2021-2022 Summary of Offerings

 

Best Practices for Flipped Teaching

Instructor: Margaret Peixoto
Format: Online

Description: In this session, participants discuss the pedagogy behind flipped teaching and explore tools for creating flipped lessons.

Collecting, Organizing and Visualizing Data

Instructor: Craig Sheil
Format: Online

Description: Data is such an important part of our lives. Data is collected every day, whether it pertains to school work or during our personal lives. It has become important that our students have an understanding of how they can work with data. In this workshop, participants will gather a skillset on how data can be collected, how it can be arranged after the data has been collected, as well as how the data should be visualized for others. (Audience: Gr. 6-12 educators)

Computational Thinking for Middle School Educators

Instructor: Audra Kaplan
Format: Online 

Description: Mold the students of today into the problem solvers and critical thinkers of tomorrow. This course provides a snapshot of the Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science Frameworks Computational Thinking strand and its related standards. It will supply you with a variety of creative ways to weave these standards into your teaching. We will use a – “Learn It”, “Do It”, “Share It”, “Prove It’ – format each week to become familiar with the components of each strand. Elements of technology and social media are woven throughout the workshop to aid in integrating key computational thinking concepts into students’ daily lives. 

Computational Thinking: The 5th C for Elementary

Instructor: Jed Stefanowicz
Format: Online

Description: Beyond the 4 Cs of an engaged learning environment (Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Creativity) comes the 5th C: Computational Thinking.  Explore hands-on opportunities for computational thinking and early programing using apps and robots, as well as offline activities fostering problem-solving skills and engineering.  Bring coding concepts to the hands of young learners for accessibility and engagement, including curriculum integration and ideas for embedding DLCS standards into everyday instruction.  Participants will explore free online coding resources (inc. Code.org, ScratchJr, Scratch, iPad apps), review physical robotics (inc. Dash, Ozobot, Beebot, TelloDrone), and program virtual/physical computing tools (inc. Circuit Playground, Makey Makey) to transfer skills toward application.

Create and Implement Interactive Presentations for Students Using PearDeck

Instructor: Craig Sheil
Format: Online

Description: In the time of remote learning, a teacher can turn their Pear Deck presentations into student paced mode. This feature allows students to interact with the content, at their own pace. It can be challenging knowing what students are able to understand during remote learning, but this tool can help assess students formatively. During this hands-on workshop, participants will experience PearDeck as student – as well as a teacher. Participants will be given time to alter an existing presentation they might already have with PearDeck in order to implement it with their own students. (PearDeck has both a free and paid version – we will be focusing on the free version).

Creating Simple Videos to Support Student Learning

Instructor: Craig Sheil
Format: Online

Description: During this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how to create their own short (less than 5 minute) screencasts with ease of a free tool called Screencastify. At the end of the workshop, participants will have a couple of screencasts that they can implement into their classes.

Digital Learning Badge Program for Educators

Instructor: Jed Stanfan
Format: Online

Description: Adapt and adopt this Digital Learning Badge program for your classroom, school, or district to bring Digital Learning Standards to life in your setting.  Adapt the ISTE-aligned badging platform to fit any criteria and content area across the curriculum to empower students to reflect and archive their own learning in an engaging passbook-style portfolio project that is meaningful, memorable and measurable.  Participants will transfer their own learning objectives to create a platform that identifies and aligns criteria, curates student-creation and demonstrates student-learning.

DR Digital Collaboration – Don’t Reinvent!

Instructor: Erin Foley
Format: Online

Description: This workshop will focus on incorporating Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) Digital Tools and Collaboration standards into the K12 curriculum. DR stands for “Don’t Reinvent”. While you won’t walk away from this workshop with a doctorate in digital literacy and collaboration, you WILL walk away with practical strategies for infusing DLCS standards into your existing lessons and curriculum! Learn how to create digital resources for your students such as escape rooms and choice boards. Engage students in creating their own digital artifacts including videos and games to demonstrate their learning. Give students the strategies they need to select reliable, current, and relevant digital sources to foster lifelong learning beyond the walls of your classroom and curriculum. Each module will include resources for elementary, middle, and high school educators.

Empowering Students through News Literacy

Instructor: Cathy Collins
Format: Online 

Description: Young people today are dealing with the most challenging information landscape in human history. Digital tools, combined with social media, make it easy for anyone to create and spread misinformation and disinformation. Truth, evidence and facts compete for attention alongside rumors, conspiracy theories and false information. In this two part workshop, we will explore free digital tools and resources available through the News Literacy Project, and learn how to easily integrate news literacy across subject areas and grade levels, in both remote and in person learning. You will leave the workshop with concrete tools, strategies and lesson plan ideas to spark meaningful classroom discussion as well as to provide students with the tools needed to evaluate and interpret information.

