#NerdyCast S3E2 - @mssackstein Talks Grading #edchat

I'm really excited to share Season 3 Episode 2 of #NerdyCast with you this week. I'm really working hard to get a new episode up for everyone every couple of weeks. There was a great response to the John T Spencer (@SpencerIdeas) podcast, so I wanted to follow up with another thought provoking piece.

+Starr Sackstein joined me to chat about grading. I have to admit, that I was not sold on the idea of throwing out grades when we started the conversation, but Starr really got me thinking about some of my practices and the practices of teachers in general when it comes to grading. In my opinion, that is exactly what a podcast is supposed to do. If you are interested in the idea of tossing out grades and want to hear from a teacher pushing to make this happen, this podcast is for you. You can listen to it below or download it from iTunes. You can also download the Podomatic app from iTunes or Google Play so you can listen directly from the podcasting site.

Weeks 22 and 23 #NerdyCast Reflections

This week I talk about the past two weeks. I've been sick, but battling through like every teacher and parent has to do when they are sick. I dabbled in some flipped video making for the first time. I received mixed results, but it was interesting enough to try it again. It was testing week and that was interesting. Finally, the makerspace I'm working on has come a long way and I'm excited to see students get in there at the end of the month. Please leave some thoughts or share your experiences below on any of these topics. Also, check out my podcast on iTunes. I will have a new show every couple of weeks.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nerdycast/id514797904?mt=2

The @BlackboardK12 BITS Learning Sessions #25 #BbK12Live

The @BlackboardK12 BITS Learning Sessions #25 #BbK12Live

I've partnered with BlackboardK12 to share out the awesome sessions they are having this Fall. Educators can sign up to attend and share with other great educators what they have learned. I'll featurae the session and the description on my blog each week and on my Twitter account. If you have questions, feel free to shoot a tweet to @BlackboardK12. Have fun learning and sharing!

Be the Architect, not the Builder

Step into Blended Learning and be the architect or designer of your students’ learning environment allowing them to do the work of building their learning experience. Join me for a discussion on how to create an effective blended learning environment.

Paula Barr, 2nd Grade Blended Learning Teacher

I am a seasoned teacher with 32 years of experience teaching first and second grade. I began my journey with Blended Learning one year ago and watched as my students transformed into totally engaged, collaborative, self-directed learners. I’m excited to share about my most effective year as an educator.

Twitter: @pbarrhorses

When: Monday, March 9, 2015 3:30 PM EST

Sign Up

Don't forget to check out the Blackboard Live App. It has all of the sessions you might have missed and much much more.  Here is the playlist where you can watch this recorded session and other sessions you might have missed.

InFocus LiteShow 4 Makes Collaboration Easy

In my last post I featured the InFocus JTouch, I wrote about the LiteShow 4 and how it worked with the display. I wanted to take another post to dive deeper into the the LiteShow 4 and show how it can be used.

As I mentioned in the previous post, the cool part of using the LiteShow 4 is that it allows for multiple devices to connect and then those images can be shared on one screen. Here are a few photos of students using the JTouch display and the LiteShow 4.

 Two students are showing their two screen. One is using an iPhone and another is using an iPad. You can see that there are two open spots for other users to share their screen if they connected to the LiteShow 4. I get excited about all of the possibilities for this feature. Students working in four different groups can do research and then share out on one screen. Items can be compared and viewed by the entire class at the same time. The teacher can switch to one of the images and then back to the four with just a click of a button.

For our Makerspace, I envision four students designing four different solutions to a problem and then sharing them on one screen to see which is best. Being able to share from their own devices allows the students to do work freely and then throw it up on the screen. It is important to make sharing and collaborating easy. The LiteShow 4 allows students and teachers to work and share without interruption.

Here are the students showing their pages to each other from their devices. Again, I love that fact that the students can move freely from the 4 images to the solo images so the bigger picture can be explored in more detail. I think about the HoverCam Solo 8 that I will be adding to the space and how awesome the image will look on the JTouch and it does not have to be connected to the computer connected to the JTouch. From these pictures alone, the images are crisp. 

One of things that really make the LiteShow 4 stand out from previous versions is that it adds the element of touch control wirelessly when showing one feed from a PC, Mac, or Chromebook onto a touch display (like JTouch). That is such an amazing upgrade. Being able to use the touchscreen feature wirelessly is just an extra awesome feature that makes the LiteShow 4 a bigger deal in our Makerspace. 

Users can use the MirorOp app to connect to the LiteShow 4. It is a free download and easy to navigate and connect. From there, users can share their webpages. The camera feature can be used, so students can have another document camera in their hands while they are connected to the LiteShow 4. The LiteShow 4 add more options to the classroom. 

The LiteShow 4 also works with an HDMI/VGA display or a projector. This is great so it is not restricted with be paired only with the  JTouch. This opens up the possibility of a variety of different uses in classrooms around the building. It's portable size makes it a great option if other classes might need it during the course of the school year. 

For me, I am always looking for more ways for students to collaborate. It is one of the reasons I have been working so hard on the Makerspace in our library. I see the value in giving students the time, space, and the tools to connect, create, and collaborate. The LiteShow 4 is another tool they will be able to use to do all three. 

The LiteShow 4 retails for $399 and I think it is a solid investment when trying to get the most out of a learning space. 

Note:  InFocus sent me the LiteShow 4 for the purpose of a review, but that does not make it less awesome.