If you attended my session at PVAMU about social media and would like to have a copy of the presentation and the Facebook privacy settings handout, you can click on them below to download them. I’d love your feedback on the presentation…what can I add/improve on? What are your thoughts? Leave a comment!

Facebook Survival New Settings - Privacy settings handout

PVAMUfacebook4252012 - PDF of presentation

Click the link below to download the PDF.

Facebook Survival New Settings-nondistrict

For those who attended my sessions, you may click on the link below to download a PDF  file with helpful information on safety, privacy settings, and how to create your own Facebook Fan page.

Download the tutorial here: FacebookSurvival

Download a copy of my presentation PowerPoint in PDF format here: facebooksurvivalpresentation

This used to be me…

But now….this is me….

And now I’m going to share with you how I did it.

1. Look at how much money you make. It matters. While filing taxes with my husband, we realized that I was never going to qualify for Income Based Repayment (this sets your loan repayment amount based on your income). So I filed Married filing separately. Bingo…I qualified. NOTE: talk to your tax person about this and be VERY sure that you and your spouse (if you have one) agree that this is best. It was for us.
2. Consolidate your student loans under the Direct Loan Consolidation program with the government. You can find their website at http://dl.ed.gov. All the important info is on their website. Call them if you don’t understand what you are doing…they are very helpful. Be sure to select Income Based Repayment as your repayment option.
3. Follow up with the paperwork (and don’t miss any payments on your loan with it’s current holder until you hear from the Direct Consolidation people). I had to follow up twice because my loan summary sheets were wrong, but each time the people were helpful and friendly and took care of my problems right away.
4. When all is said and done…you will get a Loan Summary Sheet and be notified of your first payment date and amount. Go back online to  http://dl.ed.gov and set up automatic payments…it takes money off of your interest rate and will ensure that you do not default on your loan (you cannot get forgiveness for a loan you default on)…AND you have to make 120 payments before forgiveness if possible…if you miss or defer payments…it will just take you that much longer.
5. At the end of your 120 payments…request loan forgiveness. Here are some links to help you with that!
1. http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/PSF.jsp
2. http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/attachments/siteresources/LoanForgivenessv5_051511.pdf
3. http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/attachments/siteresources/PSLF_QAs_final_02%2012%2010.pdf

Starting off with a link to their google site – https://sites.google.com/site/tceafacebook/

Talking about the classroom-centric view…the world revolves around me and my teaching – the reality is…no it doesn’t.

Alternative Facebook options? Why reinvent the wheel?

Setting the ground rules

• had to have a professional account had to start with WHS – whatever to make it easy to find people and friend them.
• Did not spend a lot of time training on facebook as it was a voluntary effort and the volunteers knew it.
• If they came to training they unblocked it for that teacher.
• Gave teachers ideas on how to use Facebook – but a lot of teachers already came with ideas.
• Before a teacher could teach with Facebook they had to train their students – mostly about privacy settings and internet safety Taught kids how to block teacher from seeing pics, private info, etc.
• How are we going to handle inappropriate activity? – Didn’t come up with a rock-solid policy (so opting for the privacy settings)
• Idea is that we’re provided a semi-controlled or safe place for  kids to learn about Facebook (the whole learning to use appropriately argument)

Support

• Administrative support
• Technical support

Groups

• Not necessary to friend students
• Cannot see private info or pictures
• Everyone can participate

Instruction

• Tutorials
• Tips
• Latest Information

Presentation (available at the link above) has a lot of embedded video with interviews of tech support, teachers, etc. on this move at Westlake HS. The teacher comments are good – how they use it for instruction – good tips – talk about student interaction. Be careful – your students will start asking about grades, etc….watch out for FERPA etc.

It’s a tool – that’s it…use it for what is appropriate – won’t solve or help with everything!

Advantages of using an iPad:

• A good tool for independent review of skills
• Most applications are reasonably priced
• Sponge Activities
• Communication device (autism – pec system, etc)

Student Success

• Improved intelligibility with single words and phrases
• Improved handwriting skills
• Increased participation in teacher directed activities
• Demonstration of kills not seen in other activities

Gave student video examples. This was awesome. She commented on the ease of access to so many different tools – video, flash cards, audio, etc. Keeps the work flow moving and the kids engaged. This is a great application of the technology. When asked if her kids damaged them, she said even her most destructive students treated the iPads with respect.

Personal Note: my son is profoundly Autistic and very non-verbal….I see massive communication possibilities with this technology and may go ahead and spend the money for my child so that we can use this tool.

