The Loft

Jim Ryan's GCE Reflection

19:02

I found the GCE pro-development courses to be super convenient and practical. Elements of Google that were already familiar to me, such as Docs, Forms, Spreadsheets, Searches, Sites, and YouTube are now even more useful and practical, especially with respect to how they're incorporated into my science classes.

One of the most interactive Google applications I use is Forms because it allows me to get valuable and timely feedback from my students. During lab work, my kids usually investigate problems and generate data in teams of two. By requesting them to share data via a Google form I can quickly combine it into a class set (or by side, or grade level) and then share it back with students using the terrific ‘charts’ feature in Google Sheets. This provides better statistical reliability and allows students to see their results in a larger context.

Google Docs have become a staple in most classes, and now I know a few more tricks to help get even more value from them. For example, I’ve wondered occasionally wondered about the time frame in which a student’s lab report was produced. By using the handy ‘revision history’ feature I can quickly see when the report was started and how often contributions were made to it. If necessary, I could use this to verify that the work was completed on time and without excessive external input.

I wasn’t sure how searching for information online could be any more convenient, but I soon realized there was a lot to learn. The sheer vastness of online material makes it increasingly unlikely that I or my students will find just what we’re looking for without intentionally focusing and refining internet searches. I was given tons of new ways to narrow a search and target exactly the people, concepts and ideas I’m interested in. As a result, I’ll be more sensitive to helping kids streamline their searches, too.

Until recently Google Sites was unfamiliar to me except for the very, very basics. However, as the facilitator of a service club, I’ve inherited a club Google Site that was created by a prior supervisor and I’ve been eager to learn better how to manage it. Now I’m much more confident with editing and adding content, as well as including images and video material. The result is an improved site that helps me communicate better with club members, as well as other interested folks in the community, such as parents.

I frequently use short video clips to support my classroom instruction. In the lesson about YouTube features, I learned how to edit videos in order to show only the parts that are relevant to my lessons. I also learned how to have kids easily prepare and share their own videos of lab work in order to capture just the key moments of their learning and discovery. Additionally, students can present scientific explanations in a video format which often gives me a better sense of how well they can argue from reasoning.

I was already using most of these Google applications in my classes, but I knew I wasn’t getting as much out of them as I could. The GCE courses gave me several practical ideas along with the skills I needed to take my online game up another notch. Moving forward, Google applications will be an even more powerful tool in my science teaching.

GCE Reflection

11:03

The first Google Chrome Class already offered plenty of new learning opportunities by learning about Google Chrome Keyboard shortcuts, filtering and refining google searches, and common search tips. Overall, this class helped me with being more proficient in my daily searches with google.

Just recently, I used some of the search tips when I was looking for a fantasy story that was not too long for my learning support students. I typed “Fantasy story 200...500 words” in my omnibox and found several hits. My next step could have been to refine it even more based on their reading levels.

Another very helpful tool was learning how to add ‘extensions’ to my google mail. For example, I was able to add “Boomerang” to my Google Mail in order to write messages but delay their sending. This comes in handy when I write a weekly update on Thursday but want to only send out on Friday after school.

“One Tab” was another great extension that would truncate all open tabs into one page, thus freeing up space and processing speed.

A very useful tip, in light of my impending move, was ways in which to organize my google drive. I have begun to organize my folders using colors as well as using the underscore to elevate their listing. However, a new learning was for me to use acronymic code for folders, sheets, docs, etc. for easier searches later on. Often, I name a document but don’t have the time to file it in the right folder, so this system of using acronyms would definitely help.

Dragging and dropping folders or documents into my drive has become second nature to me already, perhaps because it is so ‘logical.’

A collaborative tool that was new to me was the “Suggesting Edits” feature in google docs. Currently, my students are working on their fantasy stories and this feature now allows me to make suggestions directly ON the document whereas the “comment” feature only allowed me to comment next to the document. I can see how the “Suggesting Edits” feature is a great tool for students to giving and receiving suggestions about each other’s fantasy story.

