One Week Closer

Last week we held professional development sessions on learning management systems.  I want to be clear that our position at this time is to not choose a single system or app.  We want to explore these further before investing into one. I also believe there is value in asking the students to use different options.  With the rapid changing world we live in I believe it would be short sighted to go with just one.

There are only 16 days until we start giving out the iPads.  Please pass the word to Freshman and Sophomores that they need to be registered for a distribution night.  The link is: http://bhs.bettendorf.k12.ia.us/Teachers/library/iPad%20Resources:%20Parent

This week is the first opportunity for staff to have app and accessory purchases approved. Please make sure those are submitted by 4pm on Tuesday.  Other major steps this week will be to complete the student enrollment process for devices and to discuss wireless security options for the building and district.  We also are looking to add some additional devices.  We had about forty more freshman than anticipated this school year so we will be increasing the amount of iPads we have for check-out and break/damage scenarios.

The Bulldog Tech Corps had their first meeting this week and will be holding another session at 3:15 this Thursday in the library.  Please encourage any interested members to attend.  This group's purpose is not just to take apart computers, we will be working with all aspects of technology, so please help us recruit.

This Thursday Johnathan Wylie, from GWAEA, will be here to work with the Tech Team.  We will follow up with this work on the 12th of September at our next professional development opportunity.

Finally, favorite app that I found this week: Pulse News.  You can create your own news magazine.

Follow this blog at: http://bettendorfbulldogs.blogspot.com/

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!

Summer Planning

Sorry that I have been away for a while, things have not slowed down with the end of the school year.  The summer is rolling along and the school year will be here before we know it, time flies when you are having fun!  This summer we are working to finalize our professional development plan for the 2012-2013 school year which includes additional professional development opportunities for staff in August and planning professional development throughout the school year.  We are taking time to think about how our iPad deployment will look in the fall and are excited about getting iPads in the hands of our students.  We finished the school year strong and have been excited about the progress that staff members have made through Mission Possible.  We would like to see you to take advantage of this online learning opportunity through the summer.

I am hopeful that everyone is getting a chance to rest and recharge during the summer months.  You all deserve it.  We have a busy year and a tremendously exciting year ahead of us!

May 16

On Wednesday we think that it is important that you have time and options.  So if you have your iPad, have completed Level 3, and are ready for some Level 4 missions you can do it.  If you need time to see Eric McCoy because something isn't working right you can do it.  If you would like to complete your final Level 3 missions you can do it.  The day is meant to be flexible.  The Level 4 sessions are listed below.  If you are on the Tech Team we will be having Stacy Behmer here in the afternoon as well and you will be receiving a note about that schedule, it will be an advanced iPad session.

1:30-2:15 - Level 4 Missions (Pick 1) - Evernote (Mr. Like's room) or Dropbox/Cloud On (Ms. Ahrens's room)

2:15-2:30 - Break and Transition Time

2:30-3:15 - Level 4 Missions (Pick 1) - Screencasting (Mr. Like's room) or Google on the iPad (Ms. Ahren's room)

3:20-3:30 - Recognition and wrap up in Fine Arts room
                  Plan for summer and term 1

We are rolling!

Congratulations to Joe Buck who is the current leader in Mission Possible!  We began distributing iPads last week and have about 15 left to give out.  On Wednesday, May 16 we will be offering another day of START training with Mission Possible.  There will be some sessions offered for support or you can work through some missions on your own.  The last thing we need you to do before this game becomes totally self paced is to complete the last five missions of level three so that you can participate in level four missions on May 16. (You most likely have already done these, but just haven't submitted the form.)  The schedule for the day is below.  Eric McCoy will be available throughout the afternoon for tech support.  He is located in the social studies hallway now.  Thank you for all of your hard work at this busy time of year.  Let me know what questions you are having.

1:30-2:15 - Level 4 Missions (Pick 1) - Evernote or Dropbox/Cloud On

2:15-2:30 - Break and Transition Time

2:30-3:15 - Level 4 Missions (Pick 1) - Screencasting or Google on the iPad

3:20-3:30 - Recognition and wrap up in Fine Arts room
                  Plan for summer and term 1