Workshops/Free on GAFE and iPads this summer (June and August 2014)

A few days of rest this week and two (7/25 iPad and 7/26 GAFE) great PD Workshops that sold out!
I will be offering again at the end of August for the Central MA Readiness Center (Early Learning Challenge Grant)

1. Introduction to Integrating iPads in the Early Childhood and Elementary Classroom Added Date  August 19^th, Tuesday - Johnny Appleseed Elementary School, Leominster, MA, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
2. Google Apps for Educators (GAFE) New date added August 20^th  Wednesday
   Johnny Appleseed Elementary School, Leominster, MA 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
3. Multimedia - Publishing and Blogging August 21st -  Thursday

More details on the CMRS website 
http://www.fitchburgstate.edu/offices/community-outreach/central-mass-readiness-center/professional-development-across-the-region/ 

So many talented teachers.  We had a great few days of learning and collaborating!

Teachers now want additional sessions on Blogging, iMove/iPad and YouTube.

I get to rest up for the next few weeks and will be teaching a few weeks in July on both topics.

For details about the FREE workshops contact:
Central MA Readiness Center (Early Learning Challenge Grant) Debbie Fnine dfnine@fitchburgstate.edu 978 665-4162

Summer PD and Vacation!

Today is one of my favorite days of the year!  As we wrap up another school year it's time for reflection and planning for summer PD.

I will teaching a few workshops and graduate classes this summer around integrating iPads and GAFE. It's always a great opportunity to connect with other educators and co-teach with some of my favorite former students.

I am looking forward to some travelling and down time on the cape this summer too!

Literature Cicle and book trailers!

This month I worked with another amazing high school english teacher, Jen Panarelli on an assignment that served as a warm-up to the summative assessment for a literature circle unit. Students chose from the following books for their literature circle: 
Within their book commercial, each student had to identify a major theme from the book and provide a brief character and plot introduction.  We used the educational version of Animoto and created students accounts so they would have the abilty to create longer vidoes.  The process to setup the accounts was slightly cumbersome but the results were very impressive. 

Here are a few examples: The Lord of the Flies, The Fault in Our Stars, Fahrenheit 451, and Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie. 

The Fault in Our Stars - http://animoto.com/play/aaDBK1UAnyf1eroLWzePsg

http://animoto.com/play/lAUhD70gnkx0XCarPXPLkw

http://animoto.com/play/BMvgsxx2q7587owowqV1TQ

http://animoto.com/play/fkAh14n60hc3JLEpEo60aQ

http://animoto.com/play/YB4FFZRaIRp1q89f21KkGA

http://animoto.com/play/Oh2MSqdat0NbGMExMrWiLA

http://animoto.com/play/9JStdO1xiw5nG3VShVQPUw

http://animoto.com/play/NotbBCOHOevd6R81SMmXvg

Today for the their final exam essay, the students used chromebooks in class to analyzed the theme they identified in greater detail.

Interview the Author - Social Media Fascination

Today our class will be skying with Deborah Owen's to discuss her new book, "Social Media Fascination" Embracing Social Media To Build Community, Trust and Rapport.

The author suggest we focus on the DO's and less on the DO-NOT's -
DO be honest
DO be transparent
DO find out what your followers need
DO reach out to get to know them
DO offer them solutions to their problems
DO help them find information that will help them move forwad whether it is informationthat you write or information that you gather and curate for them to use.

Start with DO CARE/SERVE, and the rest will follow.

Book Link / Video - Deborah C. Owen's new book: Social Media Fascination; Embracing social media to build community, trust and rapport