Teaching Above the Line: A Webinar on Using the SAMR Model for Tech Integration

Are you looking for ways how to leverage the power of technology to maximize student learning? Researchers have determined that technology integration typically moves through four specific levels: Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition (SAMR). The higher the level of activity the greater the educational benefit.

Join Our Webinar: Teaching Above the Line – Using the SAMR Model for Tech Integration

This webinar will show how to use the SAMR model of technology integration as a guide for planning and implementing classroom learning experiences that take student learning to higher levels.

Join me and Simple K12 on Wednesday, April 17th @ 6 pm EST as we look at some traditional standards-aligned learning tasks and walk them up the line to show how to transform your teaching and “Teach Above the Line.”

 

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Live Event: Best Google Tips for Your Classroom

On Saturday October 25th, Simple K 12 will be hosting a free Google day of learning designed to provide educators with The Best Google Tips for Your Classroom. Educators can enjoy a series of webinars throughout the day, starting at 10 AM EDT.

I am looking forward to hosting Improve Writing Skills Using Digital Writing and Google Docs  at 1:00 PM. The session is designed to help educators learn to use Google Docs to thoughtfully incorporate digital writing into the curriculum. 

Improve Writing Skills Using Digital Writing and Google Docs 

Would you like to improve your students’ writing skills and help them bridge the gap between writing in school and writing in the real world? One way of doing so is by using digital writing and Google Docs, the documents editor available in Google Drive. Since Google Docs is collaborative and available 24/7, students using Google Docs often write more frequently and better than when given traditional paper and pencil writing tasks. Join Susan Oxnevad as she shows how to use Google Docs to thoughtfully incorporate digital writing into the curriculum. She will explain how to fully utilize the latest Google Docs features, such as integrated reference tools and collaborative revision tools to help you and your students embrace digital writing.

Learn more about the webinars offered throughout the day and register at Simple K 12. 

Free Online Event: Improve Writing with Google Docs

Would you like to improve your students’ writing skills and help them bridge the gap between writing in school and writing in the real world? 

One way of doing so is by using digital writing and Google Docs, the documents editor available in Google Drive. Since Google Docs is collaborative and available 24/7, students using Google Docs often write more frequently and better than when given traditional paper and pencil writing tasks. 



Join me and Simple K 12 for a online event and learn how to use Google Docs to thoughtfully incorporate digital writing into the curriculum. We will explore ways to fully utilize the latest Google Docs features to help you and your students embrace digital writing.

• Learn to use built in research and reference tools available in Google Docs to redefine writing.

• Explore ways to incorporate peer editing and collaboration into writing instruction.

• Take a peek at the Google Classroom to learn how to manage digital writing assignments.

• Explore the use of Google Docs Add-Ons as options for adding functionality to Google Docs.

• Learn to help students become digitally responsible by teaching them to credit sources.

Google Tips & Tools for Teachers All Day

Good news! This webinar is one of 6 webinars offered throughout the day during Simple K-12’s free online event on August 9, 2014.

Learn more about more great webinars and register for this free online event.

Tuesday Webinar: Using Google Slides to Construct Knowledge

Would you like to design student-driven learning experiences that require students to construct knowledge as they create – an idea supported by the Common Core State Standards? 

This could be easier than you think. The Google Docs Presentation tool can be a great starting point to begin breaking the barriers of traditional tech integration and help you design student-driven learning experiences. 

Join me and Simple K12 for an in-depth look at the features available in this collaborative and user friendly tool and learn to use Google Docs in innovative ways that go well beyond the typical student presentation. Templates to get you started also will be provided.

Learn more

Explore this interactive graphic to learn more, get resources and sign up.

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Free Online Event: Google Docs Writing Workshop

How would you like you like to improve your students’ writing skills along with their technology skills? In this webinar, you will learn how to utilize the many features available in Google Docs to facilitate a digital writing workshop and maximize writing instruction in the 24/7 classroom. Join me and Simple K12 as we demonstrate how to

• Use sharing and commenting tools combined with cooperative grouping strategies to provide students with immediate feedback.
• Help students improve writing skills by teaching them to use the integrated reference and writing tools available.
• Monitor student progress using the revision history feature.
• Put the tools together to enjoy the benefits of using these online digital writing tools to support all learners.

Wednesday, July 09, 2014 @ 1:00 PM EDT

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Webinar: Unpacking the CCSS Academic Vocabulary Shift

Are you wondering where to begin to adopt the Common Core Vocabulary Standards? While there are many specific vocabulary standards clearly listed in the K-12 Language Strand, it’s helpful and important to look at Academic Vocabulary from the big picture view. This webinar will unpack the Common Core Academic Vocabulary Shift by taking a closer look at the three targeted tiers of vocabulary. 

Join me and Simple K12  as we explore some free and user friendly digital tools and effective instructional practices to support the necessary direct instruction of tier 2 and tier 3 words. Sign up

Digital Differentiation, a Free Webinar on 3/29

Please join me and Simple K 12 for a free day of learning on March 29th. I’ll be kicking off the day of learning with an overview of flexible tools to support personalized learning, an essential component of Digital Differentiation. 

Explore my redesigned flexible toolkit during this webinar at 10:00 AM EDT. 

View schedule and sign up >>

Instructional Shifts to Support the Common Core

Are you looking for ways to effectively implement and manage the Common Core aligned classroom?