A quick fix to forcing students to make copies of a document, for example, their Strengths and Goals document, is to change the word “edit” at the end of the link to “copy.”

Finally, I learned how to better organize a document using table of contents and bookmarks. First, I had to set up my table of contents and then label each page with a subheading. To do this, I had to bookmark each of the titles on the pages and then link (highlight it to the table of contents.

Overall, this course equipped me with some powerful tools that will make my ‘online life’ lots easier and much more efficient. From more focused searches in the omnibar to organizing my google folders, from collaborative edits to bookmarking within a document, this course helped me tremendously.

Todd Bombard’s reflection of Learning in the Loft- The greatest PD of all time! (I ain’t kidding)

13:58

- I’d like to give a big shout out to all the tech coaches for the significant amount of time they put in. From the number of sessions they offered to the choices and scope of content they taught. The Loft sessions are a great examples of how this school is truly a leader in education. We are really lucky to have access to such highly knowledgeable coaches. I think it takes years and a ton of training to become as competent as these folks.
- Going into this experience I knew we had rock solid technology coaches, but I have to be honest I was bit anxious about the time commitment and the potential complexity of some of the topics. Their relaxed, fun demeanor helped quell my thoughts. The way they presented the material made it easy to grasp and I really appreciated that it was posted for review. I was able to go back to the site and answer questions by watching the many short clips embedded in the presentations.
A really beneficial aspect of this experience was that it opened up different opportunities for collaboration. The Breakout EDU sessions was really exciting. I loved the way Kelly sat back and just let our group try to figure it out. We all worked diligently and thoroughly enjoyed learning this invaluable tool. I was fortunate to explore Breaking Out with one of the teachers I collaborate with for my grade three ELL students. Bridgette put a ton of time in designing the tasks and I was able to help test it out with a dry run. When we did the Breakout with her class it was unreal. One of my ELL students is shy and not very confident in her English skills. It was incredible to watch her really come out of her shell and use her English skills to communicate and collaborate with her group trying to figure out the tasks. The whole class was completely engaged in learning for the entire time. I have never seen such enthusiasm for learning. I know Bridgette is working on another one for the Village Called Earth Unit and I look forward to more collaboration with her!

Another session that really challenged my thinking was Data session. I had felt pretty comfortable with xcel and Google sheets. But Ben really took it to another level and pushed my thinking. I really benefited from learning how to set up our own sheets, rather than relying on Erin (who is awesome!). It has been very useful being able to customize our input, to put in our own criteria, with drop downs using the data validation. The ELL team does a lot screenings for admissions and I was able to set up a sheet with all the students performance levels based on our specific ELL tests. Locking a reference and using the drag function has also become a really useful tool for inputting and analysing student data in our PLC. James really continued pushing my comfort zone with the second session. His explanations about pivot tables and comparing grades across different level really made me rethink what we were currently doing in our PLC. We were able to go back, look at the data from a fresh perspective, and really plan specific targeted intervention for kids.

The Coding session Keith taught was incredible. My background knowledge and experience with coding was minimal. He really got me up to speed with the what, how, and why of this crucial aspect of 21st century learning. I was all ready to roll when the hour of coding came around. I felt so confident with what I learned that I volunteered to teach a lesson in one of the classrooms. I had pretaught my ELL students, so they had the confidence to be my “assistances”. They walked around and helped their peers get up on the different websites and try various activities. This really boosted their confidence. They really loved the Star Wars one! The screencasting and virtual reality sessions were awesome. Thanks again Keith for the 1:1 VR session! I can’t wait to try this with Bridgette’s class during the VCE unit. All and all an incredible PD experience. I’ve grown a lot and the kids have really benefited. Thanks again folks!

2016

Learning in The LOFT: A Teacher's Reflection

08:37

Learning in The LOFT: A Teacher's Reflection

posted on behalf of Bridget Rigg-Anderson

The Loft is truly inspires teachers and students to be curious, innovative and reflective learners.

