Using Flipgrid as a tool for debriefing professional development

Below is an email I sent this morning to staff at both LG and Saratoga.  I'm trying to get teachers to use Flipgrid not just in their classroom, but as a way of sharing out after going to a professional development.  Here's why: 

• Most of the time, if we go to even an average conference or PD day, we are the sole beneficiary.  Perhaps we share at lunch with colleagues, or even send a department email. For the most part, the learning stays locked within us. This is a lost opportunity

• Most conferences, you walk away with 1 takeaway or tool (#1CoolThing) Why not share that with others? It should only take a couple minutes. The effort is minimal, but the return can be huge.

• PD is expensive.  Sometimes districts balk at sending staff to expensive trainings.  If we can create an archive of teachers sharing what they gained from a PD or conference, then we will have a greater likelihood of getting funding in the future.   

• This creates a culture of collaboration and innovation because teachers are not only sharing new learning, but they can also respond to each other or follow up in person.  

Here's the email:

Happy Monday everyone.  I hope you had a nice weekend.

Following up on the newsletter last week, here are 3 quick things following up on the featured tool, Flipgrid.

1.  Did you just go to a conference? I know several have lately.  Please share 1 thing you learned from the conference in this topic on Flipgrid. Help colleagues learn from your experience. This also helps us justify future PD/Conferences.  Click the link, log in with you school account. Click the "+" sign and record a quick video.

  https://flipgrid.com/9dd69a0a

2.  Want to try Flipgrid just to see what it's all about before trying it with students? Click this link:

https://flipgrid.com/5906e9ec

3. Flipgrid shared this fantastic guide on Twitter outlining all things Flipgrid from basic to advanced.  It's a really well organized guide.

Flipgrid could be used down the stretch as a review tool. Get students talking about concepts from the semester.  Let me know if you do try it. I have some nifty Flipgrid stickers for you...

I know we all have a lot on our plate, so if this is too much, no worries. Do what you need to do and take care of yourself.

Kristofer

What happens when you are suddenly not available? The case for going digital.

Have you ever had "life" just happen and you could not be at work?  Like a, drop everything, family emergency, nothing about work matters kind of moment?

I have. Most people have. And if it hasn't happened to you yet. It will.

For educators this can be an especially difficult dilemma because not showing up to work means kids are left without a teacher, and the stakes are high. Their education is paramount.

Thus, suddenly being unable to make it to work can become doubly stressful because you are adding the stress of leaving your students in a lurch ON TOP of the emergency that you're dealing with.

I have had this happen to me several times in my career.  Though, the ones that have occurred in recent years have been much less stressful than those in the early years of my career.  What's the difference? 

Blended learning and organizing my class content on Canvas and Google.

I've spent a lot of time promoting the use of Google Docs and Canvas, for the purposes of enhancing the educational experience, differentiating learning, and preparing students for the 21st century.  This is all true and good, but here's another important reason.

If you have all of your course content on Google and a Learning Management System, your sudden absence has less of an impact on your students.  

Here's a question to think about if you're a teacher.  If you were 15 minutes late to class and your kids showed up, the door was unlocked, and they came in. What would they do? 

Would it be a free for all? Would kids be texting, playing Fortnite, or socializing with their friends, or would they sit down and follow a routine you've built such as doing a warm up, getting homework out, pulling computers out and checking Canvas, etc.?  

Here' another question.  If you suddenly couldn't make it to class, would it be a lost day?  Would you have to tell a colleague to get Movie bla bla bla and tell the sub to play it and make the students do a page of notes?  Or could you lean on what you have organized electronically?  Tell your colleague to write on the whiteboard: "Go to Canvas and do today's....."

Here's one step further.  What if you suddenly couldn't make it to class, or the remaining 3 weeks of the semester?

You get the picture.  What this really boils down to is this:  

Are you teaching in a teacher-centered classroom, or a student-centered classroom? 

Are you the center of the classroom universe or are your students?

Are you the Sage on the Stage or the Guide on the Side?

I can talk till I'm blue in the face about how important going digital is for your student's education, and you may agree or disagree with me, but here's an argument that I think really drives home the importance of going digital:

By blending your course into the digital space you extend yourself, and your vision into the digital space. You ensure that you are there, even when you aren't.  You ensure that the learning outcomes are not sacrificed, but reinforced.  Your class becomes more robust, stronger, and powerful.

Technology will never replace teachers, but technology sure does make us better and more effective.

