way since then! #txeduchat
A4 Evaluate student ability to use as well as how students are engaged with the tool. Just because it's tech doesn't mean it's all or nothing. Find what works for your students and run with it! #txeduchat
A4: I always look at the outcome from previous years, not using tech, and this current year using it to see if my students succeeded more with the tech. #datadriven#txeduchat
A4 A bit simplistic but… ask them #txeduchat And really in my, albeit short, experience Ss are often pretty open whether they liked something or not. This is where Student choice comes in.
A4: I evaluate the benefits of tech by students' abilities to use tech to create or innovate. For Ts, tech should serve to build efficiencies in instruction. Tech for tech's sake in the classroom can be a waste of time. #txeduchat
A4: I have a S that is being eval 4 dyslexia so a written response is very laborious but @Flipgrid has allowed her to respond on a very deep level and leveled the playing field. ❤️ #TxEduChat
#txeduchat A4a At F2F conferences I've had good results with case studies. Efficacy is suggested when collaborative teams keep going after exercise is completed.
#txeduchat A4: Helping a veteran teacher set up and run both a Kahoot and a QuizletLive for math vocab next week. He wants to compare the whole group Kahoot to the collaborative small group QuizletLive. He's going to quiz students and compare results. Interesting!
#txeduchat We have also had international collaboration. Our HS CE class debated with a class in Monterrey Mexico over current issues affecting both countries. On Wed 4/4 @1988project sociology class will be working with a class from Argentina over the issue of gender inequality
One of the huge benefits of technology is that it allows educators/learners to connect w/people outside the classroom, so that is something I look for. How well does this tool help make that happen? #TXeduchat
A4: We measure growth using proficiency scales. I taught math for 20 years so I could easily tell if it went BETTER than years before. Are they more engaged? Are they spending more time thnking critically? Tech must improve the activity or don’t use it. #txeduchat
A4: my own reflection, student reflection, and end product. Asking students is number 1. I like to be show them new things all the time and then let them choose when to use it. #txeduchat
A3 Most failures I've experienced have been when I did not plan a 'mess around with purpose' activity. Now I do when using a new digital resource. It get the wiggles out with Ss and Ts. The next time the resource is used, it rocks! #TXeduchat
Q3: #txeduchat ..That's always what sits in the backnof your mind when coaching on a new tool. It works wonderfully at home but when infront of your audience crash and burn. Move on with plan B and try something else.
Depends on the lesson/project. Did the tool make the learning more meaningful, authentic? Did their experience make them more interested in the topic than they were when we started. #txeduchat
#txeduchat coming in late! Taylor DLS @birdville_DL A4 : does the planned app/experience cause the Ss to be more curious when they leave the experience
The student reflection graphic I shared - I think they work best when introduced during a Morning Meeting - open discussion - students have SO MANY ideas to share about each of those bubbles :-) #TXeduChat
We'll be having a guest post from @GrubersOrch tomorrow at noon!
She'll be talking the hate from using digital tools in music until she... wait for it... tried it out! #txeduchat
#txeduchat A5a I bought some @iographer hardware last night. I'm going to attempt (???) to record my #Realities360 presentation with two cameras then put together a story for youtube later. #FingersCrossed
I’m going to find a way to incorporate google slides this week and have my students create something...not sure what yet but I’m going to be looking. Also going back and checking out he apps I haven’t heard of that y’all put out there #TxEduChat
R5: based solely on how much I have learned from rubbing elbows with educators thousands of miles apart, I will give my Ss the same experiences using @SkypeClassroom to help them connect and network! #txeduchat
A5: over the summer, I’m going to evaluatethe current tech I’m using in its engagement and efficiency. I’m going to note areas in which I need better tech and find some great tools to meet that need! #txeduchat
A5: Take some time to reflect on your call to action and write a contributor piece for us! How’d it go? Succeed? Fail? What did you learn? email us at admin@edutryguys.com #txeduchat
Yeah!! So needed! I can't tell you how many times I have learned about an app or website and the busyness of life has choked out my learning! So many times I need a refresher! #txeduchat
A5 I’m going to try something new and learn with my students. My district @katyisdtech came out with badges for trying tech in the classroom and I’d like to try more with my students. #txeduchat
A4 Was it meaningful for the instruction? Were the Ss engaged? Did it give Ss a voice? Did Ss have choice in their learning with the resource? Did Ss light up at some point? #TXeduchat
A5 I’m going to try something new and learn with my students. My district @katyisd came out with badges for trying tech in the classroom and I’d like to try more with my students. #txeduchat
In the last month I have learned how to create a web site and about five other tech devices to promote the site. My learning curve it headed straight toward the moon! Each challenge has been marvelous! #TxEduChat
This is the 2nd of 3 conferences we host in Richmond, IN in a calendar year. If you’re looking for quality PD #weRrichmond is the place. Plus there’s food trucks! #RCSNextGen#RCSeLearn
In the last month I have learned how to create a web site and about five other tech devices to promote the site. My learning curve it headed straight toward the moon! Each challenge has been marvelous! #TxEduChat
A5: I'm about to go out on maternity leave (any day now really) but I plan to use Flipgrid and Google classroom to keep in not touch with my 5th graders. It won't be every day, but I'm thinking I can check in with them once a week. I'll miss them. #TXeduchat
Big props go out to @EduTryGuys for moderating the #txeduchat this evening! They are regulars on the #RCSeLearn chat on Tuesdays at 8pm EST so please join us as we pick up again on 4/3 #RCSNextGen
You all have been amazing! We're so appreciative to have hosted this chat tonight and hope we lived up to your Texas sized standards!
We hope you give us a follow, interact with us, and hit us up if you would ever like to be a guest contributor! #txeduchat
I’m 100% in agreement with you on this. Tech has gotta pass a few tests before I use it in class. #txeduchat I love tech but it’s gotta be something good!
If you would like to check out the website I created for educators it is https://t.co/S5pzTtgW6A - it is for professional learning/collaborating with each other. mini video that explained it https://t.co/ewJtXeAfny… #TXeduChat
Thanks for having us Texas! Keep doing great things and I know we will definitely be checking in down the road. Follow @EduTryGuys and check out the blog. #shamelessplug#txeduchat
