Engaging Learners with YouTube

Reported by: Jessica Powell, Instructional Technologist for Secondary English, Language Arts & Reading.

YouTube is the 2nd
most used search engine.

Lately, I have been really intrigued by the use of video creation as a means for engaging learners. Focus being on the word: creation. Don't get me wrong, I love showing quick little videos that give my students some background context for the passage/novel/selection we're reading in class, and I believe adding video content leads to a better understanding for my students; however, SHOWING a video doesn't require my kiddos to think critically and that's the skill every teacher needs to develop. 

Enter YouTube. No longer is it simply a place for watching SharkCat or laughing baby videos. Today, YouTube is a great place for students to create and share content. Not only can students edit the videos they have recorded of their classmates acting out a Shakespearian scene or working through the stages of science experimentation, but they can also combine videos/images/text/music to create a completely new product that illustrates their understanding of the concepts they have been learning.

Imagine the possibilities!  Students might observe physical forces in nature and record them on their phone. They can go to YouTube, upload their raw video footage, edit out pieces, add a voice over explaining the laws of nature as they understand them to work, and overlay text that helps organize their thoughts into traceable learning paths.  

With so many options for creation in a tool so commonly and widely known, it might seem overwhelming to try and learn it all so your kids can use it. Below is a tutorial full of ideas and info on using YouTube.

Feel free to take a look and follow along in the how-to videos toward the end. I think you'll find that YouTube provides an opportunity for engagement you didn't know you had at your fingertips!

Reflections: TCEA 2015

Reported by: Dawn Jahnke

Instructional Technology Specialist

Many things are learned at TCEA, so many at times you think your head might explode with the wealth of ideas shared. For those of you new to the acronym, TCEA refers to Texas Computer Education Association Convention. It is regularly held in Austin, TX in the first week of February, and this year was no different with information sharing! My favorite sessions were about Google Sheets, coding, and mobile device ideas. To keep this post short but deliberate I thought I would share a piece for each of those. 

 Coding lovers check out:

• Code.org -- variety of introductory, fun activities to teach students computational thinking and coding basics. you can create teacher accounts
• Code.org Flappy Bird -- create a Flappy Bird game using Code.org’s easy interface.
• Scratch -- teaches coding principles by way of a kid-friendly, drag-and-drop interface.
• Scratch Starter Kit -- variety of resources to help get started using Scratch in the classroom.
• Scratch Rubric -- sample assessment rubric for student Scratch projects.

Google Sheets were used in many unique ways. By use of line colors and groupings a notebook was created. Why wasn’t this idea thought of sooner! An instant notebook with tabs for the teacher or student. Check out this template shared by Tammy Worcester: Class Notebook Template (http://tinyurl.com/tttcea9 for more ideas)

The last idea I would like to share is about using Class Dojo. Class Dojo is a motivational behavioral tracking site. The session used it to create teams to encourage that other 21st century skill known as competition! We were assigned to one of the teams pictured below(even though we worked in pairs on a device) We app smashed as we were monitored for completion, cooperation, and collaboration skills. Points were award in Class Dojo accordingly. It gave the activity another level of urgency.

So next February keep in mind TCEA. It is worth the go!!

It's BACK! Digital Learning Conference 2015

Reported by: Phyllis Roberts & Danielle Haymes
Instructional Technology Specialists
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The Instructional Technology Department is pleased to announce the 2015 Inspiring Connections Digital Learning Conference on July 28 and 29, 2015.

The conference will give you the opportunity to network with other educators, share resources, ideas, and build skills. By attending multiple sessions throughout the day, participants can learn how to engage digital learners with Augmented Reality, Google in the Classroom, and Coding, to name a few. For additional information, including our featured speakers, check out our website and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. 

You will leave the conference with new ideas that will make your classroom come alive. Professional development credit will be awarded.

Are you willing to share your experiences with other educators and administrators who are looking for ways to enhance best practices? Please consider being a part of our conference by completing the Call for Presenters form.

We look forward to seeing you there in July!

Technology Festival 2015: Inspiring Connections CFISD Students Share their Creativity and Talents!

Reported by: Amy Kainer

Instructional Technologist

Student Design: Cody Keller, Cy-Falls HS

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Instructional Technology is thrilled to once again host our annual student technology festival! In its sixth year, this event promises to be even bigger and better, with more students sharing their creativity and talents in all content, levels, and future career paths.

Technology Festival 2015: Inspiring Connections will be held on April 30, 2015 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Berry Center (8877 Barker Cypress). 

