Jeff Rew

Friday, March 10, 2017

Grow Your PLN!

Near the registration desk at the EdTechRVA conference earlier in the week was a notepad to add your Twitter username. Here below is everyone with links to make it easier to find, follow, and grow your personal learning network.

*Edit 3/12/17 - Updated to include GRAETC committee members and conference presenters.

@GRAETCorg
@jeff_rew
@dlcamp007
@tech4mm
@calder_science
@hcausey
@janiceskipwith
@formerlystars
@faycrum
@OliveMyBoston
@TheWright1_
@altheadespina
@foxteaches
@EdTechJoshG
@Pratt_ITRT
@rltoy
@divein2edtech
@techdr
@sw_ITRT
@EdTech_Beard
@tisinaction
@HCPSTinyTech
@KariKuebler2
@bvfeighner
@ErinWest_ITRT
@MrDesando
@jzicari_ITRT
@sctaylorITRT

GRAETC Committee Members: (Includes some duplicates from above.)
Ann Nash - @amnash
Bea Leiderman - @BeaLeiderman
Beth Sepelyak - @pghstee1er
Carolyn Kaufman - @TechEd4me
Chris Biagiarelli - @ChrisB320
Erin Ford - @erinford429
Heather Causey - @hcausey
Janice Skipwith - @janiceskipwith
Jeff Rew - @jeff_rew
Josh Greesonbach - @EdTechJoshG
Karen Richardson - @VSTE & @witchyrichy
Katie Owens - @amykatie77
Michelle Martin - @tech4mm
Rachael Toy - @rltoy
Sara Butcher - @mrssbutchers
Sheryl Sylvia - @itrt08
Stacie Taylor - @sctaylorITRT
Stephanie Playton - @STEMGal
Susannah Bishop - @wiseowltech
William Waller - @techdr

GRAETC member system ITRT Groups
Chesterfield - @EdTechCCPS
Hanover - @HCPSitrt
Henrico - @Henrico_ITRT
Richmond - @RVAITRTs

EdTechRVA 2017 Presenters:
William Rankin (Keynote Presenter) - @rankinw
Colleen Cassada - @Cbbcassada
Amanda Kinsler - @afkinsler3
Cathy Maher - @camaher
Terri Vernon - @flynnstress
Carrie Hood - @carrie_edu
Jacquelyn Calder - @calder_science
Alicia Broughton - @AliciaBroughton
Gillian Lambert - @GillianLambert
Emily Roberts - @Connor6307
Bambi Feighner - @bvfeighner
Sarah Webster - @sw_ITRT
Natalie Davis - @divein2edtech
Jim Covais - @CovaisTech
Tim Stahmer - @timstahmer
Joy Duncan - @Joyduncan17

Matthew Spears - @matthewlspears

Megan DiGiovanni - @MegDiGiovanni

Kate Kanach - @Teachnologist

Jennifer Axselle - @JAxselle

Rebecca Fox - @foxteaches

Althea Hudson - @altheadespina

Sommer Jones - @sotechcellent
Longwood ITTIP - @ITTIPSTEM
Katie Brockel - @KatieMBrockel
Catherine Tompkins - @cattompkins
Matt Fuquay - @mattfuquay
Susanne Besecker - @SusanneBesecker
Wendy Seger - @WendySeger
Aimee Benner - @aimeembenner
Eileen Malick - @emalick
Andrea Dorsey - @apdorsey

And also check out the EdTechRVA Google+ group with links to the conference presentations and other resources.

Friday, December 16, 2016

Amendments to the Constitution Project

I was making my rounds though Albert Hill Middle School yesterday and of the 8th Grade Civics teachers mentioned a project his kids were working where some of them were actually creating smartphone apps. Intrigued I stopped by to check it out and was so impressed I grabbed a copy of the project to post here.

Along with creating an app students also had the option to do a number of other things including PowerPoint presentation or podcast. Along with posting the lesson I've included links to resources for students that wish to use the technology options in their final product.

Brochure/Poster:
Canva

PowerPoint Presentation:
Google Slides
Prezi

Podcast:
Audacity
Speakpipe

Smartphone App:
Code.org App Lab
MIT App Inventor

The teacher that provided it to me, Mr. Kimbrell, couldn't remember where he had originally found this project and despite some Google sleuthing on my part I couldn't fully determine the source either. If it's yours please comment so I can provide proper credit.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Favorite Apps - Clarify

A few weeks ago the data analyst I work with at one of my schools asked me to put together a walkthrough for how to do paper and pencil tests in PowerSchool. I don't have need to create such things often but when I do my go-to app is Clarify.

Compared to creating walkthroughs in Word or Pages where you must use a separate screenshot app with additional steps involved, Clarify allows you to use the app to take the needed shots and automatically embed them. From there you can add instructions along with arrows and bullets to explain whatever it is you're trying to do. From there it can be exported into a clean and professional looking PDF for sharing.

Below is the aforementioned walkthrough for PowerSchool created using the app. I also used it to create one for Blogger last year that can be found here on a previous blog post.

Friday, December 9, 2016

A Few Favorite Tweets from VSTE 2016

I wasn't able to attend this year's Virginia Society for Technology in Education conference this year but many folks I follow did. While many great resources were shared I also found the following Tweets particularly thought provoking.

Basic Needs - Updated @thomascmurray #truth #vste16 pic.twitter.com/HnsoqJ890P
— Tamara Letter (@HCPSTinyTech) December 6, 2016

No matter how excited you are about the latest gadget, remember it is the worst technology your 2-year-old will ever see. #VSTE16 @jcasap
— Eric De Boer (@edtechwolverine) December 4, 2016

Do you realize we now have students who have NEVER known life without a computer, iPad, Smart phones and WiFi? #VSTE16
— Sasha Bridge (@mrssajb) December 4, 2016

20 years from now kids will find your iPhone at a thrift store and be shocked you used to plug your phone to the wall for HOURS #vste16
— Tamara Letter (@HCPSTinyTech) December 4, 2016

I also liked this Tweet collecting the names of other educators to follow on Twitter. Read this post I made on my blog last year for additional folks.

Follow these great educators on Twitter from #vste16 Connected EDU Meetups. Last Meetup begins at 8:45 in #vstepopup 1! pic.twitter.com/aj4quCZ6bi
— VSTE World Hqtrs (@vste) December 6, 2016