Month: August 2014

Day 13 – Student Engagement: Not Just for Extroverts!

/ HSE_21

As a teen, especially for a shy or quiet teen, it can be risky to raise one’s hand and ask a question in the middle of class– “Is my question dumb?” “Will they laugh at me?” The prospect  of vulnerability is scary. Thanks to digital tools for learning, today’s students have new options. Consider this example from HSE High School:

This year I set up a Today’s Meet for each one of my classes. Students are given time in class to use their digital devices (phones, tablets, or laptops) to join the conversation via a QR code or web link. This information is also available via their blackboard page. The idea behind this ‘back channel’ is to allow students to ask me something without having fear of embarrassment or feeling like they are disrupting class. The conversation above was from my 5th period Astronomy class. A student, from her device, asked a question about retrograde motion and I was able to respond to the question immediately and provide feedback. Without Today’s Meet, this question might never have been voiced!

ewing

-Submitted by Megan Ewing, HSE High School, Earth/Space Science & Astronomy

Day 12 – Less Teacher Talk, More Student Talk

/ HSE_21

Today the teachers and principals of two elementary schools participated in a day of professional learning on the topic of increasing student engagement. Teachers practiced activities to use in their classroom to promote movement, less “teacher talk” and more “student talk.” HSE was awarded a grant by the Department of Education to continue this professional development in two more sessions through November.  Teachers will be encouraged to chart the growth of students using these specific engagement strategies!

-Submitted by Danielle Riego, District ENL Coordinator

Day 11 – Student Leaders Connect and Collaborate

/ HSE_21

photo 1[1]An important 21st century skill is the ability to collaborate and share ideas among teams with similar goals. Fishers High School student government leaders did exactly that recently, when they traveled to the HCC Leadership Conference at Avon High school. For an entire day, student leaders from many Indianapolis-area locations connected on topics such as fundraising, community service, communication and school spirit. Each school’s student government shared experiences in these areas that other schools could adapt and use at home. Student-led discussions fostered brainstorming and the generation of new ideas and plans. Participants left with insight into student government AND into what it means to connect and collaborate with likeminded teams.

 Submitted by Haley Englert, Fishers High School, English 

Day 10 – Journey to the Digital Age

/ HSE_21

HSE students are growing up in the Digital Age, and HSE teachers are gradually shifting practice to harness the potential of teens’ digital devices–for learning! Ms. Druelinger shares a telling example:

Several years ago, high school cell phone policy changed. Cell phone became allowed outside of classrooms, and in class at teachers’ discretion. I was terrified to allow phones in my room–they would be a huge distraction and I would be constantly policing them.  I made it a rule that there would no phones in my classroom, and just like I thought, I was policing and the phones were a distraction.  Last year, I changed my thinking. Instead of making a ‘no cell phone’ rule, I decided not to say anything and see what happened.  I found myself policing less.  If a phone was out, I asked that it be put away and in the same motion, went right on doing what I was doing.  There was less distraction.  This year I have decided to #embraceit and #meetthemwheretheyare .
20140822_104333

·    I have provided a charging station and as long as a phone is plugged in before class starts, students can charge their phones on a first-come, first-served basis.

·    We have had our phones out in class to snap pictures of information, share contact information with classmates, look up words and listen to music.

·    Following a suggestion from a new colleague, students left their phones, face down on their desks during a quiz.  It was so much easier to monitor than wondering if the phone was in their lap or hoodie pocket.

In the very short time we have had together for this school year, phones have been left in backpacks for most of that time. When we do have them out, however, I have found my students to be more engaged rather than less.

-Submitted by Sarah Druelinger, Fishers High School, Spanish

Day 9 – Fourth Graders Think About Change

/ HSE_21

Quality instruction requires students to think deeply and connect ideas, no matter what their age. Consider this recent example from Hoosier Road Elementary School:

mayaangeloubbMy fourth grade high ability class is studying patterns of change in language arts. In class we read an excerpt of Maya Angelou’s “On the Pulse of Morning” and discussed how the language of the poem reflected our nation’s changes and the author’s challenge to inspire change in the citizens of our country. As a follow up, the next day students watched an embedded video posted to Blackboard and read the full text to gain further appreciation of the poem. Students then posted journal entries about their new reflections after seeing and reading the full text. Students also read and responded to their classmates’ entries. 


Submitted by Brad Striegel, Hoosier Road Elementary, Fourth Grade

Day 8 – Hawk Squad to the Rescue!

/ HSE_21 / 1 Comment

RSIHawksquadThe launch of 1:1 computing for the 1000+ students at Riverside Intermediate School has gone amazingly well! Blended learning is underway! Students are collaborating on projects, connecting with experts, and inquiring to find answers. Adding a digital component to teaching and learning, however, requires technology support…and who better to tap for that support than the digital natives themselves! That’s why media specialist Mary Gemberling assembled the Hawk Squad!

