Macul 2015... Wow!

 The morning began with parking challenges...

a gate quickly closed right in front of my car 

with many cars behind me.  Yikes!  Fortunately

 the challenge quickly turned to opportunities as 

I entered my first MACUL presentation.  Great 

company, of course, is a bonus!

"Getting Started with Google" was presented by Jessica P'Simer a Tech Specialist from Honey Creek Community School.  Many new tips were shared to complement the google knowledge acquired in EDUC 504.  Turn in was a great tip for how students can submit work.  The "unsubmit" option was a great tip for jumpy students anxious to hit the "submit" button before editing.    I often feel pressured by the real-time sharing in google docs that doesn't allow me to have any personal thoughts... This presentation was beneficial as an assessment of my own google knowledge base.  The questions asked by the audience showed the overall google use varied in classrooms.

The adventure continued as I walked into the presentation, "Do You PBL?" presented by Carrie Brunner, Lori Ferrington, and Danielle Roeser, from Romeo Community Schools.  https://todaysmeet.com/DoYouPBL

STEM, science, and social studies examples.  I was hoping for IB (International Baccalaureate) connection and found many suggestions that connect IB to non-IB classrooms with PBL.  The bridge has been found!

Backwards design was suggested in order to incorporate the PBL in a unit.  Start small, one per quarter or per unit and have many checkpoints within to keep students on task.  Organize students - small or large groups, 3 suggested.  Materials:  1:1 Chromebooks had a large impact on being able to transition to PBL.  

I really enjoyed the "Egg Drop" project used in the STEM class.  Students applied the 6 steps of the design process to a real-life problem.   Packaging improvement was the focus of the design with a  materials list limitation, "No Parachutes!

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My final presentation was "Lightning Talks."  Multiple presenters were given five minutes to share their passion.  An interesting way to add STEM to a math classroom was by sharing ideas each day.  Several great websites were suggested:   wired, instructables.com, compoundchem.com, espn sport science,  and non-web use the water-bottle-filling water fountains as real-time tracking data.  Integrate STEM in the classroom.  *I want to do this!*

@campbellartsoup reminded me that the desire to teach roots to a passion and the importance of sharing the passion should always outweigh the routines and checklists.  Passion in one can spill over to others; let it flow!

The session ended with beautiful poetry expressing the inability to assess a student's capabilities by the results of standardized tests and letter grades.  The complexity of life and human beings cannot be quantified by a test.  See the opportunities beyond the test results.  Aspiration, inspiration, belief... We can all be successful.

Step Up to M-Step

My "Technology Teach-In Assignment" has brought new challenges to my field placement.  I have left a room filled with computers to a classroom with none.  Baby steps...  I began with a graphing calculation lesson to share the capabilities of the magnificent mini tools.  The lesson was a great supplement to the time-consuming graphing the previous homework entailed.  The students' interest in technology was visible, but the infrequency of use and distance between the classroom and the computer lab was still a barrier.

Transformations was added to the curriculum through Common Core State Standards without text to support.  Another opportunity to implement tech usage!  I found great videos to connect elementary level transformations to secondary level transformations.  Again, baby steps in the direction of a tech teach-in.  While the students laughed and wiggled in their seats to the beat of the "Transformation Style" song, the vision arrived...

Baby steps for M-Step!  M-Step has replaced the MEAP test.  The preparation for the computerized test has shown a great need for teaching the tech tools offered and needed for the test.

Math has been assigned to a specific class to prepare the students with the tools to use when taking the test.  Doceri provides the perfect tech tool for modeling usage for the students while walking around the computer lab to help specific individuals.

The time constraints in preparation for the test can be lessened by the mobility and flexibility of Doceri.  It is an interactive whiteboard with the ability to include hand-drawn graphics and remote desktop control.  M-Step, we're ready!!!