Engaging Students with Digital Escape Rooms 

Instructor: Erin Foley
Format: Online 

Description: This course will focus on using a combination of primarily G Suite for Education (Google) tools to create scavenger hunt-like puzzles that can be combined to create a digital escape room. Apps that are utilized in this course include Google Docs, Sheets, Drawings, and Sites. Puzzles include jigsaw puzzles, hidden links within a Google Drawing, and secret word/message decoders. 

FREEmium Tech Tools to Meet Student Needs in All Areas

Instructor: Erin Foley
Format: Online

Description: Participants will learn about FREE assistive technology tools that they can use immediately to meet the needs of their diverse learners. These tools include speech-to-text, text-to-speech, ad-blockers, annotation tools, graphic organizers, translate tools, customizable reading content based on Lexile level, interactive videos, and more! Participants will utilize all of these tools on Chromebook or other personal devices and develop practical ways that they can use these tools in their classrooms. Emphasis will be put on easy application of assistive technology tools – no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to lesson planning! Each module will include an online video tutorial as well as a subsequent live Q&A session about each tutorial.

Getting Started with Google Classroom

Instructor: Erin Foley
Format: Online

Description: Get up and running with the Google Classroom. This three hour, online workshop will showcase the layout and functionality features of G Classroom at the beginner user level. We will approach the learning platform from both the teacher and student perspectives to allow you to gain an understanding of the “whole user” experience. The workshop will provide time for direct instruction and then “breakout” time for students to work asynchronously with live instructor support.

Google Certified Educator Level 1 Prep

Instructor: Kim McCorkle
Format: Online

Description: The first part of this workshop will consist of 2 hours of self-paced guided exploration, review and instruction addressing the material covered Google Educator Level 1 exam. Participants will have the opportunity to assess their individual needs and interact with supplied resources of their choice as they fine tune the skills and knowledge they will need to prepare for the Level 1 exam. 

In the second part of the workshop, participants will then engage in a one hour session with fellow participants and the instructor. During the one hour live session, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss concerns with the instructor and other participants.

Google Certified Educator Level 2 Prep

Instructor: Kim McCorkle
Format: Online

Description: The first part of this workshop will consist of two hours of self-paced guided exploration, review and instruction addressing the material covered Google Educator Level 2 exam. Participants will have the opportunity to assess their individual needs and interact with supplied resources of their choice as they fine tune the skills and knowledge they will need to prepare for the Level 2 exam.

In the second part of the workshop, participants will then engage in a one hour session with fellow participants and the instructor. During the one hour live session, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss concerns with the instructor and other participants.

Google Tools to Assess Learning and Provide Feedback

Instructor: Margaret Peixoto
Format: Online

Description: Participants will explore ways to assess student learning and provide feedback to students using Google Forms, Docs, Slides and Classroom. Offered for both elementary and secondary levels.

Google Tools for Effective Instruction of Students with Disabilities and Unique Learning Styles

Instructor: Rochelle Cooper
Format: Online

Description: This workshop directly fulfills the current DESE Individual Professional Development plan requirement of 15 PDPs in the area of training related to strategies for effective schools for students with disabilities and instruction of students with diverse learning styles.  Each session will include a short reading, collaborative discussion and an exploration of two or more Google Tools.  Also, as part of each session, participants will be asked to contribute to a comprehensive and collaborative collection of lesson plans and ideas that will be shared amongst the group.  The goal is to create a resource to be used by all – both within the course and beyond.

Growth Mindset: Exploring Your Own Classroom Mindset Practices and Using Technology to Help Students Develop a Growth Mindset 

Instructor: Margaret Peixoto
Format: Online 

Description: Participants will explore their own mindset and recognize how their classroom and building practices impact student mindsets.  We will learn the differences between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. We will work together to create new habits to help your students develop a growth mindset using classroom activities, growth-oriented feedback and tech tools.

GSuite Tips & Tricks to Improve your Workflow

Instructor: Margaret Peixoto
Format: Online 

Description: In this session, participants will learn timesaving tricks for Gmail, Google Drive and Google Calendar that will save you time and improve your workflow.

