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Sharing Advice to Make tech Relevant
Welcome to Above the Line with PL, the Personalized Learning monthly podcast, where we are Sharing Advice to Make tech Relevant. We’re streaming from the PL Office here at E-STEM Middle School. We’re here to communicate PL Happenings throughout the district including what’s new, tips and tricks, professional learning opportunities and some staff highlights. Our hope is to provide an easy way to access these updates. You can listen in the car, the shower, play it in your classroom while you’re prepping for your day or any other place you normally listen to your podcasts!
In SPPS, technology integration is often discussed in regard to the SAMR model. This is a framework developed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura with the levels of substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition. While it not always the goal with using technology to be at the modification or redefinition level, these are the levels where learning and teaching are truly transformed. Where students and teachers can do what was not previously possible without the technology. That is called being “Above the line.” In our podcast series we hope to be able to share some ideas that will allow you to teach “Above the line.”
Listen to the latest episodes below or listen and subscribe on Anchor.FM/AboveTheLine.
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👉 Click Here for Above The Line Episode 4 - Ready For Change
In this episode, we focus on how to keep your iPadOS and apps up-to-date for top performance and access to all new iPad and app features and amazing new updates to our core apps Seesaw and Flipgrid that allow for more teacher and student customization. We also share multiple ways to organize your classroom for personalized learning, including tips on how to record great audio on student projects on the iPad. Our staff spotlight this month focuses on two high school teachers who share their favorite Schoology features and tips for teachers on how to get started with Schoology in the classroom.
New and Noteworthy
Apple Classroom
- Working in SPPS now
- Classroom app guide
- Only need 6 badges now for Apple Teacher certification
- Earn 16 clock hours for relicensure
Flipgrid
Seesaw
- Can import multipage documents
- PDFs
- Google Slides and Docs
- Zoom
- Full screen - Show and hide tools on left side
- Draft - save as draft to finish later
- Needs to be using 1:1 or Google signin mode to use this feature
- Send Back - great for giving feedback to student on drafts
- Needs to be using 1:1 or Google signin mode to use this feature
- Activity Library
- Save lessons to your "My Library"
- Edit to customize lesson and add your own voice
- Icon Shortcuts - use when editing activities to create icons
- Scheduling activities
Tips and Tricks
Use the Reinstall button in Self Service to update apps
Update iPadOS
- Settings > General > Software Update
Use your iPad as a mobile document camera
- Camera app
- Reflector 3 app (Install from Self Service on your laptop)
Ideas for setting up classroom environment
- Create seating arrangements for collaboration
- Create flexible seating arrangements
- Adjust furniture height for standing work stations
- Record great-sounding audio
Professional Development
iLearn Leaders
Summer iLearn Cohort
- Only need 6 badges now for Apple Teacher certification
- Earn 16 clock hours for relicensure
Staff Spotlight
Jennifer Singerhouse
- Central High School
- U.S. History and AP Human Geography teacher
- Schoology Blended Learning Leader
- Google Drive Assignments
- Notability app (Paid app available in Self Service)
Shelly Vixayvong
- Highland Park Middle School
- Spanish teacher
- Schoology Blended Learning Leader
- Sketchbook app
- Gimkit
- Kahoot
- Quizlet
Listen to episode 4 below to get all of the details!
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👉 Click Here for Above The Line Episode 3 - Coding Connections
In this episode, we tackle coding resources that are available for the upcoming Global Initiative called Hour of Code. We’ll share some tricks for embedding content in Schoology and some updates to the Seesaw app that make it easier to use and more student friendly. We’ll also dig into a little known app on your iPad that can save you time! Finally, we’ll get to hear from a principal in Saint Paul Schools talking about shared leadership, the evolution of teaching and learning in his building, and his journey to leading an Apple Distinguished School.
New and Noteworthy
Hour of Code Resources
- Everyone Can Code Puzzles
- Swift Playgrounds app
- Everyone Can Code Adventures - Coming soon
- Code.org Hour of Code Activities
Seesaw Updates
- Drafts
- Resize buttons and drawing pens
National History Day Website Tool
Tips and Tricks
Coding Connections
Professional Development
- iPad and Mac badges
- Swift Playgrounds badges
Staff Spotlight
Jim Litwin
- Principal of Horace Mann School
- Apple Distinguished School - 2019-2022
Listen to episode 3 to get all of the details!
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👉 Click Here for Above The Line Episode 2 - Customizing Learning With iPadOS and Flipgrid
New and Noteworthy
- Update your iPad
- Dark Mode
- Copy and paste gestures
- QuickPath typing
- Undo and redo swipe gestures
- Using an external USB drive to access and save files
- Safari desktop-class browser
- Reader view
- Using Google Drive, Docs, Slides, Sheets, etc., in Safari desktop browser
- Acessibility
Check out the Tips app for these and more great tips from Apple
- Available in the App Store
Seesaw
New literacy resources for teachers
- Words Their Way - 3rd through 5th grade
- Fountas and Pinnell - Kindergarten through 2nd grade
- Newsela - middle schools and all students at schools with 6th to 8th grade students
- Login account information was shared by Literacy Team - check with your school literacy coach
Tips and Tricks
- Screenrecording on the iPad
- Creating screenshots on the iPad
- Activating dictation on the iPad
- Emoji keyboard
Professional Development
- iLearn
- Check PDExpress for sessions
- Self-paced courses in Schoology - See PDExpress listings for access codes
- Apple Teacher Badges
- 16 clock hours
- Awesome SPPS Apple Teacher sticker!
- Schoology 101
- for Elementary
- for Secondary
- Check PDExpress for access codes
Apple Distinguished School Recognition
Staff Spotlight
Frost Lake Teachers
- Kelly Jenson
- Amanda Madsen
- Martin Odima
- Getting Started Guide
- Gridpals
- Disco Library
- Listen to the podcast for lots of great examples of how they use Flipgrid in their classrooms, to connect with others, and as part of their professional development
Add your voice to the Amplifying SPPS Voices Grid
- Use Grid code - madsen4693 to join
Listen to episode 2 to get all of the details!
- Update your iPad
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👉 Click Here for Above The Line Episode 1 - Welcome Back
In this episode, we talk about:
- Our new podcast
- SAMR model
Tips and Tricks
- Tips for keeping your iPad clean and running smoothly
- Keynote drawing tools
New and Noteworthy
- Clever - Sign in at http://clever.com/in/spps on your laptop or with the app on your iPad
- Apple Classroom class lists have been uploaded
- iPad OS 13 - not released by Technology Services yet
Professional Development Opportunities for Staff
- Apple Teacher - PDExpress P_L1717
- iLearn Leaders
- iLearn Foundations
- Seesaw for Formative Assessment - PDExpress P_L 1905
- Seesaw for Family Engagement - PDExpress P_L 1906
- Schoology Gradebook for Secondary Teachers - PDExpress P_L1632
Staff Highlights
- SPPS Apple Distinguished Educators Class of 2019 members
- Kelly Jenson
- Amanda Madsen
- Chris Turnbull
Listen to episode 1 to get all of the details!
- Our new podcast