Friday, January 18, 2019

Project Based Learning Comes to Westerville.

In Partnership with Otterbein University, Several Westerville City Schools teachers have taken part in the Out of the Gate Project. This project pairs Otterbein students with teachers in the district to take part in intensive Professional Development and, as part of the student teaching experience, plan and implement project based learning in the classroom. The goal of the project is to engage student in deeper, more meaningful learning. Project Based learning involves approaching learning through driving questions that often contain multiple curricular areas. Students research solutions, put together presentations, and present their findings to an authentic audience.

Several Westerville Teachers took part in the Fall symposium where the classroom teachers and their Otterbein student teachers presented the work that they did over the fall semester (photos courtesy of the Out of the Gate Project).


Megan Glassmire (L ) and Dawn Ramsey (R) Huber Ridge 4th Grade
Driving Question: How do we keep the natural environment safe


Beth O'Reilly (L) and Tracy Jones (R) Wilder 3rd Grade
Driving Question: How can we encourage people to live, work, and play in our community?

Several other Westerville teachers are participating in the program as well including Caitlin Begeny (Genoa), Linda Amici (Alcott), and Kelly Moff (Annehurst).

The program will be continuing next year. Interested teachers are encouraged to contact their Ed-Tech coach to learn more about the program.

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Google Read & Write

Google Read & Write


Google Read & Write is a Google Extension provided to all WCS students and staff that offers some tools that can help students with their internet navigating experience. From reading text aloud, providing definitions, screen masking, to collecting highlights, students can use Google Read & Write to help with their online reading and research.

Kids at all levels can benefit from what Google Read & Write has to offer. Here is a quick look at a few of the tools that it provides:


Check out some of the features and contact your Ed Tech Coach if you have any questions!


#WestervilleWay

#WCSwhereUbelong

Thursday, January 3, 2019

The Paperless Math Class


The paperless math classroom is here!

I love to hear teachers discuss how they are using the technology that is becoming more readily available in their classroom. Innovative methods are being introduced to me daily, and it is really transforming the classroom to be more and more student-centered. Gone are the days where teachers shoot for the middle and any student who doesn't fit the mold has to just learn to catch up. More and more opportunities are being created for students to learn at their own pace and in a style that best fits their needs.

With these ideas in mind, I introduce to you the "Paperless Math Classroom." Phil Pelzer, a math teacher at Westerville North High School, is using the technology tools available and creating an atmosphere of learning where kids can watch videos created specifically for his class, and complete course assignments and notes digitally. This allows them to be able to learn at their own pace, and in a way that organizes their course materials for them. Gone are the days of, "I lost the paper, can I have another one." 

Phil took some time to give us a glimpse into his classroom organizational structure. It uses Schoology, Google Slides, and Google Keep to allow the "paperwork" for his class to be done on the Chromebooks.


If you have any questions about how this is done, how it is working, or just want to bounce some ideas about how this could look in your classroom, reach out to your Ed Tech Coach!

#WestervilleWay
#WCSwhereUbelong