On November 3rd and 4th over 400 educators, administrators, office professionals, and technology integration specialists descended on Meadowlark PK-8 for the 2018 EdTechTeam Colorado Summit. While Boulder Valley School District has hosted this regional event for years, this year saw a number of changes: a new host school, longer sessions in order to go deeper into application of technology, and a hands-on “playground”.
BVSD had nearly 90 district employees attend the Summit, including several who offered engaging, innovative sessions of their own! Kim Becker from Centaurus High and Dave Crowder from Louisville Middle shared ways to integrate PearDeck into the science classroom. Interim Director of Fine and Performing Arts Aubrey Yeh and her brother Kyle Yeh encouraged student-created BreakoutEDU games.
Birch Elementary’s Kim Butler and Kelli Trenkamp inspired others to embrace the Maker movement. Kelly Sain, Kiffany Lychock, and Brent Caldwell facilitated a discussion about Meadowlark’s unique design and instructional philosophy. And BVSD’s newest Ed Tech Specialist, Lynn Gershman, led sessions on using G Suite in the math classroom and new ways to collect and interpret student data.
For some highlights from this year’s event, please check out this video:
Did you attend the Colorado Summit this year? We’d love to hear about what you learned! Use the comment section below to share your experiences. If you didn’t make it this year, we hope to see you in 2019!
Innovate@BVSD 2018 is just around the corner! As you are making your summer plans, be sure to include an excursion to Meadowlark PK-8 on Monday, July 30th and Tuesday, July 31st. With keynotes from thought leaders Sue Meyer & Todd Burleson, deeper learning workshops, and a fantastic schedule of presenters, it is sure to be two days of inspirational and valuable professional learning!
Register & Share!
BVSD employees register via MyPassport: Course Code 16666; section #22633.
Attendance is FREE and BVSD attendees can earn .5 salary credit*.
Out of district attendees are welcome! Please fill out the registration form at bit.ly/InnovateBVSD2018.
There is a nominal registration fee.
Attendees will:
Tour a BVSD Innovative school that models innovative learning community environments;
Investigate education software solutions and maker education tools via ½ day hands-on workshops;
Explore the Student Innovation Showcase and experience how Project Based Learning and Design Thinking methodologies promote authentic learning & student agency.
Be inspired by your peers as they share how they bring the 4 Cs to life for their students.
Bond Phase Schools
BVSD schools in Bond Phases 2 & 3, don’t miss this opportunity to experience open and flexible classroom designs, test-drive innovative furniture options, attend sessions offered by architects that specialize in school design, and connect with staff members currently experiencing the instructional shifts brought about by these student-centered spaces.
Podcasts have been around for years but are quickly making a resurgence in the education world.
At least 112 million Americans have listened to podcasts, a figure up 11 percent from last year [2017], with 67 million listening to podcasts at least monthly. (Forbes)
And for good reason- teachers are able to both create and consume podcasts to get on-demand professional learning in an informal environment and students have an impromptu, candid platform for their voices. Podcasts are a unique form of auditory learning because listeners get to hear the voice of real-life experts and people that influence and inspire them all while feeling like they are a part of the conversation.
Are you ready to hit record and try something new? While we have your ear, listen to our podcast below to learn more about how you might use podcasts professionally and within your classroom.
As we begin the new year, one of the highlights for the educational technology team is the expansion of BVSD’s 1:Web program! BVSD began visioning a 1:Web initiative in 2013 and instituted a pilot program in 2014-2015. The board approved the 1:Web program for 5th-12th grade in March 2017, leading the way for this expansion.
Although we are excited about the Chromebooks in our 1:Web schools, the 1:Web program is much more than the device. Teachers and administrators have been meeting as a cohort since last May to prepare and learn from each other. At each school, the staff has engaged in professional development about how to use technology to truly enhance student learning, focusing on the 4 Cs: creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. The 1:Web program is also a key piece of our efforts to address the digital divide in BVSD and give all students an equal opportunity to learn.
Students are receiving direct instruction in digital citizenship, as well as practical tips about how to care for their device. They are also engaging in conversations about when it is appropriate to use these tools and when they need to be put away. Many of the 1:Web schools are using this as an opportunity to have students create their own digital citizenship messages. Check out the picture below of Arapahoe Ridge students creating video projects to teach other students about digital citizenship using WeVideo, Chromebooks, iPads and more. As our world becomes an increasingly digital place, it is more important than ever for educators to incorporate these conversations into the classroom! A YouTube playlist has been created to share these student creations. Check back as this resource continues to grow.
Schools are actively involving their parents every step of the way. The 1:Web program would not be a success without the partnership between the schools and their families. Prior to implementing the program, each school has invited families to engage in a discussion and demonstration regarding instructional and learning shifts in classrooms. At each meeting, teachers and administrators outline the why, the process that the school has taken, the professional development that the schools and students are undergoing, and how parents can continue to stay involved as the journey progresses.