“Do you know more about technology than the grown ups? Do you know more about technology than your friends? Are you willing to work with teachers & students? if so, come on down for Hawk Squad! Meeting today at RiverTime.”

The Hawk Squad is a win-win! Students can pursue their interest and build their tech skills while simultaneously solving real problems. That’s 21st century learning at its best! Oh, and the logo on the right? Created by a Hawk Squad member, of course! Don’t miss the hawk’s eye in the graphic!

-Submitted on behalf of Mary Gemberling, RSI Media Specialist

Day 7 – Contemplating Cell Phone Use…in English Class

/ HSE_21

English 10 stScreen Shot 2014-08-21 at 10.28.11 PMudents’ first literature unit revolves around the theme “Technology and Nature” This theme is woven throughout each passage or story that the students will read in the coming weeks. To prepare her students to think deeply about these themes and recognize them in the literature, teacher Kelsey Robertson designed an introductory project that connects the theme of “Technology and Nature” to her students real-world lives.

Ms. Robertson used the creative presentation site HaikuDeck as a platform to walk her students through the project. Students participated in a poll, watched video clips, and wrote responsively, based on these essential questions: Is technology taking over? and Do we depend on technology too much?  Insightful class discussion made it obvious that Fishers High School sophomores have been thinking seriously about the role technology plays in their lives, and the lives of those around them!

View Technology’s Role Today in HaikuDeck.

Submitted on behalf of Kelsey Robertson, FHS English Department

Day 6 – QRs in AP Psych: Extensions of Learning

/ HSE_21

Students in Kristin Marr’s AP Psychology class dove right into research this year, and the knowledge they gained will be shareable all year long–thanks to QR codes! This introductory research assignment challenged each student to gather information on the life and career of a famous psychologist, then to create a Google Document summarizing the information they learned. Next, the students created QR codes that, when scanned, would link to the Google Doc of information. Finally, a portrait of the psychologist AND the QR code were printed together.

photo 2Famous psychologists’ portraits are now proudly displayed in Marr’s classroom, along with QR codes linking to information on each one. As course curriculum unfolds and these leading thinkers are referenced, students can easily refer back to the portraits, and with a snap of their phone’s QR reader, be reminded of the important contributions to the field of psychology made by each one.

Just for fun…How many of these famous psychologists can you name?

-Submitted by Kristin Marr, Fishers High School, Social Studies

Day 5 – Third Grade Collaborators

/ HSE_21

Classroom libraries are cornerstones of Reading Workshop in the elementary grades. Setting up a new classroom library, though, is a challenge. At Brooks School Elementary, Mrs. Schermerhorn’s third grade students met this responsibility head-on. Here’s how we tackled such a big project in one day!

BSE third graders record their observations!

BSE third graders record their observations!

The 3rd graders arrived at the school library today with clipboards and pencils in hand. Mrs. Patrick, BSE’s school librarian, presented this key question: What can we observe from the way our school library is organized to help set up your new classroom library?  As the young investigators traversed the library jotting notes, new questions and considerations surfaced. “But our classroom doesn’t have this much space…”, “What kinds of books are most popular in 3rd grade?” Great thoughts! Next the students organized their notes into categories on chart paper.

Back in the classroom, we divided the students into groups corresponding with the charted notes. Then the real fun, the book sorting, began! Each group filled book baskets that represented series, favorite authors, genres/themes, or nonfiction topics. What a great start to our new class library! We say ‘start’ because classroom libraries are organisms that change and grow! With the students’ help, we will rotate the baskets to keep the classroom library fresh and relevant. Students will suggest new baskets as new curriculum topics arise. The best part of the day was that students left school with a huge sense of accomplishment and classroom pride!

-Submitted by Kristin Patrick (school librarian) & Sarah Schermerhorn (third grade), Brooks School Elementary

Day 4 – This Isn’t Your Grandma’s Library

/ HSE_21

Within seconds of entering the Fall Creek Intermediate School media center today, it was clear that this was no ordinary library! By ‘ordinary’, I mean the library of my childhood, where a bun-haired, frowning librarian gloried in saying, “Shhhh!”, and books that we were afraid to touch (for fear of our librarian’s wrath) sat dusty and unread.

At FCI today, the library (aka, media center) was a bustling hub of activity! Fifth graders scanned QR codes to find information to complete a library scavenger hunt. As they discovered what their new school’s media center had to offer, they were clearly pleased. FCI students have much to look forward to during their media center visits this year. No “Shhhing” allowed!

photo

FCI 5th graders use their iPads to scan QR codes that will lead them to information about their new library.

FCI LMC

Media Specialist Terri Zabonick helps a student search the library catalog…on an iPad!

-Submitted by Susan Drumm, Instructional Technology Coach