This has other implications too.  I often hear teachers say that they can't be absent another day, or they won't take any days off for professional development because their students can't have them be gone.  What I hear them saying is, "I'm the sage on the stage and the center of the classroom universe. My students can't learn without me."  If they had created a course that was blended into the digital space, they would have a student-centered classroom, and know that their students would be just fine.

Obviously they can't be gone ALL the time, and there's certain things kids must have you there for.  For example,  I would never leave them to their own devices with a sub to run a lab that was dangerous or had expensive lab equipment.  If I taught an elective like shop or culinary, then yeah kids aren't going to get the same experience without me because they can't do it without me.  This is however is the exception to the rule though. Most all classes could get by for a few days here or there with NO problem.  

So, ask yourself:

• What would happen if I was late, or missed a day/week suddenly?

• What systems and routines do I have in place for my students to follow?

• Would my students follow these routines in my absence?

• Do I have my labs, activities, projects, assignments, worksheets, etc. in a digital format? 

•  Am I the Sage on the Stage or The Guide on the Side?

Here's some advice:

• Put ALL of your content in Google Drive.  This allows you to share with students or colleagues in a moments notice. This includes calendars or assignment sheets.

• Create MOST, if not all,  assignments in your LMS, such as Canvas or Google Classroom.  Build a routine of students turning work in electronically, so if you were absent, they would have no problem turning it in, and you could grade if from anywhere.

• Collaborate with colleagues.  By having common assignments, it's easy for them to step in and teach the lesson at a moments notice.

• Use videos (screencasts, recordings with a Doc Cam, YouTube, etc) for delivery of content.  This way students can still learn content without you being physically present.

• Use the announcement feature for sub plans.  Better yet, don't call them sub plans. Call them "student plans."  Post your plan as an announcement, and direct the sub to tell kids to see that announcement.  If you have time, you could even record a video giving them your instructions in person. 

• Implement some element of Project Based Learning.  When students are working on projects that they are self directed in, it's easy for them to continue working even if you are absent.

Becoming the guide on the side if you are the sage on the stage can be difficult if you are deeply engrained in this methodology, but if you can make the effort, you could save yourself some significant stress in the most stressful of times that pull you away from class.  Isn't it worth a try?

• Here's a great book on building "The Student Centered Classroom."
• Follow my YouTube Channel 1CoolThing to learn more tips and techniques to make your class more digital
• Post your thoughts or experiences in the comments. Have you benefited from having a blended class during a stressful time when you couldn't make it to class suddenly?

Innovation Newsletter Infographic

Below is picture of the Infographic Newsletter I created, which will be called the "Innovation Newsletter."  This is the first in what will be a monthly newsletter.  As the infographic shows, 1CoolThing is a multifaceted (or differentiated) approach.

The goal of the newsletter will be to highlight work that has been done by TOSAs the last month, showcase a new tool in more detail, and give staff shout outs for the work they are doing.  Some of this same information is available in other locations, like the YouTube Channel, but this may be a format that connects with some.  It's part of the differentiation.

The goal of this particular newsletter is to (re-)introduce the idea of "1CoolThing," highlight 1 tool that has been mentioned in previous emails called FlipGrid, and get teachers thinking about possibly joining Twitter.  In January we will begin a campaign to encourage teachers to share and connect via Twitter in order to grow their Personalized Learning Network.

Getting people to read emails is difficult, so hopefully an infographic with more visually appealing content will be more engaging.  The presentation view linked below is hyperlinked throughout, making it a richer, more "innovative," newsletter than your standard body of text.  You can also embed it or download it as a picture.

Click here to see the live view, with all the links.

Here's the full infographic:

1CoolThing: ThinSlides, Video Creation, and more

Below is an email I sent out two weeks ago to our staff on the idea of thin slides:


I don't know the best time to share 1CoolThing ideas, so I'm just going to mix it up.  Today it's coming on a Monday!

This 1CoolThing video is on a topic called Thin Slides and is a great way to get students creating something together.  

WATCH THIS QUICK VIDEO ON THE TOPIC:

I demonstrated the practice this morning in Seema Patel's class.  This is one of the things I can do as your TOSA.  Feel free to invite me into your class to help demo a technology or teaching practice.  

When I work with teachers, I like the 3 step practice of "I do it. We do it. You do it." so you're getting the support, but also learning to do it yourself. Depending on the teacher, we may start with me doing it, or jump straight to the teacher doing it it all with me just being there.  Nevertheless, I'm here to support you when you need it, in a way that works for you.

Check out the video and reach out if you have any questions or want more information.

Cheers,

Kristofer

PS: Want more?

