SPS Digital Learning Hour

This week we dive into one of the ISTE Keynote Speaker, David Eagleman. One of the most engaging and exciting speakers, Dr. Eagleman is a neuroscientist who spoke about the students brain and how we can meet the needs of the students. Our first interview of the is with 1st Grade Teacher from Mary Lynch, Lynn Budd. You need to hear about some of the exciting things she is doing with 1st Graders. Si...

Welcome back and happy beginning of the school year! In our welcome back episode we recap a bunch of the changes that took place over the summer and the things we are looking forward to in the 2018-19 school year! Follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @BeardedTechEdGuy Music: Innovation from AShamaluev Music

This is a can't miss podcast interview. Paul Foster is the CIO for the Springfield Public Schools. We talk about all the great things that we accomplished this year and we look forward to next year. If you want to know why we are making the changes we are. We want to thank everyone who has listened to the podcast this year, we are so thankful to you and those that we interviewed. See everyone next...

This week we dive into discussing podcasts in the classroom. This will be the second in a three part series of discussions which will allow us to dive deep into podcasts, how to use them in the classroom and ways that students can get involved! Our Interview of the Week featured Lindsey Lindequist, a Math ILS over at Gerena who is doing some amazing work with the staff. Check out this interview to...

This week we dive into discussing podcasts in the classroom. This will be the second in a three part series of discussions which will allow us to dive deep into podcasts, how to use them in the classroom and ways that students can get involved! Our Interview of the Week featured Kerrie Mancino & Audrey Wojczyk from the Early Childhood Education Center. Listen in on how they use technology with at...

This week we dive into discussing podcasts in the classroom. This will be the first in a three part series of discussions which will allow us to dive deep into podcasts, how to use them in the classroom and ways that students can get involved! Our Interview of the Week featured Sarah Truoiolo from the Math Department. She discusses ways that she has used Technology in the classroom from when she w...

This week Suzanne and Mike wrap up their discussion on Project-Based Learning and why we think its a great tool. Mike looks at many of the soft skills that are developed during the work involved and Suzanne finds a bunch of encouraging information for teachers who are looking at trying it for the first time. Mike also sat down with Henry Robinson, a 5th grade teacher at German Gerena Community Sch...

This week Mike and Suzanne continue their conversation on Project-Based Learning. You should listen for when Mike mixes up his sciences, quite funny. This is part 2 of our conversation where we dive deep into the world of project-based learning. We also met with Miranda Jurras from Boland Elementary School and talked about her time as a student and all of the amazing things she is doing with her 1...

This week Mike and Suzanne delve into Project-Based Learning and start our discussion with what exactly it is. This is part 1 of our conversation where we dive deep into the world of project-based learning. We also met with two teachers from Liberty, Rachel Chouinard and Nina Barker! These two ladies are doing some amazing things in the classroom! Articles: http://www.shsu.edu/centers/project-base...

This week Mike and Suzanne discuss an interesting take on assessing learning, cognitive assessments and our distracted minds. We also had a chance to interview Jennifer Cherry from Sci-Tech who is doing some amazing things in her classroom. Articles: https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/50969/a-futuristic-look-at-assessing-learning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8j1QKS2S90 https://my.springfieldpublic...

As we look to the future, its fun to look back. Here is one of our first podcasts, check it out! This week we dive into the SAMR model and talk with Erin O'Brien, Sara Wright & Katie Barthelette about their presentation at the Imagine - WeLearn Together ... Technology Symposium and using technology in the classroom. SAMR Articles: http://www.emergingedtech.com/2015/04/examples-of-transforming-less...

This week we wrap up our conversation around Gamification. We discuss a few ways that you can use Gamification and Game-Based Learning in the classroom and something that we each got as a takeaway from the conversation and readings. Mike sat down with Amy Heneghan at Gerena Elementary School to discuss some of the ways that she is using technology in the classroom. Articles: https://www.edutopia.o...

This week we continued our conversation around Gamification, we learn that Mike really loves his reward point programs. We also examine a couple of ways that Gamification can go wrong. Brendan sat down with Jodi Goncalves at Boland to discuss some of the ways that she is using technology in the classroom. Articles: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/gamification-in-education-vicki-davis https://tophat....