Teacher has great iPad stands from Best Buy…awesome. She was asked how she keeps it clean…lots of wipes, she says. They clean it regularly to keep from spreading flu, etc. but they look “well loved” at the end of the day. Used for auditory, visual, motor, and academic skills. Also used as interaction tool for multiple students.

Class pairs iPad with other activities that kids may not like – physical therapy, etc. to help the kids get through those disliked activities.

They are careful with apps that strobe and have not had issues with their seizure students having an episode.

Considerations:

• The iPad should only be used as a supplemental tool
• Students need to be able to generalize skills
• Students need to learn through the manipulation of real items
• Cost per iPad
• Students should be monitored on how they are using an application
• Enable restrictions before enabling students access to the device – never underestimate your kids!

Laptop battery dying…switching to my phone to take notes and will add them back here.

Why mobile?

• 4 million users
• Africa is fastest growing user
• 76% students ages 12-18 have cell phones
• Students want mobile information to go with their mobile lifestyle
• Students from 13-17 spend over 1/2 their time on their phones texting (girls especially)
• They love texting because they can multitask, it’s fast, they don’t have to talk in person, it’s private and stealthy, it saves calling minutes, it’s cheaper
• 21st century skills
• opportunities for self directed learning
• real-world application
• promotes differentiated instruction
• internet safety & digital citizenship
• Collaborative learning
• information gathering
• informal/life-long learning
• support/coordination
• fine motor skills/multiple device manipulation
• Quick feedback or reinforcement
• Constructivism
• Situational learning

What do you do with a phone with no service plan?

• record audio
• record video
• take pictures
• note pad features
• wifi access – blog, wiki, etc.

Ask your families for old phones to use in the classroom – just need a power cord.

Texting Tools:

• Text the Mob – 50 responses
• Poll Everywhere – 30 responses
• Cha Cha – text a question (search engine – 242442)
• Google SMS – 46645

Apps & Web Based Tools

• Edmodo.com – has iphone and droid app (facebook like social network, studeent safe, options to give and submit assignments, push or text notificaitons)
• Quia.com/web – quiz and activity builder (paid subscription)
• Discovery Education for streaming video
• Kidblog.org  - student created blogs, free, teachers monitor student blogs, user-friendly environment, elementary feel, doesn’t require an email address
• App list spreadsheet – http://tinyurl.com/mobileapps4class
• Air Sketch or Group Board to upload hand drawn photos (great for math and science)

Awesome texting series of videos staring Jane Lynch – Sue Sylvster on Glee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgMs1cwgHew&playnext=1&list=PL58B6B98C06F5DFC9

Behavior and Consequences

• You need to have rules and consequences that abide with your AUP…etc.
• Gave some examples from classroom teachers.
• Their droids are all password protected, etc. and teachers control it (kids can’t download Apps, etc).

Role in the classroom must change

• Teachers have to become more of a facilitator – less of the sage on the stage
• Out of your seat Teacher – move, engage, facilitate, monitor as your kids work
• Students will become creators rather than receivers
• Kids will be in different places/apps – get used to it
• Teacher have to give up the need to control (everyone at the same place at the same time doing the same thing)

It’s not about the device – it’s about the learning!

Web: http://www.plasticforkdiaries.org/

This information is provided as a courtesy for BISD teachers and inclusion here does not indicate an endorsement by the district. It is important to thoroughly evaluate a website before using it with students. For help with this please contact the Learning Technologies Coach for your campus.

• about the underground railroad – the basics…what it is, how it worked and why it was necessary
• following the footsteps – a life in slavery or the dangerous route to freedom? You decide
• eyewitness to history – learn the story of Marylanders who traveled the Railroad…in their own words
• figure it out – find out how slavery affected people your own age
• mapping it out – follow routes to freedom and more
• secrets, signs & symbols – hidden ways of communicating when lives depended on keeping secrets
• create a quilt block – design a quilt block with your own secret message
• living history – the stories of the Underground Railroad continue…add your own here
• Underground Railroad Library – the people, places and events of the Underground Railroad

The site has a classroom resources section, a page for parents, and even a free screensaver for you!

Web: http://pathways.thinkport.org/flash_home.cfm

This information is provided as a courtesy for BISD teachers and inclusion here does not indicate an endorsement by the district. It is important to thoroughly evaluate a website before using it with students. For help with this please contact the Learning Technologies Coach for your campus.