1. Subscribe to 1CoolThing YouTube Channel to see more videos as they're added. I don't necessarily email everyone when a new video is published.
2. Follow #1CoolThing on Twitter where I share the great things I see teachers doing daily.
3. Do you have a cool thing you want to share? Please email me and have me come in. 

1CoolThing Coffee Session: Google Docs

As the full time TOSA for LGSUHSD, I'm trying to create a multifaceted, meaningful, relevant, and focused form of professional development.  There are significant constraints that I have to work within. The biggest of all is time. Teachers are VERY BUSY, and it is difficult to find time to do anything, let alone learn a new tool and implement it in a lesson.

1CoolThing is about showcasing bite size pieces of information, techniques, tools, etc. that are beneficial to them and their practice.  Because it's small or short in duration, it's more manageable and likely for them to entertain the idea, and maybe even give it a try.

The ultimate goal of 1CoolThing is to promote greater collaboration and innovation within our classes and help teachers grow and learn, just like we want our students to.

Today I tried something new.  I held a 35 minute session before school that I called "1CoolThing Coffee Session."  The focus was on Google Docs.  I picked some topics on Google Docs that were a mix of basic and advanced, and sent an email to all staff last week that I would be offering this session the following week.  I sent a Calendar invite to staff with a link that included the option to join as a Google Hangout. I included in it my 1CoolThing video on how to join a hangout this way.

This alone was an epiphany for some, as I was tied in on a colleague's email later that day that read:

"If you guys saw Kris Orre's 1CoolThing video today, it's exactly about what we're doing.  So let's try to practice and see how likely it is to use this feature in class for <  **** >, and instead of you guys coming down here, just log into the meet.... (This link is also in the calendar invite, just like Kris taught me today.)

Maybe you'll be on the road home to vote -- just pop your phone up on the car stand thing.  Let's see how this works!"

The morning of the session, I created the hangout and simultaneously recorded my session using a Swivl and my iPad.  I've now uploaded the video to my 1CoolThing YouTube Channel.  The full video is down at the bottom of this post.

Early morning #1coolthing coffee and mini lesson with @MrOrreBiology. Great attendance by Ts and Admins both live and remotely. #lgsuhsd @LGSUHSD #gofalconpower @SaratogaHigh #golgcats @LosGatosHigh pic.twitter.com/gsprEIpks3

— Julie Grenier (@hrhjulieg) November 7, 2018

@MrOrreBiology is running 1st #1CoolThing Coffee Session teaching Google Doc 101 + demoing Swivel recording equipment & Teachers are in room OR via Google Hangout. BOOM. @LGSUHSD #LGSUHSD @LosGatosHigh #golgcats @saratoga_high #gofalconpower pic.twitter.com/gabDaHvPF5

— Traci Bonde (@tr_bo) November 7, 2018

Below is the link to my document. It's nothing special. Just a Google Doc with the features I was talking about. I also hyperlinked to all the 1CoolThing videos I had already created.

http://bit.ly/2F66nj1

Overall, I'm happy with how this went. I had about half a dozen people show up in person, and 4 log in and listen via GHO.  There were lots of good questions and discussions, and I think everyone walked away with at least 1 cool thing that they could use.  I got an email later in the day that said:

"The Force Copy extension is cool!!!" 

That's basically what 1CoolThing is all about.

Next week I'll try it at all over again at Los Gatos.

Loving my job right now.

1CoolThing: Flipgrid and Canvas

Below is an email I sent our staff on October 10th. For most, this was the very first time they had heard of Flipgrid.  

I wanted to share a new digital tool that has been picking up a lot of interest by educators around the country, and the world, for that matter.  Our world languages departments have been looking into it and some (such as Sarah Voorhees) have already been piloting it in their class with very promising success.  It's called Flipgrid and the applications are endless.

In short, it's like a video discussion board, but presented in a way that kids enjoy.  It is similar to the social media they use daily.  Before you stop reading :) watch this 2 minute video that describes it in a nutshell.

It's become so popular and widespread, that Canvas has integrated with it.  On Monday I showed SHS World Languages how they can link the two services.  You can even use rubrics in Canvas to quickly assess the videos.  Here's a full breakdown of how to do it.

Here's how to link the two services: 

It's perfect for world languages for obvious reasons, but could be applied to any subject.  There are uses in math, social studies, science, and more.

As always with 1CoolThing videos or topics there's zero pressure to adopt, but I hope you'll at least entertain the idea. If it's something that interests you, reach out to me and I can answer questions, help set it up, or even demonstrate it in your class for you. I'm here to help.

Cheers!

Kristofer

PS: Want more?

