Assessment and Learning PL Week Wrap Up

A huge thank you from your DLCs to everyone who participated in last week’s Assessment and Learning PL opportunities.

For those of you who were not able to participate this week or would like to revisit some of the resources, we have Storified the Twitter discussions (linked below) and are leaving the smackdown Flipgrid link live. When viewing the smackdown Flipgrid, we would love for you to contribute your own tools or strategies. You can also reply to those that have already posted with your questions or by sharing other ways you use the same tool or strategy with your learners.

Twitter Chat Day 1

Twitter Chat Day 2

Twitter Chat Day 3

Twitter Chat Day 4

Let's keep the discussion going!

iOS 11 Game Changers

Written by Kelly Skillingberg and Monica Champagne

What we love about Apple is that they always seem to take the best pieces of different apps and make them a standard part of the device, like the camera’s new build in QR Code reader, for example. With the iOS 11 update, users may also no longer need their old QR Coder readers, screen recorders or preferred note taking apps. Take two minutes to see a quick highlight of some of our favorite features. 

As digital learning coaches, we are passionate about adding digital elements to your lesson design. If you would like to work with us to learn more about how you can use the new iOS 11 features with your learners or any other tool, here are some ways we can help.

iOS 11 Update Information

By Kelly Skillingberg and Monica Champagne

Important

**Please read BEFORE updating your Apple device to iOS 11**

Apple has released iOS 11 and this upgrade is now available. To prepare your device for the iOS 11 update, it is good practice to backup to iCloud. However, a backup is not mandatory for the update.

**Please note, if you have an iPad 4, the iOS 11 update will not be available for that device**

Due to internet connections and wifi traffic, we strongly recommend that you complete your backup and update from home. Be sure to plug in your device so it will have enough power to complete either task.

• How to backup your device to iCloud

After updating, be sure to check out all the amazing new features that iOS 11 has to offer.

• New features of iOS 11
  

Keep an eye out for future posts where we will share how some of the features can be used to support your lesson design.

If you have any technical difficulties with your iPad, please try the tips and tricks located on this iPad troubleshooting guide. You can always submit a help desk ticket if you continue to run into any issues. You can submit a ticket by navigating to coppellisdhelp.zendesk.com and signing in using your full email address and district password.

Already using new iOS 11 features in cool ways with your learners? Please share, below.

No Good Ever Comes From Clicking Reply All

One of the challenges of my new position has been juggling email overload. For anyone who understands this struggle, I have composed a list of some super simple practices that have helped me. 

• Take time to unsubscribe to marketing emails you are no longer interested in receiving.

• Know what is better communicated face-to-face or through a phone call.
  

• Create organized folders by topic to save emails you may want to refer to later. Take time to carefully plan your folder structure. Schedule time daily to practice using it and give yourself a celebratory fist bump when you have cleared your inbox.
  

• Give yourself a break from your email by setting aside periods of time throughout your work day to check and resist the urge to peek all day long.
  

• Use your “out of office” feature to decrease email overload when you are away.
  

• If you can respond quickly, do so immediately. If not, use the “flag” feature and try to respond within 24 hours.
  

• And most of all, use Reply All sparingly.
  

Our district email defaults to a “Reply All” setting.  To learn how to fix this, take less than ONE minute and watch this video. It will show you how to change your default settings to “Reply.”

Let's learn from each other. Share below you own email management tips.

Classroom Screen

Written by Kelly Skillingberg and Monica Champagne

Our first favorite tool of this school year explores ClassroomScreen, a classroom management website that takes the most commonly used classroom widgets and organizes them onto one screen for you and your class. 

Need to display a

Timer?

Random Name Generator?

Calculator?

Simple Text Box?

QR Code Maker?

Drawing?

Clock?

Traffic light?

Take TWO minutes and see how this tool can simplify your classroom management by providing all of these things on ONE screen. You will be glad you did!

Have two more minutes?  Watch this video to see how ClassroomScreen can help you manage groups.



Which widget would be the most useful in your classroom and why? Comment below.

A New Digital Learning Coach's Vision

232 staff members, 72 new to our school educators, and 3,124 students, these are the people I serve as a first-year digital learning coach. I do not take the term serve lightly. As I navigate this enormous campus and slowly began to build relationships with one amazing educator after another, I feel humbled to be called a “coach”. Listening to these educators share their “why” and verbalize their passions for our learners’ successes makes me feel so lucky to be in this position.

As coaches we are often referred to as leaders, but I see my role as more of a servant. I am not the reason for the mission or vision of these educators, they are and I am here to support them in their goals. Instructional leaders that have had the most influence on my career have given me the power of choice. They valued my professional judgment regarding not only what my learners needed, but also regarding what I knew I needed for my own growth. They actively supported my own goals by planting seeds through freely sharing strategies and knowledge, but allowed me to adapt and apply those strategies only when I was ready. They allowed me to feel safe enough to respectfully disagree with their viewpoints and listened without judgment exercising empathy.

This is the type of Digital Learning Coach I hope to become this year. I look forward to the many new relationships that I will have the opportunity to foster and am excited to learn from each other. #reciprocity

Love Letter to West

There once was a teacher who lost her direction 

So, she turned her car West in random selection 

Little did she know her life would be blessed 

By all of the people this new school possessed

Though she was the teacher, she learned as much as she taught

From the admin, teachers, and students her broken path sought

Cheri and Lesa taught me grace under pressure

Just keeping a smile is truly a treasure

From Laila I learned to say yes more than no

While current admin provided new ways to grow

Poullard taught me to make learning fun

Allison and Franci did this like no one

Vern gave me recognition, which of course I repeated

Our nurses stayed calm when my blood pressure was heated

Catherine and Cary glammed my world and my hall

Shari, Brandi, and Pam taught divine call

Nolte showed me how set the bar high

And Polly said always be sure of your "why"

Trisha and Angie encouraged and coached

Laura held me together with true friendship and jokes

Carson and Howell truly loved all the learners

Marci's service and sacrifice was like no other's

A true partner and coach Victoria became

She gave me courage to lead and helped keep me sane

These lessons sound small but a big impact you've made

Because of your love my new path is laid

Over a decade has brought so many so dear

but I'll end with my kids to my heart your most near

Perseverance, forgiveness, patience, and heart

I've learn the most from you, that I just couldn't part

You see, this isn't good-bye, but I'm following you now

I'm off CHS after this one final bow

Thank you all friends for showing me the West way

Please stay in touch Westies I'm not far away.