EPISD Blended Learning Conference

This summer I had the opportunity to teach and learn at the EPISD Blended Learning Conference. Blended learning is a blend of face to face and on-line learning that allows students some control of the time and place, their learning path and pace. Essentially, if you begin small, blended learning can give a teacher more time for small group targeted instruction, allow for personalized instruction, can foster student agency, and the opportunity for students to have authentic audiences.

Catlin Tucker was the Keynote for our district Blended Learning Conference, organized by the Instructional Technology Team. We were so excited to have her, because she relates well with teachers. She is a teacher!

Catlin Tucker agreed to meet up for an on-line interview. We shared a few of the videos with teachers leading up to our conference to create a little excitement about her visit to EPISD. I've linked them below.

Getting to Know Catlin Tucker 1
Getting to Know Catlin Tucker 2
Getting to Know Catlin Tucker 3
Getting to Know Catlin Tucker 4

Catlin Tucker Interview Question 1
Catlin Tucker Interview Question 2
Catlin Tucker Interview Question 3
Catlin Tucker Interview Question 4
Catlin Tucker Interview Question 5
Catlin Tucker Interview Question 6

I've challenged myself to Sketchnote this year. Taking the time to go back to my notes and finish up a Sketchnote after a Keynote has been a great way for me to review and organize my thoughts. Here is the Sketchnote I created after listening to Catlin Tucker inspire our teachers.

I'm still learning all about Blended Learning. The books I'm reading are Blended Learning in Action and Blended Learning in Grades 4-12. Notice, that Catlin Tucker is the author!

To read more about the EPISD Blended Learning Conference, read  Blended Learning conference draws hundreds of teachers, EPISD Community Engagement.

Please share your feedback, blended learning ideas and tips in the comments below. :)

AR Flashcard Work Stations

Beginning Letter Sounds Work Station with AR Flashcards

AR Flashcards
Using AR Flashcards app can bring in  a new spin on identifying things that begin with a letter sound.  AR Flashcards are augmented reality flashcards.  When you use the AR Flashcard App to view the card, something magical happens!  An animal appears before your eyes.

This app also includes a “camera” button.  This gives the user the ability to take a photo of the Augmented Reality animal that pops out of the flashcard.  If you place items, words, or yourself with the card, you can capture a nice entertaining photo or a photo that shows understanding.

Beginning Letter Sounds Work Station
Set up a work station with a basket of items that include examples and non-examples of things that start with the letter ____.  Allow students to work together to sound out the names of the items.  Students should place items that begin with the given letter around the AR Flash Card.  Students use the camera button in the app to take a photo of their work.  Have students include a name tag in the picture to identify who completed the work.  The photo will be saved to the camera roll.  Consider having students help to build the work station by searching for an example and a non-example at home for homework and brining it to school.  The item should fit into the palm of their hand. In the video below, Joe Meza and I share how to use AR Flashcards in a Beginning Letter Sound Work Station.




Phonogram Workstation

Set up a work station with words for students to read and recognize phonograms. Allow students to work together to read words and identify words that follow rules of the phonogram they are learning.  Students should place words that include the phonogram sound with the given phonogram that is built using the AR Flash Cards.  I share the example of using the -er sound of her in the video below. Students should use the camera button in the app to take a photo of their work.  Have students include a name tag in the picture to identify who completed the work.  The photo will be saved to the camera roll.  Consider challenging students to write other examples they think about on paper and include them when they take the picture.