Digital Learning


"The difference between school and life?  In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test.  In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson." - Tom Bodett
The 21st century classroom isn't unique simply because technology is present.  It is unique because it allows for creativity and individual curiosity to flourish in ways that were not possible beforehand.  Since teachers are life-long learners, this new reality in education applies not just to our students, but to teachers as well.  This page is designed to inspire your creativity and help you re-imagine lesson design using the digital tools available to us. The goals here are clear: how can we inspire a more passionate, connected dialogue amongst our students AND how can we help them acquire the content we have to offer by allowing them to create knowledge products?  How can we, as the quote above suggests, engage our kids in activities that provide open-ended opportunities for learning? 

Bring Virtual Reality Into Your Classroom!

posted Sep 8, 2017, 6:30 PM by Jonathan Gillig   [ updated Apr 19, 2018, 10:57 AM ]

 Virtual Reality provides teachers an excellent opportunity to immerse your students into destinations both big and small that would be virtually impossible to visit together! Using the very affordable technology of Google Cardboard, students can explore 360 images on the ground level, from up above or deep inside the human body!  

Google Cardboard is a virtual reality (VR) platform developed by Google for use with a head mount for a smartphone.  Named for its fold-out cardboard viewer, the platform is intended as a low-cost system to encourage interest and development in VR applications. 

Once the Kit is assembled, a smartphone is inserted in the back of the device and held in place by the selected fastening device.  When viewing a Cardboard compatible app, the display is split into two which results in a 3D image with a wide field of view!  		 

Profile of Google Expeditions




 
https://edu.google.com/expeditions/
 

One of the best apps to use with Google Cardboard is Google Expeditions.  Expeditions offers a growing library of experiences for Guides (those who lead the Expedition) to lead Followers (those who experience i.e. our students).  Click here for a full set of instructions on how to use the app! 

Using your Smartphone or Tablet, Guides download their Expedition from the App and Followers are connected to Guides because they are on the same WiFi network.  

Don't have a class set of Cardboards yet?  Don't fret, project your Expedition on your screen as the Guide and let students see the wonderful 360 images as a whole class! 



Check out this list of Google Expeditions!   

It even provides links to lesson materials for the expedition when available. 

Special Thanks to Jennifer Holland and Lauren Carroll for creating this list and keeping it updated! 		 

‎‎‎[Expeditions]‎‎‎ - List of available Expeditions






Check Out These Other VR Apps That Can Be Used With Cardboard!		 
https://www.google.com/streetview/
Google Street View! 

Provides panoramic views of places all around the world. This is a crowd-sourced app that anyone can contribute to!  
 


 http://www.discoveryvr.com/
Discovery VR App

This App has a large menu of 360 videos that are from the most popular shows on Discovery Television!  Great to view using a Cardboard or streaming from your Phone or Tablet! 
  
https://sites.google.com/a/lusd.net/blendedlearning/digital-learning/bringvirtualrealityintoyourclassroom/NYT%20VR.png?attredirects=0

New York Time VR App

This app is designed to provide an immersive look into the stories profiled in the New York Times! 
  
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzuqhhs6NWbgTzMuM09WKDQ/featured
Youtube 360 Videos

Youtube has several playlists showcasing 360 videos along a wide range of topics!  Great for in-class viewing.  



7 Ways to Keep Students On-Task, On-Line

posted Aug 15, 2016, 10:25 AM by Jonathan Gillig   [ updated Oct 10, 2016, 10:39 PM ]


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                                                                                                        PRESS THE ARROW TO ADVANCE SLIDES

WANT A PDF VERSION OF THESE PROCEDURES?  CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD! 

WHAT ARE METHODS THAT YOU USE TO KEEP KIDS ON-TASK, ON-LINE?  PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT IN THE BOX BELOW!  

| Attachments: LUSD.pdf

Survey and Assess with Google Forms!

posted Jun 14, 2016, 6:35 PM by Jonathan Gillig   [ updated Jun 27, 2016, 9:05 PM ]

Google Forms is an engaging and user-friendly method of creating assessments, distributing surveys and collecting data.  It is embedded in your Google Drive and syncs with Google Classroom and Google Sheets.  Below are tutorials designed to get you started! Already familiar with how to set up a Form?  See the links below for innovative ideas on how to use Google Forms in your classroom!  

Google Forms Pt. 1

Google Forms Pt. 2

Google Forms Pt. 3

Google Forms Pt. 4

Google Forms Pt. 5

































Digital Posters - Engaging Content Creation!

posted May 30, 2016, 9:09 AM by Jonathan Gillig   [ updated May 30, 2016, 9:59 AM ]

Digital posters are a great opportunity for teachers to provide students a creative challenge while immersed in content.  Digital posters can be used as a quick check for understanding or a purposeful accent for presentations, essays, projects or web-based creations such as student blogs or websites.  This post will profile Canva, a free digital poster-creation site that gives students many opportunities to demonstrate their ideas creatively! 

https://sites.google.com/a/lusd.net/literacy-digital-learning-and-student-dialogue-at-the-center/digital-learning/_draft_post/Canva%20Digital%20Posters.png

CANVA IN 3 EASY STEPS: 

STEP ONE: STUDENTS CHOOSE THEIR OWN LAYOUT FROM A GALLERY, OR CREATE THEIR OWN
    

STEP TWO: STUDENTS CHOOSE THEIR POSTER ELEMENTS


STEP THREE: STUDENTS CHOOSE THE TEXT FORMAT


Here's an example of one created as a chapter title page for the novel Hatchet.


Using Canva?  Are your students creating Digital Posters?  Please share your ideas! 

The Power of Padlet

posted May 25, 2016, 10:32 PM by Jonathan Gillig   [ updated May 30, 2016, 9:29 AM ]

       
Looking for a new way to encourage student choice when examining a curricular topic?  Padlet is a great opportunity to help collect several web-based resources together in one place for students to pick, choose and explore.  This on-line tool is a great way to motivate students' curiosity, provide differentiation, and help students build schema on particular topics.  Additionally, Padlet is a great way to get kids sharing through discussion in the classroom.  Visit Padlet's homepage.   

See an example of one for 4th Grade: Chinatown Padlet  
    * See the attached notetaker for this Padlet on this post.  

See an example of one for 5th Grade: American Revolution

See an example of one for 11th/12th Grade: Struggle

How do you use Padlet?  Share your ideas!  
 

| Attachments: Chinatown Padlet Notetaker.docx

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