Illustrations with Google Slides

Instructor: Audra Kaplan
Format: Online 

Description: In this course, participants will create a digital avatar of themselves and learn about different image file types and purposes. A variety of underutilized Google Slide tools and features will be utilized to build each avatar. Although the focus is on creating a character, these tools are easily transferable to the creation of other artifacts. Participants will learn that Google Slides is a great tool for students to create content to show what they know.

Integrating Educational Video into the Curriculum How to Use Video to Flip, Differentiate, Assess and Enhance Teaching and Learning in Your Classrooms

Instructor: Donna Gath Criswell
Format: Online

Description: In this workshop you will learn how to locate quality video resources, have a better understanding of the flipped classroom model, as well as how to use video to assess understanding. Participants will reshape an existing lesson, or build a new one, to include these tools to enhance your teaching and/or your students’ learning. Activities include readings and/or videos, with periods for discussion and reflection. Using Backwards Design theory and a Constructivist approach, you will design an assessment that supports the curriculum frameworks/standards. Many resources discussed in this course integrate with Google Apps for Education and/or Chrome. 

Jamboard for Collaborative & Brainstorming Experiences

Instructor: Craig Sheil
Format: Online

Description: Jamboard has become popular since remote/hybrid learning started and is part of the Google Workspace platform. Jamboard can be useful when you need to get all participants’ voices heard, need a space for brainstorming, or a space for collaborative group work. The possibilities are endless with what you can do with the tool. Participants will experience using the tool through both the teacher and student lens and will immediately step away with implementation ideas. Explanation of how to use the tool will be given as well as experiencing different ways of using the tool. Participants will be asked to submit a jamboard activity based on their learnings from the training.

Kids Love Comics with Google Slides

Instructor: Audra Kaplan
Format: Online 

Description: In this course, participants will create a short comic using Google Slides. Participants will utilize a variety of image search tools and file types to gather resources for this project. Participants will create a 3-5 panel comic with gutters, scene setters, characters, props and more to bring a short story to life. Students love graphic novels and the chance to make one of their own. Join in on the fun!

Interactive Presentations for Students with PearDeck

Instructor: Craig Sheil
Format: Online

Description: In the time of remote learning, a teacher can turn their Pear Deck presentations into student paced mode. This feature allows students to interact with the content, at their own pace. It can be challenging knowing what students are able to understand during remote learning, but this tool can help assess students formatively. During this hands-on workshop, participants will experience PearDeck as student – as well as a teacher. Participants will be given time to alter an existing presentation they might already have with PearDeck in order to implement it with their own students. (PearDeck has both a free and paid version – we will be focusing on the free version).

Let Me Show You What I Know: Putting Technology Into the Hands of Students

Instructor: Donna Gath Criswell
Format: Online

Description: This workshop will support you as you integrate 21st Century Digital Storytelling pedagogy into a curriculum unit of study. While digital storytelling is often thought of as a literacy activity, it should also be seen as a way to demonstrate understanding in any content area. As the Common Core focuses more on informational texts, digital storytelling allows students an accessible means to present their learning. Many resources discussed in this course integrate with Google Apps for Education and/or Chrome. 

MA DLCS Series – Computational Thinking for Educators – Creating Future Problem Solvers (Elementary, Middle and High School Sections available) 

Instructor: Audra Kaplan
Format: Online 

Description: Mold the students of today into the problem solvers and critical thinkers of tomorrow. This course provides a snapshot of the Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science Frameworks Computational Thinking strand and its related standards.  It will supply you with a variety of creative ways to weave these standards into your teaching. We will use a – “Learn It”, “Do It”, “Share It”, “Prove It” – format each week to become familiar with the components of each strand. Elements of technology and social media are woven throughout the workshop to aid in integrating key computational thinking concepts into students’ daily lives. 

Remote Controls: Empowering Distance Learners of all Abilities

Instructor: Rochelle Cooper
Format: Online

Description: Power up your students’ distance learning experience through the exploration of tools and practices that are designed to reach students of all abilities and learning styles. All modules will help you support your students’ social/emotional and academic needs while learning remotely.

Teachers’ Tech Toolbox for Math and Beyond 

Instructor: Margaret Peixoto
Format: Online 

Description: Dive into using digital tools to increase student engagement in the math classroom! The workshop is math focused, but the tools covered are applicable to all curriculum areas. Participants will learn how to use free digital tools that support equations, graphs and handwriting – all the things that math teachers need to create successful lessons. Participants will also learn how to adapt other tech tools to make them more math-friendly. Build your tech toolbox for math and beyond in just four weeks!  

Note: Non-math teachers are welcome! Margaret will work with you to tailor the tools to your subject area as needed. 

