Plickers Classroom Response System

Have you heard of those "clicker" systems that let you poll your classroom and have each student respond? This tool is a classroom response system that uses paper rather than expensive clicker devices to let each student have a voice.

http://www.plickers.com

Just sign up for a free account, download the Plickers app for your iPad, and print out a set of Plickers cards. Each student gets their own bar code. Use the Plickers app to pose a question - multiple choice or true/false. Each student will hold up their bar code with their response letter on top. Use the iPad app and camera to quickly scan the room and student responses will be recorded. It's that easy! Students responses are anonymous too, since other students can't tell which answer their classmates are holding up.

You can add your classes to your Plickers account with student names assigned to each bar code, or just use the demo class if you don't need to have responses tied to a particular student.


Here are some ideas for using Plickers:

• Use an interactive website like Grammar Bytes or NewsELA quizzes and poll the class before choosing an answer. That way every student gets a chance to respond.
• Do a quick check for understanding - Do you understand this?
• Poll the students on what activity to do next - responses are immediately graphed to see the most popular response.

Here are some videos of Plickers in action:

• What the Plickers app looks like when scanning
• A demo of Plickers being used in a K12 classroom

Find the Getting Started Guide at the Plickers website.

Enjoy!

~Tiffany

Fall Technology News

Hello everyone! Here's what's happening with technology at DALC this fall:

Keyboarding Class Starts 11/10

My 6-week keyboarding class is due to start in November. If you have any more interested students, please have them sign up in the office - it is free for DALC ABE/ESOL students. Here is the description:

The focus of this class is to enable students to quickly improve their touch typing skills. You will

• Learn proper finger placement
• Memorize letters and basic punctuation keys
• Drill using online keyboarding software and from paper copy into a word processor.

Dates/Times:

Tuesdays, Nov. 10 – Dec. 15, 12:30 – 1:30 pm, McConnell Center, 61 Locust St. Dover - Rm. 301 Computer Lab

Portable Interactive Whiteboard Training

I'm offering two training sessions if you'd like to learn how to use our portable interactive whiteboard systems. They will be:

Monday November 9 or Friday November 20  at 12:30 pm in Room 220

I'll demonstrate how to set up the system and its features, and then you can take time to play with the system and try it out. We can go from 1-2 hours, depending on how many people are there and how long you'd like to practice.

If you'd like to attend, please send me an email message and let me know what session you'd like.

New Website Resources on DALC Tech

Here are a few new educational resource websites found on the DALC Tech Websites by Subject page.

• USAlearns.org - A free website with online English lessons. They also have corresponding low-cost mobile apps for English learning on the go.
• Newsela - News articles with multiple versions based on reading level
• LiveBinder of Social Studies resources - from a COABE webinar on technology in Social Studies
• LearningExpress - Study tools and practice tests for Accuplacer, HiSET and more. See me for the account login information.

Let me know if I can help with any technology needs! Happy Fall!

~ Tiffany

IPEVO Portable Interactive Whiteboard System

We have some new equipment at DALC that allows you to interact with a computer (not an iPad) using your projector and a special pen. You can use the pen as a mouse to access interactive applications and websites, as well as annotating on top of any image/web page. We have purchased two of them. One resides in the laptop cart, and the other is currently in the cart in room 208B.

Here is some useful information about the IPEVO system:

Video demonstration of the Ipevo Portable Interactive Whiteboard system.

IPEVO IWB Setup Instructions

Annotator Software Guide

I'm currently putting together a workshop on how to use the system, but if you want a quick tutorial on how to use it, please let me know and I can give you a personal demonstration!

~Tiffany

DALC Opening Staff Meeting Technology Information

Welcome back for another great school year at DALC! To save paper, I've posted all of my handouts from the opening staff meeting on the DALC Tech website. I will have some copies at the meeting, but you may access all of my handouts here:

DALC Staff Meeting Technology Handouts

See you soon! ~Tiffany

Spring DALC Tech News

Hello everyone! As our school year comes to a close, here are some end of the year DALC technology notes including end of the year maintenance and new technology tools.

iPad Maintenance

At your convenience, I'd like to collect back the iPads one by one, give them a good cleaning, make sure they have the latest updates, and replace the scratched screen protectors with new ones. I'll also be adding the Notability app and the upgrade to the Image Hunter app. I'd like to get them all done before June 19, so please see me/drop me an email to let me know when I can take care of your iPad. Thanks!

New Purchases

Wireless Bluetooth Speakers

Each classroom projector cart will be getting one wireless Bluetooth speaker to make it easier to hear sounds from the iPads. I fully charged them before placing them in the cart, but they will need to be charged periodically as you use them. They come with a USB charging cord and can be charged with any USB charger (like the iPad chargers) or by plugging them into your classroom computer USB port while the computer is turned on.

Here are the instructions on how to use the speaker with your iPad: Bluetooth Speaker for iPad Instructions - and, of course, I'm happy to show you how to use them anytime.

Portable Interactive Whiteboard Systems - Ipevo IS-01

These systems allow you to interact with a computer (not an iPad) using your projector and a special pen. You can use the pen as a mouse to access interactive applications and websites, as well as annotating on top of any image/web page. We have purchased two of them. One resides in the laptop cart, and the other is currently in the cart in room 208B.

Video demonstration of the Ipevo Portable Interactive Whiteboard system.

