Intern Experiences (2012-2015)
2012 was the first year that WVCPD and GATE began including iPads in their Infusing Technology program. This program was directed by Leah Sparks. Each of these sessions was four days long, and I created extensive programs for these and helped to coordinate other aspects of the sessions, such as lodging, set up, and registration.
In 2013, the biggest change in GATE programming involved the iPad trainings, Infusing Technology. With a new coordinator, Michelle Tharp, the program had changed significantly. Participants who did not pass the proficiency quiz I had previously created were required to go to a separate iPad Basic session before the three day training to learn about the basic functions and settings of the iPad. I helped with many of the iPad Basic sessions by sitting with struggling teachers and pointing them in the right direction.
We held two Infusing Technology sessions, each three days, during the summer of 2013. During these three days, participants had a series of breakout sessions during which they had several options to choose from to decide where they wanted to go that would best suit their needs. Though this was much better for the participants, it required more work on our part in terms of planning and laying out the sessions, but it was well worth it. We trained nearly 200 teachers to use iPads effectively in their classrooms over six days. With these sessions, I worked creating large program booklets with descriptions of sessions, and while on location I helped set up projectors and AppleTVs for facilitators. Because we had so many teachers in attendance, I also had to attend various sessions to assist both participants and presenters, gaining new technology knowledge myself.
Early in 2014, I attended and presented at the Infusing Technology Showcase at Stonewall Jackson Resort. Summer 2013 Infusing Technology participants who wished to earn graduate credit for their efforts gave presentations on how they used iPad technology with their students during the school year. I gave two 30 minute presentations about my iPad workshops that I piloted at West Liberty (See iTeacher Workshops in the navigation bar for more details). Each presentation was attended by approximately 15 educators from around the state.
During the summer, the Infusing Technology program continued to grow. We continued to hold iPad Basic sessions for those who needed instruction on the basic settings and features of the iPad, which were attended by approximately 25 teachers each day. Some teachers went on to attend the three day Infusing Technology sessions.
In 2014, there were more breakouts for participants to select during their three days, with a variety of skill levels, grade levels, and subjects reached. During registration, I worked a Help Desk to assist participants with downloading Bizzabo, the event organizing app we used to eliminate paper waste and further implement technology. Prior to the conference, I had spent several weeks inputting data into Bizzabo so that participants would be able to read about the sessions and find their presenters and locations throughout the week. I also used the Aurasma app to create augmented reality elements for each of the session by creating video descriptions of the sessions and overlaying these videos onto title slides for each session.
During the week, I was placed with a team of high school teachers to collaborate and plan with at the beginning and end of each day; I acted as an assistant to the team leader and facilitator. I also spent the week running the Infusing Technology Twitter account, tweeting out important information and anecdotes as well as pictures. I attended many of the breakout sessions to learn and assist.
I taught one session on using the video app TouchCast in the classroom in which participants learned about the features of TouchCast and created a TouchCast about their school. I taught two more sessions on using Edmodo, a social media site for educators, students and parents.
Coordinating the Infusing Technology sessions took a lot of organization both before the event and during to make sure all materials and technology were correct and where they were supposed to be.
Much of the Infusing Technology program remained the same during 2015. I again presented at the Infusing Technology Showcase in March, this time discussing different math "apptivities" applicable at the second level, including Graphing Stories, Desmos, and Educreations.
We held to three-day academies over the summer, one in Charleston and one in Fairmont. The major change this year involved the inclusion of any devices - not just iPads - including other tablets, phones, and laptops. This meant that our programs had to be available across devices, enabling teachers across the state to use them, regardless of what devices their schools had invested in. Because of this new angle, I used the website creator Weebly to create a website outlining the program for the academy (instead of using an app).
Another new aspect of the program this year was the MakerMovement, which strives to inspire students to learn to create things and be artistic and scientific. We gathered an abundance of resources - some things which others would even consider trash - to allow teachers to "play" and see the benefit of the MakerMovement. I am enamored with the MakerMovement because of its connection to mathematics in the sense that it teaches students that there are multiple ways to accomplish a goal.
