AACPS OIT Byte

  Digital Relaxing Stations  By: Samantha Wilkinson-OIT Chill Island. Calm Zone. Rest Stop. Cool Down Station. Peace Place. Reflection Room. Comfy Corner… Whatever you call your area, I think we can agree that it is a necessary spot in the classroom. Even more so these days, as we are still working on helping kids develop appropriate social responses to handle the stresses and overstimulation that happens during the school day.  For many learners, having a few minutes to be alone, or escape, can make a world of difference in classroom performance and de-escalation. For other students, just knowing that a safe place exists is a comfort. This special place in the classroom sends the message that the teacher cares about the students’ mental wellbeing, and understands that everyone needs some personal time, even in the midst of a busy school day. It promotes mindfulness and addresses the needs of the whole-child. It provides a refuge in a world that can seem overwhelming. Whe...

  🎨 Integrating Arts Through Technology  🎭 By: Samantha Wilkinson-OIT While in college I was told it was a good idea to declare a minor. This would “give me an edge on the competition” while interviewing for teaching jobs, they said. I browsed the catalog and one stood out: Creative Arts. When I found out this involved taking courses in Theater, Dance, Visual Arts, and Music, I hesitated. I don’t consider myself to be particularly talented in any one of these areas. But honestly those classes sounded like a lot of fun. I told myself that college is for new experiences, and signed up.  At the time, I thought these classes would be an outlet from my more difficult courses. I loved that I could be creative and how there wasn’t always a “right” answer. We spent time storytelling and getting to know classmates through various modes of expression. I ended up loving those classes, and never felt burdened to attend. However, I didn’t see the intersection between what I was lea...

By Kerri Lambert, Teacher Specialist, Office of Instructional Technology When : Spring of 2003 Where : The Jones Elementary computer lab Who : Me, a new teacher with only a couple of months under my belt, my then 4th grade teammate Mary, and Debbie Ray, our Instructional Technology Teacher Specialist ELA Tech Connections circa 2006 The rumors were flying; next year, Open Court was in, and computer labs were out. (For those of you not as old as me, Open Court was a reading program that was implemented in AACPS for many years). Worried, Mary contacted OIT for help. What could we do? Time in the lab was valuable and the students loved it. Both of us used that hour every week for extending our reading lessons with story writing, character mapping, and more. Armed with a single copy of the first unit manual for 4th grade (Risks and Consequences), and Debbie’s extensive knowledge of AACPS software, the three of us created what became the very first elementary Tech Connections activity- a sho...

By Kerri Lambert, Teacher Specialist, Office of Instructional Technology Where can I find digital activity ideas? How do I download SMART Notebook on my computer at home? Do we have a program students can use to create a video? How can I push a lesson out to my students on their Chromebooks? Sound familiar? Have you ever asked yourself these types of questions and then wondered who you should ask for help? That’s where your school’s eCoach comes into play! For almost 20 years, eCoaches in schools have served as a lead teacher for Instructional Technology. They are your on-site support for applications such as Discovery Education, Wixie, WeVideo, Lumio by SMART, and Nearpod, just to name a few. Hosting a parent or community night? Include them! They can work with parents too. ECoaches receive training and support from us, the Office of Instructional Technology, so that they can support teachers with professional development and questions that come up in the day to day world of teaching...

Have you ever wondered who you were emailing when you sent an email to that OIT@aacps.org email? Who's on the other end of brightspacesupport@aacps.org?  Well, here's your answer! Read on to learn more about each member of the Office of Instructional Technology.  Stephanie Kelly, Senior Manager of Instructional Technology My career with AACPS began in 2002 as a teacher then Instructional Technology Specialist in 2006 and then was promoted to Senior Manager. Previously, I have taught every grade K-6 and a few high school technology classes. I am married and have 3 daughters and a grandchild. I enjoy hiking,experiencing new adventures and learning new things . Tracey Brown, Middle School Instructional Technology Teacher Specialist I have been with OIT for 8.5 years as the middle school specialist. Before that I was an Education Consultant for SMART Technologies and taught 7th and 8th grade science in Calvert County. I live in Arnold with my husband and son. In my free time, I lo...

  By Samantha Wilkinson, Instructional Technology Teacher Specialist 5 Benefits of Digital Planbooks A new school year means new school supplies, and among the most important items for teachers is a solid planbook. If I could get a nickel for every time I bought a new planbook… I’d have several dollars.  I’ve tried them all- school issued spiral bound books, binders divided by subject, designer books like Happy Planner and Erin Condren, and one failed attempt at making my own using a composition notebook and ruler.  While I always enjoy the feeling of starting a new year with a fresh planner, and all the hope that comes with it for an organized year, I just never found one that I loved or stuck with. Until now that is. Enter virtual planbooks. Digital tools and cloud-based platforms make virtual planners a no brainer for the modern teacher.  Let’s explore the Top 5 Benefits of Going Digital: Efficiency: My number one reason to go virtual for planning is that it just...

By Kerri Lambert, Instructional Technology Teacher Specialist Summer! It’s coming! I swear I think I see it lurking around the corner! And with that, hopefully, will come some much needed down time to recharge and reset for the next school year. One of the things I most enjoy doing with my downtime is reading a good book. Now it doesn’t happen as often as I like (I’m the mom to two young boys after all), but when it does, it’s always nice to have a list of recommendations handy. So, if you’re interested in expanding your knowledge of instructional technology and how to use it more effectively in your classroom, here are a few books we here in OIT recommend (in no particular order): Tech Like a Pirate , by Matt Miller Why We Like It: This book is chock full of practical projects and activities that apply to all grade levels and content. The author provides resource links to his templates so you can easily implement the ideas in your classroom. Video projects, social media inspired proje...