Learning in Progress

Post originally published under FTEdTech I am always on the look out for strategies and applications that allow our elementary students to collaborate. When you can add in tools that will let them sketchnote, curate resources from multiple sources, including their drive and use tools that autodraw icons based on rough sketches, then you know you have something that kids can really get into using. I am really excited to share the new app we have in the app portal called Jamboard . Jamboard is essentially a collaborative whiteboard app that includes some pretty impressive features - including collaboration! It is part of GSuite (Google applications) and you sign into it with your school email/password. This app opens up so many possibilities for sketchnoting, curation of ideas and most importantly collaboration!  Jamboard is an application that can be used with or without a physical Jamboard  recently released by Google.  Check out the basics of how to get started wi...

I originally published this on FTEdTech  April is National Poetry Month , and a perfect time to inspire students to create their own poems about Spring. Inspired by Eric Curts' "Springtime Magnetic Poetry with Google Drawings" I created a template that we could use with iPads and one to use with Seesaw. I love the format Curts uses in Google Drawings, but currently we cannot use Google Drawings on the iPad, so it requires a little modifying to give our students the chance for the same fun. To modify the idea so we can use it on our devices with PowerPoint, Google Slides or Seesaw, I first created a background template in Canva using the "Presentation 16:9" size template. I inserted a free image related to spring from their stock images and downloaded it as a JPEG. Setting up the Activity in PowerPoint   I inserted this image as the background of a blank PowerPoint slide by clicking: Design tab Format Background Picture or Texture Fill  File...

I originally published this post on FTEdTech If you haven't tried out the ozobots yet with your class, then now is the time! Ozobots are tiny little robots that work with markers.  Students draw thick lines on paper with black, red, green or blue markers.  They can create different color combinations to program the robot to perform a variety of moves from changes in speed to changes in color and more advanced turns and moves. The simplicity of these robots make them a perfect addition for a center.  With little set up, and very little training students can be engaging in activities that meet the standards, help them practice skills and are fun!  This could be a great way to change things up as we head into the end of the year. Right before Spring Break, I got the chance to work with Mrs. Perkins and her first graders at JES to test out some activities. For the activity we used an Engage - Explore - Explain cycle.  Cycle 1  Engage To begin ...