We are excited for all of the learning that will occur with the approximately 800 devices we are deploying in January! Additionally, we look forward to implementing the 1:Web Cohort 2.0 with new middle and high schools who will be joining the program in the 2018-2019 school year.
Does that sound exciting to you? Then you should sign up for #DitchSummit!
Matt Miller, the author of Ditch That Textbook, put together the first annual #DitchSummit last year. In his words, “the Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit is a nine-day, FREE virtual event. It brings together some of the brightest minds in education to discuss technology, pedagogy and more.” Ed Tech Specialist Aubrey Yeh attended it over break, and she found it to be an amazing (and convenient!) learning experience. During each day of the summit, a new video is released, along with a notes page, and it can be watched whenever you have time. Aubrey said that after each video, she not only felt inspired, but had plenty of new ideas and resources to fuel her own professional learning and share with others!
Not sure you have time for all nine videos? No problem! You can pick and choose which ones you want to watch. And the best part? It’s all free, so you don’t have to feel bad about wasting money if you don’t get the chance to take full advantage of each session (the videos are only available through the end of December).
This year’s summit doesn’t begin until December 15th,so sign up today at ditchsummit.com. As a bonus, all of last year’s videos are currently LIVE, so you can start earlier and get double the PD! This is a great opportunity for all BVSD teachers, especially if you are at a 1:Web, Distance Learning, or Exemplar school. So kick back, grab a nice cup of hot chocolate, and get your learning on this December!
Welcome back! The BVSD Ed Tech Team is preparing for another awesome year full of new professional development opportunities, expanded programs, and more! For a taste of what’s to come and how to stay in touch, please keep reading. For easy access to all of Ed Tech’s resources, visit our homepage at it.bvsd.org/edtech.
Ed Tech Professional Pathways
This year’s district professional development has changed to personalized learning. Ed Tech will offer three different courses for BVSD educators as part of the Professional Pathways program.
Digital Storytelling (MyPassport #16773) course participants will learn how to use different digital tools to increase student voice and students publishing for audiences outside their classroom.
Online Collaboration and Connected Learning (OCCL) (MyPassport #16774) course will open up connections and the four walls of your classroom. Learn how to use digital tools to connect students, experts and teachers in collaborative work.
Teacher Librarianship in the Future Ready Library (MyPassport #16775)highlighting connections & collaborations for being #FutureReady librarianship.
For information more Ed Tech Professional Development opportunities, visit our PD home page.
PD Special Events
The 2017-18 school year will offer some large scale special events for those looking to broaden their Ed Tech horizons. Look for our poster throughout the district, and be sure to visit the BVSD Ed Tech home page for further details.
Google Apps for Education Colorado Summit featuring Ed Tech Team
Save the date for November 4-5 at Monarch High School for two jam-packed days designed to help you collaborate, connect, create using digital tools. Outstanding keynote speakers, peer created sessions, hands on workshops, and more await! BVSD employees: contact Elene Medicraft for a discount code!Click here for more details.
1:Web Expansion
1:Web is expanding to seven new schools! After a successful pilot program at Centaurus and Broomfield High Schools we will roll out the program to Angevine Middle, Arapahoe Ridge High, Aspen Creek K-8, Boulder Universal, Broomfield Heights Middle, Nederland Middle and High, and New Vista High. 1:Web schools will distribute chromebooks to students and teachers to have ubiquitous access to resources. Ed Tech, in collaboration with ISE (Instructional Services and Equity) and school 1:Web teams, will engage in PD throughout the year to support schools in this significant and exciting instructional shift. For more details, visit our 1:Web homepage.
Social Media
The Ed Tech Team wants to make it easy for you to stay in touch! We consistently update the following resources with important information and useful tips.
Join us on Twitter! Follow @BVSDEdTech for updates and interesting articles, people, and resources.
Follow BVSD Ed Tech on our Pinterest page for curated content related to makerspaces, libraries, literacy, leadership etc.
Contact us directly through information on our Ed Tech Team Bios page.
What are you looking forward to this year?
Are you planning on implementing new ed tech tools this year? Is your school participating in 1:Web? Share your big ed tech plans for the 2017-18 school year in the comments below!
Phew! ISTE 2017 has come and gone. We are reflecting on and digesting the amazing ideas and information we gathered throughout the four-day conference. Check out our top takeaways from the world’s largest Ed Tech gathering!
Think Outside the Box with Google Tools
BVSD students and employees have access to a powerful suite of Google tools. How these tools can be implemented in instruction are limited only by your creativity. Challenge yourself and your students to think of new ways of using existing tools! For example:
Consider using Google Slides to design posters (hint: change document size in the File menu)
Collect GPS data in Google Sheets and create custom Google Maps to plot your findings, then publish in Sites (Example: Maple Project)
Use Google Drawings and Slides to prototype app designs (templates here & here).
