Findings at the AEA 267 InfoTech Advisory Board Meeting

I learned about TrueFlix (very similar to BookFlix but for 3rd-5th graders) yesterday at an AEA 267 meeting.  I have played around with it a little bit, but it is affiliated with AEA267 and uses the same AEA267 Username and Password assigned to each building.  It is not on the www.iowaaeaonline.orgweb site as not all AEAs in the state subscribe to it yet.  Take a look around, see if it would work for you, a couple students or all your students and if you think it might be beneficial add as a link to your SchoolFusion page(s).

I also learned about neibors.lib.overdrive.com for your AudioBook and/or eBook needs through the public libraries.  When you get to the web site, click on the Quick Reference Guide on the left hand side for more information, but essentially if you have a public library card you have access to download free audiobooks to be played on your computer or mp3 devices and access to download free ebooks for your ebook devices such as Kindle, Nook, iPad and more.

Lastly I learned that AEA267 will be offering, hopefully before May, a new online print center so we are able to order larger prints and more graphical prints over the internet, just like you would order something online through Amazon.com.  You can place your order, upload your order, track your order and create an order to be printed and then shipped to you instead of having to fill out a form each time and email it along with your attachments.  

Also Iowa AEA PD Online is looking for more online instructors to teach classes online to other teaching professionals needing certification or graduate credit hours.  If you feel this is something you are interested in check out the Iowa AEA PD online link above.

Findings at the AEA 267 Technology Integrationist Meeting

Findings at the AEA 267 Technology Integrationist Meeting shows that Hampton-Dumont, compared to other schools, has some technology areas to improve on, but is excelling in many areas of technology that we should feel accomplished about, yet wanting to further achieve more.

Areas to Improve on
Using software, applications, online tools to promote student learning, K-12
Using Google Forms for formative and summative assessments including Semester Tests to try and make testing a more paperless environment
Exploring the possibility of iPads
1:1 Laptop Classroom Management
Returning students documents paperlessly (Google Docs Collections is a possibility)

Areas we are Excelling
Teachers use of technology through Tech PDs
Teachers showcasing their use of technology through Tech PDs
Uses of Bulldog Byte in classrooms and outside of classrooms
Using the 1:1 Laptops
Turning in student documents through SchoolFusion

Another Interest of Mine-Local Meetings

I finally get the chance to discuss Technology ideas and practice with educators from around the State of Iowa.  I have 2 AEA 267 meetings this week.  On Tuesday, at the Clear Lake AEA, I have a meeting with other Instructional Coaches from around the AEA 267 area.  This meeting provides the opportunity to share and provide ideas, but more importantly to gather ideas from other local school districts in relationship to technology and its uses in school with the students and with the teachers.  This is my first meeting with this group of educators, so it should be interesting to see if I know anyone, to see if I have met anyone previously and to hear what discussion topics we explore on, related to educational technology.
On Wednesday, at the Marshalltown AEA, I have a InfoTech Advisory Committee meeting that meets just 3 times a year.  Based on the agenda some of the items will be new to me in the area of technology, some of the items will be things I initiated while at Waukee, and some of the items will be things I have gathered and deployed while at Hampton-Dumont.  Again this will be an awesome experience to meet with this group of educators to see if I know anyone, to see if I have met anyone previously and to hear what discussion topics we explore on, related to educational technology.