How I Utilize Edmodo

I was asked some questions about Edmodo, a site used by over 35 million teachers and students connecting online classrooms, and here were my answers!

How do you use Edmodo as a teacher? First of all, there are multiple ways a teacher can use Edmodo. How I use it, is by posting my lesson plans, that I make on PlanBook.com, on my class Edmodo page. I do this weekly, so that students in my BYOD 1:1 iPad 4-5 Combo class, can see what the classwork and homework is for the week. Students can click on the instructional movie links that are included in the lesson plans. Parents can see these plans also, as there is a code for parents to access their student page. 

Our class Edmodo page is also a place where students can post questions to each other, for all in our class to see, and communicate about school (although on Edmodo they can't directly message each other, which I think is an advantage, because the point is to communicate as a class.)The page is closed, and only accessible by our class members and parents.

There is a library feature in Edmodo, where I store all lesson plans, links, PDFs. Students can save lesson plans too, in their Edmodo backpacks.

I noticed that Edmodo has compatibility with other apps, so if writing is done in Notability, it can be posted directly on Edmodo, for example.

What aspect do you like most about Edmodo? I like that it helps me to keep my lesson plans organized, helps students see and use that organizational tool, and is easy to use. Having a closed page just for our class, brings us together in a different way, than just in class. Students work together to problem solve and help with each other's questions they might have when they are at home. I like that students have learned, in a safe place, how to make relevant posts, and thus learn about responsibilities online and work toward becoming responsible digital citizens.

What other features does Edmodo have that you don't use now? There is a planner, a poll maker, quiz feature, google drive accessible, and apps through Edmodo. These I'd like to explore more. 

Can't wait for Edmodocon 2014 on August 6!

bContext App

Ok, yay, I've made a new discovery that will help me with making, storing, and sharing my instructional movies! bContext interactive whiteboard App seems to be the answer I'm looking for, in the sense that the whiteboard movies I make can be made into mp4 format, with the click of a button. This means I can share them and students can open them, with no ads or YouTube attachments along the sides of them. They can be opened on iPhones, iPads, computers, everywhere, as opposed to educreations App (which I love, but can only be viewed on iPad or computer if the viewer has the App). Since I'm starting to make new movies, since the change to common core is here and we are making changes in the programs we are using, the time to find something more compatible for my needs in sharing instructional movies is now. I hope and think bContext is it!

Formula for Implementing 1:1 BYOD

I went to a luncheon for Distinguished Schools in CA, and a speaker at the gala was Tom Torlakson, Superintendant of Public Instruction in CA. He said that within the next five years, all students in the state will have online access utilizing 1:1 devices, such as iPads and/or computers.

I just spent a year, implementing a full BYOD 1:1 iPad program in my 4th-5th grades Combo class. All assignments were given, presented, performed, and turned in online. I have documentation of student success utilizing the iPads they brought from home. I have a formula for success in carrying out a program. I'd be happy to share how. It's really the right time to completely write about what I did, and how others can strive to achieve the same. 

This is happening, and will be happening; the change in utilizing iPads and computers in our classrooms.

Student BYOD Exit Survey

Well, my school year is over; one of the most challenging years of my career!

It's time to analyze how it went, using actual data. My opinion of how it all went, has been written/documented, but that write up or two included my feelings and opinions about the results.  In a nutshell, those feelings were all positive! I saw and see the BYOD 1:1 iPad combo 4-5 class, as a huge success. But was it really? Feelings, opinions, impressions, all have value but let's get down to the nitty-gritty.

I gave a 10-question student survey on the second to last day of school. Students were to write their answers first, and then film themselves answering the questions. They were assigned to email me the video clips and turn in their written paper copy of the survey too. I told them this would not impact their grades, and truthful answers would only help me in the future, with next year's BYOD 1:1 iPad combo 4-5 class.  Watching the video clips, compiling them into iMovies, recording tally marks of their answers, gave me some new insights.

Overall positive results! Some areas to consider for the fall, and some ah ha's for me regarding my absolute adoration for iPads. I'll be looking at managing Minecraft, giving those assignments not quite as often, for example. I'd like to find a mirroring app for seeing what is on student devices while they are working at school on iPads. 

While iPads are super cool, motivating, and organizing tools, nothing can replace hands on activities, science experiments, performing arts, field trips, engineering design activities, and the teacher. The iPad as a device, is only as good as the person managing the tool, is only as good as the teacher using it to transform learning. It doesn't stand alone. One question in the survey asked how have iPads helped you to learn this year? There were 100% positive answers. Here are those answers:

Recycling for a Cause Concluded Today

Well, it was a heartwarming day watching four of my students deliver 12 gallons of milk, 5 cakes, 24 pairs of socks, 8 pairs of underware, and a check for $100.00 to a food pantry. Our class has been recycling for our school this year, and our second Recycling for a Cause project involved donating these items. Yesterday, my class's "Purchasing Committee" bought the undergarments and socks and cakes.  Today our "Delivery Committee" picked up the milk from the grocery store along the way to the food pantry.

This real-world CBL (Challenge Based Learning) project helped students to learn about helping the environment (the recycling part) and charity and kindness toward others (the donation to the homeless part).

As one boy said today, "I feel fuzzy inside," the moment we got in the car after delivering the items.

It was a good day!

 

Why BYOD Worked!

Why BYOD Worked!

So, my school year is about to wrap up, and I can say clearly, my pilot worked! The numerous hours every weekend of making lesson plans and instructional movies for my combo 4th & 5th grade, 1:1 iPad, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device *iPad) classroom worked! By worked, I mean, it was a huge success; better than I could have imagined! And I did imagine. I've been imagining for quite some time now.

