TechKNOWLEDGEy Tips: Feb/Mar 2014

I'm combining some of the great tips from the months of February and March into one post. Click on the pictures to be taken to the Smore going into more detail. Comment below on ways that you have used or will use these tools in your classroom.

Week of Feb 4: WeVideo

Week of Feb 11: Pinterest

Week of Feb 18: LucidChart

Week of Feb 25: Canva

Week of Mar 4: Kaizena

Week of Mar 18: LucidPress

Week of Mar 25: Screenr

TechKNOWLEDGEy Tips: MoveNote

Click on the picture for ideas on using MoveNote in a classroom. Comment on how you have used or may use this resource in your classroom.

TechKNOWLEDGEy Tips: PowToon in Google Drive

Click on the picture for ideas on using PowToon in a classroom. Comment on how you have used or may use this resource in your classroom.

TechKNOWLEDGEy Tips: Google Lit Trips

Check it out:

TechKNOWLEDGEy Tips: Google Voice

Click on the picture to view more information about Google Voice and classroom applications.

Getting I.T. Right @ Cedar Valley: Robotics

Cedar Valley RoboJags have been preparing for competition all semester long. There are two parts to the competition: 1) They create functioning robots that have to complete missions to earn points in the competition. 2) They have to present a research project to a panel of judges that offers a specific, research-based solution for an issue that they are given as part of the competition. 

In preparation for competition, the two Cedar Valley teams video conferenced with another middle school robotics team in the district--Deer Park. Both teams called a special practice on a Saturday morning so that they could present to one another and offer critiques and assistance for the research projects. Even though the teams weren't in the same room, the students were able to communicate and collaborate through a Google Video Chat. (Sorry...I didn't get any pictures of this event....because it was so fun!)



This is a great use of resources that are available to us! The teams expanded their classroom experience without physically leaving the walls of Cedar Valley.

Ms. Persad, the Robotics Team sponsor, reported that both teams won the Research Project award! Team I moves on to the next round of competition on Feb. 2.

Check out more information about the robotics competition on Ms. Persad's webpage and the First Lego League website.

Recap: Mr. Groff Spends the Night on the Roof!

Any good initiative starts from the top and moves its way down through an organization. This is definitely the truth when it comes to Cedar Valley principal, Matt Groff, and the use of technology for educational experiences. In response to the challenge of raising $5000 to grant a wish through Make-A-Wish foundation, Mr. Groff promised to spend the night on the roof of Cedar Valley. The Make-A-Wish Foundation and the counselor team at Cedar Valley did a great PR job and made sure that the local media and higher-level district officials were aware of what was happening at Cedar Valley on the night of December 5, 2012. But Mr. Groff wanted a way to "get students on the roof with him...." When he asked if there were a way to stream live video feed from the roof, I knew we had to make it happen.

As part of his night on the roof, Mr. Groff wanted a way to communicate with directly with students (mostly--but parents, teachers, community members were all present too!) digitally. Using Google Hangouts on Air and YouTube, we were able to stream live video for extended periods of time and then archive those live broadcasts to our YouTube channel 

Mr. Groff and KXAN anchor Ignacio Garcia setting up for the first live news report and the night on the roof.

Observers were able to communicate with him by making comments on the YouTube links. Then, Mr. Groff would address the questions or comments in his video broadcast. The conversation ranged from "How many times did [Mr. Groff] have to go to the restroom?" to what Mr. Groff thought about "printing food off the internet" to whether or not Mr. Groff believed that Johnny Manziel would win the Heisman trophy as a freshman (--his prediction was incorrect, by-the-way!) to promos for the upcoming "Adopt-a-Trail Project" and what Mr. Groff's favorite movie and song are. 

Even Nataly, the WishKid whose wish was granted by Cedar Valley Students, chimed in on the discussion:

"Hi this this is nataly i just wanted to say thank you so much for what your doing and thank you to all the student at cedar valley middle school i am so grateful for what everyone did for me and making my wish come true! Again thank you to everyone from me and my whole family ,god bless everyone! Thank you to all the teachers, faculty, and students,! I cant stop thanking everyone hope everyone has a really great christmas and lots of gifts yall really do deserve it! Thank you!"

In the earlier videos, Mr. Groff petitioned listeners to bring him goodies to see how many people were actually following along. It turned out that many people heard his petitions and showed up during the 8 o'clock hour to pay him a visit, making that broadcast the shortest of the night. 

Making sure the broadcast was running properly.

My favorite comment of the night was "Look, a man on the roof....talking to a laptop!" Although that may have been what it looked like from the ground, many friends of Cedar Valley realize that the man on the roof talking to the laptop was actually connecting on a real level with students in the place where they are comfortable--online.


Some take-aways from this event:

1. Wouldn't it be cool to broadcast your class one day? Teach multiple rooms at the same time to allow for individualized instruction simultaneously? Not lose an instructional day with a sub? Flip your instructional time outside of the classroom?
2. Even principals need to be reminded to help students maintain a safe online identity. Remind students that it's never safe to post your real name, location or email addresses on public forums such as YouTube Comments. Even if an authority figure asks you to do so...tsk, tsk.
3. Once a broadcast has been made, it's in cyberspace and can be manipulated. So, be careful what you post.

Check out some of the other press this event has received:

The KXAN news report:

Round Rock kids make a wish come true

Round Rock Leader Article

Video captured by Cedar Valley parent, Joe Doran

Arial image captured by J. Doran's remote control helicopter.