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I was wandering through the electronic department at Target yesterday, starting to think about Christmas gifts for my very techie family, and found the Pulse Smartpen by Livescribe. After checking out the display and researching it online, I thought, "Wow, this is an amazing piece of technology!" Of course, I had to get one for myself so I could test it out and ensure it would be a quality gift for my loved ones. (That's my excuse, and I'm stickin' to it!) Here's an overview of what the Pulse does, potential applications to education, and issues it raises for teachers and districts. What it Does: - Digitally captures notes: The Pulse digitally captures notes you record on paper (special paper required). These notes are synchronized to your computer using the Livescribe software that comes with it. Your notes are then entirely searchable - it does an amazing job at recognizing even the worst chicken scratch!
- Records audio: If desired, while you are taking notes with the pen, you can also capture audio at the same time. The audio is synchronized to your notes. So later, if you tap your pen on any part of your notes, you can hear the audio that was recorded at the time you wrote the note! The audio is also synchronized to the copy of your notes on the computer - using the software, you can see your notes being "re-written" as it plays the audio.
- Provides sharing capabilities: The Livescribe software allows users to share their notes and associated audio recordings online with others - "pencasting" is born! Here's an example.
Applications to Education: - Capture Notes: How many times have you reviewed your notes from a class session and felt confused, perhaps because you missed something, didn't write a complete enough note to jog your memory, or can't read the hasty scribble? No worries! Just tap the pen on that part of your notes and hear what the teacher was saying when you wrote it! This technology brings together both auditory and visual recall to provide a truly powerful study session!
- Record Observations: I always walked around my classroom with a clipboard or notepad to record observations of student learning and behavior. Later, I would transfer them to my recordkeeping software - if I had the time! With the Pulse pen, all your notes are synchronized in your computer and searchable. Find every instance that you wrote about Johnny in your notebook. (Hint: Use a different notebook for each class to keep your notes separate.)
- Model Notetaking: Imagine how much more effective your lectures might be if you used this technology to model note-taking. Rather than just a podcast, you could pencast your lectures to provide both visual and auditory review of your lessons. You could also apply this technology to the drawing strategies presented in Jon Pearson's trainings, by capturing the auditory to accompany the drawings. You can model, then have a student use the pen to draw and tell what they know and share it with others!
- Capture Drawings: Once your notes are synchronized to your computer, you can copy-paste an image of your notes into another application. Perhaps you drew a diagram of a molecule or an icon for critical thinking - you can capture that artistic rendering and use it in a document or presentation.
- Record Meeting Minutes: Record your notes from meetings, phone calls, or your personal brainstorm sessions. Later, you can quickly search your notes to find that critical information you need right when you need it! Of course, you can also record audio, if appropriate, so all the details are captured.
Issues This Raises: - Do you have a right to record others? There's mixed information about whether you have the right to covertly record a conversation of which you are a member. Best practice - notify/ask participants, explain the purpose and intended uses of your recording.
- Do students have a right to record in the classroom? Ed Code 51512 states they cannot record without the permission of the teacher and principal. This addresses all recording devices including cell phones, ipods, a recording pen, etc.
- Do students have a right to make recordings public? Even if a teacher gives a student permission for a lecture to be recorded, making this recording available online for others is another matter entirely and requires additional approval. If you plan to share your audio recordings, get permission first.
- Does our Acceptable Use Policy cover this? While Ed Code states that students cannot record without permission, clearly communicating these expectations to students and parents in light of new technologies is important. Our Educational Technology Committee and District administrators will need to address this concern and determine if a revision to the AUP is necessary.
- What should I know and do as a teacher? Be aware of the fact that students may be using various types of personal devices to record audio and/or video. Inform your students of the Ed Code policy. Encourage their use of technology to support learning, but also teach personal accountability. Finally, explore the potential this technology has as an instructional tool in your classroom. Embrace new technology and make it work for you!
UPDATE! Technical Tip: If you install the software on your work computer/laptop, you'll get an error message indicating it can't use a network path. Go to this website to download the patch. Be sure your computer has at least 4GB of storage space on the C drive.
Location: Preston, Room P2
Schools Represented: Bemis, Dunn, Fitzgerald, Garcia, Morgan, Morris, Myers, Werner
Site Successes & Challenges: (Lead Teachers) - All schools indicated eSTELLAR activities have been initiated at their sites. Students and teachers are using the technology in science at various levels across the schools.
- Many Round 6 schools have teachers new to the eSTELLAR grant this year. Of the 41 teachers in Round 6, 14 (34%) are new in this second year of the grant. This presents a challenge for showing growth over last year's progress.
- Some schools continue to experience technical issues with the laptops, particularly the wireless printer. Noelle reminded everyone to submit blues so these occurences can be tracked. Noelle will also send an email to IT Dept. asking for troubleshooting suggestions.
- Some expressed concerns about moving the cart from room to room and ensuring care of the equipment. Various ideas were shared including: leave the cart in the lead teacher's room and swap rooms with the other teacher, establish protocols for use and train other teachers in these processes, do model lesson in other classrooms to introduce the laptops and train students in proper use.
