22 Days! Where are my Dogs?

Another week is gone and we are that much closer to implementing our 1:1 iPad project.

To teachers of freshman and sophomores not only would I keep exploring and working towards a learning management system, like EdModo, I would also think about how you will want your students to stay organized.  Have you tried Evernote?  It is a good free app that allows you to tag and store several notes.  We will have to teach organization on these devices just like we teach organization with folders and notebooks now.

On September 6th, we will be hosting local iPad guru Johnathan Wylie from Grant Wood AEA to work with the tech team.  We are excited to continue our learning about the iPads with our tech team and will be planning for future professional developments in the progress.  If you are on the tech team plan to bring a lesson or unit on that day that you would like to improve.

This week we will have our first meeting for the Bulldog Tech Corps. This group will serve as our first line of tech support for students.  We are excited to get them involved.  The meeting will take place at 3:15 in the library.

Finally follow this blog @ http://bettendorfbulldogs.blogspot.com/ and continue to check out the Mission Possible site for news and information.


Please note that if you have a student you can sign up at the following link: http://bhs.bettendorf.k12.ia.us/Teachers/library/iPad%20Resources:%20Parent


WE STILL HAVE YOUR EAR BUDS.  Stop and see LeAnne if you have not yet got them.

Day 1 of school + 29 school days until the iPads are out!

My post for #leadershipday12 is extremely late, so I apologize. We had our first day of school today and it was a smashing success. I say a success because our students left with smiles on their face and their cup full of school spirit.  We treat the first day different and run a completely different schedule with rotations to indoctrinate students to different parts of the building and to purposefully create a social experience for the first day.  The students always give rave reviews of this experience and are happy to leave the first day energized and prepared for what lies ahead.  As I watched students interact today I wondered how this day will be different next year when our school has three grade levels equipped with iPads.  I am certain that some of these students relationships will have grown stronger and that they will form deeper bonds with one another.  I am also certain that it will have changed the way we think and operate about our day to day activities at the school. (Already today, staff members are asking about why we have paper copies of schedules.) I am not so certain that we know just how big this impact and transformation will be.  While I am excited we have several students, staff, and parents that range from nervous to terrified, which is fine.  It is our job to educate and address these fears while pledging to move forward. This should be big think and big shift time for our district.   We just need to continue to provide leadership in this direction. Our first day of school demonstrates the spirit we have as Bulldogs, this spirit and tenacity is what will help make our 1:1 program a success.

Welcome back!

We are excited to get our students and teachers back this next week.  Within the last month we have received all of the student devices and we are working to finalize plans on our roll-out events. The plan is for families to sign up for a night and come in to get their iPad, enroll the device and go over policy.  All dates and times will be communicated out soon.  There will be a website up and running with a lot of information and answers to questions as well.

The Tech Team has received training this week on course management systems.  The staff will have time for missions during staff development time this week and we are looking to see people move through the levels of Mission Possible.  We are excited to see what our teachers have worked to change in their courses over the summer.

Finally, there are two new hashtags to check out.  #bettfuture will be mentioned when talking about educational updates and news.  #betths will be used to follow all things to do with Bettendorf High School.  Get connected with us and join the conversation!