In 2013, the biggest change in GATE programming involved the iPad trainings, Infusing Technology. With a new coordinator, Michelle Tharp, the program had changed significantly. Participants who did not pass the proficiency quiz I had previously created were required to go to a separate iPad Basic session before the three day training to learn about the basic functions and settings of the iPad. I helped with many of the iPad Basic sessions by sitting with struggling teachers and pointing them in the right direction.
We held two Infusing Technology sessions, each three days, during the summer of 2013. During these three days, participants had a series of breakout sessions during which they had several options to choose from to decide where they wanted to go that would best suit their needs. Though this was much better for the participants, it required more work on our part in terms of planning and laying out the sessions, but it was well worth it. We trained nearly 200 teachers to use iPads effectively in their classrooms over six days. With these sessions, I worked creating large program booklets with descriptions of sessions, and while on location I helped set up projectors and AppleTVs for facilitators. Because we had so many teachers in attendance, I also had to attend various sessions to assist both participants and presenters, gaining new technology knowledge myself.
Early in 2014, I attended and presented at the Infusing Technology Showcase at Stonewall Jackson Resort. Summer 2013 Infusing Technology participants who wished to earn graduate credit for their efforts gave presentations on how they used iPad technology with their students during the school year. I gave two 30 minute presentations about my iPad workshops that I piloted at West Liberty (See iTeacher Workshops in the navigation bar for more details). Each presentation was attended by approximately 15 educators from around the state.
During the summer, the Infusing Technology program continued to grow. We continued to hold iPad Basic sessions for those who needed instruction on the basic settings and features of the iPad, which were attended by approximately 25 teachers each day. Some teachers went on to attend the three day Infusing Technology sessions.
In 2014, there were more breakouts for participants to select during their three days, with a variety of skill levels, grade levels, and subjects reached. During registration, I worked a Help Desk to assist participants with downloading Bizzabo, the event organizing app we used to eliminate paper waste and further implement technology. Prior to the conference, I had spent several weeks inputting data into Bizzabo so that participants would be able to read about the sessions and find their presenters and locations throughout the week. I also used the Aurasma app to create augmented reality elements for each of the session by creating video descriptions of the sessions and overlaying these videos onto title slides for each session.
During the week, I was placed with a team of high school teachers to collaborate and plan with at the beginning and end of each day; I acted as an assistant to the team leader and facilitator. I also spent the week running the Infusing Technology Twitter account, tweeting out important information and anecdotes as well as pictures. I attended many of the breakout sessions to learn and assist.
I taught one session on using the video app TouchCast in the classroom in which participants learned about the features of TouchCast and created a TouchCast about their school. I taught two more sessions on using Edmodo, a social media site for educators, students and parents.
Coordinating the Infusing Technology sessions took a lot of organization both before the event and during to make sure all materials and technology were correct and where they were supposed to be.
Much of the Infusing Technology program remained the same during 2015. I again presented at the Infusing Technology Showcase in March, this time discussing different math "apptivities" applicable at the second level, including Graphing Stories, Desmos, and Educreations.
We held to three-day academies over the summer, one in Charleston and one in Fairmont. The major change this year involved the inclusion of any devices - not just iPads - including other tablets, phones, and laptops. This meant that our programs had to be available across devices, enabling teachers across the state to use them, regardless of what devices their schools had invested in. Because of this new angle, I used the website creator Weebly to create a website outlining the program for the academy (instead of using an app).
Another new aspect of the program this year was the MakerMovement, which strives to inspire students to learn to create things and be artistic and scientific. We gathered an abundance of resources - some things which others would even consider trash - to allow teachers to "play" and see the benefit of the MakerMovement. I am enamored with the MakerMovement because of its connection to mathematics in the sense that it teaches students that there are multiple ways to accomplish a goal.