Lesson Sharing: (Noelle) - eChalk's Lesson Planner allows us to share lessons across the district to all eSTELLAR teachers. This serves as the main repository for lessons developed integrating technology in science and provides required evidence for the grant evaluation.
- When a lead teacher records lesson development on his/her log, the lesson must be shared in eChalk.
- Leads are encouraged to use the lesson planner when collaboratively developing lessons with teachers at their sites.
- Shared lessons should include any related attachments, such as: templates, handouts, sample of student work, presentation, etc.
- Use the comment feature to provide feedback to a teacher when you use his/her lesson.
- Attendees practiced accessing the shared lesson plans in eChalk, including viewing all lessons and searching by keyword/topic.
- Noelle reminded attendees that all teachers at the eSTELLAR schools have access to the lesson planner, not just the eSTELLAR teachers. (Round 7 schools should have access by the end of September, after the budget is released.)
Lead Teacher Logs: (Noelle) - All lead teachers will maintain their log using the individualized iGoogle spreadsheet and entry form Noelle created. Attendees created an iGoogle account and learned how to access their spreadsheet and entry form (see directions).
- The benefits of this online log include:
- Online data entry - you can record your activities anytime, anywhere using an Internet-connected computer
- Instant viewing - both the lead teacher and program coordinator (Noelle) can see the activity log at anytime. Principals may also be invited to view their lead teacher's log.
- Easy tracking - the eSTELLAR program coordinator (Noelle) can easily oversee all 18 lead teacher's activities on an ongoing basis instead of requesting the electronic file via email intermittently.
Other: - Noelle showed how an eChalk group page can be used to schedule use of the laptop carts. If you want to use this strategy, email Noelle for assistance.
- At Round 6 schools, every participating teacher should be integrating student use of technology in science at least once a week on average.
- The laptops can be used for other content areas in the eSTELLAR classrooms, but science needs to take priority and occur at least once a week on average.
- All eSTELLAR equipment should be used exclusively in eSTELLAR classrooms during the instructional day. However, it can be used after school for parent trainings, staff development, or after-school programs. Principals and lead teacher should work together to ensure proper use during these activities.
To Do's for September: - Make sure all eSTELLAR teachers and students have completed the surveys. (Round 6 schools should be done; Round 7 schools will be starting this next week.)
- Remind all eSTELLAR teachers of upcoming trainings:
- All Round 7 teachers and Round 6 make-ups: eSTELLAR Kick-off Day: Saturday, Sept 20th, 8:30-3:00pm at the District Registration Center (repeat of Sat, Aug 23rd)
- 4th Grade: Sept 23rd - Electricity & Magnets, magnetic field probe
- 5th Grade: Sept. 24th - Periodic Table, Inspiration
- Enter lead teacher activities in your new online form.
Round 6 Schools Only: - Share your great lessons in eChalk's Lesson Planner.
- Make sure all eSTELLAR Teachers are integrating student use of technology in SCIENCE at least once a week.
- Establish a site protocol for scheduling use of the laptop carts, ensuring appropriate use in the classroom, etc.
- Facilitate one or more site level collaborations among eSTELLAR teachers to develop a lesson, practice technology presented at grade level session, etc.
Time: 3pm-4pm
Location: District Registration Center, Conference Room
Schools Represented: Bemis, Carter, Curtis, Dunn, Frisbie, Eisenhower, Garcia, Henry, Hughbanks, Jehue, Kelley, Simpson, Trapp
District Technology Plan (Matt Kelly, Noelle Kreider) - The plan must be revised and submitted to the state by December 5th in order to maintain district eligibility for technology grants and funding.
- To increase stakeholder involvement, site representatives were asked to seek input from their schools. A brainstorming worksheet (see attachment below) was provided. All responses are to be submitted online by October 1st. Input may be from site leadership team, department, or grade level groups.
- Representatives were encouraged to review the National Technology Standards as a supporting document for technology plan input. The profiles link on the website provides grade level examples.
Acceptable Use Policy (Noelle Kreider) - The policy needs to be taught, not just passed out.
- The AUP Classroom poster should be posted in every classroom above the computers. The poster includes your school's login information for Grolier & EBSCO. You can access the poster from your eChalk account - login to your account and click My School in the left sidebar. The poster is attached to the Grolier login message.
- The NetSmartz link on every school's eChalk website provides lessons on Internet safety. iSAFE.org provides professional development and free curriculum materials addressing all Internet safety topics, including cyberbullying.
Other - www.CLRN.org (Noelle Kreider): This is a state-funded database of software and websites aligned to state standards.
- www.ThinkFinity.org (Noelle Kreider): This is a rich collection of the best educational resources on the web.
- Blogs (Noelle Kreider): eChalk now has a blog feature for teachers and administrators. For more information, login to your eChalk account, click Support Center, and click the Teach with eChalk tab. You'll see the blog handout listed.
Next Meeting: October 1st, 3-4pm in the District Registration Center Conference Room.
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