For me it started when the iPad was first sold in stores. I wanted one! I wanted one so badly that I used all my classroom funds to purchase one. I started to replicate my lessons for math, by propping the iPad up on a chair, and filming myself teaching lessons. Then I'd replay the lessons, and interact with the live students and tape, and I became my own aide. I was able to be in two places at the same time: in front of the room giving instruction, and checking student work walking through the room.  To coin a phrase, I cloned myself. Awesome!

I took many graduate level courses beyond my Masters, attended several CUE conferences (Computer Using Educators), even speaking at one, and it was through this training I became aware of the endless possibilities for utilizing iPads in the classroom. One professor commented on my final paper, that he learned so much from me, that he would be changing his syllabus the following semester to include the information I had provided.

The progression in the classroom went from me having one teacher iPad the first year, to having 6 iPads to share with two other teachers the following year.  We did some awesome center activities, including making math topics iMovies! At the time I taught 4th grade math only, all day, and students rotated from class to class, with teachers specializing in their subject. I was the math/tech teacher. My principal, at the time, gave me a lot of leeway and freedom to experiment with apps, and assignments. 

As the principal was retiring, she asked me to be the combo 4th and 5th grade teacher the following year. The carrot of having all iPads was tossed around, but instantly I was in dread of the coming school year, going from my beloved math-all-day job, to teaching 2 grade levels, all subjects, simultaneously. A huge mountain of challenges was ahead of me.

That summer I received an email from my new principal, asking me to pilot a BYOD 1:1 iPad classroom. Now this was great news! It would be the first at the elementary level in the district, or anywhere in the area! I answered a giant "Yes!"

It was like I had been waiting to be asked. I was so ready to run BYOD! I spent every waking hour of the summer preparing.  In August, I watched Edmodocon online, which was a mind-blowing, earth-shattering experience. Endless possibilities! I made a film about Edmodocon, that the Edmodo company people loved.  They sent me Edmodo swag in the mail as a result!

My district asked me to be on a committee for CCSS (Common Core State Standards) training over the summer, and I made films of the training sessions. Everyplace I went, everything I saw and thought about, I made into a film.

My introduction to parents of students in my combo class, was made into a film that I sent them using a link to an iMovie saved on YouTube. My new principal was so pro tech and sold the program to our parents as well. With web blocks in place, and permission slips signed, we got underway in September 2013 with the first BYOD 1:1 iPad elementary classroom around.

We had a list of apps for parents to install on iPads. We had a cart for storage and locking up devices at recesses. We had a wonderful tech aide who knew the ins and outs of maintenance of the devices. I had the support I needed.  I had the desire to make the plan work. I had a passion for this new innovative and transformative tool, and with the change in education toward CCSS and 21st century learning practices, I knew this fit!

It took little convincing, and little time, for students to see the importance of the iPads in the classroom, and the impact their roles would have. Students watched instructional math movies made by me, by going to their Edmodo class page, clicking on the PlanBook.com lesson plans, and then on the link to educreations movies. Students wrote any written assignment in the Notability app, annotating and doing voice-overs on their work. Written work in Notability was then forwarded via email to the teacher, or turned in on the Showbie app.  I could evaluate work turned in on Showbie by writing and sending a voice message about the assignments. 

Students created iMovies and educreations movies of concepts learned in any subject area.  Nearpod was an app that our whole class used to study Science and Social Studies, and consequently visit places like the tundra ecosystem in Nepal, and the rain forests in Brazil. 

Students blogged about Science experiments by using the KidBlog app. Students read books in the Subtext app, even checking out ebook library books through that app.

Students introduced me to the Minecraft app, which was utilized for student creations of academic worlds. Students made virtual CA Missions, Spanish forts, planetariums, solar systems, power plants, mines, electric circuits, food chains, periodic tables with the Minecraft app. Absolutely creative and innovative interpretations of concepts learned, using the Minecraft app!

The benefits of BYOD, were increased student engagement in tasks, the opportunity to be creative and even to initiate ideas, the training to become good digital citizens, and the advantage of becoming better organized.  Preparing students for a future in the digital world and workforce, was (and is) responsible and correct. With the change in education toward 21st Century learning and CCSS, using iPads in the classroom enhanced and transformed learning in our classroom.

So, what made BYOD work? It was a combination of things. It was a group of parents who took a chance on me. Without their support I could not have succeeded. They spent big money to send iPads to school, that they bought for their children. (The students who didn't bring iPads from home, used school iPads .)

It was administrators who supported and contributed to my design, and gave me the freedom to try! It was a school district that set up proper blocks on wifi to make internet searches safe.

It was a group of students so motivated, creative, quick, like sponges soaking up information at lightning pace. 

It was my finding a path I hadn't known I'd find, and having the nerve to forge forward without fear, into territory not yet traveled. 

Mother's Day QR code gift!

A pretty cool Mother's Day gift we created in my 4-5 Combo class, was to make a class movie saying "I love you" and "Happy Mother's Day". Students looked into the camera and told their moms sweet sentiments, as Carole King sang Child of Mine in the background. Next I had students take a picture holding an iPad that read "I love you, Mom!" with tulips on it. After that, I made a QR code out of the movie link, made a pic collage of each child's pic and the class movie QR code. Finally, the pic collages were printed, and put in frames. Students wrote moms messages on the frame mattings, as well.

Overall, I'm pleased with how the tech Mother's Day gift turned out!