If you'd like to try this out, please let me know and we can set up a time for me to show you how it works. It's portable, so if you're in Rochester or another location, don't let that deter you from trying it out - it's small and easily transported!

Math Worksheet Software

We have purchased two modules of Kuta Software which generates math worksheets - the Pre-Algebra module and the Algebra module. This is software that can be installed on all the DALC classroom computers and each teacher can install one copy on a home computer or laptop to use.

I'll be installing the software on the classroom computers, and here are the instructions to install it at home:

• See/e-mail me for a copy of the serial numbers.
• Go to http://www.kutasoftware.com/download.html and download each software package:  Pre-Algebra and/or Algebra I
• Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software.

Instructional video on using Kuta Software

Please let me know if you need assistance using the software and I'm happy to help.

Google Apps for Education

The Dover School District is implementing Google Apps for Education (GAFE) to increase interaction and collaboration between teachers and students. We also have access to GAFE accounts and tools for teachers and students including Google Drive, Google Classroom, and more.

Here are some useful websites with information about Google Apps for Education:

Google for Education training site - Google's training site for GAFE

Google Education on Air Conference Recordings - recorded webinars from a recent GAFE conference - teachers talking about how they are using GAFE in their classrooms.

Google Classroom Overview - a basic overview of the features of Google Classroom


If you would like me to set up an account for you so you can try it out over the summer, please let me know and I can get you started.

New Items up on DALC Tech

Here are the latest items I've added to the DALC Tech website:

HiSET Resources Page - A page to compile good resources for teaching the HiSET. Please send me more links to include!

Integrating Career Awareness Curriculum - A link from Pam Shore on integrating Career Awareness into ABE/ESOL classes. This and other adult education resources are found on the Adult Education Websites page at DALC Tech.

Other links added to DALC Tech include

• A link to the SAU 11 Google Apps login page - to use with your GAFE account information

• A link to the Bluetooth Speaker for iPads Instructions on the Projector Carts page.

If you 'd like to receive an email each time I add something new to the DALC Tech site, just click this link to subscribe: Subscribe to DALC Tech News Updates



Please let me know if you have any other technology needs and I'm happy to help! Have a great end to the school year and a fantastic summer!

~ Tiffany

New HiSET Resources Page

Image courtesy of Alberto G.

I've created a page on the DALC Tech website to contain resources for the HiSET. I've added a few links that I had, but I'm looking to add more resources. Please send more resources my way and I'll add them to the site.

Here's the direct link to the page:  http://dalctech.wikispaces.com/HiSET+Resources

Also, if there are resources that teachers would like available, but should not be up on the public site, let me know and I'm setting up a secure location for those.

Email your resources to me and I'll put them up on the site. Thank you!

DALC Tech News February 2015

Here is what's up with technology here at DALC -

Computer Literacy Classes

The current group of computer literacy classes are underway with great student attendance. There are a few more starting up in the spring in case any other students are interested - please help me get the word out. They are:

Beginning Computer Literacy: Thursdays, March 12 – May 21, 12:30–2:30 pm, Dover Computer Lab
Intermediate Computer Literacy: Wednesdays, March 11 – May 20, 12:30-2:30 pm, Dover Computer Lab
Keyboarding: Wednesdays. April 8 – May 20, 9-10 am, Dover Computer Lab

Click this link to download the flyer with class descriptions, and this link for the enrollment form.

Technology at DALC Check-In

As we pass the mid-point of our year, I wanted to check in with you on technology in your classrooms. We'll take a short time at the professional development day next week to discuss technology needs, so in preparation, please think about the questions below. If you will not be at the professional development day, please feel free to drop me an email with your thoughts and ideas. Thank you!

Projector Carts

We've had half of a school year with our mobile projector carts for ABE/ESOL, and as I've talked to teachers, the feedback has been very positive. I'd love to hear about successes and challenges you've had using the carts so we can benefit from everyone's experiences. How are you using the carts? What have been some successful lessons/websites/activities? What has not worked as well as you would like? If you have a chance to drop me an email with your feedback, I'll compile and share the ideas. Thank you!

Technology Needs

Where would you like to go with technology in your classroom? What technology needs do you have? What would you like to be able to do next? We have some technology money this year to spend, and I wanted to check in to see what classroom technology needs are out there.

iPad Apps

Also, if you would like to spend any of your classroom supply money on iPad apps, we need to compile a list so I can put those purchases through. If there are iPad apps you'd like, please email me the exact name of the app, the publisher of that app, and the price (this information shows up in the listing in the App Store).

Tech Ideas from around the Net

Here are a few tidbits about technology that can be used in adult education classes. If any of these spark your interest, let me know if you'd like help trying them out!


Using Google Voice in the Classroom - A free voice-mail account where you can access the recordings from the web. Practice phone and speaking skills.


Game Based Learning - Here are a couple of websites to bring some fun and games into your classroom.


FlipQuiz.me - Free tool to create Jeapordy-style quiz games to use with your class. Try out this FlipQuiz on the topic of President's Day - Browse the page to see the questions, and click "Presentation View" to run the game.


Kahoot - Create game-show type quizzes that students can play with their mobile phones/tablets. Sign up for a free account and check out the Public Kahoots link at the top for ideas.



That's all for now! As always, if you have any technology questions or needs, please let me know! Thanks!


~Tiffany