If you have never been to the Technology Festival (or even if you have), you must come see the excitement! From Kindergarten to high school, students will be presenting to their families, their teachers, our board members and administrators, and community visitors. Our Cy-Fair kids are preparing for their future by using 21st Century tools to enhance their learning.

Photo: Joel Weckerly, CyFair ISD

Based on high school campus feeder patterns, parents and students will have a vertical look at technology use from Kindergarten through grade 12. Each campus will have a booth where students will present technology-infused products and demonstrations. Learn about tablet technology, web 2.0 tools, collaboration tools, and interactive whiteboard activities from students of all ages. Begin your journey at any level and visit any or all (if you have time!) of the “zones” in the district. School-sponsored robotics clubs from middle and high schools will also be represented, sharing their programming and creative skills.

Photo: Joel Weckerly, CyFair ISD

Experience the high-tech world of our high schools’ Career and Technical Education areas. See students in action as they demonstrate the use of industrial technologies including VEX robotics, laser engraving, 3D printing, automotive technology, special projects such as NASA HUNCH, and much more. Students will share their incredible talents in digital technologies such as animation, web design, and graphic design. Learn about networking, programming, and future computer technologies from our expert computer science students. In addition, we will have interactive video conference events and our very own Technology Festival Roving Reporters, who will be broadcasting live interviews throughout the Berry Center and via online video streaming.

We encourage you to attend this exciting showcase and visit with our talented CFISD students! They will be eager to share their knowledge and skills, explaining their process for infusing technology throughout their journey of collaborating, creating, and learning.

Connect with us on Facebook! 

facebook.com/cfisdtechnologyfestival

Follow Us on Twitter

If you've been following the activities in CFISD recently, you'll notice that Twitter is becoming increasingly popular with our administrators and our teachers. It's everywhere! Well, your district Instructional Technology Specialists are no exception. We are all on Twitter and would love to have you follow us and our hashtags.  So find us and click "Follow" to find out what's going on with tech around the district.

Hashtags in the #Classroom

I read an article today from the TCEA's (Texas Computer Education Association) magazine TECHEDGE (August 2014).It had a lot of great articles, but the one that caught my attention the most wasHashtags in the #Classroom. Like the author, Sherry McElhannon stated, "Those tiny symbols..hold great power...that can open lines of communication, create community, or offer insight..." Hashtags do convey voice and like she reminded the reader:

1. They are made by the people, for the people

2. They appear in conjuction with major events (#fergeson), social movements, or just fun (#jff just for fun)

3. Chose a hashtag for particular projects or your campus

The elementary reading department has created their own CyFair PLN(personal learning network) with a hashtag. Teachers and admin can tweet with #cfisdelar  to share celebrations/successes, room designs, ideas, and more.

You never know how it might spread if you never #getgoing!

Hashtags Twitter Tweet classroom

The Rundown: Digital Learning Conference 2014

This summer was full of many awesome opportunities to learn new tech skills. Notably, we hosted our 2014 Digital Learning Conference (DLC) on July 30-31 at Cypress-Woods HS. Presenters ranged from local, district "techsperts" to more broadly known #edtech superstars who got teachers fired up about cutting edge tech integration tools. The over 600 participants came from all campuses and grade-levels within our district, but we also had a healthy turn-out of participation from districts in our area like Klein ISD, Spring Branch ISD, Navasota ISD, Coldsprings-Oakhurst Consolidated ISD, and even a few private schools.

We were fortunate enough this year to have been able to bring in some high profile presenters: Brad Waid and Drew Minock were crowd pleasers with their sessions on Augmented Reality and cool Web 2.0 Apps to use in the classroom; Todd Nesloney and his TechNinja crew got teachers excited about flipping their classrooms and adopting innovative teaching practices; Matt Gomez brought teachers to the Twittersphere with his Twitter 101 session as well as showed some awesome websites for tech integration; and finally, Randy Rogers covered several topics during his sessions, including Web 2.0, BYOD/BYOT, and most impressively, coding resources for students.

Our Instructional Technology team did a great job with the help of several district groups like Cypress-Ranch and Cypress-Woods Key Clubs and the administrative and custodial staffs at Cypress-Woods HS, who helped get our classrooms ready and were more than accommodating hosts.

We can't wait to see you all again next summer at our 2015 Digital Learning Conference to be held July 28-29, 2015.  If you're interested in presenting at the conference, check the eConnection for the call to present and upcoming registration dates.