Erasing the “Stigma” of Apps

During our most recent Parent Twitter Chat (#FHMchat) the question pertaining to the “relevance of Apps” in the classroom setting was asked. At first I thought it would be a simple question to address. However, I had to think about this (as we are in our first year as a BYOD school) since we are just now getting our feet wet with the use of personal devices and Apps. Well, thanks to my PLN, colleagues, @2GuysShow, and their blog site www.twoguysandsomeipads.com, I’ve been able to muster up additional information and resources to further explain the need for using Apps in the classroom setting.

I must admit that when I scroll through the Apps store listing I do see quite a few items that are truly meant for fun and games. However, there are a myriad of other Apps that can help our students excel in the classroom setting (and beyond). Last night Drew and Brad, during their Two Guys Show #9: Game Changing Apps, shared quite a bit of information on Augmented Reality Apps. First, what is Augmented Reality (AR)?  Augmented reality is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. Augmented Reality bring the learning experience into a new dimension (3D and 4D).

So we can now use apps to take a virtual look at the Milky Way (and explore the planets from a very close perspective), dabble in architectural engineering with legos, or bring music to life, or even look a little closer at the writing process. TracLabsAtlas allows students the ability to program a virtual robot and DAQRI allows learners to visual elements and projects in 4D.

More traditional functions of Apps in the classroom include flashcards, Evernote, Notegraphy (where you turn your own quotes or saying into poster-like artifacts), Grafio (students can create their own Infographics) or Tellagami (students can create an avatar then build a mini movie).

So the world of education continues to transform and we have the world of Apps to thank as we move into the next phase of technology integration into the “school house”. Let me know what new Apps you discover. I would love to share them with my teachers, students and parents!

Three Keys to Increasing Parent “Voice” in Your School

At times we often forget about the positive “power” of an individual “voice”. We strive to include students in multiple facets of decision making and leadership throughout our school communities. Yet, at times we forget about another sub group that holds the key to empowering success. I am referring to our parents.  I’ve come to the realization that there are three key ways to increase parent “voice’ in our schools.

Foster parent organizations with purpose and direction: We all have parent organizations and parent support groups, but how often do we truly “empower” them to lead out change in our schools? Our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) which fund raises for the school has shifted their focus, in part, to 21c.  Last year they funded ten mini grants so that teachers could begin using iPads in their classrooms. This year they are supporting our efforts to increase student engagement and leadership by supporting the Leader in Me initiative. They are making a difference by seeking out ways to broaden their positive impact on our school community. Our Parent Involvement Team (PIT) is taking parent perspective into consideration when researching books for our Book Discussions (Not Much Just Chillin': The Hidden Lives of Middle Schoolers and Whale Done!), or what topics we should consider when hosting seminars. They are sharing their “voice” in new avenues to promote a greater understanding of how they can support the school community.

Invite parents to become members of your school’s Leadership Team: It is a very simple idea with profound potential for growth and involvement. Procuring parent voice on this key leadership team tells them that their voice matters in key decision making opportunities. I believe it is vital to the success of your school to have parent voice as part of the decision making process (when applicable). Parent insight and perspective will provide your team with additional resources. We've invited parents to join our Building Improvement Group (BIG). This team is responsible for making key decisions for our school, and parent voice is a necessary facet within this leadership team.

Help parents connect with Social Media: Even though we've become BYOD schools, our students are engaged with Social Media, and we too are journeying into the realm of Twitter, (and Triberr, Apping, Blogging, and a myriad of other Social Media venues), our parents on the other hand may still be in the early stages of learning about the Twittterverse. Therefore, we must reach out to our parents and parent groups and help by providing Parent PD. By helping parents begin the journey into Social Media, we can give worth and merit to their voice in another venue. As part of beginning our Parent Twitter Chat (#FHMchat), I learned that parents needed a little assistance in getting started with the chat. So, I’m hosting a Twitter Training Session later in October.

So, the next time student, teacher, or administrator “voice” becomes the topic of discussion, go ahead and mention “parent voice"- we need to be proactive and include parent voice in multiple areas within our school communities.

Parents using Twitter as Educational Tool: Welcome... #FHMchat

As we move forward with our transition in implementing Social Media, Francis Howell Middle will take a big step forward next week.

 

Part of our desire to seek out new ways to increase communication with parents includes the use of Social Media. In early October, I will introduce a Parent Chat for our Middle School families.We will host the chat on the 1^st and 3^rd Monday of each month at 7:00pm.  On October 7^th  the topic will be: “The Power of Connecting on Twitter” and the October 21^st  chat topic will be “Using Social Media to strengthen academics”. We will introduce a new Hashtag to the Twitterverse on October 7^th….

…Welcome  #FHMchat

 

I am truly looking forward to taking this step and moving our Social Media presence forward and at the same time working to engage parents in a format that will proide them with greater freedom in communicating and learning more about the educational process at Francis Howell Middle School.

Feel free to join us next Monday at 7:00pm CST; we’d love to have you share in our discussions.