1. Subscribe to 1CoolThing You Tube Channel to see more videos as they're added.
2. Follow #1CoolThing on Twitter where I share the great things I see teachers doing daily.
3. Follow what other educators are doing with Flipgrid on Twitter via #flipgridfever and #flipgrid

Since this email was sent out, I've already worked with several teachers on using Flipgrid with Canvas.  So far I find the integration to be a little clunky. Basically once a teacher links the two accounts, students can only access the "grid" by first going through Canvas.  They can't just pull out the phone, type in the code, and go.  That's awkward. 

There's also no way to subdivide topics into class section. Right now if a teacher teaches 3 periods, all 3 will be blended into one big one.  That's ok for some, but not for all.

For now I'm advising teachers to just stay within Flipgrid only until things get worked out.

I will say though, the ability to grade the video within Canvas is AWESOME.

I'm currently playing with Flipgrid with our "Google Masters."  I've had them share their goals for our cohort.  Additionally, I'm experimenting with Flipgrid as a way of getting teachers to share what they learn from PD days.  I'll do a blog post on this in the future....

Kicking the tires on the old blog

It's been a while. Nearly 2 years since my last post!

I think it's fair to say I don't naturally have an urge to journal or write, and I definitely don't have a lot of free time.  Balancing work and family life made it pretty difficult to keep the blog going, even if there were things I would have liked to share.

Some things have definitely changed in that time.  One of the biggest change would be that I'm no longer teaching. I've embarked on a new chapter of my career.  I am now the full time TOSA for my district.  My job title is "Instructional Coach," and for the next two years my responsibility will be to support teachers at Los Gatos and Saratoga High Schools.

Transitioning out of the classroom has been an interesting experience.  It's exciting because it's a new challenge, and I felt like it is a perfect match of my skill set and the need.  I get to help teachers grow as educators by both supporting them with things they want to work on and also showing them things they've never done or even considered.  When I went into teaching I did it because I felt like it was the one job that I could have the greatest impact on the world.  Educating our youth is an investment in our future.  Now when I help teachers, in a way I feel like I'm amplifying my affect.  It's pretty cool.

Yet, there's some weird sides to becoming a TOSA.  You have to pack up everything in your room, but not get rid of things because you're going to back to teaching.  And some people will tell you won't get your room back.  Some people think you won't come back at all.  I have no aspirations to go into administration, yet many think that's what I'll do.

After a couple months on the job, there have been a few events that have made me consider starting my blog back up again.

1.  I read Innovators Mindset by George Couros.  He talks about blogging a lot as a form of digital portfolio.  I'm totally sold on that as a teacher.  See previous posts on the subject.  He mentioned a great article from Wired Magazine that made me think that even my bad blog might be beneficial.

Read it here: Why Even The Worst Bloggers are Making us Smarter

2. I stumbled upon this article on Twitter: Blogging is the New Persuasive Essay.  The article made me think beyond why we should be having students blog (again, totally on board with it), but the format of it made me think about how I should be writing my own blog stylistically.

3.  I participated in a @TOSAChat on the topic of blogging.  A lot of the conversation got me thinking about how I could use a blog in my new role. It got me thinking about the title of my blog and the focus of it.  My education, and my role in education, is constantly evolving.  What started as a blog about an experiment I was trying in class, evolved into a blog about things I was doing in general. Now as a TOSA, I could use this as a platform to share resources with colleagues, and my PLN.

The one thing holding me back has been time. Remember: I HAVE NO TIME.  I didn't know how I was going to be able to find the time to blog, and I don't know how my district (and colleagues) would feel about me blogging on the job.

4.  Then the final thing tipped me over: my awesome TOSA partner Steph Rothstein sends Traci and me a vox on Friday saying she has started her blog.  Check it out here: https://tosatakeaways.blogspot.com/

The Next Step in the Evolution of my Blog

Her approach totally pushed me over the edge.  She said that she's basically going to copy and paste some of her emails that she sends to staff into her blog.  I listen to that and think: "Genius!"

So that's my plan, that hopefully won't take up extra time.  I'm just going to post many of the things I share with staff.  I've already started a YouTube Channel called 1CoolThing, so just created a page here based on my initial email I sent to staff outlining what it's all about. Check it out here or click it up at the top of this page.

Moving forward I will use this blog to archive topics I email staff about. I'll also use it as a place to embed my videos with a little more explanation on the topic.  I also plan to reflect on my role as a TOSA. I hope both educators and TOSAs can get some benefit from this blog.

Image by author.

Picture at top of the page: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Time-Allocation.png