The CCSS identify a spiraling set of skills necessary to prepare students for success. The standards are designed to teach students how to think. They call for increased comprehension, synthesis of information and the ability to clearly express learning. To facilitate the deep learning experiences supported by the CCSS, a shift in instructional practices is necessary. 

The seamless integration of technology into the Common Core aligned curriculum supports learning through active participation and increases opportunities for all students to have access to the resources and information they need for success. With increasing numbers of Internet connected portable learning devices in our schools, access to information is readily available in a variety of formats and often in the palm of our students’ hands. While it’s safe to say that many schools are wired, it’s time to combine digital tools with innovative instructional practices to get our students plugged in. 

Help students uncover knowledge

Instead of teaching scripted curriculum defined by a textbook, consider putting your teaching skills and expertise to good use during the instructional planning phase by using essential questions to fuel the learning. Essential questions require students to construct knowledge and when combined with a flexible lesson design this type of learning can allow students to express learning in original ways. There is no room for answers that simply require copying and pasting, and worksheets become obsolete.

Essential Questions

To get started with essential questions, first take a look at the content you will be covering. Use Bloom’s as a guide to develop complex questions that require students to use higher order thinking skills to answer. Take a look at the Common Core Standards and identify several standards that can be woven into the learning process. Design a grading rubric for use as a guide to define expectations for students as they create a final original project to demonstrate learning. This will ensure that the student driven learning experience hits the targeted instruction and includes those Common Core Standards. Remember to make sure to dedicate an adequate amount of instructional time for students to answer complex Essential Questions

Explore my toolkit of resources for helping students uncover knowledge and create something original.

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Explore this interactive graphic, created with ThingLink

Final thoughts

Technology is a powerful tool for learning that can be used effectively to help students develop the skills necessary to succeed in school and beyond. Students can develop transferrable knowledge and skills as they engage in learning experiences that require them to construct knowledge. 

The Common Core presents new challenges and new opportunities to help us focus on deep learning. This requires shifts in instructional practices. We have the opportunity to redesign learning, let’s embrace it!

Learn more

I’m hosting a webinar onTuesday, 11/19 at 4:00 PM EST to explore Instructional Shifts to Support the Common Core. If you are a Simple K-12 member, I hope you will join us for a closer look at the ideas presented here.

Instructional Shifts to Support the CCSS
11/19/2013 at 4:00 PM EST

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Registration is open to Simple K12 members

Google Tools for Teachers – Free Webinars on 11/16/13

On Saturday, November 16th, Simple K12 will be hosting a full day of free webinars on Google Tools for Teachers. I’m excited to be presenting webinars at 2:00 and 3:00 PM EST and I’m looking forward to learning from a talented lineup of SK12 presenters!

November 16th, 2013 Lineup – Google Tools for Teachers

Go Google for Presentations 10:00 AM EST, presented by Tia Simmons 

Productivity and Collaboration in the Google Cloud with Google Drive
11:00 AM EST, presented by Kyle Pace 


Save Time and Simplify Your Grading 
12:00 PM EST, presented by Kim Munoz

Going Google: The Quick Start Guide to Getting Started with Google Tools 
1:00 PM EST, presented by Kimberly Thompson 

Using Google Docs Presentation Tools to Construct Knowledge
2:00 PM EST, presented by Susan Oxnevad

Improve Writing Skills Using Digital Writing and Google Docs
3:00 PM EST, presented by Susan Oxnevad 

How to Get the Most from the Teacher Learning Community4:00 PM EST, presented by Kimberly Thompson

Learn more and sign up!

ThingLink: Design Engaging Learning Experiences

Nov. 12th @4:00 PM CST

As an instructional technology facilitator my goal is to weave together digital tools to design engaging, interactive learning experiences that support all learners and encourage higher order thinking. Of course, in order to be useful for teachers, these learning experiences need to be aligned to standards, initiatives and hot edtech topics.

ThingLink is one of the most frequently used tools in my digital toolkit because it is flexible, user friendly, and it can be used to help me meet my goals. I believe ThingLink allows me to create whatever I can possibly imagine! 

What is ThingLink?

ThingLink, an online tool that provides users with the ability to turn any image into a multimedia rich interactive graphic. Add video, images, audio, and links to any website with the click of a button. Pack a lot of content into a small space and embed it into a variety of online learning platforms for easy access, 24/7. ThingLink is user friendly flexible and free. 

A Few Ways to Use ThingLink

In preparation for my Simple K12 webinar this week, I put together this interactive image to illustrate some effective ideas for using ThingLink. Please explore this image.

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Resources for Using ThingLink 

This blog is filled with examples and ideas for using ThingLink for teaching and learning. In addition to a few dedicated posts you will find that ThingLink is woven into many different ideas and examples I have shared. Beyond that, please visit my ThingLink Toolkit. The toolkit is a comprehensive collection of resources to help teachers and students successfully use ThingLink for teaching and learning. There you will find many examples and quite a few tutorials to get you started.

If you are a Simple K12 member, I invite you to attend the webinar I am hosting on Tuesday, November 12th for 30 minutes of learning, live and worldwide! 

SAMR: Design a Flexible Toolkit

Create Interactive Multimedia Graphics for Teaching & Learning 

November 12th

3:00-3:30 PM CST

Sponsored by SimpleK12

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Registration is open to members