Technology can Help us Shatter the Single Story
In her keynote speech Jennie Magiera, Chief Innovation Officer in Des Plaines, IL, encouraged us to give students more of a voice. She gave examples from her own childhood and others to illustrate the danger in seeing students as a “single story”. According to Magiera, “it’s a teacher’s job to amplify the untold story of our students’ potential.” Online video can be a powerful platform for giving students a platform and an audience for them to share their full stories. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn from Magiera when she keynotes at the Colorado Summit on November 4.
Early Coding: One Way to Close the Innovation and Tech Gender Gap
Reshma Saujani, the founder of GirlsWhoCode.org, shared research and findings from her own efforts to demonstrate the gender inequality in technology. There is a tremendous opportunity for growth in this area, and Saujani is trying to accelerate this by supporting the founding of thousands of “Girls Who Code” clubs across the US. If you are interested in starting a Girls Who Code club at your school, you can start the process by visiting this link.
Formative Assessment Has Never Been So Fun!
Checking for student understanding during a lesson or unit has never been so easy or fun! Monica Burns of classtechtips.com encouraged us to make sure our formative assessments are meaningful, sustainable, and scalable. Here are some of our favorite formative assessment tools:
a) Spark Post is a simple graphic design tool that students can use to creatively demonstrate understanding
b) Recap is a service that encourages student reflection through the use of video
c) Kahoot is developing a new mobile app that allows students to also see the question on their screen, thus enabling “homework challenges” that can be assigned
d) Padlet is like a virtual wall of sticky-notes to which students can post text, images, and more to show understanding.
New ISTE Standards Create Empowered Learners
ISTE’s standards for students, educators, and administrators have evolved significantly over the years. Think not of things to do, but ways to be. At this year’s conference, the latest iteration of these standards was unveiled. Check out the detailed standards here:
As soon as we entered the conference hall lobby we were greeted by a big sign advertising the ISTE 2017 Augmented Reality game, encouraging attendees to search for and scan various hidden clues throughout the venue. The presence of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) was hard to miss this year. Microsoft demonstrated its Hololens headset by having participants analyze historic artifacts. Google demoed the latest version of its Expeditions software which uses AR to let you look inside Rome’s Colosseum, for example. Multiple sessions and playgrounds were available to conference attendees looking to try out the latest experiences. You will be seeing a lot more of this in the next couple of years, and there will surely be many interesting educational applications.
Let Students Take the Lead
On the heels of the latest ISTE standards with a focus on empowered learning, many schools are already taking steps to let students take the lead with technology. We met students from a school in Texas who had organized a half-day tech conference for students, by students. Sessions ranging from document design to virtual reality were offered to the student body, with additional networking opportunities built into the schedule. How are we providing opportunities like this for our students?
What Were Your Takeaways?
Comment below with what inspired, challenged, or amazed you about #ISTE17 and mark your calendars for next year’s conference in Chicago June 24-27, 2018.
“Lifelong learners” is a term often heard in educational circles. Lifelong learners that have a growth mindset are motivated to set learning goals, focus on their efforts, reflect, and achieve new understandings. Lifelong learners with a growth mindset that seek creative and innovative ideas in technology (and live near the Centennial State) go to Innovative Education Colorado (InnEdCO)! And Boulder Valley School District is teeming with lifelong learners, as evidenced last month at the InnEdCO conference. Over 70 BVSD employees attended the three-day conference in Keystone. This number is significant for multiple reasons, such as the incredible growth of attendees over the years and the impact it has on our schools when attendees return and share with their colleagues and students.
In addition to the incredible amount of attendees and presenters that were at InnEdCO, the quality of sessions and learning was on par! And these ideas/tools are a hole-in-one:
Photos.google.com- You can create shared albums that ANYONE can add to by link! Imagine having students go on a field trip and adding their visual experience. Every contributor’s photo is credited to them, so tracking participation is easy. Check out the BVSD @ #InnEdCO17 Google Photo Shared Album.
Keynote speaker Rusul Alrubail reminded us to teach with empathy and kindness because micro-interactions in our day often result in high impact for those we encounter, including our students. “Our role is no longer outcome-centered, classroom-centered or teacher-centered. It is student-centered.”
Keynote Speaker Ken Shelton encouraged educators to empower students’ voices through storytelling. 21st century students are communicating their words and thoughts through online publications of digital and visual means. How are students learning to immerse others in their stories to form connections and relationships? A pro tip: have students storyboard their digital narrative, then swap storyboards with a classmate and create each other’s digital story! Check out his classroom ready comparison of visual language to the published word.
This is just a brief peek looking back at an amazing week of learning and collaborating with like-minded educators and educational supporters from across our region and state. As we reflect on a June filled with innovation and inspiration, we want to know what you are learning this summer! Add in your comments below and/or tweet it out to us @bvsdedtech. Make sure to include #BVSDLearns!
Save the Date June 11-14, 2018 for next year’s InnEdCO!
