Education Galaxy 8/26/16

Education Galaxy is up and running! If you haven't set up your classes, it's very easy to do! Go to www.educationgalaxy.comand log in using your email as your username and your last name for your password (unless you changed it last year.)

To set up your classes, you can go to "Student Center" and then "Create a Class". There's a video on the page that shows you exactly how to do it.

STUDENT LOGINS:

Use Safari and create a bookmark on their home screen -www.educationgalaxy.com

You can find the student ID's and PW's after you have set up your class. There is a way to print it out and I also have templates for stickers if you want! Let me know if you want the stickers! I have attached directions for finding the student logins.

March 7, 2016

CODING*ROBOTICS*EMERGING TECHNOLOGY*ART*THINKING*ENGAGEMENT

Develop your understanding of how to leverage innovative tools and strategies to intentionally target learning objectives and student skills.

June 20-22: When you register, you select your session so your seat is guaranteed. The iCREATE Mini Conference is $50 a day (for ESC 11 Districts) or $125 for all 3 days. **

**Tona can pay for a few registrations - please talk to her if you are interested!

Lego Robotics (Day 1 and 2)

Day 1 Breakouts:

Morning Sessions:

• Circuitry (Little Bits, Snap Circuits, and paper circuits)

• 3D Printing

Afternoon Sessions:

• Entry Level Robots (Ollie from Sphero, Bee-Bot and Cublets)

• Minecraft

Day 2 Breakouts:

Morning Sessions:

• Coding Resources for Elementary
• Microcontrollers (Raspberry Pi)

Afternoon Sessions:

• Coding Resources for Secondary
• Low Tech/No Tech Making

Day 3: Playground Day

Please go to www.esc11.net/iCREATE to learn more!!

April 27, 2015

On Saturday, April 25th, we had the privilege of hosting a CODE.ORG class thanks to Cindy Walling and the Aspire TEAM.  There were about 26 educators in attendance with 10 being from Cannon and one of our Instructional Coaches Janie Stach. It was exciting to meet and hear the excitement of one of our GMS STEM teachers-Lilly Monson.

We learned how to teach computer science skills such as critical thinking, logic, persistence and creativity in problem-solving aligned to all subjects areas. Each course is a combination of "unplugged" activities (not on the computer) and online activities as well. Like most things, learning the layout/logic of the lessons and resources is the biggest hurdle to master but the lessons are engaging and higher level that build on each other. 

Patrick was immediately envisioning ways to use this resource in our specials classes and we will be putting a place a school wide student account system with picture passwords.  If you have the opportunity to take this in the future, I think it would a great tool to possess.  Trisha has been to this class previously and is our own in-house expert so please seek her expertise.

www.code.org

April 6, 2015

I have created a Summer 2015 PD Opportunities google doc that can be accessed with this link:

SUMMER 2015 Professional Development

This document currently has Humanities, Technology,STEM, and PBL class offerings. Everything listed is a district offered training and is FREE, unless noted otherwise. If there is a sign-up for the class already in Eduphoria, the link is listed. I will keep this list updated as we receive more information. If you need help with Eduphoria, let me know. 

**Please be aware the TECHNOLOGY classes fill up fast so SIGN UP NOW.

March 2, 2015

While reading some blogs I follow, I read this article from Teach Children Well called “It’s How You Use Technology that Matters.”  I especially like the section that is called Building Relationships and Streamlining Communication because it affirms our goal at Cannon to provide transparent communication with our parents and community.  It also discusses how we are modeling and teaching young students to learn communication skills.  Other schools are often surprised that many of you have blogs for our younger students. We are not just blogging to blog, but instead students are becoming communicators and collaborators.

Please take time to read the Writing and Reflection section.  This aligns with our goals by having the GCISD Portfolio for each student.  I realize the process of using iPads to upload to our portfolio is still a work in progress, but keep in mind the goal of teaching students the process of reflection that will drive future learning. 

Kudos to each of you for using technology to attain higher purposes that deepen learning for your scholars. 

It's How You Use Technology That Matters  

 https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/post/8306681/4210119673

February 23, 2015

It appears you have used Education Galaxy this past week.  (FYI-This report includes the training class on Monday on the usage report so this is not entirely “student time”) As your students work through the diagnostic part they will begin to have time to practice important standards and concepts.  The best part of Education Galaxy is the commitment to having Spanish, corrective math feedback, 4^th grade writing/grammar and 5^th grade science.  Please give me feedback so I can pass it directly back to the Galaxy Team because we will have this next year as well.

For those of you that would like a letter to send home to parents, go to the -SUPPORT menu- choose PARENT LETTER.    Also, if your class or grade level would like to have an “Alien” bulletin board to allow students to post their alien ranking to promote usage, let me know and I will provide the supplies.