Our four sessions will be organized by intended use for the tech tool in a math classroom, but all of the tools can be used for many different things. 

Teaching Digital Citizenship – Shaping Responsible Members of a Digital World

Instructor: Rochelle Cooper
Format: Online

Description: As students navigate their way through the digital world, it is our responsibility to provide them with the tools that will shape them into responsible digital citizens. Our roles as educators allow us the prime opportunity to help students learn and grow as they take advantage of the technology that is available to them.  This online workshop will teach key concepts surrounding the topic of digital citizenship and supply you with a variety of creative and fun ways to weave positive digital practices and lessons into your teaching. We will use elements of technology and social media throughout the workshop to integrate key digital citizenship concepts into students’ daily lives.  

Teaching Math Online

Instructor: Margaret Peixoto
Format: Online

Description: In this session, participants will learn how to use digital tools to increase student engagement in a virtual math classroom. The self-paced workshop is math focused, but the tools covered are applicable to all curriculum areas.

Thinking Outside the Box with Google Slides 

Instructor: Audra Kaplan
Format: Online 

Description: In this online course participants will create a series of Google Slides in new and creative ways. Google Slides, one of my favorite Google tools, allows users to create beautiful projects asynchronously or not, as a team or independently. Learn how to insert and manipulate images with a variety of tools, e.g change the transparency, add color hues, cutting the images into shapes… without scissors to create infographics, storyboards, refrigerator magnets, comic strips, and more. In addition to exploring these tools, we will learn some choices for searching the internet for copyright free images.  Participants will also learn how to share Google files and publish their own works. Join us to create meaningful, fun, and visually appealing Google Slides for any curriculum topic or occasion. 

Top Tech Tools for SEI

Instructor: Rochelle Cooper
Format: Online

Description: This online workshop contains content needed to fulfill the DESE Individual Professional Development plan requirement of at least 15 PDPs in the area of training related to SEI or English as a Second Language (for renewal of licensure).

Tech Tools researched in this course will be both Google and non-Google resources – all with the goal of creating an effective and fun learning platform for English Language Learners. Each session will include a short reading, and an exploration of two or more Tech Tools that will help you accommodate the needs of ELL and ESL students in your classroom. Also, as part of each session, participants will be asked to contribute to a collaborative discussion with colleagues. They will also be required to apply their learning for the week via a product that will be shared amongst the group.

Transform Learning with Virtual and Augmented Reality Technology 

Instructor: Erin Foley
Format: Online 

Description: This workshop will focus on incorporating Google Poly, Expeditions, and Cardboard tools into classroom instruction. It is recommended that participants have a laptop or desktop device that supports WebGL as well as an iPhone, Android, or iPod Touch device. Participants may also wish to purchase the Google Cardboard VR viewer available on Amazon for $15.00, though this is not required. 

Using Technology to Help Students Demonstrate Understanding: Did They Really Get It?

Instructor: Donna Gath Criswell
Format: Online

Description: In this workshop you will learn how to incorporate a few fun and engaging tools that will help you gather information on your students as they work towards their learning goals in your classroom.  Web 2.0 tools like Kahoot, Socrative, Playposit and Plickers, among others, will be examined.  Some of these tools allow you to enter students as well as collect and analyze the data.  Some of these tools can be a quick and easy way to dipstick, activate prior knowledge or act as a ticket to leave.  Other tools can be a more robust, more comprehensive testing tool/student response system.  You will walk away with a toolbox of resources that are easy to use in your classroom to help you better understand what your students understand. 

Using Web 2.0 Tools to Motivate and Manage Students

Instructor: Donna Gath Criswell
Format: Online

Description: Learn how to use a variety of simple, yet powerful, web 2.0 tools that will help you manage student behavior as well as motivate students, focus their attention on learning, and do it in fun and engaging ways! Many resources discussed in this course integrate with Google Apps for Education and/or Chrome.  

3…2…1…ACTION Series! Become a Green Screen Guru 

Instructor: Erika Sandstrom
Format: Online 

Description:  This course is wonderful for beginners and experienced “green screeners” as well as ANY grade level or subject area teacher, and even administrators. You will gain the skills and provided resources to teach your students and assign these types of projects to spice up your existing curriculum, but also the confidence to create your own educational material! You will learn how to make your own homemade ‘green screen studio’ on a budget. Incorporating green screen can be truly easy as you could add it as an option to a project or unit you already teach and the benefits for students learning new skills are numerous. Everyone will also collect take-home ideas for immediate use in all curriculum areas as well as create your own green screen project using your existing curriculum. 

 

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