BreakoutEDU - In September I attended the BreakoutEDU PD offered by the creators of BreakoutEDU. During that PD, in collaboration with Keith Ferrell, the G3 Tech Coach, we wrote our own Breakout focused on paragraph writing. All G3 teachers used our Breakout with their classes. The class offered by the LOFT gave me the opportunity to refine our Breakout. I am now in the process of planning a second one using Google Maps for the G3 Village Called Earth social studies unit being taught second semester.

Minecraft - This session gave me "street-cred" with my students as I can now speak a tiny smidgen of Minecraft. As far as using Minecraft to help the students write, nope, it isn't going to happen. I’m sure that teachers can turn Minecraft into a valuable writing teaching tool, but I’m just not that teacher.

Sheets: Part 2 - I have been able to apply some of the shortcuts that I learned to my spreadsheets. I can now colorcode cells and use the basic averaging formula. I still need a lot more of guided practice using the formulas to effectively use Sheets. I don’t yet speak Sheets.

Coding - Thanks for sharing different learning to code sites for students. My homeroom students and I thoroughly enjoy the challenges of coding. Even when frustrated, no one wants to stop. Six of my math students were able to achieve "Coding Certificates" during the Hour of Code this year. I'm contemplating offering a Coding EASA next school year. I figured it would be a win-win situation where I would be both a facilitator and a learner.

Virtual Reality - The LOFT class on VR was my second exposure to this very interesting technology. I plan on using VR in the upcoming Village Called Earth Unit. I hope to take my students on journeys to arid landscapes, inside schools, and to hospitals to reflect on how people meet their basic needs.

*Screencasting - Although I didn't officially attend this class, my darling husband, James, shared with me what he learned. I have since made a screencast to help my students transfer their NF books in Google Drive to pdfs to upload in Flipsnack. The kids loved the screencast and I loved not having to repeat the same directions multiple times.

Reflection

17:31

Break Out

This was a most fascinating session as I experienced what it was like to experience the DSLO’s firsthand! We had to communicate our ideas and listen to those of others. Additionally, we had to collaborate and build on each others ideas in order to unlock keys. Critical thinking was important as we had to use use clues to get us to the next level.

I did not expect to be that engaged and vested in this session as I did. I enjoyed taking risks - sharing my thinking with the other participants - as we all were struggling to unlock a key.

I tremendously enjoyed thinking ‘outside the box’ and having to test my ideas. This is a type of thinking that is not often practiced in a school setting, so this was very refreshing!

This type of activity might seem challenging for the kids who are not comfortable taking, however, with the support of the group, the students might learn the intrinsic joy that comes with getting a step closer to unlocking a lock!

Data Spreadsheets

This was an amazing session in that it gave me great many tools to use for my current spreadsheets. These tools included how to:

Split contents of a cell into columns (I used to re-write them simply because I had no other idea how to do it).

Enter specific data via Data Validation. I now have a drop down menu from which to chose data from.

Freezing columns and rows was another ‘ah ha’ moment as I often scrolled up and over to see what the columns/rows header was!

Getting more advanced in the power of the spreadsheet, I learned to apply a formula: sum and average to calculate just that! Adding “(iferror (xyz), “ “) was another great tidbit of valuable information.

I am planning on using these tools in the spreadsheets I am currently working with in grade 5. Mariel and I make them to help us determine what group they belong into and I think I can use the tools learned today to help me achieve this goal.

Coding

Another session that combined hands-on experiences with fun. Using Sphero, we had to program the sphere to follow a pre-designed course. It was in the programming where I had to be a ‘computational thinker’ and program the sphere to roll in a certain direction, with a certain speed for a certain time. I quickly learned to manipulate one of these variables to get from the starting line to the first base. I also had to work with angles by telling the sphere to move in a certain direction in a certain angle. It was a trial and error experience. Luckily, I made it back to homebase!

I could see this activity being a high-interest one to use in the classroom. Students would learn the value of only manipulating one variable at a time, thus reinforcing the science concept of ‘fair testing.’ Additionally, kids learn about angles, time and speed.

Furthermore, I could see this coding toy being used to have groups of kids maneuver an obstacle courses and having competitions with other groups. The skill of collaboration would be important as kids work on navigating the course as a team.