This week Mike, Suzanne and Brendan begin a deep dive into Gamification within the classroom and the greater world. Many us are participating in Gamification in our lives and we don't even realize it. This is the first of a short series of conversations that you don't want to miss! For this week's interview Brendan met with Jessica McCloskey from William N. DeBerry Elementary about their process f...

This week Suzanne and I discuss ways to find inspiration in the doldrums of March, the longest month of year (It's scientifically true)! We dive into 5 ways to be inspired and include links to many of them below. Find out which Ryan Mike likes better! Listen to our IOTW Allyson Leach from Walsh Elementary and hear about all the great things she is doing! Also, we have added iHeartRadio to the numb...

We finally wrap up our conversation about Digital Reading and what that means to you. We also interview Kiaga Osborn-Johnson from Sumner Ave Elementary School about her use of technology in the classroom. Some of the tools she mentions are: https://kaizena.com/ https://www.noredink.com/ https://www.edmodo.com/ Articles: https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/06/health/print-education/index.html https://ww2.k...

This week the team continues on in their discussion on Digital Literacy and Digital Reading, Mike goes off the rails talking about getting all his news on Facebook (that explains a lot) and we have a great interview with Sara Wright of Mary M. Walsh Elementary School where we talk about her journey to Springfield and the technology she uses in the classroom. Articles: https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/0...

Welcome back from February Break! This week's hot take begins a short series on Digital Reading, this is a discussion you don't want to miss! We also sat down with Wesley Strong of Commerce and talk to him about how they are using Technology not just in his class but also the school at large. (Hint: He's the Tech Coordinator). Let us know what you think by leaving us some feedback on our Yammer pa...

Everyone is back this week and bringing news of tidings and joy. We spend some time catching up on the latest news in regards to MCAS 2.0, if you are a test administrator this is a can't miss. Also catch up with Cheryl Elias, a First Grade Teacher over at Ell's Elementary and hear all of the amazing things she is doing in the classroom. If you have ever thought that a 1st grader will have trouble...

For this week's podcast Mike focuses in on what Personalized Learning is and isn't and why you should be doing it in your classroom (Good chance you already are!) We also interviewed Central High School Teacher Sean Kavanagh. Check out what he is doing with his students in the classroom and hear his story! Resources: https://tech.ed.gov/ https://medium.com/personalizing-the-learning-experience-ins...

This week we focus on this idea of Digital Storytelling and how any teacher of any grade can do it. Mike rattles off a bunch of ideas and tools that you can use to add Technology authentically into your everyday plans. We also interviewed Brittany Blake of South End Middle School this week and you don't want to miss it! Resources: http://www.schrockguide.net/digital-storytelling.html http://www.21...

This week I take a look at an article that discusses what some schools are doing to improve their student outcomes and it's not in the way you think. I do a lot of talking this week and I encourage you to talk back to me through Yammer! We also interviewed Caitlin Welz of Central High School and her experience within the district as it relates to technology and what it's like teaching students in...

Welcome back listeners! To start off the new year we are going to finish up our conversation on the 1 to 1 initiative through our eyes. Listen in to hear more of Mike's wild theories and the future and some thoughtful insights into our 1 to 1 program. Please go to iTunes, Spreaker, Stitcher, and our newest provider TuneIn and leave us feedback! Articles That we've referenced this week: https://www...

This week Brendan Reed joins us for our discussion on the what, why, and how on the 1 to 1 initiative and the ways we are making it successful. There are also a couple of key announcements for the rest of the month of December. We also interview Thomas Rachele, ELA Academic Supervisor and his experience of using Technology as both a teacher and a Supervisor. Please go to iTunes, Spreaker, Stitcher...

This week we finish up our conversation on Blended Learning where we even include some resources. Our Interview of the Week is with Ravan East over at Rebecca Johnson. Articles and Links: https://thejournal.com/articles/2017/01/11/what-effective-blended-learning-looks-like.aspx https://elearningindustry.com/subjects/elearning-articles/blended-learning https://www.talentlms.com/blog/top-10-articles...