RMS Student Council Creates and Presents "Dance Rules" PSA with iPads

The RMS Student Council recently created a PSA to teach students about our school dance rules.  The video crew got together during their lunch periods and worked to create a video that illustrates the dance rules in a student-friendly, engaging, and fun way.  Using their iPads, students moved around the building to film various scenes "on location".  They even got Mr. Lepene into the action by presenting him with "yellow slips" in his office so that he could say, "No dance for you!"
Once the video was edited, the video crew visited 6th and 7th grade homerooms to present the video via Apple TV and answer questions that students had about dances at RMS.
This was a wonderful opportunity for Council members to create a learning tool, present to peers, and provide leadership in our school.
Here is a link to the RMS Dance Rules "PSA" :  RMS Student Council "Dance Rules" PSA

Open House Night

This past Thursday about 30 seventh grade parents and students met with several 8th grade teachers to discuss the RMS 1-1 program for eighth  graders during the first half hour of open house.

Marty Warren, RMS Technology Coordinator, started the meeting with an overview of the program’s goals,  logistical information and adjustments from this years experience.   The presentation is available below.

After the presentation, everyone participated in a question and answer session.  The discussion covered a variety of topics from apps that were effective in helping student learning to concerns about student screentime to managing devices at home.  It was a great opportunity to share our experiences and discuss some concerns people are having.  Thanks to all who attended!

Reflections on the 1:1 iPad Initiative

After completing the first ¾ of our first year of the 1:1 iPad initiative in 8^th grade, I think it is an appropriate time for some reflection.  We have been asked by administrators, school board members, community members and, even, each other, how 1:1 technology can transform student learning.  

Here are some things I’ve learned:

1.     The 1:1 environment requires on-going learning, individually and collectively.  Students and teachers learning from each other promotes a culture of continuous learning that builds trust and relationships.

2.     Prior to having instant access to technology, the curriculum was largely limited to what the teacher presented.  It is not uncommon in the 8^th grade for students to be researching on iPads and adding to the curriculum as it is being presented. Students should not be limited by what they can access through the prescribed curriculum.

3.     The 1:1 initiative has helped solve an equity issue at our school.  Prior to having iPads, it was challenging for some students to keep up academically and socially without access to the Internet. Web resources, textbooks, and novels are at students’ fingertips. Students who are unable to experience other parts of the world through travel can visit places virtually.

4.     Special education students, along with others who struggle with executive function skills and materials management, have benefited from the iPad’s organizational and accessibility tools. Textbooks, novels, worksheets, assignments and notes are kept safely in their devices.

5.     Students with reading problems can participate with their peers by using apps that read classroom novels to them.

6.     Students seem more engaged and interested in their learning with the increased connection to their teachers and peers. 

7.     We have gained instructional time.  Students no longer spend valuable minutes searching for “lost” homework or other materials.  Teachers do not have to play “detective” to find out whether or not a student has completed assignments.

8.     Students receive immediate (or almost immediate) feedback about their work from teachers.  The portability of the devices allows for anytime/anywhere learning.  It is not uncommon for me to be editing writing at night for one student and answering a homework question for another while watching a basketball game with my family.  Students are comfortable contacting teachers via email/text at night and on the weekends about homework.

9.     The iPads have helped create a culture of anytime/anywhere learning.

We continue to wrestle with questions such as how much freedom is appropriate for students?  Should students be allowed to play games during free time at school?  Should games even be allowed on school-owned iPads?  How can we become paperless school? Do we want to be one? 

No matter how much professional development and planning time we had prior to launching the 1:1 initiative, the real learning began once the iPads were in the hands of students and staff.  I look forward to continuing this journey next year!

Using iPads to Differentiate Instruction and Foster Collaboration

Today, during the English class that I co-teach with Mike Ivanoski, I was reminded of the power of the iPad.  We are just starting To Kill A Mockingbird and were reading the first chapters of the novel aloud in class.  At the start of class, six students volunteered to take notes on specific characters and themes during the reading of the novel by our guest lecturer, Jody Horan.  Some of the note takers chose to write with pencil and paper, others on their iPads.  At the end of the class, students shared their notes via Google Docs and I took pictures of the handwritten notes. Next, I posted all of the notes to our iTunes U course so that ALL students could access them when they fill out their study guides. 

Having access to iPads made it easy to differentiate today’s lesson.  Students who are capable of taking notes and listening to the novel at the same time were able to practice that skill. Their efforts supported peers who struggle to divide their attention between the two tasks as they were able to focus on the reading without the anxiety of trying to keep up with note taking. This was also an opportunity to reinforce the sense of community that we have tried to foster in our classroom. All students will have access to the character/theme notes via iTunes U as a resource when they fill out their individual study guides regardless of their abilities to take notes.

It is easy to take having the iPads for granted as they have become ingrained in the teaching and learning in 8^th grade.  Today’s lesson reminded me, once again, of how learning can be transformed through thoughtful use of technology.

iPad Gang

8th Grade Students work collaboratively in the RMS lobby on ther iPads. Photo credit: Jodi Bates.

Chromebook Cafe

In anticipation of the arrival of 24 Chromebooks awarded to RMS via a Friends of Hanover grant, RMS Tech offered our first Tech Cafe. Members of staff familiar with Chromium OS set up shop in the RMS lobby Wednesday through Friday during lunch in hopes of providing staff with 5 minute tours of the device.

The Tech Cafe: Chromebook Tours was an overwhelming success! Thirty-eight staff members participated in the event.

Interested in learning about the Chromebooks & Chromium OS? Check out our Chromebook Tips & Tricks document.

Fit Bit Technology | Healthy Brown Bag Lunch Series

Catherine Patch, RMS Physical Education teacher, presented The FitBit today for the FIRST! Healthy Brown Bag Lunch series. To learn more about the Healthy Brown Bag Lunch series visit School Nurse, Abby Pelletier's  RMS Health Office blog.

The FitBit is a fancy pedometer. It is lightweight, durable, looks like a bracelet and costs about $100. It is able to track your steps throughout the day and can tell when you are running verses walking. This information automatically syncs with your computer or smartphone simplifying your life.  FitBit is compatible with other programs such as Run Keeper, My Fitness Pal and Loose It!

FitBit Highlights

• FitBit can track your food, fluids, weight and sleep and is able to produce graphs with the data. 
• The sleep feature is able to identify my restless nights based my movements.
• The alarm feature vibrates the bracelet rather than the typical annoying alarm clock buzzing  or beeping.
• The battery lasts for 5 days and you can receive an email notification when it's time for you to charge your FitBit.
• Use the quick view by double taping your FitBit to display a rough estimate of the number of steps you've taken. 
• Stay fashionable and fit! FitBit comes in a variety of colors and comes with a small and large wrist band. 

Most importantly, The FitBit is FUN because you can connect your stats with your FitBit friends. Compare to see who has the most steps in the past 7 days and -cheer- or -boo- them (I only cheer! haha). 

Cons- It doesn't track heart rate and doesn't give you steps or points for exercises other then walking or running. So if you are skiing, swimming, stretching, lifting, biking ... you get the idea, it won't give you steps. On some people, FitBit caused wearers to develop a skin irritation (allergy related) due to the nickel in the material. I have not had this concern. 

If you join FitBit, please let me know so we can become friends! 

Got questions? Looking for a friend to keep you motivated? 

email: catherinepatch@hanovernorwichschools.org 

Thanks! Catherine